[EU] - An Open Community Letter from GOA

[David_Petit]

Hello,

My name is David Petit and I am in charge of all European community management for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.

As you know, we are approaching the launch date for the game and just as there is a lot of information released, so too will you have a lot of questions. This exciting but delicate period can create confusion between different sources with mistranslations that can result in apparent contradictions. These rumours and errors only make things worse for the WAR community. There is only one way to combat this: effective communication based on mutual confidence.

The objective of GOA for Warhammer Online is to make the game a success and the sole indicator of this is your satisfaction. Just as you may have read in various places, we have invested in a quality infrastructure as well as quality people in order to respond to all your concerns. It is this last point that I want to talk about today.

We manage five communities in Europe, with varied and diverse customs and it is clearly impossible to communicate in a single manner to all these communities without taking into account their nuances or adapting to their significant differences in sensibilities. From the perspective of effective control of our communications and to ensure we bring the best feedback to our partner Mythic, we have recruited community managers to work within each community. These are video games professionals who possess indispensible skills in their work but who are also players that love the communities they represent.

To avoid all misunderstandings, for clarification of a situation or to obtain official information, I recommend to you therefore that you turn to the community manager dedicated to your language. He can reassure you as to the validity of any information or discuss the details.

He will read your contributions, heed your opinions and requests, so do not hesitate to ask him questions or to address him directly. He is here for you and for the regulars of this place.

In collaboration with the administrators of this forum, this thread will in future be dedicated to all your questions concerning GOA and the operation of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning in Europe. Iain Compton and Magnus Kjellstrom, the community managers for your community will answer your questions as quickly and clearly as possible.

Until our paths cross in the Old World.

Best Regards

[Garthilk]

Folks,

Going to remind folks. This thread isn't for commentary, it's for questions. GOA has worked something out with the administrators of this site, and we want to provide them a simple place to answer questions. So leave your commentary for another day. Save your back handed questions too, because insults and disparaging remarks thinly veiled as questions will be dealt with

As usual, we welcome open discussion, no "flaming" of any company, game or individual will be tolerated. Ideas and thoughts are welcome. Insults and disparaging remarks will not be tolerated.

Keep feedback constructive. All feedback on the game is appreciated as long as it is constructive. Keep it straightforward and include examples and facts when applicable. The best way to get your opinions recognized is not to be abusive or offensive, but to be constructive and communicate in a mature fashion.

If all you have to contribute to a thread is negativity, then you have nothing to contribute. Negativity does not advance a thread and tends to derail it as people start responding to the negativity with negativity of their own. It's a downward spiral with zero worth.

Consider this a warning to everyone posting in this thread. Those that violate the forum rules will be delt with. I would really hate to see more people unable to access this site, when there is so much excitement going on. So, fair warning to all.

In case anyone was wondering, you should be posting questions, not rants or opinion posts.

[Opalek]

I am a reasonable guy. But this post leaves me speechless. I have difficulties of finding information in it.

Celestina posted:

If we had equal treatment the majority of EU CE pre-orderers would be in CB.
If we had equal treatment we would have an awesome Warhammer Online website.
If we had equal treatment we would have access to the Preview Weekend.
If we had equal treatment we would receive exciting news updates, instead we are left in the dark.
If we had equal treatment EU CE- pre-orderers would get an extra fews days in OB or HS.

Can you tell us anything about this, David ?

Thank You in advance.

[Jacina]

%ç%/" GOA !!!



Actually I'm fine with GOA. The only thing I don't like is the flash site

I'll be fine with GOA till the server opens for the early adapters (head starters) which is when Mythic-GOA have to prove they've got it, only then can we make a fair judgment.

Appreciate the letter (I actually had bets going that a letter like this was inc... I win ) Thanks for reassuring us that GOA is on track, keep working on the server hamsters.

EDIT: Clarification: I don't like the fact that the site is in FLASH. The design is fine.

[Gunge]

Hi, I know the post by Mythic took you a little by surprise or at least some of the content did. Do you have any more information for the European CE customers? Will we get access to the closed beta also?

Thanks,
Gunge (James)

[Garthilk]

Will the EU CE pre-orders have any type of special access in the future?

What kinds of changes can we expect to the EU website and account manager?

Does GOA stand commited to patching, launching and expansions being the same time as their US partners?

How does GOA plan to roll out their open beta process?

Tell us about the meeting with Mythic, has Mythic commited to improving communications with GOA?

[Dabigbom]

Right. It is good that someone higher than Iain or Magnus wants to talk to us.

@ GOA - We haven't heard a word about how the meeting with Mythic went and what decisions were took. Most of us EU players out there are still angry about GOA not including a CE Closed BETA, but this is understandable, however, Mythic recently opened up their Open BETA accounts page and are now letting people entering their Pre Order codes as we speak. What will actions will GOA take regarding the EU Pre Order buyers? And furthermore, what plans will GOA take regarding customer support for WAR after release. Thank you and best of luck!

[Tyn]

Hello there! And thanks for setting this thread up, i hope it will give the EU players all the information they need.

My question, would it be possible at all to get a 'rough' timetable of when things are going to happen for the EU people?

ETA on the website being fully working
ETA on when the beta codes can be inputted.
ETA on when you will be serving Cake and Pie

I understand that the chances of you giving us the dates is slim, but hopefully you can do it sooner rather than later!

Much respect,

[Laughing God]

Thank you for this opportunity. It is very much appreciated.

Over the last week or so the US side of the WAR community have received some very good news, with their CE preorders getting access to closed beta, ability to download the game client and information on preview weekends. Also they have seen promotional goodies like the Road-To-War.

Now on the European side we have seen less "love". For many European players this is a matter close to heart. We tend to compare between ourselves and our US friends, and we do not seem to get equal treatment. Why is that? In fact, I myself how problems navigating and accessing your homepage, which should be the face to the european community and our first stop for information. Why not do it simple and efficient like the US version? Why can we not put in codes and have a beta center like our US friends could months ago?

[telzek]

Hi.

Why is your website riddled with bugs and misinformation?

Why does it say First name: and then Name: in the betacenter, that doesn't make sense.

Why does it say the wrong release date on your webpage?

Why is the FAQ not up to date?

Why is your website in flash, therefor causing lots of bugs which could be avoided?

Why can't you carbon copy the US site so we get the same treatment as them?

What are we going to get to equal out the CE preorder differences as in US getting in beta and we don't?

Why do you say that it's hard to have different communities as in different languages?

Just make sure you say the same thing as the US Mythic side does and don't retranslate it to something else. Please tell me that you are fixing war-europe.com.

Thanks.

[Mourne]

My concern is that we are being kept in the dark. We we promised an announcement in a few days about what we were going to get. We have yet to see any announcement and it's been more than few days.

IanC told us that Mythic's announcement caught GOA by surprise yet a german CM has said this is not true. GOA were aware of the announcement but your timetable was unable to be changed. Why the deception?

Why is Mythic able to invite the CE preorders into closed beta, but you are not able to. I know it's because the new data centre is not yet in place but I want to know why not. You are both working to the same timetable yet they are prepared and you are not.

How do you think this sits with european players already sensitive about GOA's performance with DAOC? How do you think this makes players feel in light of the promises of equal or better service.

Before anyone starts banging on about service not starting yet as we haven't bought anything, please don't. The US preorders were in exactly the same position but were given a bonus.

My last question is this; why doesn't your open letter address ANY of the concerns that have been raised during the last week? You have not given us any new information, just words that really don't mean anything.

We are aware that you are going to be on time for open beta. This stopped being good enough when the US CE preorder customers were invited into closed beta. I think it's outrageous that you think it is acceptable to be cutting your timetable this close to open beta and release. You're going to look very foolish if something doesn't go as planned.

[kazamx]

If possible I would like to know what the GOA policy on patching will be.

[Garthilk]

Folks,

Going to remind folks. This thread isn't for commentary, it's for questions. GOA has worked something out with the administrators of this site, and we want to provide them a simple place to answer questions. So leave your commentary for another day. Save your back handed questions too, because insults and disparaging remarks thinly veiled as questions will be dealt with.

[Zelkova]

My concerns are similar to most other peoples.

I would like to know if we will be getting into the beta on time and will we be getting the preview weekend like US customers?

If we will be able to download the Open Beta client in advance so we are not spending time we could be using to play WAR downloading it?

Will the EU customers be getting any news to do with the previous events and let down of a chance at entery into the Closed Beta?

I have heard that normal pre-order copys of the gamein EU will not be getting into the Open Beta like the US, is this true?

My final question, what is GOA's policy on patching and expansions will the dates correspond with the US release dates?

Thank you for your time.

[Arrandor]

Welcome to the Warhammer Alliance community David, and thanks for posting here

I think Garthilk has asked the main questions for me for now.

The only other one I have is with respect to the Road of WAR site, which looks fun; will GOA be launching a Road to WAR site or similar, or if there are no plans will Mythic be extending that site's maps to include the EU?