Turbine / LOTRO Interviews

[Angadan]

Pff, in this economy? You could have another brother by the end of the week.

lol THAT was one of the best responses ever (evar!) in the history of forum responses. Thanks for the huge laugh.

[Crell_1]

I can't get really specific, but the fact is costs are still an issue. It's like saying, "My brother is the manager of the store, so I should get free or discounted food." it doesn't really work that way.

I was careful to say attach. Obviously, there would still be some production costs involved, the point was that you wouldn't be paying a huge premium to buy advertising space in every single theater.

Whether or not it's practical, is for WB/Turbine to say, but I want to see some marketing that reaches new people and gets more players enjoying Middle Earth.

Thanks for telling us there will be new information Incredisoon!

[Kittyvicious]

You can do that!!!!??????

Anything is possible when no one is looking. *cackles maniacally and rubs hands together* Like free /hugs! I bet no one saw that coming.

[Sapience]

I was careful to say attach. Obviously, there would still be some production costs involved, the point was that you wouldn't be paying a huge premium to buy advertising space in every single theater.

Still wrong. as I said, it doesn't work the way people think.

[SouthernBelle0927]

Pff, in this economy? You could have another brother by the end of the week.

Probably more than one...and a few sisters, too!

[Thornglen]

As for production changes, impact, and anything of that sort, I can only say that you'll have some information soon. In fact, you'll have some Incredisoon™! (which just reminded me that I need to get that reposted)

Looking forward to the news. While some rumors are easier to discount because of source and intent, there is still plenty of community speculation and worry. Nature may abhor a vacuum, but it's got nothin' on an MMO community looking for information within silence.

Also, woo! to the return of SOON. I missed that post.

[Nuelenion]

Heck, I'd give a resume myself but I already have two part-time gigs as a step and half brother.

[Angadan]

You'd have to be willing to relocate to the Boston area. He wants free gas and tacos, and probably isn't willing to drive to Atlanta or Albuquerque or wherever you live to get them.

[Sapience]

You'd have to be willing to relocate to the Boston area. He wants free gas and tacos, and probably isn't willing to drive to Atlanta or Albuquerque or wherever you live to get them.

I'd pass on the Tacos (Not really a fan of Mexican food, but I love Cuban and Peruvian!), but the free free gas would be nice. It's about an hour commute each way to the office. It'd save a fortune!

[dmark101]

You need to fire your brother, Sapience, and get another one.

You can do that!!!!??????

heh, if one could fire a sibling, i would have two less brothers right about now.

[Yula_the_Mighty]

I'd pass on the Tacos (Not really a fan of Mexican food, but I love Cuban and Peruvian!), but the free free gas would be nice. It's about an hour commute each way to the office. It'd save a fortune!

They have good Cuban food down here in Palm Beach County. You go further south Broward and Dade County the Cuban food is excellent. The only problem is that the best food is found in small hole in the wall - family operated places. I can't speak Spanish at all. It can be hard to get directions, find these places and get your food because their primary customers are the Cuban imports and Hispanics.

I do not know of any Peruvian places down here. There got to be some though. I have to do some digging.

So many folks that come here to visit do not go to the local eateries. They end up going to the national chains instead. Places like Outback which are clumped on the major roads or near shopping centers.

The Mexican food varies wildly in quality depending on where you go. I have trouble finding good Mexican Food. Or even Italian food that I like - most places use too much salt and sugar - it is hard to taste the veggies and the like due to over whelmed by something else.

[Rainothon]

I pay attention to almost every thread. As I've said before, I said what I could. I think if you take the rumors you're referring to and consider that most are from people who made fake accounts, to make fake assertions and even claim to be people they were not (apparently I posted that I was laid off, which is obviously not true) you end up with the full value of said rumors. Which is, 0. Not even rumors really, just people trolling and trying to be highly disrespectful to those impacted.

As for production changes, impact, and anything of that sort, I can only say that you'll have some information soon. In fact, you'll have some Incredisoon™! (which just reminded me that I need to get that reposted)

I'm glad to read this.

I personally believe nothing hurts and weakens rumors more than communication and facts.

[Mar-Evayave]

You can do that!!!!??????

lol It's called disowning! ^_^

[Angadan]

lol It's called disowning! ^_^

I think in some cultures, you can take the brother to a public place, and say to him three times in front of witnesses, "I disown you, I disown you, I disown you," and it's done. He's now a homeless sibling and must go looking for another brother who will have him somewhere else.

p.s. You can try the same with a sister, but in my experience she just slaps you silly before you get to the second 'disown,' it never turns out good. I don't recommend this.

[Mithrandir3]

I pay attention to almost every thread. As I've said before, I said what I could. I think if you take the rumors you're referring to and consider that most are from people who made fake accounts, to make fake assertions and even claim to be people they were not (apparently I posted that I was laid off, which is obviously not true) you end up with the full value of said rumors. Which is, 0. Not even rumors really, just people trolling and trying to be highly disrespectful to those impacted.

As for production changes, impact, and anything of that sort, I can only say that you'll have some information soon. In fact, you'll have some Incredisoon™! (which just reminded me that I need to get that reposted)

We all are smart enough to recognize that the rumours are valueless and ridiculous, but without official word, it fosters an environment where rumours run rampant. Now I get that due to corporate strategy it's not possible to announce everything you guys are doing, but I think the community gets frustrated and wants to know, especially after a mysterious round of layoffs, that the full faith and credit of Turbine/Warner Brothers is behind the game we all love so much, and that you guys fully intend to see us help the fellowship until the completion of their task.

Silence breeds rumours, hysteria, and mistrust. A formal statement or two can go a long way towards dispelling that.

[Sapience]

We all are smart enough to recognize that the rumours are valueless and ridiculous, but without official word, it fosters an environment where rumours run rampant. Now I get that due to corporate strategy it's not possible to announce everything you guys are doing, but I think the community gets frustrated and wants to know, especially after a mysterious round of layoffs, that the full faith and credit of Turbine/Warner Brothers is behind the game we all love so much, and that you guys fully intend to see us help the fellowship until the completion of their task.

Silence breeds rumours, hysteria, and mistrust. A formal statement or two can go a long way towards dispelling that.

Unfortunately the credibility some of those rumors were given seems to suggest otherwise, but if it's formal statements you're looking for, you could check out today's letter from LOTRO Executive Producer Aaron Campbell.

We do have a plan. Sometimes you just need to be patient and let it unfold.

[SouthernBelle0927]

Unfortunately the credibility some of those rumors were given seems to suggest otherwise, but if it's formal statements you're looking for, you could check out today's letter from LOTRO Executive Producer Aaron Campbell.

We do have a plan. Sometimes you just need to be patient and let it unfold.

So...for those of us who were patient...how many Patience ranks did we earn and did they come with any TP or a special skill we can slot?

[Jaliki55]

Unfortunately the credibility some of those rumors were given seems to suggest otherwise, but if it's formal statements you're looking for, you could check out today's letter from LOTRO Executive Producer Aaron Campbell.

We do have a plan. Sometimes you just need to be patient and let it unfold.

I gotta say I disagree here. Patience can be asked for, but to a point. I've found when I was working retail (specifically Geek Squad at Best Buy) that, more often than not, when I explained everything to a person about what was going on with their computer, I could take someone who was initially frustrated and angry and turn them around so that by the time they left the counter, they understood what was wrong and what needed to be done to fix it.

People get frustrated when they don't understand things (my gf is a wonderful example XD ), and misunderstanding comes from silence. I definitely feel that some things need to be proactively and fully talked about, and in turn that'll build trust and loyalty.

[Sapience]

I gotta say I disagree here. Patience can be asked for, but to a point. I've found when I was working retail (specifically Geek Squad at Best Buy) that, more often than not, when I explained everything to a person about what was going on with their computer, I could take someone who was initially frustrated and angry and turn them around so that by the time they left the counter, they understood what was wrong and what needed to be done to fix it.

People get frustrated when they don't understand things (my gf is a wonderful example XD ), and misunderstanding comes from silence. I definitely feel that some things need to be proactively and fully talked about, and in turn that'll build trust and loyalty.

I take your point, and please don't take this as me picking on you, but this is a great example of apples and oranges. A one to one retail maintenance discussion is a long, long way from a discussion of future development plans.

To put it in context in another way. Say I drop my car off to get an oil change. It's perfectly reasonable for me to ask when I should pick it up. This is a 1 to 1 repair/service interaction. Sure they may get swamped and i might find out when I go back that I need to wait another 20 minutes, which they should be able to tell me. In your example this is perfectly reasonable and expected.

Now say I'm looking to buy a car. But it's June. I know in October models are going to change. But I don't know by how much, if prices will go up, or if any of the changes will be ones I like or won't like. Will it be a compelte overhaul? Will there be a change but not until next year? Will the model be suddenly discontinued? You're probably not going to find out until September when the big announcement is made. It's not a one to one relationship, it's a one to many relationship that is usually handled in a very controlled maner with very specific timelines and with almost no information being shared until there is 100% certainty that everything is in place, production is able to meet the schedules, and all features are set in stone. Then you'll see news, car shows, whatever share the details. In the mean time I'm sure the internet will be full of rumors. New body style, new engines, radical new heads up this or that. A process that is much, much closer to development than the service example above.

[Grapold]

Now say I'm looking to buy a car.

But I thought you already Hadacar or are you now Onabike?

[Sapience]

But I thought you already Hadacar or are you now Onabike?

LMAO Well played!

[Crell_1]

LMAO Well played!

To be followed by
TravelingbyEnt or TravellingbyEagle

[Sapience]

To be followed by
TravelingbyEnt or TravellingbyEagle

Far more likely to be WannaPlane.

[robsolflotr]

I take your point, and please don't take this as me picking on you, but this is a great example of apples and oranges. A one to one retail maintenance discussion is a long, long way from a discussion of future development plans.

Yep... there's alot of both literal and figurative accounting that goes on in a single business, let alone a massive entertainment conglomerate like WB. Accounting in the sense of numbers on assets/expenses/liabilities spreadsheets from different departments or branches of an organization to others. And also each department having to determine that it is profitable, or at least justifies its own existence.

Using cars again as an example, say a dealer sells a used car with the agreement that some repairs would be done before the sale closes. The dealer would then arrange it with the repair department, who would do the work, then charge the sales department for the work, which would in turn apply that bill against the profit of the car. Sure, the dealership ultimately gets the money, but it got part of the money through the repair shop, and not sales. And this matters for many purposes, one of which being able to accurately gauge the profitability and performance of each department.

Same with a massive entertainment conglomerate. Turbine and other WB factions would have to pay WB's promo department for those ad spots and whatnot or the top brass would have no idea whether said promo department is an effective and profitable entity(it wouldn't be if they did everything for free).

I'm sure there are a number of other entertainment industry specific reasons as well, but I suspect most of you are probably already asleep by now.

[Jaliki55]

I take your point, and please don't take this as me picking on you, but this is a great example of apples and oranges. A one to one retail maintenance discussion is a long, long way from a discussion of future development plans.

To put it in context in another way. Say I drop my car off to get an oil change. It's perfectly reasonable for me to ask when I should pick it up. This is a 1 to 1 repair/service interaction. Sure they may get swamped and i might find out when I go back that I need to wait another 20 minutes, which they should be able to tell me. In your example this is perfectly reasonable and expected.

Now say I'm looking to buy a car. But it's June. I know in October models are going to change. But I don't know by how much, if prices will go up, or if any of the changes will be ones I like or won't like. Will it be a compelte overhaul? Will there be a change but not until next year? Will the model be suddenly discontinued? You're probably not going to find out until September when the big announcement is made. It's not a one to one relationship, it's a one to many relationship that is usually handled in a very controlled maner with very specific timelines and with almost no information being shared until there is 100% certainty that everything is in place, production is able to meet the schedules, and all features are set in stone. Then you'll see news, car shows, whatever share the details. In the mean time I'm sure the internet will be full of rumors. New body style, new engines, radical new heads up this or that. A process that is much, much closer to development than the service example above.

Thanks for the reply! And nothing taken personally

Ironically (if it is ironic, I hated english class in high school), this type of reply demonstrates my point. As a community we had a concern, and the reply was reasoned and rational. I understand that the relationship is 1:many, and I completely agree that certain things can't be released or talked about at length, if at all.

Regardless, this was a good conversation, and I thank you for your time, Sapience.