Dear Yavn,

I am hoping you will read this letter and consider what I have to say. Over the past year the VMK has steadily made it more and more difficult for it's players to be able to earn credits, and the amount of credits needed to purchase items has now started to out pace many of our abilities to earn credits. I have been playing for more than a year now, and used to look forward to new costumes, furniture, pins, etc.. but not so much anymore. I send this with the spirit of suggestion, please consider what games are awarding credits, and also how many credits they are awarding. It was only last week that one could play Yeti Vision when you wanted to buy something, but now even that does not work anymore! I realize that some players were taking advantage and selling the credits on EBay and other places, but come on - punishing everyone to stop the few seems a bit extreme.

Please I hope you read this, and know that there are thousands of players that really enjoy the VMK, and playing with and against others. I just seems that lately VMK has started to become less fun, and more like work to me.

Thank you and the same to your staff for creating this great experience, and please keep making it better!

DarthRobbie :eek:

VMK member please post your thoughts or comments.

Very well written. Please add Fireworks into that, that's really what I'm concerned about.

Very nice essay/paragraph. I might write one too later with a few other ideas :)

Dear VMK Staff, Testers, Yavn, and Players,

I write this letter with the deep concern for VMK, its players, its staff, and Yavn.

Recently, VMK_LoLo was talking about difficulties between the players and the staff. When asked if VMK would have to close because of these problems, she simply answered, "I don't know." I would like to express my concern and share my suggestions for the problems of VMK.

VMK needs another store and another game. I do not know your plans for New Orleans Square, but I do believe VMK needs another store and game. I think a good idea would be to have a few games outside of VMK that players can play, which gives a code for how many credits you get from how many points you got in that game. I also think the in-VMK games need to give out more credits or the shops need to charge less. The best guest rooms quality has been slowly declining. There have been a few rooms that I am utterly disgusted with the choice of, considering some of my friends' rooms. The problem(s)? Items are too expensive, there are not enough staff going around judging rooms, and players can't earn enough credits to buy items and use them in their rooms. The solution(s)? VMK needs to make a room judger staff (imagine a ROOM_Koala or ROOM_LoLo!), their need to be more games, the games need to give out more creidts, and items need to cost less credits. If this is tried, you will see players will be happier with the items they have, they will have more credits, they will have more fun, there will be more cool rooms to hang out in, and the best guest rooms will be much much better (nobody in particular's room has been bad, just a few of them did not live up to their potential. Please do not PM me to ask for names as I will not name names).

VMK's items are getting much less rare, and players are getting bored with VMK because there is nothing worth trading for. I think VMK should have a five day in-park quest once a year, with 3-5 items winnable from that quest (not the same items, different items each year). I also believe VMK needs to release new basic quests (i.e. Fronteirland, Adventureland, Fantasyland) each year, with new items each year. That would give players more items to trade for, and more reason to play VMK and stay with VMK. I also believe VMK should occasionally release new items that are a HOST game prize for one or two days. That would make the items about as rare as what players call 'beta'.

VMK needs to expand into VMGM, VEP, and VAK (Virtual MGM, Virtual Epcot, and Virtual Animal Kingdom). VMK doesn't necessarily need to become an entire other game though, I will now explain my point. In-game, I think their should be a button labeled 'V's' (Virtuals) or 'OW's' (Other Worlds), and in those buttons you see a map of VMK, VMGM, VEP, and VAK. This would mean more staff need to be selected - I will explain that in the next paragraph.

VMK needs more staff. I think certain players should be asked if they want to become a VMK Staff or Tester (the selected staff will be unpaid, and get another account with a name of VMK_ followed by what they want the name to be). If a given selected staff does not perform their duties well, that character will be taken away from them. Also the selected staff do not have a shift, or timeline they have to be online. They get on when they want, but have certain duties they must perform before they play freely such as answer call for help, visit players that need help, open rooms that show new or unreleased items, and open rooms that they have scheduled to open (that way a bunch of staff don't have rooms open at the same time). Also staff could be assigned those duties to a certain Virtual Park. After they finished their assigned duties they may go around VMK, visit rooms and nominate them for possibly best guest room award, build their own rooms, earn credits, play games, etc.


I hope that the Staff, Yavn, and Testers may put this letter into consideration, and make VMK a better and more fun place for its players.

With the deepest concern and sincerity,
PirateAhoy

Ok, I would like to comment on some of the points here.

1. Yea, the best room award quality have been seeming to get a little worse. I've looked at pictures of the winners and I've been saying to myself "is that it? I could make a better room than that."

2. The idea of another staff member that doesn't get paid doesn't seem like a good idea. The reason staff members get paid is because they have experience in the field and they help protect us. Putting a player into the position of a staff member won't help in my opinion. That is what community leaders are for.

3. I think that not only staff should be able to nominate for a best room but I think a player should too. Maybe staff should pick some rooms and have a poll for the players to choose what they think is the best room.

These are just my opinions! :)

TravisSch

I think certain players should be asked if they want to become a VMK Staff or Tester (the selected staff will be unpaid, and get another account with a name of VMK_ followed by what they want the name to be). If a given selected staff does not perform their duties well, that character will be taken away from them. Also the selected staff do not have a shift, or timeline they have to be online. They get on when they want, but have certain duties they must perform before they play freely such as answer call for help, visit players that need help, open rooms that show new or unreleased items, and open rooms that they have scheduled to open (that way a bunch of staff don't have rooms open at the same time). Also staff could be assigned those duties to a certain Virtual Park. After they finished their assigned duties they may go around VMK, visit rooms and nominate them for possibly best guest room award, build their own rooms, earn credits, play games, etc.


I agree with pretty much every thing, except what you have written in the last paragraph.

VMK does need more staff, but asking well-behaved people to be VMK staff members would not be a good idea. (Maybe asking them to be CL's?)

I do have an idea similar, but I still find it unfair.

These are all pretty good ideas. VAK. Oh, I'd love that.

~Spotty

Ugh. Go play some pirates and fireworks for credits



Here's an open letter for you:

Yavn, keep it up. VMK rocks. Ignore those who should spend less time complaining and more money on Disney products.

Ricks (who has had it!)

Ugh. Go play some pirates and fireworks for credits


Here's an open letter for you:

Yavn, keep it up. VMK rocks. Ignore those who should spend less time complaining and more money on Disney products.

Ricks (who has had it!)

Here, here RicksCafe! I have credits coming out my hornswoggle! How is that you ask? It's because I spend less time complaining and writing letters to yavn..and more time playing pirates. :pirate: Aaaarrr
-See.low (who loves it when Ricks has had it!)

Ugh. Go play some pirates and fireworks for credits


Here's an open letter for you:

Yavn, keep it up. VMK rocks. Ignore those who should spend less time complaining and more money on Disney products.

Ricks (who has had it!)

Thank you Ricks, that was well said.

Ugh. Go play some pirates and fireworks for credits


Here's an open letter for you:

Yavn, keep it up. VMK rocks. Ignore those who should spend less time complaining and more money on Disney products.

Ricks (who has had it!)

I partly agree with that statement, but find it rude the way you said it. Can you possibly refrase that to make it sound kinder? It'd make me feel a little better.

I can get 10,000 credits in one day if I try hard enough. POTC is a great game to play for credits.

But these are ideas! No need putting down peoples' thoughts.

Now I need to build a brick wall so no one attacks.

~Spotty

Can you possibly refrase that to make it sound kinder?Sorry, Spot. No can do. It was perfectly frased the phirst time.

I'm not out to hurt people's feelings. I'm out to get people to clam up already.

There are two things that rock my world and VMK is one of them.

So, let's get busy playing and having fun. Who's with me??

However, peoples opinions are NOT referred to as "Belly aching".

Please respect peoples opinions here on these forums. If you do not agree with something stated, then give your reasons on why they are wrong (Or right) and DO NOT put others down.

I think "Man up" means a sense of maturity in ones writing and that means respect TY

This is unnecessary considering that the Vmk staff do eveything in the best interest of the players. If you don't like something in the game just ignore it for the fact that Vmk is always changing and being updated and since they can't change and fix everything at once give them time. Look at all the things that have been changed, added, and fixed, like the DC thing, they added the new lands and they are still making more thing to come and more changes to improve the game. and for the people who do sell vmk stuff and/or accounts on ebay please stop because everyone is getting the punishement for what you are doing.. in conclusion just wait becuase something new will always be coming or changing in VMK and look if you can't afford some of the stuff with all the quests they have every week that are pretty easy you should be able to get alot of things that way...

The changes thusfar have been in response to player input. Pirates and Fireworks, as good as they were, were getting too easy and boring. I was not fond of the changes when they first appeared, but since I had some patience and some friends to help me learn to play better, I have found them challenging and fun.

I do agree that the best guest rooms have been "not as spectacular" as past rooms. In the past, though, there were several calls of "shenannigans!". By this I mean that many people wondered aloud in the forums "why is it always the same people? Do they 'know someone'?". I believe that they are genuinely trying to give some props to people who are not as famous or "rich"** as others.

The lessening of rare items is having a couple of effects. By making items less rare, you discourage scams a bit...and you ensure that there is less of a split between the "haves" and "have nots". It is meant, I'm sure, to reduce the friction in vmk while keeping the virtual economy stable.

I would agree, to some extent that more staff would be helpful. I also would like to say what I've said mahy times before. If we can reduce the false reports by whiners and get tougher on repeat offenders, staff would have more time to address real concerns of safety to all of us.

In short, staff do listen to us and respond. You cannot satisfy everyone with every acton though.

It's funny, just now I have been thinking about some posts that I have made here and shortly after, a couple of months later, things like the disable trade function and only myself in room options appear. So, just roll with the things that you don't like and they will either become good to you, or they will change. Just take it easy, it's only a game after all...lol

Thank you for reading. - steps out of pulpit -

**How you can be rich when the credits and items are virtual is beyond me.

Sorry, Spot. No can do. It was perfectly frased the phirst time.

I'm not out to hurt people's feelings. I'm out to get people to clam up already.

There are two things that rock my world and VMK is one of them.

So, let's get busy playing and having fun. Who's with me??

I'm going to disagree with you here. DarthRobbie is my -friend- and he works 12 hours (at least) everyday at work. After that, he comes home to handicapped parents. So his time on VMK is limited. The time he does spend on VMK he does use to try and play games, but he isn't always able to win in Pirates because of the other players that spend ALL day playing. Same with fireworks. So he has tried to partly depend on Yeti Vision or the other outside games to help him obtain the credits needed to purchase pins/items.

I didn't see anyone complaining, I saw someone giving an opinion. I respect your opinion (although I disagree with it), but I am not going to sit back and watch you tell people to shut up and play more games.

I think he has a valid point. The players that are not able to get to the parks, or able to spend countless hours playing games (and being really really good at), have a hard time in the game.

I would like to point out to everyone that this was simply my way of expressing my feelings about the overall direction VMK has moved. I would encourage everyone, even those who do disagree with me to post your feelings, and do not feel this you are being attacked... The wonderful thing about living in the United States is we are granted the right to free speech. This tread is a means the I hope Yavn and the other designers may hear my opinion about the VMK. It is not just about spending money on Disney products, but also brand loyalty, and a way to reach out to people that cannot visit the parks. I would encourage anyone to PM me if you have something to say and do not want to post within this tread!

Thanks

DarthRobbie

I agree with pretty much every thing, except what you have written in the last paragraph.

VMK does need more staff, but asking well-behaved people to be VMK staff members would not be a good idea. (Maybe asking them to be CL's?)

I do have an idea similar, but I still find it unfair.

These are all pretty good ideas. VAK. Oh, I'd love that.

~Spotty

By saying players, I mean very well behaved players, and players who have earned the right by helping others and enforcing the VMK Values. And there should be a very long quiz to see if they're ready to become staff. Mostly CL's would be nominated, but regular players should be nominated too. Too many staff means too much money being paid, which means more items like the pirate pin set that VMK players have to pay for. That is just an idea for unpaid staff, I'm sure yavn could come up with a better idea. I do agree, VMK rocks, but these are just suggestion to make it radically rockful.:D

Ok, I would like to comment on some of the points here.

3. I think that not only staff should be able to nominate for a best room but I think a player should too. Maybe staff should pick some rooms and have a poll for the players to choose what they think is the best room.

These are just my opinions! :)

TravisSch

Hmm, I think the reason why VMK hasn't done this yet is because maybe they think players will take advantage and ask their friends to nominate, not because their room is nice, but because they want to win big. I think this devalues the spirit and work other players put into THEIR rooms. However, there may be ways in which this can be avoided...

By saying players, I mean very well behaved players, and players who have earned the right by helping others and enforcing the VMK Values. And there should be a very long quiz to see if they're ready to become staff. Mostly CL's would be nominated, but regular players should be nominated too. Too many staff means too much money being paid, which means more items like the pirate pin set that VMK players have to pay for. That is just an idea for unpaid staff, I'm sure yavn could come up with a better idea. I do agree, VMK rocks, but these are just suggestion to make it radically rockful.:D

I think making players into Staff members would just be another controversial topic and idea. Think about it; there's enough contreversy with the wanting to be a CL, so imagine staff members? However, allowing space for more CL's might be a better idea. Besides, there are enough staff memebers. Remember, some of them aren't seen in the game, so they're working behind the scenes to make VMK a better place.

Okay. Here are my Thoughts.

1) I think that now, Credit-wise, VMK is more Challenging. Think about it, though. When people used to use mules they'd play a game they're good at and probably use codes. Logically, that would probably be easier for the ' Mule Makers ' to get credits.
2) I Don't like the idea of having more work than play, but VMK doesn't HAVE to be about owning everything (Although it is for most), just take SOME time, relax, and chat with friends!
3) I know a lot of VMK players like trading. In order to get some rare, I understand buying the soon-to-be-rare things is an issue, as I also do believe, that it IS harder to get credits nowadays.
4) There are more ways to get credits in the Kingdom. Selling, Getting them from the "People that give you credits", and there are many game choices. I bet if everyone was patient enough in credit gaining from games, you'd meet your goal of how many credits you wanted.
5) I think everyone has the right to their opinion. You just don't have to make it look like the other person's opinion is wrong, just state yours clearly.
6) I don't think that random 'well-behaved' people should be chosen as staff. You really don't know who they are anyways, and plus... They can change, Can't they? 0_o ---Maybe Staff needs to boost up their appearences, just to convince others that people REALLY ARE trying to do the best for the VMK community. (We know that they are, they're just very 'undercover')

Thanks For Listening,
*Chrisssy

PS-POTC Is a good game for credits, like others have stated ; )

No offense intended toward any Community Leaders, many of whom are fine people and my friends, but I've yet to see a "CL_" do anything helpful for VMK that a "regular player" couldn't (or wouldn't) do. I don't think we need more player-staff. I don't even think we need the ones we have.

I think the Community Leader program exists just to try to get us to behave better in the hopes that we, too, will be selected as model citizens.

No offense intended toward any Community Leaders, many of whom are fine people and my friends, but I've yet to see a "CL_" do anything helpful for VMK that a "regular player" couldn't (or wouldn't) do. I don't think we need more player-staff. I don't even think we need the ones we have.

I think the Community Leader program exists just to try to get us to behave better in the hopes that we, too, will be selected as model citizens.

Yes, but it instills a sense of an authoritive figure. It was experimented, and it's actually true that if you put a cut out of a cop inside a store, less crimes are usually going to happen. If you think someone authoritive is there, or watching you, it's human nature to usually not do it. I guess that's what a Community Leader is for - to represent that authoritive figure, since Staff can't be everywhere.

Yes, but it instills a sense of an authoritive figure. It was experimented, and it's actually true that if you put a cut out of a cop inside a store, less crimes are usually going to happen. If you think someone authoritive is there, or watching you, it's human nature to usually not do it. I guess that's what a Community Leader is for - to represent that authoritive figure, since Staff can't be everywhere.

You know, maybe that's not the case for VMK. We were told that Staff members occasionally watch us without having to be there. Many know this, but they still continue to do bad things. However, I agree that there is less "crime", but it has and probably never will be eliminated completely. :)

You know, maybe that's not the case for VMK. We were told that Staff members occasionally watch us without having to be there. Many know this, but they still continue to do bad things. However, I agree that there is less "crime", but it has and probably never will be eliminated completely. :)

Sure, I never said it would eliminate all crimes, that's not going to happen. Yes, but the person can't be sure, and there's no one close to them (as in the same room), so the brain isn't truly suspicous. Now, if there's a Community Leader in the same room, then they know for sure that someone with some sort of power is watching them. Of course, regular players can report just as well, but we're regular. Community Leaders aren't as massive as Regular Players, so they hold some authority. Just what I think. :)


Hmm, now if only we could get the 'Cut Out Cop' furnishing...

Sure, I never said it would eliminate all crimes, that's not going to happen. Yes, but the person can't be sure, and there's no one close to them (as in the same room), so the brain isn't truly suspicous. Now, if there's a Community Leader in the same room, then they know for sure that someone with some sort of power is watching them. Of course, regular players can report just as well, but we're regular. Community Leaders aren't as massive as Regular Players, so they hold some authority. Just what I think. :)


Hmm, now if only we could get the 'Cut Out Cop' furnishing...

Oh ok, no problem then. ;)

I totally agree. They have basically left us with Pirates, to get the most credits out of. Unless you are really fond and good at Haunted Mansion.

For those who complain about credits. All you have to do is click on all the NPC'S and play one music game every day (easy for anybody). That's 200 credits each day, then multiply 200X31days for each month, that's 6,200 credits per month! Or multiply 200X365 days for the year thats 73,000 credits a year! How difficult is that for simply clicking for a few minutes with your mouse? That's 73,000 free credits every year that VMK gives it's players! Not to mention you can play the music match game every hour and earn more credits. People have to be more patient and use their credits wisely.

Dear VMK Staff/Testers/Whom Ever This May Concern,

Recently I have noticed the drop in credits given through games. Two thousand seven I thought there was going to lead to new, fantastic items, not working harder than we already are for credits. Now we have to pay 21 credits to play Pirates, and why? We, the VMK Players, do not know. Next up, Fireworks. I know, I know, we complained about ‘sandbagging’ on the old fireworks, but now, NOBODY get’s decent amount of credits. You have to be able to get first place, play a million times to win, and work WAY harder. You have to be able to win and that’s hard to the people who CAN slave themselves everyday and play billions of times. We (The VMK Players) do have lives, and we can’t spend hours trying to get first place!

FantasyWriterG

That's 200 credits each day, then multiply 200X31days for each month, that's 6,200 credits per month!People have to be more patient and use their credits wisely.

Nice math. Problem is they release new pins every month that people want to get, right? So that's 500 X 4 = 2000 credits, just for 1 of each pin.

So a new outfit comes out? Maybe 2 of them?
1000 for a hat
500 for shoes
500 for bottoms
500 for top

or in the case of the football stuff, you would need 2 tops and 2 hats

total of 4,000 for the outfits.

Now, let's talk holiday months....see what I mean? Clicking everyday does NOT get you far in the game. To just buy the basics, like 1 of all new released item you can't even earn enough credits on clicking on everything daily.

You barely cover a new outfit and pins with clicking on everything everyday. What happens if you miss a day? Oh well I guess.

The whole point is that items are expensive and VMK is making it harder and harder to earn credits. People would just like a way to earn some credits without have to battle against others, because that is essentially how it works for all games now. (Let's not get me started on the 20 credits earned for Jungle Cruise). I wish we had a game that rewarded you for individual performance, NOT against or with other players. Think credits for a good score on Jungle Cruise.

Just my 2 cents and hopefully some food for thought.

Trust me - I miss fireworks credits as much as any - I could get up 5000 in four games of fireworks - I miss the old ways but still seem to be able to get up credits. It just takes more time now. Now we are forced to spend more time in games than seeing friends or wandering the Kingdom. Not sure this is a good thing.

Wow, i can't believe people are actually complaining about how hard it is to get credits now. Try and think back to just over a year ago. What was the pirates payout? 15, 20 credits a game? Fireworks was maybe a couple hundred if you just happened to get the right placement. Before Bat Magic was due to come out it was significantly harder to get credits and items don't really cost any more than they did then. Maybe they went overboard letting people earn 1300 per fireworks game (although i will miss that as a quick credit fix) and decided to reel it in a bit.

Yes if you want to buy a new item you're going to have to put in a little work. What would be the point if everyone just got handed everything they wanted, that would be pretty boring wouldn't it? Don't go blaming staff because you don't live near a park (most of us don't) or because you can't spend more time in the game. Make the most of the game for the time you have in it.

Wow, i can't believe people are actually complaining about how hard it is to get credits now. Try and think back to just over a year ago. What was the pirates payout? 15, 20 credits a game? Fireworks was maybe a couple hundred if you just happened to get the right placement. Before Bat Magic was due to come out it was significantly harder to get credits and items don't really cost any more than they did then. Maybe they went overboard letting people earn 1300 per fireworks game (although i will miss that as a quick credit fix) and decided to reel it in a bit.

Yes if you want to buy a new item you're going to have to put in a little work. What would be the point if everyone just got handed everything they wanted, that would be pretty boring wouldn't it? Don't go blaming staff because you don't live near a park (most of us don't) or because you can't spend more time in the game. Make the most of the game for the time you have in it.

Yes I agree. If you really want the items that come out, work for it. VMK will not just hand you the credits and say I'm sorry for all of the inconvience we had caused you. If you truly want a certain number of the new items, work harder to get them! A new game would be refreshing and some more credits would always be nice. First people complain because rare items are getting too rare. Then they release items and people get angry for them being rereleased. They are making the credits lower so that less items are bought so items become more rare. Anyways, yavn did say that if they felt they needed to, they would increase the credits in fireworks.

I also think that the VMK staff should spend a little more time having fun just around the kingdom, not only in their own little rooms. I mean, how often do we see any staff or testers playing pirates or fireworks? Only when they need screenshots.

I think it's great that the credits are now harder to get, and I know I'm in the minority here lol. But now people won't be buying 20 of everything (except for those people that already have hundreds of thousands of credits). I think because credits are harder to get, the items that are expensive will not be as common as they currently are. I just hope they fix the credits for Jungle Cruise soon. :)

The other thing that might help is maybe having some games for credits that older computers can handle. I hear of a lot of people saying their computers cannot handle the current games.

I think more CL's are needed. I spend most of my time in public rooms, and only see a CL once in a while. I don't know if they're busy in trade rooms or what, but I really don't see them often in public rooms. When I do see them, it's only briefly. :)

I think it's great that the credits are now harder to get, and I know I'm in the minority here lol. But now people won't be buying 20 of everything (except for those people that already have hundreds of thousands of credits). I think because credits are harder to get, the items that are expensive will not be as common as they currently are. I just hope they fix the credits for Jungle Cruise soon. :)

The other thing that might help is maybe having some games for credits that older computers can handle. I hear of a lot of people saying their computers cannot handle the current games.

I think more CL's are needed. I spend most of my time in public rooms, and only see a CL once in a while. I don't know if they're busy in trade rooms or what, but I really don't see them often in public rooms. When I do see them, it's only briefly. :)


I think VMK needs to open up 50 more CL spots, and get a few more testers and staff! I am on a wait list right now for more CL spots to open up, considering VMK has not sent me a message back yet of my application from over a year ago. Credits for Pirates way back when was about the same as now. VMK needs to either lower item prices or up the credits in games, or just make more games that aren't boring lol

I wish the old vmk was back!! We got soo many credits, and the items were less money!

I think VMK needs to open up 50 more CL spots, and get a few more testers and staff! I am on a wait list right now for more CL spots to open up, considering VMK has not sent me a message back yet of my application from over a year ago. Credits for Pirates way back when was about the same as now. VMK needs to either lower item prices or up the credits in games, or just make more games that aren't boring lol

I wish the old vmk was back!! We got soo many credits, and the items were less money!

No seriously, anybody that's been playing since 2005 knows how much more difficult it was to get credits without muling. This is why muling was SO SO popular. And that's why items that were only released then are so much more rare. You'd play a game of pirates, get like 20 credits or play fireworks and get maybe 375 credits if you played a great game. A hat or costume set would still run you the same 500 to 2000 credits as it does now. The credit awards were raised in February of 2006 due to the Everest Competition and the releasing of Bat Magic.

Anybody that started playing after that is going to have a rather spoiled opinion about credits. Earning credits now is CAKE. But you're only going to ge tout of VMK what you put into it.

Well stated Jewels :)

I also think that the VMK staff should spend a little more time having fun just around the kingdom, not only in their own little rooms. I mean, how often do we see any staff or testers playing pirates or fireworks? Only when they need screenshots.

How do you know they don't? It's been suggested several times that staff members have "plain clothes" characters with regular names and regular clothing. For all you know, that ordinary-looking player that you are playing pirates with is a staff member.

How do you know they don't? It's been suggested several times that staff members have "plain clothes" characters with regular names and regular clothing. For all you know, that ordinary-looking player that you are playing pirates with is a staff member.
Could Exoxus really be Host_Phinny in disguise?

No offense intended toward any Community Leaders, many of whom are fine people and my friends, but I've yet to see a "CL_" do anything helpful for VMK that a "regular player" couldn't (or wouldn't) do. I don't think we need more player-staff. I don't even think we need the ones we have.

I think the Community Leader program exists just to try to get us to behave better in the hopes that we, too, will be selected as model citizens.

I bet the original intent was to have free help in game guide/monitoring. That intent has been lost no doubt. When things were small and simple and there were a small, well chosen group of CL's, there was much better order and there was more helping going on. The current value of the CL program is nearly zero. Any reason you can think of to include this program, you can also substitute "other helpful players" instead. Game guidance? Monitoring of vulgarity and decent language? Polite game play? Go ahead and think this one out a bit and you can't reasonable make a case for the program any longer unless VMK gives them punitive powers (OMG if that happens run for the hills!)
Time to erase the CL and make things even. For those of you that read, try to remember this story: "Animal Farm"- Rule 1=all pigs are created equal, Rule 2= some pigs are more equal than others. Why can't we all just be the same?

Could Exoxus really be Host_Phinny in disguise?

what have you got against Exoxus neoteny? lol

My opinion: some of you have too much free time. (You decide for yourself if that's you or not.) How about going out and building your own gaming program that has all the features that would entice you to play the game? Seriously people, it's only a GAME! To boot, it's a FREE GAME!! Now if you went out and bought VMK software in a store, then I can see supporting some of the comments I've read in this thread, but nobody that I know of has bought required software to play VMK. I don't think it was designed or intended for individuals to spend hours upon hours upon hours dissecting, manipulating or over-playing the game. I get it, there are people out there that do that because they have nothing better to do, but for the rest of us, common, live a little. Don't take things so seriously. Is your life distraught or you find you have stress when playing or thinking about the game? Is the game too difficult for you or you find it’s just not worth your time? If so, perhaps it's time for you to take a break from playing because you’re taking it all too seriously. How about trying another game for a little while? Chances are VMK will still be here, so you can always come back and play some more. Life is too short; enjoy what you've been given and if you don't like it, go out and create it yourself so you're happy.

If you have a suggestion or comment about the game, send it VMK. They have their own website and even have a place where you can contact them. How cool is that?

And that's all I have to say. :) Have a super-duper day everyone!

For those of you that read, try to remember this story: "Animal Farm"- Rule 1=all pigs are created equal, Rule 2= some pigs are more equal than others. In that story the lesser pigs revolted and I think many of us are feeling a bit lesser these days.

Um... um... I think you need to re-read the story. :) You've mangled the details a bit, and remember the wrong conclusion - the "lesser pigs" do not revolt in the end, instead the pigs are shown to be as evil as their old masters had been to all the animals. The story is an allegory of Soviet-style Communisim.

I'll change the analogy - forget about the staff games and what CLs may or may not be doing. The game isn't about them - its about you and what you do and contribute to the game as a whole. That's a participatory society.

Excuse the over simplification on my part. The idea is still a valid one, we don't need two classes of players and this is about me ie.."the player". Remember one of the ways we participate is by molding ourselves to the game and another is to mold the game to ourselves. The former is easy the later, while more difficult, has the potential to assist more people.. greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people anyone?

what have you got against Exoxus neoteny? lol
Absolutely nothing. I selected him as an example because he's a friend of mine who I know won't get upset about being mentioned.

I have been playing vmk for over a year now. I really enjoyed the game until all of the changes. Now I find myself not wanting to even sign on. I think they had a good system before it worked well for almost everyone. How do they expect to sell quest desks (which are now in the inner space shop again)
for 30,000 cerdits if they don't let you win a fair amount of credits? It's almost as if they want people to stop playing the game. I am thinking of not playing for a while & just wait and see what happens. I know I can't change anything by not playing but I am one person who knows another who knows another and so on. I would always tell people about vmk but not since all of the changes. Oh well I hope all who stay with the game are happy and those who are not happy there is alot more fun stuff you can do with your spare time.

Absolutely nothing. I selected him as an example because he's a friend of mine who I know won't get upset about being mentioned.

Neoteny may have a point. ;) Jk