Really good points made by all but I would like to add some perspective.
Last year I was out of the game for eight months due to personal matters. I had missed a lot but with the BEB event I was able to catch up. If it takes a bit to get a new dragon, no worries, I know I will get it eventually. That is not the problem for me and after reading the Dragonvale Facebook page, it's not what is bothering most players. I have always supported BFS with purchases to keep the game going. I look at it this way. I used to go to the movies much more often than I go now. Getting more entertainment value from Dragonvale I was willing to support it just like buying a movie ticket. It kept the game moving at the pace I wanted it to go. With the changes I can no longer play at my pace even buying gems regularly as I did in the past.
What is troubling is the obvious greed on the part of Hasbro that could ruin a good game. People love this game and they don't want to see it trashed just to line some CEO's pocket. To create another breeding cave without providing two new Hatchery spots is just a ploy to sell gems and everyone sees right through it. Yes, you can continue to play without spending gems but as others point out, you won't be checking your park as often. How many will find other games to play and abandon this one? Will you think the same when many on your friends list are no longer active and the online communities dwindle?
I am hoping that BFS will have a sit down with the Hasbro people and explain to them that they are about to kill the Golden Goose. I do think the game will be adjusted in the near future to address players concerns. In the meantime it is frustrating and players will express that and hopefully, they will be listened to.
One more thing, in any transaction it is always best to know who you are dealing with. Below is a link to an article from a year ago and here is the excerpt regarding Hasbro:
Hasbro
Game maker Hasbro has struggled ever since the financial crisis to grow revenue and profits in an environment where kids have ever-growing entertainment options. But while revenue remains stuck near 2008 levels, Hasbro has continued to increase its compensation for its top five executives, which jumped 80% in 2013.
Compensation has increased for top officers because Hasbro’s board has been lowering its standards for success. Though Hasbro has admirably tied its incentive pay program to performance targets that cannot be easily manipulated by management, the board has been lowering the minimum bar for performance pay to kick in. Writes Becker, “after Hasbro fell well-short of its target levels in 2011, the board lowered its target levels steeply in 2012 to make it very easy for Hasbro to hurdle … so even though Hasbro reported very little growth over the last five years, incentive pay still averaged approximately 101% of target levels over this period.”
And to make it a bit clearer, the CEOs salary of $14,437,987 does include stock options which he gets for around $20. a share. The last time he sold 396,000 of his shares he was able to sell them for over $52. a share and made over 20 million dollars off the sale. But of course he needs us to buy more gems so his salary can increase. This money is not going to the shareholders and I doubt the people on the creative side in Colorado are seeing a doubling of their income.
Thanks Cyn for an informative post. I've long lamented the culture of greed in America. It just doesn't fit with the Aloha Spirit does it? But it's real world for those of us who live here - and one of the reasons that the BFS culture was so refreshing and the change is so disappointing.
I've decided to continue playing but with a different goal: I'm going to see how well I can do without buying any gems, zero, nada. I have bought a lot (way too many) of gems over the years to help me in my completist strategy. It's now apparent that you could buy gems in a slavish manner and still most likely fall short. Reminds me of those poor people sitting at slot machines for hour after hour playing in a kind of robotic, suspended animation manner. Of course they can walk away, and so can I. So, no more complete collections and no more gem buying. If I get really rebellious I may even sell some of the dragons I simply don't like.
Actually seems appropriate for the Fourth of July. Throw the tea in the harbor!
Disturbing, Cyn ... Will redouble my efforts to be patient and stockpile gems rather than consider purchasing. Because of the lull between events I'm already in a better position gem-wise than I have ever been before an event; as each week goes by I squirrel them away to use for upgrades, etc. like a hibernation cave upgrade!!! Would have a higher pile if I hadn't spent them trying to get Elysium a few weeks ago also.
Thanks Cyn for an informative post. I've long lamented the culture of greed in America. It just doesn't fit with the Aloha Spirit does it? But it's real world for those of us who live here - and one of the reasons that the BFS culture was so refreshing and the change is so disappointing.
I've decided to continue playing but with a different goal: I'm going to see how well I can do without buying any gems, zero, nada. I have bought a lot (way too many) of gems over the years to help me in my completist strategy. It's now apparent that you could buy gems in a slavish manner and still most likely fall short. Reminds me of those poor people sitting at slot machines for hour after hour playing in a kind of robotic, suspended animation manner. Of course they can walk away, and so can I. So, no more complete collections and no more gem buying. If I get really rebellious I may even sell some of the dragons I simply don't like.
Actually seems appropriate for the Fourth of July. Throw the tea in the harbor!
Cheers, Poppy
Thank you, Poppy, for both starting this community and deciding to hang in there. This place would not be the same without you!
I think you may be on to something. If Hasbro is going to change the way the game is played, then we can change the way we play the game, at least until they address players' concerns. I feel badly for the people at BFS who create the dragons and write the code. You can bet they are not seeing their paychecks double even though they are the ones doing all the work.
In the meantime I do find that a little civil disobedience always goes a long way to bringing fairness back to a situation.
Post by plznoepicfails on Jul 6, 2015 11:31:05 GMT -6
I think this is a good discussion, and I'm really glad to read that an experienced player has decided to stick around! BTW Poppy, I have adopted pretty much that same play style. I'm going to fight the urge to spend gems on reducing breed/nursery time, and save them for island themes, upgraded habitats, and events. If I don't get a target dragon before the time is up, oh well. It will come around again, and I'll probably be in a better position to get it the next time around (e.g., I can afford to try for it in all three breeding areas).
At 45 years young, I consider myself an "old school gamer." I remember playing MMOs way back in the late 90s that required MANY months of work and patience to get various quest items. It was such an amazing feeling to finally finish those quests, and get the item I'd been working on for so long. I do think that these days, a lot of millennial gamers want rewards faster, and since there are so many other good games out there, they may decide to cruise on to something else if they don't get what they are seeking fairly quickly. It's understandable. Indeed, I used to like the slow, gradual advancement in games, along with the greater feelings of accomplishment that the rewards gave me when I finally got them. But alas, I admit I've felt very frustrated with this game lately. Guess I need to go old school again!
I wish these RNG-based games would add an element to the RNG that slightly increases your chances of success after each successive failed attempt (e.g., each failed attempt would provide you with a 1% better chance at getting your target dragon the next time). I understand that this game has no way of knowing what your target dragon is with any given breeding attempt, but I think the developers could add a feature that asks you - couldn't they? I think that would be fair and reasonable way to address the frustration that these RNG games cause sometimes, and I think players would be much more accepting of the fails if they knew that the next time their chances are just a little better.
Anyway, I will end this with a positive thought. I just discovered the site's avatars! How cool! For some reason, I thought you all just made your own. Think I'm going to set mine to my next "really, really hope I get it" dragon, and then change it once I've got it or I see another big target dragon on the horizon. Should be fun.
koala, everyone, and thank you Poppy for sticking around and helping the newer players like me!
These are excellent points, and I agree with all of this. I don't mind lots of fails, and even an occasional epic fail. I also don't think it should be easy to get a limited, epic, or gemstone dragon. But five 48 hour fails in a row? That just means there's not much for me to do in the game for very long stretches of time, and I can't imagine that's what the developers intended.
Yes, and often I agree. But ask yourself this question - is it really that much more fun getting 20 twelve hour fails? Really? And you say that there is nothing to do in the game when you have these fails. Clicking retry breed more often - is that "something to do"? Even getting the dragon - admittedly exciting - but it isn't exactly time consuming... It's just clicking the "incubate" button once... Again, I mean no disrespect, but I question what you find is something to do.
Which would be just fine and dandy had the last two limiteds not used Dream as a part of a locked combo. I don't mind not having everything immediately. I don't mind spending a few gems to breed what I want.
I do mind having short windows of time to breed a dragon with a very small breed chance and a chance at getting every single available dragon as a fail.
BFS is not doing it because we want a challenge. They are doing it to make more money on gem purchases and to push players to use the CBC.
I really don't see many people complaining about having nothing to do. There are tons of long term goals that people set for themselves that don't involve getting the newest dragon that comes out immediately.
You don't see many people complaining about nothing to do? Please look at plznoepicfails. I think it's fair to say that (s)he is complaining about a lack of stuff to do during their 48 hour fails. Clearly there aren't enough goals for him/her. Some could argue that BFS are doing it for money, others (like me) would argue that they are doing it to promote their co-op cave only. I don't see anything wrong with that. I understand people being annoyed at the short windows - but you can still get them. Think about it logically - you could have just as much a chance at a delirium dragon as something else which has the same percentage of breeding - there are just a LOT more possible fails. And you can do this throughout the year in the CBC.
Again I would like to emphasise that I am not trying to be rude, I am just debating this point with you.
I like having goals, even/especially goals that take a little skill or cleverness or persistence. I agree with plznoepicfails, though, that I'm having less frequent reasons to check on my dragons than ever before. This may be a good thing - for my other interests. There's probably some study that shows that many players will just take up more/other games to fill in the blank spaces, but I'm a one-game girl, not interested on becoming addicted to others, so I will stay with DV but give it less of my time.
Before events came along, this was what the game was. Except without a lot of fun new additions - don't understand therefore why you spend less time in the game than ever before...? Just saying.
Valid points. Not saying I want it to be easy, just attainable. Missing 1 limited dragon might not be an issue, but am on the verge of missing a second in a row, plus took forever to get my first bred Galaxy, still have not even one of all the original Galaxies before 2 more were released.
9 New dragons released in the past 2 months. One was a freebie beginner Galaxy, so out of those 8 left have only bred 2 new dragons in 2 months and none of the limiteds at all. That does not equal fun to me. Extremely bad luck - perhaps.
I have had worse luck - I started with an polarian and have since got an antarian and nothing else - no Elysium or delirium at all. I still find the game fun. I admit it is exciting to receive a dragon you have been trying for, but that's not the real beauty or fun of the game. It is still very attainable - limited dragons are easier to get than ever before due to the CBC. These are all dragons to add to a list - linking back to my original point. I won't repeat it, but I will repeat that I have no bad intentions, just trying to get each of you to find where the problem really is. Talking through it often shows that problem isn't what it seems.
It seems like I have an unpopular opinion, but I really like the current model. I don't feel the short timers are a problem as the co-op cave's existence makes timers for epic dragons largely irrelevant. As long as you know someone who has that dragon, it will always be available. And since we haven't had a new limited dragon that isn't epic in quite some time, it's meant that you can take your time to get any other dragons you're missing. None of the new dragons are actually going anywhere. It's an advantage of being part of a community like this: even if none of your friends have your target up for co-op, you can just ask and someone will put it up for you.
...of course, it's a bit different for the poor android players. I can see the problems they'd have with it. If I had to go through Facebook for this I would be considering quitting too. As it is the only time this year I've felt like that was during the back-to-back events phase. If it's a case of one or the other, this or that, I know which I'd pick. Having said all of that, I would very much appreciate a hatchery expansion. I've largely not been using the original cave due to the space problems. So improvements can be made.
Seconded wholeheartedly! The people who should really be complaining are the android players! Sending hugs out to all of you! Arkynos I stand with you, and I hope others do too.
And my 7th Shimmer, 3rd in the last 24 hours, followed by the "rare" Geode. That makes a total of 9 fake-outs and who knows how many Geodes.
To break the frustration of Delirium fails, I decided to try for Procyon. I'll get another chance in 49 hours.
The long fails win again.
Wishing you loads of koala - but regarding your near leaving of the game from a previous post: what would you prefer - 1 49 hour fail or 3 12 hour fails? I understand the frustration at not getting a dragon, but I believe that it is not something to drive you to quit a game. I know it makes me ever-more determined.
So far I prefer this model over the event model mostly because the pace of the game is back in my control.
I do foresee my list of missing dragons getting longer though.
BFS needs to adjust the game just a bit, because like many others the long fails just lock me out of the game for days.
As someone who is also getting many unlimited epic fails, has the percentages to get them increased?
Last time about long fails, I promise - what makes a game more exciting if you go in more often for fails? Don't you go in to collect DC, food, gems, make dragons younger, rearrange, decorate, use Kronos, do quests, use the colosseum? If you don't then maybe you should. I don't think going in to click for more of your 12 hour fails, rather than 48 hour fails makes no difference. It's just a few clicks. You can still do all the other things that I said about...
I think newer players are more tolerant of the changes. Those of us who have been playing for 3+ years are used to the benevolence and lack of greed on pthe part of BFS: you could play the game and aspire to completeness without spending a lot of gems. That is obviously no longer possible and it's a big change for those of us who were used to playing with certain goals. I don't begrudge Hasbro as it's a for profit business. I just don't care to adapt - perhaps I'm spoiled by the wonderful way BFS handled things over a long period of time.
There's no reason everyone has to agree with me and I hope everyone else has a lot of fun.
Aloha, Poppy
I think that it is very much possible to complete the game without using gems... But perhaps you might not do it first try or first time the dragon is released. You loved the events, but that was REAL money grabbing... And that really forced you to spend gems... I don't really understand why you can't just try another time for th dragon that eludes you. I'm not attacking you, but I'm hoping that perhaps if you see it another way then you may stay on in the game...
I consider myself a veteran player. Though of course not since the beginning of the game. I started in November 2012, shortly after the first anniversary. I prefer the current pace of the game. Yes, there have been some long fails. But I can log on once or twice a day and don't have to panic for missing dragons because they will still be available through the co-op. Sure I don't have all the Galaxies yet, But I have most of them (even 3 in my smaller park that is farther from getting all the dragons)
I was getting bored of having a full Dragonarium, a fast rush for a new dragon, and then a full Dragonarium. I prefer at least having a few things to work on. I'm even getting ready and anxious for another event (I'm holding off clearing islands/creating bigger habitats, etc so the gems can potentially give me double good In the next event! But with the new levels and new habitats, things are starting to get a bit crowded!)
This is what I was trying to say about the long term goals thing and not getting a dragon when it first comes out. Thanks for putting it so well.
Really good points made by all but I would like to add some perspective.
Last year I was out of the game for eight months due to personal matters. I had missed a lot but with the BEB event I was able to catch up. If it takes a bit to get a new dragon, no worries, I know I will get it eventually. That is not the problem for me and after reading the Dragonvale Facebook page, it's not what is bothering most players. I have always supported BFS with purchases to keep the game going. I look at it this way. I used to go to the movies much more often than I go now. Getting more entertainment value from Dragonvale I was willing to support it just like buying a movie ticket. It kept the game moving at the pace I wanted it to go. With the changes I can no longer play at my pace even buying gems regularly as I did in the past.
You can't... Or you don't want to. I think that it is possible - certainly more challenging - but still possible.
What is troubling is the obvious greed on the part of Hasbro that could ruin a good game. People love this game and they don't want to see it trashed just to line some CEO's pocket. To create another breeding cave without providing two new Hatchery spots is just a ploy to sell gems and everyone sees right through it. Yes, you can continue to play without spending gems but as others point out, you won't be checking your park as often. How many will find other games to play and abandon this one? Will you think the same when many on your friends list are no longer active and the online communities dwindle?
Why won't you be checking your park so often - people forget that BFS has provided us with a HUGE variety of stuff to do which isn't breeding dragons! Fine we all see that Hasbro are trying to make money- doesn't mean we have to stand for it- just make more goals in the way that vonfirmath summarised above somewhere!
I am hoping that BFS will have a sit down with the Hasbro people and explain to them that they are about to kill the Golden Goose. I do think the game will be adjusted in the near future to address players concerns. In the meantime it is frustrating and players will express that and hopefully, they will be listened to.
One more thing, in any transaction it is always best to know who you are dealing with. Below is a link to an article from a year ago and here is the excerpt regarding Hasbro:
Hasbro
Game maker Hasbro has struggled ever since the financial crisis to grow revenue and profits in an environment where kids have ever-growing entertainment options. But while revenue remains stuck near 2008 levels, Hasbro has continued to increase its compensation for its top five executives, which jumped 80% in 2013.
Compensation has increased for top officers because Hasbro’s board has been lowering its standards for success. Though Hasbro has admirably tied its incentive pay program to performance targets that cannot be easily manipulated by management, the board has been lowering the minimum bar for performance pay to kick in. Writes Becker, “after Hasbro fell well-short of its target levels in 2011, the board lowered its target levels steeply in 2012 to make it very easy for Hasbro to hurdle … so even though Hasbro reported very little growth over the last five years, incentive pay still averaged approximately 101% of target levels over this period.”
Every company ever. I think people can just play it their way and reward Hasbro when they do it right. I would like to just remind people - when you are enjoying the game, let Hasbro know. We need to remember that this is a company. There is no way on earth they can satisfy everyone, but they need to make money. So if you give them more money at a certain point they will realise. They're not stupid, if we give them a much higher profit when we are enjoying it, then they will keep it that way. So remember, if you're enjoying the game now, or in the future, let Hasbro know.
Guys, I would like to again say that I am not attacking anyone. This has been my approach to anything for a long time. I am a debater and I love a good debate. And I have sparked one. Poppy, I am spectacularly happy at what you said: I am a huge believer in standing up for what you believe in. If you don't mind me saying, who cares about BFS or what they say about how to play their game. I have never bought a gem because I am not in the position to do so, and I LOVE THE game.
I say all of this because discussing things properly often finds the real roots of the problem. It happened with me once: I blamed a certain someone for something. Yet after talking about it, I realised that really my problem wasn't them, or their actions, but something completely different. This is why I try and unravel people's knots and reveal what the real problem is.
Aloha,
Koala,
Jv
Last Edit: Jul 6, 2015 11:56:38 GMT -6 by jamesvaler
No longer active on DragonVale! *briefly back online*
So far I prefer this model over the event model mostly because the pace of the game is back in my control.
I do foresee my list of missing dragons getting longer though.
BFS needs to adjust the game just a bit, because like many others the long fails just lock me out of the game for days.
As someone who is also getting many unlimited epic fails, has the percentages to get them increased?
Last time about long fails, I promise - what makes a game more exciting if you go in more often for fails? Don't you go in to collect DC, food, gems, make dragons younger, rearrange, decorate, use Kronos, do quests, use the colosseum? If you don't then maybe you should. I don't think going in to click for more of your 12 hour fails, rather than 48 hour fails makes no difference. It's just a few clicks. You can still do all the other things that I said about...
From a basic game design standpoint--the main goal and "grab" of the game is to breed dragons and collect them all.
That's the basis that got me playing and the basis for the average gamer.
Breeding is the main incentive to keep a player playing. Breeding literally entices players to go back in play. Breeding is what keeps the game going.
Hence why a lot of people get discourage with the game when breedng rules change, when it feels impossible to get a certain dragon, etc.
Breeding and dragons are why I get excited about the game.
So, "what makes a game more exciting if you go in more often for fails?"
I get to try again for the dragon I'm aiming for. From that try I might get that dragon. And if I do get that dragon I'm pretty ecstatic. That's the joy of the game for me.
Shorter fails means another chance at getting a dragon I want.
I started playing dragonvale right after they released the bone dragon. I actually quit after I got a 12 hour fail for the first time. I was extremely new to the game and wasn't emotionally invested. I started again in December for no particular reason than the fact that I really like dragons and dragonvale looked like the best dragon game available.
"Don't you go in to collect DC, food, gems, make dragons younger, rearrange, decorate, use Kronos, do quests, use the colosseum?"
Aside from rearranging/decorating/using the foy--all those other actions you listed are also repetitive actions like hitting the rebreed button. And they don't bring excitement for me. Been playing too long lol. The colosseum actually makes me anxious when I realize that I missed a day XD But for the most part I've got my park set up to just how I like it and I'm fine with leaving it that way
I've actually never bought gems--it feels weird to me to buy pixels. I did end up buying a couple fireflies once though, because I miscalculated and wanted to say thanks BFS for not making another lost island like prize.
Lastly, BFS continues to show that they listen to players. They've made numerous concessions (like stopping events which took a hit on their profits for sure). So they came up with a new way to try and make up for those losses by bottling up the nursery (I actually think that this is smart from a designer point of view). The choice to spend gems in this game version is a much more flexible aspect then trying to collect every firefly/egg/etc during events for me.
I'm not defending BFS, but I do understand their actions.
A month or so ago there was a message from the founder ? Owner? Of Backflip on FB and in that message he relayed some of their challenges and joys of designing Dragonvale. One part of his chat has stuck with me and has helped me understand this week's posts both here and on the FB page. He talks about the fact that they basically have 2 categories of players; designers and collectors. It seems it's the collector group that has been hit the hardest with these changes. (Although I could whine about the lack of new decorations since..... Um .... Forever?!)
Does anyone have any evidence that version 3.0 of the game is due to Hasbro meddling as opposed to BFS continuously working to keep the game new and fresh? I just don't see outside fingerprints on anything.
Does anyone have any evidence that version 3.0 of the game is due to Hasbro meddling as opposed to BFS continuously working to keep the game new and fresh? I just don't see outside fingerprints on anything.
I think it's just based on the correlation that being bought by a bigger company means that BFS is under pressure/is expected to meet a certain number every fiscal quarter or so.
Post by ChemNerdTwin on Jul 6, 2015 17:25:42 GMT -6
I only buy eggs etc if there is an event and I'm close to finishing. Never buy gems since very beginning 3 years ago. Started when original bloom came out.
GCID chemnerd 99 (You need a space) TEAM Hidden Bolt
Looking for party hat friends. Pm me for Facebook Id.
Does anyone have any evidence that version 3.0 of the game is due to Hasbro meddling as opposed to BFS continuously working to keep the game new and fresh? I just don't see outside fingerprints on anything.
So Fletch... you really believe that a large multinational corporation would buy a company with some of the most downloaded apps on the web and then be completely hands off with no meddling or expectations? If so then I have this spectacular bridge I would like to sell you! It is Golden and some people like to think it is the Gate into San Francisco. I got a great deal on it and am willing to pass the savings along to you! I know you Aussie's are dealing with your own drought but you never know when a flood will happen and this bridge could come in handy. You will have to move it. Let me know.
P.S. Thanks for the gems but you know you're not supposed to be doing that! Send those to players who missed out on and are saving up for things like the Lost Island, the Twilight Tower, the Dragonsai Bush, etc. Maybe we should start a list.
Does anyone have any evidence that version 3.0 of the game is due to Hasbro meddling as opposed to BFS continuously working to keep the game new and fresh? I just don't see outside fingerprints on anything.
So Fletch... you really believe that a large multinational corporation would buy a company with some of the most downloaded apps on the web and then be completely hands off with no meddling or expectations? If so then I have this spectacular bridge I would like to sell you! It is Golden and some people like to think it is the Gate into San Francisco. I got a great deal on it and am willing to pass the savings along to you! I know you Aussie's are dealing with your own drought but you never know when a flood will happen and this bridge could come in handy. You will have to move it. Let me know.
P.S. Thanks for the gems but you know you're not supposed to be doing that! Send those to players who missed out on and are saving up for things like the Lost Island, the Twilight Tower, the Dragonsai Bush, etc. Maybe we should start a list.
I think you are selling a pup. I've been to San Fransisco. There are no bridges coloured gold there. I do remember one coloured a rusty red. Maybe you are getting confused.
Main GCID: GregDarcy Secondary: GregDarcyToo All gems friends spoken for. Happy to accept friends for party hats. I blame Apple's auto incorrect for all my typos. I actively discourage challenges. All challengers are unfriended.
Well my last two tries at Deli 39 and 40 hrs. I did get one about midway through. As far as my opinion; I don't mind the hard ones, I missed Sprout and Kite first time around didn't mind waiting for BEB. The coop gives us the opportunity to breed without waiting for BEB, I'm still having fun I guess that's all that matters in the long run.
GCID: klownboxer1666
Playing DV since March 2012
MY GCID: used to be Rob_Breen but gaming Gods wanted to freak me out for a few days by erasing my park and game center.
And my 7th Shimmer, 3rd in the last 24 hours, followed by the "rare" Geode. That makes a total of 9 fake-outs and who knows how many Geodes.
To break the frustration of Delirium fails, I decided to try for Procyon. I'll get another chance in 49 hours.
The long fails win again.
jamesvaler Although when very tired, I can get upset at not getting a dragon, in this case, I actually find the whole situation quite humorous. I posted because it is almost too unbelievable to be true. Also, to let players who are struggling with this dragon (and others) know they are not alone. I was trying to post in a somewhat humorous way, but I guess I failed.
Today, I thought of a way to maybe make fun of all the long fails. Sort of the same idea as the last calls, only in this case, who has had the most unfortunate fails. Although I am not sure of a name, maybe Catastrophic Breedings. The point being to share our worst combination of breedings, hoping that in trying to one up each other, we can maybe have some fun and laugh at the long fails. For instance, today while I still had 27 hours left on the Platinum I bred yesterday, and 42 hours on the DR I bred this morning, I bred a 38 hour. Unfortunately, my nursery is almost empty, and I have nothing to put in it. Can anyone top my breedings?
Oh, and I just have to add that I'm again managing KYDOLIND's account while he is gone, and also bred him a DR this afternoon.
jamesvaler, I also want to set the record straight. I was not quitting because of a dragon. I had become very frustrated with the game. The Light and Dark event was tedious, the Lost Island event discouraging, and I think there had even been a 3rd event in 6 months. Then they had released both Moonstruck and Victory with only days in the market and some very long fails. It was a growing frustration with the game in general. Then came Lapis. I actually had a Lapis (I came in 4th in the Last Call for it) and an egg. However, I had 2 plus an egg of every other gemstone, so I wanted a second of it. Being as it was a quarterly, I had plenty of time to get it. Except for a couple of short periods when I had to go for some other limited, I bred for it the entire time. Trying for that 2nd Lapis I bred 34 Crystal and 17 Oly. The game had become more frustrating than fun. What kept me playing was the friends I had made on the forum, it actually made it hard to quit. Because I had lots of other things going on in my life, like homeschooling my son and volunteer work, and with the mounting frustration, I finally decided that if I didn't get the dragon by the end of the week, I would say good bye and walk away.
I don't want the game to be easy. Like Wapatango, I don't clone, I breed for dragons and eggs. I did make exceptions for Bouquet and Bearded they were the Mother's Day and Father's Day dragons and we have 5 sons and 3 daughters, so I really wanted the eggs. I also made exceptions for the Sprouts I wanted for my Family Tree island, but I got the first two and the egg by breeding, not cloning. The problem with long fails is you can't even try again, so you have no hope of getting the dragon, for up to 2 days, with short fails you get another chance in a few hours. To me that is encouraging. You get another shot at it. Because the rares have become so common, the only conclusion I can come to is that BFS has changed the rules in an attempt to get people to spend money and I will not be coerced into spending money.
In the meantime I do find that a little civil disobedience always goes a long way to bringing fairness back to a situation.
And what better way to organise an uprising than in a community of like-minded people?
I have been needing to scale back from my involvement in the game, and I find that the changes suit me rather well. I'm still lacking Delirium, Elysium, Sorarian, Arcturian, Antarian, as well as the two new galaxy dragons though, so I find myself on the brink.
There's probably a fine line between being relaxed about the game and just not caring any more. The changes that BFS has implemented seem to have switched things up a little too quickly and without warning, and it's perhaps this abrupt turnabout that leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many players. When I first started playing DragonVale (July 2012 I believe), I definitely didn't seek to complete the full collection of dragons. It seemed too difficult an endeavour. But eventually, after getting a Moon out of nowhere, I slowly expanded my goals to collecting all the dragons, and then after joining the forum, all the egg pedestals as well. This is probably how newer players approach it right now, with a gradual shift in goals and priorities. But I think that the sudden release of limited dragons that are so difficult to breed is forcing this sudden shift and not in a subtle way at all, which is why many of us are feeling rather jaded about the game at this point. Perhaps this is just the adjustment phase for some, but it's hard to tell.
I don't want to jinx anything, but in the days immediately after an event there would be this adjustment period where I suddenly had nothing to do (since I had all the dragons available), and logging into the game felt very routine and banal. The dragons I'm missing are giving me a reason to log on, but there's also a flipside to this.
I've been trying for Delirium in both local breeding areas immediately upon its release, and switched from Elysium to Delirium in the CBC some days after its release, but have had no success at all. Players like jamesvaler might be more determined to achieve Delirium, and that's absolutely fine, but I think for me, enjoyment dips just a little each time my breeding combination yields a 24-hour or longer timer. It's true that we need to temper our desire for limited dragons with a little bit of patience and determination, but the game sometimes makes it feel like there isn't really any reward for being patient and determined. I think that's what Pixie is feeling right now (although just while I'm writing this she has gotten a Delirium! Do you feel rewarded or relieved? , and I'm right there with her. At some point you don't even feel angry at the game, you probably just feel like shrugging and deleting it altogether.
All this is also so much worse for Android players, who have to share their private Facebook accounts to connect with others. We iOS players are on the winning side of these changes, but it feels a little sad when we realise that BFS seems to have overlooked Android players in implementing these new updates that even more encourage or even require them to connect with other players to succeed.
I'm still playing the game, but I think it's possible to continue doing something even though you've completely lost interest in it. It just becomes routine and part of your habit. I just hope this doesn't happen with DragonVale.
GCID: rionhow Thanks to ElektronX for my Light Rift avatar!
Last time about long fails, I promise - what makes a game more exciting if you go in more often for fails? Don't you go in to collect DC, food, gems, make dragons younger, rearrange, decorate, use Kronos, do quests, use the colosseum? If you don't then maybe you should. I don't think going in to click for more of your 12 hour fails, rather than 48 hour fails makes no difference. It's just a few clicks. You can still do all the other things that I said about...
Lastly, BFS continues to show that they listen to players. They've made numerous concessions (like stopping events which took a hit on their profits for sure). So they came up with a new way to try and make up for those losses by bottling up the nursery (I actually think that this is smart from a designer point of view). The choice to spend gems in this game version is a much more flexible aspect then trying to collect every firefly/egg/etc during events for me.
I'm not defending BFS, but I do understand their actions.
^ Like!
The game is being developed as we play, we, specially veteran players, need to give BFS time to adjust, balance the game as needed.
Some friends touch your heart in a way that you can never erase.
Jamesvaler: what a great debate you started. I go to the movies more than I buy gems. I only have so much money and I save it for fabric. Yes I sew/quilt. I am in my park 3 times a day, at breakfast before going to work, at lunch time and at the end of the day, meaning after dinner is over and the kitchen is cleaned up. Only during the events was I in my park more. I set goals beyond breeding. I started playing just after the games release. My first goal was 2 of every dragon followed by turning shrines to gold, then 1 of every dragon at its highest level, then a pedestal of each, original not twin for me, my new long term goal is to get what I refer to as a single birth and a twin. Level the twin up to its highest level. I want to replace all my gold crowns with blue stars. That goal alone should keep me busy for the next 3 years. I will put my gold crowns in the hibernation cave.
'... overwhelming goodwill, and witty humour, profound grace and compassion blended with the spice of relentless taunts.'
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