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So Much Outside Support Needed For This Game
greenXen
Posts: 1,227 Member
I resent having to use so many programs and being sent all over the place to play this game.
I’ve seen mentioned in interviews and articles how complicated EA thinks the games themselves are becoming internally, but do you realize how much support is actually needed from a host of other programs and sites to get this game to run? How purchasing the paid versions of many of these outside programs is cost prohibitive for many and using the free ones opens players up to downloading all kinds of plum?
********
It’s a given that The Sims 4 game needs to be downloaded.
But, then Origin is required too.
And, the game is riddled with errors, so to make a bug report:
I need to come to The Sims Forum to make the report.
I need to make use of an Image Editor to present the errors in an easy-to-understand manner and to capture errors outside of Live or Build modes where the game’s internal camera doesn’t work.
I also need a Video Capture Program for those instances where the error is outside of Live or Build modes where the game’s internal camera doesn’t work or the error is with the video capture system itself.
I need an Image Hosting Site to upload the images to since they can’t be directly uploaded to this site.
I need a Video Hosting Site since the videos of bugs can’t be directly uploaded here.
I need a File Hosting Site to post the .txt error files.
Things then need to be double reported at EA AHQ too since there is no indication that any developer looks here. (Posting there is a bigger deal than here because the rules are stricter and, as I understand it, a ban from that site means losing access to your whole EA account.)
Of course, there’s a low probability that anyone at Maxis or EA sees any of this at either location, so in order to really get noticed, I’d have to register for Facebook.
Or even better, Twitter.
Then, when I wanted to change the color of a shirt:
I had to download Color Magic.
This, of course, required S4PE to use. Then the production of Color Magic stopped.
So, I had to go register for Another Forum on a 3rd Party site and give out personal info like my email to them.
Then I had to download Another Modding Program.
I also had to spend time on numerous sites trying to find tutorials.
I eventually gave up. I don’t use CC or Mods, but if I were to use them I’d be obligated to sign up for more forums and blogs.
********
Being able to upload files to The Sims Forums, establishing a proper developer feedback system, and including CASt or BodyShop or something similar with the game would have seriously cut back on the number of programs needed to play.
I’ve seen mentioned in interviews and articles how complicated EA thinks the games themselves are becoming internally, but do you realize how much support is actually needed from a host of other programs and sites to get this game to run? How purchasing the paid versions of many of these outside programs is cost prohibitive for many and using the free ones opens players up to downloading all kinds of plum?
********
It’s a given that The Sims 4 game needs to be downloaded.
But, then Origin is required too.
And, the game is riddled with errors, so to make a bug report:
I need to come to The Sims Forum to make the report.
I need to make use of an Image Editor to present the errors in an easy-to-understand manner and to capture errors outside of Live or Build modes where the game’s internal camera doesn’t work.
I also need a Video Capture Program for those instances where the error is outside of Live or Build modes where the game’s internal camera doesn’t work or the error is with the video capture system itself.
I need an Image Hosting Site to upload the images to since they can’t be directly uploaded to this site.
I need a Video Hosting Site since the videos of bugs can’t be directly uploaded here.
I need a File Hosting Site to post the .txt error files.
Things then need to be double reported at EA AHQ too since there is no indication that any developer looks here. (Posting there is a bigger deal than here because the rules are stricter and, as I understand it, a ban from that site means losing access to your whole EA account.)
Of course, there’s a low probability that anyone at Maxis or EA sees any of this at either location, so in order to really get noticed, I’d have to register for Facebook.
Or even better, Twitter.
Then, when I wanted to change the color of a shirt:
I had to download Color Magic.
This, of course, required S4PE to use. Then the production of Color Magic stopped.
So, I had to go register for Another Forum on a 3rd Party site and give out personal info like my email to them.
Then I had to download Another Modding Program.
I also had to spend time on numerous sites trying to find tutorials.
I eventually gave up. I don’t use CC or Mods, but if I were to use them I’d be obligated to sign up for more forums and blogs.
********
Being able to upload files to The Sims Forums, establishing a proper developer feedback system, and including CASt or BodyShop or something similar with the game would have seriously cut back on the number of programs needed to play.
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Post edited by greenXen on
31
Comments
Where are we going, and why am I in this hand basket?!
Social media is whatever. I personally don't think you should have to make accounts to share issues you're having with a game because you'll more than likely be missed or ignored for other posts talking about how amazingly perfect 4 is.
Sometimes your creativity is limited where you use it most, but you can use those limitations to inspire new forms of creativity you may never have thought of beforehand.
Sims 4 Studio is a type of tool that Maxis could have easily included, but because of either time constraints or an "Eh, the fans will make it eventually." attitude, or both, didn't. It's not that I don't appreciate the game itself or the wonderful tools that fellow members of the player community have made to go with it. No. It's just that Maxis did set a precedent with TS2's BodyShop, and it's disappointing to see them not continue with such internal support in later titles.
(I'm actually as annoyed with the lack of an official BodyShop utility as many folks who are upset that CASt or Toddlers didn't make it into the game. I just don't voice my opinion about it quite so often...especially not as much as the "Family Play isn't as fun without Toddlers" crowd. I just do as best I can with the ingenious tools that others have made to supplement what wasn't included.)
No, you just won't be able to use AHQ.
Also, there's no NEED to report on both sites. They read them both but AHQ has more possibilities to keep stuff organized (+ if you post at AHQ, I'll know about them and can blog about the ones that have solutions but that's of course just a selfish reason to make you post there)
Please do not send me PMs/post on my wall if you're looking for help. I can't attend to those. You can find me at AnswerHQ.
How to report bugs at AnswersHQ
AHQ Tutorial
No, they really are less likely to see it here, and they certainly won't respond to anything. No one has requested any save files from this site where they have at AHQ. No one responded to my comments about the text errors reported here where they have at AHQ. There is not the same response as there is there.
There is also no method for tracking the number of people experiencing the same problem, so they are more likely to brush the issue aside as a limited problem.
Character Witness Thread: There's A Story Behind Every Sim
Download these characters and more from The Gallery
Follow me on Twitter @greenXenSims
Well, I'm not entirely innocent to that.
Also I did see them ask for saves on here as well. Not very often.
At AHQ it's mostly me asking for them but yes, there's the occasional CM that does.
Please do not send me PMs/post on my wall if you're looking for help. I can't attend to those. You can find me at AnswerHQ.
How to report bugs at AnswersHQ
AHQ Tutorial
The response is the same since AHQ isn't staffed by anyone who possesses valid knowledge so you're better off reporting it here and sharing your concerns with the community. You also forgot to mention the operating system support issues which are resultant of mandatory installation of runtime components, inadequate options for file management, and problems with launching games within the security context of the origin client.
People too often seem to think that it doesn't matter who of EA's employees read their message. But I am sure that it does because as an employee you will rarely react to something which you think that doesn't concern you. I have seen this many times (in different companies).
There really is no reason to report anything in AHQ since they're not gathering information accurately, they're not qualified to recognize or solve any of those problems, and they refuse input from the parties who are more educated than they are since they can't respond in any official capacity. Since they're not receiving user communication in an acceptable manner there is no reason to send anyone into that forum. Let them report it here so everyone can see what they're experiencing and provide the appropriate level of support.
The developers will detect the majority of what they're reporting whether or not anyone posts their complaints in AHQ since they all stem from the same core failures which no one in AHQ will ever comprehend.
I agree with you that this would be ideal. Either one forum for all or different forums with a clear goal what to post where but it doesn't work out that way as a lot of people hang out here and then don't want to go to a different site to report their stuff.
There are of course different admin and CM on both sites but I know that the QA people read both forums.
Please do not send me PMs/post on my wall if you're looking for help. I can't attend to those. You can find me at AnswerHQ.
How to report bugs at AnswersHQ
AHQ Tutorial
There really is no reason to report anything in AHQ since they're not gathering information accurately, they're not qualified to recognize or solve any of those problems, and they refuse input from the parties who are more educated than they are since they can't respond in any official capacity. Since they're not receiving user communication in an acceptable manner there is no reason to send anyone into that forum. Let them report it here so everyone can see what they're experiencing and provide the appropriate level of support.
The developers will detect the majority of what they're reporting whether or not anyone posts their complaints in AHQ since they all stem from the same core failures which no one in AHQ will ever comprehend.[/quote]
What are you talking about?
Those statements are fairly well articulated so there shouldn't be any confusion and if you're interested in discovering what I'm referring to you can browse and analyze the history of "The Sims 4 Bug Reports" forum in AHQ. If you have a specific question I'll gladly respond to it.
Oh so you're not him? I thought you were the same person but with different user names as your writing style is very similar. Never mind
AHQ is great for help as it's players helping players.
And the players are more educated than those who are abusing them within and blocking them from AHQ therefore we don't have any reason to send them there. Keeping everyone within the active community is the best solution.
I haven't mentioned any specific participant and they don't decide anything since they're not representatives of EA or maxis which is why they can't respond with an 'absolute' answer for any query. I don't really have any grudge against AHQ, I just don't see any reason to tolerate violations of professional and educational standards from any group or person who doesn't even comprehend the product they claim to support voluntarily and unofficially out of their own passion for it.
it would be better for them to stop responding to user reports.
No, they don't decide anything since those forums aren't recognized by EA as anything which should be considered or responded to formally, if at all, and I haven't mentioned anything about 'locking threads and banning members, and being selective about bug reports' - I'm accusing them of failure to support the product appropriately while having no authority or qualification to contradict anything reported by those who are responding to them, or to tell anyone how or when to respond to a user since they're not contributing anything more than the user. Here are crinrict's statements regarding the validity of the AHQ bug report forum:
As far as the devs, they do support the product by issuing a latch each month, sometimes sooner with bug fixes.
According to crinrict's statements which I've copied and pasted above, they don't send anything and they're not qualified to evaluate anything, they just gather and list, then the devs may or may not review the content of the forum therefore when engineers tell them how to identify and analyze failures, they're the ones who should pay attention and respond in a humble manner.
I respect the devs and EA therefore whether or not they're posting patches is irrelevant to my argument since I'm arguing in defense of their property and development practices.
Only the gurus can delete, move, lock , change posts and threads, ban users in here. Guru status means you work for EA. Crin helps with bugs, takes reports and gives them to EA . Im not sure if Crin is a mod but she is not a Guru. blunote00 is also a mod in here. She will report things to ea but she can not change posts, remove them, move threads ect.