Plz close think we had discuss this thread enough :)

[Dreamytime]

for the record that wasnt me who wrote that. I remember reading exactly what you wrote, but not sure who was the author of that post.

I didnt pillage anything honest

My bad Lava Boy. After class I will find and quote the correct person.
Lucky for me your shoulders are broad enough to be misquoted without beating me around my head with your moldy green flips.

 

[aengus]

My bad Lava Boy. After class I will find and quote the correct person.
Lucky for me your shoulders are broad enough to be misquoted without beating me around my head with your moldy green flips.

actually I reported you @_@


programmers and designers create the game
moderators (VMK's) respond to calls for help and the like
hosts well... besides being my bff they host

management... <---- thats who you all have a problem with at the moment LOL

In the end all the other people do what management tells them to do.

 

[funfly]

It's interesting, though...somehow, this quest and its aftereffects have made me more willing to share the magic. I've always given away a lot more stuff than I've been given, but I seem to be actively LOOKING for people that I can make smile. Random ones, not just my family. And I value my friends even more. So much more.

It's like I'm seeing it all with new eyes. Anyone else notice this?

Definitely seeing that with more people Or are we just so much more aware of it now even though it was there before...

This is wonderful, that is exactly what we did help and help and help.

And those that helped during the quest, have always helped I've found, and will continue to do so I'm sure. Hopefully, this quest has shown others what Pixie Dust and Walt Disney stands for and join up in that Magical Disney Team!

Did I mention, I love our Team Dumbo

 

[TikiIslander]

You made some pretty serious accusations there, and I feel I have to respond. I’m an expert at overanalyzing things, but I never got the impression that Yavn was angered by how many people finished his quest. He was glad about the degree that people cooperated. He did commend the players for their teamwork. So, because he didn’t think everyone would pull it together as well as they did, he doesn’t understand Disney? To have created an online version of the Magic Kingdom, I think that requires more than a basic understanding of Disney culture and history. If we’re going eye for an eye here, you slapped him right back in his face.

As I said before, the problem never was 575 teams/plans. He said he was "especially pleased to see VMK'ers working together in the Pirates and other games to complete the Quest." It was almost like they expected us to do that- I think a member here said that early on in the weekend. The problem Yavn had was how people posted and used spoilers for the quest and how others created/used programs to cheat.

I believe that this site’s moderators have decided against allowing spoilers for host quests to be released. Why? Because the hosts work hard to make them awesome! Do you think that someone just threw the Blackheart quest together on Friday night? That person worked just as hard (if not harder) to make an amazing quest. It’s unfair to the quest creator to have the answers written out like that, but it was also completely unnecessary. There were trivia questions, but the answers were in a passage on the homepage. The other questions were riddles, and with no time limit on the tasks, I see no reason why anyone needed to look at the spoilers. If someone wrote up spoilers for a quest I made, I might see that as a slap in the face.

I have some issues with the game producers (mainly, like letting the real cheaters off with another unnecessary warning), but I had to stand up for them here.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I can understand that they might have been POed due to cheaters/hackers.

But, there has never, ever been a quest closed early or an off site game with codes shut down because of all those cheaters/hackers. They have never been shut down even when people used hacks to get more codes or certain codes.

So why the 10 hour early shut down now? It makes no historical sense to me.
Especially in the face of the nearly impossible score needed in pirates.
So you think the quest was designed for those 8-14 yo kids to finish? You think it was designed for most of VMK's population to finish?
They seriously only wanted a few of these items available in the game. No other explanation for those scores.

 

[MomsGoneGoofy]

Nope, the suits above him are really only concerned with money.

This smacks of a gamer's desire to have few winners and many losers. Not some suit saying we have to get as much money as possible.

I have to agree. When Disney saw record sales of the VMK boxed pirate pin sets, did they saw Lets stop selling them to keep them rare.

Never dangle those virtual goodies in front of a VMKer unless you want to see your inventory drop dramatically. We pillaged... We plundered... but at the end of the day the friends we helped get through the quest are the most priceless thing I gained.

 

[CelebrationNM]

TikiIslander, I have to agree with you; it’s these game programmers and designers that built the Virtual Magic Kingdom based off of the well-imagineered Disney Parks and Resorts from around the world.

I’ll also add that I see a lot of evidence of the game’s producers and operators spending time in the parks. I’d even venture the guess that the reason they have a career designing games with Walt Disney Company is because they believe in the Disney brand. There is no reason they would intentionally try to be deceitful or cheat players out of virtual prizes. At the parks and resorts there are often times when a ride goes down or there is an issue with a reservation. In those cases, nobody is trying to sabotage your vacation, even though oftentimes guests feel that is the case. Splash Mountain passed a rigorous inspection last night just as it does every single night, and your vacation planner might have mistyped a keystroke, as we all have done. The difference here is that you’re in the parks for maybe a week at a time, while you’re on the game much more constantly, so the small issues build upon themselves and seem larger. (There's also "Free Game Theory", which we've discussed at length.)

I’d suggest taking an outside perspective to this whole thing. While this game may be a large proportion of your life and you feel an emotional connection to it…the same is likely true for those that create the game. Nobody wakes up in the morning and goes to work to cause “dis harmony in the Kingdom”, “resentment”, “jealously” and “cruel words to be said.” There's a lot more to operating this arm of the company than what you see on your computer monitor everyday. Give them a break. Without the company and the corporate backing, this game is dead.

By the way, at WDW, things are going alright. Resort hotel occupancy was at 86% in fiscal year 2006 over 83% the previous year and attendance increased by 5% over the previous year, partly, I’m sure, because of the folks working hard behind the scenes to plan and operate the property, and on the front lines to make the experience memorable. The company, nor this game, in my opinion, is going downhill; one thing these numbers show is that more people than ever are experiencing the Disney magic. I believe that the quality of that experience is as good now as it ever has been; my evidence is the time that I've spent in the Parks and Resorts.

Make no mistake about it: Walt Disney would be very proud.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Make no mistake about it: Walt Disney would be very proud.

So Walt would have been proud that his name was all over a game that this past weekend was causing kids to cry?

 

[Belle1997]

You made some pretty serious accusations there, and I feel I have to respond. I’m an expert at overanalyzing things, but I never got the impression that Yavn was angered by how many people finished his quest. He was glad about the degree that people cooperated. He did commend the players for their teamwork. So, because he didn’t think everyone would pull it together as well as they did, he doesn’t understand Disney? To have created an online version of the Magic Kingdom, I think that requires more than a basic understanding of Disney culture and history. If we’re going eye for an eye here, you slapped him right back in his face.

As I said before, the problem never was 575 teams/plans. He said he was "especially pleased to see VMK'ers working together in the Pirates and other games to complete the Quest." It was almost like they expected us to do that- I think a member here said that early on in the weekend. The problem Yavn had was how people posted and used spoilers for the quest and how others created/used programs to cheat.

I believe that this site’s moderators have decided against allowing spoilers for host quests to be released. Why? Because the hosts work hard to make them awesome! Do you think that someone just threw the Blackheart quest together on Friday night? That person worked just as hard (if not harder) to make an amazing quest. It’s unfair to the quest creator to have the answers written out like that, but it was also completely unnecessary. There were trivia questions, but the answers were in a passage on the homepage. The other questions were riddles, and with no time limit on the tasks, I see no reason why anyone needed to look at the spoilers. If someone wrote up spoilers for a quest I made, I might see that as a slap in the face.

I have some issues with the game producers (mainly, like letting the real cheaters off with another unnecessary warning), but I had to stand up for them here.

The reality is spoilers are always there on the net to find. Who ever wrote the program knows this. Trying to tell people to not use them is like telling a crowd of hungry people to not look at the loaf of bread they are passing but to wait and extra hour or two for a feast.

The reason they do no listen is because VMK has let most players down. When I finished the pirate part on Saturday I chose to help other players and not finish the quest.

But I dreaded getting up in the morning WHY? Because VMK has cancelled quests and reset them and most players have had to try again and fail because the new scores were to high. Green car anyone.

I still stand by my thinking I really believe the desigers behind VMK do not really understand the true disney fan. What makes disney far above the rest is customer service.

It is like I watch NASCAR and enjoy the races. Would go to a race and have a great time but I am not a fan. Talking to a true they see many things in these races that I would never understand.

Do I think they know about the disney principles. Yes, do I think they get it no.

Why because history keeps repeating itself. If this was the first time they let players down I would give them a break. many many people feel the same way. Would it be different in another game sure it would. My expectation of high quaility customer service that separates Disney from the rest would be different.

Like not putting up when the quest closed until many were at work or school. If they were truly in this for the players and all call would have gone out in the game. Instead of from a host with players who took a break to see them. So unless you read a post here you would not know. Also it was added Tuesday morning in small print. Not a big update.

The bad communication with players is really not the Disney way.

But after playing since day one. Nothing has really changed. I stand by my statements it is the pixie dust/Disney factor.

You are backing them up but I do not know where you are backing them except for the spoiler issue. And they realilty is when planning a quest like this they have to know 80% will try and find spoilers. After spending say 30 hours of play helping other players it is only natural. And then even with teams do you not think each member would not help you through when stuck.

Now the person is having to choose;do I do the quest without spoiler help and take an extra hour or two or do I help 2 or 3 more friends get through.

See the quandry. Behind those pixels is real people with real feeling and many are real friends.

I am sorry many people out of human nature would choose to finish fast and help a friend.

A good designer should have known this and factored that amount that would do this. It has always been a silent agreement that short host quests no spoilers anything really difficult there has been spoilers on all the sights.

Why would this be anything different. And a designer knowing he audience should know this too.

It has been infered that they did not expect that many to finish. So my question to you is WHY?

So that is where I am coming from.

Do you stand behind VMK's customer service record. If so why? Pixie dust is really the customer service VMK gives its guests. That make us feel like VIPs.

 

[aengus]

We really don't know who or why people were being accused of cheating, its really all speculation, unless they choose to elaborate. Highly doubtful this will happen.

 

[Belle1997]

I’ll also add that I see a lot of evidence of the game’s producers and operators spending time in the parks. I’d even venture the guess that the reason they have a career designing games with Walt Disney Company is because they believe in the Disney brand. There is no reason they would intentionally try to be deceitful or cheat players out of virtual prizes. At the parks and resorts there are often times when a ride goes down or there is an issue with a reservation.
.

I am in no way saying they do this on purpose. Absolutely 100% I believe they do work hard at this game and the game itself is fabulous.
The creativity the graphics the disney innovation is fantastic. They have captured the magic of the parks And the new items they have created are awesome !!!! But to me there is a difference between the magic and wonder of Disney and that extra that many many places can not grasp. Pixie Dust the "D" Factor Disney Does so well.


They are experts at crowd control to the point you are waiting in line you feel the ride has started while you weave your way around. On the cruise line from what I have experienced and read the way Disney does crowd contol is far above the rest.

But the customer service area in VMK the "D" disney factor is missing. What Disney is known for.

How can I explain this:

This summer my we decided to cruise on another cruise line to see if we were really getting our value on disney since it was so more expensive.

We did 7 nights on this cruise. A wonderful very beautiful ship like a floating hotel. But we did not feel our vacation really began unitl we walked next door to Disney for a 4 night.

Why.

How special it is to get on boards and have the officers clapping as they announce your name.

After having lunch the staff thanking you while you are leaving . We never forgot they thanking us for eating.

Disney goes out of there way to make you feel special. At Castaway Club members meetings they are always talking about wanting to know what is not working from their guests and they work hard to change it.

The first cruise by far had bigger ship and far more activities than the Wonder. Some pretty cool too.

But we decide then and there it will always be Disney we like to feel special

Hope that helps it what I am trying to say about the Disney factor.

 

[Vary]

I don't understand why there is so much focus on the 'spoiler' type of cheating here. While they weren't pleased with it - and there's no way that it was necessary in order to finish the quest - that was simply not the reason that was given for the early closing time.

While we're on the topic of cheaters, one last comment about the Quest – I'll remind you again, using any program that modifies VMK or plays VMK for you is not only wrong, but against VMK Values and will get you banned. In short, if you didn't download it from VMK.com, don't use it with VMK! (And trust me, we know when you do...) Technical problems (as well as closing the Quest when we did) were a direct result of players that didn't follow these simple rules.

TikiIlsanader is entirely right that the claim that the game's management doesn't 'get' Disney the way you do is an absolute insult. Your main point - that they closed the quest early because they didn't expect the 'Disney Factor' to drive players to work together to get the required pirates score - is very obviously not the case. It looks more like that was exactly what the quest author hoped would happen. They're telling us that the quest was closed not because players worked together, not because people chose to ruin the quest for themselves by looking up the answers when they could just as easily have finished it on their own and actually enjoyed it the way it was meant to be enjoyed, but because, once again, somebody figured out a way to really, actually cheat using some sort of external program. I'm sure that aengus is right in that the precise details of what happened are never going to come out, but you need to understand that we're very clearly not just talking about spoilers here.

What you're calling 'customer service', by the way, is actually 'customer experience'. They're related, but they're not really the same thing. And either way, I'm really not sure how it's relevant to this particular situation. When you take away the assumption that the quest was closed because too many people were finishing it honestly, you're just left with a serious problem that needed to be dealt with in whatever way the production staff could manage. Anyone remember when the Sword in the Stone suddenly stopped giving out Mad Hatter's Tea Party pins and started awarding Lumieres? Or all the various traumas surrounding the Dead Man's Chest game? This is not the first time that regular players were affected when action had to be taken against serious cheating. Personally, I probably would have simply 'locked down' all the prizes; made them nontradeable until the developers had had a chance to find and delete the accounts of the most serious cheaters. Of course we really don't know, and can't be told, exactly what went on behind the scenes, who was doing what and how it was affecting the game, so we can't say for sure what the best solution would have been. But to say, essentially, that the quest was closed because VMK wanted to ruin people's fun and stop honest players from finishing is just not a position that's supported by the facts as we know them. So yes, as much as the phrase has been overused around here lately, your accusations about the team not understanding the 'Disney Factor' are a slap in the face.

 

[Belle1997]

From what I am reading some see it as a slap in the face and some see it the way I wrote it. And many are silent

I really believe people experience and see Disney VMK etc all very differently.
Each experience disney differently each ones expectations diferent from one another so why should VMK be any different.

I do not think I slap them in the face just as other players when they read Yavn speaks did not feel slapped either. While others players felt labled as cheaters and have people coming up into the game and saying so.

I thought yah right till I faced it last night myself. I think that is what motivated this thread.

I think we have hashed this thread through long enough think it is time to close it.

I still stand by my opinion is it right or wrong who knows. Does not really matter in the long run. No. Does it change anything not really. Is it nice to vent it out. Yup.

Now on to another topic.