Offer better chances to very new players

I don't think I am alone in thinking that many aspects of the game are unreasonably hard for new players. I am not saying it should be a complete "gimme" (OK..set aside the fact that this is billed as a "free game" and therefore is entirely a "gimme" in one sense, I mean within the game dynamics). but why not offer a few boosts for specific events.

The "boosts" would do two things: First, encourage new people to participate in the occasional events, thus giving them more reason to enjoy the game and stay. Second, give new people a better idea of how these events actually work.

For example:
Gigantica
My biggest complaint about Gigantica was that I donated several orange pens early on and only got a yellow pen in return (or maybe not even that -- it was a long time ago, definitely far less than I put in). The response from the farmerama team was terrible, basically telling me "we posted the information, if you cannot read it or completely understand it, then we have no responsibility). My basic answer was to say "yes, you did post it, but I was so new at the game that i did not really understand the full import". Specifically, I won (or earned, or was given, not sure which ) a couple of orange pens, but did not really 'get" yet how difficult they were to come by (at least for a free player). I sort of assumed (because most games DO work this way) that if I was required to donate something, it would be generally "worth it". I did not expect that, as a newbie, farmerama expected me to fully understand the game right off and that they would not offer much explanation to "catch" me from making big mistakes.
I still think it is unfair/unreasonable to do this. Why not actually give new people a slight boost. Maybe give out 1 ticket that would give a much greater possibility of returning either a rare pen or a jumbo pen, if not even a gaurantee either a rare pen or a jumbo pen for ONE basic donation. You could offer this ticket to everyone who has not participated in this event yet OR just to those who have joined since the last event.

Moonlight mania-- not really a rare event any longer (which is GOOD!). You already offer 5 each special seeds, not sure more is required.

Renzo -- again, I found the free offering and explanations to be reasonable.

BB and powerfeed sales -- You already offer some bonuses. What is missing is a good explanation for new people on just what powerfeed means, how valuable it is. I remember using it to feed my chicken pens simply because I ran out of feed and selling my BBs to get CC. Finding how these things work requires going to the forum, searching through mountains of information. It is by no means easy, even for someone familiar with games in general and BigPoint games specifically. I would suggest sending out a quick bullet when someone first earns/wins/is gifted or buys powerfeed (particularly if they buy it!!!!), telling them basically "congratulations", you have won powerfeed, here is what you can use it for.. here is how you get more.... etc. BB is a bit more tricky. It does seem that you prefer to let people find out their value "the hard way".. and I am not sure that is entirely wrong.

Secret seedlings/secret pens (and various new names for the same basic concept): I like the randomness. Even though I don't have access to the specific algorithm used, I DO feel it is likely a "true" random (or close enough... no true random exists in humanity). I also feel the price is reasonable, and you do give every new player a couple of seedlings to start. It might be nice to offer a secret stable to newbies.. or maybe a discount

 

Most of the events you list are gambles, if you don't understand the risk / odds that then is hardly BP's fault.
You wouldn't walk into a casino and put all your money on the roulette table unless you understood what the odd were would you?

Too many players complain it is too hard to advance in this game. If it were easy most would have quit playing a long time ago, the game is avout long term challenges rather than quick wins. ( I quit several similar games a long time ago for this reason)

 

You make a good point about long term rewards versus short term. However, even though casinos are gambles, the odds of a roulette table are not hard to understand. In this game, you don't really 'get" the odds. It takes time to understand what the value of an orange stable really is. Essentially, if you gamble in a casino.. you know its a gamble. Here, its not initially clear it really is a gamble. This is particularly true if you have played a lot of other internet games. That is really what I am saying.. just be a tad more honest with new players, at least those who are actually willing to listen/try. I don't think that is unreasonable. The happier newbies are, the more likely they are to stay.