Wednesday, April 27, 2005
It's not what you say, it's how you say it
SOE could have introduced Station Exchange with a lot less controversy if they'd been smart about it.
First, the initial information they released suggested that it could be implemented on existing servers. Even someone who, like me, is in favor of the Exchange can recognize a stupid idea like that a mile away. The fact that you could move OFF the server if you didn't like it is just adding insult to injury. If they had put out a clear, consistent message from the beginning, it would be much easier to take Sony at their word that this system will not affect the economy of servers where anti-Exchange people play. Instead, they caused confusion, consternation and an initial hostile attitude that "Oops! That isn't what we really meant!" won't dispel.
Second, if the system had been part of the game from the start, it would be much easier for people to accept. There would have been concern about it, but people wouldn't feel like SOE was trying to pull a fast one on them.
First, the initial information they released suggested that it could be implemented on existing servers. Even someone who, like me, is in favor of the Exchange can recognize a stupid idea like that a mile away. The fact that you could move OFF the server if you didn't like it is just adding insult to injury. If they had put out a clear, consistent message from the beginning, it would be much easier to take Sony at their word that this system will not affect the economy of servers where anti-Exchange people play. Instead, they caused confusion, consternation and an initial hostile attitude that "Oops! That isn't what we really meant!" won't dispel.
Second, if the system had been part of the game from the start, it would be much easier for people to accept. There would have been concern about it, but people wouldn't feel like SOE was trying to pull a fast one on them.
