So if you're not a decorations collector, I did notice that when I purchased the Jelly Log it has the option to sell it for half price spice (1425). It's possible you can buy the log, evolve the new limited dragon, and then sell the log to earn a little extra spice for the next one.
Sadly, I've collected all prior decorations and would hate to do this. But then, I can't buy all the new ones with their high cost so maybe it's a good idea..
I’m writing on behalf of our forum community of fervent DV players (many since the game was launched)to ask that you please pass this to whomever is making the changes. DV was a beloved fun artistic game, where we couldn’t wait to log in and work our way through the challenges of events, where we always paid (for many, saving up to do so) to spend RL cash to support BF who felt like friends, where we scrupulously ensured no spoilers, no cheating, and just revelled in this beautiful game which brought pleasure to completionists and decorators alike. We are trying to work out the changes in policy;it seems that HAS doesn’t mind if small cash players leave, and sadly so many now are, three in the past 2 days just from our forum, and that HAS are only concerned with continually changing game play goals to a) strip players of gems dc and food as fast as possible, to b) ensure that only ‘whales’ play the game. Maybe that works for HAS, I don’t know the stats. I do know that we are struggling to encourage Valers to remain, and we are trying to change our mindset, in order to do so; ignoring events, for many, ignoring some of the new categories of dragons (like ghostlies) for very many (no room to display or hibernate them anyway so why breed them), and compiling the means/mechanisms to transform but not doing any transforming, for a lot of Valers, then using BeB to see if we can breed a few of the new dragons later when maybe things have changed. The latest evolution convolutions could be seen as blending puzzle with breeding challenges, but it feels mean spirited, not dastardly challenging. The light hearted fun and the magnificent artwork that went into dragons and eggs/pedestals is gone. DV was, I understand, something unusual in terms of game longevity; why o why fix something that was so patently un-broken? Money of course. Sad.
I’m writing on behalf of our forum community of fervent DV players (many since the game was launched)to ask that you please pass this to whomever is making the changes. DV was a beloved fun artistic game, where we couldn’t wait to log in and work our way through the challenges of events, where we always paid (for many, saving up to do so) to spend RL cash to support BF who felt like friends, where we scrupulously ensured no spoilers, no cheating, and just revelled in this beautiful game which brought pleasure to completionists and decorators alike. We are trying to work out the changes in policy;it seems that HAS doesn’t mind if small cash players leave, and sadly so many now are, three in the past 2 days just from our forum, and that HAS are only concerned with continually changing game play goals to a) strip players of gems dc and food as fast as possible, to b) ensure that only ‘whales’ play the game. Maybe that works for HAS, I don’t know the stats. I do know that we are struggling to encourage Valers to remain, and we are trying to change our mindset, in order to do so; ignoring events, for many, ignoring some of the new categories of dragons (like ghostlies) for very many (no room to display or hibernate them anyway so why breed them), and compiling the means/mechanisms to transform but not doing any transforming, for a lot of Valers, then using BeB to see if we can breed a few of the new dragons later when maybe things have changed. The latest evolution convolutions could be seen as blending puzzle with breeding challenges, but it feels mean spirited, not dastardly challenging. The light hearted fun and the magnificent artwork that went into dragons and eggs/pedestals is gone. DV was, I understand, something unusual in terms of game longevity; why o why fix something that was so patently un-broken? Money of course. Sad.
So well said!!
I completely agree. Thanks for sending this Kiwichris. Maybe they will listen and slow down the cash grab, whale hunting path they are on. When I open Dragonvale now the song Nantucket Sleighride runs through my head. Not that I'm complaining about the Mountain earworm cause I love that old song. But I am a bit overwhelmed with Dragonvale at the moment. I don't hold out much hope that BFS will change direction because people are unhappy and quitting the game. If they ever read their facebook page or take a look at the breeding group on FB or here on the Dragonvale Community boards, they already know people are upset and many have stopped playing. They just don't seem to care. I hope there are enough whales in the gaming sea to keep this game alive. I have a special place for dragonvale in my heart so I doubt I will stop playing completely. But I am saddened by this recent turn of events. Pun intended. And I have changed the way I play. It's hard to believe a few whales will make up the lost revenue from all the people I know of who have stopped spending money on this game. But what do I know. Business is not my forte.
And level 18+, so you still need both relics as well. And Rifted, so that's a loooooot of treats/Etherium to spend levelling it. And Jelly Plants, which are limited, so unlike the others the evolution needs to be done during the event.
Hmm. 🤔
Edit: And if you don't have all of that, well, better hope you've not spent any Spice yet and can cap daily, because even then 2 of the next 4 days need to be doubles for it to be buyable outright in the market.
Does the L18 Rberry need to be in a Vale habitat, or can it be in a R hab? And the jelly log on same island as jelly plants? Dearie me, and Purple Rain too....😈 (cos, you know, aubergine....no? 😔)
I had my Berry in the rift (level 18), had my 6 jelly plants in the farms, ready to be harvested, had the rain falling and bought thr jelly plant, to be f Und in the lowest bar of prices Called everything's nice. I then went to my berry in the rift, hit the "evolve" button, choose the bery in the list (only one there anyway) was asked if I was ready. To pay 1000 spices, and when ok, hop the berry transformed in the rift habitat. The item to be purchased, ie the jelly plant log is priced 2850 spices, BUT, you can then sell it for 1425 spices! WhichI will do when I have my egg.
Posts: 4,392
Platform: iPad Accepting New Gifts: Thanks friends; this game now a solid chore, no longer a delight sadly, so taking an indefinite break. Koala to all. Forum Name to Tag: kiwichris01
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I apologize for any frustration with DragonVale of late and have shared this with the DragonVale team. We are always trying out new features and formats for events and do take all feedback into consideration. Thank you for helping us improve. Best Regards, Mike
Post by aquathedragon on Nov 15, 2018 15:48:07 GMT -6
I’m going to at least try this event. I’m also not crying on the inside about this event like a 5 year old trying green beans for the first time. Definitely not.
O m g for the limited Aubergine- evolve a level 18 berry dragon w any rift trait. The jelly plant must be in the park and 6 jelly plants must be ready to harvest. It must also be RAINING!
ARE THEY JOKING! I don’t own or want the weather station.
Do you have to be standing on your head, too? 🙄
AND...you must have been born on February 29! (BFS is accepting email attachments of your birth certificate). 😉
I’m going to at least try this event. I’m also not crying on the inside about this event like a 5 year old trying green beans for the first time. Definitely not.
Well, I got here by mistake and can't figure out how to delete this post, so I'd just like to say for me it was spinach, and I just gagged on it.
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2018 19:21:44 GMT -6 by mona187
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I apologize for any frustration with DragonVale of late and have shared this with the DragonVale team. We are always trying out new features and formats for events and do take all feedback into consideration. Thank you for helping us improve. Best Regards, Mike
Kiwichris is right on. I've been playing this game (I'm almost embarrassed to say) since the max level was 20!! Its appeal, among many other things, stemmed from the fact that ANY player could eventually get all the dragons without spending any money, with some planning & patience.
When events first started, they were a refreshing addition & introduced some fun new dragons. I had/have enough habitats that, if I made my daily max, I could usually get all the new dragons. If I came up a little short, I didn't mind spending $1.99 or $4.99 to make up the difference & maybe snag a new decoration or pedestal. Even sprung for $9.99 a couple of times for something special, like one of the relics.
That all changed within the last year or so. Events are back-to-back; currency allotments are stingier & it is impossible to procure more than a portion of the new dragons without spending real money. Lower-level players are disadvantaged because of fewer habitats and smaller breeding caves, and in the current event, lack of ability to level up their epics. And even if you consider spending some real money, it buys you a pittance; currently $49.99 gets you 9,999 spice, enough to buy ONLYONE of the new dragons.
Seriously, BFS??? I gave up trying to keep my dragonarium smoking when it became clear it would cost me $100's. So I mostly stopped spending any money at all (now I collect pedestals). I have played, and subsequently dropped, a number of excellent games (IMHO) when it became clear that real money was required for me to contunue to enjoy them.
I hate see DV go this direction. I recently thought I'd buy another gem habitat & freaked that they now cost 750 gems! I know I paid no more than 250 for the ones I have, mayvbe as little as 100.
You've got a good thing going; don't screw it up.
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2018 20:25:57 GMT -6 by mona187
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I apologize for any frustration with DragonVale of late and have shared this with the DragonVale team. We are always trying out new features and formats for events and do take all feedback into consideration. Thank you for helping us improve. Best Regards, Mike
Yeah right blah blah... You have changed, Mike. We don’t trust you anymore, get your act together!
And level 18+, so you still need both relics as well. And Rifted, so that's a loooooot of treats/Etherium to spend levelling it. And Jelly Plants, which are limited, so unlike the others the evolution needs to be done during the event.
Hmm. 🤔
Edit: And if you don't have all of that, well, better hope you've not spent any Spice yet and can cap daily, because even then 2 of the next 4 days need to be doubles for it to be buyable outright in the market.
Does the L18 Rberry need to be in a Vale habitat, or can it be in a R hab? And the jelly log on same island as jelly plants? Dearie me, and Purple Rain too....😈 (cos, you know, aubergine....no? 😔)
The R Berry can be in the Rift, the jelly log does NOT have to be on the same island with the Jelly plants that are ready to harvest. Fortunately, I had a lvl 1 R Berry in hibernation & gave it all a try. And it worked! Well, after I earned more spice to pay evolution fee.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I apologize for any frustration with DragonVale of late and have shared this with the DragonVale team. We are always trying out new features and formats for events and do take all feedback into consideration. Thank you for helping us improve. Best Regards, Mike
Yeah right blah blah... You have changed, Mike. We don’t trust you anymore, get your act together!
He went over to the Dark Side.
He sent me a inexplicable reason when I asked BFS what was the reasoning for implementing the Rift... Paraphrasing here: “It was for the long run.” It explained nothing.
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2018 20:23:45 GMT -6 by grandpakenny
Posts: 4,392
Platform: iPad Accepting New Gifts: Thanks friends; this game now a solid chore, no longer a delight sadly, so taking an indefinite break. Koala to all. Forum Name to Tag: kiwichris01
See, this is where my desire to think the best, give second chances etc chimes in; I imagine the remnants of the olde BF staff being caught between a rock and hard place, or hanging in to try to moderate the poor HAS decisions, or.... o my, sounds like the pumpkin’s cabinet....😱 Well, I’m not sure how much decision power BFS staff have, so don’t want to dis Mike and the few remaining originals...
Post by ChemNerdTwin on Nov 15, 2018 21:51:48 GMT -6
Ok. It’s convoluted but there is directions and a clear endpoint that is attainable. Unlike the dang loot box gambling. Most events need $50 to get everything. This will get almost everything for that. I kinda like it.
And meta carotene is the BOMB.
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2018 21:52:45 GMT -6 by ChemNerdTwin
GCID chemnerd 99 (You need a space) TEAM Hidden Bolt
Looking for party hat friends. Pm me for Facebook Id.
Yeah right blah blah... You have changed, Mike. We don’t trust you anymore, get your act together!
He went over to the Dark Side.
He sent me a inexplicable reason when I asked BFS what was the reasoning for implementing the Rift... Paraphrasing here: “It was for the long run.” It explained nothing.
I can probably extrapolate what he means by that. The Rift offers two important things long term:
1) A way for mid-level players to make meaningful progress into their collection as the number of dragons in the game increases over time. The Rift gives mystery eggs and more breeding attempts to help players feel they're making headway into the goal of filling the Dragonarium. If I may invoke some obvious math, getting 10% of the way through 400 dragons takes twice as many dragons bred successfully as that of getting 10% through 200.
2) A long term goal for long time players. People who had been playing for years had collected everything available, and were just coasting from new dragon to new dragon, aimless and bored. Making blue fire more accessible as an intermediate goal with TwinRift eggs and purple fire available as a new goal for the very top end of the playerbase gives people something to aim for, something to make progress towards over time and a reason to visit the park on days without events on.
I suspect those are the main two, anyway. It's a fair amount to get through if you've got a few hundred other emails to respond to that day, so I have some sympathy for Mike on this one.
I do want to make clear that I'm in no way saying the Rift is all positives (it both had and has some serious problems), or defending the very long list of questionable decisions BFS has made this last year. I merely could see some of what they were aiming for in this case.
(PS- if you're reading this BFS, then firstly ignore that last paragraph... Secondly I take payment for shilling in Rift habitats. 😛) (PPS- but seriously though I've got two vale islands full of Rift overflow now. Please may I have some more room in there for all my shinies? 🥺)
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2018 23:14:59 GMT -6 by Arkynos
See, this is where my desire to think the best, give second chances etc chimes in; I imagine the remnants of the olde BF staff being caught between a rock and hard place, or hanging in to try to moderate the poor HAS decisions, or.... o my, sounds like the pumpkin’s cabinet....😱 Well, I’m not sure how much decision power BFS staff have, so don’t want to dis Mike and the few remaining originals...
You have a point Chris, BFS is located in Boulder, CO, a very nice town to work and live in but expensive. I’m guessing a BFS staffer earns enough to afford to live there but if not, at least one of Boulder’s nicer suburbs. It would beat commuting the 30 miles (each way) into Denver every day, especially with the traffic tie ups because of the ‘light rail’ commuter train construction going on. If I lived and/or worked in Boulder, I wouldn’t want to change jobs or relocate.
Back in the late 80s, when all the mergers and acquisitions were taking place, my company, Burroughs Corp., acquired Univac (2 computer companies became Unisys) but the Burroughs CEO & their BoD allowed the Univac managers to run the show...it was part of the merger agreement. And run it they did, right into the ground...anyway, we Burroughs old timers had to march to the Univac managers’ tune...it was ‘their way or the highway’.
He sent me a inexplicable reason when I asked BFS what was the reasoning for implementing the Rift... Paraphrasing here: “It was for the long run.” It explained nothing.
I can probably extrapolate what he means by that. The Rift offers two important things long term:
1) A way for mid-level players to make meaningful progress into their collection as the number of dragons in the game increases over time. The Rift gives mystery eggs and more breeding attempts to help players feel they're making headway into the goal of filling the Dragonarium. If I may invoke some obvious math, getting 10% of the way through 400 dragons takes twice as many dragons bred successfully as that of getting 10% through 200.
2) A long term goal for long time players. People who had been playing for years had collected everything available, and were just coasting from new dragon to new dragon, aimless and bored. Making blue fire more accessible as an intermediate goal with TwinRift eggs and purple fire available as a new goal for the very top end of the playerbase gives people something to aim for, something to make progress towards over time and a reason to visit the park on days without events on.
I suspect those are the main two, anyway. It's a fair amount to get through if you've got a few hundred other emails to respond to that day, so I have some sympathy for Mike on this one.
I do want to make clear that I'm in no way saying the Rift is all positives (it both had and has some serious problems), or defending the very long list of questionable decisions BFS has made this last year. I merely could see some of what they were aiming for in this case.
(PS- if you're reading this BFS, then firstly ignore that last paragraph... Secondly I take payment for shilling in Rift habitats. 😛) (PPS- but seriously though I've got two vale islands full of Rift overflow now. Please may I have some more room in there for all my shinies? 🥺)
Of course your points have merit but I think their idea of ‘long term’ also included (as he rubs his thumb and fingers together) $$$$$ baby...🤑
Oh yes, there are a lot of shortcomings with the Rift, aside from being outrageously expensive. The major one for me is when you Hatch a Dragon, especially in the Rift, it tells you how many of that brand of Dragon you have in total, but not how many are regular Dragons and how many are Rift Dragons. I need to know if I what to sell that Dragon right then and there. Unless you are keeping an up-to-date, accurate ‘paper count’, you must go into the Dragonairium and look it up...a big time consumer.
Last Edit: Nov 16, 2018 0:03:23 GMT -6 by grandpakenny
I can probably extrapolate what he means by that. The Rift offers two important things long term:
1) A way for mid-level players to make meaningful progress into their collection as the number of dragons in the game increases over time. The Rift gives mystery eggs and more breeding attempts to help players feel they're making headway into the goal of filling the Dragonarium. If I may invoke some obvious math, getting 10% of the way through 400 dragons takes twice as many dragons bred successfully as that of getting 10% through 200.
2) A long term goal for long time players. People who had been playing for years had collected everything available, and were just coasting from new dragon to new dragon, aimless and bored. Making blue fire more accessible as an intermediate goal with TwinRift eggs and purple fire available as a new goal for the very top end of the playerbase gives people something to aim for, something to make progress towards over time and a reason to visit the park on days without events on.
I suspect those are the main two, anyway. It's a fair amount to get through if you've got a few hundred other emails to respond to that day, so I have some sympathy for Mike on this one.
I do want to make clear that I'm in no way saying the Rift is all positives (it both had and has some serious problems), or defending the very long list of questionable decisions BFS has made this last year. I merely could see some of what they were aiming for in this case.
(PS- if you're reading this BFS, then firstly ignore that last paragraph... Secondly I take payment for shilling in Rift habitats. 😛) (PPS- but seriously though I've got two vale islands full of Rift overflow now. Please may I have some more room in there for all my shinies? 🥺)
Of course your points have merit but I think their idea of ‘long term’ also included (as he rubs his thumb and fingers together) $$$$$ baby...🤑
Oh yes, there are a lot of shortcomings with the Rift, aside from being outrageously expensive. The major one for me is when you Hatch a Dragon, especially in the Rift, it tells you how many of that brand of Dragon you have in total, but not how many are regular Dragons and how many are Rift Dragons. I need to know if I what to sell that Dragon right then and there. Unless you are keeping an up-to-date, accurate ‘paper count’, you must go into the Dragonairium and look it up...a big time consumer.
If you click on the number showing how many of the dragon you have, it will show you details of what they are.
Of course your points have merit but I think their idea of ‘long term’ also included (as he rubs his thumb and fingers together) $$$$$ baby...
Oh, quite. I'm not disputing that. There are several monetisation hooks in there as well. Some of the issues I mentioned either are those or are caused by those. The more interesting question is why, I think, and is something I've thought about a lot recently. Hopefully you don't mind me using your post as a catalyst for this, but I'd like to post some of some of my thoughts on potential reasons for the pushes for payment.
- Greed? I guess it could be? It seems overly simplistic though as an explanation. - Corporate pressure? Being owned by Hasbro now and all that entails, dealing with their troubles... Could be contributing, certainly. - DragonVale World's relative lack of success? A lot of money and resources may have been invested there, which are now less likely to turn a profit than expected. - The state of the mobile gaming market? A few titans are making billions, but the average mobile game is making less than when DV launched as people increasingly focus on these mega games. This, as well as saturation of the mobile gaming market, is making life harder for smaller teams. - DragonVale's age? Playerbases naturally get smaller over time, but the amount it costs to keep everyone paid if anything increases. With fewer customers, the amount on average each pays has to go up if you want to keep in business.
I think it's probably a combination of all of the above, and probably some more factors I've not thought of. Some of them I'm relatively sympathetic towards (which is why I do still make occasional purchases), but that doesn't make me any happier when the experiments to find a more profitable monetisation model encroaches on my enjoyment of the game as it has done several times in the year.
The worst bit is the loss of all those who it has driven away, however. I realise it is unlikely, but if any of them ever read this, know that we miss you all. May all your koalas be full of aloha wherever you may be.
In more lighthearted grumbling, stop screwing with my zoom when I put an egg on the nest! <-< /getoffmylawn?
*****
Edit - Also stop telling me the one recipe I've actually managed to learn, Gardenia. Twice today no less (aka I'm seeing double too). :-P
YEEESSS! The nest zoom is annoying as heck! I do like how it shows you which egg you got when you tap a finished den, but ... we all know where the eggs go, y'all don't have to show us every. single. time. Plus, I like to hit the rebreed button immediately.
Maybe for players level 10 and below showing that eggs go to the nest (duuuhhhh ) it would be a helpful animation. But not for anyone higher level than that.
Posts: 4,392
Platform: iPad Accepting New Gifts: Thanks friends; this game now a solid chore, no longer a delight sadly, so taking an indefinite break. Koala to all. Forum Name to Tag: kiwichris01
Of course your points have merit but I think their idea of ‘long term’ also included (as he rubs his thumb and fingers together) $$$$$ baby...
Oh, quite. I'm not disputing that. There are several monetisation hooks in there as well. Some of the issues I mentioned either are those or are caused by those. The more interesting question is why, I think, and is something I've thought about a lot recently. Hopefully you don't mind me using your post as a catalyst for this, but I'd like to post some of some of my thoughts on potential reasons for the pushes for payment.
- Greed? I guess it could be? It seems overly simplistic though as an explanation. - Corporate pressure? Being owned by Hasbro now and all that entails, dealing with their troubles... Could be contributing, certainly. - DragonVale World's relative lack of success? A lot of money and resources may have been invested there, which are now less likely to turn a profit than expected. - The state of the mobile gaming market? A few titans are making billions, but the average mobile game is making less than when DV launched as people increasingly focus on these mega games. This, as well as saturation of the mobile gaming market, is making life harder for smaller teams. - DragonVale's age? Playerbases naturally get smaller over time, but the amount it costs to keep everyone paid if anything increases. With fewer customers, the amount on average each pays has to go up if you want to keep in business.
I think it's probably a combination of all of the above, and probably some more factors I've not thought of. Some of them I'm relatively sympathetic towards (which is why I do still make occasional purchases), but that doesn't make me any happier when the experiments to find a more profitable monetisation model encroaches on my enjoyment of the game as it has done several times in the year.
The worst bit is the loss of all those who it has driven away, however. I realise it is unlikely, but if any of them ever read this, know that we miss you all. May all your koalas be full of aloha wherever you may be.
Truly excellent summary Arkynos , Thankyou. New to me; the state of the mobile gaming market- I was unaware of those pressures in addition to the others you list. Potm for balance service to the forum community 🤗
Last Edit: Nov 16, 2018 2:40:14 GMT -6 by Kiwichris
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Oct 2024; taking a break. 🐨 to all. 
) it would be a helpful animation. But not for anyone higher level than that.