[urgent] this site really is actually dying

[Serious.]

(I haven't read most of this thread but I still want to throw my thoughts in.)

CS isn't as busy as it used to be, there's no denying that. But I like the nostalgic laid-back atmosphere. You can't really find another site like this on the internet. I've played games like FlightRising and Wolvden and ended up quitting a few months later because it's too easy to fall behind, especially if you have a busy life outside of virtual pet games.

The one thing that really draws people into CS (at least in my experience) is the stress-free gameplay. You have a month to adopt the monthly pets and that's about it. The events are always at the same time of year (the summer event, the Halloween event, the holiday event, etc.) and are the only time you really need to put in an extra effort to keep up. But otherwise, you can trade/organize your pets/etc. at your own pace. There's no punishment if you can't log on for a few months. As long as you know when December 18th is, you're good :P

So maybe most people only log on for the events. Does that really need to change though?

I also think the forums here are superior to most other places on the internet. Online forums in general are dying in favor of chatrooms like Discord, so discussion boards aren't as common anymore. The CS forums are unique because not only are they active, but they also have a variety of topics. FR's forums (from what I remember) were mostly about the gameplay and were otherwise not interesting to me. CS has a lot of different topics that I enjoy talking about.

Another point that I'm seeing discussed here - there's no way CS will ever rerelease store pets. Sorry for being a bit harsh, but it's been talked about many times in the past. It's not an elitist thing, it's literally been said by the CS staff from the very beginning that the store pets will only be sold once and that's it. They've never gone back on their word and they never will.
There are a lot of older store pets that I would love to own but can't because I don't have enough to trade for them. I'm alright with that because I know the rules aren't changing.

By the way, if you have any suggestions, there's a site suggestions board where you can share those ideas.

[LittleZanyBug]

snip [/size][/center]

I totally see your points, cs is one game ive managed to stick to (other than a break shortly after joining) for the reason that if you cant log on your not really punished or put in a bind (other than the events, but even then its not horrible)
I dont think cs needs a daily reward system, or tasks to get rewards. it needs to keep its relaxed gameplay.

I also agree on the free rares and vrs for new players, it brings up a new temptation for cheaters to cheat and scammers to scam new players.

I dont believe people here are saying the site is boring as it is, at least that was not the reason this thread was made. I do think that in attempts to come up with ideas to help with the value of pets caused by demand and personal values, people are pulling from other games that to not appear to have major issues with game economy. BUT a lot of those games are based around a currency economy system where cs is based on a system that relies on user interaction. the economy side of cs was introduced to help keep the site funded and running. at this point im not to sure on how much income cs is still getting from users purchasing C$. but there is certainly plenty in circulation on the site.

CS absolutely needs to maintain a user interaction system, but something does need to change or be added to help change the mindset of many players that are aiding in the influx of pet values. I do believe adding more opportunities to get rarer pets will help. making them more available will make people less desperate to over pay for desired pets, eventually causing users holding these pets at high values to lower their expectations on what they can get for those pets. I do not believe it will mess up the rarities to much, and even if it does I dont think it will hurt their values like some think it would. As there are many high demand pets that are in high demand not solely because of their rarity status or age but also because of their designs. like the zodiac dogs. they were a monthly adopt but because of their design they are valued three times their monthly counter parts. and on the other end, the random chance omgsr zebras. they are a pet you can only get if blessed by the rng gods when we have our dec 18th boxes or a zebra litter. even though thats the only way to obtain them and they are an omgsr rarity, demand is poor because, well they are basic. they are your run of the mill zebras. heck there are plenty of event pets that were rare originally that were super popular because of their designs that have since dropped to uncommons and are still being valued at a rare or two.

jumping over to the store pet side of things, im not to sure if a store pet's rarity placement is going to affect its value to much, we did have some store pets step down from vr to rare, but the asking prices and offering prices haven't changed from what ive seen.

On the note of re-releasing store pets. it really depends. We really don't know how many users are still buying C$, and at that how many are buying them just to get store pets? I know I have not spent a single real world dollar on this game, but for the past few years have been able to make enough c$ to stay up to date on the new store releases AND buy some past stores from other players. I know a few years ago and back when i first joined and started looking at the art forums, seeing users discuss buying art or adopts with c$ but requesting for some time as they waited to get allowance or a paycheck so they could top off their account.

maybe before deciding on if stores should be re-released cs should have a site poll to see what the main intention is for buying C$. if a small percentage is still buying C$ to buy store pets, that I dont see to much harm in re-releasing store pets. Now I do not believe they should be free, I would want them to be a limited store purchase. like limit users on how many they may purchase, and maybe only have it available for a month or two. and only have re-releases occur once or twice a year(imo preferably once)

Coming up with things like quests give off the impression CS is boring to me.

There is already plenty of ways to earn rare pets, like the pound, events, free adoptions, art if you're skilled, or offsite trading (a good chunk of my collection came from this way). I can't really think of any other way to make rares more available? And I personally don't think they need to be, because it will hurt their values. If too many of one rare is in circulation, it's gonna be bumped down, and of course everyone would be upset, myself included.

-
@ everyone who responded to my meaningful conversation comment
A good chunk of this thread is just trade-ranting, which is against the rules, or bringing up old ideas. As Bridgy1234, something like this pops up time-to-time, and it's always just the same points made over and over. I'm more than positive the CS staff knows how discontent the CS userbase is (like the Sell CS thread), this thread truly just seems like another rant thread (to me, anyways)

@ re-releasing store pets,
It is not selfish or "elitist" to want a promise to be kept. The promise of stores never being released again has been there since the beginning of store pet releases. It was part of what made me buy my stores, and yes it stinks they'll eventually become unattainable (I know I'll probably never own a skelebun), but every game has something like this. I never could understand why it's somehow wrong for CS to have such a thing. (I thought I saw an FR item go for like over $9,000+ mentioned here, and no one has a problem with that.)
I'd like to suggest recolors of older stores, or 2nd gen store pet litters! The promise is still kept, you can still own something similar to a dream store, and it's a new way to spent C$ too. I'd love a sunset-like Liontail!

And any kind of "box" where you get a random store will be a disaster anyway you paint it. Eldemore had something like this, and iirc, it was a nightmare.

I understand how some of this thread is bringing up the same ideas and that the CS staff are likely aware of dissatisfied users but its still really important for people to discuss these things regardless of whether or not its been spoken about before. In the same way we're allowed to discuss our concerns and ideas for the site, you're expressing your disagreement with the thread and its tenets.

So far this discussion has been really great and had a lot of engagement, which was one of the main purposes of the discussion - looking into how CS could boost engagement an bring in new users, so i dont really see why it should be locked. Especially if as you mentioned, this happens every year.

[barbwirebrat]

i really do love the idea of 2nd gen store pets! this was a possibility i never considered and i could totally see how it would satisfy both ends of the candle, so to speak. a raven dog mixed with one of the punk dogs? i would honestly rather own that than either of the parents.

[Bridgy1234]

snip [/size][/center]

I totally see your points, cs is one game ive managed to stick to (other than a break shortly after joining) for the reason that if you cant log on your not really punished or put in a bind (other than the events, but even then its not horrible)
I dont think cs needs a daily reward system, or tasks to get rewards. it needs to keep its relaxed gameplay.

I also agree on the free rares and vrs for new players, it brings up a new temptation for cheaters to cheat and scammers to scam new players.

I dont believe people here are saying the site is boring as it is, at least that was not the reason this thread was made. I do think that in attempts to come up with ideas to help with the value of pets caused by demand and personal values, people are pulling from other games that to not appear to have major issues with game economy. BUT a lot of those games are based around a currency economy system where cs is based on a system that relies on user interaction. the economy side of cs was introduced to help keep the site funded and running. at this point im not to sure on how much income cs is still getting from users purchasing C$. but there is certainly plenty in circulation on the site.

CS absolutely needs to maintain a user interaction system, but something does need to change or be added to help change the mindset of many players that are aiding in the influx of pet values. I do believe adding more opportunities to get rarer pets will help. making them more available will make people less desperate to over pay for desired pets, eventually causing users holding these pets at high values to lower their expectations on what they can get for those pets. I do not believe it will mess up the rarities to much, and even if it does I dont think it will hurt their values like some think it would. As there are many high demand pets that are in high demand not solely because of their rarity status or age but also because of their designs. like the zodiac dogs. they were a monthly adopt but because of their design they are valued three times their monthly counter parts. and on the other end, the random chance omgsr zebras. they are a pet you can only get if blessed by the rng gods when we have our dec 18th boxes or a zebra litter. even though thats the only way to obtain them and they are an omgsr rarity, demand is poor because, well they are basic. they are your run of the mill zebras. heck there are plenty of event pets that were rare originally that were super popular because of their designs that have since dropped to uncommons and are still being valued at a rare or two.

jumping over to the store pet side of things, im not to sure if a store pet's rarity placement is going to affect its value to much, we did have some store pets step down from vr to rare, but the asking prices and offering prices haven't changed from what ive seen.

On the note of re-releasing store pets. it really depends. We really don't know how many users are still buying C$, and at that how many are buying them just to get store pets? I know I have not spent a single real world dollar on this game, but for the past few years have been able to make enough c$ to stay up to date on the new store releases AND buy some past stores from other players. I know a few years ago and back when i first joined and started looking at the art forums, seeing users discuss buying art or adopts with c$ but requesting for some time as they waited to get allowance or a paycheck so they could top off their account.

maybe before deciding on if stores should be re-released cs should have a site poll to see what the main intention is for buying C$. if a small percentage is still buying C$ to buy store pets, that I dont see to much harm in re-releasing store pets. Now I do not believe they should be free, I would want them to be a limited store purchase. like limit users on how many they may purchase, and maybe only have it available for a month or two. and only have re-releases occur once or twice a year(imo preferably once)

Coming up with things like quests give off the impression CS is boring to me.

There is already plenty of ways to earn rare pets, like the pound, events, free adoptions, art if you're skilled, or offsite trading (a good chunk of my collection came from this way). I can't really think of any other way to make rares more available? And I personally don't think they need to be, because it will hurt their values. If too many of one rare is in circulation, it's gonna be bumped down, and of course everyone would be upset, myself included.

-
@ everyone who responded to my meaningful conversation comment
A good chunk of this thread is just trade-ranting, which is against the rules, or bringing up old ideas. As Bridgy1234, something like this pops up time-to-time, and it's always just the same points made over and over. I'm more than positive the CS staff knows how discontent the CS userbase is (like the Sell CS thread), this thread truly just seems like another rant thread (to me, anyways)

@ re-releasing store pets,
It is not selfish or "elitist" to want a promise to be kept. The promise of stores never being released again has been there since the beginning of store pet releases. It was part of what made me buy my stores, and yes it stinks they'll eventually become unattainable (I know I'll probably never own a skelebun), but every game has something like this. I never could understand why it's somehow wrong for CS to have such a thing. (I thought I saw an FR item go for like over $9,000+ mentioned here, and no one has a problem with that.)
I'd like to suggest recolors of older stores, or 2nd gen store pet litters! The promise is still kept, you can still own something similar to a dream store, and it's a new way to spent C$ too. I'd love a sunset-like Liontail!

And any kind of "box" where you get a random store will be a disaster anyway you paint it. Eldemore had something like this, and iirc, it was a nightmare.

I’ll have to refresh myself on the “trade rant” rule, as I’m recalling it we arnt allowed to site a trade and directly rant about it. In the event casual chats we are always moaning and groaning about how impossible it is to trade for certain outcomes, or in the monthly chats *cough *cough gold gotcha dog *cough

I get from the view point of our earlier users and purchasing store pets, I wasn’t around back then but I’m sure the amount of c$ floating around was nowhere near what it is now and most people where buying it just to get the store pets and items. Which is why if they were released again I would want them to have to be purchased with c$ from the store, have a limit on how many someone could adopt, and then be available less often and for a shorter amount of time than the normal three month store pets.
Honestly I wouldn’t even be mad if the purchase price were higher than the others to,
Also massive agree on getting some recolors and second genes. I would absolutely love that.

Also , I might have said this already but oh well, I agree that having things like quests should not exist on cs as another way to get pets. That is just not what cs is about.

[huskyhiccups]

i really do love the idea of 2nd gen store pets! this was a possibility i never considered and i could totally see how it would satisfy both ends of the candle, so to speak. a raven dog mixed with one of the punk dogs? i would honestly rather own that than either of the parents.

Agreed!! That pairing especially would have me swooning <3

[sorellabac]

i love the idea of second gen stores!! i agree with store pets never being rereleased, it feels very scummy to me to have a site promise that a pet (which will require you to spend real life currency on) will never be rereleased - only to them rerelease it. that is just lying for money

[huskyhiccups]

i love the idea of second gen stores!! i agree with store pets never being rereleased, it feels very scummy to me to have a site promise that a pet (which will require you to spend real life currency on) will never be rereleased - only to them rerelease it. that is just lying for money

I wouldn't call it "lying for money" because I highly doubt they ever imagined the demand for these pets would be crazy after 10+ years. Lying? No. Hurtful? Sure, I'll agree on that much.
But my point still stands. Hurt the feelings of a few players, or continue to hurt the CS & C$ economy and make players unhappy with trading, eventually possibly quit, etc..
Pick your poison. :)

[Bridgy1234]

(I haven't read most of this thread but I still want to throw my thoughts in.)

CS isn't as busy as it used to be, there's no denying that. But I like the nostalgic laid-back atmosphere. You can't really find another site like this on the internet. I've played games like FlightRising and Wolvden and ended up quitting a few months later because it's too easy to fall behind, especially if you have a busy life outside of virtual pet games.

The one thing that really draws people into CS (at least in my experience) is the stress-free gameplay. You have a month to adopt the monthly pets and that's about it. The events are always at the same time of year (the summer event, the Halloween event, the holiday event, etc.) and are the only time you really need to put in an extra effort to keep up. But otherwise, you can trade/organize your pets/etc. at your own pace. There's no punishment if you can't log on for a few months. As long as you know when December 18th is, you're good

So maybe most people only log on for the events. Does that really need to change though?

I also think the forums here are superior to most other places on the internet. Online forums in general are dying in favor of chatrooms like Discord, so discussion boards aren't as common anymore. The CS forums are unique because not only are they active, but they also have a variety of topics. FR's forums (from what I remember) were mostly about the gameplay and were otherwise not interesting to me. CS has a lot of different topics that I enjoy talking about.

Another point that I'm seeing discussed here - there's no way CS will ever rerelease store pets. Sorry for being a bit harsh, but it's been talked about many times in the past. It's not an elitist thing, it's literally been said by the CS staff from the very beginning that the store pets will only be sold once and that's it. They've never gone back on their word and they never will.
There are a lot of older store pets that I would love to own but can't because I don't have enough to trade for them. I'm alright with that because I know the rules aren't changing.

By the way, if you have any suggestions, there's a site suggestions board where you can share those ideas.

Oh yea cs’s forums are a big part of cs and I agree they are superior when compared to the other games I’ve played. I think part of that reason is that cs was made to run on a system dependent on user interaction. Other than lack of funding, I’m pretty sure games like flight rising and lioden would continue running if they started having a decrease in user activity. Like how many of the online games y’all played when you were younger are still running? And how many ran on a more currency driven system?

[sorellabac]

I wouldn't call it "lying for money" because I highly doubt they ever imagined the demand for these pets would be crazy after 10+ years. Lying? No. Hurtful? Sure, I'll agree on that much.
But my point still stands. Hurt the feelings of a few players, or continue to hurt the CS & C$ economy and make players unhappy with trading, eventually possibly quit, etc..
Pick your poison.

even if it wasn't the intention it doesn't change the fact that rereleasing the store pets would end up making cs a liar that took peoples moneys on fake promises.

thats not to say they shouldnt do anything, i still stand by the idea of releasing pets from old and dead accounts that havent been touched in a decade (AFTER sending their emails notifications and warnings) - i would be rightfully upset if my childhood account got deleted, but pleasing an active playerbase is more important to a site's success than pleasing the ones who have left and keep their accounts for the nostalgia and to look at maybe in another ten years. i know people might log in again one day, but it feels a bit silly to make getting into the site harder for new players on the chance an old one will log in again

[tabook]

Personally I've noticed that games that cater to the general public and change their original business model end up failing because it's impossible to please everyone. This has been working since 2008 and I think they know better than me, at least, on how to run the site

edit to the ideas below me: I'm not saying this is the case for everything, but I've played games (from the same era that CS started) that DID implement the daily log-ins, more interactive games, rewards, etc. It did not work very well for them and it separated the player base even more by putting stipulations on getting pets, vs. here where you log in once a month at the very least and adopt the monthly pets - and they do offer free pets via the Pound