Re: Letter to RSI

From: stuff@hp.uwsuper.edu (Sharon Tuff)

Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 21:02:16 +0000

Just Me (look_out@delphi.com) wrote:
:  This is a letter that I am planning to send to RSI. I would like to make
: this a community letter, so any input would greatly be appreciated. If you
: have ever played Duelmasters, or have attempted to play it, let me know what
: you think.
: ****************************************************************************

You know, at first I thought to flame RSI (not that they would care), but after
reading your letter, I have instead decided to provide some constructive input.

: November 10, 1993
:
: To Whom it May Concern,
:
:  I am writing you this letter in hopes of making the game that I enjoy, more
: enjoyable for me and more profitable for you. I do not intend for this letter
: to get anyone in trouble, instead I write in hopes that I can bring some
: serious problems to light.

[snip]

:  The programming that this was required for this is nothing
:short of genius. Your company has obviously put allot of care and thought into
: the development of this game.
:

FYI:  The game was 95% created by a programmer named Ed Schoenever.  It was, to
	the best of my knowledge a graduate thesis project in either medievel
	history or programming or both.  The original program was written in
	BASIC for the IBM PC.
      The game rights were purchased from him.  Since then, the program has been
	converted to pascal by their house programmers in order to facilitate
	modifications to the program.  These modifications were to be gender
	choice, thrown/fired weapons, magic, and adventuring.
      During the 8 + years in which the pascal program has been operating, only
	gender choice (to my knowledge) has been implemented.  They are still
	working the bugs out on that...

:  In short the game is great! We have no problems putting out the money you
: request for the game. We do feel how ever that the price is a bit high. The
: price is a very minor inconvenience that we are willing to deal with because
: of the quality of the service.
:

I quit the game for two reasons.  One was the randomness inherent in it.
	After 1000's of fights, it becomes apparent that luck plays a large
	factor in the outcome of a fight.  Enough so that when two experienced
	managers faced off against each other with gladiators, the one with the
	highest luck won.  Luck is determined when your character is first
	generated.  It affects you characters combat factors at random points
	during a fight.

:  However, the two things that disturb your customers more than anything is
: your customer support, and your quality assurance. We realize that the amount
: of paper that your company processes on a weekly basis is staggering, and
: that keeping up with it all can be a nightmare. Unfortunately, this is not an
: excuse. Your a company that is providing a service, and if the service fails
: to be sufficient it will inevitably reflect badly on your company's profit
: margin.
:

THIS is the second reason.  I enjoy engaging in games where the intellect
	of one person is matched against another.  Throwin in dice-roles for
	Duelmasters destroy's the games strategy factor and turns it into a
	crap shoot (no pun intended).  If I wanted to throw my money away on the
	luck of the dice, I would go to Vegas - at least there is a chance of
	some return for your money!
      RSI's so called 'Customer Service' was the straw that broke this camel's
	back.  I thought that I could live with the chancey nature of the game,
	but I could not accept the bull-shit responses from their CS dept.  I
	quit PBM completely for a while I was so burned-out!
      <Shameless Plug>  Then my friends introduced me to Adventurers Guild.
	Here was a game that had everything which RSI promised, plus more!
	The Omnipresent Random Factor retreats to the background in AG, where
	success depends on your ability to assess the situation and blind, real
	world luck.  I really suggest that you look here for what RSI has
	always claimed to have.  PLUS, they have the BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE in
	the PBM industry!  I will never look behind me again.
      <End Shameless Plug>

[typical episodes at RSI customer mis-service snipped]

:
: These are just a few of the problems that we have incurred. As stated earlier
:in this letter, the intent of this letter is not to get anyone in trouble, but
: to shed light on the areas we feel would make the game more enjoyable for us,
: and more profitable for you.
:
: Thank you for listening.
: ***************************************************************************
:
: Let me know what you think.
:
: Manager
:

I hope that what I said above helps you make RSI shape up their act.  I gave
up in exhaustion/exasperation years ago...

Good Luck

Sharon Tuff
Glenn Tillema (evil twin brother)
previous of:
The Sanitarium (37)
Damnation Citidal (50)
+ many others I can't remember...five or six other teams...

References

Letter to RSI
look_out@delphi.com (Just Me)
Wed, 10 Nov 1993 21:09:32 +0000