It seems just like last week, and the majority of the time since your vacation, you put out a game that is not compatible with ALL your users. And like last week they had problems downloading that game, from the same company. So, for "par for the course" Are we gonna get offered a compatible game for all systems tommorrow that is for three year old's to play???!! what happeed to the game like the ones you were offering before your vacation?? Are your mind's still on vacation? This is 2009 we barely get any vista games and are about to have another O.S. Win.7! So this mean's if we would like to get games from ggotd we can't upgrade to win7 .We have to stick with an o.s. that is10 yr's old! So we can play games for a 5 yr old!!
Not Enough complaints?!
(20 posts) (13 voices)-
Tim Turner
MemberPosted 14 years ago # -
Actually Tim, I've not downloaded a game from GOTD that didn't work for my machine and I'm using 64bit Vista. In fact, I've only ever encountered a couple games that didn't work for me period. Most games can be "fixed" to work with Vista by using compatibility mode.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Hi Tim Turner,
may I ask what has bitten you?
Why are you complaining over a free service by a private owned company (GOTD/GGOTD)?
Your post sounds as if you are claiming an implementation of a contract. Did you pay for a subscription?
Like wizz said, the games are playable or can be fixed with little effort. If not or if you don't like them - well, the world isn't turning around you, and GGOTD isn't your private delivery service.
Instead of whining, have you ever tried to help other users to fix any hassle? Did you ever give some feedback to developers?
Normally I welcome new members in the forums. You are welcome too, when you decide to make constructive comments. How that works? Just open your eyes and read the other posts in these forums.
grayloxSorry for being so harsh, but I'm peeved too, all that whining annoyed me.
Posted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberTim, Graylox has done an awful lot for the folks on this forum, so it bothers me to state that it might be a little harsh, but I do understand some of the annoyance people here feel for posts such as yours. We don't want to say to people, "This is for free! Sit down and shut up!." BUT, your criticisms are more likely to have an impact if your expectations are realistic, and I'm not sure your's are.
You make some valid points, but the one thing that folks that feel like you don't take into account is that no game service, including GOTD, has unlimited access to EVERY available game. They offer games depending on what developers they can make a deal with. And word gets around, so sometimes they're approached by developers whose games are less than the latest/greatest. Obviously, they're going to be relunctant to turn down most offers, so they're going to have to offer those so-so games sooner or later.
Also, there's a lot of competitors for low cost and free games today. In this forum, we have multiple dedicated gamers who post any free offers they can find. If you look at those, you'll notice that by the time a game gets offered for free, it's a little long in the tooth. The normal process is: try to get full price, try to attract buyers with a discount giveaway, try a free giveaway. That process takes time. Nothing that's come out in the last 6 mos. to a year is likely to even be discounted to any great extent. Free just plain takes awhile. GOTD does haven't anything near the unlimited power necessary to offer what you want when you want it for free. And no other game service does, either. You don't expect them to literally hold a gun to developers heads, do you? Doesn't sound like a sustainable business model to me.
GOTD shouldn't be seen as the be all and end all to your gaming needs. This is a place where you can occassionally find an overlooked gem that you can add to your game library for free. It's perfectly legitimate for folks to express their frustrations with GOTD if they feel that way - it's useful feedback - but unrealistic criticisms are just going to be ignored, because GOTD - nor anyone other service - has the unlimited power to act on them. Period.
As to the Vista issue, that's really not GOTDs fault, either. These smaller developers have simply not embraced Vista, nor what has become it's core technology, .net framework. They're due for a rude surprise, because 7 is NOT XP reborn. But GOTD doesn't have control over this either. If they turn down too many of these developers, there may no longer be a GOTD for you to complain about.
One final note: to be honest, GOTD principally pays attention to complaints in the comments section, not here. Here, we'll try to help you with any problems you're having. I'm sorry if this also sounds harsh, I hope you'll continue to stay engaged as long as you feel it's worthwhile.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Very nicely said watcher. =)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Robert
StrayCatYou do have a way with words,watcher...
But I do agree with the moderator.Neither of us is in a position to start demanding things,let alone insult the Gotd crew.
And I'm sure GOTD is open for suggestions of any kind put in a more appropriate way..
Giveaway SuggestionsPosted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberUsually, way too many words, Wiz. :( At the risk of sounding like I want the last word, let me clarify further, folks. I'm really not worried about insulting GOTD, other than I don't want to insult anyone. They're not going to take their toys and go home. This is some or all of their livelyhood. Shutting down in a pout isn't a very profitable business model. They're more likely to have a good laugh at some of these not well thought out complaints.
That's my point. This is a business. And so many of these complaints are because people are completely unrealistic about the business model. Like in today's games, for example. Somebody complained because Falco Checkers is being offered one week after Falco Chess. Did anyone really think Falco was going to wait a month, or months, just to allow GGOTD to have more variety? I swear, sometimes I think people think GGOTD and GOTD get a grant from the Gates Foundation to giveaway free software!
The point, again, is: this is a business. I have yet to hear of the business model which says that everyone gets they want, whenever they want, for free. If you hear of that one, PLEASE contact me. I'll be right there in line to sign up! Tim, your comments are always welcome. But, I'm afraid nobody's going to be able to do anything with the unrealistic ones, except shake their heads in confusion and frustration. Yes, more games that fit ALL your criteria would be nice. But some that don't are going to be offered. I understand your frustration, but I don't know how to get to that world you want to live in. So I just try and cope in this one.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Buckleysmom
Memberpatientlox....hang in there....you're doing a great job......thank you very much for all your hard work. The same to all the staff here at GOTD/GGOTD! I for one appreciate all you do.....and I can't say it enough.
To the complainers......hey, don't always like what you get here for free? Leave! Then you'll get.....um.....oh yeh.......NOTHING!
BK
Posted 14 years ago # -
midori
MemberAgree, Buckleysmom... it seems that some people's lives revolve around the giveaway? If I'm wrong, it certainly sounds that way at times. Like their day is ruined, and they're only waiting for "next!" Honestly, to me it's almost pitiful. Hey, if a game suits me, I download it. If it doesn't, I move on to something else. GGAOTD doesn't owe me a thing, and yet they've given me lots.
And I agree, watcher... criticism is useful, but I think at this point GGAOTD is giving us whatever they can get. So why criticize when they're obviously doing their best. Some people need to NOT place soooo much importance on this. There's plenty of free games out there, and no need to "wait" for this one, as if it's all there is.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Chronopie
MemberI can where Tim comes from, but criticising people that giveaway FREE software/games? They should be commended, even if the software doesn't work/isn't right for one person, it will work for many. If you don't like the giveaway, YOU LOSE NOTHINHG.
On a more critical note: What's with the DS video software, that caters to a FAR smaller audience than typical giveaways, not worth GOTD's money.
Posted 14 years ago # -
ringo2312
MemberHi all, I'm not the most regular poster but I felt I had to add my comments to this thread.
My first 'port of call' when logging on each day is GOTD (and GGOTD @ W/Ends) then here. I don't always have a use for the programs/games offered, but when I do, I'm very happy to get them for free.
My hard drive died a few weeks ago and if it wasn't for the Paragon back-up given recently, I would have lost a huge amount of games, programs and apps that would have cost me a fortune to replace.
In short, not everything is useful or appealing to me, but I really appreiciate all the work of the G/GOTD teams and the dedicated members here, thank you all :)
Matty
Posted 14 years ago # -
Receive: compliments, which really massaged my ego :)
Insert: compliments to my GOTD friends-----EDIT-----
OOOOPS - wrong threadPosted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberI still don't see the real issue as gratitude - being grateful to get ANYTHING for free - and I never have. I still see the real issue as just being realistic as to what GOTD/GGOTD can and can't do. I'm assuming that sometimes they contact developers trying to sell them on the service. And, in that case, they have some control. But, I also have to assume that they're often approached by developers that have seen the good reaction to giveaways and want to get in on it. Now, maybe sometimes GOTD/GGOTD goes through a wave of popularity that allows them to "beat off developers with a stick", but you can't really assume that happens and it may never have even happened. So, it's unreasonable to believe that when GOTD/GGOTD gets approached by developers whose programs aren't really ready and need more development, that the project can afford to turn that money down. Of course, too many of these bad programs will drive people away from the project, as will too much nasty criticism. So it's a balancing act. But, most of the time, the solution to these "not ready for the big time" programs is to offer them and let them fail on their own.
I think that saying to people, "go away, ingrate" - even if we're frustrated and don't really mean that - is going to be as bad for the project as complaints like Tim's, because too many of them are going to go away. Even though Tim probably didn't mean it as bad as it sounded, either. What I'm trying to get across to these newer folks is that GOTD/GGOTD just doesn't have unlimited control over what software they can offer, a variation on what midori said.
I still think we need to suggest that folks say, "I'd like to see..." as Robert did. I'm saying that the problem with, "You clueless fools, why don't you offer what I want" - regardless of whether the rest of us like it or not - is that it's POINTLESS.
The problem is that well meaning folks have gotten the ridiculous notion that GOTD/GGOTD has access to all available software and unlimited control on what it offers. I hope no very young folks are reading this :), but what we really need to get across is this: No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus.
Posted 14 years ago # -
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
BlockedHey Tim, Vista in most people's opinion is a piece of junk. I've had personal experiences with it crapping out and if I was a developer, I would probably wait for Win 7 and develop on that rather than fight with Vista. Vista is probably so far the 21st century's Windows ME. (Windows ME is released in 2000, so it doesn't count as the 21st century.)
Oh, and I use XP, and I'm as happy with it as I'll ever be. This 8 year old OS in my opinion is the best operating system MS has cranked out. (Win2K is next.)
Posted 14 years ago # -
I also run XP and have no intentions on going to Vista. With all the compatability issues people have had I just don't see the need. I could get Vista cheap because of connections but I just can't talk myself into it. My plan is to run XP as long as I am able unless I hear great things about Windows 7, in which case, I will see what kind of a deal I can get on it.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Buckleysmom
MemberWatcher....I just wanted to clarify something about your comment
I think that saying to people, "go away, ingrate...."
I think you were referring to my comment and maybe I should have worded it differently. I wasn't "inviting" him/them to leave..... I just meant that if they leave they then will get nothing. Maybe the games aren't always something a person likes, but isn't getting free stuff once in a while better than never getting free stuff?
BKPosted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberBuckleysmom. Sorry if I gave you a false impression. No my post wasn't directed at your comment. Actually, you can see the stuff I'm talking about all the time in the comments section. It's not that I don't understand the frustration, either. It's just that I think the disease has been misdiagnosed.
Look at the Giveaway Suggestions thread. Look at how many polite, well meaning newbies make sincere suggestions there for software you KNOW nobody's going to give away. Their frustration comes when they don't see the frontline software they want given away. Our frustration comes when they blow up about it. But if we just vent our frustration on them they go away and you have less people downloading the software. My position is that the best solution is to convince these people that GOTD/GGOTD is not all powerful. Sure, they can try and get their offerings more in line with whatever the consensus opinion is at any one time, but that's just a little tinkering around the edges. Other than that, they have to work with what's available, like midori said. For example, these folks haven't grasped that GOTD/GGOTD often is approached by startup developers, business they usually can't afford to turn down. Some are ready for the big time, some aren't.
I think the rest of us don't get worked about these things because we have realistic expectations and recognize this is still a good project and often gives away bargains. I think the best thing we can do is try and convey those realistic expectations to these other people. No matter how frustrating their posts can be.
Also, I have to say I feel the Vista discussion is irrelevant. I believe GOTD doesn't purposely offer non-Vista supported programs (and they often work with Vista, anyway). Again, that's just what's available. It's just the state of the things with many small developers. So getting sucked into a Vista versus XP debate really doesn't help. Heck, GOTDs like any other business. They'd give away software for Windows 3.1, Mac, Linux, or PC-DOS (!) if enough developers were willing to pay them to do it.
Posted 14 years ago # -
albesir
MemberI agree with watcher that we really should just try to be patient and make sure people know that they can't just offer the software that everyone wants. THey make deals with companies or are approached by startup companies, and this is especially true lately with the bad economy and a change in online game websites prices and policies on giving software away. Some types of software seem to be unaffected, which is probably why the GAOTD site is still doing fine, but gaming sites are more and more offering deals and giveaways of their own to promote more sales on their sites, so that many of the companies that provided games before may look to those sites instead of coming here. I think we should also point out the great job wrabbit and co. are doing with the free game section and point them there, even try to point them in the direction of some of the better freeware games to appear on the weekday giveaway project.
I don't know if the gaming section of the site will have better luck when the economy regains some footing, or if the online gaming world has changed permanently once again. If that is the case, then it will have trouble finding games beyond those startup companies, and if people aren't content with that, then the gaming part of the site may fade away. I hope this isn't the case as like watcher said, some of these startup and smaller companies produce fine games, so occasionally, even if its only a couple times a month or less, there will be real finds that you're still getting for free.
As far as the Vista debate(or bashing if you prefer) goes, I can't stand it, and still keep XP on my computer, but it's mainly the 64bit version with the problems, and as computers continually improve, this will entirely replace the 32bit versions that are predominant now, and eventually those will be replaced and so on. As much as computers continually develop, I believe it to be foolish to expect all software to run well(or at all) on all computers. There are often times around this, such as DOSBox for DOS games, and I'm sure eventually there will be a WINBox for old windows versions, unless they can figure a way to work in all compatibility issues into newer operating systems. I've already written much more than I intended on all of these arguments, so I would just like to reiterate the fact that GAOTD and GGAOTD do their best to find good software and still provide it for free of charge, and that should always be praiseworthy, no matter what the software is(I will be really angry if a lot of people start complaining that the free weekday project games aren't good, or if they're late or really any complaints on it at all, since it is both free and completely voluntary on the part of the great and awesome wrabbit, wizzard, RO, g@rgoyle, HOSS, etc. etc.)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Archangel
MemberPatience is acquired. I got mine at an early age when my mother would promptly switch my legs when I wanted something now and was rude, demanding or just would throw a fit. (wait a minute, where were her's with is "PROMPTLY!) If you please 10% your doing better than most.
No offense to anyone (especially you Mother) LOL.
Jay
ArchangelPosted 14 years ago # -
Buckleysmom
MemberWatcher.....No problem. Gotchya....and I do agree but I still feel you can make a point without being rude and nasty. Guess some people just don't know how to do that.
Jay....OUCH! I know a few kids who could use a switching......but these days that would be considered child abuse. My mom broke many wooden spoons and yard sticks over us.....of course we'd laugh when they broke. Sometimes mom would have to laugh too. One time she actually said, "Darn, that was my last good wooden spoon". We all just cheered and cracked up. She taped that one back together with electrical tape, and used it that way for quite a while.....but not on us. Ah the memories....lol
BK
Posted 14 years ago #
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