Comments on: Keeping your Fingers in the Pie http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/ A blog on virtual worlds, games, and digital content, from Matt Mihaly Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:46:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Benjamin http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-544 Sat, 12 Aug 2006 14:17:20 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-544 $2000 is not unreasonable. I've bought 1000 credits twice, each time spending $300. I can easily see myself spending $2000...perhaps not all at once, but over time, yes. And just so you know, Matt, I bought my credits on Imperian, and have had just as trouble-free an experience as you're describing. So you picked good people to turn it over to there. $2000 is not unreasonable. I’ve bought 1000 credits twice, each time spending $300. I can easily see myself spending $2000…perhaps not all at once, but over time, yes.

And just so you know, Matt, I bought my credits on Imperian, and have had just as trouble-free an experience as you’re describing. So you picked good people to turn it over to there.

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-268 Mon, 10 Jul 2006 03:54:29 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-268 Yeah, that's correct Eric. I wouldn't say purchases of that size are routine, but purchases, of, say, half that size are not uncommon at all. Why be nervous about being on the receiving end of it? They're paying us for a service that we work hard to provide, and we just have to try to live up to their confidence. I'm sure if you ask the right (or wrong, depending on your point of view) players, they'll tell you that we're scam artists for selling things for those amounts, but I'm also pretty confident that the overwhelming majority of our big buyers are very satisfied with their spending. I guess I can also relate to them as I spent thousands of dollars on text MUDs before I started Iron Realms. Yeah, that’s correct Eric. I wouldn’t say purchases of that size are routine, but purchases, of, say, half that size are not uncommon at all. Why be nervous about being on the receiving end of it? They’re paying us for a service that we work hard to provide, and we just have to try to live up to their confidence. I’m sure if you ask the right (or wrong, depending on your point of view) players, they’ll tell you that we’re scam artists for selling things for those amounts, but I’m also pretty confident that the overwhelming majority of our big buyers are very satisfied with their spending. I guess I can also relate to them as I spent thousands of dollars on text MUDs before I started Iron Realms.

]]> by: Eric http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-267 Sun, 09 Jul 2006 13:39:57 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-267 This is perhaps not where the discussion is supposed to go, and feel free to ignore this comment, but... $2000, as in, a thousand dollars but twice? ...I would be downright nervous being on the receiving end of that transaction, frankly. :-p Are purchases of that size routine? Anyhow, yes, it's awesome that you're able to handle stuff like that yourself. Kudos for caring enough to want to. This is perhaps not where the discussion is supposed to go, and feel free to ignore this comment, but… $2000, as in, a thousand dollars but twice?

…I would be downright nervous being on the receiving end of that transaction, frankly. :-p Are purchases of that size routine?

Anyhow, yes, it’s awesome that you’re able to handle stuff like that yourself. Kudos for caring enough to want to.

]]> by: Elliott http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-255 Wed, 05 Jul 2006 23:16:00 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-255 Matt, I haven't exactly had much in way of customer service experience in my time playing Achaea as Veovis, but every bit of it was always stellar, and almost always because you were the first one to respond. And on a side note, an idea to keep yourself in the world could be to roam the continent as a sort of AnonSarapis, mysterious hooded stranger. Might be able to work yourself into a plot or something. Well, would be fun, but either way. Thanks again for all the effort Matt, I haven’t exactly had much in way of customer service experience in my time playing Achaea as Veovis, but every bit of it was always stellar, and almost always because you were the first one to respond.

And on a side note, an idea to keep yourself in the world could be to roam the continent as a sort of AnonSarapis, mysterious hooded stranger. Might be able to work yourself into a plot or something.

Well, would be fun, but either way.

Thanks again for all the effort

]]> by: Riashain http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-99 Wed, 21 Jun 2006 06:16:14 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-99 You're the bomb dude, and there's no doubting it. When it comes to Achaea, I don't think I've a single complaint when you were involved (ok, so I wasn't a fan of autoclass...sue me :P). You take the time to care for the players like they were own children, and it's that kind of dedication which a) makes me comfortable about purchasing and b) reaffirms that it was a good choice. I've now spent more on this game than makes sense, if I can be so bold... and it's because I love the game, I love the producers, and I'm impressed enough by the company's service to support you. Many thanks and continued wishes in the future. (I'm still waiting for Midkemia MUD! If this is the graphics thing, I think I might have to marry you...) You’re the bomb dude, and there’s no doubting it. When it comes to Achaea, I don’t think I’ve a single complaint when you were involved (ok, so I wasn’t a fan of autoclass…sue me :P ).

You take the time to care for the players like they were own children, and it’s that kind of dedication which a) makes me comfortable about purchasing and b) reaffirms that it was a good choice. I’ve now spent more on this game than makes sense, if I can be so bold… and it’s because I love the game, I love the producers, and I’m impressed enough by the company’s service to support you.

Many thanks and continued wishes in the future.

(I’m still waiting for Midkemia MUD! If this is the graphics thing, I think I might have to marry you…)

]]> by: Kris L http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-68 Mon, 19 Jun 2006 01:02:33 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-68 I'd just like to say to you Matt that you've been one of the best at customer service for credit purchases. I once had an issue with a lack of funds for a check I used for a credit purchase due to an emergency expenditure. You were quite polite about it and didn't make threats or limit me in other ways as I worked to get the funds to you. Many other businesses that make millions more a year would never even dream of allowing such things. I’d just like to say to you Matt that you’ve been one of the best at customer service for credit purchases. I once had an issue with a lack of funds for a check I used for a credit purchase due to an emergency expenditure. You were quite polite about it and didn’t make threats or limit me in other ways as I worked to get the funds to you. Many other businesses that make millions more a year would never even dream of allowing such things.

]]> by: Cydus http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-67 Sun, 18 Jun 2006 22:06:57 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-67 I've bought credits a few times for my Character on Achaea, and every time but once its gone through perfectly not a problem. Although the one time I had a problem all it really was that was extremely slow and so I was worried that I had messed something or something had gone down... And like Bob I like how I was told to email Sarapis/Matt and I did so and I received a follow up email in two hours making sure everything was alright, and that I had got the credits, and I got them probably even before he emailed me. I love it though that you took the time to even take care of my little problem... So I'd say keep the reigns on billing problems for Achaea, I know I appreciate that even with your busy schedule you helped me as soon as you could. Cydus I’ve bought credits a few times for my Character on Achaea, and every time but once its gone through perfectly not a problem. Although the one time I had a problem all it really was that was extremely slow and so I was worried that I had messed something or something had gone down… And like Bob I like how I was told to email Sarapis/Matt and I did so and I received a follow up email in two hours making sure everything was alright, and that I had got the credits, and I got them probably even before he emailed me. I love it though that you took the time to even take care of my little problem… So I’d say keep the reigns on billing problems for Achaea, I know I appreciate that even with your busy schedule you helped me as soon as you could.

Cydus

]]> by: Bob http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-66 Sun, 18 Jun 2006 19:14:56 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/06/18/keeping-your-fingers-in-the-pie/#comment-66 As a customer of IRE, I also find that personal contact with "the boss" and the produers to be very important. There is some anxiety involved when purchasing virtual items because their continued existance is somewhat out of your control. I have entertained the nightmares of crashes which result in character wipes, and while this isn't very different than a house-fire in precieved damage and likelyhood, virtual items do appear less secure to me. Whenever I have had the opportunity to speak with Matt or a producer, I have left the conversation very thankful for the quality of customer service they observe. As a customer of IRE, I also find that personal contact with “the boss” and the produers to be very important.

There is some anxiety involved when purchasing virtual items because their continued existance is somewhat out of your control. I have entertained the nightmares of crashes which result in character wipes, and while this isn’t very different than a house-fire in precieved damage and likelyhood, virtual items do appear less secure to me.

Whenever I have had the opportunity to speak with Matt or a producer, I have left the conversation very thankful for the quality of customer service they observe.

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