Your ban nuke failed. Now hear me. I demand an answer for the callous disregard for this fan base!! Your response is hollow, full of falsehoods, and a slap in the face of those who have supported this studio for years, and quite frankly, the fact that you posted it here in a sub forum where the people who were banned cannot even respond is cowardly! [quote]Hey, Bungie Community. I know… I know… [i]“Where have YOU been?”[/i] It’s true that this website was once exclusively my beat. That was long ago – an entire age in Internet years. These days, it’s no secret that I’m working more behind the scenes to empower people like Cozmo (and now Dylan!) to be successful on the center stage. I never stopped being aware of happens here, though. Serving the Guardians is a team effort, just like everything that happens at Bungie. Today, I wanted to share some additional thoughts on some of our forum moderation policies. [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/242827681?sort=0&page=0]Earlier this week[/url], it was announced that forum participation requires a player to first reach The Farm in Destiny 2 with their Guardian (preferably a Warlock loyal to Dead Orbit, but you do what feels best). We also offered up a reminder that our [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/View/bungie/conduct]Code of Conduct[/url] is very much alive and well, along with the army of community volunteers (know them as “The Ninjas”) who are sworn to help us uphold it.[/quote] Why was Offtopic and Gaming subject to this? They have nothing to do with Destiny. [quote]While the announcement may have sparked a new conversation, none of these were new ideas. The code of conduct has existed in some form since 2004 (or bust), serving a goal to set expectations for respectful behavior. Throughout the first years of Destiny, we had a similar minimum requirement that forum users must first reach the Tower after completing the first mission. [i](“Eyes up, Guardian.”)[/i][/quote] It is only a conversation if you respond by addressing our points and speak with us and not talk down to us. At the moment, this is not a conversation, but you are more than welcome to make it one by engaging with us as you once did. Speak with us and explain how this was a good idea. [quote]As a follow up to the launch of Destiny 2, we still needed to update the required milestone, and we finally got around to doing that thing. Old ideas. New game. [/quote] Why was this needed? Why did you “need” to alienate fans? Why did you “need” to push them away? I am legitimately curious? [quote]Our goals have not been censorship or monetization. We seek to provide a valuable service to our community. This website is open to all players who have taken their first step into the world of Destiny, whether you use the full retail game or the free trial as your vehicle. As a Guardian, you are welcome to track your adventure, make new friends in groups, form up into teams as a clan, or just speak your mind on the forum.[/quote] Your goal has NOT been monetization....? REALLY?! Why was Eververse even introduced in D1? Why was it expanded on in D2 to such a degree that you had the forums absolutely FLOODED with calls to remove it? Why did Bungie post an ad on it’s website for a position whose specific purpose was to maintain and expand monetization within the game? Your company sure did put Colossal effort into a system that was not a company goal. If monetization was not a goal, then Eververse would not exists, that ad would have never been placed, and Bungie would not have locked subforums like Offtopic or Gaming behind a purchase of D2. [quote]We’re not taking any steps to remove negative feedback about Destiny 2. In fact, if you’ve expressed a desire to see something added to the game, it’s very likely that it’s itemized on our [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Explore/Detail/Update/46612]Development Roadmap[/url]. If it’s not, lend your voice to the #[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Topics?pNumber=0&tg=Feedback&tSort=6&tType=0&d=1&lang=en]Feedback[/url] forum. All we ask is that you meet us halfway as a player.[/quote] Good for you, because from the look of what was left from the ban nuke, half of the current fan base would disappear. Meet you halfway? You produced two Destiny games. By purchasing one of them, we have met you halfway!! [quote]Your community team is committed to the experience here. We can always do a better job of providing a respectable place where people can express sincere opinions about the games they play that we create. [b][u]It’s true that there are forums on Bungie.net that have nothing to do with Destiny, but we believe that a player who is invested in the game we share is likelier to respect the forum (and the community) that we share.[/u][/b] This is why the players of our games have often been deputized as Moderators – some of whom have gone on to work for the company.[/quote] The bold/underlined part is what I have the most trouble with. There were people here who most certainly did respect the forums and it’s people who never touched D2. Many of them have been fans of the studio since HALO. Trust me, they respected the rules of Offtopic and Gaming, so this notion of “if you play the game, you’ll respect us more,” is misguided at best. Some of us love the potential that Destiny has, but in good conscience could not bring ourselves to buy the game when we hear about locking vanilla content behind dlc, throttling XP gain, ever expanding Eververse despite the protest of the player base, regression of mechanics, selling back to the players what they had in D1, among other things. Why would we want to buy this game? I know Bungie has released a roadmap, but the proof is in the pudding. A road map does not make me excited for a game. A player base that is excited about the game even after launch is what catches my attention. Again though, that does not mean that I do not respect the forum, the CoC, or the people in it. I have had many a spirited debate with individuals in Offtopic but we never got around to hating each other. [quote]This is the clubhouse that we provide for the players of our games. You are as welcome here as you are in the world we’ve created for you to explore. If neither of those things appeal to you, there are other worlds than these on the Internet. We created this one, so we’re responsible for its upkeep. If you want to join us in that mission, I’m always suggesting that we could benefit from more Mentors or Ninjas to help us serve the player or keep the peace. Set a strong example, and you just might be the next addition to the teams that tend to their own garden.[/quote] For your newest games and worlds you mean. Your next comment can very much (and most likely will) be interpreted as “either love our game or gtfo!” Is that really the message Bungie wants to send when it is trying to retain a player base? I read the article about the Wall Street analyst’s conclusion about this game and it is pretty damning if you are looking for investors. The first thing to fix that is to rally your player base, but to do that you have to give them something to rally behind without trying to slide in some shady crap you know they will hate (if you truly have been listening that is). Second, you have got to give the older players a reason to come back. Give them reasons to get excited for and want to buy this game. Lastly, Bungie needs to do more than just say “we hear you.” You need to show the player base that you have indeed heard them by implementing suggestions from them that will improve your game. No more lip service. Show them you mean what you say and that your word is actually worth something. [quote]It is our hope that you have a good experience here. We maintain Bungie.net so that you can manage your hobby and make some friends that will enrich your journey. We also want to know you and learn from you. Thank you very much for reading this, and for being here. DeeJ, out.[/quote] The good experience depends entirely on Bungie. Are they willing to make a good experience without repeating stupid “mistakes” or making new ones? If so, show us. We want this. By “we” I mean the Destiny fan base as a whole. You want to know and learn from us? Casting people out because they have not played D2 is not a good start. You could have asked them, “hey, why didn’t you buy the game? What turned you away from it?” Do you realize the valuable insight you have missed out on? The valuable good PR? If countries casted people out who did not participate in recent elections, is that a correct action? I would love to talk to either DeeJ or dmg04 about this recent decision by Bungie. Engage with us as you once did. If we can work this out, I will sing Bungie’s praises from the highest rooftops and buy D2. If you want to carry this discussion behind closed doors, feel free to message me. I just want to understand and talk. Sincerely, Gladlin