Best Of
Re: A Case for Shutting Down the Game
It would be great to see new players and activity. Current players don't necessarily want the game shut down, they just want a team again. Team gameplay is gone because there aren't enough players to even make a team. Niantic needs to do something rather than nothing or else the game will go away.
Re: A Case for Shutting Down the Game
I see a lot of folks telling me not to play anymore. And I mostly have.
However, like most of you, I have years of my life invested in the game, and it's hard to walk away entirely.
I still haven't seen any answers to my question:
If you disagree with the above, what are some circumstances where most players would agree that the game is ready to end?
What is your bridge too far - what would make you say "OK now that's enough"?
Watch an ad before hacking a portal?
Drones hacking keys or throwing links?
Scan a portal to glyph hack it?
_______________ (fill in the blank)
Re: A Case for Shutting Down the Game
Can you really call them "Control Fields" anymore? You aren't controlling the mu under them anymore if another faction can make "Control Fields" under your "Control Fields".
Mind Unit theft! 😂
Re: Store update
Sorry but all this talk of selling swag/income issues is BS.
When they cannot even promote the game in a basically free Instagram post or similar once a week, then all they are doing is increasingly trying to milk more money out of a shrinking audience.
Some advertising to boost player number would mean increased sales - do they do this? No. It's a trainwreck sorry.
Re: This is NOT a healthy game to play.
Every area has the full time Ingress players that spend eight or more hours a day every day driving around playing. Yes it's a huge waste of gas but it's their life. So to them it's worth it. Hang in there and avoid the bullies at all costs. It's a fun game when you ignore them.
Re: A Case for Shutting Down the Game
I suspect a LOT of players don't quit because they don't want the opposition running amuck with nobody to stop them.
It would be far more palatable if everyone was forced to stop at once.
I'd support a staged shutdown - it's a ghost of what it once was. Sure I still have fun, but it's getting more like work than fun, we have no meaningful opposition and it's pretty much turned into a personal "Make profile have more badgers and recharge stuff nobody will ever ****" type situation.
No input from staff or even advertising is also demoralizing.
Re: Store update
Pay to win, this was the final straw for a lot of people. They've ruined the game.
Re: A Case for Shutting Down the Game
I've posted this on Niantic's new game Peridot's twitter page but I'll leave it here too, games should be fun. If the game is causing you more stress or frustration than fun, it's time to find a new game. I know it's hard to give up something you've played for so long but hey, maybe some time away will make things fresh for you when you decide to install again in weeks/months/years. Wishing you the best.
Re: A Case for Shutting Down the Game
"Wizards Unite" went through the same: community liaisons disappeared, time between updates went up and severe bugs were left in the game for over half a year. It was canceled soon afterwards. Same went on for Transformers (ok, that never left beta).
I think it's because Ingress doesn't have an expensive franchise license fueling it (it's Niantic's own intellectual property) it's still here. The withdrawal of community managers and fewer events mean it's probably not making enough money, but because there's no Pokemon company, WB or Hasbro to pay it still exists and might still contribute enough to Lightship.
In short: if there's no reason to shut it down, why should anyone "make a case for it"? I say: let it run, and let it run cheap. At least it still runs then. Although a randomized automated tasks/quest system wouldn't hurt.. at least gives you something else to do again.
A Case for Shutting Down the Game
Hear me out before you insta-disagree with this.
I have been playing since 2012, so I have a broad frame of reference when it comes to Niantic and Ingress. I have done fielding, anomalies, First Saturdays, NL POC, field art, goruck, shards, Mission Day POC, IO, you name it.
My propositions for the community are simple:
- Many players have lost objectivity regarding expectations of the Ingress team. I have witnessed an increasingly blind level of support for Niantic and Ingress no matter what. Perhaps players are terrified of losing access to something they've spent so much time and money on?
- Niantic's level of effort to support and promote the game has fallen to an all-time minimum. They seem to have abandoned the community. Who is our community manager? How is communication with the community to be done and how often should we expect it? What is going on with development? Where is the release roadmap?
- The (active) Ingress player count has fallen below the level required to sustain a functional community. Many areas are nearly devoid of any player activity. Red faction was an interesting diversion, but not a long-term solution to a declining player base. Has Niantic done anything recently to promote or advertise Ingress to the public?
- If Niantic is unwilling to make vast, measurable improvements to #2 and #3 above, they should consider shutting down the game.
That said, I asked ChatGPT to write a scenario for game shutdown:
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As an AI language model, I am not privy to Niantic's internal workings or decision-making processes, but I can offer a general plan that Niantic could consider if they were to decide to shut down their game Ingress after years of decline:
- Notify the community: Niantic should give advanced notice to the Ingress community that they are planning to shut down the game. This notification can be made through official Ingress channels, such as the game's website or social media accounts.
- Communicate the reasons: Niantic should communicate the reasons behind the decision to shut down Ingress. This can help to provide closure for the community and potentially generate goodwill if the reasons are reasonable and justified.
- Provide a timeline: Niantic should provide a timeline for the shutdown, including when the game will be officially taken offline. This can help players plan their remaining time with the game and potentially drive engagement in the final days.
- Offer incentives: Niantic could offer incentives to players who continue to engage with the game in its final days. This could include bonuses or rewards that are exclusive to the shutdown period.
- Provide information on refunds: If players have spent money on the game, Niantic should provide information on how players can request refunds for any unused in-game currency or purchases.
- Preserve game data: Niantic should preserve game data for historical purposes, and potentially make it available to players or researchers. This can help to ensure that the legacy of the game lives on even after it is no longer playable.
- Offer alternatives: Niantic could offer alternative games or experiences that might be of interest to the Ingress community. This could help to retain some players and potentially generate goodwill by showing that Niantic is committed to providing engaging experiences.
In general, it's important for Niantic to be transparent, communicative, and empathetic throughout the shutdown process. Ingress has a loyal and passionate community, and treating them with respect and dignity during the shutdown can help to ensure that they remain loyal to Niantic in the future.
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If you disagree with the above, what are some circumstances where most players would agree that the game is ready to end?