I am a dedicated player, and I don't mind spending my money on the premium items. It is well worth the money I put into it. If people don't want to spend the money for the premium items then that is their choice, so stop all the complaining and whining about the cost of donuts. Your game is what you put into it. EA dev have done an awesome job with Tapped Out.
I do have one question, does anyone know if EA will bring back items from previous years? I have seen some really cool things and wouldnt mind buying donuts just to get them.
Free items all the way. Paying for stuff with real money on a free game is pointless in my opinion. You may as well buy a proper,fully-fledged simulation game instead of wasting it on donuts for something you won't physically own.
The Real Dalekbuster523, Coming Soon to Nethersphere Online
Free items all the way. Paying for stuff with real money on a free game is pointless in my opinion. You may as well buy a proper,fully-fledged simulation game instead of wasting it on donuts for something you won't physically own.
I appreciate that not everyone wants to spend real money on this type of game, but I don't think the reason behind it is that you don't physically own it. I mean - I don't buy my console games because they look pretty on the shelf. I buy them for the experience of playing them. Same goes here - if I'm to buy donuts, I'm not expecting to be able to hold them (though if they came with vouchers for some donuts to eat, I wouldn't be complaining); I've bought the experience that comes from spending them.
Personally I think it's okay to spend a little on donuts if you are so inclined. All games take a certain amount of effort to produce, and that should be rewarded. That money has to come from somewhere, and I'm happy to decide how much I think the game is worth and spend that on donuts. Yes, this sort of profit model does open up issues (e.g. with young kids not understanding that it costs real money, or with impulse-control-issues leading to excessive spending), but since I'm a grown-up who can control themselves, I like it for the benefit of being able to try the game and be sure I like it and have a certain level of commitment to it before choosing to spend real money.
I do have one question, does anyone know if EA will bring back items from previous years? I have seen some really cool things and wouldnt mind buying donuts just to get them.
Yes and no. It seems EA will bring back certain things just as long as they're not episode specific content. All of last years Halloween items were brought back this year with the exception of the Super Collider, Black Hole, Mayan God & Mayan Calendar. And that's because those were episode tie-ins to last years Treehouse of Horror episode. Just like the Freak Show Tent & Strongman Homer skin for this year.
They have also brought back Fat Tony, which was a limited time character to an episode tie-in last year. But I think the main reason he was brought back was because they introduced Legs & Louie with the level update & it would be insane to exclude Fat Tony.
Pretty sure all the Christmas stuff will be back this year. As for the Thanksgiving balloons, those may stay retired and in its place something else can be released.
This game is certainly fun, and I definitely do appreciate a totally free, non-ad-bloated game.
The one problem I have with this game, is what exactly does EA expect us to PAY for a well-rounded user experience? It's not necessarily clear, but my little bit of calculating adds up to between $200-$500!! That's a really, really pricey game for ANY platform.
I'll explain:
The major hang up is the donut-only premium items. Yes, we can all choose to play completely free, using only what is "earnable" through investment of our playing time. So I'm not adding anything for attempts to accelerate the time line at all. That's paying for impatience, and should be a premium purchase.
However, I've done some math to show you what I mean.
I'm on level 18 after about 2 mos of play time. The "demo friend's town" I can see has progressed just a little ahead of me, and is on level 20.
The premium items in this demo town include some, but not all of the premium buildings (Springfield Mtn, Frink Lab, Duff Brewery); and quite a few premium decorations (30+ apple/orange trees, 40+ flower/plant boxes, tire fire, white fence, bench w/ shirt); totalling 1900+ donuts. So this imaginary player has supposedly already spent $100 - 140 (depending on their donut purchase rate of course.)
The majority of the remaining premium items (that I can currently see are available with listed donut prices at my level 18 ), total up to about 3200 donuts. That's most of the remaining significant buildings and characters. I'm not including every single thing, like unknown characters (police dog) and other little decorations (ambulance).
So that's 3200 plus 1900. Let's round it to a flat 5000 donuts for a 90% complete user experience. (it should be more like 6000 but I'm being practical, not OCD about it)
Even at the most cost effective rate of $100 per 2400 donuts, that's over $200 to build a good Springfield.
At a more realistic purchasing rate of $20 per 300 donuts, that's over $300.
So in summary, without paying for time acceleration "cheats", without trading donuts for dollars to purchase 'earnable' items faster, and without trying to 'max out' the game and purchase every single item to 'fully equip' the city, but JUST TO GET THE MAIN CHARACTERS, BUILDINGS, AND REASONABLE SUPPLEMENTAL ORNAMENTS, EA expects us to fork out about $250 UP FRONT, or $20 a week for 17 weeks.
That's pretty dang expensive for a "free" game. (which is also hardly free, unless you consider your personal time to be worth $0 per hour?)
Again, I appreciate the well thought-out game without ads. But it is most certainly a dang expensive game if you want the full experience of rebuilding a well-rounded Springfield.
All my designs look unfinished because i can't place as many plants, streetlights, and fences as i would like. PLEASE REMOVE THE LIMIT, EA!
This game is certainly fun, and I definitely do appreciate a totally free, non-ad-bloated game.
The one problem I have with this game, is what exactly does EA expect us to PAY for a well-rounded user experience? It's not necessarily clear, but my little bit of calculating adds up to between $200-$500!! That's a really, really pricey game for ANY platform.
I'll explain:
The major hang up is the donut-only premium items. Yes, we can all choose to play completely free, using only what is "earnable" through investment of our playing time. So I'm not adding anything for attempts to accelerate the time line at all. That's paying for impatience, and should be a premium purchase.
However, I've done some math to show you what I mean.
I'm on level 18 after about 2 mos of play time. The "demo friend's town" I can see has progressed just a little ahead of me, and is on level 20.
The premium items in this demo town include some, but not all of the premium buildings (Springfield Mtn, Frink Lab, Duff Brewery); and quite a few premium decorations (30+ apple/orange trees, 40+ flower/plant boxes, tire fire, white fence, bench w/ shirt); totalling 1900+ donuts. So this imaginary player has supposedly already spent $100 - 140 (depending on their donut purchase rate of course.)
The majority of the remaining premium items (that I can currently see are available with listed donut prices at my level 18 ), total up to about 3200 donuts. That's most of the remaining significant buildings and characters. I'm not including every single thing, like unknown characters (police dog) and other little decorations (ambulance).
So that's 3200 plus 1900. Let's round it to a flat 5000 donuts for a 90% complete user experience. (it should be more like 6000 but I'm being practical, not OCD about it)
Even at the most cost effective rate of $100 per 2400 donuts, that's over $200 to build a good Springfield.
At a more realistic purchasing rate of $20 per 300 donuts, that's over $300.
So in summary, without paying for time acceleration "cheats", without trading donuts for dollars to purchase 'earnable' items faster, and without trying to 'max out' the game and purchase every single item to 'fully equip' the city, but JUST TO GET THE MAIN CHARACTERS, BUILDINGS, AND REASONABLE SUPPLEMENTAL ORNAMENTS, EA expects us to fork out about $250 UP FRONT, or $20 a week for 17 weeks.
That's pretty dang expensive for a "free" game. (which is also hardly free, unless you consider your personal time to be worth $0 per hour?)
Again, I appreciate the well thought-out game without ads. But it is most certainly a dang expensive game if you want the full experience of rebuilding a well-rounded Springfield.
It has to be extortionate to buy /everything/, though. EA know a LOT of players will be playing for free forever, so they make no money there.
That means that if they want to recoup an average of $X per player, the amount recouped from players who DO spend needs to be higher so that the overall average is where they want it to be.
There's always going to be the odd handful of players who will spend as much money as they need to in order to have everything. EA banks on those people to spend enough to make up for those who spend nothing.
EA do not expect you to spend anything. They expect most people to spend nothing. That's why they need to make the most out of those who will spend as much as they "need" to, and I'm more than happy for them to do that. They need to make their money somehow, and I appreciate the choice of deciding how much, if anything, I want to spend.
The one problem I have with this game, is what exactly does EA expect us to PAY for a well-rounded user experience? It's not necessarily clear, but my little bit of calculating adds up to between $200-$500!!
I completely and wholeheartedly DISagree that you need to spend ANYthing to have a "well rounded user experience" ... as a matter of fact, absolutely NONE of the premium items / characters are necessary to really enjoy this game and have a completely entertaining experience.
I've diligently saved donuts that EA coughs up for free and in the 8 months I've been playing have managed to purchase a small handful of premium items which certainly can ADD to the fun, but they are not NECESSARY for the fun. Next time (if ever) they do a 'donut sale' then I might spend a few bux just because I can, but in general I'm not inclined to spend much money on games ever, anywhere.
I'm the kinda guy that waits 6 months to a year for the hot game to drop in price 50% or more before I buy it. I'm not a "completionist", I don't need to be "FRIST!!1!" or on the bleeding edge to have fun, and if you feel that's what you need, then I feel bad for you and would recommend you get tested for ADHD ;-) ... I mean, really, why would you feel the need to pay actual money for a differently colored fence or a flowerbox or a tree with little colored dots? I simply cannot see how having those "premium" items enhances the gameplay at all. Those items are there exactly for the kind of person who I am not ... they are there for the the impulse-control-challenged and the ludicrously-soaked-with-disposable-income types.
Kang was 150 donuts last year. So if you bought him last year, you got Kodos for free this year through normal quest progression.
Now for those people that did not buy him last year. They got Kang for free this year upon unlocking the Victorian UFO. However, if you wanted Kodos, then you would have to dish out 150 donuts.
I hope this clears up a lot of question regarding Kang & Kodos from the past 2 Halloween updates
With every game I play, there's always those people with the entitlement mentality and think everything should be free. I guess a lot of people don't know basic economics: a company's product has to generate revenue to continue making the product.
The Fleet-A-Pita needs asterisks following it. It requires a 150 donut premium item to unlock.
EDIT: Nvm, I see that you're just listing items based on whether they're actually free or cash. Or wait... why is Kodos free and Kang donuts? Whatever, I guess the list just isn't very consistent or accurate.
The list is 100% accurate. Those of us that purchased the Ray Gun & Kang last year got Kodos for free. I'll see if I can notate it a little better so there's no confusion
Kodos was free and automatically given if you had bought Kang last year. Shortly after getting the Victorian UFO, she appears in her UFO and you have to shoot her down just as you did to Kang last year. Resulting in another crashed ship.
I'm new to this forum, but I have been playing the game for a while now. I'm level 34 and I recently bought Caesar's pow wow casino. I also have SV teen, Frink and the ray gun. What other premium items are a must have?
Kodos was free and automatically given if you had bought Kang last year. Shortly after getting the Victorian UFO, she appears in her UFO and you have to shoot her down just as you did to Kang last year. Resulting in another crashed ship.
I'm new to this forum, but I have been playing the game for a while now. I'm level 34 and I recently bought Caesar's pow wow casino. I also have SV teen, Frink and the ray gun. What other premium items are a must have?
That all depends on what you're interested in. Get the characters, buildings & decorations that you like. In the end, you're the one that's gonna have to live with it, so it's better when the choices are yours as opposed to others. I can give you some suggestions
Luann & the Cracker Factory is a good deal. She has a good storyline, 2 cool outdoors tasks, she unlocks the Fleet-a-Pita & to top it off, the Cracker Factory gives Kirk a new 8hr job. The only downside is that she is not voiced
Hans Moleman is another single character that's good. Has 2 outdoor tasks, he uses several different buildings in his tasks. He is voiced
Otto & the School Bus is another good deal. A voiced character & bus/building for 120 donuts. 3 outdoor tasks, & he can visit Krustyland
I'm new to this forum, but I have been playing the game for a while now. I'm level 34 and I recently bought Caesar's pow wow casino. I also have SV teen, Frink and the ray gun. What other premium items are a must have?
That all depends on what you're interested in. Get the characters, buildings & decorations that you like. In the end, you're the one that's gonna have to live with it, so it's better when the choices are yours as opposed to others. I can give you some suggestions
Luann & the Cracker Factory is a good deal. She has a good storyline, 2 cool outdoors tasks, she unlocks the Fleet-a-Pita & to top it off, the Cracker Factory gives Kirk a new 8hr job. The only downside is that she is not voiced
Hans Moleman is another single character that's good. Has 2 outdoor tasks, he uses several different buildings in his tasks. He is voiced
Otto & the School Bus is another good deal. A voiced character & bus/building for 120 donuts. 3 outdoor tasks, & he can visit Krustyland
Thanks, I think that I'll go for Luann, she looks promising!
Replies
I do have one question, does anyone know if EA will bring back items from previous years? I have seen some really cool things and wouldnt mind buying donuts just to get them.
I appreciate that not everyone wants to spend real money on this type of game, but I don't think the reason behind it is that you don't physically own it. I mean - I don't buy my console games because they look pretty on the shelf. I buy them for the experience of playing them. Same goes here - if I'm to buy donuts, I'm not expecting to be able to hold them (though if they came with vouchers for some donuts to eat, I wouldn't be complaining); I've bought the experience that comes from spending them.
Personally I think it's okay to spend a little on donuts if you are so inclined. All games take a certain amount of effort to produce, and that should be rewarded. That money has to come from somewhere, and I'm happy to decide how much I think the game is worth and spend that on donuts. Yes, this sort of profit model does open up issues (e.g. with young kids not understanding that it costs real money, or with impulse-control-issues leading to excessive spending), but since I'm a grown-up who can control themselves, I like it for the benefit of being able to try the game and be sure I like it and have a certain level of commitment to it before choosing to spend real money.
Yes and no. It seems EA will bring back certain things just as long as they're not episode specific content. All of last years Halloween items were brought back this year with the exception of the Super Collider, Black Hole, Mayan God & Mayan Calendar. And that's because those were episode tie-ins to last years Treehouse of Horror episode. Just like the Freak Show Tent & Strongman Homer skin for this year.
They have also brought back Fat Tony, which was a limited time character to an episode tie-in last year. But I think the main reason he was brought back was because they introduced Legs & Louie with the level update & it would be insane to exclude Fat Tony.
Pretty sure all the Christmas stuff will be back this year. As for the Thanksgiving balloons, those may stay retired and in its place something else can be released.
The one problem I have with this game, is what exactly does EA expect us to PAY for a well-rounded user experience? It's not necessarily clear, but my little bit of calculating adds up to between $200-$500!! That's a really, really pricey game for ANY platform.
I'll explain:
The major hang up is the donut-only premium items. Yes, we can all choose to play completely free, using only what is "earnable" through investment of our playing time. So I'm not adding anything for attempts to accelerate the time line at all. That's paying for impatience, and should be a premium purchase.
However, I've done some math to show you what I mean.
I'm on level 18 after about 2 mos of play time. The "demo friend's town" I can see has progressed just a little ahead of me, and is on level 20.
The premium items in this demo town include some, but not all of the premium buildings (Springfield Mtn, Frink Lab, Duff Brewery); and quite a few premium decorations (30+ apple/orange trees, 40+ flower/plant boxes, tire fire, white fence, bench w/ shirt); totalling 1900+ donuts. So this imaginary player has supposedly already spent $100 - 140 (depending on their donut purchase rate of course.)
The majority of the remaining premium items (that I can currently see are available with listed donut prices at my level 18 ), total up to about 3200 donuts. That's most of the remaining significant buildings and characters. I'm not including every single thing, like unknown characters (police dog) and other little decorations (ambulance).
So that's 3200 plus 1900. Let's round it to a flat 5000 donuts for a 90% complete user experience. (it should be more like 6000 but I'm being practical, not OCD about it)
Even at the most cost effective rate of $100 per 2400 donuts, that's over $200 to build a good Springfield.
At a more realistic purchasing rate of $20 per 300 donuts, that's over $300.
So in summary, without paying for time acceleration "cheats", without trading donuts for dollars to purchase 'earnable' items faster, and without trying to 'max out' the game and purchase every single item to 'fully equip' the city, but JUST TO GET THE MAIN CHARACTERS, BUILDINGS, AND REASONABLE SUPPLEMENTAL ORNAMENTS, EA expects us to fork out about $250 UP FRONT, or $20 a week for 17 weeks.
That's pretty dang expensive for a "free" game. (which is also hardly free, unless you consider your personal time to be worth $0 per hour?)
Again, I appreciate the well thought-out game without ads. But it is most certainly a dang expensive game if you want the full experience of rebuilding a well-rounded Springfield.
It has to be extortionate to buy /everything/, though. EA know a LOT of players will be playing for free forever, so they make no money there.
That means that if they want to recoup an average of $X per player, the amount recouped from players who DO spend needs to be higher so that the overall average is where they want it to be.
There's always going to be the odd handful of players who will spend as much money as they need to in order to have everything. EA banks on those people to spend enough to make up for those who spend nothing.
EA do not expect you to spend anything. They expect most people to spend nothing. That's why they need to make the most out of those who will spend as much as they "need" to, and I'm more than happy for them to do that. They need to make their money somehow, and I appreciate the choice of deciding how much, if anything, I want to spend.
But thanks for the list might stop some burt hurt.
It was free. You could buy it with treats as opposed to Donuts how it was this year. Treats was the currency last year just how this year it was Goo.
In fact, all of the Halloween items from last year were free except for Kang, Witch Marge, The Raven & the Mausoleum.
I completely and wholeheartedly DISagree that you need to spend ANYthing to have a "well rounded user experience" ... as a matter of fact, absolutely NONE of the premium items / characters are necessary to really enjoy this game and have a completely entertaining experience.
I've diligently saved donuts that EA coughs up for free and in the 8 months I've been playing have managed to purchase a small handful of premium items which certainly can ADD to the fun, but they are not NECESSARY for the fun. Next time (if ever) they do a 'donut sale' then I might spend a few bux just because I can, but in general I'm not inclined to spend much money on games ever, anywhere.
I'm the kinda guy that waits 6 months to a year for the hot game to drop in price 50% or more before I buy it. I'm not a "completionist", I don't need to be "FRIST!!1!" or on the bleeding edge to have fun, and if you feel that's what you need, then I feel bad for you and would recommend you get tested for ADHD ;-) ... I mean, really, why would you feel the need to pay actual money for a differently colored fence or a flowerbox or a tree with little colored dots? I simply cannot see how having those "premium" items enhances the gameplay at all. Those items are there exactly for the kind of person who I am not ... they are there for the the impulse-control-challenged and the ludicrously-soaked-with-disposable-income types.
I had to buy it with donuts last year, it cost 150 and I assumed it did for everyone else.
Now for those people that did not buy him last year. They got Kang for free this year upon unlocking the Victorian UFO. However, if you wanted Kodos, then you would have to dish out 150 donuts.
I hope this clears up a lot of question regarding Kang & Kodos from the past 2 Halloween updates
You got it man sad isn't it.
That's bull spittle. Bourght kang I got no kodos.
Kodos was free and automatically given if you had bought Kang last year. Shortly after getting the Victorian UFO, she appears in her UFO and you have to shoot her down just as you did to Kang last year. Resulting in another crashed ship.
I'm new to this forum, but I have been playing the game for a while now. I'm level 34 and I recently bought Caesar's pow wow casino. I also have SV teen, Frink and the ray gun. What other premium items are a must have?
Bull apostle
That all depends on what you're interested in. Get the characters, buildings & decorations that you like. In the end, you're the one that's gonna have to live with it, so it's better when the choices are yours as opposed to others. I can give you some suggestions
Luann & the Cracker Factory is a good deal. She has a good storyline, 2 cool outdoors tasks, she unlocks the Fleet-a-Pita & to top it off, the Cracker Factory gives Kirk a new 8hr job. The only downside is that she is not voiced
Hans Moleman is another single character that's good. Has 2 outdoor tasks, he uses several different buildings in his tasks. He is voiced
Otto & the School Bus is another good deal. A voiced character & bus/building for 120 donuts. 3 outdoor tasks, & he can visit Krustyland
Thanks, I think that I'll go for Luann, she looks promising!