MMORPG's Suggestion Forums

These days, going through several mmorpg's official forums, I've come across several "Suggestion" sections. While reading, I have been bewildered by the amount of input players post, I suddenly became interested in this suggestion areas, and then started scouting them more objectively.

Do you want to know what a game is lacking?, then head to the suggestion box.Here I list the 3 main categories I could recognize in the posts, I'm sorry if you are offended, please take it with good humor.

The Designers

From proposing new maps, to transcoding the fantasy game into a Sci-Fi, everything needs a makeover, their main focus is more graphical content because they are bored sick of the same graphics over and over again. The dead end comes when they are playing a game that is no longer under development, usually it's because it is another Korean/Chinese mmorpg that was released a year ago or more.

The Overriders

These guys fire an underwater torpedo to override some game restriction that prevent them for being more powerful, having a better guild or anything of the sort. Moreover, to acquire some virtual good for free that the game is selling for real money.

The Improvers

Everything needs improving, they are perfectionists, enthusiasts and well versed in logistics, they will post detailed information about what they want changed. Most of the time they post the actual numbers and specific changes to be made, and already estimated the overall impact on the game. These players did their math before posting.

Conclusion

If you can't handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen!!. Seriously, and I am dead serious about this, it should be standard that any person applying for guild master goes through a Customer Service Training, for crying out loud, at least a person with business communication skills. I've been in commercial games where teenagers are GM's and they are in charge of the Suggestion Box, it's pointless, my favorite suggestion forum was one that had:

PASSED

or

FAILED

inside the post itself as edits from the GM to indicate wither the suggestion has passed or failed. There were 3 pages in the suggestion thread, and only the first page had any of this infamous seals, the rest were months old and ignored. This is why you don't employ a learning-to-be-adult teenager in a GM position, specially when your revenue depends on an Item Mall. Customers (Players) feel ignored and hopeless regarding change.

If a suggestion that is a repeated concern of players is something going to happen then you must state it. Many game publishers create a maze of lies and runarounds to avoid answering questions that they know will bring disappointment for their customers. If you tell the truth, that is tactfully and make up for it in a reasonable way, then players will appreciate it.

"Hey come back!, I have more Ideas for the Double Exp Sundays!!!!!"