Feedback Trends from Non UWE Forum Users

_Thresh__Thresh_ Join Date: 2008-01-11 Member: 63385Members
edited December 2010 in NS2 E-Team
With no marketing budget and lots of die-hard feedback in these forums, non-diehard reactions can get drowned out. Not to mention its much more time-consuming to collect and more difficult to piece together. So, along with the compilations of reviews/articles in the other thread, i'll try and compile some reactions and common non-UWE-forum user themes. Opinions will be pulled from comments attached to the reviews/articles and other forums.

*yes* i do have too much spare time at the moment! But, for the sake of credibility, i've run a few of these projects before, studied at Berkley and was mentored by a Berkley/Stanford Alumni for two years. I've just sold my business for some R&R. That said, this effort will be half assed- no stats analysis- i'm just using Google "latest" and reading all mentions of "Natural Selection 2" as they occur.

<b>Current Mood: </b> Mood outside of the UW forums isn't greatly different from inside. Strongest theme is still 'I loved NS1'. While this is generally good- there is still lots of fervent and ardent support for (and a lot of love of) - UW, the flip side of this is that those same people aren't- yet- saying 'I love NS2'.


Edit: Will keep refining these as I find more references and examples. As requested i've added some quote names and links, but note, i'm trying to take average comments, there's enough material out there to support pretty well any position.

Edit: Quick Visualization of Public Interest / Stories

<img src="http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/976/29837102.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Searches- Effect of News Stories etc 2010

<img src="http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/357/89089779.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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Comments

  • _Thresh__Thresh_ Join Date: 2008-01-11 Member: 63385Members
    edited December 2010
    <b>Weapon Bob</b> This seems pretty minor, but its come up a few times. By CoD et al fans I assume. Marines are being described as 'floaty' and 'stiff'. The reference is both to weapon bob and more general animation.

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    <i>The_Architect</i>: <a href="http://forums.gametrailers.com/thread/new-natural-selection-2-gamepl/1156317?page=2&" target="_blank">http://forums.gametrailers.com/thread/new-...317?page=2&</a>
    "where is the headbobbing and weapon swaying? Its like your floating on ice and shooting a gun which is nailed to your arm! lol. Other than that, the concept is looking pretty good."

    <i>Drytaffin:</i> <a href="http://www.wefrag.com/forums/nofrag/topics/309277" target="_blank">http://www.wefrag.com/forums/nofrag/topics/309277</a>
    "It looks to me pretty good.
    Too bad the animations and effects are still pretty bad."

    <i>Max:</i> <a href="http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=24946693" target="_blank">http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=24946693</a>
    "No head-bobbing looks so awkward"
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  • _Thresh__Thresh_ Join Date: 2008-01-11 Member: 63385Members
    edited December 2010
    <b>New Players</b> // Revising


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    "looks great love the RTS/commander style gameplay, never played the first would probably get ripped to bits in this doh.
    would you even recommend it for new players?"

    <i>TheBigJ:</i> <a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/11/20/natural-selection-2-beta-begins/" target="_blank">http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/11/20...-2-beta-begins/</a>
    "Thanks for that video, but we still need a video explaining the game to newbies like myself. Every second word was something I’d never heard of, so It was very hard to follow."

    <i>ninjabeaver1: </i> <a href="http://au.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=27404200" target="_blank">http://au.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_m...pic_id=27404200</a>
    "As far as I know, the first one had a real hardcore community much like the DOTA/HON community and it was pretty unfriendly to new players. NS2 is suppose to make it easier to get into but still aims to be the most competitive multiplayer game ever."

    <i>hotsauce:</i> <a href="http://www.genmay.com/showthread.php?t=833291" target="_blank">http://www.genmay.com/showthread.php?t=833291</a>
    "what are those hovering drones the marines have?
    are there new buildings as well?
    do they still have the "dynamic infestation"?"
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  • HughHugh Cameraman San Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    I'm following your threads intently _Thresh_ keep it up! Very interesting.
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  • _Thresh__Thresh_ Join Date: 2008-01-11 Member: 63385Members
    edited December 2010
    <b>Game Development Delays</b> This is a pretty obvious theme, but i'll include it. There are lots of mentions of the project delay. As a theme this is often tied to "UWE bit off more than they can chew".
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    <i>Bikouchu:</i> <a href="http://au.gamespot.com/pc/action/naturalselectionsource/show_msgs.php?login=true&topic_id=m-1-57235918&pid=935065" target="_blank">http://au.gamespot.com/pc/action/naturalse...&pid=935065</a>
    "Waits for Delay.. 5 five years eta."

    <i>Saiku_Zombie:</i> <a href="http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1211073" target="_blank">http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1211073</a>
    "I've been waiting YEARS for NS2! Could never workout why they didn't just make a cheap port as a time filler."

    <i>proxy:</i> <a href="http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=170163" target="_blank">http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessag...topic_id=170163</a>
    "Flayra made a giant mistake when he decided to design a new engine from scratch for this game, the reality is that with the limited resources and funds they have it just isn't feasible to design a new engine that's going to be good."
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  • _Thresh__Thresh_ Join Date: 2008-01-11 Member: 63385Members
    edited May 2011
    <b>Wheres the pain</b> Originally I thought TF2 manconomy might be the fire on the boat, i.e. the biggest group of potential customers unhappy with their current game or the direction it's heading. Possibly a bit early.

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    <i>4wardtrsitan</i> <a href="http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=783945&page=13" target="_blank">http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthre...945&page=13</a>
    "back to boring tf2 i go until it gets some optimization.."

    <i>Icestorm11</i>: <a href="http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/935065-natural-selection-2/57247155" target="_blank">http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/935065-natu...tion-2/57247155</a>
    "and it is amazing, a far step away from all the other shooters out there and a great sequal. Hopefully it with fill the hole that the TF2 mannconomy made,"

    <i>schetter:</i> <a href="http://www.gotfrag.com/tf2/forums/thread/431273/" target="_blank">http://www.gotfrag.com/tf2/forums/thread/431273/</a>
    "I've noticed in a good deal of these 'where is the community headed' offseason fodder threads a trending thought: that Natural Selection 2 is going to cannibalize a discernible portion of the TF2 competitive scene.
    The impending release honestly wasn't on my radar at all until about a week or so ago, so I'm just curious how many of you are legitimately amped up about this to the point where you'd compete in it over TF- "

    <i>LG_PainUser</i> <a href="http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/709314/Interview-with-Pro-StarCraft-2-Player-Taylor-LGPainUser-Parsons.html?utm_source=g4tv&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=TheFeed" target="_blank">http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/709314/I...ampaign=TheFeed</a>
    "What games are you looking forward to next year?
    Natural Selection 2 to finally release on Steam!!"

    <i>Legend9407</i>: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWG7TnRmqHg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWG7TnRmqHg</a>
    "finaly something new to play..."

    my post
    <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=111897&st=20" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...11897&st=20</a>
    "Given UWE will already be distributing through steam- the easiest market to reach for those sort of numbers will be bored TF2 players. There is a big community of older players on there. They tend to like the strategic/team-work side (rather than the twitch fest that is CS). They have alot of money to spend (just look at how much Valve is making off the Manco store). Alot of them are dissatisfied with the new 'trading systems' which are polluting the game"
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  • _Thresh__Thresh_ Join Date: 2008-01-11 Member: 63385Members
    edited December 2010
    <b>Competitors in FPS/RTS</b>. Savage [Freeware] and Tremulous [Turned Freeware] are most often compared to NS2. There is no mention of Nuclear Dawn, Savage 2, Tremulous 2 or any other RTS/FPS being "better" or "more awaited" etc. Seems for the moment UWE is still looked on as owning this genre. Again will update as I go through more material.

    Other games mentioned alongside NS2: AvP, Gloom

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    Jinxx: <a href="http://starcraftarena.net/forum/index.php?topic=33523.0" target="_blank">http://starcraftarena.net/forum/index.php?topic=33523.0</a>
    "Part 1 had FPS / RTS components. Savage 2 has the same, its a FPS / TPS / RPG / RTS"

    Sothsila: <a href="http://www.bittah.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=366307" target="_blank">http://www.bittah.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=366307</a>
    "I remember savage 1, never played this ns game though. I could use something to fill the hole that savage 1 left (and savage 2 failed to fulfill)"

    <img src="http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8260/57961846.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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  • zexzex Join Date: 2009-10-07 Member: 68978Members
    good idea for a thread but you should probably source your quotes
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  • thecowsaysmoothecowsaysmoo Join Date: 2008-02-02 Member: 63557Members
    can you add the players name that said each thing?. very cool stuff thresh.
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  • _Thresh__Thresh_ Join Date: 2008-01-11 Member: 63385Members
    edited December 2010
    <b>Pricing: </b> Definitely feel for the person trying to price this game :) So will include some forum reactions on pricing. Very mixed reactions. I've seen a few comments wanting to wait for a steam sale- particularly on IndieDB!. $35 is occasioning just a few too expensive comments- est. 5%. $20 is occasioning lots of bargain comments.
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    <i>E-Man:</i> <a href="http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/649692-natural-selection-2-information-discussion-thread-3.html" target="_blank">http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/649692-n...n-thread-3.html</a>
    "Wow, this looks pretty awesome. I never played the first, but I think I may buy this one!
    Edit: some more thoughts
    Wow, this game is priced cheap!! $20 for the standard!
    Also, why is the aliens eyes in their mouths? At least, the players viewpoint is :\"

    <i>Heliocentric:</i> <a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/11/20/natural-selection-2-beta-begins/" target="_blank">http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/11/20...-2-beta-begins/</a>
    "I certainly want the game, but now its price has leaped up and its on steam i’ll be waiting for the post release sale."

    <i>Girlpower</i>: <a href="http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1594881" target="_blank">http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/show...d.php?t=1594881</a>
    "34.95 for the game is just to steep. I don't have a problem paying for a game but for a game like this no thanks. This game screams 19.99 at most."

    <i>AoWPR</i>: <a href="http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/649692-natural-selection-2-information-discussion-thread-6.html" target="_blank">http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/649692-n...n-thread-6.html</a>
    "This looks sick. $20 and Steamworks... no reason not to buy"
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    This is a goldmine for UWE, too bad they're busy busy busy and mostly lurk around NS2 General Discussion :/
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  • _Thresh__Thresh_ Join Date: 2008-01-11 Member: 63385Members
    edited December 2010
    <b>Gameplay</b> Most mention of "gameplay" atm is about fps/lag, how good NS1 was etc rather than true current gameplay iteration. Fade tele effects- pretty true to this forum- are probably getting the most mention; albeit from an 'isn't this cool standpoint'. There's also been some mention of the simplified air control in competitive forums. Needs more reference.


    Will keep reading.

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    <i>Crazyfingers</i>: <a href="http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75412&page=2" target="_blank">http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread....5412&page=2</a>
    "right now i feel there aren't enough options or rewards for playing well and too much of a teams progression lies in the hands of the commander who really doesn't have that many options at the moment. It's an FPS/RTS hybrid and the RTS component just isn't complex enough in the current iteration."

    <i>Flipster103</i>: <a href="http://forums.steamgames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=18746545" target="_blank">http://forums.steamgames.com/forums/showth....php?p=18746545</a>
    "I've been playing Natural Selection since 2002. It's the only game you can't get bored of and Natural Selection 2 is going to be amazing."

    <i>brownymaster</i>: <a href="http://www.gotfrag.com/tf2/forums/thread/431273/" target="_blank">http://www.gotfrag.com/tf2/forums/thread/431273/</a>
    "Air control right now is totally messed up though, hold left or right and you'll pretty much move in that direction."
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