undrssthemachine

@psnshe69mee

I liked the 30 hour combat tech demo for the engine they released, I didn't realize a game came out too

@Skyydragonn

Actually I didn't say any of that.

What I said, was that the majority of people on the internet who throw around design advice to huge game companies from the security of their own chair, "Armchair designers", very rarely take into account the big picture.

The person who has the great idea for a game, and posts about it, that's not who we're talking about, the person who is making their own game and want's to try something crazy with it, we're not talking about them either. Who we are talking about, is the angry, 2 page wall of text posting, entitled forum goer, who is convinced that he knows, better than the entire team of developers, who have been working on a game for years, exactly what they need to do to fix a game. That is an armchair designer, and he's usually wrong, but has enough people "/sign" his post that he thinks he's something other than someone yelling at his TV that he could throw a better pass than the quarterback.

And perhaps you're giving the unwashed masses too much credit if you think this isn't the case.

@cingeto

I wouldn't be surprised at all, and if someone is building an XBLA game, or an indie PC/mobile game, I would tell them the same thing, but there are also tons of indie and small games that fail, because they aren't accessible.

Going for it is a great idea, and if you're looking to create a game, I agree 100%, but creating a game on your own, and designing something like combat for a AAA MMO aren't the same thing, nor can you take the same approach.

My initial post was a little disjointed, and didn't express what i needed (as stated in another post, even now I'm totally on the phone with a customer) Maybe when I get home I'll explain a bit better, but honestly, in 4 hours, I doubt anyone will care.

@epilepticemu

Actually that is pretty much what I was going for. I'm at work and the post went through a few revisions, and some of my examples (all of them) were left out.

But yes, my point is that most armchair designers focus on what they want, and not what makes a good game, and that's not to say that everyone who makes the game they want to play will fail, or that everyone who makes the game everyone want's to play will succeed, but realizing that you are not the only gamer in the world is a huge skill in game design.

To directly address your anecdote, You can build a house you want to live in, and you can build a plane you want to fly in, but that doesn't make you qualified to do the same thing for others. The same thing goes with game design, If you're looking for the area of game development that you were referencing with your combat article (which I did read) it's Design.

The biggest failing, and the thing that separates the people who make it in to game design, and the people who sit around talking about how they have the best idea for a game ever; is that the Game designer realizes that he's not just making the game for themselves. Most Armchair designers don't get this, they assume that because they like something that everyone does, and so anything other than their ideas is poor design.

Also, While I'm sure it's not your intent, I'm certain that more than a few community managers, game designers and writers won't find this to complimentary.

Eve players: Bitch for years about how walking in stations was supposed to be out forever ago. Then complain about priorities as soon as they start implementing it.

@Silverangel

While not specifically confirmed, I don't think they're implying it will be expac, just that it will be introduced after launch, there are a number of things they have slated for post launch, that aren't expac features.

I feel like romance options in an MMO feel tacked on, even if it is Bioware and their games tend to have them.

That having been said, I will wait with bated breath for the day this is added if for no other reasons than to filter out all the homophobic A-holes, the less there are in game, the more my enjoyment of the game goes up.

Actually, I believe it was stated (though it's hard for me to say because I was just reading liveblogs) that the group playing EV on stage was set to "Easy mode" they've talked about easy mode before but only confirmed that normal and Hard will be available, though it seems like they've contemplating putting an easy mode in.

@FredFredrickson

I actually wished I would have bought a retail copy ( I got mine on steam), onlive is perfect for things like my laptop, which wouldn't be able to play the game. I enjoy onlive a lot more than i thought I would, But even if I didn't intend to use it, I'd be pissed that gamestop was taking something that i was entitled to by purchasing the game, without telling me.