Constructing Formal Letter to Developers - *Input Requested*

esoxnepa

Tredo wrote:

My recommendation is to tackle a few of the more important issues in the first letter. Too many topics can be overwhelming. Maybe the community can vote on the top 2-3?

Tredo's point is very good. 2-3 well written items the forum agrees on for a first letter will serve us better than hitting them with a shotgun blast of items like the Q&A seems to be. If we can, we should also offer some of the better ideas that we believe will help solve the problem and reflect positively on their revenue stream. A say 10 item list of what the other issues we see outside the top 10 could also be sent, and can be address in a future letter.

As a 2*-3* non-top 100 alliance player, I'll list the three I think are most important. (I have also spent $$ for roster slots as a way to support the game.)

1. There is no type of casual PvP that allows one to enjoy PvP with their entire roster.
I have so many under cover low level characters I would like to play, but PvP is all about ranking.
My solution: Make the Shield Simulator ranking progression only with no loss of points and remove it from the season ranking calculations.
Reasons: This would allow variety of teams as there is no punishment for testing different combinations. Good rewards that everyone can earn over a month
of casual play will help retain new players. Them knowing they can earn a 4* and 2-3 3* covers a month, will keep them coming back. This adds an
extra aspect of player retention, and temptation to spend HP on roster slots and covers.
Neutral: It removes shield simulator from the monthly PvP season score, making season scores only on event scores.
Negatives: It may draw some players away from the day to day PvP grind reducing shield use.

2. People need a way to advance a favorite character.
My Solution: Provide a daily progression to a "Favorite" character. Something like every 7 (or other) days played you'd earn a cover to a favorite character.
Reasons: The fully random covers is OK when there are a limited number of characters. If we get another 50 characters in 2015, then there needs to
be a solution for people to feel vested and attached to their favorite characters. Also, the randomness can leave people playing for more than
a year with 0 covers for one color. Allowing each daily application of progression to reduce the HP cost to purchase the cover could result in
increased spending where 1250 seems like a huge expense, but 600 seems like a bargain.
Negatives: Could potentially reduce some HP cover purchases.

3. Rooster slots costs need some cap.
My solution: Once a certain amount of HP is spent on roster slots, it unlocks an unlimited (or what ever max the system can handle) number of slots. I'd say once you've bought 50 roster slots,
it should just unlock the maximum number of slots. An option to just buy $$ unlimited roster slots could be sold guaranteeing income.
Negatives: It could reduce long term revenue from collectors. 50 slots may be too expensive for many players to reach.


Anytime we get a new player to start the game, we want to have some method to keep them coming back, and spending some amount of money to keep the game alive. Some additional casual options will help keep these new players, even if it doesn't directly help the top-tier player, it keeps the game alive and provides a way for you to take time off, rest from the hardcore, and still progress.

Other issues:
1. Cheating is still out there.
2. Additional ISO flow is needed for late 3* and 4* progress. ( I never had issues pre late 3*, as usable cover and ISO came in together.)
3. Blitz Avalanche of point loss in PvP needs to end.

I know there are more, but those are my 3 main, and top 5 (+cheating) I see for the health of the game.

wymtime

I have given my opinion and suggestions around roster slots and ISO. One question that I would also ask has to due with the change that is comming to shields and cool downs. Iwill also ask this in the next Q&A if there is one. Shield hopping has become the way to achieve 1300 points or more in this game. 9 months ago 1300 points was basicly a pipe dream. Players shield hop because it is the only way to reach high scores. As players we figured this out so my question would be this: what alternatives did the Dev's look at instead of the shield cooldown? You will hav slowed down the shield for 1/2 hour but you did not address the issue of why the top players do this. The issue is when you get to a certain point total if you don't shield after 1-3 matches depending on your score you will loose more points then you won. This is the reason shield hopping started and is still a game issue. so for the Dev's what are you looking to do about major point loss at higher levels in PVP?

scottee

Enoc99 wrote:

Here are some initial items I plan on working into the letter:
-The rate at which new characters are released.
-Available competitive strategy approaches. Making defensive strategies viable as well as offensive ones.
-Specific character concerns (Beast, She-Hulk, IM40, etc...)
-PvE events, making them less 'grindy'
-Rate of ISO-8 accumulation
-Lack of balanced active powers across different colors
-Token percentages and/or incentives to buy them

BTW, they're already aware and have given a response about 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 on this list. And pretty sure they're aware of 4 and 7. Not saying don't send a letter. Just that if you ask something already addressed, they're probably going to give the same answer.

Unknown

PLEASE do not ignore the point I threw out there just because I'm not making a huge list.

Seriously it's been ages since people have been asking why the F it's not possible to see opponent AP at all times without scrolling. WE NEED SOMEONE TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE USER INTERFACE.

Also clicking on a character's shoulder/head to bring him forward instead of a simple button is stupid. It took me over a week to figure that one out when I first started. "Oh I just kinda point to the one I wanna hit? No, this brings up their match damage...so is it the space above them? How do I send this dude back again?" etc.

Baddkitty

I'd also like to see the ability to scroll through the event leaderboards. I want to see up to next rank and determine whether i should blow my boosts in pvp to get better rank. I don't want to waste everything on two matches, just to find out i'm 4-5 battles behind.

wymtime

ARK123- I agree I would like to see the AP the other team and I have. I would also like to have a landscape view as well. The Devs have said that on a mobil device there is only so much room to be had, and for all intensive purpose it is not worth changing the code for a tablet and they would rather focus on characters and overall game play(which I thin seeing AP is part of) rather than the visual dimensions of the game. I think a lot of players have given up on this feature. I agree it would be nice to have, but on my list of priorities it would be lower.

Bad kitty: the Devs have also answered your question and said having a scrolling leaderboard causes more crashes with the servers and game on Mobil devices and that is why they don't scroll the leaderboard. With this being said it would be nice to see where the progression players are at. Top 10, top 25, top 50, top 100. I know players want to know what it takes to get to top 25 but because they can't see it they don't know how close or far away they are.

Kolence

wymtime wrote:

ARK123- I agree I would like to see the AP the other team and I have. I would also like to have a landscape view as well. The Devs have said that on a mobil device there is only so much room to be had, and for all intensive purpose it is not worth changing the code for a tablet and they would rather focus on characters and overall game play(which I thin seeing AP is part of) rather than the visual dimensions of the game. I think a lot of players have given up on this feature. I agree it would be nice to have, but on my list of priorities it would be lower.

How much changing code would be needed to add a bar above health bars on mobile, that would indicate how much there is of every ap on the board? That could serve also for player's and AI's ap by tapping on it or left/right of it. There would be enough room on both sides of it to show the teams' strongest color too, probably. Something like that would allow to track your own cascades, quickly calculate the number of tiles owned by a character or how likely some passive powers are to trigger - all the things that are not as easy or not possible for now.

fmftint

how about just reconfiguring the mobile app play in landscape?

Unknown

Kolence wrote:

wymtime wrote:

ARK123- I agree I would like to see the AP the other team and I have. I would also like to have a landscape view as well. The Devs have said that on a mobil device there is only so much room to be had, and for all intensive purpose it is not worth changing the code for a tablet and they would rather focus on characters and overall game play(which I thin seeing AP is part of) rather than the visual dimensions of the game. I think a lot of players have given up on this feature. I agree it would be nice to have, but on my list of priorities it would be lower.

How much changing code would be needed to add a bar above health bars on mobile, that would indicate how much there is of every ap on the board? That could serve also for player's and AI's ap by tapping on it or left/right of it. There would be enough room on both sides of it to show the teams' strongest color too, probably. Something like that would allow to track your own cascades, quickly calculate the number of tiles owned by a character or how likely some passive powers are to trigger - all the things that are not as easy or not possible for now.

I don't really care how it's done, it's 6 small color dots with numbers, one in each side, instead of outside of the screen. It could be easy to do, it could be extremely hard, it just needs to be done period.

Sword user

If possible, please mention that if increasing the rate that 4* are added to the game, don't tighten down the rate that covers are given. Losing out on the essential character in the next PvE if you don't go sub-50 is just painful. Not to mention the fact that the following event requires a 3* and a 4*. Either: no 4* essential characters, or lower the bar for the first 4* cover down to sub-150, and give a single cover of the next required 3* to all above that ranking. I know that you want people in the middle to feel more of the pinch, and you were first trying that by making new 3* after new 3*, now you're attempting to use 4* the same way, make it that there are 2 essential characters and that encourages more to gamble on packs.

It's not my letter to the developers, but this squeeze on the middle is killer on players, in my opinion.

AaronTheLuigi

Likely a minor issue, but I feel all characters need three skills (even the one stars). They already have a third color for match damage (save Ragnarok), and the skill doesn't have to be a new mechanic. (i.e. Giving Hawkeye a direct damage ability/a revamped Avoid skill for his yellow, Yelena could have a blue stun like MBW, but also deal damage for a slightly higher cost). By virtue of not being able to get to the maximum level with their peers two power characters have an inherent disadvantage, both in battle and in long-term roster usefulness.

evil panda

Token draw percentages!!!

There are a lot of things that are great about this game and some things that I'd like changed. But I've always believed that for the most part, you need to figure out how to be competitive within the environment.

With that said, the only thing I find both insulting and discouraging is how often you work hard to attain a token and get almost nothing for it. So that's my one wish if I had one

In all transparency and fairness, I do have to say that I pulled two 3*'s today though

fmftint

I think it's silly that you believe a change in format will garner a different response.

homeinvasion

I'm basically out the door on this game, $4,000 in the hole, but fix this stuff and I may stick around.

- The alliance controls are rubbish/ chat the same
- Attacking team has all the advantage, get rid of boosts all together
-Shouldn't be able to see enemy team before you play
-Get rid of stars, make all characters equal
-Tokens are a lottery scam, 2 X 42 pack and no gold covers is a rip off
- Iso rewards are still set to 1982 when it was ample to level up the occasional new 2 star, now there is a new 4 star every few weeks it is horribly outdated. I also believe iso should not be sold.
- Roster slots are a rip off
- if you aren't going to get rid of stars then stop making 3 star and only make 4 star for a balanced meta.
- Nerf Xforce
- the lack of balance means you need to choose PVP or PVE you cant do both without being **** in the other.
- increase heal time on 4 star, a whole day is a joke
- force PVE to take an 8 hour break every 24 hours- I'm actually hallucinating atm.
- PVP balance, xforce Vs xforce is ****
- Don't be so stingy with your covers top 50 for 1 Elektra is stingy.
-Get rid of shields all together.
-give defense 3 team up abilities, make it fair, the AI will keep matching team up after using its one, also just make it better, Ive had the AI do Ares green with no green in the bank, or Invisible woman's abilities do nothing.
-Better AI so the AI does L shape 5 match etc, smart matches, doesn't always do 4 match ove a color it needs

Unknown

ISO flow is too low to actually build a diverse roster.

You want us to play with a variety of heroes? What if battling with a non-maxed hero gave them a little boost of iso applied immediately to that hero? You know, almost like fighting had given them new experience that they might use to point out the flaws of their opponents next time around?

Mikaveus

Match-Making : A big topic of late is match-making and keeping players who haven't fully transitioned from being preyed upon by teams that have. This applies to 2* and 3* players being attacked relentlessly in PvP by 3* and 4* teams and creating "ceilings" - about 400 and 600 respectively. This leads to frustration and anger over a non-level playing field, where the "rich get richer", and casual to regular players can never reap the benefits over hardcore players or those with more resources (time/money).

Why not separate players based on level, having events that allow for a maximum * level. What I mean is an event for 2* characters or less, an event for 3* characters or less, and events for 4* characters or less. You can also give these events awards appropriate to their respective transition. (2* event players are rewarded with 3* covers, 3* events award 4* covers and so on).

Players shouldn't be OVERWHELMED by opponents they have no hope of beating - there's enough of that in the real world. Players should be given a chance to win and, if the lose, they know it was on a level playing field. This will be fair in the spirit of competition as LIKE faces LIKE. You will also be able to transition players more easily by controlling the rewards on each level.

Forcing transitions by lumping everyone in the same populace is how you'll lose many casual to regular players - myself included.

acescracked

homeinvasion wrote:

...$4,000 in the hole,...

I don't want to derail this thread but I gotta know...I really gotta know. You are exaggerating right? Please tell me you are.

MajinDavid

I really think the biggest issue is the roster slots. A simple cap at 500 would solve everything. They still make money and people could keep up with the rate of characters.

issue two is the rewards. Push them down. Make top 5 top 10. Top 25 becomes top 50. And top 100 to top 150. Alliance rewards go to top 150.

homeinvasion

acescracked wrote:

homeinvasion wrote:

...$4,000 in the hole,...

I don't want to derail this thread but I gotta know...I really gotta know. You are exaggerating right? Please tell me you are.

$4k is conservative dude, but I was nowhere near the biggest whale, early on I stupidly bought way too many 42 packs of tokens. If I have one piece of advice is don't buy tokens, not now, not ever. If you have now or ever had a gambling problem this game is to be avoided. Like when Nick Fury came out, he was the only 4 star worth having so I bought 3 X 42 packs just to get the third color then paid what an extra $300 to level him up. That's $500 on one character. Ive seen rosters with 2 max level of all 4 star and up to 4 max level of 166's. That whale must be in the 5 figure bracket.

Unknown

homeinvasion wrote:

acescracked wrote:

homeinvasion wrote:

...$4,000 in the hole,...

I don't want to derail this thread but I gotta know...I really gotta know. You are exaggerating right? Please tell me you are.

$4k is conservative dude, but I was nowhere near the biggest whale, early on I stupidly bought way too many 42 packs of tokens. If I have one piece of advice is don't buy tokens, not now, not ever. If you have now or ever had a gambling problem this game is to be avoided. Like when Nick Fury came out, he was the only 4 star worth having so I bought 3 X 42 packs just to get the third color then paid what an extra $300 to level him up. That's $500 on one character. Ive seen rosters with 2 max level of all 4 star and up to 4 max level of 166's. That whale must be in the 5 figure bracket.

I have spend like near to $1k end up my roster is still not max out. Have try out a lot of 42-pack it will only end up with 1-3 cover of what u wanted. Really no point in buying them I feel.

They need to change the drop rate or like in the past there is a 100% of one cover out of the 10-pack. By doing that it will make us buy more 10/42-pack. If not it is just a waste of money in buying them. Having less then 2-3 cover on a 42-pack or 0 cover in a 10-pack.