I wasn’t planning to reply to this topic, but do to the mass number of comments, I might as well.
I’m upset, not mainly because of the audio changes, but rather the manner in which it was presented and the timing.
The manner in which this was presented is what I am a bit upset with. I feel like the removal of user audio should be said in a straightforward manner without trying to hide the main reason behind the removal: copyright and moderation. It would still be difficult with the removal of audio, but please, every developer knows the hardships of this, at least apologize for the necessary change.
I completely understand and support you as a company for doing this, it’s hard, but it’s business. Copyright can be a pain, but also a protection. And you guys are trying your best to clean up the platform from that to prevent lawsuits with label companies. I understand completely. The same goes for moderation as this will most likely if not completely mark the end of bypassed inappropriate audios.
As I said, necessary changes for the longevity and betterment of the platform.
But I regress to the main reason I am upset: the presentation.
Rather than trying to cover it up with positives such as audio uploads being free, apologize for the inconvenience. Lots of developers will now have to scour their games for audio ids and spend hours downloading them some way or another. And with the two (now one) week time frame game devs now have more work heaped on their plate.
Maybe the two week time frame was due to some copyright renewal or some other sudden decision beyond your control, but if it wasn’t, and you didn’t decide to tell us till now, well… I wouldn’t be able to describe my feelings here.
Be honest, especially with your developers about decisions and changes being made on the platform, Roblox. This post was written in a way that seemed to me as deceiving, though that might just be my perception, so I shall explain. Instead of outlining the main point of audio removal at the beginning or centering around that throughout the post, it mainly centers on what sounds like new features using language like “more control” and “privacy”. I feel as this language used throughout the post is meant to make it seem like an easy and rather positive change for the all you developers who can’t wait for March 22nd. But alas many Roblox developers across social media and forum platforms agree on the difficulties of this change. I am upset at the language used in this post that seemed rather misleading and patronizing, almost seeming to trick the developers to think that this change is all sunshine and rainbows.
It’s one thing to be optimistic in the announcements and happily introduce new features with the loss of certain ones, but be truthful to the developers. I don’t know who was in charge of writing this, it may not have even been this actual employee, but whoever comes up with the announcements, please make them straightforward for everybody instead of skirting around the issues.
And finally I reiterate that I agree with the changes if made in the interest of preserving copyright and being done for improvement to the platform.
Wishing a good day for developers and the employees of Roblox,
toyotavan