We need a community rep that interacts with the community

[KaivaC]

No, we don't. I wouldn't ever subject someone to some of the utter BS that is found on these forums and be the face to take that abuse from unruly users.

Also, we do have community reps. They've wisely hidden away.

So we do have them. Okay, that's good then. That leads me to my next question, which is: are they allowed to bring direct feedback to the devs? Doesn't seem like it to me, but I'm open to having my mind changed on that. I have to reiterate, because I know how these forums tend to go, I am not suggesting that each and every little issue should be addressed and forwarded. That would be next to impossible because anything and everything in this game can become a subject of annoyance to somebody. But at the very least, feedback on something that a huge chunk of the community has an issue about: surely that could at least warrant being forwarded to the devs.

Or maybe that does happen anyway and the feedback is either ignored, doesn't make it to the dev team, or is misinterpreted?

[Cidel]

So we do have them. Okay, that's good then. That leads me to my next question, which is: are they allowed to bring direct feedback to the devs? Doesn't seem like it to me, but I'm open to having my mind changed on that. I have to reiterate, because I know how these forums tend to go, I am not suggesting that each and every little issue should be addressed and forwarded. That would be next to impossible because anything and everything in this game can become a subject of annoyance to somebody. But at the very least, feedback on something that a huge chunk of the community has an issue about: surely that could at least warrant being forwarded to the devs.

Or maybe that does happen anyway and the feedback is either ignored, doesn't make it to the dev team, or is misinterpreted?

They in all likelihood do relay (sensible) feedback with a lot of player-backing. They just don't usually tell us that they do.

I still remember when there was a lot of debate on whether or not the HW primal mounts could (or should) be traded-in for with all the excess totems we were getting. There was no official word from anyone on whether or not it would be a thing until not long after, the next patch (or was it a hotfix?...)came and "surprise! 99 totems for Bismark and Ravana mounts!"

[Aylis]

So we do have them. Okay, that's good then. That leads me to my next question, which is: are they allowed to bring direct feedback to the devs? Doesn't seem like it to me, but I'm open to having my mind changed on that. I have to reiterate, because I know how these forums tend to go, I am not suggesting that each and every little issue should be addressed and forwarded. That would be next to impossible because anything and everything in this game can become a subject of annoyance to somebody. But at the very least, feedback on something that a huge chunk of the community has an issue about: surely that could at least warrant being forwarded to the devs.

Or maybe that does happen anyway and the feedback is either ignored, doesn't make it to the dev team, or is misinterpreted?

I think they're allowed but I feel a lot of it just gets ignored and the devs listen more to the raw data on how content is being done. What seems to be working, what doesn't and decisions are based on that. I feel its due to cultural reasoning. Honor and respect your elders, always respect the chain of command and don't speak unless spoken to unless you have a higher rank in the chain.

I say that because a while back I remember watching a "making of" video from Team Ninja. In one segment I clearly remember lower ranked staff member handing a list of suggestions he thought of to help the game to the lead dev in his office. The lead dev thanked him for his efforts and suggestions and the lower staff member left the office. The lead dev didn't read anything in the five seconds it took for him to place the suggestions list in the trash can.

I believe any community rep is held to that same standard even if they're from outside Japan. As in "keep the forums clean, go on the streams and say what we tell you to say. We pay you to do this so just do this and don't get out of line. Going outside your role is forbidden". Given that a lot of youtube videos exist from people saying that working in Japan isn't exactly peaches and cream. I don't doubt for a minute that community reps are kept on a very short leash in the company food chain.

[Iscah]

It is ironic that be trying to avoid some certain questions or to kick the can down the road, the devs only ensure that they will be asked again.

I've asked before - is this perhaps (yet again) a cultural difference? If a Japanese person asks someone a question and gets a polite non-answer like the devs tend to give, do they take that as a sign that they should not ask again?