Topic

Faunasphere petition

www.ipetitions.com/petition... .....this is the direct link to singing the petition everyone please pass it on...it's free and every vote gets us closer to our fauna...I know we may not get this back and for alot of you Glitch has taken it's place but it only takes a moment to sign and it's free. Even if BFG will not restart the game there is always a chance of someone else noticing and creating a game that is similar to FS. Please just take a few seconds....and sign!

Posted 17 months ago by dillypeg Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • Seems this would be more appropriate to post in the multiple FS groups vice open forums, don't you think?
    Posted 17 months ago by b3achy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is going to sound horrible, but I didn't even know the game existed until it was explicitly named in the forums here.
    Posted 17 months ago by Liridona Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, um, +1 b3achy. No offense but this isn't really the place.
    Posted 17 months ago by Cupcake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Good luck with the petition.
    Sorry I'm not signing, I find it better to just accept it's gone and move on.  Yes it was a wonderful experience playing there, but it's over and done with.
    Posted 17 months ago by Ebil Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Agreed. I won't be signing the petition. I liked it while it was open, but I don't want it back. I'm happier now.
    Posted 17 months ago by Essie Kitten Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I doubt they would bring it back anyways, you obviously protested the closing while it was happening and I don't see why they would open it again.
    Posted 17 months ago by Ani Laurel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ^ And they wouldn't have even thought about closing it in the first place if there wasn't any other way to achieve what the makers wanted or had to do... 
    Posted 17 months ago by Hburger Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I feel so utterly betrayed by Faunasphere.  I don't want it back.. They really screwed us good. I won't even play Big Fish games now.
    Posted 17 months ago by napabeth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have never heard of Faunasphere. It sounds like it was popular though - a lot of people I bump into on Glitch were ex-Faunasphere players. Out of interest - what was it? (So I can be on the same wavelength as a lot of Glitch players here ;P )
    Posted 17 months ago by Captain Mouldy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It was another MMO Captain - where you bred creatures (quite sophisticated breeding system which was rather challenging and extremely engrossing trying to get what you wanted) and explored a world zapping pollution etc. If you google it and find the facebook page (I think second link) there are some screenshots on there...and lots of ex players have screenshots and videos around the net.

    I basically feel like Ebil though, I kind of moved on...although, when I just looked at the screenshots now I felt a little tug! I don't really believe in the power of a petition in this case...the closure seemed pretty final to me. Sorry to be negative for those who do believe though...and if you are right, that's great. I'm just glad Glitch came along instead :)
    Posted 17 months ago by Violet Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I HIGHLY doubt that you should be posting this here in Glitch. I suggest you complain on the BFG site directly.
    Posted 17 months ago by Chemisie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • In a nutshell...

    Faunasphere was a non-violent MMORPG based on 3 primary animals; Hoofer - Scooter - Sniffer.
    Each player could choose 1 animal which contained within its genes the ability to produce eggs which might hatch into any one of (at last count) 22 species with an immense variety of colors, patterns and physical features.
    The basic gameplay revolved around the collecting of a multitude of items such as building blocks to create and expand your home sphere environment, food items, happiness (den) items, socializing with friends, zapping (destroying) environmental hazards (pollution viles of varying hazardous degrees) completing goals or quests for in-game money (lux or other prizes) and raising the energy/happiness levels of your fauna. The highest level attainable was 20 which took a great deal of time and effort in the early months of the game. Your fauna initially recieved a gold collar for this achievement but at the loss of its egg laying ability. It was a critical personal choice of the player to keep or release these high level but barren fauna as there was limited fauna storage space according to ones subscription level.
    Extra items such as color/pattern/species gene pills were offered as cash items (bux) as well as desirable home sphere adornments. New cash items were offered at a steady pace as well as other cash only fauna features. Each new species introduction was heralded by much supposition and hype and trophies were awarded to the 51 first hatchers.

    BFG has firmly stated in the past that they will not resurrect this game. Petitions and complaints will probably be ignored. To date they appear to be a gaming vendor only.

    Be that as it may, I am so glad that I now have a glitch in my life even if we only get to play in carefully managed spurts.
    Onwards and upwards.
    :o)
    Posted 17 months ago by Poney Tails Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I played F/S when it first started out in beta and it was truly a different type of game as I had never played a mmo before.  The beta version was superior to the open game on many levels, we didn't have all the different fauna, colors and worlds but we did have a very close community and genuine friendships developed over the years.

    I was in shock when the game announced its closure as were most of us.  They didn't give us much notice one month and many of us had paid them quite a lot of money in the belief the game would be around for many years to come.

    I had many conversations with the people at BFG about the closure and they are adamant about not reopening the game, ever.

    I believe they used very slimy tactics, and yes used and abused the players they purportedly cared about.  

    I will never go back and play f/s again,  I have faced that fact and now just want to go forward with my game playing.  I don't and won't sign a petition for BFG to reinstate the game and allow them to get over on anyone else.  If they even agreed which is not going to happen.

    Maybe this doesn't belong inside Glitch to some people, but since there are so many players from f/s who are Glitchees now, I disagree.  This needs to be put out in the open so the wounds can heal and everyone can state their feelings once and for all.  I do not believe there should ever be another thread like this in Glitch.  It's over and done.

    I am an optimist and do not believe Glitch will go down that road F/S did or I would be afraid to even try this game let alone love it like I do.  I believe real people such as Stoot want this to be a fun and lasting game.  I love the almost no rules with out someone going over every fricking word you type to make sure it's "acceptable" for younger people and their parents.  So please try your darnest for what you want but lets leave Glitch out of it.
    Posted 17 months ago by xoxJulie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I was a beta tester for FS.   Loved playing it and was heart broken when it closed.

    I was a beta tester for VMK.  Loved playing it and was heart broken when it closed.

    I'm a beta tester for Glitch.  I am hoping to not be heart broken.  But I've built up a tough skin.
    Posted 17 months ago by Pirate Apples Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Virtual Magic Kingdom is dead!? It's been a few years since I've played it but I remember I loved making music in that game and had quite a bit of fun with the mini-games and home decoration.

    It could be because the team's in San Francisco right now, but the staff haven't intervened on this thread yet.
    Posted 17 months ago by Liridona Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't think staff would be upset about one little off topic thread about another game. We've had other threads talking about other games like Minecraft, or Tinkatolli. It's not like faunasphere refugees are flooding Glitch with dozens of threads about the game.
    Posted 17 months ago by FrankenPaula Subscriber! | Permalink
  • F/S was so into censorship if you even mentioned another game in any thread they would threaten to ban you for 48-72 hours and then lock the thread immediatley.  Let Glitch freedom ring. Yippie
    Posted 17 months ago by xoxJulie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm debating with myself how much to say here... I really don't think this is the place for long-winded commentary on this, so I'll limit myself to some (hopefully) brief key points (really, people who aren't interested shouldn't be reading this thread anyway)...

    I disagree with BFG's decision to close the game before even 2 years of it being live. It seems like this isn't enough time to give anything enough chance to prove itself. That being said, I don't think they were being slimy in their tactics: they did several things to prove to their clientele that they cared about them, including giving them a free (surprisingly high quality) keep-sake print in the mail, and a month of surprises and give-aways to help people complete their goals before the game disappeared forever. They didn't have to do this.

    I miss two things the most about FS that I'm not sure I'll ever find anywhere else: 1) the fun of breeding with genetics that could end up leading to some extremely unique creatures, and 2) the world building that was so versatile no two people's spheres ever looked the same, and the players could create wondrous, personalized worlds that could strike awe into the hearts of other people that were visiting them. There was so much room for artistic expression in that game, and I haven't seen anything else that comes close to that. 

    I am ecstatic that I found Glitch (and I probably wouldn't have if FS was still open). It is better in many ways (including not pandering to children and making adults fear saying something that might get them banned... there are plenty of other things, but I won't list them here). If only it had the same level of creative elements as FS, it would be utter perfection (now it's only about 90% of the way there :) ).

    FS will never be brought back. They made that EXTREMELY clear in their responses to the multitude of pleas, threats, and attempted bribes that followed the news of its closure. As such, I think petitions are indeed (and sadly) useless, and I won't bother with them. Thankfully, Glitch is owned by someone who actually cares about it, so it won't face the same hap-hazard, knee-jerk budget cuts that FS did. Plus, Tiny Speck has WAY better business savvy! Long live Tiny Speck and Glitch!!!

    Sorry... I don't think that was brief at all. Dang it.
    Posted 17 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • There was this show once that I loved so much, called Firefly, but it got cancelled.  And people tried to get that back on, but it didn't work.  And then they made a movie called Serenity, and in it they killed off two of the best characters.  So that's when I knew it was really not ever coming back.

    *hugs dvd's*
    :-(
    Posted 17 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well said, Shepherdmoon. And you nailed the two reasons that made f/s so enjoyable and addictive.  I can't imagine another game enticing me to spend $100+ month after month after month. Ah well. I have reconciled the demise of f/s----and consider myself very lucky to have found glitch.
    Posted 17 months ago by GreyGoose Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I want it back bad, but not so bad that I'll play it while BFG owns it. No way I'm giving them my patronage.
    Posted 17 months ago by KitkatCat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Nanookie, I still haven't watched Serenity... because once I've watched it, there will really be no more. I'm kinda saving it... 
    Posted 17 months ago by Jennyanydots Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Maybe "slimy" was a bit strong still what they "gave" us was likely in the works anyways.  One free game and a print just doesn't do it for me.
    The uniqueness of building our own homes and then making them just how we wanted them was so much darn fun.  I have to admit I was in awe of what some of the players had built and would wonder why I was so untalented, we actually had a design team that would come to your sphere and help decorate.  It was unreal how well everyone would play and work together.  I miss that most of all.
    Posted 17 months ago by xoxJulie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Nanookie "I aim to misbehave"  

    But... yeah.
    Posted 17 months ago by Tradescantia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Jennyanydots:  Gah!  I had no idea anyone who loved the show could still not have seen the film...and here I have gone and spilled (some of) the beans.  So sorry!

    @Tradescantia:  "We gotta go to the crappy town where I'm a hero!"

    *dab*
    Posted 17 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Nanookie "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal"

    *sniff*
    Posted 17 months ago by Tradescantia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • PS ( cause I didn't see the post just now) , Shepherdmoon is right. The sphere building was so, incredibly awesome. Actually, that was probably what drove me to play it. Now that I think of it, almost every time I sign in, I had hit the 'Edit' button at least once, be it in my main account, or in (shared) mules. There's just the satisfaction of getting the sphere exactly how you want it to look like, and exactly perfect that I really miss. Yes, I know there are other games where I can do deco, but nothing comes close to the 3D sphere building.
    Posted 17 months ago by KitkatCat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • xoxjulie, I was including the intangible gifts they gave us during that time period: making rare genes common, reducing the price of bux items, and contests to give away rare items (to name just the ones that are popping into my head right now, at least). The mods were also very generous in giving away stuff if people asked. I was able to complete 2 dream spheres because of this, and got a whole slew of awesomely beautiful creatures that I never would have been able to make otherwise. I had fun sharing this with others by giving away a large number of my best eggs. It made the last month very fun, and I took pictures so I could always remember it.
    Posted 17 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I had been into BigFish for a while. The games community there was the best, a greater variety couldn't be found online with the sense of family that was found there. 
    Then they started to change the games, upgrade them. I didn't like what came of the evolution and felt most of the changes in both quality and graphics were more retrograde than progression.
    In the midst of this change came FaunaSphere. something new and different and, according to their own publicity, directed at a totally new and somewhat neglected market, the middle aged woman. 
    It should have been a warning to us that the community games became far less than they were. That customer satisfaction with BigSea wasn't what it had been at BigFish. Maybe that's why they changed the name, I don't know. All I know is that the place I had been happy to spend my time and money in became a place I didn't recognise and didn't want to be at.
    I will never trust them again. Their promises, whatever they may, be will never amount to anything because past behaviour is usually a good indication of future behaviour.
    Much as I loved FS, I would not support it or anything produced by Big Fish Games again. 
    Sorry but no. I will not be signing this petition.
    Posted 17 months ago by Leithwyn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Wait, I'm curious. What "slimy tactics" did BigFish use, exactly?
    Posted 17 months ago by Cupcake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm with you Nanookie & Tradescantia!
    Posted 17 months ago by Victoria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As much as I loved playing the game, as innovative as it was and the friends I made in FS, I found BF to be a very unscrupulous company. 1st they were so willing to take your bux if u made a mistake, which was very easy to do, can't tell u how many i lost by hitting the wrong key, their response too bad. 2nd they would silence u a the drop of a hat for stupid things while letting many get away with some of the rudest behavior i have ever seen in a game. They also had a horrible business model that could not turn a profit, their marketing and running of the game was atrocious. I would never play another BF game again. So glad I found glitch. So no I won't sign any petition, sorry. 
    Posted 17 months ago by Stormy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I feel that I need to share a story with you in order to explain my feelings on not signing the petition to bring FS back. This could be a long read. I'm sorry in advance. So...big deep breath...

    FS was the first MMO that I played and really enjoyed. I lost a pet shortly before I joined in November 2009, and the fauna pretty much became a substitute for that loss. I never really contributed to the forums, but I did read them from time to time. The community vibe was evident, but I never felt a part of it. That was my own choice. I did not like the censorship and restricted atmosphere. I found out about Glitch after the announcement came that FS was closing. I was apprehensive about it, but decided to sign up.

    My uncle was diagnosed with cancer shortly after I joined FS. He had a few tests and the resulting surgery, and everything was progressing well for a year or so. Until the cancer came back. He had radiotherapy at the end of February this year. Cutting a long story short, things did not go well. FS closed on March 15th. That really broke my heart. It was a place I could go to get away from reality. Not even three days later, we got a call at 3 am on March 18th, to say that my uncle had lost his battle and passed away.

    As a child, I remember watching "The Sound of Music", and one line has always stayed with me. I can't remember the exact wording, but it goes something like "If God closes a door, somewhere he has opened a window". Exactly one week later, on March 25th, I opened my emails and the first thing I noticed was : tinyspeck - [Glitch] Your invited! Whichever dev pressed the buttons to send me that email, all I can say is thank you. You made a very sad time for me a little better.

    The first time I logged in and got my account set up, the Global Chat channel was open and when I saw so many familiar usernames, I smiled for the first time in what seemed like months. I had some of them on my friends list in FS, but I never knew most them. That is, until I came to Glitch.

    I have told the full full story to some of the people on here (I'm sure they will know who they are) and I want to thank them for listening. It means more to me than you will ever know. The laughs (and there has been lots!), the tears, the silliness and the fun, has been worth the loss of FS to me. I know that if I had never come to Glitch, I would never have gotten the chance to get to know them. And I would never have met the non-FS people I now know. 

    I loved FS, but at this stage, I'm pretty much over it. Maybe if I hadn't lost my uncle, I would feel differently. I know which affected me more. I have the memories from FS, I had the opportunity to say goodbye, and for that I am grateful.

    For me, the community potential that FS had, has been founded here in Glitch; better, stronger and with so many more people than before. I'm quite a shy person in reality, and typing this is a big step for me. Glitch is slowly bringing me out of my shell. I don't type much in Group chats, I'm more comfortable "Glitch to Glitch" in local chat (lol, how else can I describe it?) or in IM. FS had its place, but Glitch is where my virtual home is now.

    I appreciate your efforts to bring it back, but I have to be honest, I don't think it will ever happen. Also, I don't think I want it to open up again. I understand that some people miss the game, but sometimes you have to appreciate what you have been given, in order to accept the losses that you have endured.

    Thanks for reading, Chelsea xx
    Posted 17 months ago by Chelsea~1 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That is a really touching story, chelseastars.
    Posted 17 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Chelsea!

    Also, how did I ever miss Firefly?  Watched the pilot last night on NetFlix, now I'm hooked. ;-)
    Posted 17 months ago by zeeberk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The difference between Glitch and FS isn't how much the team cares about the game. They ALL care about the game.

    Every big game has an even bigger team devoted to it. And each one of those team members puts their sweat and blood into that project. Nobody wants to have to close down a game and lose all their hard work. That being said, the main issue is money. If you don't have money, you don't have a choice. If you do have money, you have a choice. And if you have a choice, that choice will be based on money, or how profitable a game will be in the long term. The difference between Glitch and FS is just that; Glitch has tons of money invested, and FS did not. If Glitch does well, they'll keep it. If it doesn't, they'll trash it. It doesn't matter how much they care about the customers or how much they love the game.
    Posted 17 months ago by Lin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Chelsea
    Posted 17 months ago by Piece of Serenity Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Such a lovely and loving testimonial, thanks for sharing ChelseaStars.
    :o)

    My goodbyes were pretty final too. But truthfully, the sphere building alone would draw me back. But I would never sink any more cash into the game. So FS might as well stay buried.
    I think I'll go play some Wandering Willows for a little while.
    It's no Glitch but there aren't many games where you can meet new folks, collect and hatch eggs, harvest trees, grow some crops, craft pet tools, collect then cook yummy recipes and wander through some nifty regions whilst solving questing puzzles.
    Posted 17 months ago by Poney Tails Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Had fun playing the game..sure I miss it...but I made great friends there and a community of players that I game with every day.....I spent the last year pushing Glitch to all my friends so they would know another wonderful game has entered the field.Many have had to come back twice to adjust,but adjust we shall.FS died due to lack of finanacing and the unwillingness to spread into technology...So be it..They did a great job and I'm sure they hated giving up on it too...That said...it's dead......I accept that .......Hard as it may have been to......I miss my fauna!
    Posted 17 months ago by Tilly TrinkleHouse Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Lin
    Posted 17 months ago by martian-b Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I was a huge VMker </3 and what Shepherd Moon said about making things common near the end, was kinda the same in vmk, they had Magic pins, and they went overboard on releasing a bunch of rare ones before closing was announced, then they turned it too arcady, im just hoping glitch doesnt close or i will probably never play another virtual world again
    Posted 17 months ago by Marcm Subscriber! | Permalink