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Post by ashmoor on Aug 3, 2022 21:38:29 GMT
Let me add this conversation here as well. Here is my speculation about the changes currently going on at Big Fish Games The biggest thing BFG did for developers was bringing eyeballs to our products. They had big following and the site model helped games get visibility. Now that they removed the top 100 and top 9 / category, games can get burried under their massive inventory and never be seen again. They currently sort categories by date of release; if things stay the same, games of lower quality can take the spotlight away from high quality ones. They may even want to release more than one game/day and maybe move the QA and customer support in the developer's yard. If such a model were implemented games may be updated more often, and players may have a wider array to choose from; but several small developers may go belly up, the site may be flooded with trash, and several more developers may be forced to move their focus to other markets. I may be completely wrong but I think this change is the final nail in the coffin of the "BFG era of PC Premium Casual games". If devs are forced to handle marketing themselves, than Steam is a much better platform and only takes a 30% share instead of ~50%. Game prices are already better on Steam. Here is an article found by SynthpopAddict: venturebeat.com/2022/07/22/how-big-fish-games-is-focusing-on-its-core-business-of-casual-mobile-games/TLDR: they will focus hard on the mobile market and try to cut down all distraction. I think they estimate that the PC Business is taking up too much of their limited resources and will try to automate as much of it as possible. What are your thoughts on removing the top 100 and category spotlights? Add to the fact that they are no longer taking PC games submissions at the moment, they may slowly kill that business and we are left to fend for ourselves. |
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Post by lurkercat on Aug 3, 2022 22:18:52 GMT
Personally, I never looked at the Top 100 or the category spotlights, since they really did not reflect "quality", but just quantity of downloads and/or recency...neither of which I find meaningful. I do think they have made the site much harder to search for interesting games to download (by doing away with the simple list of names and forcing more labor-intensive scrawls past useless pictures and by deleting alphabetizatization, and also by double-listing games in multiple genres, making it hard to find ones that truly match the category). I think they are really letting the developers down in how they market & make titles available/visible...plus making it hard to search by developer. Ditto the deletion of forums to allow users to discuss the games and/or offer one another help, and the complete gutting of real customer service. And their review section is now a complete joke since almost everything is rated 5 stars, no matter how banal. I used to visit the site daily (years ago) but now only look monthly or so, which significantly reduces their ability to really bring in the "multiple eyes" that used to be their biggest contribution to both developers and players. I do use the "New Releases" section to see what has come out in the last month (and thankfully they did keep that in the upgrade).
It is very disconcerting that they have a hold on PC submissions. Not at all a good sign for the future for what brought most of us to their site.
This latest update to their website seems to have been designed by people who dont actually use the site at all, so have no idea what real users consider valuable. Yet another sign of how they are their own worst enemy.
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Post by Valkara on Aug 3, 2022 22:31:00 GMT
I think I only paid attention to the Top 100 section for one particular game, as I was curious about how it was doing. Normally I didn't worry about it since I rely on my own criteria to search out games I think I would like, rather than other people's opinions (though I do read reviews to find out of there are problems with a game; I've passed up a couple earlier this year for that reason).
No longer having a separate list of CE games is monumentally stupid of them. That is the list that was invaluable in helping me find games I might like on BOGO days. Given the choice between SE and CE, I normally opt for the CE version. Taking away the option to actually find these games without spending a week of searching tells me that they either don't care, or maybe they won't be having BOGO sales anymore. Or maybe they think we'll just grab any game without even thinking about it.
I do think carefully about my purchases. Your games are on my "definitely will buy" list because I enjoy them so much. A few other game series are as well, and I've stopped buying games that don't inspire me to think either creatively or to think up stories that could fit into the game's setting.
Right now I can't buy anything because I get nothing but error messages and spinning cogwheels when I try to access my account. I guess that's their way of saying, "thanks for giving us your money for the past 10+ years, now unless you play on a mobile, get lost."
If I don't get useful answers to the two support tickets I currently have open, I will indeed "get lost" and try other sites instead. It does somewhat come down to exchange rates, since it isn't favorable for Canadians right now.
By category spotlights, do you mean the sales on particular kinds of games (ie. the "55% off Time Management Games" - or whatever other sort of games)? I may not be interested in that particular sale, but it usually does prompt me to check out the list of that category of games, as there's a handy list and I might have missed something. It usually means I'll find something interesting to try, and if I like it, I'll put it on my "to buy" list for later. So discontinuing this is also a dumb move on their part.
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Post by SynthpopAddict on Aug 4, 2022 2:23:10 GMT
ashmoor, I'm not sure what you mean by the "top 9" reference. If you mean a search by genre, that's still there if you mouse over either the PC or Mac games area near the top of the screen. I didn't ever use the top 100 download list but that's just me since I'm picky about my games and a niche gamer anyway. I'm probably the only one here, but I don't mind being able to see all the different localized versions of a game out there as it appears BF got rid of all their different language-version sites and consolidated all the versions into a huge collection (I read Swedish pretty decently so it might be fun to see what games I can get in Swedish since I only see games in English at Steam...unless that's something with how I've got my Steam preferences set?). The recent games released within the past 30 or so days is still there. You just have to go under either the PC or Mac games link and click on the new releases [PC or Mac] games link. I'm more concerned that BF isn't taking ANY game submissions at the moment. This isn't just PC/Mac games, they aren't taking anything for mobile either when I checked.
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Post by metmichallica on Aug 4, 2022 2:49:07 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks it is easier finding games? You want a game. Which one a CE or Standard? Pc or Mac? English, French,etc? It can all be filtered now to see what games they have. I did have a problem with Firefox and the site yestrday, but they fixed that problem.
Edited to add: If they want to automate as much as possible they could send those coupons that we all shared again.
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Post by Valkara on Aug 4, 2022 4:14:08 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks it is easier finding games? You want a game. Which one a CE or Standard? Pc or Mac? English, French,etc? It can all be filtered now to see what games they have. I did have a problem with Firefox and the site yestrday, but they fixed that problem. Edited to add: If they want to automate as much as possible they could send those coupons that we all shared again. Sharing FREEGAME codes is what resulted in so many people being issued those codes directly from BFG and then discovering that BFG refused to honor their expiry dates. As I mentioned: BFG is a business, not a charity and I will not give them money and be okay with not getting what I paid for. |
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Post by metmichallica on Aug 4, 2022 4:23:38 GMT
But technically you didn't pay for it. You didn't give them any money for the codes. I e-mailed them and they sent me an automated code. They did this to everyone, but technically I didn't pay for the code nor did anyone. It was free. And yes I do pay for Bigfish (brother does), but getting something free once and a while was great, but I did not pay for the code, It was free and don't act all high and mighty. I bet you used the codes that people gave out too.
Edited to add: Speaking of which I remember one time I contacted support and they sent me a Freegame code that didn't work (it was automated) I e-mailed them and I told them it didn't work. They sent me a standard. I said I had a Ce picked out so they sent me a Ce too. If you stopped and thought about emailing them like a person rather than thinking someone owes you something and stopped thinking how you were cheated maybe you would have got somewhere.
Those codes were complimentary and they were sent out to EVERYONE.
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Post by Valkara on Aug 4, 2022 6:57:52 GMT
But technically you didn't pay for it. You didn't give them any money for the codes. I e-mailed them and they sent me an automated code. They did this to everyone, but technically I didn't pay for the code nor did anyone. It was free. Oh, for crying out loud, do I have to explain this AGAIN? There were times when a game did not work. It was a game I PAID for, either with credits or with Paypal. I would write to Customer Service, they would issue me a FREEGAME code with a SPECIFIED EXPIRY DATE, and more and more frequently it happened that when I tried to use the code before the expiry date to get a game to replace the one I paid for that was unplayable (and therefore worthless), I would get a message saying the code was invalid. So that meant I had given BFG money and received NOTHING for it. How hard is it to understand that? Is it too much to expect that because I had paid for a game that works, I should have received a game that works? It's nice that your brother pays for your games. I don't have a brother. I have to do it myself, on a very fixed budget, so I cannot afford to pay $$ and get nothing for it. Yes, I did contact Customer Service, and sometimes it took several tries to get a workable code, because they would issue one that expired something like the next day, or give me the same damn code that I knew was already expired. If they had just honored the original code, none of that would have happened. No, they were not sent out to "everyone." They were sent to people who wrote in about games that didn't work, and some of those people chose to share, either not knowing or not caring that the result would be others not getting what they had paid for, or at least having to take a considerable amount of time and bother to wrestle with Customer Disservice. Some of us planned our purchases carefully, making sure to completely fill our punch cards and not have any leftover punches at the end of the month. Sometimes these FREEGAME shenanigans put a wrench in this, as the end of the month would come and go before the situation was resolved. So no, those codes were never completely free. Someone paid for them at some point. |
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Post by metmichallica on Aug 4, 2022 7:08:06 GMT
But technically you never lost your game that you couldn't play it just wouldn't work at the present time and it was basically your own fault for picking the game out (they give you a 60 min trial). If you would have e-mailed support again they would have given you another code.' "No, they were not sent out to "everyone." They were sent to people who wrote in about games that didn't work, and some of those people chose to share, either not[article
You are wrong Bigfish sent those out to everyone. They were automated.
You act like I never bought a game at Bigfish,  . Who do you think was giving them out? I had a helping hand in that, but they were sent out to everyone. I just saved someone an e-mail and if you would have replied back after getting the automated e-mail a live person would have replied and helped you.
Here goes from someone who doesn't like Bigfish giving handouts to someone who doesn't have much money. Some people I just don't get. I don't believe someone who is so strapped at cash as yourself would never use a freegamecode that was given out. That you just ignored it. I'm not believing it.
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Post by joybelle on Aug 4, 2022 8:46:02 GMT
Well...if it all gets too difficult and they start only offering mobile rubbish..I will just pull the pin and go to Gamehouse or iwin. The big price rise for us overseas currencies has made membership with them much more attractive and they also stock 'my kind of games'.  |
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Post by Valkara on Aug 4, 2022 9:29:29 GMT
But technically you never lost your game that you couldn't play it just wouldn't work at the present time and it was basically your own fault for picking the game out (they give you a 60 min trial). If you would have e-mailed support again they would have given you another code.' "No, they were not sent out to "everyone." They were sent to people who wrote in about games that didn't work, and some of those people chose to share, either not[article You are wrong Bigfish sent those out to everyone. They were automated. You act like I never bought a game at Bigfish, . Who do you think was giving them out? I had a helping hand in that, but they were sent out to everyone. I just saved someone an e-mail and if you would have replied back after getting the automated e-mail a live person would have replied and helped you. Here goes from someone who doesn't like Bigfish giving handouts to someone who doesn't have much money. Some people I just don't get. I don't believe someone who is so strapped at cash as yourself would never use a freegamecode that was given out. That you just ignored it. I'm not believing it.
WHOOSH! Sometimes I get the distinct impression that I type my posts in English and they come out in some exotic language for other people. Do not insult me by claiming that I "never lost a game" or that whatever happened was my fault. I just explained the circumstances of why I have the views I do about these codes, and do not appreciate your condescending dismissal. You do realize that there are games that work fine until you hit a certain level or situation that might not come up during the demo, and the game crashes, freezes, or does something else that makes it not work, right? I just hit a level like that in a Match-3 game that I will be writing in about, assuming I can ever get into my friggin' account again. The game is over 200 levels and the problem causes a crash on a level in the 130s. I assume you realize that I could not possibly have known this during a 60-minute demo? In what universe were these codes just sent out to "everyone" for no reason? I never got one sent to me unless I wrote in due to a game that didn't work. Nothing just magically popped into my inbox, giving me a code for a free CE. As for your intended "gotcha" - you know nothing of my circumstances, and it is not your place to make assumptions. |
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Post by metmichallica on Aug 4, 2022 9:30:55 GMT
Gamehouse is good. I am on there too. There rewards are good two stamps on every card if you are a member.1 ce and 1 standard = free game or 4 standards=free game. You can use your reward coupon on a Ce.
Iwin I used to have many years ago. I didn't care for them.
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Post by metmichallica on Aug 4, 2022 9:40:06 GMT
To get those codes all you had to do was contact customer support for anything. It was all automated. You could write them telling them anything to get one of those codes. I'm sorry but you did not have to have a game even. It could be an inquiry about a game and you got one. Those coupons were complimentary. If you wrote them again they would have sent you another code for the game too so that would = 2 games and don't tell me what to do. Because I've done it before that's how i know.
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Post by metmichallica on Aug 4, 2022 9:53:48 GMT
What's extra in the Ce? [Incident: 1247921] Yahoo/saved Sun, Sep 9, 2018 at 12:34 PM Big Fish Logo CUSTOMER SUPPORT Hi there Matthew, Thanks for writing into Big Fish Support. We’re very sorry to hear that here have been some technical issues recently with your games. We want to make sure that we are able to help you as best we can. This is an automatically-generated response to help get back to our customers quickly. While we haven’t had a chance to read through your email, the most important thing is getting you back to enjoying your games as soon as possible and a complimentary coupon code is included below. If you need further assistance after reading this email, please reply directly to this email. If this email has resolved your issue, no further reply is necessary, and your ticket will be closed. We’ve included a complimentary coupon code that can be used to get any standard version or Collector’s Edition on our site until Saturday, September 22nd, 2018 at 11:59 PM PST. FREEGAME684513 Please copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl +V) or type it into the "Have a coupon code?" field of the shopping cart. If there is trouble using the code, it can be helpful to make sure that there are no other discounts applying to the game. Please note that this coupon code can only be used once on your account. Here is a link to our help article with more detailed steps in case it comes in handy: Using a Coupon Code If this issue is happening to multiple games and you prefer troubleshooting on your end, we have our help pages that have great information about fixing many of the common issues impacting our customers. Here is a list of our commonly used help articles: Games not performing as expected – Crashing, freezing, not opening, running slowly, or not displaying correctly Game Crashing, Freezing or Blank Screen Screen Resolution Access Violation – If you’re seeing this message when playing or launching your game Access Violation Games not saving progress Game Not Saving Installation or download issues Problems Downloading or Installation Failed Reinstall Big Fish Games app (Game Manager) Error Codes in Big Fish Games app We hope that the above information has helped and that you’ll be able to enjoy the included coupon code. If this email has helped answer your inquiry, there is no need to reply to this message. If you still need assistance, please reply directly back to this email instead of submitting a new ticket, and one of our representatives will be happy to help. Sincerely, Big Fish Games Support Team Sep 9, 9:34 AM PDT I bought the Ce and was wondering what does the Ce have that the standard doesn't? I read on a forum that it has a bonus chapter which you left out in your description of the game.  . Here is my proof. |
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Post by Valkara on Aug 4, 2022 9:55:07 GMT
To get those codes all you had to do was contact customer support for anything. It was all automated. You could write them telling them anything to get a one of those codes. I'm sorry but you did not have to have a game even. It could be an inquiry about a game and you got one. Those coupons were complimentary. If you wrote them again they would have sent you another code for the game too so that would = 2 games and don't tell me what to do. But I've done it before that's how i know. Telling you not to insult me is "telling you what to do?" Do excuse me, I was unaware that you've taken over the ownership of this forum. You still don't appear to understand what I was talking about. Codes that come with an expiry date need to be honored until the expiry date. Period, end of story. Mucking around with CS sometimes took days, by which time the end of the month would roll over, taking odd numbers of punches with it, that the code was supposed to have supplemented to get a full card. Unlike some people I don't just buy any damn game. I have my favorite series, or a favorite type, and if those aren't on offer, I don't just grab something else. Oh, as for your "it's your fault" crack... you are aware that some games don't have a demo version, right? You either buy the thing or not. There isn't a way to try them out. And even if there were, it still isn't my fault if the game crashes, freezes, or some other problem crops up on a level I could not possibly have reached during the demo. |
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Post by Valkara on Aug 4, 2022 9:57:56 GMT
Is there a point to your "proof"? I've had emails like that. I guess the difference is that I didn't lie to them about a problem with a game.
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Post by metmichallica on Aug 4, 2022 10:00:58 GMT
What you fail to see is there is no problem with a game. Where does it say there was a problem with a game. I was writing them to find out what is extra in the Ce and got one and it also says it is automated. You still want to argue? You are wrong.
No, this whole argument was about you thinking you're owed something and that other people are not.
Edited to add: If I didn't find that e-mail we still be arguing over who is right, I can find and submit more of them if you like.
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Aug 4, 2022 10:32:48 GMT
Geez...and I just told a new member there was no drama here.
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Post by pennmom on Aug 4, 2022 12:15:22 GMT
What are your thoughts on removing the top 100 and category spotlights? Add to the fact that they are no longer taking PC games submissions at the moment, they may slowly kill that business and we are left to fend for ourselves. I did look at them and I believe many people chose to download the games based upon seeing them in the top 10 & 100 games. More importantly, I believe it was a fantastic tool for developers to gauge which games had more appeal to their base. I cannot believe they don't have an option for sorting games alphabetically! I think this move shows that BF doesn't care about the customer or developers. PS they never even bothered to fix my GM glitch during all of this and now I can't purchase any games because I get looped around never-ending. This glitch is over 8 years ongoing! I love Steam, but I also love the HOPA genre and Steam takes forever to get them! |
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Post by joybelle on Aug 4, 2022 12:26:25 GMT
Its just pure laziness. Yes I think it is a great tool for developers not just to show how they are tracking Not all make it to the top ten, but new developers can be proud of where they may have reached.
New members can only see the top ten...and the games that are the current month...that list used to let them know 'other pretty hot games' that may have been up top without having to wade through all the screens and reviews to look for the top star games on all the screen games (now the dang lists are gone too)
So..blah...bah humbug to the 'slim line' version we have now.
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. Who do you think was giving them out? I had a helping hand in that, but they were sent out to everyone. I just saved someone an e-mail and if you would have replied back after getting the automated e-mail a live person would have replied and helped you.
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