FAQ about the Global Trade HQ
Greetings Mayors,
Global Trade HQ has been a very popular feature in SimCity BuildIt. Every day over 8 million transactions take place, meaning that it is busier than the New York Stock Ex...
Forum Discussion
I knew getting involved with an EA freemium game wasn't the best decision I'd ever made, but for the past few weeks of playing this game I'd legitimately believed SimCity BuildIt was pretty good, that EA wasn't against us, and that it was possible to succeed in this game with a strategy of managing resources instead of simply waiting for everything.
However, with the 30 second timer being implemented I've suddenly shifted gears. This new feature has made the Trade HQ intentionally slow, difficult to use, and impossible to realistically make a profit. What's worse is that, because it's going to be received negatively, less people will use the HQ, making it even worse. A downward spiral, much like any trade market.
The difficulty I experience with the new 30 second buffer is that you can no longer wheel and deal, buy and sell like an actual broker. There was a certain charm to manipulating the HQ to make a profit, something I hadn't experienced before in a game. And it was satisfying and fun, it made me constantly want to play this game. I could make a profit by being intelligent (although really it's basic economics).
But now EA prefers to make a profit the usual way, force its userbase to become frustrated and not want to think with their head, but instead their wallet. The 30 second buffer eliminates profit and creates a slog of waiting around, hoping something might happen. Whereas before you could update the HQ anytime, experiencing quick prices and deals, in turn it's now about waiting. More waiting. And more ways for EA to get a dollar out of you.
I believe this was intentional, EA knows what they're doing. And it's disappointing, especially because I've come to write this. I've never really liked EA, I get the disdain, but when I gave SimCity BuildIt a go (thanks to my girlfriend playing it), I found myself actually considering otherwise; the creators of this game had the usual freemium IAP's, but there was still a great system involved to 'make it on your own' if you put the time in.
But now that's gone as well, and it's replaced with a time slog. And it's never coming back. Nobody from EA will read this; the only people who do will be the ones in my boat. And my boat is sinking, just like my interest in the game.
Please change this back, EA. I realize you're not making a quicker buck with the buffer off, but have a heart. The game was BETTER without the buffer. It's now much worse with it.
You wanna make quality games? You wanna be the better developer? Here's a small window of opportunity. Now climb through.
We're all waiting.
With each GTHQ update I've thought, "it can't possibly get any worse" and I've been proven wrong each time.
Could they make it even worse than the current 30s version? I want to say no but I've been surprised with *every* other update. :robotembarrassed:
- @ DocPooki
Very well said. I can especially identify with what you say in the third paragraph. I mean really what is the point of a global market like this in a game, if it cannot be 'worked'. It is as if they are determined to keep dumbing it down to the point that everyone can feel like they are progressing well; regardless of whether or not they are driven to actually figure it out.
My best example was when the trade center was flooded with donuts, I was making none, why would you? They are a low profit/time item anyway and they were always available. Anyway, I would wait for one of these huge request from one of the towns supervisors for donuts at over $1000 a unit, and then pop onto the trade center and 'fill' the order with $750 units. Was feeling pretty smart ; ). Also, I made and sold things on the market that there was a shortage of, not a bunch of uneeded items for Daniel to buy. I wanted to 'do it right' and feel like I had progressed through the game honestly, using my wits, foresight etc.. Is'nt that the point, EA?!
Anyway, it is over now. I put up with the cargo ships orders now, being 3-5 times the number of items for much less per unit, I put up with Vu disasters being completely changed, but I too am beyond my patience with this game and the 30 second delay. I mean what are we supposed to do for thirty seconds? I go to the trade center usually to find a specific thing that I need to continue, this 30 second delay is just that a delay; then one gets to try to guess when the 30 seconds is up and if it is not you Still have to wait for the window to load the same items and still have to close and reopen, amazing.....
I think what gets me the most is the major changes AFTER the game has been released for several months. If all of these things had been the case I would have immediately seen it as requiring way too much time and would not have gone to the pains to produce a city with only two polluting factories, over 575,000 population, 100% happy since level 15 and have only 'had' to reach level 27; too bad I cannot finish it. I even made spreadsheets to figure out what were the the most profitable items per production time - I was Reallly! Into it.
I close with the fact that I am not a game player. I mean really not. I play an occasional round of Mahjong, etc.. But this game was a blast, so many things to figure out and plan. But they have decided that making a little more off of it, is more important than making something that is really fun to play. I will not be making the mistake of trying one of their games again as I feel quite betrayed at this point. EA you are losing a whole new potential market here - CheerZ!
