sigh, why can't they just set up a daily news bulletin on the main page. And actually use it to say when things start and when they end.
I have offered my services as a writer to VFK on several occasions. I don't expect any compensation for it. Would just like to help a game that I have come to love and have defended since day one.
But no.... it's a black hole, and I never hear anything back (which again... is why they need my services, LOL!)
I could understand them perhaps not wanting to share access to their main site with a stranger. Who knows what I could do with it 
(just kidding!) but I could even do up my own page, host it online, and all they'd need to do is link their main site to mine with a button entitled "News" or whatever. BUT they'd have to communicate with me what is going on with host games, hunts, quests, etc.; otherewise, that page would be useless. Again, it comes down to COMMUNICATION. I cannot fathom how they are running their company... Someone needs to step in and organize them.
I think you may have found part of the problem concerning the lack of communication: organization. There seems to be a breakdown of communication between developers and 'regular staff'. This breakdown used to be EXTREMELY visible when you used to ask different staff in game the same question...and get a different answer from each one. They've cut way back on that (although it still happens occasionally), and now staff will typically say "I don't know" if they don't know. Perfect example was the other day when I asked Age about scavenger hunts, and she said "I don't know". While I sincerely appreciate her honesty, and would rather be told the truth than just any old answer, she SHOULD have known (not faulting her...she obviously wasn't privy to the information). Too much information is still obtained by word of mouth. Worse, the word of mouth is coming from the players 'finding things' (or by 'staff stalkers'...which is a topic for a completely different thread, lol)! This really shouldn't be taking place in this fashion. I'm not sure if the developers are holding back info from regular staff, or whether they're 'flying by the seat of their pants' and just barely squeaking things out when they hope to release them (the 'gold cat' made me really wonder). It's all very baffling why regular staff don't even have game information. This leads me to believe that updating the VFK webpage would be totally useless...because nobody (or very few) people know much of what is going on or coming out! If they don't know, then there's nothing they can put on the webpage...other than 'soon'...
I'm also not sure about Harmony. I believe that they leave it completely up to her as to when and what type of hunt she wants to do (I've heard this before but can't remember where, so I won't list a reference). I'm not sure VFK receives advance warning from her. This is speculation, though and not fact.
I guess with all the kids playing the game, they feel they can't put on the webpage "this weekend we hope to release item 'X'". I know many kids will accept that as fact...and not even read the word 'hope'. They would be breaking down the walls that weekend and making a huge stink because "VFK said item 'X' would be out today". I guess the behaviour of many players might affect VFK's silence on many issues. If Space Age is a few hours late, you have masses of ppl standing on the tab chanting in caps "WE WANT SPACE AGE, WE WANT SPACE AGE!"...among other very naughty things.
Sigh. If VFK would just initiate a mass 'blast' announcement saying they're having some last minute difficulties and please bear with, it would be better than to have any number of conspiracy theories be born and posted online. Worse, you have masses of people trying to 'hunt down' in game staff and bombard them CONSTANTLY with questions of "when", "how much longer", etc.
Maybe their goal is to get people to visit and remain at their site as long as possible. One way to do that would be to provide the smallest amount of info. The player is left with no recourse other than to sit on game as long as possible in hopes of not missing whatever MIGHT potentially come out.
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Pardon the above 'brain dump'. In the end, there really is no excuse for a consistent breakdown of communications within VFK or without. Players who have to guess at everything...or feel they need to be on game every moment so as not to miss anything...I don't believe are 'happy' players. It leads to rumors, guesswork and conspiracy theories. If some info is leaked to only a few people, it also leads to jealousy and feelings of 'favoritism'...which pits player against player.
The cliff notes for the above can be found at any local bookstore...in the clearance section.
Flamanar...as usual, JMHO...
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Topic: 6/16 Scavenger hunt start in Pirate Battle Ship (Read 10385 times)