BodyBagger111
Refugee
7 Days to Die is in turmoil right now. "Recent reviews" on Steam have turned to "mixed" from the backlash of negative reviews. This trend is likely to continue unless a proper solution is implemented that can meet everybody's wants & needs. The current solution of taking half steps to undo some unpopular mechanics will not work. Why? Because you're going to end up with a game that is 50% sandbox & 50% RPG, and nobody wants that. Players will continue to leave negative reviews because they won't think they're being listened to, and the developers will resent the customer base because they fail to see all the hard work that has gone into the game. The end result will be a slow, agonizing death of a game that many people love.
There is a solution, however, that can actually make everybody happy. Everybody gets what they want, and the game continues to grow and prosper. And I don't need a long list of things that need to change in the game to make it better. That's already been done. The solution is actually quite simple... Create 2 different game modes for the game: Sandbox Mode & RPG Mode.
Sandbox mode: This is the mode that players are asking for right now. In a nutshell, Alpha 16 mechanics, but with improvements from more recent alphas--such as better graphics, a better selection of POIs, etc. Unfortunately, the developers see the various play styles that people like as exploits--such as glass jars, non-digging zombies, and driving around in your vehicle on Horde Night. The mindset of the developers is going to have to change if this is going to work. You have paying customers who are telling you exactly what they want, and all you have to do is give it to them. This is what's known in the business world as a high-quality problem. In other words, it's not a problem at all.
It's up to YOU as developers to see this as an opportunity, not a threat. If your customers want non-digging zombies, then give them non-digging zombies. This isn't cancer, it's a video game. Nobody's going to die (irl) from a change like this. Sandbox mode is where the players get to do what they want and play how they want. So don't give players 20% of what they want or 50% of what they want. You need to give them 100% of what they're asking for, and “Sandbox Mode” is the way to do it. Besides, you still get to develop the game the way you want in RPG Mode. Just don’t forget to keep giving us toggles to turn features on and off.
RPG mode: This is the great part of RPG mode: The developers currently have absolutely no work to do here whatsoever. They just leave the game in its current state, and continue to develop the RPG elements of the game as they have previously planned. They build the game as they have envisioned without affecting the sandbox players in any way, shape, or form. In other words, no more backlash in the future when more RPG elements are added to the game.
END RESULT: Players who want back the sandbox game that they once loved get what they want, and the developers get to continue building the RPG game that they have as their vision. The negative backlash ends, and people get to enjoy the game however they want: Sandbox or RPG. In addition, a third mode of gameplay will be added (known as "story mode") at some point in the future--according to the developers. This will give players three different ways to enjoy the game.
BOTTOM LINE: The Fun Pimps are running a business. The product that they're selling is a video game. Their customers are providing very specific features and mechanics that they want in that product. If the developers fail to deliver, then they don't get paid. It's that simple. Sure, they get to keep the money that they've already made, but nobody is going to want to buy anything from them in the future--like DLCs or other games. The ball is in their court. Let's hope they make the right decision!
There’s still one other thing you need to become aware of. I hope you don't interpret this as an attack. It's nothing more than an observation. As owners of “7 days to die,” I believe you've fallen prey to a very common phenomenon: You've been working on this game for so long that you've grown an emotional attachment to it. It's your “baby,” so to speak. And you have expectations as to how your baby is supposed to grow and prosper. And when others (your customers) tell you that you're being a bad parent, and you need to do things differently… I'm sure it feels like you're under some sort of an attack. But, all we’re asking for is to let this game grow in a more open fashion, and not restrict how we want to play. In other words, let your players “co-parent” how this game develops. Think of it as twins growing up in the same household, but becoming two completely different people in the two different game modes. They can both co-exist—and flourish--without conflict. All you have to do is “let go” just a little… like a parent does when a grown child “leaves the nest.” Create the Sandbox Mode and let the players decide what happens there, and 99% of the conflict that you're experiencing right now will immediately go away.
Everybody wants this game to succeed, but this game is at a crossroads. Please make the right decision to keep it alive and well!
BB
There is a solution, however, that can actually make everybody happy. Everybody gets what they want, and the game continues to grow and prosper. And I don't need a long list of things that need to change in the game to make it better. That's already been done. The solution is actually quite simple... Create 2 different game modes for the game: Sandbox Mode & RPG Mode.
Sandbox mode: This is the mode that players are asking for right now. In a nutshell, Alpha 16 mechanics, but with improvements from more recent alphas--such as better graphics, a better selection of POIs, etc. Unfortunately, the developers see the various play styles that people like as exploits--such as glass jars, non-digging zombies, and driving around in your vehicle on Horde Night. The mindset of the developers is going to have to change if this is going to work. You have paying customers who are telling you exactly what they want, and all you have to do is give it to them. This is what's known in the business world as a high-quality problem. In other words, it's not a problem at all.
It's up to YOU as developers to see this as an opportunity, not a threat. If your customers want non-digging zombies, then give them non-digging zombies. This isn't cancer, it's a video game. Nobody's going to die (irl) from a change like this. Sandbox mode is where the players get to do what they want and play how they want. So don't give players 20% of what they want or 50% of what they want. You need to give them 100% of what they're asking for, and “Sandbox Mode” is the way to do it. Besides, you still get to develop the game the way you want in RPG Mode. Just don’t forget to keep giving us toggles to turn features on and off.
RPG mode: This is the great part of RPG mode: The developers currently have absolutely no work to do here whatsoever. They just leave the game in its current state, and continue to develop the RPG elements of the game as they have previously planned. They build the game as they have envisioned without affecting the sandbox players in any way, shape, or form. In other words, no more backlash in the future when more RPG elements are added to the game.
END RESULT: Players who want back the sandbox game that they once loved get what they want, and the developers get to continue building the RPG game that they have as their vision. The negative backlash ends, and people get to enjoy the game however they want: Sandbox or RPG. In addition, a third mode of gameplay will be added (known as "story mode") at some point in the future--according to the developers. This will give players three different ways to enjoy the game.
BOTTOM LINE: The Fun Pimps are running a business. The product that they're selling is a video game. Their customers are providing very specific features and mechanics that they want in that product. If the developers fail to deliver, then they don't get paid. It's that simple. Sure, they get to keep the money that they've already made, but nobody is going to want to buy anything from them in the future--like DLCs or other games. The ball is in their court. Let's hope they make the right decision!
There’s still one other thing you need to become aware of. I hope you don't interpret this as an attack. It's nothing more than an observation. As owners of “7 days to die,” I believe you've fallen prey to a very common phenomenon: You've been working on this game for so long that you've grown an emotional attachment to it. It's your “baby,” so to speak. And you have expectations as to how your baby is supposed to grow and prosper. And when others (your customers) tell you that you're being a bad parent, and you need to do things differently… I'm sure it feels like you're under some sort of an attack. But, all we’re asking for is to let this game grow in a more open fashion, and not restrict how we want to play. In other words, let your players “co-parent” how this game develops. Think of it as twins growing up in the same household, but becoming two completely different people in the two different game modes. They can both co-exist—and flourish--without conflict. All you have to do is “let go” just a little… like a parent does when a grown child “leaves the nest.” Create the Sandbox Mode and let the players decide what happens there, and 99% of the conflict that you're experiencing right now will immediately go away.
Everybody wants this game to succeed, but this game is at a crossroads. Please make the right decision to keep it alive and well!
BB
