Would you prefer new champs? Or a fixed game?

Ok ok ok, I think maybe its best I explain myself a little bit. We have a LOT of champions in this game, not to say I don't love seeing new champions or trying to get the latest and greatest. But I feel like Kabam is working on new champions and monitizing them over fixing the game. Of course they need funds, I get that BUT

To be honest, I would rather Kabam state "hey we are going to provide you 1-2 new champs every 6 months so we can FOCUS on fixing the bugs that are preventing you from having a great experience". I'm not saying they stop making new champs, but perhaps slow down, focus on whats needed. Sure, make new champs every like 3-6 months, maybe with re-worked champs each month. There are over 200 champs anyway, so they would still have a lot of work to do... Anyway, thought I'd post it and just see what would happen per my curiosity.

As always be respectful! And thank you for your time --> Galio Cube

Comments

Squidopus

We doing this again? Ignoring that the champ designers aren’t gonna suddenly be able to fix bugs with their free time, this just kills the game on the spot. No new champs = no money = no game.

Bendy

There from different teams its not one same team multiple teams do different things to work on

TheInfinty

The game will not survive without new champions. Its flat out not an option. Would the bugs getting fixed be great? Absolutely it would but the bugs being fixed cannot overtake the new champions coming out for the game to keep going.

GalioCube

Designers aren't the only ones that make champs. You need coders to incorporate abilities, how they interact with all other champs, AI integration, fixing BUGS with the new champs etc. Trust me, there is a lot of coding that goes into making new champs. Besides designers have over 200 champs to deal with.

Like I said, I'm not saying STOP making new champs, but to slow down. Thats really it

Bendy

Designers aren't the only ones that make champs. You need coders to incorporate abilities, how they interact with all other champs, AI integration, fixing BUGS with the new champs etc. Trust me, there is a lot of coding that goes into making new champs. Besides designers have over 200 champs to deal with.

Like I said, I'm not saying STOP making new champs, but to slow down. Thats really it

They have different teams of bug fixing champ designers are just that designing champs they dont fix BUGS

Emilia90

How are people still unaware of how this works. Not the same team. Jesus Christ

Bendy

How are people still unaware of how this works. Not the same team. Jesus Christ

They think its one big team so they all have same skill sets

Gentsy12

You are forgetting the biggest factor beyond beyond the it not being the same team, new champs is how the game makes most of its money, mostly through crystals but also the rank up mats associated with them.

GalioCube

True, there are different teams. Designers hand off things to implementers, and implementers hand off to QA who test and that gets passed down to blah blah blah. I understand that

What I mean is this. (as an example) we let QA slow down, don't focus on the new champs, but QA other champs, their interactions like medium intercept. Its still QA, but no longer focusing on new champs, they now can focus on a different agenda or other priorities that they have on their plate.

Again.... they can still make NEW champs like every 3 months, they can STILL re-work old champs. But they can SLOW DOWN a little and work on bigger priorities.

Bendy

True, there are different teams. Designers hand off things to implementers, and implementers hand off to QA who test and that gets passed down to blah blah blah. I understand that

What I mean is this. (as an example) we let QA slow down, don't focus on the new champs, but QA other champs, their interactions like medium intercept. Its still QA, but no longer focusing on new champs, they now can focus on a different agenda or other priorities that they have on their plate.

Again.... they can still make NEW champs like every 3 months, they can STILL re-work old champs. But they can SLOW DOWN a little and work on bigger priorities.

Again it dont work like this at all

GalioCube

Again it dont work like this at all

True, there are different teams. Designers hand off things to implementers, and implementers hand off to QA who test and that gets passed down to blah blah blah. I understand that

What I mean is this. (as an example) we let QA slow down, don't focus on the new champs, but QA other champs, their interactions like medium intercept. Its still QA, but no longer focusing on new champs, they now can focus on a different agenda or other priorities that they have on their plate.

Again.... they can still make NEW champs like every 3 months, they can STILL re-work old champs. But they can SLOW DOWN a little and work on bigger priorities.
Again it dont work like this at all

Well I'll admit it when I'm wrong, I don't mind that. But how does it work? Last time I did this usually you are on a team, get assigned a **** ton of cases that are each prioritized, you have to work on the priority ones and let the "lesser" evils slide till you can get to it.

GalioCube

well sorry I put b_u_tt ton, not anything offensive. My apologies

Pikolu

Do you like playing MCOC? Do you want to continue playing it for the next 10 years? Then you'll have to accept that new champions will constantly be added to the game and with growing complexities, the game team is also making optimization with some of the old code to better incorporate new abilities.

New champions are a source of revenue and I'm pretty sure Marvel would be upset if they stopped releasing new champions when they probably have the whole next year of champion releases already planned. Stopping the release of new champions would hurt the game more than it would help.

Gentsy12

True, there are different teams. Designers hand off things to implementers, and implementers hand off to QA who test and that gets passed down to blah blah blah. I understand that

What I mean is this. (as an example) we let QA slow down, don't focus on the new champs, but QA other champs, their interactions like medium intercept. Its still QA, but no longer focusing on new champs, they now can focus on a different agenda or other priorities that they have on their plate.

Again.... they can still make NEW champs like every 3 months, they can STILL re-work old champs. But they can SLOW DOWN a little and work on bigger priorities.

Ok let’s say this is the way it works (it’s not but let’s have a thought exercise). You are now the king of Kabam and how are you going to make up for the revenue lost from reducing the number of new champs you release by 85%.

The way I see it you have 3 potential options:
1. You introduce more sales / monetization events. I’m sure the community would love that, I mean just look at how excited we all were after the March livestream when 4 new monetization events were announced. In order to make the deals worthwhile, the game economy speed would increase significantly and I’m sure there would be no negative repercussions of that (🙄)
2. You layoff employees in order to keep your profit number consistent with the drop in revenue.
3. You go to your bosses at netmarble and/or marvel and tell them your strategy and they should expect to see a decline in revenue and/or profit. You are promptly fired for a dumb strategy.

So tell me all high and powerful @GalioCube which option listed above, or one you have, are you taking?

GalioCube

Do you like playing MCOC? Do you want to continue playing it for the next 10 years? Then you'll have to accept that new champions will constantly be added to the game and with growing complexities, the game team is also making optimization with some of the old code to better incorporate new abilities.

New champions are a source of revenue and I'm pretty sure Marvel would be upset if they stopped releasing new champions when they probably have the whole next year of champion releases already planned. Stopping the release of new champions would hurt the game more than it would help.

Agreed.

But what value are new champs if the overall game experience is not great?

ChiefGoat

I prefer the new champs. Really liked yesterday live stream with all the new content and updates on the way. And I also have not had all the issues others cry about. Still able to complete content with no problems.

startropics

ugh...this nonsense again.

guys, the landscaping outside coca cola headquarters is unacceptable! needs more trees and shrubs and watering. that's it! no more coke until it's perfect! i don't care if it takes a year!

Pikolu

Do you like playing MCOC? Do you want to continue playing it for the next 10 years? Then you'll have to accept that new champions will constantly be added to the game and with growing complexities, the game team is also making optimization with some of the old code to better incorporate new abilities.

New champions are a source of revenue and I'm pretty sure Marvel would be upset if they stopped releasing new champions when they probably have the whole next year of champion releases already planned. Stopping the release of new champions would hurt the game more than it would help.
Agreed.

But what value are new champs if the overall game experience is not great?

So you prefer no game at all then?

Are bugs frustrating, definitely. However what you're suggesting isn't fixing the bugs, you're suggesting for Kabam to close the game.

Bugs are a necessary evil that you have to deal with on a live service game that needs to run on a large array of hardware. Stopping champion releases won't magically fix the bugs. All that does is cut revenue which cuts staff which cuts ability to fix bugs and the ability to develop content which cuts the revenue which cuts the game.

Sundance_2099

smdam38

The bug fix team must absolutely hate the champ design team.

SirGamesBond

PickL1e89

Stop defending Kabam. The poll is irrelevant they are completely unrelated options. New champions are fine which is besides the point. They're delaying fixing bugs and issues. The way they treat the fanbase is wrong and needs to be called out

DNA3000

Designers aren't the only ones that make champs. You need coders to incorporate abilities, how they interact with all other champs, AI integration, fixing BUGS with the new champs etc. Trust me, there is a lot of coding that goes into making new champs. Besides designers have over 200 champs to deal with.

Like I said, I'm not saying STOP making new champs, but to slow down. Thats really it

I’m not saying McDonalds should stop selling Big Macs, I’m just saying they should slow down how much food they sell so they can spend more time cleaning the restaurants.

The problem with these discussions is that they usually miss the point. It is not about which dev does what. It is not even directly about monetization. Fundamentally speaking, MCOC is a game as a service. Games as a service are a bit of a misnomer in a sense, because games as a service do not sell “service” rather they deliver *A* service. The service provided is the manufacture and selling of content. In MCOC, new champions are the primary new content that drives the company. Making new champions is not something they do as part of the game. Making new champions is the thing they do, from which the game is built on top. It is the core engine upon which the entire game, from the literal game we play to the entire business structure that operates the game is wrapped around.

The employees that work there are structured to power that engine. They have the correct amount of designers and artists and technicians to power that new champions cycle. The content is designed to feature those champions. The crystal economy is synchronized to it. The revenue models are build upon it. The progression system fully incorporates it. Change it, and you have to change everything. You have to lay off staff. You have to reorganize the entire company. You have to change business models., You have to renegotiate terms with Marvel., Literally everything changes.

It would be easier to turn Kabam into a PIzza Hut franchise.

BringPopcorn

Stop defending Kabam. The poll is irrelevant they are completely unrelated options. New champions are fine which is besides the point. They're delaying fixing bugs and issues. The way they treat the fanbase is wrong and needs to be called out

They are delaying fixing bugs to lose the fanbase then?.. Call me crazy but that doesn't sound good for business...

Asher1_1

It's like asking will u ask the dumb question or be the dumb question about you 🤣

Changing the game whole idea - which is to release champ & content every month . 1000 feature gets added 10-20 bugs will happen

GalioCube

Do you like playing MCOC? Do you want to continue playing it for the next 10 years? Then you'll have to accept that new champions will constantly be added to the game and with growing complexities, the game team is also making optimization with some of the old code to better incorporate new abilities.

New champions are a source of revenue and I'm pretty sure Marvel would be upset if they stopped releasing new champions when they probably have the whole next year of champion releases already planned. Stopping the release of new champions would hurt the game more than it would help.
Agreed.

But what value are new champs if the overall game experience is not great?
So you prefer no game at all then?

Are bugs frustrating, definitely. However what you're suggesting isn't fixing the bugs, you're suggesting for Kabam to close the game.

Bugs are a necessary evil that you have to deal with on a live service game that needs to run on a large array of hardware. Stopping champion releases won't magically fix the bugs. All that does is cut revenue which cuts staff which cuts ability to fix bugs and the ability to develop content which cuts the revenue which cuts the game.

Also agreed, but I never said stop making new champs. Just shift the priorities.

For example. Lets focus on 1-2 new champs every 3 months lets say. You can still market and work with that. You could also have a champ that already exists and make them better/more desirable.

Designers aren't the only ones that make champs. You need coders to incorporate abilities, how they interact with all other champs, AI integration, fixing BUGS with the new champs etc. Trust me, there is a lot of coding that goes into making new champs. Besides designers have over 200 champs to deal with.

Like I said, I'm not saying STOP making new champs, but to slow down. Thats really it
I’m not saying McDonalds should stop selling Big Macs, I’m just saying they should slow down how much food they sell so they can spend more time cleaning the restaurants.

The problem with these discussions is that they usually miss the point. It is not about which dev does what. It is not even directly about monetization. Fundamentally speaking, MCOC is a game as a service. Games as a service are a bit of a misnomer in a sense, because games as a service do not sell “service” rather they deliver *A* service. The service provided is the manufacture and selling of content. In MCOC, new champions are the primary new content that drives the company. Making new champions is not something they do as part of the game. Making new champions is the thing they do, from which the game is built on top. It is the core engine upon which the entire game, from the literal game we play to the entire business structure that operates the game is wrapped around.

The employees that work there are structured to power that engine. They have the correct amount of designers and artists and technicians to power that new champions cycle. The content is designed to feature those champions. The crystal economy is synchronized to it. The revenue models are build upon it. The progression system fully incorporates it. Change it, and you have to change everything. You have to lay off staff. You have to reorganize the entire company. You have to change business models., You have to renegotiate terms with Marvel., Literally everything changes.

It would be easier to turn Kabam into a PIzza Hut franchise.

Thanks for the comment! I enjoyed reading about it. However, you are comparing McDonalds to Kabam yet stating that there are difference in services a company can provide, so I don't think its a great comparison. I think a better example could be Overwatch as it has a similar service to MCOC. The game didn't die because there was a lack of skins, but it just wasn't fun anymore. The only reason why they are NOW getting a better reputation is because another company came by and made the same game, just more fun even with the lack of champs and skins that are free. So its clear there is something that can be done.

I could have 1,000 new champions in my roster, but what use are they if the content isn't fun? Perhaps they just do need to re-think what they are doing. 3-6 months for a new champ isn't unreasonable while each month they work on already existing champions.

For example, this live stream we already see existing champions coming in as 7*. That hyped us up? Yup, and is it behind a pay wall? Yup. So its clear there are options other than just straight up new champs. If they decided to do something like "Hey we are making champs every 3 months now... but by the way while you wait we will give you new difficulty on all the Back Issue quests" Bro! I'd be all over that, and guess what? You can do more deals on revives, health potions and other things. I'm just saying, there are options.

smdam38

If @DNA3000 is just a regular player like me, why does he have access to their data and we don’t?

Seems like kind of an unfair advantage.

Demonzfyre

Designers aren't the only ones that make champs. You need coders to incorporate abilities, how they interact with all other champs, AI integration, fixing BUGS with the new champs etc. Trust me, there is a lot of coding that goes into making new champs. Besides designers have over 200 champs to deal with.

Like I said, I'm not saying STOP making new champs, but to slow down. Thats really it

Your "idea" has been pitched over and over and it's still a terrible idea and shows your lack of understanding.

GalioCube

In short this is what I see currently:

All three sides (you, Pikolu, DNA3000) are grounded in truth:

I see a call for more focus on QoL, and that fun is paramount.

Pikolu’s right that live service games are complex machines that need constant fuel.

DNA3000’s right that the champion-release model is deeply embedded in Kabam’s structure.

But—none of those facts mean Kabam can’t evolve.
Other games (Fortnite, Overwatch 2, League of Legends, Destiny) have all shifted focus or slowed content to improve player experience—and while hard, it can be done.

Final Thought:
My idea isn’t “close the game,” it’s “invest in longevity and player trust.”
Perhaps I am asking Kabam to shift strategy, not abandon the machine. And that’s what good live service games do when they want to survive long-term.

If Kabam wants MCOC to keep thriving another 5–10 years? We all might be more right than they realize.

DNA3000

I'm just saying, there are options.

Good luck convincing the actual developers of that. You can convince other players of that, but not the people who actually make the game.

You might think I'm using McDonalds analogies because that's how I reason out what the devs might be thinking. However, that's backwards. I use analogies like that to explain what the devs are thinking. The way I know what the devs are actually thinking is I just ask them.