of course it is. *sigh* reading way too much into the words i use is getting annoying. and you did contradict yourself by saying in one statement that Larian should be insulted that i even suggest that they rely on us for support. i didn't say they were relying on us as beta testers, but as a reliable source for feedback on issues that they cannot possibly duplicate because lets face it: the cost for every possible combination of computer system, hardware, operating system, is prohibitive, as is the manhours needed to test the various combinations of gameplay they have made available in the game. there are a high number of combinations possible with the skills, the characters, the items the interactions, etc. Nevermind they have other projects and cannot devote 100% of their time to this one product. Never did I say that they rely on us as a QA or beta test group. So, next.
Further, I never said that bug reporting is a bad thing. I am a customer advocate for a good product. I just fail to be constrained by blatant consumer tunnel vision. I recognize that with new ideas or projects there is bound to be some margin for error, as we do not live in a perfect world, per se. The consumer fails to understand what exactly it takes to create the end result. the average consumer simply sees the product on the shelf and says, neat I want 3 of them and they purchase it. If there is an issue, naturally, because the world is the way it is, they desire things to be hassle free because I'm sure they have enough to worry about. this is all fine and well. So they take it back or they contact the company for resolution. This is exactly what I advocate, do one or the other. DO NOT waste pointless energy (I mean if you really want to, fine, but you end up solving nothing by doing so) throwing around baseless accusations and hate. This is the thing I had a problem with and I repeatedly attempt to educate you on this fine point and clarify this with you people, and for some reason its like talking to a brick wall. You don't LISTEN. Instead you are stuck on the "I'm right and you are wrong" falacy. Which, by the way is not where I am at. Mine is one way of thinking, which in practice for myself I have learned to be particularly effective. I am simply trying to share the wealth. If the world at large chooses not to listen, I will still maintain my view and still share it. THis will not stop. I have tried the other way. I know from experience that it doesn't work and actually can work against oneself. Been there done that.
BEing proactive and providing information to the developers, which is exactly the same thing as the feedback you say they depend on can be done without shouting loudly, "you suck you f-ing thieves, you pulled a good one on me, and took my money, buyer beware etc etc etc." this solves nothing at all. If you want to think that way, fine, but you are being extremely closed minded and limited in the scope of your vision. The classic, "its not my problem, you fix it syndrome". By providing feedback without the expletives and blame-shifting, one helps the responsible party desire to shoulder the responsibility further: hey, i purchased this, and I'm a quite irate about this. Here's what happened, I need this resolved, I would appreciate a solution, etc etc.; thereby engendering a sense of community and working together to come to a common resolution. Now sometimes a solution is possible. Sometimes it is not. I know this is hard to swallow, because we live in a world of disappointment and one would like some form of escapism to work for them. But when you remember that you did choose to experience game, or whatever you choose to experience, try to remember that you have to take the bad with the good. its a part of life. Attitude is 9/10's of your reality. shifting that attitude will work wonders.
what part of this is so difficult for you people to comprehend? do you like it when someone gets upset when you make a mistake, and they choose to berate you and put you down, and behave in a generally abusive fashion, making you feel worse than ever for the mistake, no matter how small it is? Or would you prefer that they attempt to understanding why it went wrong, and offer a positive feedback and suggestion to make it better? All that the said negativity will do is create animosity and resentment, unless the recipient is broad enough in vision to think as Christ did when He was crucified: "Forgive them father, they know not what they do." Even then, such an outlook is not easy. I lived with this type of negativity growing up so i know first hand exactly how harmful it can be, but that is neither here nor there in this discussion. The point is: I have experience to back up my argument. Thus far I must point out that I'm the only person who has been able to consistently defend my position with sound logic drawn from this experience, while remaining as objective as possible.
enjoy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
by the way, why is it that any given number of individuals have to take a mistake so personally and decide that Larian or any other company is out to get them?
