Criticism: X-Men Divergence

Lotherio · Jun 17, 2021, 1:57 PM

Looks like a great game. Its in Ares and looks like they, for the most part, used the environment well.

One criticism - CG. Its all FC characters and they're all rostered. Its app-in only. This is fine. My criticism is that to apply for a rostered bit, one has to log in as a guest and basically +submit/mail an app in. The only reference is you give them your e-mail for them to send rejection or connect info to I suppose. I did this a week and a half ago and nothing. I've lost all interest in trying.

This is in Ares, I should be able to go onto the web and use my Ares handle or create an OOC name to interact with the system through this process. It feels like I was requesting to join an e-mail RP group in 1993. I feel it needs something more than a guest bit, like I could log on now and they could say they never got it and I have no way to track a job number or anything. At Least with the 1993 e-mail list RPGs, I could send in e-mails to the server daemons to bounce back the status of my e-mails or my status with the group even.

I know they're not shy of players, they're doing good, but someone may want to recommend to admin updating the roster claiming process to be more user friendly.

Tinuviel · Jun 17, 2021, 2:22 PM

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

I know they're not shy of players, they're doing good, but someone may want to recommend to admin updating the roster claiming process to be more user friendly.

Without a link to check it out myself, and apathy in googling, I would say it is simply part of their selection process. If one is so easily, in their mind, dissuaded from joining, perhaps that is simply part of their desire. To weed out those unwilling to participate in such a way.

Lotherio · Jun 17, 2021, 2:39 PM

@tinuviel said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

I know they're not shy of players, they're doing good, but someone may want to recommend to admin updating the roster claiming process to be more user friendly.

Without a link to check it out myself, and apathy in googling, I would say it is simply part of their selection process. If one is so easily, in their mind, dissuaded from joining, perhaps that is simply part of their desire. To weed out those unwilling to participate in such a way.

Could very well be. If my effort to spend a few hours reading their wiki then applying is not enough, then yes, I've been weeded out. I mean an email to say I don't fit the character or something would have been nice but severing the tie is cleaner this way I suppose.

Here is the link:
https://xmendivergence.com/

Ganymede · Jun 17, 2021, 2:53 PM

@tinuviel said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

If one is so easily, in their mind, dissuaded from joining, perhaps that is simply part of their desire. To weed out those unwilling to participate in such a way.

If not responding to applicants in a week-and-a-half is deliberate, this is just as much as sign of their willingness to work with the same.

But if this was unintentional, then change seems warranted, as I know few people, myself included, who will wait so long for what seems like an easy response.

Tinuviel · Jun 17, 2021, 2:54 PM

@ganymede said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

If not responding to applicants in a week-and-a-half is deliberate, this is just as much as sign of their willingness to work with the same.

That's not what I was talking about. Which is why I didn't quote it.

Ganymede · Jun 17, 2021, 2:55 PM

@tinuviel said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

That's not what I was talking about. Which is why I didn't quote it.

Okay. Cool.

Testament · Jun 17, 2021, 2:58 PM

I don't know. If any game made me wait over a week and half for the response to a roster application, I would've told that game to go kick rocks.

This isn't the late 90s or early 2000s where games expected or perhaps desired you to write a small novel in order to get a character and eventually they'd respond....at some point.

So I get bouncing after a week and half. Longer than I would've waited. After three days I would've been asking about the status of things.

TiredEwok · Jun 17, 2021, 3:01 PM

I've claimed a couple characters there in the past and they're usually much quicker to get people approved, like within minutes of my having submitted my request. So not sure what's up with that.

Tinuviel · Jun 17, 2021, 3:03 PM

@ganymede said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

@tinuviel said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

That's not what I was talking about. Which is why I didn't quote it.

Okay. Cool.

I was under the impression that long wait times were already considered a problem not worth dealing with, so it bears little comment.

Sunny · Jun 17, 2021, 3:05 PM

If the game is otherwise doing well and sources say this isn't usually the case, I am inclined to think that something happened. Somebody (or somebody's kid) got hit by a bus, work was particularly bad with a fiscal year switch over, or something else. While walking at a week and a half is PERFECTLY reasonable behavior / a perfectly reasonable reaction, I would caution against the assumption that it's their typical.

Lotherio · Jun 17, 2021, 3:11 PM

@tiredewok said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

I've claimed a couple characters there in the past and they're usually much quicker to get people approved, like within minutes of my having submitted my request. So not sure what's up with that.

I was invited by a friend to check it out even. My only critique is as a guest bit I really have no tracking record to know if something went wrong on my end or their end and. I submitted as it said to do and it said whatever it tells me after I hit enter, not an error message. But I have no way of knowing where the static is and have no interest going on as a guest again. So a guest bit puts me in waiting limbo and as noted by others, waiting limbo is generally a turn off.

The only thing I could reason for requiring a guest bit to apply for a roster is to save DB clutter, but this isn't 1990 when total available/virtual space was MBs in some shell on someone's home box, which included space for web/graphics.

My critique is offered so someone who enjoys the game can recommend a better CG process to help with new players. But like I said, the game is doing good as it is. Just isn't going to include me at this point, which is no loss in the grand scheme of things.

Lotherio · Jun 17, 2021, 3:15 PM

@sunny said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

If the game is otherwise doing well and sources say this isn't usually the case, I am inclined to think that something happened. Somebody (or somebody's kid) got hit by a bus, work was particularly bad with a fiscal year switch over, or something else. While walking at a week and a half is PERFECTLY reasonable behavior / a perfectly reasonable reaction, I would caution against the assumption that it's their typical.

Yeah something probably did happen, but the only access to knowing pre-approval is jumping into guest bits. Which is my critique.

ETA: That's my assumption, something happened. I don't know what. But alternatively, its sus to some people. The bits already filled. Did someone app at the same time or before me? Did someone's friend app in after me and as a current player they got the role instead of me? I don't really know, it looks sus. I assume something was lost in the communication static and I have no way to know if its on my end or theirs because of the logging on as a guest for new players to request a bit. Its through application and not on the web, I didn't think to save it (foolish me), so even if the bit was open, I'd have to recreate it and I've no interest in reading wiki and writing again. Some other CG solution would help new players.

Tinuviel · Jun 17, 2021, 3:16 PM

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

Its through application and not on the web

There is a form on their site to do the claiming.

Not a solution to your problem, but still.

Lotherio · Jun 17, 2021, 3:23 PM

@tinuviel said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

Its through application and not on the web

There is a form on their site to do the claiming.

Not a solution to your problem, but still.

This looks new, its a good step. I don't know if it gives me a confirmation number (peace of mind), but that's a good step. I stand corrected on this account.

Tat · Jun 17, 2021, 4:42 PM

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

The only thing I could reason for requiring a guest bit to apply for a roster is to save DB clutter, but this isn't 1990 when total available/virtual space was MBs in some shell on someone's home box, which included space for web/graphics.

There's not a smooth way in Ares to require an application for a roster character without the email step. It's not this game trying to be obstructionist or anything - they're probably just using the tools they have. If you want to require an application for a roster (and you don't want to/don't know how to code a different solution), asking for an email for a response is the best you've got.

Lotherio · Jun 17, 2021, 5:01 PM

@tat said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

asking for an email for a response is the best you've got

Or allowing them to create a character bit. Creating a bit is completely unallowed, the process it just to app for a roster (both in game and on the web which is good).

I appreciate they know the size of game they want and which chars they want playing in their universe, I appreciate it allows them control of powers without everyone asking for the most OP version of every FC from some alternate universe/special issue/whatever.

But for the purpose of using the system (like jobs or requests) while they +request (I forget what command they had for filling out the questions when I app'ed). It would help with needed changes. And, as in my case, it would let me know if I did something wrong (though it accepted the +app without yelling at me) or if my job sat in queue and got no attention.

Its like flying blind. I've coded some modules into Ares myself, I code on PennMUSH, I've set up shell games on actual servers, ran things out of VPNs. I'm fairly competent in submitting a +app and followed the directions. But its like firing blind the way its set up, did it go to the wrong address or did the clerk throw away my app when they saw my name. No clue.

Surasanji · Jun 17, 2021, 5:35 PM

@lotherio Hey, maybe I can help. I play Alani there, next time you're on give me a poke. Given how friendly everyone has been here at the game, I'm pretty sure this is some kind of oversight. I don't know, obviously, as I am not staff.

But, at least I can give a hand to my fellow nerd, yeah?

Three-Eyed Crow · Jun 17, 2021, 5:50 PM

I remember when an app of mine on Arx got lost in the void because I'd fat-fingered my email. My assumption is stuff like that's pretty common with anything where you need to provide an email and a 2-minute conversation with staff confirmed what had happened and got me login info.

Coin · Jun 17, 2021, 6:08 PM

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

@tinuviel said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

Its through application and not on the web

There is a form on their site to do the claiming.

Not a solution to your problem, but still.

This looks new, its a good step. I don't know if it gives me a confirmation number (peace of mind), but that's a good step. I stand corrected on this account.

The app form on the wiki has been there for months, since it was there when I looked at the game in March.

Like, if you're deterred because you have to log in as a Guest and say 'hey, I applied for [character] and never got a mail' or whatever... like, is that really the issue? Not being able to log in as something other than a Guest? ~.^

Lotherio · Jun 17, 2021, 6:37 PM

@coin said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

@tinuviel said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

@lotherio said in Criticism: X-Men Divergence:

Its through application and not on the web

There is a form on their site to do the claiming.

Not a solution to your problem, but still.

This looks new, its a good step. I don't know if it gives me a confirmation number (peace of mind), but that's a good step. I stand corrected on this account.

The app form on the wiki has been there for months, since it was there when I looked at the game in March.

Like, if you're deterred because you have to log in as a Guest and say 'hey, I applied for [character] and never got a mail' or whatever... like, is that really the issue? Not being able to log in as something other than a Guest? ~.^

Yes, I am not the sort to log on and start asking about my app. I would prefer being able to track on my end. I don't call FedEx when I didn't get my thing, I usually start with the tracking number and try to see where it went wrong. I'm weird this way.

I like to imagine they'd have let me know if there was an issue. Even just an e-mail saying thanks for the app, to acknowledge my e-mail is working or something.

Just an acknowledgement, I figure its a common courtesy, thanks for the app we'll get to you. If that's part of the process, I wasn't expecting it to know I should resubmit after I hit enter and it seemed to work the first time.

All that aside, moot point. Its limited roster, the bit I apped for is taken (did I fat finger my email (hint, I copied and pasted it), did I mess up the +feature, could be both - or did someone app before me, did it go to someone already on the game with a proven track record ... all of that is aside, the bits taken now). There are like 6 rosters left and the 2 males available are of no interest to me; if this raised interest in the game, go get a bit now (it is popular enough and not just web connections, lots of people on via clients).

As a user am I miffed a little about my app process, yes. Like I said in some response along the way, I'll say it was me. I'm not bad mouthing the place, I said its doing well.

Its just a criticism, like if you know the folks running it or someone else does, just mention it; if they are well aware and aren't worried about the next new player who might lose something app wise, that's fine too. Like others have said, maybe I'm not fit for playing there. That's just as well.

For the people like me who don't like waiting blindly or whatever, its out there for them and their anxiety. Does it mean the place is bad, hell no it doesn't the place is doing great.