Solution to the game's problems

[Seither]

Ok, Sir Emi, it's time this game had split. Winning by donation is too easy, so how about having 2 rankings, a donation one and a normal one. If you have donated this round (not have gold account, but donated) you go to the donation rankings, if you don't you go to the normal one. You could have them combined and just color code them, having 2 rankings (like 10. Seither 10.Lammalord, and having one a different color then the other, so we'd know who donated and who didn't). This way, anyone can win, not just the donators, as it pretty much is now.

[Lammalord]

ya true, i cant keep up with donaters anymore...

[Hellsword]

that would really just be too complicated and not worth it... and also it wouldnt say much anyways, lammalord would be in same rank as broni for donating 5 bucks when broni donated alot more... so you couldnt really judge anything by color of there name...

[Lammalord]

and i didnt even donate the 5$ someone else did it for me, and it was a complete suprise... i wasnt really suspecting it

[Seither]

it has to be you, since donating for others is like giving a gift. And it's better then nothing. I mean, I was reading the chat and 10 ppl just quit because it's impossible to go anywhere because of people donating. This game is turning into one like all the others out there, and it used to be such a great game too.

[FTP]

In another topic about donations I already responded, aslong as you can donate infinitive you'll always have this problem. Its just the money you want to pay for it. And if you would limit it, like is done on gold acount (for example if I did buy 4 gold acounts and get a 80% off I woudl be untouchable aswell) if you limit everything it could save it for the none donaters. I already suggested adding more with % increasign on skills all be boughed once for a year.

[Seither]

yes, that sounds better then my idea FTP, I like it.

[Lammalord]

i dont think anyone in the top ten has donated for the last 3 or so weeks though.. so were not still donating

[ars68]

hmmm... is it time yet? oh yes, I think it is, ok, time to break out the search function 
searching...
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searching...
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item not found
(I am guessing it has been to long ago)

well, it's your lucky day today, but I do remember saying somewhere, straight from the beginning of when turn donations was started, that this WOULD happen.  that another game I once played had the same thing, and had seperate rankings for donator and non donator, and the difference was as big as non donator having top of couple of tens of millions of points, and donators having 10x that, in the hundreds of millions of points.  hmm... unless perhaps this is another one of those moments where I thought of doing it, but didn't, and now I think I did, when I only thought about it.

so, I won't say it this time, having no proof, but the problem remains, either limit turn donation somehow, get rid of it, seperate donators and non donators, or kiss almost all non donators, and potential people they could have told this game about, goodbye, unless they REALLY like this game (or someone in it)

[Lammalord]

yes ars, im glad some people are starting to notice the problem thats presented with donatine, for a while i thought it was only me, Lightseeker, and Hells that wanted the donations gone, and everyone else sided with broni, and chicpea to keep it.. and thats just beacuse chicpea used bigger words..

the donation is out of balance, like you put it, to many games lose thousands of potental players beacuse the creater is to determined to get that spare change.. i mean i bet that takeing out donations and making the only donation gold only.. would make tons and tons of money like that.. think about it if there was 1 million players and only 10% of them were gold account that would still be over 2 million dollers a year of donations on a daily basis, sure it may take a real long time to reach that point, but it will happen.. i mean there is what? already 35k players, and mabey 2k or so active? and more people that join the faster the game will grow.. its already getting about 3-7k more ppl a weak..

[ars68]

ya, I'm glad some people are starting to notice it as well.

I tell the absolute truth:
if it were maybe 1-2 years ago (before I tried combat grounds) I probably wouldn't have had much problem with it myself either.  but looking at the ranking split like that, and seeing the only (literally, the ONLY) difference is the donator side donated for turns (not credits, not ship designs, the only thing available WAS more turns) and playing it for a round to see how the game works, REALLY put it into perspective VERY fast.

in fact...
I would show an straight out example of the difference between the 2, but it sadly requires you to log in to see hall of fame (hmm... maybe they want you to register before seeing just how ridiculous the gap is between the 2?)

failing to learn from the past, will doom you to repeat it.
games, and game designing, are no different.

[Seither]

exactly ars, well put.