What is EA buttering us up for?

barryriddl474 wrote:

chrisdirai146 wrote:
I'm nervous... this is way too many free donuts. Why do I feel like the much anticipated 'desert' themed event coming is going to have us paying back all those free donuts for small patches of precious dirt??? :(

Im not complaining just concerned!

http://i.imgur.com/jms0BTJ.gif

Legend! Wow! Not sure how many people here know that one... Good choice!!!

geekbyknight wrote:
They're giving us "free" donuts so we have not quite enough to actually buy anything, resulting in us feeling okay about spending a few quid on them. "The first taste is free" is a time honoured sales technique tradition.

Agreed.

chrisdirai146 wrote:
I'm nervous... this is way too many free donuts.

I know what comes next. First EA gives me lots of free donuts... then it tells me it can't see me anymore, and that it wants to see other players. Then EA tells me it's "them" not me! Why EA, Why?! It's because you think I look fat, isn't it?!?

mystery2mi wrote:
Maybe they meant dessert themed instead of desert themed? :lol:

I double checked the spelling because I thought that too

It's all about micro transactions. If the average user has a handful of donuts and a 300 donut item is released, it is unlikely that they will pay $20.00 for it. If they have 280 donuts, they would be much more likely to pay a quick $2.00.

I see it as a way to force smaller more frequent transactions rather than infrequent large payments. The items are usually time limited. You will be more likely to quickly pay a couple of dollars if you only have five days to decide. If you have to a lot for the item, chances are you will pass.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/zennglenn/53855799_zpsh0jh169e.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f5/zennglenn/Mobile%20Uploads/homer-butter_zps6gzvk7u8.gif

1 donut per square of new space I can live with but realistically I don't see donuts for land yet!!!!

geekbyknight wrote:
Everyone remove your tinfoil hats and disregard your conspiracy theories.

They're giving us "free" donuts so we have not quite enough to actually buy anything, resulting in us feeling okay about spending a few quid on them. "The first taste is free" is a time honoured sales technique tradition.

I'm not spending any quid. THAT makes me nervous. 8)

EA's tactic is working on me. I'm spending way more than I did before having so many free donuts.

Donuts are virtual, unlimited currency to EA and they're not losing any money by giving them away in smallish quantities like this. It'll encourage people to buy donuts so they can purchase that limited time item they're so close to getting.

I like getting buttered up like this since I'm not forced to buy anything for donuts in the game.

It's a boost to my donuts and it's free. What's not to like?

Way to go ForumNerds! That makes a LOT of sense.