Feedback Mill Changes (Part II), Producer Newsletter and Compensation

Spanish players are getting a BB refund for the cloud row.
One user posted a support answer on a thread, and rightaway others started to send messages to support.
They all will be getting their BBs in the upcoming days.

 

First I agree, it seems odd that partial production never was a problem before and all of a sudden it is. Why? Even with the new production slots it worked. Until a "sync" run and everything changed. If there actually was a problem the tech team should rather think about fixing it rather than just getting rid of the partial production. Or just give us the old Mill back (including the old production times)!

And I can not understand how this particular buff (faster mill) could be a technical problem as the dev team has decided to introduce a multitude of new buffs in combination with cloud rows for a long time now. What a coincidence that all of a sudden there is a problem? And so many different kinds of new buffs as well like one just for moonlight or breeding, EP givers for BH Trees, etc. No problems there...

Anyway the real cheat is that the CR was sold under the premises to make food faster and now even with the new CR and all possible old buffs (Tree of Wisdom and Mill Subscrition) it takes even longer than before! And for people that have not paid for the cloud row all the feed take considerably longer! So the way I see it, is that BP stole production time from every single player to make up for their mistake!

And then there needed to be changes for economic reasons? I can see why. People don't want to pay for a game that is not fun anymore (and the dev team had a real go at it for a while now to make it so). I for example have been fed up with new trees and animals for a while and so I can really well understand that lesser and lesser people are willing to buy seedlings and stablemasters. So the dev team still introduces new trees for example and after a couple of times they already make it non available (last time to be able to win it). Again just selling by using the fear of people to never get the tree otherwise and just replace that tree by another "new" tree with a new quest. In my opinion the tech team and designers have been spending their time on the wrong things for too long. Introducing something new here and there on occasion yes, but too much is even taking the excitement out of the new.

I had already the feeling for a while that long term effects and finances (aka server capacity for example) have not been really thought about before. Like if someone buys a new high power lights for their business (because it looks prettier), they will have to pay the electricity as well (and that every future month that the lights are installed and in use, let alone getting the electrician in to fix it when it breaks). Just an example, from a bookkeepers point of view.

Anyway, making the game even less enjoyable in order to make up for the obvious losses they already had, seems like a loosing strategy to me.

Thank you escalonilla.
If this is indeed true, I am expecting very quickly an official announcement from BP on that matter so that everybody gets the information (even In-Game). Nobody should be disadvantaged just because they are not hanging out on the forum. The customer should not have to rely on information of a different forum or a forum at all in this case.
Everybody should get their BB's back, even the ones that will not write to support! And off course either the CR should be taken out of the game or everybody gets it because at the end nobody paid for it!

 

Hrmmm to early in the morning to read this bull dust ..... sounded like giving us a answer without giving us a answer .... the longer time to mill power feed was not addressed at all .....

 

I'm glad to hear that, and hope they will really do it in next few days, in a propper way (as Jennifer explained it already).

 

I find the announcement doesn't really answer much except to say that the stars are returning to event quests. What does "The behaviour of the buffs was also unfortunately necessary for the game’s economy. Unfortunately, the change was needed also in-order to make sure that the buff is valid irrespective of user being online or not." really mean (other than they want more money)? I don't recall ever having problems before with buffs not working when I was not on the farm. It's like listening to a politician answer a question - i.e. no real answer at all. I do not have the cloud row, but everyone who purchased it should have their BB's refunded. It is unacceptable that the "terms" of the cloud row as presented at the time of purchase were then changed after said purchase, without first informing players about the changes and second not offering players a chance to get the purchase price refunded if they were not happy with those changes. Disappointing response from BP.

 

I can see nothing of substance in this communication -no explanation of what they will do with the mill in combination with the mill-CR and Mill Subscription, but I smell they'll do nothing at all: it'll stay as is-, but for the renewed announcement of stars coming back to events.

hatzeva,

That sentence is confusing, indeed: I suppose they are saying they had to fix it because they noticed the buff didn't work while the user was offline, to get sure it now does. If I'm not wrong, this is their first hint that this was one of the issues in place. I hadn't noticed it, though, but who knows.

But this leads me to wonder then how the mill is really working now.

What I saw is that, while milling PF, if the amount of PF goes beyond the mill-CR 12 hs-buffing window, let's say over 3 (if Mill Subscription is also active), it adjusts the total time the batch takes to complete so that it reflects the out of that window proportion exactly. What Mir posted before with screenshots, but steady for me in total times (they don't randomly change).

Now, since this is the case I've been observing, then, how does it exactly work if the batch is large enough to not only exceed the mill-CR 12 hs-buffing window but also still be running when, after the CR cools down, you reactivate it? That would be the case of a 5+ PF batch. Does it adjust back again the remaining part of the task once you re-activate the mill-CR -I mean, if the total calculated is proportionally reduced then in the part still not completed when you re-activate the mill-CR (I hope I was clear enough: I'm too lazy now to do the calculations)? Because, for the sake of coherence and fairness, if they stubbornly choose not to restore the original condition, that's the way it should at least work: reduced+not reduced+reduction of the remainder once the mill-CR gets re-activated. Can anyone answer? Has anyone tried it? Does any mod know the answer?

I agree they should refund us or compensate us in BBs, escalonilla. But that commitment made in the Spanish forum says that, by doing so, they'll also remove the mill-CR altogether. That's not the right solution. I don't want that. What I want/find reasonable and fair is they restore the mill-CR as it originally worked (as advertised, in other words, both directly and, indirectly, via players posting in fora how it was working) OR a partial refunding for the net reduction of its true value -which I suggest to calculate in about at least 30/35% of total, the difference between 3hs and 4+hs-; maybe 50% at least if you consider longer than the buffing window batches.

 

I understand that these users have requested to have their cloud row removed and get their BBs back.
Some have already received them. Others have to wait until the cloud row is unlocked
I dont know anyone who has asked for a refund of the Mill suscription.
Let me get back tomorrow with more info. Time to sleep for me

 

Yes, I believe this is how it should work, based on this answer I have not tried it however, as there seemed to be a bug so that the cloud row did not affect a running production (I have no idea if it is fixed or not). The last few days I have activated cloud row first, then started production, and the time reduction has worked perfectly. I have timed it so that production will end before activating cloud row again to avoid problems.

 

The cloud row does do something odd when you activate it while the mill is running. I watched it do just that this morning. All I have been milling is 1 PF per queue as I do not wish to lose more time if another "fix" is applied while I'm milling. I now have to keep loading my mill which means I'm doing more monitoring of it instead of less. The exact opposite of what queuing was supposed to do. The CR doesn't do enough now to justify the expense. Games are supposed to be fun. Is this how BP defines fun? I'm not holding my breath for a straight answer.

 

Hello lovely Farmers,

Thank you all for your feedback, and I am really really sorry you are disappointed, I sincerely empathise. ​

Regarding some of your concerns:
- Mill: in other clear blunt words - it will stay the way it is now, only bug fixes will be made but changes will not be reverted nor further adjustments will be made, the Mill, it's buffs and mechanics will stay the way they are;
- Stars: we don't know exactly when they will return in events, we are hoping as soon as possible, but we do not have a confirmation of the date. We will keep you updated with this matter. No compensation will be given for the events that had no stars;
- Buffs: they were not problematic because we did not have many buffs, it was the rune and later on the subscription, and now, we have one more recent buff, from the cloud row; With the mill redesign, it was noticed that the buffs were not working as intended;
- Buff effect and full batch production: there was a technical problem with the buff being applied only when the user was online, but not when offline, so the change was needed for technical reasons;
- Compensation: For all the troubles, the compensation given was - the 3rd slot unlocked, the 2 weeks of mill subscription and the cloud row effect time / cooldown time have been adjusted. We apologise to those of you feeling it was not fair, and all we can do is refer you to our Customer Care Team to discuss a refund or further compensation;
- Delay: We apologise for the delay. It took longer for a statement to be officially announced because these decisions sure are not easy to take, and the Team had to analyse the possible options before rushing into taking a decision;

I am really sorry this was not the conclusion / outcome you have expected. I would like to thank you all once again for all your feedback, and for being so wonderful - I do hope Farmerama will be a fun place for you very soon again !

We cannot do much, but we will prepare a Forum competition for you as soon as possible as an attempt to lighten up the mood and thank you for all your support during these tough times.

Thank you for the delicious huge cake, farminfreebird, I would like to share it with all of you!
​

Best regards,
teddy.bear

 

Hi Teddy,
Once again a big thank you to you Teddy for your continued support and the respectful way you have conducted yourself during these troubled times initiated by BP.

But yet again BP are treating us like kids its their way or noway!!!!

The mill issues has been set in their favour, Im sure this was not the only way the Mill could have been 'fixed' why could it not have been put back to the way it was whilst it was fixed in a fairer way to us players, but no we see the true BP it is fixed in their favour.

The stars are a complete joke. It took seconds for them to be removed so why can they not be returned it wont take much. they are part of the game and to take them away is ???????

As said on the forum for the past few weeks the paying players do not think the compensation was adequate yet again BP giving us the very minimum. Now they are passing the buck onto customer services but it has taken weeks to get to this stage so plenty of time for them to prepare their excuses, as that is what we are always getting is EXCUSES EXCUSES.
A sync was does within hours for the unicorn on renzos fair as it was not benefiting BP, so why no sync to give us a refund on the cloud row and when it was fixed offered back to us at a discounted rate, but no that is not BP's way to look after its paying customers.

They are sorry it has taken time to make an announcement, I dont think they are sorry, there are looking for ways to make more money out of us but saying trying other things I am not STUPID BP we know what you are doing.

Its just one excuse after another. Well wake up BP and get down from your Ivory Towers and see what is going on in the real world you have had plenty of warning from paying players they will walk away from the game and your revenues will be drastically reduced. Dont forget if not for us you have no job and income.

Thank You

Steve

 

Pffft in other words ..... to bad suckers ...... we'll do what we want to do ....
they must have been losing to much money with people being able to mill power feed faster ....
I'm not happy I'll not spend another real money dollar on this game .....
No need no reason we are not thought about ...... and not a care to what we think is considered whatsoever

 

thanks Teddy for fully express the OA & Let us clear understand what BP attitude
on this matter.
only promise to give back star, Keep the Mill changes (Part II) & those offer compensation.
Don't accept. what any refund. pls call customer service to see if they would let it happened!

OK. My feedback to BP's response is:
Once I find something/game more attract me. I will abandoned this game.
before that. I will still play it. For the sake of my hand health. I will still buy machinery.
But I don't care to loss any unused machinery time. any unused BB...
once I decide to go. I will gone.

 

Hello everyone,

Thank you all for the continuous feedback , and for your lovely kind words .​

I would like to ask you to please be so kind and keep the thread on topic.

Dear dnin21cent, as previously mentioned, please contact support for a refund, this is not something we can address, I am sorry.
​

Best regards,
teddy.bear

 

Teddy, thank you for your efforts. None of our discontent has to do with you or the other mods. Unfortunately, the only way we can get our feelings heard is through you. That said, please forward the following:

I am absolutely disappointed that you, BP, consider offering a general bonus to all players is sufficient "refund" for those of us who put out BBs, mostly meaning real money. Also, others have referred to "strategy", implying somehow that there are "go-arounds" that require thinking, making the mill issues basically something only impacting those not capable of such thinking. Well... to that, no! Comparing this game to all other games is part of the problem. I play chess, or even backgammon, etc various other games when I want to excercise my mind. This game I come to because it allows me to get some pleasure from watching things grow while thinking about other things. There are a few tricks and tips, but it is NOT a real strategy game. The biggest benefit from the tricks and tips, honestly is just the pleasure of sharing them with others.

All of the recent changes are effectively leading to one outcome.. it is taking real money or major lots of time to play. Events, milling, all of that is no longer just a quick "in and out", even for those of us with harvester subscriptions, mill subscriptions, buffs, etc. I have said before that I am willing to spend small amounts here and there.. $5.00 is about 2 cups of coffee. lately, though it is more like $20-$30 a pop. And, its repeated, not once every 5-6 months or so. The real truth is that if I am going to spend that much, then I might as well get one of the subscriptions that will allow me to play multiple games of ALL sorts repeatedly. Farmerama was attractive because it did NOT require a commitment, was easy to play and offered occasional bonuses, some for real money, but amounts mostly less than $5.00 a month. That is no longer the case. I will likely still play, as long as it is free, at least until my subscriptions run out. I am no longer spending money on this game.

As for a refund... we have been through so much already, even offering a full refund now is basically just a pointless gesture. Making us go and beg for it, is an insult. Any GOOD business would offer it and would have done so immediately, as soon as it was clear we were not going to be provided what we paid for.

I have read that the Spanish folks are getting a refund. Spain likely has different laws than we do here in the US. Certainly, taking you to court over what is less than $3.00 (from what I remember, based on the percentage of a BB package.. though my memory might be incorrect) is just not worth even the gas, never mind the time to press the issue. And, there is the whole issue of whether virtual "moneys" have true value that translates to cash. Most users feel it does, but our feelings don't make for laws, at least immediately.

Anyway, the bottom line is most of us feel cheated -- a word I, at least, do not use lightly. Further, your attempts at justification rather than a plain apology are disgusting.

Truth is if you had flat out offered an immediate apology even just offered a refund IMMEDIATELY to any who wanted, then this whole thing would have pretty much blown over. Most people likely would NOT have asked for a refund. A few still would have been upset, but the level of absolute disgust and distrust would not exist.

So... basically, you took a relaxing, fun game and turned it into a money-grabbing enterprise that doesn't even honor its most basic promises -- the promise to just do as you said you would for real money, in particular. I have already spend enough on this game that just giving it up is not easy. I enjoy talking and sharing with the people. I like those I actually deal with, including the other players, and, particularly the moderators -- even if I have not always agreed with everything they have said/done. (all minor issues, but no -- no one is perfect, me least of all). BP, however... you can forget my playing any games you sponsor, and its very likely I won't continue with this one very long at all.

In the end, I fully recognize that I am just one player and BP has made clear that our individual opinions really do not matter. Still, I felt it necessary to explain why I am so disgusted by the recent mill changes.


Again, teddy.. none of this is directed at you. Thank you for your time and efforts.



A hot chocolate with whipped cream to you on a cold day. And a nice box of chocolates for any time.

 

Dear Teddy, nothing against you.
I understood all about that.
just a little disappointed for BP's answer back.
I will not ask for any refund. I had not buy the cloud row.
regarding mill subscription, I remain 600 hr. less than 1 month.
I won't bother about it. As I say. Those money I could loss anyway.
it's just an unhappiness feeling.
I always tell myself. nothing big. It's just a game. If it make me feel no good to playing it.
I could quit.

 

I will continue for now to play the game as I have invested what to me is a fair amount of real money in it. Some drastic changes would be needed for me to invest any more. I have lost trust in BP.

Straight answers. Not apologies laced with "but" this was the way it was supposed to work. If you make an apology with any type of justification for your action, it negates the apology. I apologize but, I don't.

 

teddy, I'm sorry you have to keep dealing with this nonsense. If they are not paying you they should because you are a far better public relations person than BP deserves.


That producer update tho... wow. Consider my mind thoroughly boggled. "Apologizing" for terrible communication with a letter filled with terrible communication, that's an interesting strategy! I don't know what half of the sentences in that letter means and the other ones are just platitudes and apologies without substance. Smoke and mirrors.


From the later info posted here on the board however it seems that the gist is:

- we messed up but we don't care (but we'll make the right noises and look apologetic while doing nothing about said mess)
- sucks to be you
- cry some moar
- we had to change the mill for the worse. Because of... reasons. Verrrry important reasons that we unfortunately can't tell you about, because they are technical. So don't worry your pretty little heads about them.
- we are refunding some people because we have to but we won't tell the rest of you in case we might get away with not refunding everyone
- stars will be back, probably, at some point in the future but we can't (or won't) tell you when. Because of reasons. It could be for Christmas!
- why are you still whining about a permanent loss of functionality? We gave you a bonus code that will last for two whole weeks!
- seriously, we just really want you to stop whining and get back to giving us your money. So look, here's a shiny forum competition to distract you!


Snark aside, BP is just digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole of their own making. Speed, transparency and honest communication are key components in good customer relations. BP has sadly dropped the ball on all three.


***

 

I am satisfied with the solution offered by support.

I think I have already made my position on how this was handled quite clear. I don't wish to add any further comments, I am done with this issue now.

 

I couldn't agree more!!! Although not happy with how this all happened I am really ready to get back to my Happy Farm.