Quality Assurance vs Control

[reddi lol]

The recent month or two was some of the best high level PvP this box has seen. After several attempts of leveling up melees via bard kites, mass recruiting to contest, drama surrounding pixel signing bonuses and server resets, the box has slowly began its spiral to 2 digit population with nobody even attempting to fight over raid spawns.

I checked the front page around 7 PST to see the impact and pop was ~90. Quite different from the 180-200 a month or two ago, and it's dropping digits every day.

I remembered something I was told a few years ago while I was ensuring my nation had bacteria free produce.

There's a difference between quality assurance and quality control, although you will most certainly always have a QA department at your job or HQ, it's not always assuring quality; sometimes it's trying to control it.

The former means proactively deterring things which are not deemed quality. Bug fixes before the code hits production or goes live rather than controlling a bug after it went live. Having your broccoli go through metal detectors to prevent metal from being bagged rather than trying to recall the shipment after a customer finds a nail in their dinner.

Easy concept.

Staff do a lot here, granted, but why is there a single 'content' developer dedicated to velious with a bunch of faction coders working under him when there are two servers providing two different services that require dedicated people.

Why has null been MIA for a year? Why is it that it takes server dropping pop to rustle any dev work on red? Why doesn't box development happen before population dwindles?

Admit it, there have been more bugs fixed as a result of the red implementation that have happened as a result of blue bug reports. Red players are more knowledgeable about Everquest mechanics and class abilities because we have to use a wider range of our class abilities to fight pc's than those who are accustomed to sitting afk at KC entrance safe from trains.

It seems fairly obvious that nurturing red would be more productive to having the most classic and bug free project. But it doesn't happen.

[tehruoh]

I agree with ya pal

[Jenni D]

Heard the pop dropped below 20 earlier

[Andis]

/signed

[Sektor]

/signed

[HeisChuck]

pop slowly but surely swirling down the drain

[SamwiseRed]

big changes are coming

[Silent]

Yeah server has taken a toll the past few weeks, Hoping things will change in the upcoming weeks and maybe even get way better once pvp exp loss is removed. I for one would have no problem fighting uneven odds 1v3 or 1v2 whatever instead of running away from a ganksquad and camping or plugging because that exp % takes forever to get back.

Having seen the monk epic fight in sky done 7 times, I want to know why Gwan says the name Danknodge instead of the person turning in name. Danknodge is a paladin, And it was saying that name before he even went up there. Considering the presence despawns after every turn in its obviously not a bug so its in the code somewhere. Nothing ground breaking but still funny nonetheless.

[big league chew]

Heard the pop dropped below 20 earlier

confirmed

i for one have been eagerly awaiting the return to the dark ages

[mendan]

Good post.
I personally think there's a lot that we as players on the server could do to help the pop out as well. It's easy to point the fingers at the devs, but I think that the nature of this server and the nature of trash talking, trolling, and griefing isn't conducive to the majority of people that play games. I played on VZ during live and altho it was a hardcore pvp/guild vs guild server, there was still a sense of community and a level of integrity. The amount of personal attacks, constant petitioning for bans, and shit talking alienates a lot of people that would otherwise continue to play on this server.

[SamwiseRed]

confirmed

i for one have been eagerly awaiting the return to the dark ages

[Tarwine]

Nobody wants to help us because we're assholes.
These guys work for free, they fix what they feel like fixing. They don't feel like helping us unless they themselves are interested in PvP, and even then, it's a thankless job. I'm not sure why Sirken does it, clearly something wrong with him.

[reddi lol]

But the goal/hobby is to provide a service that is the best an most true to classic experience (Project 1999).

It isn't advertised as "Another EQ emu. Looking for volunteers to run it."

[big league chew]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgpDN-bARwc

[Vile]

Nobody wants to help us because we're assholes.
These guys work for free, they fix what they feel like fixing. They don't feel like helping us unless they themselves are interested in PvP, and even then, it's a thankless job. I'm not sure why Sirken does it, clearly something wrong with him.

I've offered my free time many times to help out in anyway possible... no one cares man.

[Black Jesus]

star wars

[Agatha]

I've offered my free time many times to help out in anyway possible... no one cares man.

i also have offered my services as a guide, this server needs a dedicated red guide that plays 50 hours at a time.

[Agatha]

the biggest problem is that the people who are guides that actually care about this server have minimal power, and then people who do have the power dont know/care about the red server and just willynilly do shit. its getting kind of obvious.

a dedicated red GM team would be a start.

[mendan]

Pretty sure you'd be the last choice of guides for this server agatha...

[Feniggles]

Good post.
I personally think there's a lot that we as players on the server could do to help the pop out as well. It's easy to point the fingers at the devs, but I think that the nature of this server and the nature of trash talking, trolling, and griefing isn't conducive to the majority of people that play games. I played on VZ during live and altho it was a hardcore pvp/guild vs guild server, there was still a sense of community and a level of integrity. The amount of personal attacks, constant petitioning for bans, and shit talking alienates a lot of people that would otherwise continue to play on this server.



pretend i wrote that

[Lazortag]

If you offered to help as a guide or a dev, and they didn't reply, then maybe the problem is with you and not with them?

Retti brings up a good point though. Not to feed all the negativity that permeates these forums, but when the pop was doing well at ~180-200, that's the time when fixes should have been put in and new features should have been added (even if I think that some of these features, like YT, are kind of stupid/not that big a deal - if players really want them, then whatever). I think there's a mentality of, "oh the server pop is good, they're appeased and nothing more needs to be done", when the best way to help the server in the long term is to put in fixes when the pop is thriving. But keep in mind that the devs are overworked and it's very hard to find trustworthy people to help you, especially on the red server where the average IQ is only in the double digits.

[Heywood]

Not to feed all the negativity that permeates these forums, but...


http://farm1.staticflickr.com/90/214279544_c0a0c24fb9.jpg

[Nune]

Yet another thread, bringing up a failing Red pop, that isn't clearly directed to the fucks that inhabit the server. The devs can't code rl retards, therefore your problem cant be fixed by Devs.

[reddi lol]

no, this is a thread about the differences between quality assurance and quality control

get w the program idiot

[Faerie Blossom]

Good post.
I personally think there's a lot that we as players on the server could do to help the pop out as well. It's easy to point the fingers at the devs, but I think that the nature of this server and the nature of trash talking, trolling, and griefing isn't conducive to the majority of people that play games. I played on VZ during live and altho it was a hardcore pvp/guild vs guild server, there was still a sense of community and a level of integrity. The amount of personal attacks, constant petitioning for bans, and shit talking alienates a lot of people that would otherwise continue to play on this server.

Yes.

[Doors]

Only so much devs can do.

[Smedy]

Good post.
I personally think there's a lot that we as players on the server could do to help the pop out as well. It's easy to point the fingers at the devs, but I think that the nature of this server and the nature of trash talking, trolling, and griefing isn't conducive to the majority of people that play games. I played on VZ during live and altho it was a hardcore pvp/guild vs guild server, there was still a sense of community and a level of integrity. The amount of personal attacks, constant petitioning for bans, and shit talking alienates a lot of people that would otherwise continue to play on this server.

Claiming shit talking is killing the server, meanwhile the guy is in nihilum. Has never really ever worked hard torwards anything on this server, took part in the 7 months unconsted farming which was triggered by a corrupt GM that banned the only competing guild.

Shit talking doesn't ruin peoples immersion, low level fungi/rogue twinks do. Also having some god damn integrity as a player will help playerbase. If you find yourself picking a side, stick to it and don't be a faggot who guildhops, if there's something people don't have these days it's time. There's absolutely no worse feeling then having spend time getting to know someone and helping them only to have them join the top ranking guild on the server and leave you in the dust. We are here to compete, this is not a job where you climb the corporate ladder until you can reach the highest pixel paycheck.

I play as i preech ******s, loyal to the very end

[Smedy]

Preaching wildly then misspelling the punchline, fuck

[mendan]

blaming nihilum for the state of the server is complete ignorance.


nice try tho

[mendan]

7 months? try 17...

[Silent]

Nihilum is actually one of the many parts, Not the sole reason though. Saying otherwise well, You're either 1) In Nihilum, 2) Trolling/Stupid

[gloinz]

blaming nihilum for the state of the server is complete ignorance.


nice try tho

[Smedy]

swinging hard

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1345161392_281x211.jpg

Not sure what you mean though, the fact that nihilum was loving the fact that their competition got banned and never actually took the argument to the staff, instead they just mindlessly grinded away at pve while others were not playing at all.

If nihilum wasn't the problem, then you guys would have actually said something when that shit went down, you didn't.

[Faerie Blossom]

Nihilum is to blame for the server decline, but so are their competitors. Their integrity is of course called into question when they start recruiting random level 30-somethings and convince every Azrael/Force they can to join them in exchange for loot that would otherwise go to more senior members, but it was a good move for the guild short-term.

Azrael and Force members (the ones with some integrity, that didn't join Nihilum) are to blame because they've given up, and instead of taking action they complain about Nihilum/GMs/admins/exp rate/server repops/CIA conspiracies here on the forums. If you're not willing to hunt down and murder the enemy (or at least try to) anymore, then you have lost the right to point your fingers and cry about them. Without looking like a sore loser or hypocrite anyway.

It's fine if you've become tired of having your hard earned progress eventually amounting to nothing and feel like quitting, but stop living in denial. The bad guys beat you, and you gave up on your team.

Devs do a lot, but they really could be doing more. Here's what I would do if I were a dev (you're probably lucky I'm not):

1. Get rid of blue server. It's unnecessary, and this might increase the population. Even if it doesn't, it frees up donated money that would be better spent on red.

2. End account trading/buying, and go after offenders hard.

3. Closely monitor ooc, and enforce the play nice policy rules (including naming policy). Suspend and ban people until they stop being stupid.

4. Yellow text when a character is suspended or banned. No yellow text for pvp. Maybe reward players for not engaging in pvp for a long while, and using diplomacy to solve disputes. People that know to use their words, and not their fists, could get like titles or something. Jeffery the Compassionate; Melissa the Noble

5. Somehow implement teams. I'd like to see SZ hard-coded teams, that a character can change ONCE through a long involved quest. Some new lore would have to be written, and they would have to choose a new god to worship. Anyone that chose agnostic for their character should just have that character deleted, because come on, how lame is that? If there's magic and dragons and stuff and you're not going to get into mythic religious stuff you're boring and we don't need you. Start over and make a cool RP backstory.

That would improve things a ton, at least for me.

[big league chew]

#1 was pretty good i had a nice chuckle

#2 not funny

#3 also not funny, if it is a joke i dont get it

#4 holy rofl now that ones fuckin funny

#5 just no

[Faerie Blossom]

Not a joke Chewie; if they put me in charge there would be big changes.

[Twain]

Faerie trying to grief everyone off the server. Wasn't Kimm enough?

[Faerie Blossom]

I kinda felt the post was maybe too mean :(

It's how I honestly feel, though. Nihilum pushed way too hard with recruitment and is blue for being that scared after losing like 2 dragons, and Azrael is blah for falling to pieces because they can't work together unless they're winning. It's lack of personal, inner strength that will be the downfall of this server.

[Twain]

I kinda felt the post was maybe too mean :(

It's how I honestly feel, though. Nihilum pushed way too hard with recruitment and is blue for being that scared after losing like 2 dragons, and Azrael is blah for falling to pieces because they can't work together unless they're winning. It's lack of personal, inner strength that will be the downfall of this server.

The reason Nihilum can easily recruit people from Azrael/Force is.... Just join Azrael, you will find out soon enough.

[Faerie Blossom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jc7agl8l8&feature=endscreen&NR=1

[Elderan]

Nihilum is to blame for the server decline, but so are their competitors. Their integrity is of course called into question when they start recruiting random level 30-somethings and convince every Azrael/Force they can to join them in exchange for loot that would otherwise go to more senior members, but it was a good move for the guild short-term.

Azrael and Force members (the ones with some integrity, that didn't join Nihilum) are to blame because they've given up, and instead of taking action they complain about Nihilum/GMs/admins/exp rate/server repops/CIA conspiracies here on the forums. If you're not willing to hunt down and murder the enemy (or at least try to) anymore, then you have lost the right to point your fingers and cry about them. Without looking like a sore loser or hypocrite anyway.

It's fine if you've become tired of having your hard earned progress eventually amounting to nothing and feel like quitting, but stop living in denial. The bad guys beat you, and you gave up on your team.

Devs do a lot, but they really could be doing more. Here's what I would do if I were a dev (you're probably lucky I'm not):

1. Get rid of blue server. It's unnecessary, and this might increase the population. Even if it doesn't, it frees up donated money that would be better spent on red.

2. End account trading/buying, and go after offenders hard.

3. Closely monitor ooc, and enforce the play nice policy rules (including naming policy). Suspend and ban people until they stop being stupid.

4. Yellow text when a character is suspended or banned. No yellow text for pvp. Maybe reward players for not engaging in pvp for a long while, and using diplomacy to solve disputes. People that know to use their words, and not their fists, could get like titles or something. Jeffery the Compassionate; Melissa the Noble

5. Somehow implement teams. I'd like to see SZ hard-coded teams, that a character can change ONCE through a long involved quest. Some new lore would have to be written, and they would have to choose a new god to worship. Anyone that chose agnostic for their character should just have that character deleted, because come on, how lame is that? If there's magic and dragons and stuff and you're not going to get into mythic religious stuff you're boring and we don't need you. Start over and make a cool RP backstory.

That would improve things a ton, at least for me.

First of all Nihilum pulled in some Azrael members who were just old holocaust members who were still friends with those holocaust who went to Nihilum. It is not like Nihilum picked some random Azrael people. Azrael was rolling with 50 people, I don't think losing 1-2 people killed them.

It comes down to two key factors. Leadership is one and Nihilum has a great leader, Azrael/Force doesn't. And your core group of people. Nihilums core group is far superior to Azraels in overall EQ play.

Nihilum does what it is supposed to on this box.

[Colgate]

It comes down to two key factors. Leadership is one and Nihilum has a great leader, Azrael/Force doesn't. And your core group of people. Nihilums core group is far superior to Azraels in overall EQ play.

Nizzar the Disciple

[Kraftwerk]

First of all Nihilum pulled in some Azrael members who were just old holocaust members who were still friends with those holocaust who went to Nihilum. It is not like Nihilum picked some random Azrael people. Azrael was rolling with 50 people, I don't think losing 1-2 people killed them.

Gloinzz
Roggeh
Whistler
Brysn

That's 4 that were plucked from Azrael/Force that I can recall off the top of my head. I'm sure there were a handful more, I stopped playing-ish when the server reset mid afternoon on a Tuesday. This egregious miscount on your numbers is calling your mission to state facts seriously into question.

[Smedy]

i think having spawn timers on static is one of the most retarded things, means people will only logon for 1 hour of raiding during the entirety of a week, and the constant server resets make sure these mob timers never ever move away from eachother

Make it random, embrace the underdog to be able to scout and snipe a mob every now and then, encourage people to be on

More constant + pop more random fighting

Remove the classic static shit timers ffs

[Jenni D]

I personally killed two different nihi today, although one was afk i think (sorry samhain)

svr still fun if you just pvp n pve with pals
doesnt have to include dragons and dkp (unless you never did that in eq previously)

[Smedy]

not sure what timezone you're on tina ,but everytime i logon and port around there's litteraly no one to kill, i might have to disband azrael to find pvp at my timezone, but then i've fucked myself out of any shot at getting sunstrike, shit's classic

[hijinks]

Welcome to the peaks and valleys cycle known as Red99. It's normal, so is people over reacting to it and starting the same things rehashed 100x over. Population will spike and drop here, I tend not to blame in-game actions as much as other games that are released. DarkFall UW finally re-released and to the average PvPr that might have been playing this for nostalgia, it is an attractive alternative.

We're playing a 14-15 year old elf simulator game, how fresh and thriving with life can you expect it to be? Especially with the hate that this server drowns in, unless you're the hardcore type with thick skin it just isn't very fun. I expect the pop to continue to hover where it's at now until Verious or some serious PvP changes such as YT/Leaderboards/etc, you have to give the hardcore PvP crowd something else to grind out other than raids.

[Elderan]

Gloinzz
Roggeh
Whistler
Brysn

That's 4 that were plucked from Azrael/Force that I can recall off the top of my head. I'm sure there were a handful more, I stopped playing-ish when the server reset mid afternoon on a Tuesday. This egregious miscount on your numbers is calling your mission to state facts seriously into question.

Whistler was the only one we went after and waived the 50dkp requirement to bring over. Gloinzz and Roggeh just came over on their own accord and they got no loot until their 50dkp requirement was reached. Brysn was much much later so not sure how you can count him.

[Jenni D]

not sure what timezone you're on tina ,but everytime i logon and port around there's litteraly no one to kill, i might have to disband azrael to find pvp at my timezone, but then i've fucked myself out of any shot at getting sunstrike, shit's classic


I usually play on n off throughout the day uhhh +12 hours ahead of parts of america.
Basically when chewie, salem n co are staying up late.

Theres pvp around, i havent stepped foot on kunark for months besides to buy a spell either. love dat classic eq shiz myself.
Next time im on n i see a target ill see if youre online to give you the location.

PEACE

[mendan]

colgate currently logged on his throw away sektor account and training fear onto nihilum.

nihilum buffed up and got ready for pvp, zoned into azrael wiping to CT, and now the training and griefing begins. sad sight...

[Colgate]

there hasn't been a single train you aspie

[reddi lol]

Im currently taking my coffee induced morning shit at work since its 10:39am.

[STILLnotMORNIN]

Welcome to the peaks and valleys cycle known as Red99. It's normal, so is people over reacting to it and starting the same things rehashed 100x over. Population will spike and drop here, I tend not to blame in-game actions as much as other games that are released. DarkFall UW finally re-released and to the average PvPr that might have been playing this for nostalgia, it is an attractive alternative.

We're playing a 14-15 year old elf simulator game, how fresh and thriving with life can you expect it to be? Especially with the hate that this server drowns in, unless you're the hardcore type with thick skin it just isn't very fun. I expect the pop to continue to hover where it's at now until Verious or some serious PvP changes such as YT/Leaderboards/etc, you have to give the hardcore PvP crowd something else to grind out other than raids.


Basically this..

Rest of you are just crying the same ole tears the box has been hearing for 18 months.. Get over it.. the Devs do this as a hobby and don't give a shit about ur feelings.

[Faerie Blossom]

More than anything (other than this being an emu for a really old game), the population problems can be blamed on us for making this such a hostile environment to play in. Why do we all have to be so mean? :(

[Faerie Blossom]

I hope you're not this big of a pussy in real life and this is just a persona you're roleplaying.

Even if you do have a point it's painful to watch you cry about it on the internet.

Are you referring to me? I'm a little tongue-in-cheek about things, but check this out:

http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=103256

#2 reason for the bluebies not playing here (behind "I don't like pvp"): "I dont like the people or enviroment or the way I am treated on the server."