The problem with asking SE questions...

[Feba]

is that apparently very few people actually have interest in asking SE, and more interests in getting something they want. How many GOOD questions have we seen, that were more than thinly veiled suggestions? Things that would provide interesting answers, and don't try to get something added to the game.

Let's look at the numbers.

GOOD THREADS:
"Is there imbalance between monsters and players?"
"Why DX9 and Windowed mode"
"How does S-E measure FFXI's economy? "
"Could SE tell us a little bit about how their testing team operates?"

And not to toot my own horn, but 2/3 threads I made were good QUESTIONS (note, not suggestions).

This makes a grand total of six GOOD questions, which as far as I can tell and remember is about one per MONTH. This is sad.

So I have a question for everyone making suggestions instead of questions:

Are you that uncreative, or are you just trying to further your own agenda?

I mean hell, I have more respect for the guy that asked if mithra have smooth skin or fur at fan fest than most of the questions in that forum.

[Kailea]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

hey I forgot.... what was the answer to that question anyway.... about Mithra's skin/fur? ;p

[Feba]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

It's whatever you want it to be.

[Richie]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

The problem with asking SE questions:

Q: When balancing together 20 jobs, didn't you consider the shortage of tank jobs?
A: We don't have much to say about that at this time.

They sound like a Vietnam vet that's done talking about all his dead buddies.

[Kailea]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

It's whatever you want it to be.

..... ok light coat of fur it is! ^.^

[Armando]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

They sound like a Vietnam vet that's done talking about all his dead buddies.

Um...S-E was pretty generous answering questions at the fanfest. They explained TREASURE HUNTER for Christ's sake.

They answer 2 questions with "we're not allowed to say anything on the subject right now" and everyone goes "LAWL STUPID SE ALWAYS DOES THIS TO US."

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

Um...S-E was pretty generous answering questions at the fanfest. They explained TREASURE HUNTER for Christ's sake.

I wouldn't go as far as "generous", but they were hardily taciturn at the event. And, yes, I'm very happy to know how Treasure Hunter works, at last

Though, not sure if the THFs are happy that Dynamis runs now only need one THF, and all he has to do is go as THF/WHM and cast Dia on every critter before it dies, or toss out a Cure I on tank during every battle. Just one THF/WHM; the rest can sit in the Mog House or level a useful job instead.

Free lot on every THF Relic gear, since the rest of THFs are at home crying to their Moogles.

* * *

Now, how nice it would be they would engage with NA player community like that on a regular basis... Not once a year or once a day, and no need to turn it into a festival, but a once a month or two for a Q&A would be so nice and ...

Oh wait, why does that sound familiar, I wonder?

[Malacite]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

Now, how nice it would be they would engage with NA player community like that on a regular basis... Not once a year or once a day, and no need to turn it into a festival, but a once a month or two for a Q&A would be so nice and ...

No kidding. Why the cold shoulder SE?

[Ziero]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

I thought the 'what was your vision for Rdm' question was pretty good, and by good I mean it was an actual question that wasn't a suggestion in disguise.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

Maybe it has something to do with Feba's original point of the lack of actual questions . . .

I know I've been guilty of the crime in question before (pun unintended), but I abstained from all suggestioning when I asked my lastest question. All my future questions will be suggestion free, as well.

In fact, I made sure I wasn't making any suggestions in disguise far before Feba made any mention of it, because I noticed it, too.

[Malacite]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

I still maintain that the questions are mostly all good.

There's nothing wrong with attached opinions. If you want to keep it simple, stick simply to the question asked and leave out any comments/suggestions by the poster when posing them to SE. Problem solved.

Besides that, SE gets a crap tonne of suggestions sent to them each day and I seriously doubt they go through them all. This further legitimizes any suggestions, since they will likely otherwise go unheard.

The key is being brief and direct.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

I know how much Feba hates suggestions, but here's one: don't read the "Ask SE" forum.

Post your own creative questions. Wait until DiV reports the answers SE gave. Use the time in between to do something other than complain about threads you don't like.

[Armando]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

Post your own creative questions. Wait until DiV reports the answers SE gave. Use the time in between to do something other than complain about threads you don't like.

Feba isn't bitching for the sake of bitching, he's bitching because this is the only chance we'll have in God knows how long to ask S-E ten questions. I'm sure everyone here wants those questions to be good ones.

I mean, if you had the chance to ask God anything, you wouldn't blow it on something stupid like "what are eggshells made of?" The rest of humanity would have every right to be pissed at you.

I'm not passing judgment on the quality of the questions. Don't want to touch that with a fifty foot pole. I'm just saying what's most likely the motive driving Feba to bitch.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

"Is there imbalance between monsters and players?"

They adressed this at E3. Check out Pikko's report, its in there. They're aware of it.

"Why DX9 and Windowed mode"

You're basically asking "Why can't we have what other PC MMOs have?"

Because then 360 users would want it and they couldn't give it to PS2 users. It would cost extra money and they do not wish to reversion the code. FFXI is not a purely PC MMO.

"How does S-E measure FFXI's economy? "

In gil, obviously.

"Could SE tell us a little bit about how their testing team operates?"

They'd tell you the same thing any tester would tell you about an online game. You can test something for hundreds and hundreds of hours and until its let loose in the online realm where community trends take hold, they won't have a 100% picture of what you've created. They made Ninja a DD, we made it a blink-tank. They made BRD a support class, the community has made it a pull monkey that doesn't know how to buff anymore. They made PUP, BLM and BST DDs, the community has made them soloists. They made RDM versatile, we only invite them to heal.

They observe this and try to modify the roles to be more friendly to these trends or, if they disagree with them, they find ways to discourage it.

I don't think they wanted SMNs out there main healing all the damn time, throwing two new classes with healer potential in - not to mention PUP's newfound healer potential - would probably help liberate a SMN and RDM from the fate of being the bitch healer.

So now the questions have been answered and they're every bit as inane as the ones you're taking issue with. Have a nice day.

[Gentoo]

Re: The problem with asking SE questions...

I honestly can't figure out why anyone would get their panties in a twist because the poster tries to clarify the gist of a question by offering an example (a.k.a. suggestion) on how the subject of the question might work.

It might be useful to be reminded that a moderator of this site said:

It's not that we don't want people to post suggestions - there are certainly some instances where suggestions might be warranted.

While offering an explanation how a particular mechanic on the game could work might kill brevity, it can be good communication by trying to give the question depth.

If you don't like the question, thats one thing; try making an argument on why the question itself is bad. If you don't like the way question was asked, help hone it (as was done in the "Why DX9 and Windowed mode" thread).
However, if you just don't like other people posting questions, setup your own web forums on 127.0.0.1 and stay there.