Dev - Anyone from SE - Can we seriously please get a response to payment problems?

[Seillan]

I honestly can't believe what I'm reading. This is just a ridiculous way to run a business and the fact that not a single official has commented on this issue -- even with it affecting their new mmorpg, which I imagine is one of their prime "bread and butter" contributors -- is unbelievable. Is SE just giving up on the mmorpg scene now or what?

I'm really sorry about what you're all having to go through, especially with these apparently insoluble 30 day lockout timers with no prior warnings. I have to wonder if I'll even be able to resubscribe once my current month is up or -- if this is how they're going to run their company from here on -- if I even should regardless. Step up you customer service while you still have any to serve SE, seriously.

[Pixela]

I honestly can't believe what I'm reading. This is just a ridiculous way to run a business and the fact that not a single official has commented on this issue -- even with it affecting their new mmorpg, which I imagine is one of their prime "bread and butter" contributors -- is unbelievable. Is SE just giving up on the mmorpg scene now or what?

I'm really sorry about what you're all having to go through, especially with these apparently insoluble 30 day lockout timers with no prior warnings. I have to wonder if I'll even be able to resubscribe once my current month is up or -- if this is how they're going to run their company from here on -- if I even should regardless. Step up you customer service while you still have any to serve SE, seriously.

No, they just aren't good at the basics of running one. They are like a really talented artist that has little idea how to make money off their work, but manages in a half assed way to get by.

The sad fact is that many of us will find a way around it, they are waiting to see how big of an issue it it. If customers can find a way around it themselves why should they spend money to fix it? There are so many things that you can point out that are really stupid with how they run their business and that lose them customers but it's pointless, that's just how terrible Square run their mmo business. They make decisions that make no sense at all and are counter-productive.

They are lucky the games are good because if they were any other title they would be closed down due to massive player loss (more than already are due to stupid decisions like making 2 competing FF mmo titles which in essence scavenge their own customers who are already paying more $ on an older title to play a new one that costs more to run...duh).

Someone needs to send Square to business school.

[Camiie]

No, they just aren't good at the basics of running one. They are like a really talented artist that has little idea how to make money off their work, but manages in a half assed way to get by.

They seem to operate with the mentality of a game company from the 80's or early 90's. Produce a game, box it up, ship it out, and that's it. Anything beyond that is beyond their comprehension. Service and support? Payment system? <I don't understand.>

Look at how long it took them to start communicating with the players, and they still haven't mastered the art. You can say the same about content updates although they have certainly made improvements. This game has been out for over a decade and they still haven't got the basics down.

Say what you will about the style and content of other MMOs, but at least their customers can pay them and at least they address issues. They don't always get it right either, but the ones I'm familiar with show a far better understanding how to operate in this day and age than SE does. Even companies that are far smaller and far younger than SE seem to know what they're doing while SE can't or won't modernize their approach. It's sad really. They've managed to squander so much of the respect they once enjoyed.