Topic

New Features Alert System

Currently, new features are announced via twitter - or often, through player discovery, or the forum. A lot of times for the few REAL LIFE days after a new feature comes out, people are asking "What's going on?" We really need a better way than twitter and the forum for features to be announced. A LOT of people only come to the forums when directed by a link. Or not at all. You should be able to access this information IN game.

I propose a "god" (ie. giant) like announcement that appears before you log in (perhaps on the loading screen or one you have to actually click OK! Thanks! before completely loading - like a level up screen or badge) with features that have been added since your last login.

Or - a newsletter in your mailbox that you can read of new features.

For example: the new herb garden plot lock. An announcement that Zilloween has begun and what that means. Gems stack! Known bug issues, etc.

What do ya'll think?

Posted 11 months ago by Marie Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I think notices in local chat on log-on are a great idea. Quick summaries with links to relevant online posts would do the trick.
    Posted 11 months ago by Fluxan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think that changes like the herb garden and gem stacks (something that is a developmental change in gameplay) could use something like this, but rather than something invested in the game, it should be a prominent game update that links from the front page of the game.

    As for zilleoween or other holidays, I think that should stay out of the loop.  I think discovering the meanings and bonuses of the holidays is part of the fun of the discovery of the game!

    Edit: The idea of a notice at login (something along the lines of "New Update: Here's a link to the changes") sounds good as well!  It just shouldn't be intrusive in the game, the way GOD is, unless it's as hilarious and in-character as that (which, with a link to a bunch of updates, might be hard to do, but not necessarily impossible).
    Posted 11 months ago by Sicupocalypse Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't mind log in notices, but I'd be happy with home page notices too.  
    Posted 11 months ago by Red Sauce Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think, especially now back in beta, being informed of new game updates that won't be mistaken as bugs, is important. Links from the homepage would be great but sometimes I go straight to the game from a bookmark and bypass it. That's why I think in game announcements aren't just a good idea but really necessary. Some people only play the game, they don't delve into the rest of the website. I'm not talking a 5 paragraph essay when you login, but a sentence or two with the update followed by a link to an *official* longer announcement of the update (not a forum post where the information is spread out in multiple pages like the new housing thread - that info should be in a post by itself)
    Posted 11 months ago by Marie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • agree! please dont make everything twitter -ish -etc.
    I really like alot of what marie said too.
    and YES_ please +1million -- not all of use use twitter and all those sites-
    although I do use the forums.
    ANd even regularly using the forums there's lots of times I still miss things .
    SO , thereforee, at least adding a separate stickied thread at the top of general
    or a sub forum or separate foum for game change status notices would be helpful .

    ALSO_ the game now in your chat window tells you at log in if you have new mail in your mailbox- would it be that hard to just add a line there that says something like " There have been game plyay updates since your last log in .Please see the forums for info." or some such ??????.
    Posted 11 months ago by serenitycat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree that I am feeling like I don't know what is going on. I'm away for a few days or a week, and I don't have info about updates. Jimminy, don't know what people away for a month would do. It's just hard to catch up without a catchup resource. Updates fly by, and there haven't been enough sticky staff notes. Then good info gets buried in the thread vis discussion. And The twitter feed is way inefficient. 

    I know staff is killing themselves, but we REALLY need some level of documentation/direction/dictation/dizzination to stay informed. Alls that said a few ideas:
    -- You could make it possible to search for the STAFF button so we can get the official 411
    -- Use the blog to post more frequently. It is a tool that you already have, but it seems to be an infrequent tool and not consistent in the way it's used.
    -- People could sign up for an e-newsletter. Then, tho, you'd have to make content. It could be threads that they have commented on (links to), links to staff threads or staff responses, blog posts

    I am trying to think of stuff that would reuse stuff that you are already doing. But, it might make sense to have someone tasked with documenting and writing. I am focusing on staff postings cuz there is alot of speculation and this should be to keep players informed by TS. I AM NOT saying to create a digest to keep track of general convos. That would be a different goal. I am talking exclusively about keeping players up-to-speed.

    I know it's hard, but comms with users has to be a priority. As it is, the inadvertent burying of news favors people in game and in forum alot. But you have paying customers who are not in that category and would like to keep track of "happenings." Or who can't spend as much time here as they used to. #justsaying
    Posted 11 months ago by Mac Rapalicious Subscriber! | Permalink