Don't your users matter? Dev replies; More replies please!

[Kelto]

Kenzish

Kelto

Kenzish

Kelto

Hitman611

Gaia Inc. has screwed me over so much its not even funny. And I NEVER sent 1 penny to these pigs. I tell you a few stories I have:

When I 1st joined Gaia, it was last year around Febuary. I saw the place and I noticed it was pretty nice. You could go to towns, talk to people, and make money EASILY. It was a fun thing and I liked being here. ...Then, when this year passed, i noticed the whole site became "give me money" coporation. Everything, and I mean everything cost that stupid gaia cash. Hell, since I don't waste my money on this shithole, I decided I was going to wait, and buy something called "Superior Form". So as the days passed, I went and I WORKED for my money. I put in a ton of time to try and get this, as it started out less than 30k. Now, about a month later, the price rose to 34k and I still don't have one! Everyday I wait and try to get money, but Gaia Inc. has to keep on finding excuses to f*ck with us and get more money. Now, when they get the site "working", I'm going to have to work my a** of double time to get like 500 gold.

Hell, in a few months Superior Form will be 15k, because the people who had money bought it before it came a marketplace thing, and they just left it for waste. I'm sick and tired of being unimportant. To Gaia Inc, Money comes 1st.....2nd.....3rd and 4th. If I don't give them money, then I am therefore useless to the site. Its like I'm at a restuarant, and I've waited 1 hour to get my seat, while I have appr. enough money to give when I'm done eating, yet the rich fatass guy doesn't have to wait 1 minute because he has more money than me, and is willing to give more money. Point is, gaia is dumb!

I might as well give up on the site, becuase I'm "useless" to Gaia and their coporate asses. Screw you very much gaia, and enjoy it when you lose every single person here because you couldn't treat your the real people with care. And when that happens, you'll have no one to blame or excuse it one but yourselfs. You were set up for failure when you decided to put everyone in the dust except yourselfs, and run people DRY.

And honestly, I just can't stand it anymore. Their are sites out their with PROFESSIONAL or just smart people who know how to run something were it is FREE and truly FUN. Screw you very much Gaia Inc.

go somewhere else, then? o.o

That's an empty arguement

i'm not arguing, i'm suggesting o.o...he's blaming gaia "inc." for rising prices in the market when it's the users who are doing it, and spouting empty arguements about how it's him versus gaia, and how he feels unimportant to the site and admins...he makes a point to show he hates gaia's guts...so if he can't tolerate it, and he hates it so much, there are many other places for him to go that probably won't make him so miserable.

i wasn't trying to start an arguement or anything ._.

Regardless, telling someone they should consider leaving just because they disagree with the way things is run is ridiculous. They have a right to express that they don't like the direction gaia is going. Whether that be negative or positive, they're opinion can and should be valued. And no the gaia economist makes sure the economy remains in control, the users have a part in it, but ultimately gaia impacts the marketplace signifigantly. I doubt he'd be posting here if he felt the entire site made him miserable. Probably just the marketing aspect of it

o.o i don't see why it's ridiculous, unless he had a plan or something to fix his situation. i'm not saying they don't have a right to express how they feel, and i didn't say he shouldn't or that i didn't value his opinion. i understand his situation because i've had to work hard for items, too. and i'm not so sure the economists have done such a good job, especially seeing how i've seen items posted for 60 mill, for rare items that were commonly posted for 1 mill. again, i was only suggesting and i didn't mean to offend him or anybody else...

[[ .NK. ]]

pirula

Hey I'm back. (dev post sandwich!) picking out some good posts to reply that seem to sum up common concerns...

This is a good suggestion. Gaia has always had developer journals, announcements, and forums but the staff is now bigger and the community also bigger that communication isn't happening as well as it used to. As many times as we say 'yes, we are working hard on X' its still not transparent enough to the community that its a high priority. Sponsor and cash releases get the most announcements/promotions on the site, but in reality we spend a lot more effort on zomg, events, and fixing the site than on sponsorships and cash items. We just don't announce them as much.

It would be great if you guys could do that, I've been asking for that for a long time, and would love it very much.

Quote:

Its funny, we did a user survey awhile back asking 'what kind of site is gaia?' is it an RP site? an anime site? an art site? different (long-time) users said all of these things. The main thing in common was making friends with people who have the same interests, so that's what we are trying to focus on. It has been a very long time since Gaia was just 1 thing, there are a lot of valuable communities on Gaia.

You're losing your roots though, and it confirms that we've been right about the site turning into a new Myspace. Couldn't you still keep your anime roots as well as make finding and making friends just as easy? We were commenting earlier on how even the art isn't as 'anime' as it used to be. We anime geeks don't get along with Myspacers very well, and the same can be said for them. You're making two very different groups come together and the result is a lot of hostility. We need a smooth migration, a good share of the site for both halves. You guys backed away from the "MTV" items, like the cheerleader set, etc. and back into fantasy with the most recent shop update, and I'd like to see more of that. The original users loved the fantasy/anime appeal of Gaia and we don't want to lose that.

Quote:

good lord. help us get rid of those:
report inappropriate ads here

Thank you!

Quote:

Some Aquarium items are already in the daily chance. Goldfish for sure, some backgrounds, and some items. The idea is to give out enough basics so that there are lots on the market and prices are pretty affordable (less than MCs or EIs), and yet still have some special rare things that you will be very lucky to get. Cash does buy you a couple of days of head start, but people who want to pay only in gold should be able to get a cool aquarium too. We also plan to come out with more aquarium items in the future (like MCs and EIs) so you will have more choices and options.

But still, it's just more things that we will have to pay for. Consider this: I've been working extremely hard on this thread and my petition thread. I've been posting constantly, and I've already reached my gold limit. But in a 24 hour period, I've only gotten less than 1k. Consider the rate that you release MCs, EIs, shop updates, salon updates, Aquarium stuff, new features (complete with new items that not everyone will be able to get) and so on, and you'll realize how much we're missing out on if we can't use cash. When you released the Mythril Coins, those of us that can't buy things with cash were screwed. We're the ones that need gold the most, because we can't buy things with cash and sell them for gold. It's as people say about the real world, "the rich get richer". We, as in, those of us who can't buy cash, need more options, so that we have some kind of chance to buy an EI before it starts to cost several hundred thousand gold, which we will never reach. And that's PER EI that we want.

Quote:

I can see how what I said before might make you wonder. zOMG (or should I say kersplunking or whatever?) is definitely free free free. you get cool rings for free (you do have to earn them through quests and kills) good loot for free (after killing stuff of course), and power-ups for free (as loot). You can become a kicka** fighter or healer without spending a dime. There will be cash items too, some that make you look cool, and some that are power-ups or convenience items. zOMG is for everyone, and the team is being very very careful that the cash items don't give people too much of an advantage to make it unfair. Many of the cash items also drop as loot, so you can still get them.

Haha! Awesome, you called it Kersplunking! I hope you're right. I've known all along that there will be premium items, and regardless, they WILL give an advantage, but I hope it's not so great as to ruin the experience. This is the reason I don't play other MMOs, and was so hoping that Battle would be completely free, and you would only be good because you're GOOD, not because you can afford to make yourself good.

Quote:

Yeah, I can see there has been lots of speculation about Gaia's business plans. So, there are a few things I want to clear up:
- Gaia is not "rolling in money". We raised a lot from investors, but that money has to be paid back! It ain't free!
- Over 100 people work at Gaia now, and that is a lot of people to pay! MC revenue does not cover it. Check out Lanzers journal for more about the business costs.
- A lot more than 8% of our revenue comes from users. (that stat was quoted by someone earlier in the thread -- I don't know where it came from, it is not accurate). When you think about it, even the advertising money comes from users because advertisers pay us in order to reach....you. (Even though not all the sponsors are appropriate to all the users) We get paid when people click a link or watch a trailer or something, so without you its nothing.

I hope that makes it clear why we really do think of the free parts of the site as the core of the business. People come to Gaia in the first place because of the forums, guilds, games, friends, and all that (none of which cost anything). Without fun, rewarding, free activities the advertising and selling of items would not hold up on its own.

also @ NK - Thank you for the ideas about donating, buying ads, and turning people into coke bottles (jk on that last one). I think you are right that things like that can be valuable to the business and not intrusive to the users.

Oh, thank you for clearing up the 8% thing. Do you think you could let us know what things we do help the site? I had no idea that watching trailers gained money for you, but if watching them will help you all then I'm all for it. I've always wanted to help the site in one way or another, and that would be exactly why I made this thread. I don't mind clicking ads. I don't mind watching trailers. And I think others wouldn't mind either if we were just informed.

I'm glad you like the suggestions, and I hope they help. I have some more, but I'll leave you all alone and let you get on with your work. I'm sorry if the thread came off as harsh, and don't get me wrong, I still dislike how much everything costs, but I hope that by giving you guys suggestions and doing my own part (I can't speak for everyone on that, obviously) that maybe we can find a solution, and the EIs won't cost $10 anymore.

[Moonlight Silver]

pirula

people have been suggesting that, but other people complain there are too many announcements and complain when there is a glitch announcement that does not affect them. (fishing glitch got a lot of complaints for example). Its trying to solve both sides, where we can communicate everything on a detailed level without being annoying that is tricky.

Pan... ogrammic? lol. He's been talking to users in another thread about ways to do this. The popular vote went to a NPC journal that was updated by all the Devs/Artists whenever something when wrong, or whatever they were currently working on that the users could know about. I think it's a really good idea!

Ps- FREE HUGS AND COOKIES FOR ALL TALKING DEVS! <33

[Moonlight Silver]

luvableteekerz

Moonlight Silver

luvableteekerz

exclaim Just to get this off my chest.

zOMG! will be free. As a SCAS member, I'm not allowed to spoil anything...but please be comforted that the battle system/MMO, for the most part, will be free. 3nodding I believe that fact was mentioned in a citation link earlier today in this thread. smile

MOSTLY free =/= FREE

Don't do it Gaia. Do. Not. Do. It. Do NOT put Cash items in for zOMG. I will hate you forever.

You must hate them forever, then. One of the devs just said there will be cash items for zOMG, though you can still play fine without them. surprised

Cash shop items dropped as loot = okay with me. I wont hate them forever. heart

[[ .NK. ]]

pirula

people have been suggesting that, but other people complain there are too many announcements and complain when there is a glitch announcement that does not affect them. (fishing glitch got a lot of complaints for example). Its trying to solve both sides, where we can communicate everything on a detailed level without being annoying that is tricky.

May I suggest an announcement filter, then? A lot of us are tired of KiKi's road trip, or the EI reports (since we can't afford them). Could there be a way for us to decide what gets posted, by disallowing announcements with certain words in them, such as KiKi, or Evolving? We will still be able to access them through the forums, but without the intruding on us.
Like an e-mail filter.

It's like seeing another kid open birthday presents. It's depressing. I can't go to one of the cons, or buy EIs, and lots of other users feel the same.

[Kelto]

[ .NK. ]

pirula

people have been suggesting that, but other people complain there are too many announcements and complain when there is a glitch announcement that does not affect them. (fishing glitch got a lot of complaints for example). Its trying to solve both sides, where we can communicate everything on a detailed level without being annoying that is tricky.

May I suggest an announcement filter, then? A lot of us are tired of KiKi's road trip, or the EI reports (since we can't afford them). Could there be a way for us to decide what gets posted, by disallowing announcements with certain words in them, such as KiKi, or Evolving? We will still be able to access them through the forums, but without the intruding on us.
Like an e-mail filter.

It's like seeing another kid open birthday presents. It's depressing. I can't go to one of the cons, or buy EIs, and lots of other users feel the same.

i agree, i've found myself annoyed at times when i open the announcements, expecting to find something i find interesting, only to find stuff, i wouldn't read otherwise...

[Kenzish]

Filtered announcements would be awesome. That way those of us who want to stay informed are able to. I think MC's could be aquarium items, as long as you included regular avatar MC's as well. I think users would boycott aquarium or even zOMG only MC's.. Stick to avatars.. please...

[dirty old sod 2]

Slightly offtopic, but can someone point me in the direction of some info here on Gaia
regarding Craig Sherman?

[[ .NK. ]]

I would like to know that too, Sod.

By the way guys, dragonxxjef just made us an awesome new banner for our petition.

Look! XD!

[Kenzish]

[ .NK. ]

I would like to know that too, Sod.

By the way guys, dragonxxjef just made us an awesome new banner for our petition.

Look! XD!

Wow I want that as my signature LOL Very well done >.<

[[Emotional Hobocore]]

Now people who have known me for along time, like Teekz, knows I've done everything I can to help Gaia and I've never asked for anything in return until 2007, however it feels like we regular users have been forgotten about. I remember there was a time when a single bug report was enough to get some kind of work done on a problem or even just to get it looked at.

Now it takes a massive flood and I know this is due to Gaia being bigger and with many more bugs it's growing pains, I know, but it should not make the users feel as if they shouldn't even bother to report bugs or bad users, I've given up on it, nothing ever comes of bothering with this stuff anymore, unless you get a bunch of reports.

Now I'm not blaming anyone directly for this, as there can only be so many people working on a problem, however, it would be nice to know that the little users still matter. It feels like we are just individual numbers that barely matter and not individuals as we used to be.

[Moonlight Silver]

Kenzish

Filtered announcements would be awesome. That way those of us who want to stay informed are able to. I think MC's could be aquarium items, as long as you included regular avatar MC's as well. I think users would boycott aquarium or even zOMG only MC's.. Stick to avatars.. please...

The only problem with announcement filters is that they want users to SEE when there is new or exciting Cash Shop items. Because there are users (like myself) who CAN buy with Cash, but choose not to most of the time. If I turned off all the EI reports or Cash Shop updates, I wouldn't be able to see if there was a new item that I suddenly REALLY wanted.

So I don't think it's a good idea.

[Kenzish]

Moonlight Silver

Kenzish

Filtered announcements would be awesome. That way those of us who want to stay informed are able to. I think MC's could be aquarium items, as long as you included regular avatar MC's as well. I think users would boycott aquarium or even zOMG only MC's.. Stick to avatars.. please...

The only problem with announcement filters is that they want users to SEE when there is new or exciting Cash Shop items. Because there are users (like myself) who CAN buy with Cash, but choose not to most of the time. If I turned off all the EI reports or Cash Shop updates, I wouldn't be able to see if there was a new item that I suddenly REALLY wanted.

So I don't think it's a good idea.

I'm talking about like having like a list to click on of annoucnements, like this

x Cash Shop Update
x Evo Item Report x2
x Kiki Trip Report
x View All
x View None

Then just click on the one that you want to read =) I agree a profile turnoff setting would be bad

[[ .NK. ]]

Moonlight Silver

Kenzish

Filtered announcements would be awesome. That way those of us who want to stay informed are able to. I think MC's could be aquarium items, as long as you included regular avatar MC's as well. I think users would boycott aquarium or even zOMG only MC's.. Stick to avatars.. please...

The only problem with announcement filters is that they want users to SEE when there is new or exciting Cash Shop items. Because there are users (like myself) who CAN buy with Cash, but choose not to most of the time. If I turned off all the EI reports or Cash Shop updates, I wouldn't be able to see if there was a new item that I suddenly REALLY wanted.

So I don't think it's a good idea.

Then they could simply not allow us to turn off the announcements about cash shop updates.

[Wooper to Quagsire]

I love this thread. heart

Ok. Now to my post. I know the fish items cost cash, and that's the reason I'm not going out to buy a cash card. I don't think those items are even worth paying for with cash. They look like gold items to me. As for the daily chance.....it doesn't work for me. =/ Gaia is full of bug problems that need to be fixed, which I hope they fix now because they have the server down. I can't save my preferences to turn on the daily chance. neutral I guess I'll have to wait.