An open letter to EA and the game developers
Dear EA and Track Twenty,
At a minimum, I am very thankful that you allow SimCity BuildIt to exist. I enjoyed playing SimCity as a kid on the Playstation and I am thrilled there is a mobile version of the game to a degree. But the game does not come without things that not every player agrees with or enjoys.
Trains would be a great addition to the game, but the way that they seem to be introduced in the game does not sound fun at all, in fact the beta version of the trains makes me and a LOT of other players want to stop playing the game. I really hate to use a tasteless pun, but my observations of the train rollout makes me think the entire concept itself is a train wreck.
I personally do not want to have to deal with another shop to produce goods, please get rid of the train shop, we don't want it, and quite frankly, if more shops are added, more people will begin having multiple cities which is either good news or bad news. Second, it is my understanding that the trains would be compulsory and required to be used to effectively play the game. Why does it need to be this way? Why does the game need another complication? Myself and many other players have spent YEARS building our cities and are proud of our hard work. What is needed to effectively communicate to everyone that the players do not want to undo years of work building because trains weren't in the game from the start. Why were the trains not implemented when the game started?
I saw that EA has addressed feedback regarding the season pass changes and has stated it will look into following an "alternative plan" in a future season. That is great that EA has responded to player feedback, but that is only half of the issue. The season pass changes were upsetting for me, but I honestly would have accepted it and got over it at some point. My decision to not purchase the season pass, pay for Vu pass, watch ads, or purchase any "offers" is being done as a protest about the implementation of the trains. I think this is something that has been completely avoided being addressed, and I personally want someone to respond to player concerns.
Lastly, why are such major changes made to the game without gaining player input? There are easy ways to obtain player input without having to individually interview persons or even communicate with us in any fashion. Why can't there be occasional topical surveys that pop up in the game and reward the person completing the survey with an item or plumbob points (if this is ever implemented, I want a decent reward. I am still highly offended at getting a small pine tree forest as a reward)? I am very upset that changes have been made to the game and I have zero opportunity offer input. Sure,I can post my suggestions and ideas here, but I don't feel heard at all, and I do not feel appreciated for spending time playing the game.
My proposal to resolve the current climate is this: immediately halt implementation of trains, and roll back the features for those who have them. The train bridges that have appeared in my Frosty and Green Valley regions are hideous and ugly, and I am incredibly angry that I have no say in where the train bridges are placed. Additionally, I am not happy with the appearance of the train tunnels in my frosty, I am thankful that the buildings I had in those spots cover up the ugly hole in the side of the mountain. If it is seriously desired by the decision makers for the game to implement trains, can you please work with the player community and develop an approach to trains that pleases most everybody?
I feel that if nobody listens to the many many many complaints about trains, the game will be doomed. I already cannot promise to continue playing the game, I am only hanging on here by a thread. As soon as trains are implemented in the game and I determine I don't like them, I'm gone. I can no longer care about a game where I do not feel that I am appreciated for playing.
I seriously hope that a decision maker related to the mechanics of the game is able to read this plea. Please pause / halt the rollout and spend some time with your players. The game is already too complicated, and I honestly think the game can be simplified and have annoying mechanics removed without ruining the fun of the game.
Sincerely,
A player that has probably spent thousands of dollars on the game