Radio Event has been nerfed

bladgier · May 2018

@Kaz If it was AT LEAST 4 times a year in this format, possibly more and if this even could be run with let's say jackpot at the same time or 1 min gas then I'd say that's done deal for me and I'd be happy.

JayZ · May 2018

@Kaz the easy way to make sure supply trades are used by the intended audience is if you made them only available to max level players. That way, lower level players will continue to grow their resources while max level players won't feel frustrated by having wasted resources.

Plus, the conversion factor really wouldn't be game-breaking.

Currently:
- 7,500 TG = legendary gear
- 3 million supplies = legendary gear
- That means that 400,000 supplies = 1,000 TG

Let's apply this conversion rate to radios:
- 3,000 TG = 5 radios
- 1.2 million supplies = 3000 TG
- That means 1.2 million supplies = 5 radios

Assuming the same conversion rates, if you have nearly full supplies, you can trade 19.2 million supplies for a measly 80 radios.

That only results in two 40-calls. Given the amount of time it takes to fill up your supply tank, this hardly seems game-breaking or economy-ruining.

DLich · May 2018

So instead of twice a year getting $4 a weekend from me you've chosen the possibility of four times a year getting $0 a weekend from me. Sounds legit!

pirate1125 · May 2018

Keep nerfing stuff and game will continue to die. Of course I think that's the goal

DLich · May 2018

nadecir said:
It is interesting to know what @Kaz means specifically by these statements: "In order to have this event more often, we can't run it exactly as it was before. We've seen the results and they weren't the best" and "That's the plan after we see how this one goes." What objective results does NG want to see from this event in order to classify it as a success?

Care to clue us on what you mean by that Kaz?

"wasn't the best" means that people stopped buying radio bundles for a little while afterwards... Giving double radio's (I was able to earn 700 last time on unlimited gas all weekend) affected their sales.. It was the best for the players but not the best for NG... hence why they don't run it often and decided to change how it operates when running it this time.

Japes87 · May 2018

So what has more value ? A happy player that can avoid buying a couple of radio bundles because of a free event that they love and spend money for gas boosters on ? Or a pissed off player that spends because they have to, to have a chance to progress in this game and then leaves while all their friends and guildmates suffer and develop more resentment for the game ? Data and analytics might be good for maximizing short term revenue , but it sure as hell isn't the way to have long term health in a player base

titus · May 2018

nadecir said:
It is interesting to know what @Kaz means specifically by these statements: "In order to have this event more often, we can't run it exactly as it was before. We've seen the results and they weren't the best" and "That's the plan after we see how this one goes." What objective results does NG want to see from this event in order to classify it as a success?

Care to clue us on what you mean by that Kaz?

translation:We think we can make more money by selling our "value bundles"lol instead of the cheaper gaz boosters.

DBones · May 2018

bladgier said:
@Kaz If it was AT LEAST 4 times a year in this format, possibly more and if this even could be run with let's say jackpot at the same time or 1 min gas then I'd say that's done deal for me and I'd be happy.

I'm on board with this line of thought. It's not as ideal as keeping the event the way it's always been, but it also wouldn't be nearly as bad as running the event as frequently (or rather, infrequently) as it is now with the nerfed numbers. If you half the amount of radios we get in crates during the event, but double the frequency of the event, I would think it's more or less a wash over time. If any of you math wizards care to chime in and prove one way or the other which way works better, I'd love to hear it, because I'm too damn lazy to try to sit here and figure that shit out

paintbeast · May 2018

I'm so glad I quit this shit show.

RoadRash · May 2018

Great News saved 5.00 this weekend.

The more nerfs I see the less I spend, was going to buy gas and double xp for the weekend no point in it now,

I know I might see greater chance of getting radios but ya know what this just leaves a bad taste in my mouth nerf away.

OneLessTitan · May 2018

@Kaz - So many questions from your response...

1. What about the results of the previous events weren't "the best" from NG's perspective?

2. What determines if this event is a success?
----Is it not informing the customers that this event is different (worse) than previous ones, but still getting the same revenue? If so, kudos on that business model!! Trust me, the bronze crate radio drops were 3x (2x for gold and silver as you stated), so if they are 10% this time around, that's just another nerf. I've always wanted to say "Fake News"

3. What made the previous event game/economy breaking?
4. What actually breaks the game/economy?
----I don't see how people happily progressing at a decent pace breaks the game. I don't know much about mobile app business models, but I know a f**k ton about human psychology. Happy people spend $$. People actually playing the game the for long periods of time get invested and spend $$. I fully admit that I and others on the forum are your least favorite type of customer in one way: we are often more informed than the 99.9% of players who don't frequent the forum. Maybe the industry standard is to have people play a few days or weeks, make a couple purchases, realize they wasted their $$, then leave. But when you have a product/game that is superior to the industry standard, you should strive for better. Anyone at my place of work that thinks the industry standard is good enough has no respect from the people that strive for excellence.

The previous event routinely got me to buy multiple boosters, helped me actually progress in the game, and gave me motivation to keep playing and waiting to progress again...As it stands now, there is basically no progress for me; i've been saving to upgrade one trait on my 8 star survivor for over a month, and am like half way there. I'm not saying I should have all 10 star survivors or anything at this point, but my progress has halted with the game economy, and not just the lowering of resources received for the same amount of time/gas invested....including ways in which NG renders every decision/investment previously made value-less (tokens invested in old survivors, time/resources wasted on old gear, etc). I guess I'm a "victim" of my own dedication??? It's bad enough vet players get squeezed for more $$ by increasing our mission gas costs (even though our gas doesn't come any faster) and making our survivors heal longer when they get hurt. I don't know if every game has multiple roadblocks in every facet of the game, but if they don't, then that's an industry standard I'd like to see you guys meet.

You guys say that there are more tokens available, better calls available, etc...but it doesn't really help when we have less resources to utilize those better methods...kind of a wash or worse...Sure we don't have the data to figure out things like "is the amount of revenue generated by people buying the same weapon bundles repeatedly outweighs the potential revenue generated by more people buying more bundles if Training Ground/Workshop upgrades were ended for good"...but you guys don't either.

The Ezekiel Season Mission that came up again last week was a perfect metaphor/analogy/whatever for how this game runs.
1. Here's the goal: get to the exit.
2. I get close to the exit...guess what, suck it moron....new goal: kill all these other walkers.
3. I kill all the other walkers...guess what, suck it again idiot....now go to the exit we told you about in #1, but here's a bunch of walkers in the way that will advance and attack you before you have a chance to do anything.

While the game may still be successful in generating revenue, it's not optimal. You can blame the player retention drop on two months of bad coding early in 2018, and the USD$ may be down, but that's not the entire story. Yes, the ratings in the show have decreased, which probably leads to slightly fewer new players. Here's some more data that isn't perfect or have a singular explanation, but people seeking information about the game has also decreased. Here's the stats from my site for the last 5 months:
December 2017: views down 19.7% from DEC 2016
January 2018: views down 19.7% from JAN 2017
February 2018: views down 33.7% from FEB 2017
March 2018: views down 18.9% from MAR 2017
April 2018: views down 8.9% from APR 2017 (win!!)

Since I don't monetize the site and run to spread info, this doesn't bother me, but does show something: probably an increased lack of interest in the game, probably less players, probably less information being needed as people "know" more and snag the data off the site and don't need to revisit, probably less new info being posted by me (which I did start doing more recently, maybe an explanation there for less of a drop off in April, even tho very few actually go there for those announcements). Again, no one reason for those drop offs, but it's a sign of something.

The first step towards rehabilitation is admitting you have a problem. But maybe you guys don't actually have a problem, or just don't think you have a problem. I've dealt with enough parents to know which ones are open to suggestions, and which ones are protective/defensive of their methods and think their way is the only correct way. Not saying I have all the answers (or any), but it's a shame to see such a great product be undermined by a poor business model IMO.

Jenng · May 2018

Not as eloquently as most of you but it’s all I got.

Japes87 · May 2018

@bladgier I gotta respectfully disagree with you on this one bro ..

The event we hope and wait for had increased chances of radios AND double radios in crates . Say that right now we get an average of 30 radios farming for a couple of hours on scavenge Missions (and that's being VERY generous) that would mean this weekend we get 60 ish. During these events in the past , it was quite possible to farm 500 or 600 radios in a day doing Tara missions , this was the ONLY chance for us to get a big radio haul without spending loads of money in this game ... the phone drop rate in Mission crates are some thing like 2% (already way way too low for the tokens we need) so this new "event" will make them 4% .. it will barely be noticeable .

Guarantee you by Friday and Saturday, there Will be several threads asking of the event is working or just complaints about it. This is one of the biggest nerfs this game has seen and all part of a bigger effort to limit progression and artificially inflate the most important in-game currency . I can't be quiet about this one because this is the sole event I was excited for since coming back to this game . This is a terrible decision by NG to top off a series of other terrible decisions taking resources away from a very unhappy player base .

Mischa · May 2018

Well said, @OneLessTitan, 👏

During the last double tokens event, I spent a huge amount of radios for Sasha and had a very bad drop rate of tokens, about of 50% of what was promised in the info box and the experience from other players in the forum. Okay, it might be bad luck or my stupidity but in any case I was 😤. If I consider those drop rates, I will hardly play all day long during the radio event to be disappointed twice, for less radios and finally less tokens.

The reaction of NG support on my token drop rate was great: We hope you will have a lot of fun once you play again, survivor.

Sorry NG, nerfing the mechanics of the game triggers some allergy on me and my 💸. At that day I wanted to quit but I didn’t. At least I managed to spend 2 boosters less and had no other purchases, well done NG. Played the distance in the past 4 times per week, now I don’t do it unless I have enough free gold and gas. It’s not the 💰 I am greedy or lacking of, I just don’t want to spend it to a company which is fooling the players.

Its psychology, not logic which makes us 😡. And trust is very important...

OneLessTitan · May 2018

I've had this discussion with Shteevie before @Kaz , but just to be clear, this isn't personal against you...I know you are both the messenger (both ways) and the one who stands out here and takes bullets, and I respect that...hopefully we don't drive you to study overseas or get you shifted to a different game! I'm guessing you are like Shteevie and myself and don't take anything said about the game, or our displeasure personally. I have had jabs thrown at me numerous times around here, and the only thing I took offense to was when I was accused of just wanting to be given everything (gimme gimme gimme)...in no way is that how I operate...

I think of NML like a friend. We hang out, that friend makes some funny jokes, and we have some good times. But this friend never puts in $5 on the $20 sack (sorry, early 90s gangsta rap reference). When that keeps happening, their jokes eventually wear thin and we stop hanging out.

ATLAS-Z · May 2018

@Kaz man I just want to say, I'll take this event several times a year happily. And I know I'm not alone.

Angry people speak the loudest and are therefore heard most often.

I like radios as much as the next guy.

I don't have infinite resources, so I don't buy tons of bundles and such, here and there, some boosters sure.

If I got time to play lots, I'll boost and play lots, regardless of the Weekend Event in play.

This weekend is mother's day weekend so I really probably shouldn't play a ton anyway, but if I do, the extra radios will be very appreciated sir.

Thank you, and I would like to extend my gratitude to the whole team for continuing to put time and energy into a game I love, extending its longevity more than any other hand I've ever played... Ever. Keep it up.

All due respect to @OneLessTitan and others here.

Dodkong · May 2018

I have never bought a phone only or phone/gold only bundle.

I never will buy either of those types of bundles. Ever.

I have quite a deep well of patience to collect phones slowly till I get to where I'm satisfied and willing to spend phones again.

Nerf this even all you wish, NG, it won't cause me to buy any of the "special event" bundles that are offered.

OneLessTitan · May 2018

Question(s) for @BiggyGuyinTWD -
1. Did you ever buy gas boosters during the previous Radio Events?
2. Ignoring the Mother's Day factor, will you/would you buy a gas booster during this version of the event?

The larger point I am trying to get at (which probably got lost in the wall of text) is the fact that I've actually been offering suggestions directly to NG to happily get more $$ from people. I'm sure they will make bank this event since most players are ignorant (that's not an insult for anyone who is ignorant of what ignorant means). But I don't like preying/capitalizing on ignorance. Of course this nerfed event is still better than basically any other event, but it's not one that's going to inspire the majority of informed people to happily spend their $$, knowing they have to spend twice the $$ and time to get less than what they used to (assuming they drop the bronze radio rate down to 10% from 15%..if it's 15%, then it's the same expected outcome for twice the time/$$).

Jenng · May 2018

I don’t disagree with anyone because I truly respect their opinions, even when they are dead wrong. 🤣 It’s not so much actual “anger speaking loudly “ it’s more disappointment and legit concerns about the fact that every time we turn around one more thing that is beloved in the game is casually nerfed. I would rather be battle-scarred from fighting the good fight than compromise what I value.

R2runfast · May 2018

NG still trying to kill its own game? @kaz

Sincerely,
Angie's baby

Captainslayer · May 2018

I usually buy a booster almost every week so I can max out to my ability in the challenge, I usually buy 2 for the radio event but with this nerf (like the interupt nerf) I'll no longer buy bundles again ( I spent about $500 since I decided to buy bundles again a couple months ago).
Depending how this event goes it may also mean no more full gas

TransmuteJun · May 2018

Sounds like it's time to hoard radios again. The more scarce they get, the less willing I am to spend my stash. I will only spend for a truly great event.

ShadowaceAz · May 2018

Just feels like WalMart
Gotta pay for your Radios

ATLAS-Z · May 2018

@OneLessTitan sure plenty of times I bought boosters during radio events and many others.

(Not the last component event, didn't boost all weekend mostly because it didn't increase chances of finding gold components and those are the only ones I need... Sitting on 50 blue frags right now)

Mystique · May 2018

Jenng said:
I don’t disagree with anyone because I truly respect their opinions, even when they are dead wrong. 🤣 It’s not so much actual “anger speaking loudly “ it’s more disappointment and legit concerns about the fact that every time we turn around one more thing that is beloved in the game is casually nerfed. I would rather be battle-scarred from fighting the good fight than compromise what I value.

Did you just make legitimate statements and concerns with almost no f**kery?! It’s the dawn of a new era!

Now stop that crap and carry on with your usual antics, otherwise you may have a fever.. and in that case I’ll happily give you some drugs

Deadheads · May 2018

Wow, so much anger. I wish I could say I'm surprised, but sadly I'm not. We've requested a radio event forever then we finally get one, and its not good enough? C'mon. It's not as good as the last radio event? Boo-hoo. You can't progress at all without spending $$$... oh wait, yes you can! Not fast enough for you? Too bad, that's on you, not NG.

IF you still enjoy the game, be grateful it's still supported and sounds like will be updated for quite awhile at least. If you can't pay money, continue to play and have fun! If you can, great, have fun also! If you can't afford to spend money or spending takes the fun out of the game and there's an NG henchman holding a gun to your head right... GET OUT NOW! Its probably not for you anymore anyway, but have no fear, NML will survive without you.

Yes, I also don't like some of the changes that's happened recently, but so what, life isn't fair, get over it. The whining/bitching/moaning is getting quite tiresome.

Mystique · May 2018

Freedom of speech and people having/voicing different opinions is such a silly thing isn’t it? Lol @Deadheads

Not trying to be an a**, and I get what you’re saying.. but it’s not quite as cut and dry as that for many long term “customers”.. we love the game and we want to see it move forward and progress, not take a long jump off of a short pier!

Japes87 · May 2018

@Deadheads where do you suggest long time players voice their displeasure before they just leave the game ? What if everyone just went quietly into the night and this game disappeared? These are the OFFICIAL NG discussion forums , a place where people should feel safe to voice their opinions .. especially when the best and most played event gets dissected and buried..

Whining/Bitching/Moaning at least shows players still care and doesn't Kaz always thank us for feedback , even negative ? Anyways , I can appreciate @BiggyGuyinTWD 's positive attitude, but not so much a post that basically gives upset players and their friends shit for voicing their unhappiness , they have a right to be unhappy today . I have no problem personally at all with you and maybe you didn't mean the post that way , but it comes off like attacking people who already feel attacked by the devs of this game today

Deadheads · May 2018

I have no problem with people voicing their opinions, I fully support it and like I said, actually agree with some of the displeasures stated. What I don't agree with is how some go WAY over the top and just say the same thing over and over and over again. To me, that's when it changes from valid criticism to whinning.

And in all honest and not be snarky, how do people feel attacked by devs? Maybe it was before I joined, but to me all the 'attacking' seems to come from our side, not theirs.

Serp · May 2018

...

Radio Event has been nerfed

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