I don't mind paying for the game, and I've been one of the agents going "Nia, could you just plz shut up and take some of my money". I've been annoyed that the official paid options and swag have been so poor, and still tried to order something every now and then.
However, I totally agree with this post. This is an idiotic policy change done in the most ham-fisted way imaginable.
You simply can't claim that you do not understand how anomalies work for people who are not local. We have reserved plane tickets and hotel rooms weeks ago. We deserve to know way in advance if this kind of long-standing policy changes.
It's mind-boggling that you'd even think it's a good idea to try to ask money for participating in an event that someone else mostly organises.
Playing but not being counted as a real participant - you can't claim that this sounds like a reasonable good-faith proposition as an alternative, can you? Not giving basic event medals kills the "players have shared stories" angle that is in the core of the community.
Also, how on earth didn't you think that you're opening yourself for all the liability involved? This is basic stuff, and not only in Germany.
I don't mind if you ask money for some pixels on the agent profile. Heck, give me a pixel face of Dr. Whoever, and I'll pay for that.
There's books and books about how to manage client relations and manage a company, but again and again Niantic shows they never learn. Once again they are burning the full library of Management, Marketing, Innovation, Law, etc, to go down their path backwards like completely amateurs. It a incredible! A complete case study of what a company doesn't have to do.
Dropping this on us with less than a month out is completely unprofessional. With the charge, I hope they pay the POC's for all their work. They put much more effort than Niantic does for any anomaly.
I've no issue with Niantic wanting/needing to monetize, but this is not the way. I would easily pay $15 per anomaly for the ability to put my "at home gear" in an extra inventory capsule Niantic rents me each anomaly. (At home gear meaning keys, vrla, etc. Stuff I don't need at the anomaly but don't want to get rid of)
Plus the many ways they can monetize that are invisible to agents, such as partnering with venues that host events and getting a portion of the revenues.
With regard to the rule sets, the last few rounds have used an average calculated by number of attendees (hacking). This will skew...
In summary, and I please hope Niantic hears this, you can monetize without alienating your player base!! You can monetize without making the game pay to win! The choices Niantic have made this round are unconscionable.
For Shonin Hannover we did call the authorities to confirm whether Niantic had registered the event because the police had showed up at the anomaly in Stuttgart and there were some discussion about that.
For Hannover Niantic had in fact registered with the authorities. But they a) only registered the group photo and b) they gave a number of participants that was an order of magnitude below our estimates. Our estimates turned out to be pretty close to the the actual numbers of people.
As a past POC and orga-helper of several times, it is really a slap in the face for all the time, effort and money we spent helping NIA organise events in our towns, often with as little as two weeks' notice or once in London's case zero input at all. Niantic never did much more than announce the rules and the playbox, leaving the actual organising of the anomaly to the players. For free. With no help. Now they are still required to do this but the company now will take the money as well.
6.5 years on and NIA still cannot communicate effectively or gather player feedback. AMA cancelled for the month where they are introducing major changes.
Like others, I am extremely disappointed in this move, especially those whom I've seen make enormous financial sacrifices to attend these anomalies in the past. With all the grumble about Prime, don't be surprised if people vote with their feet. Niantic will deserve it.
Agree with everything. Thanks for summing it up so well.
The joke that ingress is the most expensive free game in the world is pretty true. But there are things I would pay for. For example : more keylockers (but keep other inventory space constant so you cant just buy more firepower) , premium subscription with stats and out of scanner inventory management, paid events where Niantic does the orga work.
For someone who loves competitive geometry, this is such a great game to play technically, I am baffled by how Niantic seems to interact with its player base.
So, bringing in a rule that's in breach of European law. Whoever made that decision needs sacking. Basic preparation for an international ruling should be run past the legal department first. It doesn't look like this one was. I cant believe legal would pass this. If they did, it's time for Nia to get someone else to handle their legal affairs.
Agreed. I let a LARP go for similar reasons. Pulling something ten days prior to and event. I ate the cost of the bus ticket in protest and never went back. Within a year the LARP ended.
While never a POC, I live with a former one and I can honestly say that I don't think that NIA has any idea of the amount of volunteer hours that go into getting an anomaly off the ground not the countless expenses and over runs that the organizing crew pays out of their own pocket. We all pitch in to support a free event, but when a wealthy company is earning even more money for our efforts... that just feels wrong. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time I have spent designing swag, setting up recharge room locations, promoting anomalies, talking through what to expect on the ground with new local players, cleaning my house so other agents can crash during local events, and so on...
I'm not against there being a fee for future anomalies (sometime after Umbra), but only if the local community receives support financially or through some of the larger organization responsibilities (e.g., booking faction hotels, after parties, etc.)
“There is only one boss. The customer―and he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”
Very well said ! There’s are so many ways Niantic can make this game profitable for them.
When POCs help put on events - we’re spending our own time - gas - money on organizing everything- give out free swag that WE pay for etc, Im shocked that Niantic doesn’t realize this. So Niantic expects the POCs to do all this AND pay them.
Comments
I don't mind paying for the game, and I've been one of the agents going "Nia, could you just plz shut up and take some of my money". I've been annoyed that the official paid options and swag have been so poor, and still tried to order something every now and then.
However, I totally agree with this post. This is an idiotic policy change done in the most ham-fisted way imaginable.
You simply can't claim that you do not understand how anomalies work for people who are not local. We have reserved plane tickets and hotel rooms weeks ago. We deserve to know way in advance if this kind of long-standing policy changes.
It's mind-boggling that you'd even think it's a good idea to try to ask money for participating in an event that someone else mostly organises.
Playing but not being counted as a real participant - you can't claim that this sounds like a reasonable good-faith proposition as an alternative, can you? Not giving basic event medals kills the "players have shared stories" angle that is in the core of the community.
Also, how on earth didn't you think that you're opening yourself for all the liability involved? This is basic stuff, and not only in Germany.
I don't mind if you ask money for some pixels on the agent profile. Heck, give me a pixel face of Dr. Whoever, and I'll pay for that.
+10000 very well put @claudija, thank you
There's books and books about how to manage client relations and manage a company, but again and again Niantic shows they never learn. Once again they are burning the full library of Management, Marketing, Innovation, Law, etc, to go down their path backwards like completely amateurs. It a incredible! A complete case study of what a company doesn't have to do.
Thanks Claudi for being our voice. +1331
Thank you @Claudija for finalizing thoughts and concerns of the most of players and local orgas.
Hope Nia would listen to you and everyone's comments
Very well put @Claudija !
Dropping this on us with less than a month out is completely unprofessional. With the charge, I hope they pay the POC's for all their work. They put much more effort than Niantic does for any anomaly.
I've no issue with Niantic wanting/needing to monetize, but this is not the way. I would easily pay $15 per anomaly for the ability to put my "at home gear" in an extra inventory capsule Niantic rents me each anomaly. (At home gear meaning keys, vrla, etc. Stuff I don't need at the anomaly but don't want to get rid of)
Plus the many ways they can monetize that are invisible to agents, such as partnering with venues that host events and getting a portion of the revenues.
With regard to the rule sets, the last few rounds have used an average calculated by number of attendees (hacking). This will skew...
In summary, and I please hope Niantic hears this, you can monetize without alienating your player base!! You can monetize without making the game pay to win! The choices Niantic have made this round are unconscionable.
Thanks Claudi for your words. 100% agree
👍
Applause!!!!!!
For Shonin Hannover we did call the authorities to confirm whether Niantic had registered the event because the police had showed up at the anomaly in Stuttgart and there were some discussion about that.
For Hannover Niantic had in fact registered with the authorities. But they a) only registered the group photo and b) they gave a number of participants that was an order of magnitude below our estimates. Our estimates turned out to be pretty close to the the actual numbers of people.
As a past POC and orga-helper of several times, it is really a slap in the face for all the time, effort and money we spent helping NIA organise events in our towns, often with as little as two weeks' notice or once in London's case zero input at all. Niantic never did much more than announce the rules and the playbox, leaving the actual organising of the anomaly to the players. For free. With no help. Now they are still required to do this but the company now will take the money as well.
6.5 years on and NIA still cannot communicate effectively or gather player feedback. AMA cancelled for the month where they are introducing major changes.
Like others, I am extremely disappointed in this move, especially those whom I've seen make enormous financial sacrifices to attend these anomalies in the past. With all the grumble about Prime, don't be surprised if people vote with their feet. Niantic will deserve it.
+1 This decision was a poor call Niantic.
This really needs to stay the top post until Niantic addresses it.
Agree with everything. Thanks for summing it up so well.
The joke that ingress is the most expensive free game in the world is pretty true. But there are things I would pay for. For example : more keylockers (but keep other inventory space constant so you cant just buy more firepower) , premium subscription with stats and out of scanner inventory management, paid events where Niantic does the orga work.
For someone who loves competitive geometry, this is such a great game to play technically, I am baffled by how Niantic seems to interact with its player base.
Thanks @Claudija for taking the time to write and post this, i totally agree in all the points.
Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
MatiasM20
Gracias @Claudija por tomarte el tiempo de escribir y compartir esto, acuerdo totalmente con todos los puntos.
Saludos desde Buenos Aires, Argentina.
MatiasM20
So, bringing in a rule that's in breach of European law. Whoever made that decision needs sacking. Basic preparation for an international ruling should be run past the legal department first. It doesn't look like this one was. I cant believe legal would pass this. If they did, it's time for Nia to get someone else to handle their legal affairs.
Agreed. I let a LARP go for similar reasons. Pulling something ten days prior to and event. I ate the cost of the bus ticket in protest and never went back. Within a year the LARP ended.
Spot on!
Thank you for this considered reply @Claudija. The core issues are clearly captured and express the frustration many of us feel over this decision.
+1
+1 to this post.
Funny, yesterday eve I was considering joining Antwerp's ano since I have no plans for that day and it's 35 km from home.
Well now witht his stupid fee . i know that i'll be better home x)
Thank you for your open letter Claudi!
While never a POC, I live with a former one and I can honestly say that I don't think that NIA has any idea of the amount of volunteer hours that go into getting an anomaly off the ground not the countless expenses and over runs that the organizing crew pays out of their own pocket. We all pitch in to support a free event, but when a wealthy company is earning even more money for our efforts... that just feels wrong. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time I have spent designing swag, setting up recharge room locations, promoting anomalies, talking through what to expect on the ground with new local players, cleaning my house so other agents can crash during local events, and so on...
I'm not against there being a fee for future anomalies (sometime after Umbra), but only if the local community receives support financially or through some of the larger organization responsibilities (e.g., booking faction hotels, after parties, etc.)
SO. MUCH. THIS.
Spot on.
Enough calvinball, Niantic.
Thank you @Claudija
I aggree with the letter.
The community would pay for skins, more space, Opr Live, Badges...
Please make it again free, we don't want to loose agents...
Very well phrased. I am in total agreement with this letter, thank you!
100% Support this post
“There is only one boss. The customer―and he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”
Nice post. 👍
This is really what our community is thinking now.
Old players are thinking about the old times, where anomalies where totally free. And now, even the badge is sold.
For me, I always paid fir the "rare pack" only to obtain the pin's. But now, we haven't any physical goodies.
For now, I won't attend any anomaly, and I will only play in for my myself.
Thanks @Claudija for the true words.
Very well said ! There’s are so many ways Niantic can make this game profitable for them.
When POCs help put on events - we’re spending our own time - gas - money on organizing everything- give out free swag that WE pay for etc, Im shocked that Niantic doesn’t realize this. So Niantic expects the POCs to do all this AND pay them.
Vote with your wallet!