Very well said @Claudija! All of these points are very well said and as organizers and really to the general fan base, I think we should be shown a little more consideration taking into account all the voluntary time and financial risk we put into this.
I am still waiting Niantic to motivate all its players instead of making this game die. I would like some kind of incentive to encourage players keep playing.
See Niantic, the payment itself is not the greatest reason but the fact that anomalies are international community meetups where you provide the framework of few hours game play.
Now, who wants to volunteer in local orga anymore if the main cause is just to raise money for business? I am sorry, Niantic, but you are slowly smothering the community here, so why don't you rather pull the plug sooner than later, please.
So which class action lawsuits should be started first? The one for payment of services of helping to organize the events? The one for fees applied to ticket prices? The lack of security or medical services provided at site? Or will each event site sue for money owed due to non payment of permits?
Whenever I go to an anomaly, I always buy swag, because I know some of those proceeds go to support the local community, to help make the local arrangements that I am making use of. If we are now forced to pay for the badge, then I expect some of that money to go back to the target anomaly community, to support what is having to be arranged.
This game has always been about what happens in life while playing, not just the playing itself. Ie, the exploration of the real world, getting out and moving, and, the people involved. It has never ever been about money. I expect part of the money I pay(outside of the travel, which I just consider to be a vacation expense), to support the local community. If I am forced to pay, then I expect that money to be used in that fashion.
Great post @Claudija! Im all for paying towards the game in some sort of on going subscription model, I understand myself that there is a need to feed both servers and developers to continue to improve prime, but there is a better approach than stinging agents who have likely spent quite a bit of money getting to an anomaly site in the first place.... as for the remote agents needing to pay, at the same rate is needless.
This is an excellent post and mirrors much of what is being said in my local community. It's not the decision so much as the lack of communication and timing. The additional legal and cost ramifications were clearly not well thought out before this policy was put into place and dumped on the player base.
I hope Niantic can take this feedback under consideration and move forward with sensible adjustments.
Thanks @Claudija . Very well written and convincing.
My first reaction on that topic was "Well.. This is extremly bad done communication as we are used to in the Niantic world. But in the end it is only 15€ for something we pay a lot for anyways". But you are absolutely right, it is not "only $15" when seen global.
All your other points are very well elaborated, too! Thanks!
Profiting off the volunteer labor of your player base, without giving those volunteers a chance to weigh in before dropping this bomb on them, seems to be a new low in communication and poor decision making for Niantic. If you want to make money off of Ingress anomalies, then give us something worth paying for - organizational and logistical support both before AND on the day of and a stable and reliable scanner.
Giantfox asks "So which class action lawsuits should be started first?" (the forum won't let me do quotes yet)
Well, for a start most countries don't have an equivalent of the US 'class action', so most people would have to make individual small claims. I do worry that by taking part (a necessary part of making a claim) in something you know to be illegal, you may lose all rights to make claims. Of course I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice, but perhaps it's something to think about?
If I were a POC for this, I'd be seriously pissed. All those hours of free work, just to be asked to pay for the privilege of attending the anomaly I made? I'd be seriously tempted to simply quit my POC position and let Niantic deal with the situation.
One of the core aspects of an anomaly is the body of volunteers that join together. It's an event by players and for players.
Profiting like this over volunteer work is a hit on those volunteers' motivation. And again, this is a core aspect of an anomaly and ingress in general.
Comments
Well put, @Claudija. Let's hope somebody listens.
Thank you @claudia for writing this truth letter.
I considering with your statement an totally agree.
Thanks, @Claudija
Very well said @Claudija! All of these points are very well said and as organizers and really to the general fan base, I think we should be shown a little more consideration taking into account all the voluntary time and financial risk we put into this.
Very good explanation. Thank you for this letter!
I am still waiting Niantic to motivate all its players instead of making this game die. I would like some kind of incentive to encourage players keep playing.
See Niantic, the payment itself is not the greatest reason but the fact that anomalies are international community meetups where you provide the framework of few hours game play.
Now, who wants to volunteer in local orga anymore if the main cause is just to raise money for business? I am sorry, Niantic, but you are slowly smothering the community here, so why don't you rather pull the plug sooner than later, please.
So which class action lawsuits should be started first? The one for payment of services of helping to organize the events? The one for fees applied to ticket prices? The lack of security or medical services provided at site? Or will each event site sue for money owed due to non payment of permits?
I wholeheartedly agree with this post, thank you.
Thank you for this excellent write up. The only thing left for me is +1
Whenever I go to an anomaly, I always buy swag, because I know some of those proceeds go to support the local community, to help make the local arrangements that I am making use of. If we are now forced to pay for the badge, then I expect some of that money to go back to the target anomaly community, to support what is having to be arranged.
This game has always been about what happens in life while playing, not just the playing itself. Ie, the exploration of the real world, getting out and moving, and, the people involved. It has never ever been about money. I expect part of the money I pay(outside of the travel, which I just consider to be a vacation expense), to support the local community. If I am forced to pay, then I expect that money to be used in that fashion.
As one of the ENL pocs for Antwerp i agree with the statement made by the vanguard. I am very dissapointed.
Great post @Claudija! Im all for paying towards the game in some sort of on going subscription model, I understand myself that there is a need to feed both servers and developers to continue to improve prime, but there is a better approach than stinging agents who have likely spent quite a bit of money getting to an anomaly site in the first place.... as for the remote agents needing to pay, at the same rate is needless.
careful you dont **** to golden goose!
+10^100
Bravo, ClaudiJa! Hope NIA is listening.
Perfect poust .
ridiculousness nia.
+1331!
Quote everything
Thank you very much @Claudija
I personally don't care that they charge money for it, but announcing it 4 weeks before the anomaly is just wrong on so many levels.
This is an excellent post and mirrors much of what is being said in my local community. It's not the decision so much as the lack of communication and timing. The additional legal and cost ramifications were clearly not well thought out before this policy was put into place and dumped on the player base.
I hope Niantic can take this feedback under consideration and move forward with sensible adjustments.
Thanks @Claudija . Very well written and convincing.
My first reaction on that topic was "Well.. This is extremly bad done communication as we are used to in the Niantic world. But in the end it is only 15€ for something we pay a lot for anyways". But you are absolutely right, it is not "only $15" when seen global.
All your other points are very well elaborated, too! Thanks!
Profiting off the volunteer labor of your player base, without giving those volunteers a chance to weigh in before dropping this bomb on them, seems to be a new low in communication and poor decision making for Niantic. If you want to make money off of Ingress anomalies, then give us something worth paying for - organizational and logistical support both before AND on the day of and a stable and reliable scanner.
Giantfox asks "So which class action lawsuits should be started first?" (the forum won't let me do quotes yet)
Well, for a start most countries don't have an equivalent of the US 'class action', so most people would have to make individual small claims. I do worry that by taking part (a necessary part of making a claim) in something you know to be illegal, you may lose all rights to make claims. Of course I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice, but perhaps it's something to think about?
Thank you!
I couldn’t agree more with the author of the post. Thanks for speak up.
Well spoken.
I have no idea, why Niantic thinks, this is a good idea put in a good way. Honestly, I doubt, the thought it over.
Hopefully, they at least get the message from all the comments on this issue.
If I were a POC for this, I'd be seriously pissed. All those hours of free work, just to be asked to pay for the privilege of attending the anomaly I made? I'd be seriously tempted to simply quit my POC position and let Niantic deal with the situation.
Thanks Claudia, very well stated.
+1
In full support with what is written.
One of the core aspects of an anomaly is the body of volunteers that join together. It's an event by players and for players.
Profiting like this over volunteer work is a hit on those volunteers' motivation. And again, this is a core aspect of an anomaly and ingress in general.
Thank you Claudija,
I hope your letter will inspire Niantic to respect its player base and work with them to make Ingress great again.
Thanks
I can understand that Ingress will need to make its own money and I don't mind paying for certain things, even anomalies.
Claudija however perfectly explains how bad this current move is.
Please postpone it until next year and find some way to come up with fair pricing for everyone.