Friday Facts #29 So many ideas

[kovarex]

I just wanted to point out, that we never promised, that we would follow the ideas given. That would be path to hell.

[eddyvegas]

Another thing and then I'll shut up.

The danger in forum suggestions, and forums in general, is that you start to think forum goers are your entire clientele. They're not. Not everybody is totally obsessed with making the most efficient layout. Not everybody is pissed off that the new patch reduced the output of building X to 2.25 of Product Y and how that has totally ruined the game. Not everybody wants more and more stuff to build and more and more options. Some people are just happy to get their red beaker factory running and go hey cool, I figured it out, it works. Some people just hook stuff up together without a master plan, with belts all over the place. That's cool too, as long as the guy is having fun running his belts all over the place. Those people are part of your clientele too, not just the forum goers.

[ssilk]

I just wanted to point out, that we never promised, that we would follow the ideas given. That would be path to hell.

Right, I thought this was clear after the first posts...

I see the forum only as something to become new input, new ideas, not decisions.

And to reduce my suggestion to one sentence: This in a more structured way, a bit more moderated and that's it!

[Drury]

So here is my suggestion:
Create a new board or use the development proposals...

I think you're thinking a bit too big here. We don't need to make a reality show about ideas with voting and stuff, I'd say one sticky thread on the ideas board with a list of links to threads categorized by the general ideas they're suggesting.

For example:

Nuclear energy:
http://linknumerouno
http://linknumeroduo
http://linknumerotres
http://linknumeroquatro

Vehicles:

http://linknumerouno
http://linknumeroduo
http://linknumerotres
http://linknumeroquatro

Et cetera. Just so they're in one place where they're easily accessible for devs to read and think about.

And anyway, if the users want feedback, they're free to make a poll themselves, and anyone is free to reply to their thread. Maybe we could even have an automated system that automatically adds a poll to every new thread on the board. I believe there are also thread rating plugins available for phpBB forums.

[ssilk]

Hehe, normally I been told to think to small...

Well, yes, I didn't thought about how to present the current state of the suggestion, but your idea should be working. Problem here is, that it needs to have a ticket-system (e. g. Mantis) to display that. My first thought was about not needing that.

[Garm]

I've seen two designs that I believe could be good for suggestions:

1. DF forums suggestion polls Link

Players add options to the poll and link it to forum post explaining the suggestion.
Each registered user has limited number (2-3) of votes he can cast on separate suggestions.

This setup can easily show most desirable suggestions, however it also needs modicum of moderation in order to avoid similar suggestions. This poll can also limit the amount of threads suggesting already suggested topics since new users could simply vote right away for the ideas they like most.

Developers can use the poll to quickly figure out what players desire most, without being forced to implement these proposals right away or in precise implementation.

As and if suggestions are incorporated into the game - they are removed from the poll allowing players to vote for something else. Voting is always open so users can change their votes anytime.


2. "Choose your path" voting.

Devs come up with 4-5 ideas that they don't mind implementing next update. These ideas are released for polls and discussion.
At the end of the poll the most favorite idea is incorporated into next update.

Depending on user reception of other ideas they can be:

a) added to next poll to be voted again.
b) implemented in consecutive patches based on popularity.
c) removed from the polls, or reintroduced in modified form.

[Drury]

http://playstarbound.com/suggestions/

This might work as well. reddit-like system showing most popular suggestions of all time as well as smaller recent requests, everything can be easily rated. Simple, effective.

[ssilk]

+1
The implementation is not so easy...

[nours77]

Why not possible, better it is the better it is ? you want release 1.0 soon ?
i agree for forum, in old news you say you read 6 month old post first, need another system than vertical classification but it will require an effort of a forum dev admin... "a judge of good ideas" who can move interesting topic.

[Darthlawsuit]

Remember there is always factorio 2, don't need to shove everything into factorio 1. Once you add multiplayer I think most of your time should be spent polishing and expanding existing features instead of adding new ones. Expanding the enemies that attack us would be a huge step. Reworking the tech tree would be great too.

[slpwnd]

Remember there is always factorio 2, don't need to shove everything into factorio 1. Once you add multiplayer I think most of your time should be spent polishing and expanding existing features instead of adding new ones. Expanding the enemies that attack us would be a huge step. Reworking the tech tree would be great too.

Good point. Polishing, balancing, tweaking and small features will take a good deal of time. As mentioned previously, after the MP and endgame is done we don't have plans (at the moment) for any big overhauls.

[Drury]

Oh wait, what about the RTS elements? Seems like a big overhaul to me.

I've been meaning to ask for a while too, seeing as you're reconsidering a lot of big steps lately.

[slpwnd]

Oh wait, what about the RTS elements? Seems like a big overhaul to me.

I've been meaning to ask for a while too, seeing as you're reconsidering a lot of big steps lately.

Oh yeah, almost forgot about that one Controlling your factory from the throne room ...