My FP Dilemma, and a Question

neuroheart wrote:
The term you may be looking for is "loss aversion," the feeling that because you had a certain amount within your grasp, you should get that, and you don't like getting less, because it feels like a genuine loss. Casinos and game shows thrive on this, so it's very common.

I hypothesize that the points do reset every day, 24 hours after your first visit the previous day. I haven't actually collected data, it just seems that way to me. Might be worth testing if I can remember to write down some times.

*edit because autocorrect is not always right*

Very accurate and well stated assessment of the psychological underpinnings related to the OP's feelings.


Also, your hypothesis is correct. The points do reset every day at the same time your first neighbor visit resets. 8)

DamnedDonuts wrote:
your hypothesis is correct.

Oh what a beautiful phrase :mrgreen:

"Loss Aversion." Thank you!

What I don't get is that if you had 100 friends, and tapped everyone in a 24 hour period, you'd end up with 810 friend points.... Why can't every tap be 3 (rounded up from 2.7 which is how they would divide properly) points? We would feel like every tap on a friend would be equally worthwhile instead of the sliding scale. I feel that once I hit the 1 pointers, if I don't have time to tap, it's "see you tomorrow". But if each were 3 points, I'd try harder to make time to tap everyone.

*edited to correct math

I would love a three points per tap system.
The impression I get is that they're trying to be "fair" to those who don't have as many neighbors. I don't think it's necessary or a great plan, because it's hardly difficult to get maximum neighbors, and it ends up (as shown) just frustrating the players who see their returns drop off sharply. Not entirely fair to those of us who have 100 neighbors, or for those who might be at the end of a long list. The cap on daily points already prevents "neighbor farming," so I'm not sure why they settled on the system of declining return.

I don't understand that either. It's like they're saying, "We want you to have friends, and visit them, but not as many or as often as you could..." What is that supposed to mean?

The points didn't drop off over Halloween or Christmas, and that all seemed to work nicely. In fact, I liked Halloween more because the same points counted for personal and community presents (those gift bags were a pain!) So, even when I'd collected all my prizes, and didn't really care about the community stuff, I played just as hard because I knew there were people who really wanted the community prizes. I didn't get frustrated until the end when nobody cared much and it seemed like both gremlins and towns to drop them in we're getting scarce.

So, phoney on this new system. If it's supposed to change my behavior, it's working, but in the opposite way.

hipmama197190 wrote:
I don't understand that either. It's like they're saying, "We want you to have friends, and visit them, but not as many or as often as you could..." What is that supposed to mean?

I think what EA may be trying to do is encourage us to keep our actual RL/internet friends whilst dropping off the friends we added just for farming/visiting purposes. My playstyle is that of a grinder - I visit all my friends regardless. But I can see how EA wants to keep the original intention of friends - to encourage you to talk with your other TSTO buddies and spread the word about how good the game is. (As opposed to just adding 99 stranger's names just so you can level up faster).

It's an interesting method they're using and it's starting to work for those who are actively trimming their lists. However, for the majority, it just means that those alphabetically listed first get the advantage.

chippers29775 wrote:

hipmama197190 wrote:
I don't understand that either. It's like they're saying, "We want you to have friends, and visit them, but not as many or as often as you could..." What is that supposed to mean?

I think what EA may be trying to do is encourage us to keep our actual RL/internet friends whilst dropping off the friends we added just for farming/visiting purposes. My playstyle is that of a grinder - I visit all my friends regardless. But I can see how EA wants to keep the original intention of friends - to encourage you to talk with your other TSTO buddies and spread the word about how good the game is. (As opposed to just adding 99 stranger's names just so you can level up faster).

It's an interesting method they're using and it's starting to work for those who are actively trimming their lists. However, for the majority, it just means that those alphabetically listed first get the advantage.

Nail, meet Hammer....with your head.


In other words, I think you may be right, there.

But, if I play the game daily and give them my money, isn't that enough? Should I also drum up business for them?

Where does it end? Should I make sandwiches for the developers so they can work more comfortably? Perhaps I can donate blood to be used only by employees of EA Games and their families? I have an extra kidney, an extra lung, and a lobe or two of liver I can offer up as well. But really, I thought I was doing my part by, oh I don't know, giving up actual CASH for my gaming fun. Should I start looking for a leisure time activity that isn't eyeballing my firstborn and the equity in my home?

Please note, this is the first time I've ever been grumpy about something going on in the game. I'm not "take my ball and go home" mad, or anything. Just puzzled at this odd turn of events...

mwdalton wrote:

chippers29775 wrote:

hipmama197190 wrote:
I don't understand that either. It's like they're saying, "We want you to have friends, and visit them, but not as many or as often as you could..." What is that supposed to mean?

I think what EA may be trying to do is encourage us to keep our actual RL/internet friends whilst dropping off the friends we added just for farming/visiting purposes. My playstyle is that of a grinder - I visit all my friends regardless. But I can see how EA wants to keep the original intention of friends - to encourage you to talk with your other TSTO buddies and spread the word about how good the game is. (As opposed to just adding 99 stranger's names just so you can level up faster).

It's an interesting method they're using and it's starting to work for those who are actively trimming their lists. However, for the majority, it just means that those alphabetically listed first get the advantage.

Nail, meet Hammer....with your head.


In other words, I think you may be right, there.

Thanks. Funnily enough I read Hammer as Homer. :P

hipmama197190 wrote:
But, if I play the game daily and give them my money, isn't that enough? Should I also drum up business for them?

From the perspective of a techie, maybe all the friend visiting is just using up resources? I bet their server or data transfer costs are huge, but it's mostly because of friend visiting or something like that. Though your perspective makes sense as well. The profits from donut purchases should be enough to cover the costs. Maybe they're just trying to cut down as much as possible from their end.