Mouse's Criticsm of the CC Program

[LittleWhiteMouse]

I was asked on the World of Warships Community Discord what it was like in the CC program. I also have this up on Reddit, and I'll add it here too. Long story short (in three parts):

1. NikoPower from Wargaming did an amazing job getting the WGNA program off the ground. He was the reason a lot of the perks got transferred to global CCs; not because WG wanted to do it but because CCs from other regions were rightly bothered that NA-CCs were treated better. He kept our program VERY small and made sure to vet players added to the program not only for content, not only for personality, but for how well they collaborated.

2. When all of the CCs were tossed into one communal pool, this practice ended. Wargaming set the program up to fail by having Community Contributors compete with one another. With everyone scrambling to grow their audiences, rewards went to whomever could be first or the most sensational. Streamers had the advantage over YouTube and other media. One of the lead Wargaming employees in particular was instrumental in fostering this competitive, confrontational setting rather than a collaborative one, not just between CCs but with Wargaming & CC interactions. They set the bar on what was acceptable and a lack of censoring of bad actors made just about anything short of slurs permissive.

3. This competitive environment, where the loud, the boisterous and the confrontational were rewarded soon became near impossible to manage. Now toss on the CV rework and this confrontational attitude gets thrown back at Wargaming's face. They have had to pull back from CCs, limiting contact and breaking the very communication lines necessary for a successful program. All of the problems happening now stem from this. WG is unreachable. When they do interact for CCs, they come expecting a fight and usually get one. There's no way for reasonable discourse to be heard barring a miracle.

Angry YouTuber version:

2016: Happy fun times with fellow NA-CC clubhouse. Great WG employee is super nice and super invested in helping our content grow and goes out of his way to protect us. GUDTIMES.

2017: Wargaming to all CCs: Now fight!

2019: Wargaming runs away when they discover CCs are well-practiced at fighting.

[Frostbow]

From Community Contributors to COMPETING CONTRIBUTORS.

[ZARDOZ_II]

4 minutes ago, LittleWhiteMouse said:

2019: Wargaming runs away when they discover CCs are well-practiced at fighting

Always happens when you let that genie out of the bottle. 

[Karstodes]

Sadly, drama bring more views. 

[Taylor3006]

13 minutes ago, LittleWhiteMouse said:

2019: Wargaming runs away when they discover CCs are well-practiced at fighting.

Imagine that..... 

[alexf24]

Sad situation, badly managed, badly mishandled.

I was an MVP (equivalent of CC) with Microsoft for years. They handled it very well, recognizing the value of the people, taking time for free, to help the customers learn the subject(s) which helps the company.

Once - many years ago - a suit in Microsoft balked at the perks - gifts - special treatment the MVPs got. He was drowned out in an MVP revolt (we are talking thousands of us here). Microsoft quickly reinstated the program to what it was. I left in 2008 but understand it still goes strong.

It is a very good - and small - investment in people freely contributing unpaid time to help the user community through Forums, Wikis, You Tube, etc. - A win-win situation.

Sadly WG never learned that. Their loss.

The treatment LWM, iChase and many others quitting received, is unconscionable. So my wallet is now closed. Well done WG!

[_Guest_]

This is a sad day for the community.  I have been a loyal player since Beta, however, with all that has transpired over the last number of months culminating with this, I am ready to dry dock my fleet.  

LWM and all of you other CC's, you have been a true blessing to this community, and I want to thank you all for your help and contributions over the years.

[Halli_SPARTA]

Total respect to you Little White Mouse.

Great work on your reviews!

[Khafni]

Well that surely puts things in perspective.

[Wolfswetpaws]

Spoiler

24 minutes ago, LittleWhiteMouse said:

I was asked on the World of Warships Community Discord what it was like in the CC program. I also have this up on Reddit, and I'll add it here too. Long story short (in three parts):

1. NikoPower from Wargaming did an amazing job getting the WGNA program off the ground. He was the reason a lot of the perks got transferred to global CCs; not because WG wanted to do it but because CCs from other regions were rightly bothered that NA-CCs were treated better. He kept our program VERY small and made sure to vet players added to the program not only for content, not only for personality, but for how well they collaborated.

2. When all of the CCs were tossed into one communal pool, this practice ended. Wargaming set the program up to fail by having Community Contributors compete with one another. With everyone scrambling to grow their audiences, rewards went to whomever could be first or the most sensational. Streamers had the advantage over YouTube and other media. One of the lead Wargaming employees in particular was instrumental in fostering this competitive, confrontational setting rather than a collaborative one, not just between CCs but with Wargaming & CC interactions. They set the bar on what was acceptable and a lack of censoring of bad actors made just about anything short of slurs permissive.

3. This competitive environment, where the loud, the boisterous and the confrontational were rewarded soon became near impossible to manage. Now toss on the CV rework and this confrontational attitude gets thrown back at Wargaming's face. They have had to pull back from CCs, limiting contact and breaking the very communication lines necessary for a successful program. All of the problems happening now stem from this. WG is unreachable. When they do interact for CCs, they come expecting a fight and usually get one. There's no way for reasonable discourse to be heard barring a miracle.

Angry YouTuber version:

2016: Happy fun times with fellow NA-CC clubhouse. Great WG employee is super nice and super invested in helping our content grow and goes out of his way to protect us. GUDTIMES.

2017: Wargaming to all CCs: Now fight!

2019: Wargaming runs away when they discover CCs are well-practiced at fighting.

 

Thank you, @LittleWhiteMouse.

 

 

4 minutes ago, Khafni said:

Well that surely puts things in perspective.

Indeed.

[Scrubby_McScrub]

Just now, alexf24 said:

 

The treatment LWM, iChase and many others quitting received, is unconscionable. So my wallet is now closed. Well done WG!

Treatment? Getting TONS of free stuff just to promote the game? I think that's a pretty sweet deal. I just think that CC's got this inflated view of themselves as being part of the development team when they weren't. Now that lesson is being learned the hard way.

And these crusades people are now on.... laughable. You are only hurting yourself. 

[Doombeagle]

1 minute ago, General_Lee_Miserable said:

Treatment? Getting TONS of free stuff just to promote the game? I think that's a pretty sweet deal. I just think that CC's got this inflated view of themselves as being part of the development team when they weren't. Now that lesson is being learned the hard way.

And these crusades people are now on.... laughable. You are only hurting yourself. 

Get thee back under thy bridge.

[desmo_2]

1 minute ago, General_Lee_Miserable said:

I just think that CC's got this inflated view of themselves as being part of the development team when they weren't.

You should do some more research on Yukon.

[Angel_With_A_Shotgun]

1 minute ago, General_Lee_Miserable said:

Treatment? Getting TONS of free stuff just to promote the game? I think that's a pretty sweet deal. I just think that CC's got this inflated view of themselves as being part of the development team when they weren't. Now that lesson is being learned the hard way.

And these crusades people are now on.... laughable. You are only hurting yourself. 

spoken like a true moron with little idea of what actually happens and goes on. 

[icehaddock]

Again LWM demonstrates her laser sharp mind

[Sidelock]

Well, now i understand why people as toxic as Flamu were left alone for so long and why someone as controversial as Yuro hasn't been banned altogether. Whoever that WG employee was, bravo, congratulations on ruining an otherwise good program, such a well done job.... 

[HeidiAngel]

Mouse, please keep playing and talking with us on the Forum! We need you!

[goldenpollywog]

Really sorry this happened to you LWM. You were by far the best of the best CCs.

[GSXstage1]

1 minute ago, HeidiAngel said:

Mouse, please keep playing and talking with us on the Forum! We need you!

That's my Girl for you. Proud of you more and more everyday Heidi.

[Scrubby_McScrub]

3 minutes ago, Angel_With_A_Shotgun said:

spoken like a true moron with little idea of what actually happens and goes on. 

Because my feet are firmly planted in the real world? Try it sometime. You are all getting a lesson in the ugliness of the corporate world and you'll sleep better at night and have less stress if you just accept this is how things often are. 

[anonym_j09pJOQbXcQH]

7 minutes ago, General_Lee_Miserable said:

Treatment? Getting TONS of free stuff just to promote the game? I think that's a pretty sweet deal. I just think that CC's got this inflated view of themselves as being part of the development team when they weren't. Now that lesson is being learned the hard way.

And these crusades people are now on.... laughable. You are only hurting yourself. 

Its not a sweet deal.

Shilling for  WG who in the end would just dispose of the entire CC situation by being non communicative and toxic. Particularity when the CC is abused or dictated to spew things in a certain way to the community that is not right.

The CC's did great doing what they are doing by leaving. Awesome. It exposes WG for what they really are. WG will never again have the ability to do any more CC'ing to lure hundreds of thousands like the Pied Piper of old with any credibility.

[anonym_j09pJOQbXcQH]

1 minute ago, General_Lee_Miserable said:

Because my feet are firmly planted in the real world? Try it sometime. You are all getting a lesson in the ugliness of the corporate world and you'll sleep better at night and have less stress if you just accept this is how things often are. 

I agree. Added that one to the ignore list.

You keep right on trucking. Alls well.

[Scrubby_McScrub]

7 minutes ago, desmo_2 said:

You should do some more research on Yukon.

Yeah. I saw a situation where someone entered into an arrangement with no contract protection. It's regrettable what happened but you never enter a business relationship without a contract.  

[Karstodes]

7 minutes ago, Sidelock said:

Well, now i understand why people as toxic as Flamu were left alone for so long and why someone as controversial as Yuro hasn't been banned altogether. Whoever that WG employee was, bravo, congratulations on ruining an otherwise good program, such a well done job.... 

I know about Flamu, but Yuro? 

[Karstodes]

1 minute ago, General_Lee_Miserable said:

Yeah. I saw a situation where someone entered into an arrangement with no contract protection. It's regrettable what happened but you never enter a business relationship without a contract.  

It doesn’t change that an even like that is a breach of trust between both side, and that Wargaming did not of value to get back their trust. In that regard, it is a bad treatment by WG to LWM.