THE GAME IS FREE

[Controversy]

I've been playing BEFORE it was added to Steam. If you complete the games you start, you get more scrolls and gold. I've played at least 20 games so far, and it continues to be free.

Please stop giving a good game horrible reviews because you think its not free. Its free so far (for me) and I don't see a scenario where I would lose so much gold and scrolls that I would need to buy anything.

The people stating its not free are the ones that have poked their heads in for 5 seconds and haven't actually played the game, otherwise they would see they get more scrolls to keep playing.

Its a smart system. It stops people from rage quitting games after the 3rd turn because they think they are off to a rocky start. Catan is one of those games where even if you are screwed at the beginning, you can end up winning, so having a system that punishes rage quitting is smart.

[obliviondoll]

Can I log in, ANY TIME I WANT, after ANY AMOUNT OF NOT PLAYING, and, without delay, without having to grind up to earn a scroll, start up a lobby with a couple of friends?

Requiring people to jump through hoops with scrolls and gold and real money purchases in order to play with friends is NOT a suitable business model.

As long as the answer to the above question is not a clear, simple, "yes" with no strings attached, they're doing it wrong.

EDIT: There's also the problem with a lot of people getting game-breaking bugs on the end-game screen, so that even when they stick it out and finish the game, they're forced to close the client and lose their progress. Obviously, bugs happen, but that can impact a person's experience and I've seen a couple of reviews where that was the reason for the negative review.

[Controversy]

I'm sorry you're argument is invalid if you are saying its not a FREE game. There are plenty of free games that have loopholes/progression. Most free RPGs you dont get to do level 70 content at level 1.

The "loopholes" as you call them are completely reasonable. Do anything you want using one of your scrolls. Keep completing games and you get more scrolls/gold. Its rewarding people for not rage quitting games and making the online play horrible.

Its fine to have criticism for a game, but people are blatanly lying and saying "The game isnt free", which is not true.

[Stroom]

Catan as a board game is not meant to be a grind. Each time you set up the board you should have access to all of the content. I am only talking about the base game here - base game is 50% still hidden behind paywall - random maps are missing which is the core element of the game. Saying that the scroll mechanic to unlock your stuff is OK, is just stupid. Why not just make the game free overall and remove the scrolls then? Very shady.

Also people could just create a new account every time they log in, get 2 scrolls and have temporary access to most of the content the game offers. Is that considered free? Not by my standards.

[obliviondoll]

Originally posted by Controversy:

I'm sorry you're argument is invalid if you are saying its not a FREE game. There are plenty of free games that have loopholes/progression. Most free RPGs you dont get to do level 70 content at level 1.

The "loopholes" as you call them are completely reasonable. Do anything you want using one of your scrolls. Keep completing games and you get more scrolls/gold. Its rewarding people for not rage quitting games and making the online play horrible.

Its fine to have criticism for a game, but people are blatanly lying and saying "The game isnt free", which is not true.

Doesn't answer the question.

CAN I LOG IN AT ANY TIME AND IMMEDIATELY PLAY THE GAME WITH FRIENDS REGARDLESS OF OTHER FACTORS?

No. No I can't.

The game is *TECHNICALLY* free, but it's not *ACTUALLY* free in the sense that matters for a game in Steam's free-to-play section. You're ignoring the fact that this is an EXTREMELY competitive corner of the market even within the already-highly-competitive gaming industry. You can't just do a half-hearted job of "free" when that's how you're labelling your product.

[enzynz]

Originally posted by obliviondoll:

Originally posted by Controversy:

I'm sorry you're argument is invalid if you are saying its not a FREE game. There are plenty of free games that have loopholes/progression. Most free RPGs you dont get to do level 70 content at level 1.

The "loopholes" as you call them are completely reasonable. Do anything you want using one of your scrolls. Keep completing games and you get more scrolls/gold. Its rewarding people for not rage quitting games and making the online play horrible.

Its fine to have criticism for a game, but people are blatanly lying and saying "The game isnt free", which is not true.

Doesn't answer the question.

CAN I LOG IN AT ANY TIME AND IMMEDIATELY PLAY THE GAME WITH FRIENDS REGARDLESS OF OTHER FACTORS?

No. No I can't.

The game is *TECHNICALLY* free, but it's not *ACTUALLY* free in the sense that matters for a game in Steam's free-to-play section. You're ignoring the fact that this is an EXTREMELY competitive corner of the market even within the already-highly-competitive gaming industry. You can't just do a half-hearted job of "free" when that's how you're labelling your product.

The answer is yes, yes you can. Both play the free version, and both que at the same time. You will end up in the same game more often than not. Just go away with your ♥♥♥♥♥♥ negative attitude. Its no longer wanted in this community. We don't even want you to be apart of it.

[obliviondoll]

Originally posted by enzynz:

Originally posted by obliviondoll:

Doesn't answer the question.

CAN I LOG IN AT ANY TIME AND IMMEDIATELY PLAY THE GAME WITH FRIENDS REGARDLESS OF OTHER FACTORS?

No. No I can't.

The game is *TECHNICALLY* free, but it's not *ACTUALLY* free in the sense that matters for a game in Steam's free-to-play section. You're ignoring the fact that this is an EXTREMELY competitive corner of the market even within the already-highly-competitive gaming industry. You can't just do a half-hearted job of "free" when that's how you're labelling your product.

The answer is yes, yes you can. Both play the free version, and both que at the same time. You will end up in the same game more often than not. Just go away with your ♥♥♥♥♥♥ negative attitude. Its no longer wanted in this community. We don't even want you to be apart of it.

That's a sign of a few things:

1. The community is so small you can intentionally meet friends because hardly anyone else is playing. This was something I predicted happening in a previous post, and it's NOT a good sign for the future of the game when doing that actually works.

2. You don't know how to spell "queue".

3. You don't know better than to keep arguing with someone who has a valid point in spite of not actually being able to counter their argument.

[Stroom]

The answer is not yes. If you used your last scroll a week ago, you have to start grinding to unlock the most basic feature of matchmaker - playing with friends. I mean... This is even more simple and basic thing than the matchmaker itself. Why hide such elementary features from the players in the first place? Defending ♥♥♥♥♥♥ practices and insulting anyone who does not agree with them does not seem to help the game and the community at all.

[Controversy]

The game is still free. You can say it isn't as many times as you want. IT'S STILL FREE. I've played 20+ games, whatever I want when I want, and it's all free.

Not agreeing how a certain game is set up does not mean it's magically debiting money from your checking account.

[Controversy]

Originally posted by Stroom:

Defending ♥♥♥♥♥♥ practices and insulting anyone who does not agree with them does not seem to help the game and the community at all.

Oh but making up lies to slander a game and it's developers is totally helping the community.

[obliviondoll]

The way a free-to-play game makes money is by having an active playerbase, and a fun core system, with extras that are attractive - NOT necessary - for free players to feel encouraged - NOT forced - to pay for.

You want free players to feel welcome.
This game treats them like a burden.

You want free players to feel capable.
This game makes them feel excessively limited.

Free players need to feel like they're being ENCOURAGED to pay for EXTRAS.
This game makes them feel like they're being PUNISHED for NOT paying.

Free players need to feel like they're getting a complete experience, but can pay for MORE.
This game makes them feel like they need to pay for a complete experience.

[Brandon]

No, the game is free to play. That isn't the same as free.

[JMJimmy]

The game is a demo model that differs from a free-to-play model. F2P allows you to unlock the majority of the content if you grind enough. Demo means you get one or two features unlocked permanently which you can play till the cows come home but you can never permanently unlock anything else.