SBF Gets Left in the Dust

[Ferox]

Maybe the availability of animals thing could be improved by not removing them from the marketplace every month? Or by having market options of "For sale for X", "Inviting bids" (as opposed to default bids only that we have now) and "off market"? It's hard to explain, but a way to have the animals clearly on the market but still be able to choose who ends up purchasing the animal?

I know some people who have made creations had been hurt and offended when people either overbred or didn't give them kudos for creating it or whatever, which is why I make some of my creations AE. This is a rather strong feeling in the game. It's not helped much by the fact that things that aren't Ae or End have no value at all. I's next to impossible for a newbie to rescue something of value.

[Vitani]

My two cents....


I've been playing SBF for 3 years...It'll be 4 this November.

4 freaking years! * breathes into a brown paper bag for a minute*

And....wow, isin't this crazy.....

I'm not sick of it yet! I know, I know, I had to sit down too...


And its not because I've poured a fair amount of real life money into it either ( at last count, somewhere in the vicinity of $1,000 ).

Nor is is because I have a somewhat decent collection of animals.

And, ok, admittedly....Its not because of the flashy gimmicks, ultra detailed game base or huge number of players...



It's because its a small game, by comparison to others.

The players may be few, but they're ( on the whole ) good decent people who I'm friends with. I enjoying logging in not just to see and 'play' with my animals, but to catch up with the people I care about.

The game may have a few kinks, but nothing I can't work around, so much so that I've forgotten what most of my initial issues were.

They're slow in coming, but updates and goodies and MOD support DOES come. Good things take time.

There isin't any everybody-has-it artwork...And I like it that way. My art on my animals is unique to that animal. Its how I picture it...Its why I love it. It also lets extremely talented people showcase it. I'm proud to have that artwork.

After 3 years...I still have challenges. There are still ways for my farm to improve...Animals are added all the time, there are top scores to beat, projects to mange. Though I may not play consistently, its because of real life issues, and has never ONCE been because SBF has become boring for me.



My honest opinion? I don't WANT SBF to 'catch up' to the bigger, flashier games. Just like in real life....The Mom n' Pop store closes down when the mega mall opens next door....Or they merge, and end up being a shadow of its former self.



I love SBF.



Bugs, missing links, slow days on the forums, overpopulated animals and all.

[Misty Glen]

I agree with Cocodri's sentiments, and as a veteran player I remember a time before the anti-breeding nonsense (and yes, I also remember who started it *glares*) and so I know the game was actually a lot more fun and popular before all this started up. I can attest to the fact that it is the major cause behind the game's stagnation.

When the arguments first started up their were two schools of thought: those who agreed that ridiculous quantities of breeding and excessively cheap sales were not beneficial to anyone, and those (who I refer to as the elitists) who believed that any breeding or selling without the creator's consent was a terrible thing as it devalued the creation. At some point the two different ideas became equivalent, and things went downhill from there.

Before the anti-breeding sentiment invaded SBF AE animals were sold with a request from the breeder that they not be bred excessively, and usually nothing more than that. There was none of this breeding rights stuff - it was unheard of. Once you sold an animal you had no control over what happened to it, so you just didn't sell unless you didn't mind what happened to it, or you trusted that it would be looked after. And generally speaking if you sold an animal it usually wasn't overbred. Yes, it might get put up for stud, or some offspring would be sold, but it would usually be for reasonable prices and it would usually be a reasonable quantity. The overall value of the creation did not decrease much. It tended to gradually level off after a while.

I think a lot of this started with the Ragdoll cats, which were AE, extremely populous, and were down to a typical selling price of a mere $10mill, which was still a lot. Prices have inflated since. Back then a decent AE went for $25mill. A lot of the hype started because of how cheap those cats had become, but people constantly overlooked the fact that the (then inactive) creator had a Ragdoll stud on market for $10k!

Until this ridiculous elitism is recognised for what it is and properly stamped down upon, SBF will continue to stagnate.

And now I expect to be flamed with the usual "but I paid money for this" arguments from some of the creators out there. Sorry, but I don't agree with preserving your ability to maximise profit from a creation at the detriment of the quality of game play for everyone. There must be a compromise.

[Fire Opal]

*Applauds Cocodri*

I agree with you one hundred percent. There's just nothing more too it. I mean, it's not fair to anybody, but especially the newbies. I look at the marketplace for animals to buy, and there is seriously nothing out there. The animals that are for sale are often at ridiculously high prices, ones that I can't afford even after being here for a long time. Come on, why even sell at all if no-one can buy? In addition, I don't feel safe when I win animals at contests, so I often just turn them down. What if their previous owner gets mad at me for "overbreeding" or making a little profit?

Anyway, like I said, I'm in total agreement with Cocodri.

[.Savy.]

Now, I agree with Fire Opal.

Since I am a new player on here (three months?!) it was hard to get started.. I had some very supportive friends from the beginning (*hands out cookies). I was lucky, very, I managed to meet up with some veteran players and they started showing me the ropes of things, but most noobies don't have that opportunity. It’s very hard to get anything on the market, go through some random species and you probably won’t find anything.. compared to VP and VHR(sorry if I can’t mention these?) which would have a hundred or more of each; ok, that may be extreme. I just figured I’d put in my little speech here as well. I was a VHR player, and did a little of VP, but by far I love SBF. My biggest problem on here is if I get a hold of a certain variation (through breeding, or winning anything) I’m scared to breed and sell it, I’m really being picky about that. I don’t want to cause waves by any means with the creator, I usually go to a well-known buddy of mine (the veterans) and ask them what they’re opinion is on the breed(variation). I’m slowly getting to know who owns what, what it’s very easy to be shunned as a noobie for doing something wrong.
But to sum it all up, I do love the game, and there is a lot of incredible players, and people on here! I’ve had an amazing start to this game, and hope to join the rest of you with a list of creations in the near future

- Sav

[SomebodyDude]

I agree with Sav.

When I first got here....when was that? I don't remember anymore...

EITHER WAY....
When I was newer I was lucky enough to have the expericne of seeing and befriending some of the 'older' players.[Little Red and Sandtiger I thank you !] I got some ok animals sold them and slowly made a profit. I had started in a time when there were few players,less cash, and like NO tokens around. In the first like 5weeks I was here I went under -55,750$ I had no clue what I did or what the Heck happened! [The price was HUGE to me being new and in a time of bad prices and all] The players I had met bailed me out and Little Red even gave me my first End animal! [**Shadow**Of**Heart** - http://www.sandboxfarm.com/viewanimal.php?idkey=1050452 ]
Tehn I got a lucky and got another End cheep. [{MM}Kenpo - http://www.sandboxfarm.com/viewanimal.php?idkey=922968 ]

I was one of the lucky peoples.

Thank-you to all of those who helped me.

What had touched me also was the last time Little Red came on she said I had a and I quote "Absolutely Wonderful Pasture!" Or something along the bases.

So I also agree with Tani too.

[koneko]

I havn't been very active lately, but I have just been logging on and seeing what was happening. When I first joined, the only times the mods would ever come on was when a big argument broke out or to make a new rule. Now the mods are coming on alot more often and enforcing the rules better. This is the only Obis game that a stayed on playing becuase of its small community, it s easier to make friends and have fun. In the larger games and forums I find it harder to make friends and be more part of the community. So even though SBF doesnt have as much features as the other games, like a in VHR they had a vet and a shop or something lake that, SBF is defiently the best "community" game becuase it is easier to find friends and you are more likely to be noticed. So I really don't mind how much SBF updates or how many features it has, its just fun to auctually feel like part of the community in a game.

[Fire Opal]

I agree with you on that. I personally don't feel that there are any significant changes needed in the game, like updates or features. It's pretty easy to play once you get the hang of things, and the mods are keeping everything in good order.

[ChocolateGal]

Hi Nef!

So many of the old players aren't here anymore, Odin, Silver, Rio, Angel, Bezz and I think that that has made the game less fun without their support and help.

Really, I don't have much spare time of my hands, life's being a total d*** right now and I don't have much time for SBF, or anyone game for that matter.

I think that the only other thing that has happened that I get ticked off with is the amount of animals has gone up sooo much. I remember just dishing out 20 mill for an AE was hard work, and now they are at the base of 100 mill. And you know what has driven this?

Greed.

It's the word we are all taught to hate, but we do it anyway. Some people have to get everything all the time, even if it involves stealing or blackmailing. Once one person upped their animals prices so did others, but where will we end up next? 200 mill for a threatened? And this is all because of greed... or the care of people. When a newbie comes to say hello they are bombarded with trades and animals, which is good, but can make them think that they can get everything they want, without doing the hard work we did to scrape in some money.

This is why others newbies quit, because they have no freedom and everything is way too expensive.

So, be a dear, and lower your prices. That is what will get more players onto the server, and let us have a really good time.

Choco

[Cocodri]

*peeking out from under my rock*

*venturing out, looking around, wide-eyed*

*slowly peeling off my asbestos suit*

And smothering you all in hugs.

Let me just say that I also absolutely agree about the sense of community here. MOST of the established players when I began were nice to me, and I have some good friends I've known since I started. Especially in the last few months while I was doing the contests for the service dogs I've met newer players (and some I missed meeting while I was gone for a year or so) and you are all a really great bunch, too.

As far as the missing drawings for the farm page - I'd be happy to make some and contribute them. It kinda bugs me, too.

Other than that - I'd definately be happy to go through my farm, put Rare and lesser males at stud and breed some babies JUST TO SELL (what a concept). Like someone else mentioned, I've gotten to where I am more or less afraid to breed or sell anything for fear the creator - or someone else - will be angry with me over it. However, the taking something off sale or stud after a month IS a little problem if you have 1000+ animals. I only recently realized that some of the salamanders I put up for sale back in January did not sell. I put them up for sale again at a lower price and they trotted gaily out the door in one day. And no one yelled at me.

Dare I start pricing things lower?

I, too, played VHR and VP. The VP varieties and colors I added special just for me got "rescued" while I was homeless and could not play. I didn't mind so much other people having the color - I minded losing MY SPECIAL DOG(s). I notice only my very best dogs got rescued, like my International Show Champions I left VHR when I discovered that breeding and statting the BEST Mongols in the game resulted in them siring American Walking Ponies. Plus, again, homeless, no computer time, and couldn't afford to keep the premium accounts up.

But SBF - I took some time off, but I keep coming back. The worst that can happen is a bunch of animals will die when I come back and some of my varieties might vanish until I can afford tokens to buy new foundies. In fact, I think making my lil' Chihuahuan Pocket Mouse an AE may have been a mistake...as it makes them awful hard to keep going without constantly buying new foundies. Ooops - live and learn. Yeah, some people write and try to tell me what to do with my animals and annoy me once in a while. I am perfectly capable of deleting those messages and going off to play with my animals instead

See, I KNEW many of you agreed with me. We've just been bullied into this no breed/no sell mindset. I say we take our game back, put all our males Rare and under at stud and breed a batch of babies just to sell to newbies at $10,000 or less. Actually - then I might be able to purchase some "common" animals I want that I haven't been able to find!

Who's with me?

[Fire Opal]

I'm in! *runs off to stud and sell*

[.Savy.]

Ooo! I love it. I believe this had been started in anther thread by Bama? Getting some rare or higher animals for the newer players to breed and get their prestige up great idea, I love it

[her]

Wow! You guys are GREAT! *hands out hugs all around* I totally agree with cocodri!

P.S. Check out my farm! All studs up CHEAP and many animals for sale!

[Cocodri]

*doing a happy dance*

Okay - I spent half the day working on the thingies for the farm page here and I really have to go get some actual work done but I will be back this evening to start slooooowly going through each enclosure, putting all rare and lower studs up at $10K unless there is some compelling reason to charge more and doing breedings for sale babies.

Yes, I chose Rare and below because of Alabama's thread. That seems like a good cut off point - even my earliest varieties were Very Rares so that seems like maybe we can avoid stepping an anyones toes. And I recall being quite excited as a beginner when I got my first Exotic in rescue (a tbred whose lines still run thorough many of my horses), so Rare should be pretty exciting for beginners I'd think.

BTW outside of the AEs if you own a variety I created and want to stud and sell - go for it.

***huge grin*** You guys are so cool

[ChocolateGal]

I only have three words to say:

You beast Cocodri!

*jumps on Cocodri in massive hug*

I will lower and sell my animals now at lower prices when I have time!

I wonder if tokies price will drop?