WGTadmin2:
The reality is that WGT is still a relatively small company and we do depend on you our players to spend your money so we can pay our bills and employees. We are not a big faceless corporation, but a bunch of of folks trying to make our virtual golf dreams come true and feed our families (While fight big company competitors). Withholding your purchases actually makes it harder for us to keep the servers and features coming. We plow every dollar back into the product, especially new course like pebble, which take a lot of our cash. Every purchase you make is a donation back into the product.
That being said we do make mistakes and we can make this game better. In that spirit we are going to be more communicative in this thread. As stated above, if you can help us think of the 3 most important things we can do, please post them here:
No-one is disputing the fact that the company must make money to pay all its bills to be financially viable, but on the Forbes Magazine Article - estimated revenues of between $40 and $50 million dollars per year, this should be a no-brainer.
Whilst you keep saying you are not a big corporation, WGT has indeed been faceless. Apart from the odd (some time ago) chats with Chad (and even then he looked like a deer in headlights when asked questions) and being told to clear our caches (and the odd time Pizza would try and placate the masses) we have had no real communication from the company.
Even your profile says I do not respond to wall posts blah blah blah - only through the forums. IMHO that is alone sending the wrong impression regarding opening avenues between players and WGT. Yes in the past both Icon and DB have been open to PM's and wall messaging, but it really is one way communication.
As for churning every dollar back into the game..............pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee. As a business owner I plow a good percentage back to the business, but NOT every dollar. Please do not treat the players like imbeciles.
Conversely I am sure there have been times in the past where Chad has wondered where the next penny is coming to pay the bills - this is part and parcel of the "risk" of running your own business. That is why I would not begrudge the owners if they are making big $$$$$. They took the punt on the venture so they deserve the rewards.
Great to see Pinehurst and Pebble coming up, and in my eyes the par three course although I for one will never play it. But even with this investment, and bearing in mind the lack of course development over the last couple of years, it is not using every dollar.
If your OPEX was 25 million a year (and as you say - a relatively small company should be below this threshold) - that still has a conservative profit of $10m per annum after taxes.
As for the three most important things, this will be too divided.
For me the lack of stability in the game is the single most important thing - and this is why I have not been playing as much, and consequently not spending.
The next critical factor is to thoroughly test your product releases BEFORE going live. I am talking about comprehensive testing as with every release comes new problems.
Thirdly and this is what was asked initially in this thread, was a simple compilation of product suggestion - it is then up to the company to prioritise these suggestions. All we wanted was a yes or no, agreed in principle without tying the company into deadlines.
The original list was a compilation of requests over the years - many that were included I personally do not see the need for. The list has not been updated and several items have now been implemented. The list will not be updated either, well not by me as I have hit my head against the proverbial brick wall known as WGT for too long.
On a positive note, I do think Admin2 has been a breath of fresh air, but only time will tell whether you have the authority to communicate truthfully and effectively to the community, or whether the seemingly dictatorial management regime will oppress your intentions. Good luck Sir.
Edit - I should have pointed out that a company sets out to make a profit and is not a charity. A business does not generally accept "donations" - but perhaps this is nit-picking.
WGT is a business.Your customers pay for the services you provide.