I've been playing this game for over five years now, and I've been a premium player for nearly as long. However, I've noticed recently that it's becoming more cost prohibitive than it used to be.Allow me to explain, earlier in the game's run, it was much cheaper to play. There were premium items, of course, but these were balanced by the freemium items that were available for cash. This was especially true for the level updates, where half the released materials were for cash, and half were for donuts. This was also tied into the periodic Gil deals where donuts were purchasable for a decent discount, or bonus donuts were awarded. I remember a time where I could live off of a Gil donut deal for seven to nine months of gameplay (for the record, it was the $100 deal).However, it appears that the tide is shifting. More and more of the new content is donut-based, especially the majority of the new characters. Gil deals for exclusive content are more frequent than they used to be, but a donut deal hasn't been a thing for years. I spent $50 on donuts a month or two ago for the international event, but now I'm contemplating another $50 purchase to get the new content during this event.Now, I'm not one of those "OMG THE GAME IS ENDING" types, but it does appear that the game relies more and more on people purchasing premium content than it used to. Is it just me?

Imo, speaking only for myself, I think TSTO is an expensive "premium" game to play. For the first several years I bought, and bought, and bought donuts... so much so that I am terrified to look at the receipts. It's brought me to a place where I can now play more easily, but knowing what it cost me to get here is embarrassing.I personally think we should have characters that earn donuts. Not all of them, but some. Offer a good mixture of tasks... especially premium characters. After all, we paid for them with donuts... let them earn some donuts in return.

I agree its getting more expensive to play with every event, tie in costing more in donuts and I'm now at that point where I'm just don't want to spend more money. I only feel this way after because they up the prices in donuts earlier this year. I will keep paying for the new stuff because I love this game too much but I going to be not getting everything due to the prices. At the end of the day EA just love there money and its only going to get worse in the future. (that's my opinion anyway)

You could always join the cool kids and start farming donuts.

"skollthewolf;96095" wrote:I've been playing this game for over five years now, and I've been a premium player for nearly as long. However, I've noticed recently that it's becoming more cost prohibitive than it used to be.Allow me to explain, earlier in the game's run, it was much cheaper to play. There were premium items, of course, but these were balanced by the freemium items that were available for cash. This was especially true for the level updates, where half the released materials were for cash, and half were for donuts. This was also tied into the periodic Gil deals where donuts were purchasable for a decent discount, or bonus donuts were awarded. I remember a time where I could live off of a Gil donut deal for seven to nine months of gameplay (for the record, it was the $100 deal).However, it appears that the tide is shifting. More and more of the new content is donut-based, especially the majority of the new characters. Gil deals for exclusive content are more frequent than they used to be, but a donut deal hasn't been a thing for years. I spent $50 on donuts a month or two ago for the international event, but now I'm contemplating another $50 purchase to get the new content during this event.Now, I'm not one of those "OMG THE GAME IS ENDING" types, but it does appear that the game relies more and more on people purchasing premium content than it used to. Is it just me?Some industrious person (not me, of course) could probably calculate some numbers that would either support or refute your hypothesis. But my impression is that the ratio of premium to freemium content has increasingly tilted in favor of premium over the past year or more. So, yes, the game is probably more expensive to play if you’re paying for most of your donuts and one of your objectives is to amass as much content as possible. Whether it’s too expensive is a more subjective matter.

This is like the third or so topic about this...

Is TSTO Becoming Too Expensive? | EA Forums

Jonalinn
New Spectator
8 years ago
Imo, speaking only for myself, I think TSTO is an expensive "premium" game to play. For the first several years I bought, and bought, and bought donuts... so much so that I am terrified to look at the receipts. It's brought me to a place where I can now play more easily, but knowing what it cost me to get here is embarrassing.

I personally think we should have characters that earn donuts. Not all of them, but some. Offer a good mixture of tasks... especially premium characters. After all, we paid for them with donuts... let them earn some donuts in return.
Castiel_Touk
Seasoned Newcomer
8 years ago
I agree its getting more expensive to play with every event, tie in costing more in donuts and I'm now at that point where I'm just don't want to spend more money. I only feel this way after because they up the prices in donuts earlier this year.

I will keep paying for the new stuff because I love this game too much but I going to be not getting everything due to the prices.

At the end of the day EA just love there money and its only going to get worse in the future. (that's my opinion anyway)
artdork09
8 years ago
You could always join the cool kids and start farming donuts.
KrustyBrand
8 years ago
"skollthewolf;96095" wrote:
I've been playing this game for over five years now, and I've been a premium player for nearly as long. However, I've noticed recently that it's becoming more cost prohibitive than it used to be.

Allow me to explain, earlier in the game's run, it was much cheaper to play. There were premium items, of course, but these were balanced by the freemium items that were available for cash. This was especially true for the level updates, where half the released materials were for cash, and half were for donuts. This was also tied into the periodic Gil deals where donuts were purchasable for a decent discount, or bonus donuts were awarded. I remember a time where I could live off of a Gil donut deal for seven to nine months of gameplay (for the record, it was the $100 deal).

However, it appears that the tide is shifting. More and more of the new content is donut-based, especially the majority of the new characters. Gil deals for exclusive content are more frequent than they used to be, but a donut deal hasn't been a thing for years. I spent $50 on donuts a month or two ago for the international event, but now I'm contemplating another $50 purchase to get the new content during this event.

Now, I'm not one of those "OMG THE GAME IS ENDING" types, but it does appear that the game relies more and more on people purchasing premium content than it used to. Is it just me?

Some industrious person (not me, of course) could probably calculate some numbers that would either support or refute your hypothesis. But my impression is that the ratio of premium to freemium content has increasingly tilted in favor of premium over the past year or more. So, yes, the game is probably more expensive to play if you’re paying for most of your donuts and one of your objectives is to amass as much content as possible. Whether it’s too expensive is a more subjective matter.
1pillform
8 years ago
This is like the third or so topic about this...
cdepast
8 years ago
I think it's all relative. Donuts have become much easier to gain, without spending money, so there are more premium items being released as supply and demand. If people never buy donuts the game will end. On the other side of this is that we are getting way more free items as well. When it used to be a level updated and maybe a quarterly event, we'd get a lot less free items. Ultimately the premium items are a choice. The great thing about TSTO is that you never have to pay to play. It's always your choice.
devilhunt1449
8 years ago
The premium to freemium content is still fairly well matched the main difference between the past and now is that the freemium stuff is now crafted rather than costing game cash and to balance the increase in donut cost premium items it is probably wise to look into farming to be truthful, it's up to yourself as to how expensive the game is, if you want every premium item then it could well be quite costly but you don't have to spend anything to play as several on here frequently say.
bluntcard
New Traveler
8 years ago
It's more expensive if you have to have everything, yes. There are way more events, so many more premium items offered.
heyababy47428
Seasoned Newcomer
8 years ago
At least when you pay for a character here you get the character. Some games allow only the chance to get the character that you want. Then others make you jump through hoops to unlock a character you already own. Still others would require you to obtain 4-5 copies of the same character to get it's maximum benefits.
simp7fan
8 years ago
"Jonalinn;1597225" wrote:
I personally think we should have characters that earn donuts. Not all of them, but some. Offer a good mixture of tasks... especially premium characters. After all, we paid for them with donuts... let them earn some donuts in return.

Neat idea. Akira can make premium bonsai (which has no multiplier), so it might make sense that other characters can make actual donuts. Maggie basically does every 3 days, so there you go. They could add more, especially for premium purchases. Maybe even a limited donut earning task that basically makes them free but doesn't give you free donuts for life, like the ultimate rebate if you're willing to keep up on the tasks

"devilhunt1449;1597255" wrote:
The premium to freemium content is still fairly well matched the main difference between the past and now is that the freemium stuff is now crafted rather than costing game cash and to balance the increase in donut cost premium items it is probably wise to look into farming to be truthful, it's up to yourself as to how expensive the game is, if you want every premium item then it could well be quite costly but you don't have to spend anything to play as several on here frequently say.

THIS sounds like the best and most concise answer.