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Limited Edition Items Management
Based on a recent set of ideas and even Twitter commentary, it has been made aware that the inevitability of not being able to vault every item will be sooner than later.
Already, there are those that will never get the Crush It! Book to grace their vaults and I've just learned that it is very unlikely I will get one item that isn't even a specific, event-based item. It's one thing to not be able to check into an event and not get the stamp for my passport, but it's another when I'll be constantly reminded that I don't have, and can never get an item.
So, my idea is to either have some form of visual management for items I'll never get, remove the "Missing" count (which really won't help) or remove the item from the "Missing" list once its distribution time is up and/or the amount that have been/will be released have been vaulted.
I really just don't want to see "Missing (x)" for the rest of my Gowallife with no remedy; besides, using the word "missing" implies there is a chance of "finding" the item. While there aren't any set rules to play, this is still (in my opinion) a game for traveling to places.
Happy Gowall'ing!
Dr. Peddingferd
Already, there are those that will never get the Crush It! Book to grace their vaults and I've just learned that it is very unlikely I will get one item that isn't even a specific, event-based item. It's one thing to not be able to check into an event and not get the stamp for my passport, but it's another when I'll be constantly reminded that I don't have, and can never get an item.
So, my idea is to either have some form of visual management for items I'll never get, remove the "Missing" count (which really won't help) or remove the item from the "Missing" list once its distribution time is up and/or the amount that have been/will be released have been vaulted.
I really just don't want to see "Missing (x)" for the rest of my Gowallife with no remedy; besides, using the word "missing" implies there is a chance of "finding" the item. While there aren't any set rules to play, this is still (in my opinion) a game for traveling to places.
Happy Gowall'ing!
Dr. Peddingferd
I’m growing concerned at the shift in focus towards ancillary elements to a location-based game
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The best point from the company
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Item/icon collecting is such a fun part of Gowalla, in my opinion. We do all use the app in different ways, but personally, I think anyone not honing in on the digital collectables aspect of it is really missing out. It's so much fun!
Dr. P and Gina, you guys have both been with us since before the beginning, something that you truly have no idea how much that (and your continued support) means to us. You've seen several iterations and changes so far, from the app, to the website. Some are hits, and some are slight missteps (push much? =^). All that to say, I would expect to see things continue to change and to evolve, and that may or may not include the items tabs online. We want it to be a big part of the service, and we want there to be rarity and 'a game with a game' to find and collect all the items. Event-specific/time-limited items does give rise to it's own set of issues, and in the particular instance of the Crush It item, that was an inadvertent placement of it in the missing tab. We're still debating this one, where it should go, or if it should have an asterisk by it, etc.
However it turns out, we hope you'll love it, and that you'll both keep rocking Gowalla. You are only making our little app better and better with your thoughts and input and how awesomely you use it. You guys rock!
The company thinks
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?Icons are an integral part of this game, as they are required for founding spots. It would probably be boring to me to play without having something to look for.
7 months into Packrat, there was no hope of getting Skaars, and only the slightest shadow of a glimmer of hope to get a whale.
7 months into Gowalla, every icon is still available now that was available in the beginning.
Some are more difficult to get than others, and I am perfectly happy with that.
As for the Crush It book, I do agree with you. I was dismayed when it was put into our "missing" tab because there are people in the world that will not be able to check into that event and get the book icon. It would bother me to know that I could not eventually get an icon *seeing as how I have been playing from day one*
Having said that, I have come across a Crush It book that was dropped by someone who did not go to a Crush It event. All of the stamps in his passport are visible and there is no Crush It stamp. Yet that player dropped a CrushIt book at a spot, and it was originally his if the history is to be believed.
So they must be popping up in places other than the CrushIt event.
As for the VC coin that was discussed on Twitter today... the person that found it said that they vaulted it. I have looked through his vault numerous times, very carefully, and there is no VC coin there that I can see. That makes today's issue a non-issue. -
Inappropriate?There is nothing you've said that I can disagree with, Gina. All valid points and a good perspective comparative to my own.
I was playing PackRat from what was considered the "public/non-beta" day one, I suppose (having received my invite to play it in Jan, '08). To this day, I still kick myself for passing on not just one Skaar as I wasn't (get this) collecting that set. Obviously, had I realized the "value" in its release, I would have changed over to that set postey-hastey (to quote a famous tiger). I was, admittedly, growing weary of the scarcity and difficult nature of cards as the game progressed and ultimately quit playing in earnest when the pay-for model was implemented. For me, the game lost some of its "fun factor" as I felt I had to work more, play less, to complete sets. Don't mistake me; it has to be one of the most addicting and well organized games on Facebook, I am just not the demographic for that style of gameplay.
Regarding Gowalla's item-system: I understand the mechanic by which to Found a spot and I even enjoy the collecting aspect of more than just stamps. However, the focus—for me—is the checking into spots in all their diversity. Currently, I am starting to feel (and this is a completely subjective opinion on the matter) that the game is going down a path that could have an unnecessary spotlight on the items. I say this because of releasing a new item every Tuesday. Having items that supposedly appear only during select events. Introducing items that no one was really meant to get but stumbled upon serendipitously only to be removed from their vaulted safety (well nabbed, sir ;) – shame you couldn't keep it, hehe).
Ultimately, I need to get over my "Gotta Catch 'em All!" mentality for games such as these. It only causes me frustration and is, in no way, the fault of the company. I'll never tell them how to handle collectibles as their methods so far are sound and just — and, for many a collectible thing, proven. I would simply like to not be reminded of my failure to get that rare item that eluded capture by more than just myself.
Great discussion!
Dr. Peddingferd -
Inappropriate?It is a great discussion! :)
Agreed on the item management wherein items have shown up in the "missing" tab but aren't meant for us to get.
And for me, the "gotta catch 'em all" mentality is what keeps the game fun ;) For me.
The problem with that arises when one has found all the icons that one can find. This is where new item Tuesday comes in, of course.
When the vault is filled to the top and all the possible pins have been earned, it becomes a purely social game a la FourSquare wherein I check in where I'm at and nothing more. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with that, I enjoy that aspect of the game as well, but it is not as fun as looking for treasures.
It appears that we all play the game in different ways, which is not surprising seeing as how there are no real rules. It's going to be a tough job striking a balance to keep us all happy, I expect :) Good luck with that guys! -
Inappropriate?Item/icon collecting is such a fun part of Gowalla, in my opinion. We do all use the app in different ways, but personally, I think anyone not honing in on the digital collectables aspect of it is really missing out. It's so much fun!
Dr. P and Gina, you guys have both been with us since before the beginning, something that you truly have no idea how much that (and your continued support) means to us. You've seen several iterations and changes so far, from the app, to the website. Some are hits, and some are slight missteps (push much? =^). All that to say, I would expect to see things continue to change and to evolve, and that may or may not include the items tabs online. We want it to be a big part of the service, and we want there to be rarity and 'a game with a game' to find and collect all the items. Event-specific/time-limited items does give rise to it's own set of issues, and in the particular instance of the Crush It item, that was an inadvertent placement of it in the missing tab. We're still debating this one, where it should go, or if it should have an asterisk by it, etc.
However it turns out, we hope you'll love it, and that you'll both keep rocking Gowalla. You are only making our little app better and better with your thoughts and input and how awesomely you use it. You guys rock!
The company thinks
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?Now I'm insanely curious about what regular item Dr.P thinks is out of his reach, and why :)1 Comment Add a comment
This is one of the best points
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At the time of the original posting, the Venture Capital coin was believed (by me and maybe, -maybe- a handful of others) to be this super limited edition item. Turns out it wasn't meant to have been released into the wild at all. Ultimately, that plus the Crush It! Book got me thinking about the Item System within Gowalla which struck up this very informative conversation.
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