[burnout] just a little rant about how the game (d)evolved for me

Wow, Tencent-GGG hiding this thread in a completely unrelated subforum.

A very enjoyabe thread, and well said to the OP.

The thing that gets me is how patient everyone is with GGG the company through all this - kudos to all for your discussion of a concept without attacking anyone or anything personally. (As I prepare to be far less gracious...)

For my part, I think of game of thrones. Skilled creators made an excellent form of entertainment that became part of the collective enjoyment of all. Then the last season, still with full intention of continuing the good work, partly failed at their task, and so many people got livid. At the very least, everyone could accept that the criticisms were well founded, though it still had many good elements.

Now to GGG, whose skilled creators made an excellent form of entertainment that became part of the collective enjoyment of all. Then with no intention at all of taking into account their players, they add the convoluted atlas system no one was asking for and which could not possibly add to enjoyment, they gate content which no one thought was a good idea, dilute drops and force people into mechanics (such as trade) no one wanted to be forced into, etc. etc. They sell out in possibly the most dramatic way any artists have ever before (hello tencent and the CCP) and show years of disrespect bordering on contempt for supporters and contributors, for suggestions and feedback.

It seems irrefutable that the criticisms are well founded, and that the game still has many good elements. Yet somehow, posts and threads like this one are met with thoughtless "Their game, they can do what they want with it" comments - as if creating something millions of people enjoy(ed) doesn't change your responsibilities at all. I'm not baffled by GGG's actions, they are understandable, just not commendable. I'm baffled that GGG gets so much support while de-evolving their game for such a large number of people.