This is from a support ticket which I just sent in, I did my best to describe the rather poor design and scheduling of the Halloween and New Year's finales, which leave many people with no choice but to miss the hats.
It's f***ing Tyria, the least they could do is offset the DAY of the event by one! Why does Tyria need to celebrate Halloween on the same day we do?
Anyway...
This is the last time I miss the holiday event for reasons completely out of my hands and try to stay quiet about it. The Live Team needs to re-evaluate their tradition of when and how Holiday Hatwear is distributed, because it is counter-intuitive to everyone's lives and everyone's attempt to have fun!
First of all, 24 hours is an extremely narrow window for a ONCE IN A LIFE TIME opportunity in a video game. This is compounded by the fact that, for whatever reason, these 24 hours HAVE to be programmed to occur during the REAL LIFE HOLIDAY. Why?! Understand that people have lives outside of this game, and halloween / new year's are probably the two days out of the entire year when people are going to be INCREDIBLY busy. Parents take their kids trick'or'treating - and there are lots of parents playing this game, believe me. Young folk GO OUT, some have school during the day, even! People visit relatives and family and may not even have access to the internet for more than the 24 hour period of New Year's Eve.
Second, these two holidays (Halloween and Wintersday) are still the ONLY two holidays without any recourse for people who missed the hats. Canthan New Year and the Dragon Festival have NPCs who will take tokens for a hat after the event has passed. Where are these NPCs for Wintersday and Halloween? Where is the logic here? The two busiest holidays for people are the holidays with no mercy when it comes to that small fleeting day when hats are given out.
Further still, these holidays are within the season best known for inclement weather (SNOW), power outages and other problems. The snow makes it even harder for these problems to be fixed in a timely fashion. In my own personal case - although I am positive there are enough people out there who can share a similar frustration - we had a freak snow storm last week, and on Oct. 30th 8PM our cable and internet connectivity went down due to a weather related outage. Yes, an outage hours before the damned festival started, and guess when the outages were finally fixed? NOVEMBER 1ST, THIS MORNING. There goes everything! What am I supposed to do, commune with the gods and ask them nicely not to give us snow in October? I was not going to be busy last night because I have no children and had no parties to go to, and I STILL miss out.
Arena Net is capable of making smart scheduling decisions for their in-game events, so what explanation is there for their failure to do the same for these two extremely BUSY, chaotic days of the year?
I apologize for the harsh tone of this e-mail but I am extremely angry right now. I hope the support team has at least enough consideration to send a non-automated response at some point soon.
I would like to open a discussion on this 24 hour finale format, starting with the fact that the two other major holidays do have a recourse for people who miss the day-long window. And yet the holidays which really need it do not.
24 Hours - Where is the logic?
shinta_himura
ajaxfetish
You couldn't leave a toon idling in LA or Kamadan before heading out to your Halloween festivities?
shinta_himura
No I can't leave a toon idling in LA or Kamadan in the middle of a cable/internet outage.
cosyfiep
for most people I would say that would be possible (I did mine before I went to bed).
however, for the east coast--the big pre-winter snow storm that happened this last week, there are still TONS of people without power...so no power=no internet/computer.
I would hope that anet would extend the event for this (since they have done it for others for just about the same reasons).
HOWEVER,
for the most part, everyone knows when these finales are going to happen--this is the what 7th? halloween? and you know you can leave a character afk in either la or kamadan and get the headgear ....if you arent going to be near your computer for 24 hours.
however, for the east coast--the big pre-winter snow storm that happened this last week, there are still TONS of people without power...so no power=no internet/computer.
I would hope that anet would extend the event for this (since they have done it for others for just about the same reasons).
HOWEVER,
for the most part, everyone knows when these finales are going to happen--this is the what 7th? halloween? and you know you can leave a character afk in either la or kamadan and get the headgear ....if you arent going to be near your computer for 24 hours.
jimbo32
What ajaxfetish said.
Maybe if people wouldn't send in support tickets regarding something so stupid, ANet would be faster at responding to real issues.
Maybe if people wouldn't send in support tickets regarding something so stupid, ANet would be faster at responding to real issues.
Star_Jewel
They don't need to extend the events or put the finales on "more convenient" days (since that's wholly subjective). Add a hat trader for 3 days after every major festival trading for a stack of the drop du mois. Problem solved.
It really doesn't make any sense that they don't already.
But then, hat trader is somewhat new as a response to some of the hat bugs that have crept up in recent years.
ETA: Actually, looking at the wiki, it seems Halloween is the only "hat festival" that so far hasn't had a trader afterwards (I'm not counting CNY, since that mask is always the same). Come on, ANet.
It really doesn't make any sense that they don't already.
But then, hat trader is somewhat new as a response to some of the hat bugs that have crept up in recent years.
ETA: Actually, looking at the wiki, it seems Halloween is the only "hat festival" that so far hasn't had a trader afterwards (I'm not counting CNY, since that mask is always the same). Come on, ANet.
Sagittario
Unlike these above me, I agree with you at NPC that sells hats up from the last finale to the event end.
GODh
I understand your frustration, but i dont think your ticket is going to solve anything... in most Eurpean countries (all?) halloween isnt even a holiday, so players like me have to goto school or work. I managed to get my hats, but i had to go afk to get them (1x return to switch town) and therefor missed the Mad King's Fan finale effect...
shinta_himura
And there have been seven Dragon Festivals but that holiday still gets a head-gear NPC, cosyfiep.
Even without freak accidents or storms, why should people have to leave their clients running for days and pray that there is not a brown-out, a server-side glitch, or a client crash, a PC crash, etc.
Leaving your PC on for 24 hours unattended in the middle of winter while you're hours away at a relatives house, sounds fool-proof...
I mean, it's definitely better than nothing and improves your chances of escaping Holiday Hell with your hats, but it's still out of your hands.
Not to mention that Halloween and New Year's (again... why is it these two holidays that have to have the most demanding features) have two hats, and I believe there was one Wintersday with four hats even. So if you're AFK through all of it, you only get one.
GODh, people in the US have to go to school and work as well.
Please read the ticket at least before commenting.
Even without freak accidents or storms, why should people have to leave their clients running for days and pray that there is not a brown-out, a server-side glitch, or a client crash, a PC crash, etc.
Leaving your PC on for 24 hours unattended in the middle of winter while you're hours away at a relatives house, sounds fool-proof...
I mean, it's definitely better than nothing and improves your chances of escaping Holiday Hell with your hats, but it's still out of your hands.
Not to mention that Halloween and New Year's (again... why is it these two holidays that have to have the most demanding features) have two hats, and I believe there was one Wintersday with four hats even. So if you're AFK through all of it, you only get one.
GODh, people in the US have to go to school and work as well.
Please read the ticket at least before commenting.
Vincent Evan
It's not once in a lifetime, it's annual. Major key difference there.
snowman relic
Seems like OP is just raging, I had school all day and party after school just plan better i picked up my first hat first chance setting my alarm to wake me and my second just before school. Not Anets fault you have other stuff to do plan better if you want something don't expect the world to come to you.
Star_Jewel
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Vincent Evan
It's not once in a lifetime, it's annual. Major key difference there.
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LifeInfusion
I'd be more worried about not having power than hats.
Yay priorities!
Yay priorities!
RedDog91
....are we really doing this? This thread was actually made? AGAIN?
1. Hats from holiday events do not provide any advantage
2. They are "rewards" for players who are present during the finale of the event
While its unfortunate that you didn't get the hats, you did not miss out on something that will affect the game for you. It may seem unfair, but the hats mean absolutely nothing and no one is gonna care whether you have it or not.
1. Hats from holiday events do not provide any advantage
2. They are "rewards" for players who are present during the finale of the event
While its unfortunate that you didn't get the hats, you did not miss out on something that will affect the game for you. It may seem unfair, but the hats mean absolutely nothing and no one is gonna care whether you have it or not.
Venganza
Quote:
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Originally Posted by jimbo32
Maybe if people wouldn't send in support tickets regarding something so stupid, ANet would be faster at responding to real issues.
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Leave your char idle, or man-up and get over it.
Lil Leena
Sorry but all I read is 'QQ poor me QQ'.
It's a fact of life that what's convenient for one isn't for another person. If it wasn't for snow storms/power outages, then you would have been able to get the hat. It's hardly Anet's fault that there are snowstorms.
So many people think that GW should revolve around them...
^Also this lol.
It's a fact of life that what's convenient for one isn't for another person. If it wasn't for snow storms/power outages, then you would have been able to get the hat. It's hardly Anet's fault that there are snowstorms.
So many people think that GW should revolve around them...
Quote:
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Originally Posted by LifeInfusion
I'd be more worried about not having power than hats.
Yay priorities! |
StormDragonZ
Is there anything in this entire thread that suggests what should or could be done about it?
Oh yeah, more complaining.
/thread
Oh yeah, more complaining.
/thread
bleh
This just reminds me of post about elite areas
"being to easy" or "to hard " or "too long"
They are rare festival items! 24hr window = rare.
Might as well complain you can't get the "coke " items.
or that its too hard for new players to get 7th birthday gifts...
"being to easy" or "to hard " or "too long"
They are rare festival items! 24hr window = rare.
Might as well complain you can't get the "coke " items.
or that its too hard for new players to get 7th birthday gifts...
Still Number One
Quote:
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Originally Posted by StormDragonZ
Is there anything in this entire thread that suggests what should or could be done about it?
Oh yeah, more complaining. /thread |
LiQuId StEeL
Well I didn't get the fourth year hats... they should let me have those too by your logic.
/sarcasm
Missed by a day or missed by a few years it is still the same. You missed out, get over it.
/sarcasm
Missed by a day or missed by a few years it is still the same. You missed out, get over it.
JONO51
I seem to remember for one event at least, and npc was put in town all week handing out hats. Don't know why they don't do that for all events, but they should.
Vanway
stop whining and wasting supports time. we've all missed out on something because of RL issues,and really its not that big of a deal. this years hats kind of bad anyway, if it makes you feel any better.
NerfHerder
Quote:
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Originally Posted by JONO51
I seem to remember for one event at least, and npc was put in town all week handing out hats. Don't know why they don't do that for all events, but they should.
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I wouldnt mind seeing a collector exchanging a hat for a stack of ToTs for the rest of the week.
shinta_himura
Half of the people posting did not even read the OP / anything in the thread.
This thread is about the logical design and consistency of holiday events, and not your opinion of how people enjoy their games or to parrot "get over it". I know not much can be expect of you guys, but seriously. Find another thread to fill your nay-sayer quota.
This thread is about the logical design and consistency of holiday events, and not your opinion of how people enjoy their games or to parrot "get over it". I know not much can be expect of you guys, but seriously. Find another thread to fill your nay-sayer quota.
bleh
Quote:
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Originally Posted by shinta_himura
Half of the people posting did not even read the OP / anything in the thread.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lil Leena
Sorry but all I read is 'QQ poor me QQ'.
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Vanway
Quote:
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Originally Posted by shinta_himura
Half of the people posting did not even read the OP / anything in the thread.
This thread is about the logical design and consistency of holiday events, and not your opinion of how people enjoy their games or to parrot "get over it". I know not much can be expect of you guys, but seriously. Find another thread to fill your nay-sayer quota. |
the only item that even drop during Halloween is tot bags, and they are for consumables, not collector items, so having an NPc collect them is just dumb the whole point of the finale is that you log on, play around with mad king thorn and his commands, and then get a hat. a net wants everyone to log on at once, not for there to be a slight trickle of players talking to an npc in la or kamadan, because that wouldnt be anything unusual, and Halloween wouldn't be special anymore. now, stop your whining and grow up.
shinta_himura
Copy and paste an icon graphic, type a new name, tada, new trophy item.
Or just make it another gold sink.
People will still login in large numbers for the event, I mean seriously you're acting like Dragon Festival and Canthan New Year don't exist. Have you seen the district numbers there?
Or just make it another gold sink.
People will still login in large numbers for the event, I mean seriously you're acting like Dragon Festival and Canthan New Year don't exist. Have you seen the district numbers there?
GIGO
I do kind of understand where the OP is coming from; I live in NE CT, which was hit by the big snow storm last Saturday, and I've been out of power since. This means that I missed out on pretty much the entire Halloween event, which sucks.
While I would be ecstatic for ArenaNet to extend the event through this weekend, I doubt they will, sadly.
While I would be ecstatic for ArenaNet to extend the event through this weekend, I doubt they will, sadly.
cormac ap dunn
I believe the idea behind a celebratory event is that those who celebrate it get the mementos of said celebration. To add a way for those who did not get involved in said event is not only counter to the idea of the hats themselves, its a bit of a mar on those who took the time, or planned ahead for said event. As much as i feel for you missing out on the hats, many of us had missed out on others from celebrations past. I don't expect Anet to give those hats to everyone who wasn't there, things happen, and if its enough for an angry letter to support who has real issues to deal with, then perhaps its time to alt f4 and get some fresh air. I'd much rather have a fun holiday in real life, then digital art in a time sink.
Gladiator Steven
Life isn't fair, get over it.
Jeez.
Jeez.
Dewshine Wildclaw
I will not disagree with the option for a trader similar to the ones for dragon festival and canthan new year. Although imo not necessary I don't see it hurting anyone either.
I do not agree to changing the format. There is no problem with the 24 hour window, it is enough for most people. And tbh. If I'm having fun at new years party... missing out on a hat in gw is not the worst that could happen.
Should and outage happen right before an event for me too, yes I would be upset, yes it would suck... but shit happens, I'd get over it. I would not get angry and write to Anet...
I do not agree to changing the format. There is no problem with the 24 hour window, it is enough for most people. And tbh. If I'm having fun at new years party... missing out on a hat in gw is not the worst that could happen.
Should and outage happen right before an event for me too, yes I would be upset, yes it would suck... but shit happens, I'd get over it. I would not get angry and write to Anet...
chuckles79
Everyone saying leave yourself AFK, clearly do not get the point of the post. Even if you aren't the victim of a power outage, you will only be able to get one of the headpieces.
While these are participation-based activities, it is rather sloppy that they did not do the finale on Sunday; in a nod to the realities of the work week and hectic schedule of parents of younger children.
There's nothing wrong with this ticket being filed, because there has been need for redux holidays in circumstances where it has been warranted.
I do not know what percentage of the GW populace was possibly affected by internet outage caused by a storm some have labeled as a natural disaster; but if enough people were robbed of this opportunity there should be some sort of mechanism to clear this up.
While these are participation-based activities, it is rather sloppy that they did not do the finale on Sunday; in a nod to the realities of the work week and hectic schedule of parents of younger children.
There's nothing wrong with this ticket being filed, because there has been need for redux holidays in circumstances where it has been warranted.
I do not know what percentage of the GW populace was possibly affected by internet outage caused by a storm some have labeled as a natural disaster; but if enough people were robbed of this opportunity there should be some sort of mechanism to clear this up.
FengShuiDove
Quote:
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Originally Posted by chuckles79
-snip-
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Yes, the OP is probably being overly dramatic about a couple of in-game hats, but his point is perfectly sound, that holidays don't necessarily need to be tied to the exact day as they are in "our world," especially when such a day would inconvenience many players.
I got the hats, because I afk'ed. But I would've liked to have participated in at least one event, which I didn't get to. And truthfully, there's probably many more people in the same shoes, just a little less angry about it than the OP.
Some of you peoples' overly cynical replies are pathetic. Look a little bit past the wording that the OP used and realize his point is pretty valid.
Jeydra
I only realized I've probably missed my chance to get the headpiece when I read this thread ... 
The Drunkard
Quote:
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Originally Posted by shinta_himura
First of all, 24 hours is an extremely narrow window for a ONCE IN A LIFE TIME opportunity in a video game.
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These items are for vanity- they don't give direct advantages and are completely optional.
Also, you are not everyone
Quote:
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Originally Posted by shinta_himura
Second, these two holidays (Halloween and Wintersday) are still the ONLY two holidays without any recourse for people who missed the hats. Canthan New Year and the Dragon Festival have NPCs who will take tokens for a hat after the event has passed. Where are these NPCs for Wintersday and Halloween? Where is the logic here?
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by shinta_himura
I would like to open a discussion on this 24 hour finale format, starting with the fact that the two other major holidays do have a recourse for people who miss the day-long window. And yet the holidays which really need it do not.
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hallomik
OP makes a good case.
Anet has re-run events in the past when circumstances prevented full participation. I'd say the freak Halloween snowstorm and related power outages is as good an excuse as any for a Halloween 2011 redux. I got my hats this year, but I see no reason dedicated hat collectors in the northeast should be screwed.
Temporary hat vendor or trader is fine too.
Anet has re-run events in the past when circumstances prevented full participation. I'd say the freak Halloween snowstorm and related power outages is as good an excuse as any for a Halloween 2011 redux. I got my hats this year, but I see no reason dedicated hat collectors in the northeast should be screwed.
Temporary hat vendor or trader is fine too.
Anakita Snakecharm
I wouldn't be opposed to having some kind of NPC trader to get hats from after the fact, but I don't really see the necessity. The hats are to commemorate event participation. If having the hat is important to you, you prioritize your time so you can get it. If it's not important enough to do so, you live without it.
I say this as someone who is always out of town for most of the Wintersday period and I always miss those hats. It's just one of those things; family stuff takes priority for me at that time of year, which means game stuff is secondary. Because game stuff is secondary, I don't get all the same game benefits as if I'd put it first. That just seems like common sense.
I also think there's no way to please everyone with this. Say they add an NPC trader for three days after the event... and you're out of town for a week or your internet goes down for four days. Wouldn't that just lead to the same complaint?
There's no window of time that can please everyone. Guild Wars can't adapt to everyone's individual schedules. I'm not opposed to having a little more leeway, but I think we have to be realistic that sometimes you just miss stuff because of needing to be somewhere else at the time.
Where is the cut-off point for that, though?
Guild Wars is a global game, not a United States game exclusively. If a natural disaster like this snowstorm in the US gets something rescheduled, what about the earthquake in Turkey on October 23rd? Should that get a postponement too, since it limited the internet access (among other things) of Turkish players? What if players in Pakistan missed the Dragon Festival because of flooding? And so on.
I think ArenaNet should rearrange the schedule for in-game circumstances. I just think that trying to navigate out-of-game issues like that would just cause a lot of headaches without really solving anything, and would inevitably lead to an appearance of unfairness in what gets acknowledged and what doesn't.
I say this as someone who is always out of town for most of the Wintersday period and I always miss those hats. It's just one of those things; family stuff takes priority for me at that time of year, which means game stuff is secondary. Because game stuff is secondary, I don't get all the same game benefits as if I'd put it first. That just seems like common sense.
I also think there's no way to please everyone with this. Say they add an NPC trader for three days after the event... and you're out of town for a week or your internet goes down for four days. Wouldn't that just lead to the same complaint?
There's no window of time that can please everyone. Guild Wars can't adapt to everyone's individual schedules. I'm not opposed to having a little more leeway, but I think we have to be realistic that sometimes you just miss stuff because of needing to be somewhere else at the time.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by hallomik
Anet has re-run events in the past when circumstances prevented full participation. I'd say the freak Halloween snowstorm and related power outages is as good an excuse as any for a Halloween 2011 redux. I got my hats this year, but I see no reason dedicated hat collectors in the northeast should be screwed.
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Guild Wars is a global game, not a United States game exclusively. If a natural disaster like this snowstorm in the US gets something rescheduled, what about the earthquake in Turkey on October 23rd? Should that get a postponement too, since it limited the internet access (among other things) of Turkish players? What if players in Pakistan missed the Dragon Festival because of flooding? And so on.
I think ArenaNet should rearrange the schedule for in-game circumstances. I just think that trying to navigate out-of-game issues like that would just cause a lot of headaches without really solving anything, and would inevitably lead to an appearance of unfairness in what gets acknowledged and what doesn't.
Star_Jewel
I'm of the opinion that adding a hat trader NPC for Halloween masks would complete what ANet already started to cover their bugs.
Dragon Festival: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Imper...y_Master_Kagno
Wintersday: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Wintersday_Hat_Giver
Halloween: __________________________________________
(I'm not sure where everyone got the idea that Wintersday doesn't have an NPC for this. Sure, they didn't always have one, but they do now.)
Dragon Festival: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Imper...y_Master_Kagno
Wintersday: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Wintersday_Hat_Giver
Halloween: __________________________________________
(I'm not sure where everyone got the idea that Wintersday doesn't have an NPC for this. Sure, they didn't always have one, but they do now.)
Saint Scarlet
I'm sorry but i have to disagree, it's been this way since it started and shit happens. You put the blame partially on anet but you should also put the blame on yourself as well. You knew that at that time of year bad weather happens so why didn't you prepare and buy a generator and mobile net so you could play away to your hearts content.
See it's simple. And yes i've missed out on the hats before due to not having net on the day, but so what it's a hat nothing life changing.
See it's simple. And yes i've missed out on the hats before due to not having net on the day, but so what it's a hat nothing life changing.
NuclearSlug
Been playing for 4 years and I've only gotten one hat. Who cares, its a game. It's a hat that doesn't even look cool most of the time. And again, it's a game...