In Eve Online this is my 5th term as a CSM and I thought I would take a moment to tell you what that entails. The short answer is ‘get yelled at by players and talk to devs’
Typically Thursday is my most busy CSM day as that is the regularly scheduled hour where we video chat with one or more devs about changes that have happened or changes to come. Not all devs have the same level of trust/connectivity and so out hands on varies, from team to team. This morning was about an hour and a quarter of really good talk with one of the devs followed up by text convos and brainstorming.
Personally I spoke about the impact of the topic at hand on newer pilots as well as participated in the brainstorming of changes WAY down the road. I felt listened to in spite of the fact that I am kind of the ‘odd man out’ on the CSM in regards to my hisec/new player focus. No I cannot get more specific on topics because that is what an NDA precludes me from doing.
On other days of the week there will be convos in various channels, additions to wiki pages that we can comment on, and private chats with specific devs on a variety of subjects. I have kind of a route I take through r/eve, eve forums, and discord (look, discord is the worst way to get in touch with me, that is a very noisy comm system) I read, listen, go in game and do a Bus run while reading eve mail . . . .
and I write. Notes to myself, thank yous to players, comments to devs.
No one can tell. We can’t judge how well CSM is representing player base ideas and concerns when all work that CSM is doing is done behind closed doors.
Thanks @Mike_Azariah for the thankless job you do on the CSM. Even though I don’t always agree with the changes CCP makes I appreciate they at least try to engage the playerbase via the CSM in some fashion. It is more than most devs do.
I know, right? I know CCP is just trying to balance the game, but they’re doing it all wrong. First off all, I have not ever needed a nerf. I currently do not need a nerf. And I will not every need a nerf. Second, even if I did need a nerf, it is better for CCP to buff everything else, rather than nerf me. Players hate nerfs. So devs should always buff, and never nerf… unless it’s my enemies. Those guys actually need a nerf.
The CSM sounds somewhat like a German Betriebsrat or Swiss Mitwerkung (Works Council) but without the camraderie of being coworkers, the addition of effectively having no real power, and no guarantee about the spirit of cooperation between the parties.
I’m not envious at all, sounds like an awful job. Thanks for volunteering your time & thanks for sharing your routine.
Mike, I met you when I was very new, like maybe a week or so into Eve and saw what you were doing, meaning giving new people (good) advice and a free ship.
I don’t expect the rest of the CSM to be like you or do any of the things you do, but as you said, you are the odd one as near as I can tell. You actually take the time to talk to everyone you can even when they are being an ass. I personally think you really do have the best interests of the game, it’s players, and even CCP in mind when you do stuff, the others I either know little about or flat out don’t trust at all in one case.
I don’t see you advocating for changes demanded by small but shrill groups of people who want the game altered in ways that effect everyone for their own tiny self interest so the last thing I expected was seeing you feeling the need to explain your self. You don’t, some of your colleagues might, but I don’t think you do.
I appreciate the glimpse into how CSMs communicate with CCP. Of course I’d like to know more about what’s being discussed, but I understand the reasons for NDAs. Thank you for being a player advocate.
Edited to add: What would you say are the skills you draw upon as a CSM? Also, does your role require you to understand every aspect of the game, or just an area of interest?
My skills that I draw on as CSM are mainly those of a teacher (which I was) and a Canadian (which I am). This may get a bit wordy but I do have a point to make . . .
In my decades as a teacher I saw a lot of fads and ‘new practices’ come and go. Some almost seemed cyclic in that we would adopt, realize it was dumb, drop and a decade later adopt again. People would always profess to have the best intentions for the students but it always felt like they wanted to sell their books and speaking engagements. I am not drawing a line to any modern educational controversies, just saying that very little is ‘new’. I have stated to CCP and the CSM that I am a bit of their institutional memory and they agreed. Devs come and go but us ‘old guard’ have a longer view of the game. So when a change is proposed I ask ‘teacher’ type questions. Why are we doing this, what is the goal or what are we fixing?.
I am a HUGE fan of the James Burke show Connections (yes I know it is a book, too) and I think it is a valuable thing to keep in mind when dealing with Eve development. Just because a change is to something in Null does not mean that its effects will not radiate out to all of the rest of space. Very little in Eve is in complete isolation and not a factor in other parts of New Eden. So I may not have a direct knowledge of Capital ships (for example) but when and if a change to them is proposed I still pay attention from the viewpoint of ‘how will this radiate out’. So by this measure? I do not understand all of the game (and would argue that nobody does although at least one CSM has, in my hearing claimed to) but I do what I can with what I know.
My other skill I bring to the table? I talk and listen moderately well. I think that is from being a teacher OR the reason I became one (chicken and egg)
I know, I meant after whatever they were discussing was live in game (or scrapped), all with the agreement of CCP. Just an idea. A bit like a video version of the minutes
That would be a lot of work for not much of a benefit. Some people read the CSM Minutes but not everyone.
An interview where not NDA related things are being revealed would be much better.
Even the CSM Minutes I believe are a pain to write, except for the recipe for a nice meal in the place of the text that would be NDA related but is not for the public yet.
Its problematic but I would like to see some form of accountability put on record.
Even national states release their records after a period of fifty years unless The Crown had them assassinated - the records, that is, just to be absolutely clear on that subject.
The lack of regular communication between CCP/CSM and the players causes an underlying environment of hostile or at least adversarial relationship that tends to color when ANY actual contact is being made. Throw in some dev’s native tongue, cultural differences, and different players’ concerns and you get the present day state of the official forums and player mood.
During a time of stress and profound change, people should communicate more, not less. That communication should be as widespread, easily accessed and normally used, and available to all who are affected. People who play computer games are usually intelligent and imaginative. Without actual factual and official information being disseminated frequently by CCP on a regular basis and the lack of communication (outside of Brisc and Mike) from the CSM, many players will reach (imagine) their own conclusions based on what they see or perceive. Unfortunately. those conclusions may be totally wrong.
I have rarely seen a company almost go out of the way to not connect with their customers as much as CCP does. If you removed their interactions on fan sites or channels, CCP/PA would almost be radio silent in terms of 2 way and responsive communications. Thanks Mike for your postings and in game effort. I just wish that the community relations team at CCP would step up and, er, “relate” with the average EVE player.
