Jagex has wisely and fairly decided to implement a compromise with respect to the fire cape requirement for ice strykewyrms. This allows all high level Slayers an opportunity to fight these cool new monsters, and get a chance to earn a staff of light for themselves. At the same time, it maintains an advantage for those who have a fire cape. For this, I and many other players owe them our thanks.
This decision has, naturally, led to the usual hysterical blathering about how Jagex “caved” and they have “no spine” because they listened to “whiners”. Ironically, these people are whining themselves, but this time it is about the company’s alleged “weakness”. And this happens every time a change is made to an update.
Well, simply put, that’s a load of bullcrap.
Being willing to make changes and adjustments based on customer feedback is what smart companies are supposed to do. It is, in fact, one of the key differences between corporations that suceed, and those that fail. Being willing to accommodate people with limitations or problems with content is also not a weakness of Jagex, but rather a strength.
Does this mean every complaint should be listened to? Of course not. No matter what changes are made, someone will be unhappy. But just as reacting to every request for modification would be foolish, so would be ignoring every such request. It would be the equivalent of idiotic “zero tolerance” policies in places like schools, where where treating rulebooks like the bible becomes a pathetic substitute for intelligent assessment and wise judgment.
In this case, there were very legitimate reasons why a change was requested, reasons that Jagex likely never considered. Most of these came from among Jagex’s longest-term and most loyal customers. Making an accomodation in favor of these people was not only the right move, it was the obvious one.
Listening, cooperating, compromising – these are not weaknesses. Refusing to listen to your customers? That is weakness. Stubbornly insisting that changes are never necessary, because whatever initial decision one makes must be correct? Weakness. Refusing to acknowledge that people are different and that some have limitations or need assistance? Major weakness.
Kudos to Jagex for their flexibility and reasonableness on this issue. And shame on those who apparently place less value on their own ability to benefit from new content than they do on someone else’s inability to do so.