And I'm well aware this is just a game. But it's a game I pay for. its a game I spend quite a bit of time playing. I'm entitled to speak my mind when something feels unjust. It doesn't make me "emotional" or feeding into drama. These boards are here for discussion. That's what I came here for.
I think you have to wait too long for a Spuckler kid, and that 90-day tasks are incredibly stupid. EA will probably shove her into another event to screw with people who tried to finish it without donuts.
In the end, I don't understand why folks don't just store Brandine. Yes, you'll lose your first Spuckler progress, but you do have options that don't involve donuts.
Store her. Do the quests. Restart her. In the long run, you'll still get your brood of Spucklers!
That's what I ultimately opted for. Doesn't make it right that EA put me in that situation. It's not fun losing progress as a result of their greed or poor planning. It feels like they're blatantly punishing those who bought Brandine last month. Honestly, if we don't raise a stink about it, they'll just keep doing this sort of thing. I don't really like the idea of them continuing to punish their paying players over the freemium ones.
I stored her as well, and I feel the same way about the situation. I don't believe that the *. Patrick's Day donuts were a way of compensating those who were going to speed up the quest. That seems made up to me. This whole experience is another reminder to me of how absurd the customer support is. It's nearly impossible to communicate with them and you get a different answer depending on who you talk to.
When I start considering spending real money on this game it is situations like this that remind me not to.
If I did the math right, the event will end in 34 days. My Brandine has 35 days left in her third pregnancy. There is no way I am storing her. The part that burns my biscuits is we are stuck with the random tasks for only a few characters because new players might not have other characters yet. Yet here, a premium character not all have, and some have just recently acquired, is necessary. Professor Frink has been available from the beginning, and he shows up in almost every event with some doohickey to produce eggs, Rigellans, etc., and there is no task he has to do to complete a story line making people have to buy him, and no bonus donuts are given because of it. If thIs is ntentiinal on the part of EA, it is a very cynical attitude toward their faithful customers.
Number one rule of business: The customer is always right.
You want facts, then hire a detective but stop breaking my balls about this. It ain't gonna change the fact that EA seriously screwed up.
No one is trying to break your man-donuts. It's just that the reps say all sorts of different stuff to different people. I'm not talking about this Brandine issue specifically, I mean in general. You can't take everything they say as gospel.
You're 100% right about that. I don't always take what they say as the truth. It just seemed to make sense from my point of view.
Think about it. If it wasn't true and it truly was a mistake on the developers part, wouldn't they have already had a fix for it by now? They usually patch issues like this out within a day or two.
Also I'm pretty sure we've never gotten 20 donuts for a mini event completion. The only reason why I can see such a big donut pay out is for this very reason. It could also mean they realized this mistake way too late and didn't bother fixing it so they just used this sloppy "fix" but either way it's there for a reason.
I could be totally wrong about this, but this is just my reasoning. I just wanted to throw this out there to at least ease some peoples minds. If they want to continue to press their luck with costumer service for hours in hopes of getting those donuts back. Sure, by all means go ahead. I just don't feel it's worth the time for most people.
I certainly understand everyone's frustrations, but using terms like "swindled," and "being taken advantage of" when there is a clear solution that costs no money and only delays an NPC by a few weeks (which ultimately pays out negligible sums of cash) sounds like a lot of unnecessary hand-wringing.
Does it stink? Yeah, kinda. Is it bad timing by the devs? Indeed. Is EA villainously trying to con people into giving them more money money money om nom greedy corporate monster noms? Probably not.
And believe me, I'm no EA apologist (see my epic Easter 2014 rants), but I think we can take a step back from victimville and try to gain a little perspective. Like I said, you'll get your speckled kid a little later. I've had mine since November and they are all but an afterthought now. Cute, sure, but certainly not worth all this drama, imo.
P.S. Whoever said the reps don't know what's going on with the devs is 100% correct. They know little to nothing as to what's going on behind the scenes, so take what they tell you with a Mount Carlmore-sized grain of salt.
there is a clear solution that costs no money and only delays an NPC by a few weeks
What is that solution?
I haven't been playing this game forever. I'm not through all the levels. If I store Brandine now that means I lost out on a month of income and xp from her. Every little amount of money and xp is still important to me. I would like those lost wages back if I'm forced to store her. I also don't have a billion free donuts to speed her up "for free".
there is a clear solution that costs no money and only delays an NPC by a few weeks
What is that solution?
I haven't been playing this game forever. I'm not through all the levels. If I store Brandine now that means I lost out on a month of income and xp from her. Every little amount of money and xp is still important to me. I would like those lost wages back if I'm forced to store her. I also don't have a billion free donuts to speed her up "for free".
I don't follow... lost wages and XP? This is truly making a mountain out of a molehill.
Regardless, I do understand player's frustrations. I'm not trying to sound callous.
Number one rule of business: The customer is always right.
No. Simply this is not true.
This is an entitled attitude that businesses no longer subscribe to as a statement because of the money hungry, shifty, entitled things people do thinking in this way. When businesses give into this argument they lose in the end.
The customer is right- to a point. Yes, ea made an oversight- clearly. No, I don't believe that junk about it being planned this way, but on the other side, it also was not a bunch of sinister ea Devils in thier corporate meeting going - lets screw all those people who just bought brandine....... It's middle ground, and it always is- they overlooked it.
Should they compensate those that take the time to complain, sure, probably- not much skin off them to give 20ish donuts to people who complain...... I know, but we all got 20 donuts! And some people are fine with using those to speed this, for those not, sure give them out since they complained.............. It still doesn't mean it's deserved- it's just a nice gesture from ea to their customers.
But the customers always right attitude leads to people asking for more than what's actually fair- ea reps, I've talked to a few I honestly liked quite a bit- and I've asked- the reason we're turned down on donut requests 90% of the time is because everyone who contacts them expects donuts, even when the issue has nothing to do with that........ Just, give me donuts for my time tacked on with my problem.
I've had people using that line insist that the new microwave they bought a month ago, that the bulb burnt out- now needs replaced- not just the lightbulb- give me a new microwave, I've had people who merely can't keep track of their own life enough to cancel an autodraft for a gym membership on their bank, which hasn't been used in almost a year demand back a years worth of member dues, and soooo many more stories. Because their feeling entitled having someone tell them the customer is always right...... No, there's a good solution to a problem for both sides and there's bad solutions that are the two sides trying to get over on the other- you deserve a lightbulb not a microwave, and Cuz I'm super nice, not because I have to in anyway, I'll refund maybe half your dues. This issue is the same- yes, the angry people may need something to appease them- but I'm sure some people are asking for too much and it's ruining the issue for everyone else who then inquires.... Which is probably why they put a stop to the compensation.
Cmon, consumers........ We are not always right. Sometimes we are though and just have to ask for appropriate things.
Sorry this went on so long, I'm a little passionately against that statement :shock:
For the people who either do not have Brandine or have her and don't think its a big deal to store her or pay the donuts to speed her up: I really am not trying to be rude, honestly, but I don't think you are really in the right to judge why the rest of us are so frustrated or point out that our options are so easy. EA knows we bought this character last month and set her on a 90 day task. They knowingly set us up to ONLY be able to complete a mini holiday task by either storing her and resetting her timer or spending 20+ donuts. That's manipulative on EA's part. Why should we have to give up 1/3 of the time we've already put into her task? Why should we have to spend donuts (REAL MONEY) to speed her task up? Non-premium players are breezing right through the Saint Pat's task without Brandine, so why do we need her?? It's a slap in the face, as an earlier poster stated.
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
I doubt it's an intentional conspiracy. Someone just didn't think the consequences through.
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
I doubt it's an intentional conspiracy. Someone just didn't think the consequences through.
I agree, but I think the idea has come from the info given in the other Brandine thread, i.e. an EA support rep reportedly said that the developers actually designed it this way. According to the rep, this was why everyone was given 20 donuts for *. Patrick's Day so that those who had Brandine on her 90 day task could finish the task early using those free donuts.
Personally I think that's crazy talk and that rep has done more harm than good to customer relations with some fanciful excuse. But hey, the rep also said the devs told them to give no more compensatory donuts to those who complain and that bit is true, as far as I know.
So you have to restart a quest to get a free prize in another quest?
Sacrifice a 1/3 of a 90 day timer, or sacrifice the free prize, a decoration of beer kegs??
Talk about first world problems...
...oh yes, this definitely sounds intentionally engineered by the largest electronic game company in the world. They sure have you by the Munchkins now.
Their... DEVIOSITY knows no bounds! You should quit. That will teach them!
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!
So you have to restart a quest to get a free prize in another quest?
Sacrifice a 1/3 of a 90 day timer, or sacrifice the free prize, a decoration of beer kegs??
Talk about first world problems...
...oh yes, this definitely sounds intentionally engineered by the largest electronic game company in the world. They sure have you by the Munchkins now.
Their... DEVIOSITY knows no bounds! You should quit. That will teach them!
Do I think that EA is run by evil geniuses who strive to screw their customers? No. In fact, this is the first time I've been irritated enough to get on here to complain about something. I think this game is GREAT. I love it. I play every day and I put money into it and I enjoy it. And at the end of the day, I know it is just a game.
But what truly upset me was the fact that nothing has been done to fix this even though so many paying players have voiced a feeling of being slighted here while players playing for free are not. If EA honestly made a mistake here and didn't think things through with this, then why haven't they (a) done something (anything) to remedy the situation and (b) offered better customer service? Would it have been that difficult, early on, to remove the Brandine part of the quest? And if that wasn't possible, why can't they at the very least have their employees get in the same page with responses to the customers reaching out with questions rather than tell each person a different story? I'm not into poor customer service and I'm sorry, but regardless of this Brandine thing being intentional or not, I think the aftermath has been handled poorly.
I'm just ignoring the Saint P's task at this point. I don't even care at all anymore lol. My Brandine is chillin' in my town, chain smoking and pregnant. Honestly I've already put wayyyyy too much energy into this ridiculous topic.
The Spuckler kids wander around town and earn cash as they go (no tasks), kind of the same way the visitors generate tickets in Krustyland. This was established and well discussed on here when Brandine was first released.
Re: Brandine and the Saint Patricks Day questline
Options
?03-21-2015 08:15 AM
Update: I contacted EA customer support. They are well aware of the issue and are working on a fix. I asked for the necessary donuts to speed up the task as time was running out. The support tech agreed and added the necessary donuts! Made my day::smileyvery-happy:
OP wrote:
I am 30 days into the Birth a Spuckler task. I do not have the donuts to rush the task at any price as I just purchased Spider Pig and Bartman. I can't believe they didn't know this would be an issue! If the players who did not purchase Brandine can continue and complete the quest why can't those of us who spent donuts/cash to purchase this premium character continue as well? A fix that does not penalize players who purchased premium characters is indicated and soon!
Replies
If she did, which building was it? If she didn't, how do you store her?
I have no problems with storing her to save 20+ donuts. It's not like there's an unlimited number of her brood.
I stored her as well, and I feel the same way about the situation. I don't believe that the *. Patrick's Day donuts were a way of compensating those who were going to speed up the quest. That seems made up to me. This whole experience is another reminder to me of how absurd the customer support is. It's nearly impossible to communicate with them and you get a different answer depending on who you talk to.
When I start considering spending real money on this game it is situations like this that remind me not to.
Number one rule of business: The customer is always right.
@ the lame explanation given by EA.....
Sounds like a whole boat load of **** to me! :evil:
Plus the fact that when the event started it cost more than 20 donuts to advance Brandine's pregnancy.
Think about it. If it wasn't true and it truly was a mistake on the developers part, wouldn't they have already had a fix for it by now? They usually patch issues like this out within a day or two.
Also I'm pretty sure we've never gotten 20 donuts for a mini event completion. The only reason why I can see such a big donut pay out is for this very reason. It could also mean they realized this mistake way too late and didn't bother fixing it so they just used this sloppy "fix" but either way it's there for a reason.
I could be totally wrong about this, but this is just my reasoning. I just wanted to throw this out there to at least ease some peoples minds. If they want to continue to press their luck with costumer service for hours in hopes of getting those donuts back. Sure, by all means go ahead. I just don't feel it's worth the time for most people.
Does it stink? Yeah, kinda. Is it bad timing by the devs? Indeed. Is EA villainously trying to con people into giving them more money money money om nom greedy corporate monster noms? Probably not.
And believe me, I'm no EA apologist (see my epic Easter 2014 rants), but I think we can take a step back from victimville and try to gain a little perspective. Like I said, you'll get your speckled kid a little later. I've had mine since November and they are all but an afterthought now. Cute, sure, but certainly not worth all this drama, imo.
P.S. Whoever said the reps don't know what's going on with the devs is 100% correct. They know little to nothing as to what's going on behind the scenes, so take what they tell you with a Mount Carlmore-sized grain of salt.
What is that solution?
I haven't been playing this game forever. I'm not through all the levels. If I store Brandine now that means I lost out on a month of income and xp from her. Every little amount of money and xp is still important to me. I would like those lost wages back if I'm forced to store her. I also don't have a billion free donuts to speed her up "for free".
I don't follow... lost wages and XP? This is truly making a mountain out of a molehill.
Regardless, I do understand player's frustrations. I'm not trying to sound callous.
No. Simply this is not true.
This is an entitled attitude that businesses no longer subscribe to as a statement because of the money hungry, shifty, entitled things people do thinking in this way. When businesses give into this argument they lose in the end.
The customer is right- to a point. Yes, ea made an oversight- clearly. No, I don't believe that junk about it being planned this way, but on the other side, it also was not a bunch of sinister ea Devils in thier corporate meeting going - lets screw all those people who just bought brandine....... It's middle ground, and it always is- they overlooked it.
Should they compensate those that take the time to complain, sure, probably- not much skin off them to give 20ish donuts to people who complain...... I know, but we all got 20 donuts! And some people are fine with using those to speed this, for those not, sure give them out since they complained.............. It still doesn't mean it's deserved- it's just a nice gesture from ea to their customers.
But the customers always right attitude leads to people asking for more than what's actually fair- ea reps, I've talked to a few I honestly liked quite a bit- and I've asked- the reason we're turned down on donut requests 90% of the time is because everyone who contacts them expects donuts, even when the issue has nothing to do with that........ Just, give me donuts for my time tacked on with my problem.
I've had people using that line insist that the new microwave they bought a month ago, that the bulb burnt out- now needs replaced- not just the lightbulb- give me a new microwave, I've had people who merely can't keep track of their own life enough to cancel an autodraft for a gym membership on their bank, which hasn't been used in almost a year demand back a years worth of member dues, and soooo many more stories. Because their feeling entitled having someone tell them the customer is always right...... No, there's a good solution to a problem for both sides and there's bad solutions that are the two sides trying to get over on the other- you deserve a lightbulb not a microwave, and Cuz I'm super nice, not because I have to in anyway, I'll refund maybe half your dues. This issue is the same- yes, the angry people may need something to appease them- but I'm sure some people are asking for too much and it's ruining the issue for everyone else who then inquires.... Which is probably why they put a stop to the compensation.
Cmon, consumers........ We are not always right. Sometimes we are though and just have to ask for appropriate things.
Sorry this went on so long, I'm a little passionately against that statement :shock:
I doubt it's an intentional conspiracy. Someone just didn't think the consequences through.
I agree, but I think the idea has come from the info given in the other Brandine thread, i.e. an EA support rep reportedly said that the developers actually designed it this way. According to the rep, this was why everyone was given 20 donuts for *. Patrick's Day so that those who had Brandine on her 90 day task could finish the task early using those free donuts.
Personally I think that's crazy talk and that rep has done more harm than good to customer relations with some fanciful excuse. But hey, the rep also said the devs told them to give no more compensatory donuts to those who complain and that bit is true, as far as I know.
Sacrifice a 1/3 of a 90 day timer, or sacrifice the free prize, a decoration of beer kegs??
Talk about first world problems...
...oh yes, this definitely sounds intentionally engineered by the largest electronic game company in the world. They sure have you by the Munchkins now.
Their... DEVIOSITY knows no bounds! You should quit. That will teach them!
Deviosity?
You select her and hit store. Her birthing task is outdoors, so no need to store a building.
But what truly upset me was the fact that nothing has been done to fix this even though so many paying players have voiced a feeling of being slighted here while players playing for free are not. If EA honestly made a mistake here and didn't think things through with this, then why haven't they (a) done something (anything) to remedy the situation and (b) offered better customer service? Would it have been that difficult, early on, to remove the Brandine part of the quest? And if that wasn't possible, why can't they at the very least have their employees get in the same page with responses to the customers reaching out with questions rather than tell each person a different story? I'm not into poor customer service and I'm sorry, but regardless of this Brandine thing being intentional or not, I think the aftermath has been handled poorly.
I'm just ignoring the Saint P's task at this point. I don't even care at all anymore lol. My Brandine is chillin' in my town, chain smoking and pregnant. Honestly I've already put wayyyyy too much energy into this ridiculous topic.
Re: Brandine and the Saint Patricks Day questline
Options
?03-21-2015 08:15 AM
Update: I contacted EA customer support. They are well aware of the issue and are working on a fix. I asked for the necessary donuts to speed up the task as time was running out. The support tech agreed and added the necessary donuts! Made my day::smileyvery-happy:
OP wrote:
I am 30 days into the Birth a Spuckler task. I do not have the donuts to rush the task at any price as I just purchased Spider Pig and Bartman. I can't believe they didn't know this would be an issue! If the players who did not purchase Brandine can continue and complete the quest why can't those of us who spent donuts/cash to purchase this premium character continue as well? A fix that does not penalize players who purchased premium characters is indicated and soon!