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You're not gonna like hearing this I know, nor are alot of other people, but I believe what is really needed is more patience and tolerance from we as a playerbase. Players need to decide for themselves how dedicated they are to seeing this game succeed, and if they ARE dedicated to its success then they need to be willing to go through all the growing pains that are necessary and not threatened to quit, or intimate that they are thinking of quitting, each time something comes along that they don't like. Some of us have 5 years invested into this game, yet some of the people who talk about leaving now are in that group of people who are now either walking or are ready to walk out. I don't see how anybody can do that and call themselves dedicated. Not logging in for a couple weeks or a month or whatever...yeah, I can understand getting fed up to that point, but to just walk away totally? I just don't understand that. What I've seen in the last few months is a whole lot of talk about what we expect from the devs and a whole lto about what we expect from the game....but not much talk about what we're willing to give up in order to see the game get better in the future. IMO, that needs to change.
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No, not going to like hearing that at all. In essence, you are saying that we must play a game that is no longer fun in order to make it fun?
Why would people do that when there are fun games out there already?
There is no excuse for taking the fun out of this game.
What was wrong with it before the money bug? No updates....thats the only thing that people complained about. There was nothing seriously wrong with the economy, there was inflation sure, but it didnt spoil peoples enjoyment. Didn't prevent us from building / remodaling etc.
If the devs are so concerned with botting, then they should be working on ways to prevent botting, not punishing the rest of us in-game for their actions.
There is no reason at all why we couldnt be playing TSO now and enjoying it while the devs work on anti-botting measures in the background.
If a botting program is blocked and another is created in a couple of months to take its place then find a blocking program for that too.
All this could be done without the rest of us even knowing anything is going on.
I simply dont get the rationale of making the customers pay for the ineptness of the devs in finding ways to stop botting without ruining the game for us.
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Couldn't have said it better myself! If the devs really searched deep down, they'd realize that the game fizzled because it was being ignored! The boards were packed full of some really great ideas about how to improve the game and add things to make it fun; but it just got the the point where no one was doing anything, and no one was responding...the majority didn't give a flip about botters..the majority just wanted the devs to keep developing, AND it just wasn't happening!! It wasn't the economy that ran players off, it was the lack of implementing new ideas!!
And regarding billybugs post- I have to agree that he has some very valuable points! It may not be completely Totalitarian, but it is most definitely "Statistical discrimination". The majority of the players are being punished for the few minorities!
"Statistical discrimination is an economic theory of inequality based on group stereotypes. In its simplest version, individuals are discriminated against because stereotypes are held against the groups they are associated with. This type of preferential treatment is labeled "statistical" because stereotypes may be based on the discriminated group's <u>average behavior.</u> "
It seems that the devs have the idea that most of us were/are using botting programs- when in actuality, most of us were playing for hours and hours on end, having fun while doing so- until the programming fizzled.
(I had ALOT more to say in this post until the page I wrote disappeared when I submitted it *grr*.)
I realize that the devs are working hard to improve the game but it seems like one disappointment after another- things being taken away rather than given to make the game fun.
IT'S A GAME, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN!! THAT IS THE POINT!
I guess the lava lamp game is now null and void? I know it wasn't the greatest thing since popcorn, but it was a goal that many set.
BiteMe said: "To say that 98% of us would not be effected by not being able to save more than 500 each week towards our goals is ridiculous.
The figures they have come up with only shows they have no idea of how a large percentage of us do play the game.
We have to remember that none of the devs have actually got in and played the game. They frequent the game yes, but none can form any opinion from actually having the played the game for any decent length of time. Not the way us regular subscribed players can anyway.
With that in mind think about how a dev who does not know normal game play would be able to think of what to include in a database search or not."
And that is precisely why they should have a dev come into the group whose sole purpose is to play the game, without cheats, just like any other player that comes in without anything at all to begin with, just like I did (my only exception is that I may get my future amnesty).
Cbrewton said: "As far as building costs go, It is possible to build some nice, albeit plain, lots until you build up money for the 'luxury' stuff like pillars and so forth. That's stuff that makes a house look 'fancy and unique' but is not really a vital part of building, so I have no problem paying extra for those if I want them on my lots......but I do realize that I am in the minority with that thinking. But really if you think about it there are usually noticeable differences in RL between a $200,000 USD home and a $500,000 or 1 million dollar USD home. Those that want the fancy stuff can work for it....those that don't can have a regular house at the regular prices."
That may be so in TC3, but it is most untrue in EA-Land. With the money objects with such low pay and the costs of the lots, building and furnishing so VERY high - it will be virtually impossible to ever buy a lot (at EA-Land prices); and especially to build walls, add wallpaper, and tiles at all. I've been back about a month and I'm not EVEN close to having the money to buy even a very cheap lot! (I think my sim has about 1k- and some of that came from the dreaded ATM that I swore to myself I'd never use!) And don't see it happening anytime soon, at all, unless things change!
and..What part of a game involves "giv{ing} up in order to see the game get better in the future.". I thought that was the reason I was PAYING for it!! What exactly do you expect a paying player to give? I already give my time, ideas (ie. blueprints/wiki), opinion, and my money! I suppose your are suggesting that the playerbase is supposed to just sit on their laurels and wait for the game to be fun again? What kind of suggestion is that? (I don't mean to attack you..it just seems extremely odd for a GAME THAT WE PLAY FOR FUN.) I'm sorry but I don't think new players are going to hang around to wait to have the fun that the game promises..just doesn't make ANY sense whatsoever.
Besides that, you compared the house costs to RL. THIS ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE REAL LIFE...IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FANTASY!!! THAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING FUN, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A GAME: AN ESCAPE!! WE SHOULDN'T WALK AROUND BEING "POOR" WHEN WE MAKE AN HONEST EFFORT IN THE GAME NOT TO BE! hmph (not yelling at you, just trying to make a point to all).
AND plz, no one say to me, well then just "quit", because if everyone here that disagrees with this new implementation "just quit" they player base will become very, very small (how much fun will it be then, how long will it last?)! The point is to KEEP players around is it not??!!
AND don't tell me I should play for free, I am a paid player because I am setting goals and REALLY want to achieve them (although with all these new measures it's beginning to look extremely grim!). I pay for my account(s) because I want the devs to see that I am in support of them implementing a FUN GAME!
I agree with some others that a poll should be taken about removing the "cash out" feature. I've seen many that could really care less, and those that are here for that reason- aren't really here to play for fun IMHO- maybe if majority speaks up, they could allow those that were really wanted to "cash out" to do so, remember EA could set the cash out at whatever they want!, and then get rid of it entirely! No skin off my back (and from what I've gathered, most others either).
And the only reason I'm even concerned about getting my 500/wk paid player money is because it is SO VERY difficult to make money in game right now!! If I could make money in the game like I should be able to- then I wouldn't care about it a fig.
I don't expect to become a rich player overnight, but it would be nice if I could EVEN afford to buy a small lot in the near future, and that doesn't seem to be happening AT all, especially if they keep implementing these new monetary "punishments" to the mostly honest player base!
Regarding percentages, my bet is the percentage of people that actually care whether or not there are botters is A LOT lower than the percentage of people that are unhappy with the current direction the game is going. I was one that, back in the day, petitioned for CC, and am really glad that the devs implemented it, BUT what is the purpose, if I cannot even afford to even create it??!!! Not that I could do anything with it anyway, seeing how I don't have a store lot (and..the way things are going..won't even in the next year or more) to sell them on!!
If the devs really want us to shell out tons of cash through ATM, and "cash out" later, then they just need to come clean! AND if that is their purpose, then they should let us know NOW what the cash out will be (at least 60% return, or whatever)..so that those of us that have played for so very long aren't being kept in the dark, only to get more "emotional" later and completely quit the game!
Okay, end rant...
PLZ DEVS listen to your consumers!
Jasmine