Should not KA change the name now?

[MSH]

It used to be a more/less strategy game – to succeed you needed to build your kingdom, fight the monsters and enemies, forge alliances etc. Although gems were helping some players to develop faster, skills were generally rewarded. Kingdom Age was an appropriate name by then… Lately, all is changed, as Funzio throws one ridiculous hide and seek event after another – 4 boxed events within a few weeks – rubies, rings, vials and now dragon’s eggs - what next – Big Easter Eggs Hunt?

That’s getting really annoying and is likely to disengage the game’s core customers – strategy players. It seems that KA is being rapidly transformed into CC – not Crime City, but just a mere CASH COW (other appropriate names are welcome)…

[asdfg12345]

It used to be a more/less strategy game – to succeed you needed to build your kingdom, fight the monsters and enemies, forge alliances etc. Although gems were helping some players to develop faster, skills were generally rewarded. Kingdom Age was an appropriate name by then… Lately, all is changed, as Funzio throws one ridiculous hide and seek event after another – 4 boxed events within a few weeks – rubies, rings, vials and now dragon’s eggs - what next – Big Easter Eggs Hunt?

That’s getting really annoying and is likely to disengage the game’s core customers – strategy players. It seems that KA is being rapidly transformed into CC – not Crime City, but just a mere CASH COW (other appropriate names are welcome)…
I used to defend funzio but its getting to be a bit too much with all these box events. I guess they have no plan for longevity of these games but rather just cash in as much as possible before the game dies.

[Zesder]

I guess this is what happens when another company takes over.

[tcapi]

Well, the new owner's name spells it all, though a "d" short.

[MSH]

Well, the new owner's name spells it all, though a "d" short.
Well, now I know why the name looked so familiar :)

[Aoxoa]

I understand that you need to make money, but I would MUCH rather pay $10 for a good app that has zero in app purchases than have a free app that milks money out of people to get better in game stats/whatever.

I think I am just getting jaded with the overwhelming greediness that is going on here. Good for them taking money away from people.

New game name should be "Wallet Age" or "Kingdom Credit Card".

[The_Legend_Shall_Live_On]

I guess it all really does come down to the players. Without us, there is no game.

I think they should change the events back to something more appealing and less auction style. If this keeps up, there won't even be non-gem players and gem players with all the bonuses they will get; it will be the prey and the hunters, no matter the strategy you have as a free player. Soon if they do this same type of event with "30% more defense" or "attack" or "less build time" or combination thereof, free players, no matter how strategic won't be able to catch up. And they'll lose us.

[Aoxoa]

free players, no matter how strategic won't be able to catch up. And they'll lose us.

QFE

If this game continues to be SUCH a disadvantage for free players, then free players will simply leave. Which is sad, because I WAS having fun with this game.

[ShawnBB]

Nice naming, Aoxoa
I prefer Wallet age,lol.

You know,I feel so sorry for ghost and all other members' effort.
Was a legit strategy game and now just violently turned into a man eater.

Their way of grabbing money is very pathetic and unethical, I doubt the latest rating in app store could even maintain a 2 star.
Both free players and gem spenders must be sick to their stomach. They are actually treating free player like garbage and gem spender like retarded ATM machine.

[The_Legend_Shall_Live_On]

QFE

??? Sorry, don't know this one. What's it stand for?

[Aoxoa]

I've been hearing about how companies like Funzio are designing their content to prey on people who have addictive personalities and they are literally draining thousands of dollars from these people because they aren't good at controlling themselves.
That summary is a little dramatic, but not too far off from the truth. Obviously it doesn't apply to every gem spender, but certainly many.

I just wonder how these people will feel a year from now when their thousands of spent dollars mean nothing due to the collapse of the game.

[tcapi]

Quoted For Emphasis?

[Aoxoa]

??? Sorry, don't know this one. What's it stand for?
It means quoted for emphasis.

[Jnesbitt82]

The leader is already at 18? I don't stand a chance, that's for sure. When did this event start?

[The_Legend_Shall_Live_On]

It means quoted for emphasis.

Cool. Thanks!


I've been hearing about how companies like Funzio are designing their content to prey on people who have addictive personalities and they are literally draining thousands of dollars from these people because they aren't good at controlling themselves.

You can't blame Gree (not Funzio) for taking advantage of something like this. It's just like commercials being ran on TV -- they are designed based off of what had been successful revenue generation in the past.

However, what companies like this don't understand, what their marketing people run into, is taking a successfully launched game like KA, throwing in enticements to buy small things so some people spend money, and then MAYBE having an auction-type event once a month or so while maintaining other events like in the past are what keep the game successful and thriving.

When it turn into more money than strategy, or not possible to carry on the game without heavier money spending, then they lose free players. Free players are the main source of word of mouth. Take a survey -- did you learn about Funzio games through the app store, a friend or some combination thereof? Is the friend someone who spends a lot on games through in-app purchases, or an occasional spender?

I bet if you tally those results, you'll find that much more than half of the people who promote this game are free players or spend very little. Someone who pops off $200 a month or more won't go telling everyone to play it, or won't tell people as freely.

[Timbathia]

I've been hearing about how companies like Funzio are designing their content to prey on people who have addictive personalities and they are literally draining thousands of dollars from these people because they aren't good at controlling themselves.
That summary is a little dramatic, but not too far off from the truth. Obviously it doesn't apply to every gem spender, but certainly many.

I just wonder how these people will feel a year from now when their thousands of spent dollars mean nothing due to the collapse of the game.

This is interesting, as effectively these events are a form of gambling. Uunlike most other forms of legal gambling, however, there are no published odds, and in fact, the odds decrease during the event (often unknown to the gambler). If there were cash prizes instead of in-game prizes, I would assume that this sort of predatory set-up would be extremely illegal in most countries.

[Populouspapa]

Im done with KA now.. Bye

[The_Legend_Shall_Live_On]

Im done with KA now.. Bye

Don't leave yet. They still have about 38 hours left to be able to return the gems that were used to get the boxes, and erase this event, and start a better one.

If not by then, wish you luck!

[Aoxoa]

Legend, more than that is this: free (and mostly free) players tend to make up the bulk of a game like this. If this player base only serves to be food for the $$ players, then they will get bored and leave. If the $$ players only have each other to play, then they will quickly burn and the game will be over.

One thing this game has taught me is to look closely at any app I am considering buying (or is even free). If there is a "top in app purchases" section then I just ignore it because I know the eventual outcome is what we see here with this game. I now only look for games that don't require any extra money to play beyond the initial investment.

But still, with all my nay-saying, I'm continuing this game until they railroad it into the ground.

[ShawnBB]

This is interesting, as effectively these events are a form of gambling. Uunlike most other forms of legal gambling, however, there are no published odds, and in fact, the odds decrease during the event (often unknown to the gambler). If there were cash prizes instead of in-game prizes, I would assume that this sort of predatory set-up would be extremely illegal in most countries.


Good point, that's exactly how I feel.
A large part of GREE's money pumps are actually having mentally illness more or less.
The way they squeeze money out from "patients" should be judged as illegal to some extent. This company is just so dark and scary for me.

[Chups]

I guess they have no plan for longevity of these games but rather just cash in as much as possible before the game dies.

This is exactly what I thought after seeing the new box event today.

[The_Legend_Shall_Live_On]

Legend, more than that is this: free (and mostly free) players tend to make up the bulk of a game like this. If this player base only serves to be food for the $$ players, then they will get bored and leave. If the $$ players only have each other to play, then they will quickly burn and the game will be over.

One thing this game has taught me is to look closely at any app I am considering buying (or is even free). If there is a "top in app purchases" section then I just ignore it because I know the eventual outcome is what we see here with this game. I now only look for games that don't require any extra money to play beyond the initial investment.

But still, with all my nay-saying, I'm continuing this game until they railroad it into the ground.

I know what you mean.

But also they HAVE to make money off of these games. If they didn't, there wouldn't even be free players.

It's a fine line they have to walk on. Not everyone is going to be kept happy. It's impossible. But they can't toe the line of majority and hope to retain the players. They have to work to keep 75% at the very least though to maintain the money users so it doesn't crash. $1m in 3 months is a lot less than $5m in 7 months. Free players, despite the grumblings, will keep playing. Just not as much, not as long, and will become much less over a much shorter time period.

I buy gems on occassion for the chest units. This type of event turns me away even from doing that.

[Bea]

I too have been thinking about how they've introduced gambling into these games. Scratchcard anyone? Another? Go on, one more.

Maybe it's time to head back to the poker?

[Timbathia]

I too have been thinking about how they've introduced gambling into these games. Scratchcard anyone? Another? Go on, one more.

Maybe it's time to head back to the poker?

I am not going back. Online poker is bad juju.

[asdfg12345]

Cool. Thanks!



You can't blame Gree (not Funzio) for taking advantage of something like this. It's just like commercials being ran on TV -- they are designed based off of what had been successful revenue generation in the past.

However, what companies like this don't understand, what their marketing people run into, is taking a successfully launched game like KA, throwing in enticements to buy small things so some people spend money, and then MAYBE having an auction-type event once a month or so while maintaining other events like in the past are what keep the game successful and thriving.

When it turn into more money than strategy, or not possible to carry on the game without heavier money spending, then they lose free players. Free players are the main source of word of mouth. Take a survey -- did you learn about Funzio games through the app store, a friend or some combination thereof? Is the friend someone who spends a lot on games through in-app purchases, or an occasional spender?

I bet if you tally those results, you'll find that much more than half of the people who promote this game are free players or spend very little. Someone who pops off $200 a month or more won't go telling everyone to play it, or won't tell people as freely.
I found it on app store but i tell friends who ask about it not to play unless they plan on spending alot of money lol

[ChaosRules]

I joined this forum pretty much to complain about the practices of this company. When I saw the latest event I almost deleted the game right then and there. I figured that the last event format was so wildly successful (in terms of revenue) that they decided to do what another poster mentioned before - milk this cash cow dry and screw over as many free payers as possible.

I have only ever spent money on gems once, and that was during the first event. I bought 120 gems for $10 so I could guarantee box openings, and still only got to 9 gems, even though I had over 60 boxes left by the end of the event. No way I was going to spend money to reset the timer.

I simply cannot understand why people wold spend hundreds of dollars on this game. I mean, it's fun but not THAT fun. I have a PC at home...I can spend $60 and get a kick-ass video game. I agree with another poster who mentioned that these tactics really prey on those with addictive personalities.

I'm almost done with this game. As soon as I get into the "whale zone", I think the game will get deleted. I'm at level 64 now, so maybe i won't have to put up with many more of these events before I quit. I will only use the rusty knife to open boxes from now on, and will save the gold for units.

[Hoodcrazy]

I agree with all of this. I liked the old events much more, at least you could get 3-4 cool units, and a small chance at the grand prize, and everyone was on the same plane. Free players could win the grand prizes, and i even saw someone win with only free opens. Now these new events its hard to get past 10 Runes/Vials whatever and only the top spenders get anything really cool. Hell with events id rather just save the 2000+ gold it cost to open a box and get a "I;m sorry" and continue on with my free strategy.

The Scratchers on CC are a great idea tho. Free prize once a day with chance to be something epic. Funzio/Gree need to put these on MW and KA and hit the brakes on these Top 50 events.

[Hobtuse]

I think the apocalyptic scenario has been overplayed here a little.

For KA, events have happened every fortnight with the exception of the latest Dragon Egg events. What Funzio/GREE has done is to push in a box event straight after their last box event that probably isn't too popular with free players, and is mainly targeted towards gem players. But it worked for them and perhaps they wanted to strike while the iron is hot.

I agree with most of the criticisms. But the bottom of the barrel hasn't fallen, let's give them more time. If they continue to make the wrong moves (i.e continue to put similar box events that exclude the free players), then perhaps we might have a case.

Players who have a problem with the event can easily skip it. I skipped the Vials of Hellfire event and saved up enough gold to build a Manor out of it.

[The_Red]

I wonder how concerned Gree is with upset players who haven't spent a dime on the game....

[Joie]

Red, if they run off all the free players the game will die, so not at least paying some attention could be a fatal error long term . Myself I could care less if they have an event every week, I'll muddle along and like other apps once I get bored I'll delete this game. I for one like all the events, adds a side quest of sorts. Without hese event I would have burned through all the maps. On the last map now, then I suppose I'll start trying to master them all. After that, without new content I will move on to another game .

[asdfg12345]

I wonder how concerned Gree is with upset players who haven't spent a dime on the game....
They need free players or the gem players will have no one to crush for fun.

[Sir Mixalot]

In a couple of months, after all the free players have quit and the gold players are sick of the weekly milking, they(GREE) will have their eyes opened when they cannot make the monthly lease payments on their new cars.

[pompoko]

If nobody agree with this kind of event, maybe we should all stay at 0 egg... Then everybody will have the same number, gem players will save money and we will all be in the top 25 :cool:!

[Skillzrock2]

I agree that the owners of this game are trying to milk the people with addictive personalities who cannot control themselves after a point. I started playing and said I would not spend any money. I ended up buying a $20 amount of gems for the hydra event and then the demon event so I could get the 10 opens. I said alright, no more after I had just wasted about 5 hours of me going to work and getting about minimum wage at my summer job. Then, the event that gave the incredible unit that let you upgrade 2 things at once came along, so I said OMG I NEED THAT and I bought $100 worth of gems. Turns out that I didn't even get enough for the top 500, so I didn't get anything out of my $100. Now, I don't even open the boxes that I get because this is messed up. If I even consider buying anymore gems again or if they do another one of these auction type events after this one, I am deleting the game and leaving a bad rating in the app store.

[Krug]

Well my take is that I can still enjoy the game as a free player. I don't mind putting $ down for IAP but the amounts that KA requires is ridiculous. Frankly I think they should target at getting $1-$3 from 30-40% of players rather than trying to get like $100 from 25-50 players, but who am I to question their business model?

One thing I know; it's always sweet when you whoop some guy who's paid a bunch.

[tcapi]

It is official!

Kingdom Age
by GREE

see the site title.

[Brooklyn Boy]

This is my first post here but I'm shaking my head because it's a carbon copy of what goes on everyday at CC. I guess everyone's feelings are pretty much the same of Funzio/Gree in all three games. It's a shame because if run right they could all be great!

[Good ol' Nick]

It's very sad to read posts about people with addictive personalities spending money out of impulsive decisions on short-term rewards. I, like many others playing this game, have a terribly addictive personality, but I also have a heavy load of impulsiveness from ADHD. Thankfully, over the years I have learned (the hard way) to overcome these tendencies and completely abstain from things like spending money on games (or anything else addictive for that matter). Try looking on the bright side (and there is in fact a bright side): better to learn by spending a little too much money on a game than to become addicted to something much much worse.
Enjoy this game for the same reasons that got you hooked in the beginning (this probably had nothing to do with spending real money) and ignore the shiny, golden hooks. Now, if recently you only enjoy the game by spending money, delete the app because most of the previous posts are correct; the game will eventually die out because this model is designed as a short-term cash cow and you would've wasted ALOT of money when it dies.
If you are like me and enjoy the game as a nice, free-to-play outlet from the 9 to 5 workweek then keep playing it as a healthy hobby.

Best Wishes,
Nick