| This is the second of two Zmaster chats from May 1, 2006. It was held to discuss MSN Games’ decision to retire CD-ROM matchmaking and several Classic games from the site. Several hundred players participated in this Q&A.
Please note that there will be another chat on May 8, 2006, at 10AM PST!
+Shine@MPlus> hi everyone, thanks again for being here.... before we begin, a few notes: fyi -- if you have multiple questions, in the interests of time we will address only the first question to best get through all those in the queue. if we do not get to your question, please join us in our other chats or email zsuggest@microsoft.com. To ask our guest a question, click on "Room" in the menu bar at the top of the window. Then, from the choices listed, select "Ask Question" to add yourself to the asking list. With that, I think zmaster has a few opening remarks.
+ZMaster@Zone> Good afternoon everyone! Welcome to our Zone chat this afternoon. We had some great questions this morning from players. First off, thank you for being here with us today. We understand some people lined up as early as last night to be here. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to be here with us.
Before we begin, a few points to cover. This is an incredibly difficult time. We know that many are upset about the new changes and announcement. We know this because you have been telling us loud and clear in the previous chat, as well as all of the emails received. We also know this because the decision to retire the Classic games and services was incredibly difficult for all of us at MSN Games.
Like you, many of us have been on this site for a long time. However, due to our commitment to you in providing the most compelling games and the community features that you deserve, retiring classic at this time is our only option. We are confident in the strength of this community, and strive to bring you the best games and new community offerings, to help you connect with other players on MSN Games.
I'd also like to introduce Z5Longhorn@zone. Z5 works on our game development team, and I will be delegating to him a few of the more technical questions. Also, we have a few members from our Games Program Management team on the chat today. So this is a great time to provide feedback/suggestions for future games. We have a great audience from MSN Games online today to listen to your comments, questions, and feedback.
Ok, Shine...
+Shine@MPlus> with that, let's open it up for questions!
_richerraine_1> how are you going to deal with the M+ teams abusing there tools in the last few weeks as I have personally seen this happening already and secondly if the engine on a plane stops does it fall from the sky ;) also when the end comes will it be all at once or will we lose lobby by lobby if it is all at once can you let us all know what time they will go? if it goes 1 by 1 please leave fs2004 till last we aren't far from a new game with integrated multiplay
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Richerraine. It's nice to hear from you!
+Shine@MPlus> thanks ricerraine... I'll actually take this as it's more up my alley... as with any concerns of member plus abuse, we will investigate and deal with as appropriate. This includes, but is not limited to removing them, or banning as appropriate -- really depends on the situation.
ty for the ? there richerraine. hi sky, welcome.
SkYnSuNz_R4> Hey there - thanks for providing the support / feedback today. Its not often we get something like this from zone.com. I represent the vGamingOnline Community over at vgamingonline.net and all the AOE gamers apart of the community, and our question is... Was Ensemble Studios aware that you were planning on retiring the AOE series CD-Rom games and do you know if they actually plan on creating an alternative? By the looks of it, they were very surprised and disappointed. Do you have any say on whether Ensemble Studios should create an alternative to matchmaking for the age of empires series you are shutting down? Meaning can you, with all due respect convince them or talk to them about
+ZMaster@Zone> hello Sky. We are in touch with Ensemble Studios and we are working with them on alternative solutions.
SkYnSuNz_R4> Ok.. And what sorts of solutions are being worked on?
+ZMaster@Zone> Currently, we are still talking with Ensemble Studios. Please see the Ensemble Studios website for updates. Thanks!
+Shine@MPlus> thanks again, sky.
in the interests of time, again, let's please try to have one question ready for our guests.
hello, sir. Welcome.
_pixil_ated> “+ZMaster@Zone Yes. Changes are set in stone...” guess that says it all, wonder if this had anything to do with Microsoft's stock tanking on Friday. Company lost 32 billion enough to buy all of Costco or Starbucks!
+Shine@MPlus> is there a ? there pixil?
_pixil_ated> you have best gaming site on web y change it? it will do no good to protest
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Pixil. To make it better! We can always be better.
+Shine@MPlus> ty -- hi redhead
DeluxRedHead2> hello
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello RedHead! Greetings from sunny Seattle!
DeluxRedHead2> I feel as a Marketing Executive that has studied your demographics for a VERY LONG time of the ZONE rated, non rated, leagues and tournament rooms, this is a HUGE marketing mistake eliminating classic card games, leagues and tournaments. On any given day over 7,000 members play on the zone. I personally am an active member of USC (United Spaders Cafe) which happens to be your largest spades league on the ZONE with a current membership of over 900+ active members and as a marketing representative I found ALL of the league memberships are made up of the demographics that match what your advertisers are seeking. I have emailed the majority of your advertising clients throughout MSN and ZONE and notified them of what you propose and the impact it’s going to have on their exposure. Majority of them were NOT aware of what is being proposed NOR were they aware the impact it will have on the "click throughs" they are accustomed to versus what it will become after the changes take place. In protest we are urging our membership to boycott any and all advertisers on the zone and to contact them individually notifying them of the boycott. And we are encouraging any current paying MSN internet provider us
+ZMaster@Zone> Thanks Delux for the feedback. We will have a new Spades in the next month.
Sorry... Spades is coming this summer. Thanks for the feedback again.
z5longhorn@zone> We want to be clear that we're not eliminating the card & board games! We're just getting rid of the old software, and we're working hard to replace the games with newer, better versions. The recent release of Checkers and the upcoming Chess and Spades games show that we're continuing to work on improvements.
+Shine@MPlus> hiya travers
Traverscty> by eliminating a play site where 5,000-10,000 play daily. It seems that the ad revenue etc.. would cover you're cost. Having a new structure in place would be better than eliminating it before hand. Those of us who play on ladders are gonna be forced to play at new sites. Ladder play breeds frequent users. Don't you want that? Tourney play breeds more frequent users... Why do you want to eliminate ladders and tourneys?
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Travers. Thanks for your feedback. Tournaments will be retired as of June 19th; however we are looking at building new community features/ services.
Z5longhorn... would you like to comment?
z5longhorn@zone> We're not eliminating ladders and tournaments - however, the existing software support for them will go away as Zmaster mentioned. Our players - all of you here - are very creative folks, and even without direct software support for these features, you'll still find ways to run tournaments and ladders or leagues.
+Shine@MPlus> ty for the clarification -- thanks.
hi justlefthanded
justlefthanded> Hi. You are missing the point with the stock answers that you gave earlier – we do not need compelling new games – or indeed Bridge changed or improved – We just need it left alone, working the way it does today. Ok so it might fall over in a few years & not be repairable at that point – but that’s a date well in the future. We don’t want the “best” online experience – We want the one we’re playing now. This “community” will NOT survive your changes. It will be dead within weeks . All your investment will be in vain when you’re hit with a massive drop in advertising revenue – and the negative publicity that goes with. Question: What revenue drop will it take to make you realize the foolishness of your decision to scrap the current games? PS There’s no way I give out my e-mail address to anyone I do not personally know & I will not use Instant Messenger (zone friends chat is the closest I get & the most I will allow) PPS I choose my partner not you!! The solution is simple – leave Bridge (etc) alone – and build all the waste of space new games on the new server. That way you will have the best of both worlds (what Microsoft always wants so it should appeal to you.
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Justlefthanded. Thanks for your feedback. You definitely choose who you want to play with and that choice is still available in our new multiplayer matchmaking services. The auto-matchmaking service is a new service that enables players to quickly get into a game and play. We understand that players enjoy our classic games.
z5Longhorn... would you like to address the technical challenges?
z5longhorn@zone> Sure! To your point about falling over in a few years... that was a few years ago :). We're at the point where the code and servers are so old, they're falling over. We *have* made a number of fixes to keep them running in the past couple of years, and at this point we need to retire them and concentrate on bringing newer and better games AND experiences to you.
+Shine@MPlus> ty for the clarification there. :-)
please remember to have your questions ready for the guests.
clearwater682> y can't you fix the lobbies????? there are only a couple of dozen , idiots that mess it up for everyone, you could put time limit on them to be in lobby with out playing. also tell your + people, not to join in. what is the matter with my solution
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Clearwater.
z5longhorn@zone> Hi clearwater. There's more to this than just fixing lobbies, and we have been fixing them. However, there comes a time when fixing them won't work any more, so we need to focus on creating new features instead. Part of what we're working on for the future are the types of things you have all told us you like about the lobbies. So, we may not have lobbies in the future as you know them, but we're still diligently working toward enabling you to do those same things you do now, just in better ways.
+Shine@MPlus> ty z5. nupes, you're up.
Nupe57> Just out of curiosity, what games are going to be on the new site? And why aren't you guys going to have lobbies and ZF's anymore? Because they aren't worth fixing anymore? And what happens to the member +'s after the deadline?
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Nupe. Thanks for your questions. Games that are going onto the site... the new ones... will be Chess and Spades.
+Shine@MPlus> fyi -- if you have multiple questions, in the interests of time we will address the first question to best get through all those in the queue
+ZMaster@Zone> Thanks Nupe.
+Shine@MPlus> hi tats.
x__Tats__x> Good afternoon everyone. It's a sad day to see the approaching of the closing of the Lobbies. I wholeheartedly believe that Zone.com is making a great mistake, along the lines of New Coke, by doing this. x__Tats__x> The Zones gaming format is the best of any game site online. I have developed many friendships over the seven plus years I have been online. Most of what Makes the Zone the place to be is the Lobbies. I can understand updating the coding and the need for new servers, but you're changing the whole format, which is a wholesale change. You talk about improvements, appearance, rule changes? I feel there is something you're not telling us. Early in the forum you made a reference to new technology, well you could code the lobbies into your new format, when software is updated you keep the best features. Not get rid of them. We filled a thousand Zoners into this room today and more would have come if the "technology" allowed them in. At any given time the Zone homepage says I am among 100,000 people + Online. My prediction for the future is it will read 5000 online. You have the power to stop this, review your decision, and hopefully extend the life of the existing Zone, while your coders code A new lobby system into the new technology. This site is more then just gaming, it's about meeting interesting people from around the world. If money is an issue I feel most would be willing to pay a fee.
+ZMaster@Zone> Thanks Tats for your feedback and comments. MSN Games is a free site. Card and board games are free.
+Shine@MPlus> please have your questions ready in the first part of your statement when you're up in asking in the interests of time.
hiya wild.
getWILDwithME> hey shine and sorry but I sit here for 5 hours waiting the first time before the meeting and never got up so I got to get it over now then leave s bare with me a sec. Hello, I have been a token in the zone for almost 8 years and as many of us tokens here came here day end day out and worked for "FREE" to help make this the best site now getting thrown out the door and tossed a t-shirt and told here hope it fits but we don't need or want you anymore, how can this stay the #1 site with out the lobbies? I don't know anyone in the zone that comes here just to play they came here for the interaction of the lobbies and fun tourneys the msn is committing game suicide and you think that's what the players want ? lets Many of these people have became my family and it saddens me how msn just don't care about their customers lets face it leagues and ladders cant use the new system and the tourney players cant use it. how many classic game customers will MSN games be losing? do you have numbers ? cause they will all be going to yahoo, iplay,Dolphins cove and other game sites that offer lobbies now even though some are b es within the new programs ? I mean the old servers are outdated I can understand that but the new games are on new servers you telling me that MSN programmers aren't smart enough to build new lobbies ?? you should hold 100 of these meeting cause I am sure they all would fill up just like this one cause the players here are trying so hard to make you all see they are leaving without the lobbies I have enjoyed my t my head up high till the last day , cause June 20th like many of my brothers and sisters I will be hosting just wont be here...*holding fist up in air* ZONERS UNITED !!! bTW I rather have a 57' Chevy Belair last comment you stated this "+ZMaster@Zone that WE... all the people who work and play on MSN Games" and that isn't true cause WE all work on MSN games as well we just don't get paid and excuse me but no one asked
+ZMaster@Zone> To answer your first question, how can our site stay #1 without the lobbies... Lobbies are only one of many ways to play games on our site. Lobbies will be replaced with our new multiplayer service system. And as we're building new services and features, our goal it to continue making MSN Games a first rate gaming site.
+Shine@MPlus> fyi -- if you have multiple questions, in the interests of time we will address only the first question to best get through all those in the queue.
missteach, welcome
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello MissTeach, welcome!
_MissTeach_> Hi All, Is it true that part of reason for losing + program and lobbies for classic games due to loss of PSI contracts, will new contracts been given out and lobbies return in some form?. Your customers/players are now looking at sites like worldgamescentre, gamedesire.com and clubgames to move to on the 19th June do you want to seriously lose such a large number to other sites?? I like everyone here is a people person don’t want to play as a Bot, we love the lobbies for one thing to be able to meet new people not just one at time. I enjoy playing some of us hosting and being with friends.!
+ZMaster@Zone> The answer is "no." The reason why the lobbies are being retired is because the technology is outdated. The MemberPlus program is also going to be retired, because in our new community system, we will be empowering the players with services and features that will allow you to do more. Thanks!
Freeedom420> Hi, from Seattle, Zmaster and crew. My Starbuck’s Coffee is kicked in so get ready! Here are the thoughts and concerns of the entire Spades Rated Room 1 MIRRORS… looks like the big issue is lobbies and still being able to play with our friends that we currently have. The Bottom line is we want what we have in the zone NOW, LOBBIES and choices, the classic games, Why not just add your features to what is already available and add new games to your new software as well as the old?
z5longhorn@zone> Hi Freedom. We have to retire the old software because it's old. We have heard and read lots of feedback and input from the players, and what's come through as most important is being able to do certain things - Players want to be able to socialize, they want to be able to choose their own opponents. I personally have read every piece of feedback we've received in the past 2-3 years, and that's going to factor into what we build going forward. So you won't see lobbies in the future that are exactly like what you're used to today, but we are working on enabling you to do those things that you like to do now. Just adding the existing features into the new games isn't possible, because that lobby code, etc. is so old. So, we're building newer, bigger, and better features to do those things you want.
+Shine@MPlus> ty there z5.
hiya storm.
Storm_Of_Fire1> Good Afternoon, is there a way to buy the zone as is ?? and / or to provide services to keep the zone alive if I pay for all of it ? I understood from Ann McLaugin Korologos that this could be an option !
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Storm. Unfortunately, Zone.com is not for sale. The code and services are patented. Thanks Storm.
+Shine@MPlus> thanks zmaster. hi impyyyy, welcome.
Impyyyyy1> hi. the chat is the most important feature. why did you not put it as your first priority ? we have become a family here
+ZMaster@Zone> Yes it is important. We love chats, so of course you can chat inside the new games. However, it's the games themselves that come first. I understand that people have become a family through chat... but please remember, it's the games that brought people to come online in the first place! Thanks Impyyyy1.
+Shine@MPlus> hi joey, welcome.
USA_JoEy> I play midtown madness and flightsim on the zone at the moment, I am wondering what will happen to these games on the new matchmaking service.... Will we be forced to have to buy new versions of the games to play in it with them...especially in the case of midtown madness where the new version is released for xbox 360 only. Meaning not only paying for a new game but also for a new console too! Will a new midtown for pc be released supported by the new software?
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello USA. Midtown and FlightSim will no longer be able to be played via matchmaking on Zone on June 19th. I don't know what the future plans are for PC retail titles from Microsoft. For updated information on new PC retail titles, please see http://www.microsoft.com/games. Thanks!
+Shine@MPlus> hi annak, welcome.
UnSinkableAnnaK> People who are too old or too feeble or too stubborn to adjust to the new changes are welcome to play elsewhere...please stop beating a dead horse. I applaud MSN for the desire to update and improve.
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello AnnaK. Thank you for the compliment. Did you have a question?
UnSinkableAnnaK> yes...why do these people keep asking the same questions over and over?
+ZMaster@Zone> Thanks for your keen observation. :D We have many passionate players online who want to share their thoughts and feedback.
+Shine@MPlus> hi sweet, welcome.
Sweet_Deer1> Hello :)..ty..I understand that you have to upgrade..and move along with the times..the programming will HAVE TO BE DONE....we have no choice....there is nothing we can do to change it...Play safe and Have fun :)
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Sweet, and thanks.
+Shine@MPlus> hi peg, welcome.
pegscrib? did you have a question for our guests?
alikealaska> All my questions have been answered already--the only thing I won't miss about the zone is all the angry people using foul language
+ZMaster@Zone> Yes. Me too. Thank you.
+Shine@MPlus> hi woodzilla, welcome.
_Woodzilla_> I am a backgammon player for 7 years and a X sysop for 5 years. I have co-directed the start of two hosting groups. Supergammon and Gammondome. and I also founded the start of two of the big four teams. I once hosted a ZEBTOC tournament for the zone and was promised a tee shirt. My question is. When am I going to get my Tee Shirt its been over 4 years now? XXlarge please.
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Woozilla. I'll ask one of our moderators to follow up with you. ;) Thanks for all your hard work and community building!
+Shine@MPlus> hi sylvia, welcome.
sylvia? did you have a ? for our guests today?
SylviaGermany_> with bicycle no one cant kib and if a player leave we must start new or the bots who cant play right take over...this zone was always the best ..it does you all no matter that we leave you and go to yahoo and somewhere we all have like to chat and to play here. you cant at the chat to the new system ?
+ZMaster@Zone> There is currently in-game chat. The out-of-game chat before starting a game is one of the features we are considering. Kibitzing is also one of the features on the list that we are considering. We know that many players enjoy the kibitzing option... I myself, have sat in many games using the kibitz feature.
+Shine@MPlus> thanks there zmaster. whootie, welcome.
Whootie_Who123> I would just like to make a comment... I would think that after all these years of loyal support from all of us MSN would think to ask us first about the new changes and what we would like, instead u give us NONE Zilch Nada.
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Whootie, I hear you. And over the years we have read all the emails that come into zsuggest and zmaster. We have read all the comments, feedback, and suggestions, and when we launched our first few new multiplayer games, we did ask feedback from our community on the new system. We are constantly thinking about new features we can create and services that we know that you, our players, will enjoy. We are extremely grateful to our community for all the years of loyalty and support, and it's because of the COMMUNITY that makes playing on the Zone such a great place.
We want to continue that momentum. We want to continue providing you the best, the newest, and the most fun games out there. Why would we want our players to settle for something less, when there is something better? We think about you, our community, all the time, in all the decisions that we make. I personally have been a Zone player for over 9 years, and am committed to building the best for you.
+Shine@MPlus> thanks zmaster for that thorough response.
wildslyfox, you're up next.
WildSlyFox> My concerns are why shut down the zone to people who need this is an outlet for frustrations, as a Lifeline .. Is there no way to keep it going? regardless of the software being old? You say you read all our emails.. well if you do then why are you closing it down .. you have no other options you say .. there is always a way to fix things .. if there's a will there's a way !! Its why people restore things all the time because they love what they have now and want to keep it longer so they just restore it not throw it away ..Like you all are doing now. You say you want to do the best for your customers. What makes you think you will have any once all these new changes are implemented?
+Shine@MPlus> fyi -- if you have multiple questions, in the interests of time we will address the first question to best get through all those in the queue
+ZMaster@Zone> We're committed to not keeping the system as it is... but instead improving it. We know that coming online to play games is a way to decompress, relax, vent your frustrations... and you can still do that today. You will still be able to do that in the future. There are all sorts of tools and features that you can use to connect with your friends. With this advance notice, we're giving players the option to hook up... sorry, not "hook up." :P ... but to connect with one another.
+Shine@MPlus> lol, ty zmaster :-)
aquafishy, welcome.
aquafishy> Will there be *any* opportunity in the new technology for user/host run tourneys for card and board games or will they be retired, *period* - can you give me a reason not to find an alternate site for tourney gamers?
z5longhorn@zone> hi aquafishy, welcome :) Well, we definitely know tournaments are important to a very dedicated group of players. So we will definitely be keeping in mind how you, the players, can make tournaments happen in the future. I can't say whether there will be specific tools for running tournaments, but it's being kept in mind for everything we're doing with respect to new community features and games.
+Shine@MPlus> thanks z5 :-) hi silver, welcome.
FTF_SilverWolf4> about time
+Shine@MPlus> thanks for your patience
FTF_SilverWolf4> are you still gonna make the changes despite the fact of the huge protest, and what is the real reason for these changes. and please don't give me that 64 Chevy bs or none of that logistical bs about technology. I have operated servers before and they are very easy to upgrade. are you telling me none of you are smart enough to figure this out?? I hope this new technology is worth losing thousands of zoners. not only have u lost my trust and loyalty but many others as well. I have been a zoner for 3+ years and let me say this is the biggest
+ZMaster@Zone> Yes. The changes will happen on June 19th. As for the technology, I'm going to let your game developer talk to you about that. Z5Longhorn, the floor is all yours.
z5longhorn@zone> Heh, thanks Zmaster. We appreciate all of the feedback, concern, questions, and input from our players, but we still must go through with the announced changes. The real reason is just as we posted in the announcement. Servers aren't always necessarily easy to upgrade, nor the software running on them (but you've heard me say that before).
And it was a 64 Dodge. ;)
+Shine@MPlus> thanks z5. clasy_babe, welcome.
ClaSy_BaBe_> hi. My question is this there are a lot of older ppl that are real upset and don't know what to do ? about all this and with the +`s and everyone we are always helping them, trying to get the zone downloaded. who will help them after we all are gone? Just very concerned is all.
+ZMaster@Zone> We know that a lot of players of all ages are upset about the upcoming changes. As to what to do... we have over 100 free games online, puzzle, word, trivia games... there are great opportunities to win really cool badges. We want players like you to continue to play online. We will be building features and services that will empower players to do so much more. Of course, players can still help each other. I learned Bridge through another Zone player, and I remember many times where a Zone player game to my rescue in an Age game. It's the players who are online that make the difference, and you can still make that difference. Til then, please keep the feedback and suggestions coming!
+Shine@MPlus> thanks again clasy for your concern for the other players on MSN Games. We look forward to seeing you online continuing to make a difference :-)
Lucky, you're up.
lucky_flash5> Hello' and thanks.. backgammon is the game I love, msn has the best site, lobbies and features... why not cutting out empty rooms, maybe few tables... loading will be lighter, less maintenance.. easier access, nothing is impossible, only death is irreversible... I am wondering if the zone has been involved with trump's episode, community idealism high there... again try to keep backgammon rooms open.. and ANNAK keep playing
+ZMaster@Zone> We have been reducing the old empty lobbies and keeping the lobbies that enable our players to start their games. However, come June 19th, those lobbies will be retired and players who enjoy playing Classic Backgammon (with lobbies) can still play Backgammon, our new and improved version. At the end of the day, we have to retire the code; we have to take down the code and the servers that support it on June 19th. Thanks.
+Shine@MPlus> ty there. hi blue -- welcome!
_Rainbow_Blue2> Hello there from Stockholm Sweden :D - tyvm. Best Mplus, my question is about the mplus program! Will it be any similarly to it, is it any chance that we who are tokened can have a token back in the nearest future? And if so do we have to start all over again ?
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Rainbow_Blue2 I heard King Gustav is celebrating his 60th birthday in your country! I'll let our memberplus program coordinator, Shine, answer your question.
+Shine@MPlus> hi blue -- I think this one is up my alley here... in terms of the member plus program, that is being retired along with classic on June 19th. however, as indicated earlier....making a difference in the lives of other players online ... that won't ever change, no matter how much the technology changes. it may look different, but with the passion and energy of those wanting to positively impact the lives of others on msn games, I'm sure there will be great ways to be involved :-)
alpha, welcome.
_Alpha_Dr1zzt> sorry this is a longer question, so please bear with me here "and its not a why why why" question either. I'm also from the Aoe community, if you cant get into a agreement or get things going with ensemble studios, where we can still play? do you have some sort of fall back plan to keep alive your popular cd rom based game. i.e teaming with gamespy or another company with the ability to connect our games? and also is there a possible timeframe you can give us that this can be done in because personally I don't care if I'm playing at zone.com or gamespy.com as long as I'm playing. and without support from you all, that wont happen
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Alpha. We are working with Ensemble on all those options. Ensemble will be determining the best solutions for multiplayer options in Age of Empires and Rise of Rome. For updates, please see http://www.ensemblestudios.com. If Ensemble has an update before June 19th, we will post that update on our Age pages and let you know. Thanks Alpha!
(I love playing Age as well. It's one of my most favorite games. :)
+Shine@MPlus> ty alpha. welcome idle, what's on your mind?
IdleMusing> "+ZMaster@Zone It's also about making sure that you, the players, the community, have the best games and services,"... THERE WILL BE NO COMMUNITY WHEN THE LOBBIES GO, doesn't MSN understand that? I've tried the new backgammon and the new hearts, they are slower to get a game, slower play in general and not as much fun, I don't want to be "matched" up with players I want to choose my pards and opps. lol@ matchm
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello Idle. I have provided feedback to our game developers about the matchmaking difficulties that players are reporting. You can choose your partners and opponents in the new Hearts, you just have to do it a bit differently. As for the "no communities"... we will still have an online community and we will be continuing to be building that community. You, our players, are a part of that and we encourage you all to continue providing us feedback on what you like and what you need in your game play.
+Shine@MPlus> thanks idle. hi pleeeeeze
OhPleeeeeeeeze> Hello, plz let me have a few seconds of your time. Our league has apprx 1000 members we are very upset with ur decision especially since 7-10000 ppl playRATED spades everyday. We are taking the stance to contact your advertisers and boycott them as well. We feel this decision was made merely to do away with leagues which brings you the majority of your players. Also, we would appreciate your demographics on who exactly has contact spades, leagues, lobby's and zone friends. Do you have that information available for all to see? Last but not least you contradicted yourself this morning. First you said leagues/ladders and tournaments would no long longer exist, later in chat you said they would - which is it? Our league members and many others are contacting your advertisers and cancelling their MSN server and switching to others who would have had the forethought
+ZMaster@Zone> Thanks for your feedback. We are unable to provide players with our demographic information. I can tell you that we have players from all over the world, of all ages, who enjoy playing different types of games. As for the leagues/ladders and tournaments, the tools that enable tournament play will be retired. So players will no longer be able to host an online tournament on our site. For Ladders and League play, players can still participate in those through the new Spades game... how it's actually executed is up to you. We've had many players use their creativity to connect with other players from all over the world. Thanks.
+Shine@MPlus> thanks for the clarification, zmaster. hiya tease, welcome.
OBG_Tease_Me2> hi please do not boot me I've waited for hours and want to have my say. Why are the zoners and +s being totally ignored about what we want, y say u will make it better but surely even y can see from all the protests that we don't want it to change the new bg with the matchmaking is so clinical and not user friendly. it isn't just the classic games we love the lobbies and the friendly atmosphere and the tourneys and marathons and of course our +s I myself will be moving to http://www.clubgames.com/inde which saddens me as I loved the zone also wondering if this meeting will achieve anything as your mind seems to be made up... sad zoner
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello OBG. I totally hear you and completely empathize. We are not ignoring you or any member of the community. On the contrary, we are very focused on listening to what you have to say, and how to make things better.
..........
+Shine@MPlus> oh no... zmaster dropped... one sec...
technical difficulties
(8)elevator music(8) in the mean time
Sorry, all... zmaster will be back.
+ZMaster@Zone> I'm back! See? Classic example of how old the technology is, and how we need to improve it. Friendly atmosphere is what we're focused on building through games and community features.
+Shine@MPlus> ty zmaster...
we've reached that time where there's one more ? today... remember, there is another chat on may 8th, as well as zsuggest@microsoft.com for your suggestions and feedback.
ok live, you're up.
_Live_8_2005_> Hi there Shrine and Zmaster :) First thank you for providing us with these Q and A sessions if only there were more, and for giving us the month and a half warning to the zone shutting down. and thanks for letting 1 more question be asked =) very grateful
Most of the questions asked by others have been about the card / board lobbies. While many of the people for these games will find it hard to adjust, there are many sites offering the same service, just not as good as the zones. What happens to the people who play in the older retail games who have no where else to go, You say you care about the community and that the zone software and programming is out of date. If this is the case could you please consider releasing some of the information / code on launching DX Directplay for the older CD games? At least then some of the communities will be able to stick together after June 19th, and as long as no one is profiting financially from the information how could it hurt giving it out?
+ZMaster@Zone> Good questions Live. For the CD-ROM games, you can still multi matchmake via IP; however, not through the zone. There are also other websites that allow you to play older CD-ROM games... please check http://www.microsoft.com/games for updated information.
The Directplay code is patented and we are unable to release it publicly. For older CD-ROM Games, you can check with the game developer or publisher for other alternative places to play! Thanks Live.
+Shine@MPlus> thanks zmaster.... well, we got to the end of another chat... again, sorry if we didn't get to your ? zmaster, any closing thoughts?
+ZMaster@Zone> Hello, everyone. I sincerely thank each and every one of you for coming online today and participating in this afternoon's chat. Also, thank you for your patience as we go through your questions. In closing, we at MSN Games understand and deeply empathize with your thoughts and concerns about the retirement of our CD-ROM Games and our classic card and board games.
This was not an easy decision to make. And we know that many of you enjoy the community features that you have played with through the years. We at MSN Games are working towards building you the best services and features, and the best games experience. We encourage you to continue to send us your feedback and suggestions of what you'd like to see in the future. As we are in the design stages, this is your time to let us know what you think and what you want built. So please continue to send your thoughts to zsuggest@microsoft.com.
We'll see you online again next Monday, May 8th at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. Thanks again and have a good evening.
+Shine@MPlus> thanks all, have a great day/night! | |
