Question: Do you trust Mindark?

[Sirhc]

After reading many various posts about certain "trust" issues many seem to have with MA I wanted to open this subject up to its own thread.

I think we all have to have some trust in Mindark because we give them personal information and account information. My frustration is hearing many who claim to have no trust in MA yet they give them the above personal information which could be quite damaging in the hands of someone you don't trust.

Do I trust Mindark?

Well I guess if I am still playing after 4+ years and still entrusting them with very personal data I have say yes I do trust them. I've gotten decent support over the years and my withdrawl went over with out a hitch. So far I don't have any reason to distrust their actions. They provide a service and I participate in that service. I do keep a close eye on MA though and I do bring up potential issues that could damage trust between the participants and MA, but I just can't see continuing to deposit and play if I don't have some trust in the developer.

I keep wondering if Mindark actually does need to do some reputation mending or is there just a paranoid segment of the EU population that will distrust anything and everything MA does?

Also did the spin off of First Planet Calypso give you more trust or less?

I actually figured the spin off would happen and I think Marco will bring new life to the EU as we know it. I know he can't tell us everything but I do think he has what it takes to make Calypso what many of us have always wanted it to be.

Maybe this is just me I either trust or I don't trust there is no wishy washy "well maybe I trust them here but not there no no never there" . If I trust MA/FPC enough with my personal info than why not with events since its the same company in charge of both? What does MA/FPC really have to gain by undermining our trust?

 

[Mikass]

Don`t know if they can be fully trusted since they say one thing and do another.

 

[PeteHines]

I think the trust thing isnt really about trusting MA with our personal info as it is about MA following through on statements they make.

 

[Theren Strange]

You should have made a poll.

 

[NightwolfAA2k5]

Don`t know if they can be fully trusted since they say one thing and do another.

Indeed, very true.

 

[Sirhc]

Don`t know if they can be fully trusted since they say one thing and do another.

Would a better explaination about why they said one thing and did another work better in their favor or just add fuel to the fire of distrust?

I know many times in life I had said one thing and then had the unfortunate realization that I could not do what I said, sometimes for reasons outside of my control.

I guess that is why I started this thread. I am usually not a very trusting person in real life but given time a certain level of trust is built up between people and even businesses. I also just want to get an understanding about where people's distrust in MA comes from when most of us obviously trust them enough with CCs and personal information.

 

[Sirhc]

You should have made a poll.

I decided to add a simple yes/no/maybe poll but I am still very interested in people's thoughts on this.

 

[Mikass]

I know many times in life I had said one thing and then had the unfortunate realization that I could not do what I said, sometimes for reasons outside of my control.
I also just want to get an understanding about where people's distrust in MA comes from when most of us obviously trust them enough with CCs and personal information.

Well for example Marco promised some form of community interaction like EF chat room QA or interview as Dion didn`t show up with the audio material.. Think he said will do something in 1 week if Dion wouldn `t show, than chat room thing, then a pending promise to make another interview with Skam.
Of course might have been RL issues that took priority over it. But was is it really that hard to find 5 or 10 min for a quick community EF chat or just give us some heads up on how things are going, on what everyone was concerned about?

 

[Silver Viking]

Do I trust MA ?
As a reliably company to whom I can privide my info, CC number and so on, yes....

Do I think that they will provide all they say? Not really....

Do I think that they are wel managed ? well, I think they could be better....

Do I think they are trying, and will stay in buisness for times to come? Yes ....

and hopefully they will improve along the way

Seems to me that they are making the road as they walk, and have a few miss steps along the way ....

and due to this I voted mabye ....


S V

 

[fnalig]

Nope Hm to short

 

[Harvest]

I have asked my self this many of times and actually many ppl in RL have asked me the same question.

When I first started out I didnt have much in game. Then I had little to no trust, pyramid scheme for all I was concerned and could had folded any time(IMO)

Now its been almost 3 years and I have a lot more trust in MA than I had before. Some of the decisions they have made have not been what I would had done but Im trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. Just like most businesses, they are trying to do as much as they can, with as little spent as possible. So some times feels like its a wild ride but I trust that my personal info is safe and will not be abused.

Where I find it hard to put trust is in actual investment in items, one day best item in game, next day worthless. Makes it hard to step into a bigger investment.

They have been known to flip flop on their own policies(what did they gain by that?), makes it hard to trust completely.

They aren't scammers who are going to disappear(at least for the time being), but every one needs some improvement.

 

[Sparhawke]

I wouldn't say mistrustful exactly but they could be a hell of a lot more forthcoming with information, the one thing that makes me have misgivings is how a games company from Europe would adopt the dollar as its standard.

To me that is simply wrong and there is no getting away from it, you wouldn't expect a games company in America to only use Euros or Yen otherwise there would be a major problem.

And dont even get me started on the completely one sided contract that says they can basically take all your ingame currency at any time they wish if they "think" you are doing something illegal.

What about OUR rights as consumers?

 

[strakkan]

I trust MA in taking care of money and being a solid business.
I have lost a great deal of trust in how MA communicates with their playerbase and how they fulfill what they promise. Marcos roadmaps should really be put in a museum or something..hehe
Alot of things that happened last 1-1,5 years has made me think they decide things on a weekly meeting rather than by a longterm schedule..

 

[Antronius]

Would I trust MA with my life? No.

Do I trust MA to develop the game to be more generous? No.

Do I trust MA with my C.C.? Well, yeah - but it turns out my bank locked my card after I used it for PED. Not because it was MA but because they don't really like online games with origins other than US. So I'll be getting a throw away CC for PED. No.

Do I trust MA to make the game as enjoyable as they can within their means? Yes.

So I chose "Maybe."

 

[Austro_Lusitano]

Do I trust MA ?
As a reliably company to whom I can privide my info, CC number and so on, yes....

Do I think that they will provide all they say? Not really....

Do I think that they are wel managed ? well, I think they could be better....

Do I think they are trying, and will stay in buisness for times to come? Yes ....

and hopefully they will improve along the way

Seems to me that they are making the road as they walk, and have a few miss steps along the way ....

and due to this I voted mabye ....


S V

couldn't have put it in better words.

i feel MA has great potencial to have they greatest MMORPG ever made, but i also think that MA isnt being managed the best way.

like Silver Viking said, i trust MA with my personal info cause they cant risk there customer losing that kind of trust, but when it comes down to what they promisse.. cant say i trust there word in the same way.

they make a very big effort to look like a solid and well organised company, but every time the make promisses they dont keep, i get an image of greedy capitalists have long lunches in a really nice 1000$/day resort, with my/our money.

voted "maby" also.

 

[jenny ferr]

Do I trust MA ?
As a reliably company to whom I can privide my info, CC number and so on, yes....

Do I think that they will provide all they say? Not really....

Do I think that they are wel managed ? well, I think they could be better....

Do I think they are trying, and will stay in buisness for times to come? Yes ....

and hopefully they will improve along the way

Seems to me that they are making the road as they walk, and have a few miss steps along the way ....

this is exactly my thoughts too, so voted yes because of the #1 reason

 

[Mega]

I wouldn't say mistrustful exactly but they could be a hell of a lot more forthcoming with information, the one thing that makes me have misgivings is how a games company from Europe would adopt the dollar as its standard.

A standard is a standard, oil is also valued in dollars. When Mindark first started Entropia (2002?) the Euro was very new and some European countries such as the UK decided not to enter. If they had started Entropia now, they may have made it the € instead.

As to whether I trust Mindark, I'd have to say yes - but having played a couple of MMORPG's before I'm well aware that things get nerfed regularly and that can have a significant financial effect here.

 

[SpikeBlack]

The recent split for FPC may have been forced upon them rather than a voluntary act.

As for trusting MA

Do I trust them with my personal information and not to misuse / sell, then I do otherwise I would have used one of my many aliases that I use when joining free content sites / services.

Do I trust that they uphold their own rules and apply them equally to all participants, I'm undecided about that.

Do I trust them to fix bugs quickly and to be open and honest about them even if they affect participants financially, no I don't.

 

[Kimmi]

I trust MA in taking care of money and being a solid business.
I have lost a great deal of trust in how MA communicates with their playerbase and how they fulfill what they promise. Marcos roadmaps should really be put in a museum or something..hehe
Alot of things that happened last 1-1,5 years has made me think they decide things on a weekly meeting rather than by a longterm schedule..

What he said!

 

[tanor]

Hi,

I voted yes for a simple reason: I'am still a participant of the Entropia Universe.

If I would have no trust in MindArk, I would have left the Universe in notime.

Tanor

 

[GeorgeSkywalker]

Facts (as i see them)

- some people deposit a lot of money into the game
- majority of the depositors loose money (quite a lot of money)
- this majority that depsosit and loose money do you think they will be happy with MA or unhappy? this is where i reckon the grievance with MA stems from

 

[Mick]

well they really don't have any personal information on myself that you can't find in a phonebook other than date of birth. Also, if they tampered with bank accounts or credit cards it'd be pretty obvious and easy to prove...and extremely bad for their business, + credit cards can be cancelled.

I guess when it comes to credit card information I trust they have a pretty secure system, but do I trust that noone can every get into said system? No. If the wall can be built the wall can be busted, dug under,jumped over,crawled through, burned down, etc..

Do I trust the system? No, why? after all these years I myself have no idea how it works can I trust in something blindly without knowing details about it? No.
At least with a casino that is designated as gambling there has to be some transparency and certain laws they abide by.

Do I trust the Entropia Universe? No

Do I have fun blowing wads of cash shooting fake monsters or blowing dirt up? Yes, sometimes but that fun is dwindling more and more everyday ......

Do I like the fact that a notepad document says I can lose all my money and be booted for no reason? hell no I don't trust that at all.

 

[Yirrk]

Are you serious? I coughed my soda all over the screen when I read that post!
OMFG.
NO I DO NOT TRUST MINDARK.
NOR DO I HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR THEM because of their lying, arrogance, and greed.

Don't get me started, I've been good for a while....

I do however see a very small glimmer of hope in FPC. But they have a LONNNG way to go yet.

 

[Cani Ostro]

Would a better explaination about why they said one thing and did another work better in their favor or just add fuel to the fire of distrust?

I know many times in life I had said one thing and then had the unfortunate realization that I could not do what I said, sometimes for reasons outside of my control.

I guess that is why I started this thread. I am usually not a very trusting person in real life but given time a certain level of trust is built up between people and even businesses. I also just want to get an understanding about where people's distrust in MA comes from when most of us obviously trust them enough with CCs and personal information.

If properly explained such things can even build up a good relation, since it shows confidence into us, since we all want EU to improve.

Personally I find things much more damaging that show utter disrespect to the playerbase and thinking we are all stupid. Best example is in my opinion "Armor decay introduced to reduce lag". I can still tilt over this, tbh. And there is more examples.

Also the total lack of obvious useful information is imo not good for building a good relation.

I do trust MA with my data and my money to reply to the op.

I don't trust MA handling the loot distribution in a fair way for the participants, but their own pockets.

And I definetely don't like them how they treat us just as addicted moneybags instead of a valuable source of improvement.

I do hope with the recent tweak of MM according to our feedback this is a step into the right direction, to end this rant in positive way

 

[mastermesh]

I put maybe...

I trust that MA will continue to work on improving EU since EU is their baby and they want it to grow a lot since it's their moneymaker. As such, I trust that MA will do some things that draw people in, and keep them in. (I also hope (but don't trust that) MA will hopefully be giving me more uber globals that I will gladly put in as many forum threads, wikipedia entries and press releases as I can! - hope you are reading this Marco.)

 

[ruskea]

soon we see those MA "agents" (who always defend MA on anything) in here.. and my vote.. No.. i have no reason to trust em anymore.. like someone said.. they say this and do different.. GL on future MA.. this event rampage has been big pile of bullshit

 

[kosmos]

Nice thread.

I trust mind ark to an extent.

I would like to see some more concrete info come directly from them.

I think they could work on public relations and customer service a bit.

If i didn't trust them I wouldn't be here no more. Many other games out there to spend my time on

In other words I am neutral.

 

[Jorael]

Well Mindark can't be trusted, since they introduce things in the game that can make you poor/rich from one day to the next... so my answer is no.

However, since Marco and his team took control of this game, i feel like the players will have a closer relationship with the devs. And that means trust.

 

[Adamas]

Trust yes,
Respect No.

They have alot of work to do in they want to gain player respect.
FPC is going in the right direction I think but it'll take time.

HIRE A NEW BALANCE MANAGER!
My 2 cents

 

[Harvest]

HIRE A NEW BALANCE MANAGER!

Monkey paw wish! Be careful!

....even though I agree