Since this is one of the most fun games I've played in recent years, I'd hate to see it die off and get to a point where servers are just empty and hardly anyone plays anymore. So besides the obvious bug fixes and HVT issues and things that the devs should fix ASAP, what else do you think this game needs to keep it alive a year or two from now?
I hope we can give the mods some real player feedback and they take these in to consideration. Of course they are busy trying to fix the current issues but I would definitely like to see the following hopefully in patch 1.3
1. A balanced PvP zone, more like smaller team deathmatch maps specifically for 4v4 team based games. When we enter the lobby, no loot is on the players, it's 100% about skill and which team is better, maybe rewards can be extra credits, DZ funds, new gear, etc. It's more about COMPETITION and skill here, not loot and rewards though.
2. Give players the option to save and load builds without having to switch characters and complete the whole <30 section of the game again. Quick load/save in the games menu, simple.
3. Remove the option for leaders to kick people. It should be a group vote like back in the Quake days. One person votes to kick, the other 2 have to vote yes otherwise it's cancelled out.
4. I think Massive needs to postpone the DLCs and put all their focus on fixing the game and removing all the bugs and glitches. The only way I would pay more money for DLCs is it this is done first and secondly, if there is an actual incentive to get the DLCs, ie: new gear sets and weapons. Otherwise if it's just more incursions with the current gear sets, I can't justify purchasing any DLCs.
Try and keep the thread civil and keep all "I'm quitting this game" comments out of this thread. I really want the devs to see this thread and take all our feedback on board (hopefully) to help the game grow.
I don't think it can be saved for two reasons. First, their vision of the game is for the DZ to be the main attraction of the game. Second, the DZ concept only appeals to a certain type of player mentality, which automatically reduces the number of people willing to play it. I have no doubt the game will flounder on with small numbers, but it will never be a game with mass appeal.
Well first off the one and only real upgrade this game needs is to give its players above level 30 an actual area that allows for equal loot to pvp zones, at equal drops rates from doing equal content. Essentially this game needs a dark zone for pve that rewards equally to the dark zone for pvp. The new missions might have been a step in the right direction, but are hardly equal in drops or time commitment required. So finally either morph the light side world upon completed story mode into a dark zone style world with actual enemies that can threaten us, with increasing difficulty that goes from solo capable to required team, and then implement a landmark system like the dark zone with open world bosses that drop loot and guard loot crates. OR even easier, just give us the pvp flag we have asked for since launch and use the current dark zone template.
Ignoring 80 percent of the player base that does not like, and does not want to take part in the rogue mechanic, but continuing to leave that mechanic the fastest way to gain equipment, and the only open roam area that is level appropriate to anyone that has reached level 30 is basically the death nail to this game. The hvt missions might have put a temporary halt on the mass exodus to come, but it will only postpone. I don't see players continually logging in every day to spend hours earning credits just to then spend more time farming the missions. Sure right now its new, and people are just happy finally having access to the loot, but that golden period will only last so long before these missions are like farming Lexington on challenging for the entire day just to earn PCs. At minimum the two play style of pvp and pve need to be completely even in reward. At best pve should be more rewarding since over all history says that pvp players will earn their rewards in pve play but pve players will just leave the game if forced to pvp. And being that the bigger demographic is pve players I would think to assure the longevity of the game, means to ensure the revenue stream it produces. That means keeping the majority of players happy even if its at the expense of the minority.
As for future expansions the bugs are bad enough yes, but come on we all know that Ubi games are riddled with bugs at release because it is cheaper to have us test the game then pay people to and take the time to fix before release. However a game that I like that I think is going in the right direction I will at least give the benefit of the doubt to and by an expansion for. However a game that ignores its player base in providing what it wants, like I mentioned above, I will not throw good money after bad to keep supporting. So really showing those players who will be the customers for the future expansions that they are serious about EARNING the future support IMO is more important then a bug hunt. Because even at its core, if the game was working perfectly right now, I would not consider spending more money on it unless that expansion gave me the ability to free roam with my friends in an asshat free environment where we can play to our own style and still continue to develop our characters. I have see nothing so far that shows me massive or ubi are listening to this request.
I don't think it can be saved for much more than those who playing now,
because UBI advertised an MMO with agents that help the hopeless and reinstall NY to a reasonable state to live in.
1. MMO is not, because 4 guys in missions or groups and 24 in one DZ server is NOT Massive Multiplayer Online but it is Massive Massive Online .... (the company style )
2. agents are shooting each others in DZ , thats not helping and not reinstall NY for a place to live in
so almost 90% gamers have gone and will not come back, for that the game should stay like it is now, because those who now
staying and playing do like it like that... all other things will be fine if there will be some minor balancing by massive.
IMHO
A new developer.
Admitting that the "vision" isn't really going to work.
Somebody who is capable of actually giving Tech Support to the players who post in the Support section of the forums. (zero help since day one)
Patch notes, before the patch.
Patches that are tested prior to being rolled out.
PVE content. The most commonly given complaint is the lack of PVE game play.
DZ brackets that function.
Recalibration offered for more then one thing.
Stop doubling the costs of recalibrating.
DZ credits, standard credits and now Intel. Simplify things down!
Increase the Stash size.
Improve the RNG. Just because it rains loot doesn't mean any of it is worth a damn.
Weapon rebalance. All weapons should be viable.
Matchmaking for the HVT's.
Make PVE world resemble the DZ. It is darker, more gritty, the lighting is different, the enemies are tougher, events respawn more then once a week, etc.
A true PVP area free of NPC's but with actual objectives.
A DZ bracket just for solo play to avoid 4 vs 1 ganking.
Those are just a few off the top of my head.
Infinite scaling for PVE encounters with adjusted loot sliders like Diablo 3 has. PVP will always be there and they are actually doing a good job with adding more and more to that aspect of the game while making and keeping it fun. Without infinite scaling on the PVE side of things though, there will always be an end game short goal without the end game long goal which doesn't make sense. Most people will try out this game and think once they do all of the encounters once along with missions and incursions the game is over. That is a bad design goal in a loot based game.
PVP has a never ending goal with putting together builds to counter others builds and the cycle can last like that for a long time since it is player driven. PVE doesn't work like that though. Once you have a set that can beat everything in the game, that is basically all you need. The difference needs to be in content scaling. Some people already gave great ideas to this with the never ending tower idea or sewer idea where each new level up or down is an adjusted difficulty.
I agree with th OP fully on points 2 and 3. I think number 1 should be added options as should adding a DZ PvE co op only option. Number 4, well I'm looking forward to the DLC, as I'm hoping since it's paid for content it should be accessible to all players irrespective of GS, so I kind of hope that don't delay it, but I understand the point.
I too am looking forward to weapon balancing and I'm hoping they'll be creative.
Something like built in armour damage and increased accuracy for ARs.
For LMGs, an out of cover handling nerf but, a handling buff when in cover and a huge damage buff plus suppression ability.
And for shotguns a close range damage buff plus something like a 15-25% chance to blind or stun.
I'd also like to have the option to scale all missions and incursions manually. (Maybe a custom difficulty drop down menu)!
I would like to play CMs solo, but I would also like to play missions on hard but scaled as if for more players. I've never understood the jump from hard to challenging! What happened to the difficulty populated by level 31 vets or elites!
Also this would mean that if popularity did drastically decline, at least players wouldn't have to rely on finding others to team up with.