[2023] Open Letter to Steven Sharif the Ashes Paradox

Dear Steven Sharif, I am writing to you about the current state of Ashes of Creation, and the growing concern among your supporters regarding the direction of the game's development. Specifically, I want to address the "Ashes Paradox" that has emerged recently, and how it is affecting the community. Firstly, I want to bring up the issue of cosmetic sales after the Kickstarter campaign. This has caused frustration among supporters who believed the game was already fully funded. The addition of FOMO-style sales may bring in extra revenue, but it is not a good look for a game that claims to be transparent and community-focused. It is important to remember that the community is the reason why the game is even in development, and they deserve to be treated with respect and honesty. Secondly, while transparency is important, many supporters are starting to feel like they are being led on with no tangible product. The constant teasing of the game and its features without a clear release date is causing a sense of frustration among supporters. While it is important to keep the community engaged, there needs to be a balance between transparency and realistic expectations. Some supporters are even comparing Ashes of Creation to Star Citizen, a game that has been in development for years without a clear release date. This is not a comparison that anyone wants to make, and it is important to make sure that Ashes of Creation doesn't fall into the same trap. The last spot testing or test from July 14 - August 15, 2021 has left many supporters feeling left out and frustrated. It is not fair to those who have supported the game and have been eagerly waiting for their chance to test the game. While playtesting may not be a priority for the development team, it is important to remember that the community is eager to get their hands on the game and provide feedback. As a member of the Ashes of Creation community, I understand that game development can be a time-consuming and challenging process. It is not uncommon for games to experience delays, and I appreciate that the development team is taking the necessary time to ensure that the game meets the highest standards of quality. However, I also understand the frustration that some members of the community are feeling about the lack of playtesting opportunities since July 14 - August 15, 2021. Many of us have been eagerly awaiting the chance to play the game and provide feedback to the development team. Playtesting is a crucial part of the game development process, and it allows developers to gather valuable feedback from players about the game's mechanics, performance, and overall experience. It also provides players with an opportunity to engage with the game and become invested in its development. While I understand that the development team may have their reasons for not holding playtests, I believe that it would be beneficial for the game's development to continue to provide playtesting opportunities to the community. It would not only allow us to provide feedback to the development team, but it would also help to keep the community engaged and invested in the game's development. Having NDA testing again would allow a select group of Alpha members to test the game under the protection of a non-disclosure agreement. This would ensure that any issues or bugs found during testing can be addressed before they are made public, preventing potential negative impact on the game's reputation. Additionally, NDA testing would provide the developers with valuable feedback from a dedicated group of testers who have a vested interest in the success of the game. It would also give the testers a chance to provide input on game mechanics and make suggestions for improvement. Overall, NDA testing would be beneficial for both the developers and the Alpha testers, and could help ensure a smoother and more successful launch for Ashes of Creation. Another potential solution could be to conduct NDA testing once a month or every few major updates. This would allow a smaller group of trusted testers to have early access to the latest build of the game and provide valuable feedback to the developers. By limiting the number of testers and enforcing strict NDA agreements, the developers could ensure that the testing is more controlled and focused, while still gathering important feedback on the latest features and mechanics. This approach could provide a good balance between maintaining secrecy and gathering feedback from trusted testers Ashes of Creation has not only united gamers with a shared passion, but it has also created strong and lasting bonds of friendship. Through our collective anticipation for the game's release, we have formed a supportive community that values camaraderie and collaboration. We have come to appreciate each other's unique perspectives and talents, and we have found joy in sharing our excitement for Ashes of Creation with one another. While we eagerly await the game's release, we will continue to cherish the friendships we have made and the sense of community that Ashes of Creation has brought to our lives. An alternative solution to NDA testing could be to conduct playtesting sessions that focus on specific features or mechanics. For example, a playtesting session could be designed to test combat mechanics or PvP balance, allowing the developers to gather targeted feedback on those aspects of the game. Another example could be a playtesting session focused on testing new content or quests in a particular region of the game world. These playtesting sessions could be structured and organized to ensure that testers are focused on the specific features or mechanics being tested. Testers could be given specific objectives to complete during the session, such as defeating a particular boss or completing a certain questline. The developers could then gather feedback on how well these objectives were met and use that feedback to improve the game. One benefit of this approach is that it could provide more consistent and targeted feedback to the developers. Instead of relying on random gameplay sessions, the developers could receive feedback on specific areas of the game that they are actively working to improve. This could help speed up the development process and ensure that the game is more polished upon release. Additionally, scheduling playtesting sessions in advance would give Alpha testers ample time to prepare and participate. This could help ensure that the sessions are well attended and that the feedback gathered is representative of the Alpha tester population. Overall, this approach could help create a more collaborative and productive relationship between the developers and the Alpha testers. It is important to remember that the community is the backbone of any successful game. The Ashes of Creation community has supported the game through thick and thin, and they deserve to be treated with respect and honesty. The development team needs to balance transparency with realistic expectations, and provide more opportunities for supporters to playtest the game. The future success of Ashes of Creation depends on the relationship between the development team and the community, and it is crucial to maintain that relationship in order to build a successful game. Sincerely, KingManny#0001