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HollownessDevour's avatar
HollownessDevour
Seasoned Ace
13 hours ago

Why it is partially "our fault" that issues and bugs aren't getting solved

Sorry for the saucy title, and I am not trying to pick on anyone or anything, this is an attempt of self reflection on both sides, but I really do think we can fix this, work better with the devs, and better improve the bug reporting to get results—if some of these things are taken into consideration. There is a certain sense of lost in translation from player to devs, when expressing concern about bugs and issues—and I believe it is hindering potential fixes.

I haven't been on the new Sims forum long, at least with Sims 4, but I found rather flawed system, that I keep finding issues with. These are confirmed by research on these forums, Sims4 reddit, etc. This is what I think all Simmers with complaints/bugs/issues have to understand or your concerns may never get past the "mail room" as if it were.

  • Bugs/Issues will not be even looked at if: made as a "multi-report" (auto-locked/closed) which falls on the user/player to re-post separately, and they often don't, "missing information" such as platform or if mods/cc used (or labeled "incomplete report" and could eventually be "closed"). Enough ignored reports sent, why would people keep sending them? instead they may resort to just complains in replies, and posts in other forums? But this is hurting the process laid out for Bug Reporting.
  • Graphic misalignment or poor quality objects (it will just be moved to Feedback).
  • Inconsistent mapping placement issues with objects and items, as testing every item and surface when a new pack against old packs would take some time (which results to "waiting for additional reports").
  • Internal files containing incorrect information against the games in game descriptions and details, as the average user might not notice (probably only modders) or at least might not notice for a long while (which results to "waiting for additional reports").
  • Aggro posts. Posted with all caps, overdone exclamations marks, name calling, and overly aggressive. If not deleted, it probably will be moved to Feedback to die. Even mild, stern or simply intense posts can/could be construed this way, despite well thought out, and with valid examples basically the "baby thrown out with the bathwater" are the results. Alas, good intentions meant—aren't enough.
  • Complaining on other platforms, "Bug Tickets" are set up on these forums, complaining or reporting on Reddit is as helpful as keeping other players apprised, but it does little to nothing to be done officially.
  • You use mods, and either you do not test without mods, or just rather not post because you do play with mods. Yes, many mods can cause bugs, and are fixed by removing, and so many people play with mods. This makes it very difficult to differentiate between non-mod/non-cc and mod/cc related bugs—especially if the average player is expected to investigate on their own. 

Because of this, it really diminishes, and throws away many bug concerns, issues or complaints—unless a larger or enough backlash reports come in/continue to come it. As many Simmers post it, and walk away, think that is enough, and do not return. If they do not provide the platform, and if you used mods/cc, and it is as good as "dead letter".

This highly frustrates those reading the internal files, and actually see the errors, and despite the coding error, it can remain oblivious to the average user (maybe even indefinitely), and we don't even get an investigation due to indifference.

"Waiting for additional reports" is probably the cruelest, it is like they (devs) admit, or know there is an issue, but why make a 3 min fix (that's how long it too me to fix one bug/issue on a tuning file as a modder) when only 1-2 people noticed it right away. It depends on people, enough people—many of whom simply do not notice.

Here are examples of "Non-Start" posts unhelpful for the desired end results:

  • Asking to blanketed "Fix Bug" in comments, replies that are not in Bug Reports, isn't the most helpful. as they are not specific.
  • Asking to stop making packs until "Bug Fixes" is unrealistic as most of those teams tend to be separate of each other.
  • "I quit posts" (because of bugs/issues and frustration), though I am an advocate to though who want to express their upset, it doesn't exactly help those of us left behind, reporting, waiting and wanting these fixes still.
  • Feedback about Bugs/Fixes under feedback section. I just have a bad feeling this is just not read or cared about unless it is under a Bug Report, but you also might get dismissed, and post moved to feedback section anyways.

How else can we make this system better for players, moderators and devs?

2 Replies

  • artemis9865's avatar
    artemis9865
    Seasoned Adventurer
    12 hours ago

    Work together and work... nobody wants a surtain in it, But yeah bug fixes are great, like LAG, to long and stuff

  • The best way is if we all give as much info about our problems as possible. Including the update version number, what pack we see it in the most, console or pc player, mods & cc or none, cheats used or no cheats etc anything of importance I imagine really helps narrow things down for the bug team, cause just saying "this is a bug fix it" and then never replying again, like what are they meant to do with that? Like everything in life things are sorted into priority,  two players in six months have noticed a particular bug so it's low priority as you rightly say and gets put on the back burner, but over a thousand players in under a month, of course that will get fixed as it very well should be, it's clearly high priority. No game is perfect and it's mainly down to us to fix them by reporting the bugs we find. 

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