Blizzard just doesnt feel like they play the game when they talk about it. And I mean the real game not their closed test builds where videos of it show some video game journalist tier gameplay.
And that feeling is important, because I have noticed it. Weeks ago in Warframe (the chaddest game ever) I was in the same end game mission as the creative director. She was playing the game. And when they discuss systems in their devstream inbetween their dirty jokes even when you feel like they couls be misguided you can tell “Oh I can see how you can come yo that conclusion by playing” and the reworks they give characters actually feel like something that comes from understanding how the game functions. This is so sorely missing from OW.
Ill give concrete example. Every time a OW dev talks about a rework it feels vague. They give reasonsthat are very milquetoast “the players would enjoy it more” without getting in any depth.
Versus Warframe dev topic of a few months ago about a rework of a system called Shield Gating. A combination of factors had made an optional debuff from a challenge game mode actually significantly buff survivability. The system was not super problematic but the devs explained in deoth how they wanted it codified as intentional and deepen it so they added a mod thay rrquires a build tweak to have the old way of shield gate work but slightly worse and a new way that would actually create a brand new playstyle around the mechanic. They understood why the system worked and how to tweak so they 1. Have it under control. 2. Make it better 3. Make it more nuanced than having one dominant style.
Helldivers 2 devs have a similar feel is what I heard from friends… But even the dreaded league has RiotPhreak and Riot August have their streams where they discuss the game that shows they play it and understand it similar to players with the dev side
i feel like the OW devs need to test multiple reworks at random in their beta or in live as an optional choice with an incentive like bonus XP or whatever to get statistics of players and ask them to fill out surveys
theres more than one way to rework a character and the best way to figure that out is probably through trial and error and not some crazy math equation
theres no way to see how it will actually work in real situations until you have real players trying it out
Its not that. Its everything. Every balance change or rework they pump out I see the same pattern - They cannot reassure the ppayer they even know what their own intentions are. Everything they do seems like they are throwing things at the wall till it sticks.
Like compare to a random ruotaugust video on what needs to he done to fix a degenerate playstyle of a certain hero and how he talks about it and you can disagree and still come out saying “at least he is competent about how the game works”
Thats because there is always some element of uncertainty, regardless of whether or not they have experienced game knowledge to understand the situation. you can fix one problem but end up with a completely different one as a result from players getting crafty and breaking the system in unintended ways (see all of the weird Wrecking Ball mechanics pro players use)
I would rather them keep throwing things at a wall, but do it in a way where people are incentivized to try it out and provide feedback, rather than forcing everyone to deal with the ramifications in the live game, with no option to go back, no benefits, and only reporting disdain on the forums
i know this is the idea behind the whole ptr and beta portions of overwatch, but they need to be accessible through the live version as an optional choice, so that anybody can try it from a pro streamer to an average joe, without having to worry about downloading another version of the game or not being able to test it with friends easily
Games are unpredictable. Hell while being PvE its unreal how volatile warframe is with its 76 systems duck taped together in that game… And yet I trust the devs way way more
Its about the honesty. The specifics, and the communication
Edit: Blizzard is more concerned with appearing like this loving figures goving us this exciting whimsical game and gove us dora the explorer baby language. Then they make an imcompetent move that ruins the game.
Warframe Devs show us the crotch cannon horny bug then drop a 5 hour amazing cinematic quest and the gane is somehow 3gbs lighter and even more optimized
