Feedback: Producer's Letter April – 2011

[gakj3]

Please put out letters that actually discuss items that haven't already been announced. Your letters are more like a summary for those that have lived under a rock for long periods of time. Truthfully, hate to sound like a troll here, but really, I wasted a couple minutes of my time reading the letter.

Just calling it as I see it.

haha i thought the same thing. after the first two paragraphs i skimmed over the rest since ive already read it multiple times before.

seems like just another marketing technique.

how about something with actual substance?

[Lomeloth]

I thought it was a fine Producer's Letter on the whole. Being the anniversary letter, some reviewing of past highlights is to be expected. I do agree it was on the light side concerning future content, but it did cover the major things to come and the important business side news of taking control of European service. With one update just released and another on the heels of the letter, it's a balancing act of how much else to say versus what to leave for future letters.

The complete lack of Store plugs was nice. It kept the focus on the game (past and future) and the players (unifying the North American and European communities). That's where I want to see it.

[MummyLord]

Not a word about the new PvMP zone (or, now, lack thereof). I'm guessing we'll never see it at this point.

True. But at least he mentioned 'troll' as a feature of yesteryear. I haven't seen one in a very long time (at least on BW). Other than that it was blah, blah, blah. (I'm sure it means more to those that pve thought so I am in no way raining on anything he said on that subject...just sour grapes from me. I know my place as a customer)

[abrahamL]

I like Rowan, but...

WE WANT KATE...

WE WANT KATE....

WE WANT KATE.....

and so on and so forth....

[Overtone]

Nothing new here. Also noticeably absent is any mention of the store, lol.

Hold your horses...I think I found it:

"As a producer, I’ve had the honor to attend gamer events and conventions in Europe over the last few years – such as gamescom by purchasing a Writ of Passage from the Store for swift traveling across the world."

Let the QQ begin...

[WulfiamKnightstar]

Nothing relevant for the last year or maybe nothing worth highlighting.

No mention of one of Isengards main features being canceled -> New PVMP Zone. A official statement would be nice.

[nimrodblack]

Seriously guys....turbine is fairly regular with updates and usually does not advertise the additions well in advance. Its been this way for years now. They will add more stuff before RoI.....keep your pants on.

[LordRingz]

A little light on details. However, I don't think people should start crying about the end of the world and the sky falling regarding content updates. I think the LOTRO brass are intelligent enough to realize that you need to have at least some content updates between Update 3 and Isengard. However, I wouldn't expect major updates in that time. Turbine should dedicate most of its resources to Isengard in order to make it a quality expansion.

This ^ /chars

[jambit1]

Forgive me for being nostalgic... But there was more between 2007 and 2009 that could've been included. Like how you had to suck it up and play it or leave it as Turbine actually had a spine then, and forced you to play their way, or hit the highway. And it was actually fun! How about the old Great Barrow maze that was all one big maze where you went in through a door without having to make any prefference selections. Fornost the the OLD way. Raids may be the in thing. PvMP, PVP, and PveP whatevers. But it ain't so much MY thing! :P Oh, and I love the spoiler on the new level cap. The expected that I have been working on my main for. I saw THAT one coming before it was announced. I still await the announcement of flying mounts. Will it be Eagles or Dragons? Hmmm... You will probably do both. The day you give into the masses and start making motor vehicles though, will be the day I throw my hard copy of The Shadows of Angmar into the garbage like old worn out frisbees.

[Elderban]

No mention of one of Isengards main features being canceled -> New PVMP Zone. A official statement would be nice.

Agreed. Finding out about it from a third party is pretty bad, not getting any official word as to why is even worse. I'm guessing they're hoping that it just blows over.

[SellingTheDrama]

Seriously guys....turbine is fairly regular with updates and usually does not advertise the additions well in advance. Its been this way for years now. They will add more stuff before RoI.....keep your pants on.

i doubt it.

they have ROI taking up resources.

they have resources devoted to bringing EU into the fold.

they have already canceled the promised pvmp update.

they just dont have any more to devote to a update 4.

we will get hotfixes and patches along with summer and fall festivals.

thats it.

[UnlikelyBeing]

Not a very informative letter really. What concerns me is this repeated mentioning of a 24 man raid. I don't have a problem with there being a 24 man raid in the game, however there is no mention of any new 12 man raid coming with Isenguard and with the level cap increase the existing 12 mans will become obsolete.

Can any dev shed a light on this and tell us there is also a new 12 man raid for Isenguard in the works... pretty please?

[Lohi]

The letter is just fine. It's about stuff in the past, since that is the entire and total point of this anniversary letter. It is intentionally a walk down memory lane. This letter is sort of a surprise, since we recently had a producer's letter and it didn't feel like time for the next one. And yet despite getting an extra bonus letter, people are griping about it.

I can't figure out why people are so upset that they aren't talking details about future stuff. Sort of like people freaking out because Kate used the word "store" three times in a very very long letter; apparently one is not allowed to mention a feature that is in the game and which many players are interested in. So how will they announce Isengard purchase options, will they say "you can upgrade via the feature-that-shall-not-be-named"?

We had a huge content update with update 3, we've got new upcoming skirmishes and a raid (likely part of an update), and a new expansion. Which sounds like great news. And yet people are still panicked that there's no new content like we're wandering in the wilderness.

Lighten up, it's just a game. Do you really want this to be like other MMOs where producers and devs refuse to say anything for fear of starting another rage war? As the veterans should know, we get the information when it's ready and not before and we should be glad that Turbine is still talking to us.

[jewahe]

I really, really, really hate being negative, but...

Why was this letter released?

The first two producer's letters were good; they provided solid information about the development plans for the near future. The last two, however, have been mostly fluff, and seem more suited to a newsletter "feel-good" piece.

Somewhere along the way, it seems the someone forgot the purpose behind the letters. Each producer's letter should have more meat (or bacon) to it.

[DarkCntry]

I really, really, really hate being negative, but...

Why was this letter released?

The first two producer's letters were good; they provided solid information about the development plans for the near future. The last two, however, have been mostly fluff, and seem more suited to a newsletter "feel-good" piece.

Somewhere along the way, it seems the someone forgot the purpose behind the letters. Each producer's letter should have more meat (or bacon) to it.

One word, Anniversary...don't like it, don't read it. *shrug*

[dotfive]

Seemed kind of light on content this time, but still kinda interesting...

[Elderban]

i doubt it.

they have ROI taking up resources.

they have resources devoted to bringing EU into the fold.

they have already canceled the promised pvmp update.

they just dont have any more to devote to a update 4.

we will get hotfixes and patches along with summer and fall festivals.

thats it.

And don't forget that they are working on an "unnamed" MMO as well, which we'll probably hear about during E3.

But, sill, if they're spreading their Dev's and NetOps that thin, then it sounds like they need to do more hiring. "Not enough Devs" is the excuse they used prior to the WB buyout, F2P's "tripled revenues" and the $40 million plus in development money they got from the buyout. Now what's the excuse?

[longlandm]

/zzzzz

*wink* Did I miss something new? ... Nope...

/zzzzz

[Delaney]

Seriously guys....turbine is fairly regular with updates and usually does not advertise the additions well in advance.

If you're talking about the period from launch until Moria was released, I'd agree. The period since then, not so much, particularly if we're talking new landmasses.

Agreed. Finding out about it from a third party is pretty bad, not getting any official word as to why is even worse. I'm guessing they're hoping that it just blows over.

That would be Turbine's SOP in recent years.

[Inarion]

That's it? (sigh)

[EldarMenil]

Some reply's remind us that not all LOTRO players are mature....

Anyway, i have to thank all LOTRO team for making this huge move to FTP. I was hopping i could play this game since it was released but never had the money do spend every single month. Now i can play a pay for what i need (and i already paid some content).

Thank you for creating this huge and extremly detailed world (both in terms of lore and landscape). Of course, not all things are good (the game economy is broken) but i still have hope you fix it.

cheers.

[Vormindin]

Free Peoples' Press is more likely for new players, but not for old-one! Please give something for thous who are playing LOTRO for a long time and who know all about what you are writing in your Press.
But at least thank you for your activity. You at least are trying to do something for community. That is why I rate this Free Peoples' Press with 3 stars. Hope to see something better.

[Elessar2007]

LOTRO has evolved through the years – from early days of raiding Helegrod’s enormous wings, to the tightly paced and challenging encounters of Ost Dunhoth. What was your favorite moment?

Funny, I thought this was the question they were looking for responses to?

So, my favorite moment - well I've got a few...

1. on one of my first forays as Slamfist. A stranger comes up to me near the quarry near Scary - "hey, nice name." Being my first week in an MMO, I was stunned. Someone talked to me. Then I realized he wanted me to talk back. I panicked but finally found the spot to say "hi" - He gave me a funny look, waved and ran off. I was finally in an MMO with real people and they were being nice to me.

2. The first time visiting Bag End. and the Party Tree. and the Green Dragon Inn in Bywater. wow!

3. The Stone Trolls Glade. Wandered into this completely unsuspecting. Woohoo!!! and even better, was last year when I was guiding my 8 year old hobbit as we followed Bilbo's trail to Rivendell. I knew we were coming up on the glade but he didn't (we'd been reading the Hobbit together). He saw the trolls and his cry of glee was priceless. By far my best moment in the game.

4. Rivendell. Meeting Frodo, Bilbo, Gandalf, even Boromir. So many others.

There's many more, but these are some of my highlight moments.

[saxtus3]

It's getting to be about time for another letter from
"Kate Paiz, Executive Producer, The Lord of the Rings Online" right? Not all of us can make it to PAX...