To a degree you're right, but the difference is in how someone communicates their displeasure.Originally Posted by TheNeoReaper
With the understanding that we're all taught that it's the "squeaky wheel that gets the grease" and that when we're frustrated have the right to vent with the goal of having it produce some outcome, the truth of it is that "bullhorn whining" really is a juvenile approach. An all-too-common and majority one in forums, but juvenile nonetheless.
The "this crap's broke and I'm quitting" approach piles complainers into a nice easy pile of other whiners that does communicate to devs that some number of player are experiencing some common issue. Sure. For the complainer there is some validation that they aren't the only one that is frustrated, and it can help create a nice hierarchy among the whiners so that the one judged to be the most authoritative can rise to become "king of the whiners" (with all of the rights and privileges that come with the office).
There are other avenues by which you can complain, still be the "squeaky wheel", and actually be a greater part of what might be a speedier solution.
A) File a bug report through channels. At least then the bugs get registered into a database that I assure you gets priority over forum venting.
b) if you insist on forum venting, be just a tiny bit more descriptive. "I'm pissed" can probably be assumed. You have a problem? What was it, when did it happen (clock time/time zone), working alone, alone in a crowd, or grouped, location on the map. Can it be replicated easily and in the same place or grouping condition? The more detailed the better. An OP and follow up info from others with similar or comparable issues is [i]helpful[\i], and might just get a tiny bit more action than fireballing the forums with "this sucks they don't care about us" drivel.
I absolutely get that people likely wouldn't complain unless they cared about something and wanted expectations to be met. I also understand that satisfied people almost never provide feedback because, you know, they're satisfied. As well, very experienced gamers (particularly those that have been through more than one high-profile large scale MMO release-and-refine cycle (which can take many many months and a number of patch cycles), know that there is a productive way to play a role in helping devs understand bugs, and as a result produce well-developed and highly attractive gaming experiences for the playing community.
So, pick your approach - They're two flavors of the same thing. ***** and whine, or discuss and submit through channels. The former might feel a bit better in terms of venting and again you'll find a community just like you to pal around with. The latter will place you into the class of players who is helping the devs a bit more intentionally and may help them test problems more directly and produce better patches overall.
Just my $.02.
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