I posted a version of this inside another thread; given the super positive response to the poll attached to my commentary on Matchmaking, I thought I'd address the topic
[b][i][u]Why nerfing is always a bad choice in game development [/u][/i][/b]
When faced with a situation where a few guns eclipse the general population in terms of use, The solution is never to take power [i]away[/i] from gamers, but instead [i]ADD[/i] power when there is a gap.
The gaming writer at Forbes must have read the reddit AMA/sub with the Blizzard team, because he pretty much quoted the same sources.
This is actually a good read:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2015/07/17/nerfing-gjallarhorn-and-thorn-is-the-exact-wrong-move-for-destiny/
Short version: always balance up, never down. Never make the player feel like they are being cheated.
Players should [b][i]always[/i][/b] feel powerful (like we did when the PVE buff was released for Shotguns...wow! What a fun week of using nothing but a gun that used to be useless!)
The threats of nerfs to Gjallarhorn are bad, but what's worse are the nerfs coming to two guns I've never seen one complaint about: Ice Breaker and Black Hammer.
It's claimed that they break the grind, and make elements of the game "shorter."
Let's be honest with yourself, Bungie: The older content is easy for one reason, and one reason only: player light levels are now at or above that of VoG and CE's hardest difficulty levels. It's not the guns, it's us, the players.
Maybe if Bungie slid in a few new difficulty levels they could appease those not feeling "challenged."
But taking away power from the players is just a cheap, easy way out.
Instead [i]add[/i] new guns or buff existing ones like [i]Dragon's Breath[/i] and [i]Truth[/i] to make the gap smaller.
Buff the ARs and Fusion Rifles to make hand cannons and shotguns only one of [i]several[/i] viable choices in crucible. Take the lens flare off of NLB to make it less of a joke, and more of a tool that is wielded by highly skilled players. Add perks that negate poison and health stealing to armor and/ or class items.
EXPAND the options, don't take them away.
That is how you make a great game that will live for a decade.
IMHO.
~n~
Please vote/bump/like if you want to be heard! And thanks for all the support with the matchmaking thread; together we can work [i]with[/i] Bungie to make the game great!
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1 ReplyHaha, all these people crying because they WANT an unbalance game. People are so dumb. Yes, let's leave it in the hands of some blog post writer who knows nothing about game development.