Imagine if the devs actually played the game with us.

[GumpsGang]

I heard GW2 devs all play LOTRO in their free time, because they know it's a better game. Why can't our devs do the same?

LUL ... I hope you don't actually believe that LOTRO devs don't play. ... you're funny.

[Stormtower]

I get annoyed at LOTRO from time to time too. There are things that didn't work out the way I envisioned them, or worked better on paper, or sometimes life gets in the way and I don't have the time to do everything I wanted to do. It can be even more frustrating because sometimes I know *exactly* what we would need to do to make it just right, but there are enough factors that don't come together that it won't. Sometimes I think that makes us the harshest critics of all -- immediately after one of my Epic Books is released, for instance, I usually think it's the worst thing I've ever made, because I've just been so close to it for so long. Only once I've gone back to it after some time do I usually come back around to 'Yeah, maybe this is all right after all.'

And you need tough skin to do this job. When you first start, you think it'll be easy to weather criticism, and you won't take it personally, but then someone comes along who is just SO MAD about the thing you spent so long on, and if ONLY they understood...!

And you're always thinking about LOTRO. I have a long commute, and I spend most of the time driving here and most of the time driving back thinking about what I just did, and what I need to do tomorrow, and what I need to do the day after that, and are we ever going to finish everything we need to do in time, and is it going to be good, and is it going to do justice to Middle-earth?

So maybe I'm not playing the exact same game as you. I'm playing *much* the same game, but it's my hobby and my work and my creative outlet all in one, and I also have the Entertainer's Desperation, where I want everyone to enjoy it, and I'm constantly worried that you won't. And it's been like this for ten years, and honestly if I didn't love it I would have gotten out a long time ago.

MoL

I've enjoyed reading this thread. Thanks to MoL and thePinion for joining the conversation, and for those who continue to ask challenging questions to help make the game as good as it can be.
Peace

[LyronOfRohan]

Anybody working on LOTRO is still getting paid for it.It is their own choice whether they play the game or not in the time they have spare. They have busy lives and to play as a normal player would be hard to do as they are used to just going through the game to find bugs and other issues. To be honest, they probably would never see the world in the way a random player does as they know more than most players. Also, it may be hard to make sure they don't leak any information ingame when people ask lots of questions. It doesn't bother me that much but it would be nice to see and know there are lots of Devs playing.

Happy hunting!

[Xhiu]

I get annoyed at LOTRO from time to time too. There are things that didn't work out the way I envisioned them, or worked better on paper, or sometimes life gets in the way and I don't have the time to do everything I wanted to do. It can be even more frustrating because sometimes I know *exactly* what we would need to do to make it just right, but there are enough factors that don't come together that it won't. Sometimes I think that makes us the harshest critics of all -- immediately after one of my Epic Books is released, for instance, I usually think it's the worst thing I've ever made, because I've just been so close to it for so long. Only once I've gone back to it after some time do I usually come back around to 'Yeah, maybe this is all right after all.'

This makes too much sense

And you need tough skin to do this job. When you first start, you think it'll be easy to weather criticism, and you won't take it personally, but then someone comes along who is just SO MAD about the thing you spent so long on, and if ONLY they understood...!

And you're always thinking about LOTRO. I have a long commute, and I spend most of the time driving here and most of the time driving back thinking about what I just did, and what I need to do tomorrow, and what I need to do the day after that, and are we ever going to finish everything we need to do in time, and is it going to be good, and is it going to do justice to Middle-earth?

Other than with some tweeks that I harp on occasionally, I find the vast majority of your work moving. (I still, seriously, get choked up doing Horn of Gondor) That was an FYI, basically. I digress...

So maybe I'm not playing the exact same game as you. I'm playing *much* the same game, but it's my hobby and my work and my creative outlet all in one, and I also have the Entertainer's Desperation, where I want everyone to enjoy it, and I'm constantly worried that you won't. And it's been like this for ten years, and honestly if I didn't love it I would have gotten out a long time ago.

MoL

I was the Head Area Builder for a text based game that had about 10 players. [true story] I designed 3 classes and 2 races (RoM2.4). I built a couple of text areas but I also did more work reigning in transient area builders. (I'm not sure if the 10 players included the number of admin...) It didn't matter that I wasn't getting paid to do it. Do you annoy friends with talking about the game? I did. I have good friends. Of course most of them were involved in the game. (yes I have less than 10 friends)

When I first heard of MoL I thought just another guy working the dream job. (imo) Then I saw you on a live stream. "Holy @#$!, this guy is really into what he does!" I could not believe the passion you had (have) for what you do. It was then you became my favorite, ever, game designer. You exude excitement and that is contagious. I get the feeling that, if it was possible, you'd be fixing something you did the day before while you slept.

Its a pity you cannot publish what you've done in this game, in paperback. I'd buy it. But I know you cannot expect one book to pay for the printing, editing, art, etc. (even if SSG allowed that which I doubt highly)

I have said this many times. The day that MoL goes is the day the game dies. I understand there are a lot of good people working hard doing things maybe you don't/can't do. IMHO, you are the heart of this game.

Keep pumping, MoL

[Sito_Origami]

I get annoyed at LOTRO from time to time too. There are things that didn't work out the way I envisioned them, or worked better on paper, or sometimes life gets in the way and I don't have the time to do everything I wanted to do. It can be even more frustrating because sometimes I know *exactly* what we would need to do to make it just right, but there are enough factors that don't come together that it won't. Sometimes I think that makes us the harshest critics of all -- immediately after one of my Epic Books is released, for instance, I usually think it's the worst thing I've ever made, because I've just been so close to it for so long. Only once I've gone back to it after some time do I usually come back around to 'Yeah, maybe this is all right after all.'

And you need tough skin to do this job. When you first start, you think it'll be easy to weather criticism, and you won't take it personally, but then someone comes along who is just SO MAD about the thing you spent so long on, and if ONLY they understood...!

And you're always thinking about LOTRO. I have a long commute, and I spend most of the time driving here and most of the time driving back thinking about what I just did, and what I need to do tomorrow, and what I need to do the day after that, and are we ever going to finish everything we need to do in time, and is it going to be good, and is it going to do justice to Middle-earth?

So maybe I'm not playing the exact same game as you. I'm playing *much* the same game, but it's my hobby and my work and my creative outlet all in one, and I also have the Entertainer's Desperation, where I want everyone to enjoy it, and I'm constantly worried that you won't. And it's been like this for ten years, and honestly if I didn't love it I would have gotten out a long time ago.

MoL

Quoted for truth, with thanks. This really struck home with me - I have a 40 minute commute by car each day, and like you, my mind often drifts to work and/or whatever creative projects I have on the go. Very relatable post, and thanks for this insight. I must say, I envy you for being able to work at a place where you get to make yours, and our, daydreams come to life.