There is some very bad news for Mafia Wars players. Facebook announced today in an updated blog post that "everyone will get timeline"
(1). The change should happen over the next few weeks. Once your account is converted, you will have 7 days before it goes live.
Timeline has been an opt in feature and those who took the plunge hate it. If you are a Mafia Wars players, you will find that many of your posts don't make it into the news feeds. I've already posted about the problem and I can see it getting worse
(1). If Zynga values their spam and/or Mafia Wars, they need to be proactive in helping the community learn the workarounds or design their spam so it will be viewed. I don't see this happening and once all of us have Timeline, the game will become more difficult to play. A few weeks ago, I signed up for Timeline on an alternate account. It's just horrible and I haven't been able to do much involving news feed requests. You have to allow Mafia Wars into your Timeline by using the Activity Log.
Even if you do this, your requests will not appear in the news feeds unless you actually write something.
This goes against what Zynga wants us to do
(1). Auto-posting doesn't allow you to write anything so your requests will not be visible in the news feeds. I fear Facebook is faster than Zynga and we are headed for a news feed disaster. Most players won't know to do the steps required to get requests in the news feeds and even if they do, their efforts will be counteracted by auto-posting. Houston we have a problem!
Many media sites such as Yahoo, facetiously suggest that people jump ship from Facebook and give Google+ a try
(1). Pistol Pete pointed out on an episode of the
Informant Podcast that the Facebook Timeline was very similar to MySpace. We all know what happened to MySpace! If Zynga can't find a solution to the news feed problem, maybe they should be talking to Google. Unfortunately Mafia Wars probably won't make it that long!
Thanks to Trump Gnine for letting us know we are doomed to have Timeline on the fan page.
People should just stop using zynga they are manipulators who dont care or they would have already sorted this with Facebook. Its no skin off their noses they already have the money they misappropriate from people and as Pincus says fail quickly and go again. Both companies are greedy and that is why things go the way they do.
ReplyDeleteTimeline also does not tell you how old (in hours/days) a post is... assuming you find it at all. This makes it impossible to know what to click as so much stuff expires after x hours.
ReplyDeleteThere has got to be a solution to this.. what about lists?
ReplyDeleteAs for Zynga/Facebook, I was reading the Facebook developer TOS today, and Zynga games, with their massive and disruptive spam, do not comply IMHO. I guess Zynga is too big to come down on, but I do wonder if some kind of showdown isn't in the works.
Wonder how many people have to type "Timeline sux" when they "Say something about this..." for FB to take notice?
ReplyDeleteThe easy solution would be for FB to provide an option for users to set their application posts not to be grouped.
Ok I quit 6 or 7 games already, I guess Mafia Wars will be next. The game has to much going on, with to little time to do it...Maybe I can get my life back.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on that, sucks for me to leave the games but I just did a post last night informing my loyal friends that I am no longer playing other games and if this stuff keeps up I will leave mw too! And It don't seem like such a bad idea to get our lives back.. Much love and respect to all who are trying to endure this crap, not sure how much more I can take :((
DeleteWe need a Spocklet that will automatically add text to each MW post.
ReplyDeleteThere was actually a user script around that added "yw..." but it seems to work for some and not for others, and there doesn't appear to be any way to contact the author.
Perhaps this will finally be the end so I can get my life back. :-)
ReplyDeleteand what should we play mr anonymous? unless you can provide us some form of entertainment we have no choice lol
ReplyDeletePS3 pick a game..
DeleteDon't think Zynga can jump ship due to contractual obligations with fb for another year or so. If they could (without litigation) I believe they would have launched their own platform. Being dependent on fb has been a talking point among investors, precisely moves like this on fb's part which can inhibit Zynga profits.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above post. It's obvious both corporations know what's going on. MW and any other games are secondary to both their agenda's obviously. Zynga has already stated so publicly, with the intention of releasing new games once player levels show a downword slope; "crash and burn" attitude. FB has never sought feedback as they believe they know best and have so many users that they wont leave. Not a good long-term business strategy for either corporation or it's 'customers'.
ReplyDeleteThen Zynga will have to stop the 'begging posts' on FB.
ReplyDeleteIf FB can take 30% of MW money and have no regard for the game, MW can probably get out of their contract with FB.
They'll need to step up their own timeline for their own gaming platform page.
FB sucks. If Google wasn't so awful, I'd switch right over to that. We need programmers to come up with something QUICK.
NGirly
The "new" timeline is so goobered up its not usable. I started playing MW on myspace before finding it on facebook 3 years ago. Time line to me looks exactly like myspace and allows you to "custom" skin your page. News and post make no since to me at all scattered all over the page. It make the sort optn we have now look so much better.
ReplyDeleteDASVIDANIYA FACEBOOK AND MAFIA WARS!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTHAT'S GOOD-BYE FACEBOOK AND MAFIA WARS!!!!!!
Looks like the end of FB games... who can find the links?
ReplyDeletethis is a good thing, it means there wont be any more stupid wall posts to filter through or property upgrade blah blah shit, and everything will be in game like it is supposed to be
ReplyDeleteI do not have timeline but my posts have not appeared on my newsfeed for the last month or so and only appears on my wall. Even many of my friends' posts are not showing on my newsfeed and the ones that appear stay there for 3 - 7 minutes on top before new posts appear (meaning it refreshes very slowly) even when i refresh every few seconds. Have complained to FB but they replied i am the only one experiencing this and they want me to send a video/picture of my problem. If not for the love of MW i would already quit bcos it is just not enjoyable not seeing your friends' posts appear as quickly as they should. Feels like i am playing by myself when friends' posts are not visible. Sometimes i depend on the ticker bar to see my friends' activity...:((
ReplyDeleteOk, If you don't have timeline (I don't YET) click home page. On the left you will see "Lists" You simply make foldes, I made a Mafia Wars Folder and a friends folder. These are for "Smart lists" and will show up on your news feed. You can add them to your Favorites by clicking on the Pencil to the left of it as you hover. I now receive all posts.
DeleteIve had the same problem. but now can't even see my own posts!! (vanish. then re-appear 20 minutes later!!)
DeleteYes, I agree, lots of posts don't appear quickly or at all. I was just forced into Timeline this week. No posts make it to the feed if they are autopost and so far I have not found out what settings to change. I can't get help for a lot of spamming events. My MW days are numbered and I only use facebook for games.
Deletesee a solution
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fbpurity.com/disable-facebook-timeline.htm
If you stop MW posting on your behalf and put a comment on the post request it shows in your timeline. Simples.
ReplyDeleteseems to me as new user fb and zynga trying outdo each other.
ReplyDeletecannot imagine they want to loose all their games, but who knows what suicide attitude they have
MW needs to be moved to Google+. MW is the only reason I still have a facebook account.
ReplyDeleteAnd as no ones mentioned it, this timeline crap is difficult for many with certain disabilities as it also affects how accessibility options to the site works.This alone could break Facebooks own anti discrimination rules and possibly the discrimination act.
ReplyDeleteI have had the timeline for awhile... you do not have to use the activity log as a filter... it is only an option. Privacy Settings --> Timeline Review to turn it on / off.
ReplyDeleteThe date / time of the post is all about the dot on the timeline... the information is still there... just not in the same format.
I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!! Timeline sucks!!!! Regardless if you play games or not, the timeline platform is so ridiculous, nothing flows. Zynga needs to get their own platform up and running quickly or offer us the ability to play our games in a workable format. I don't think even Team Spockholm can get this crap fixed.
ReplyDeleteTimeline....FUBAR.
I have timeline for some times and i don't like it at all but i have a good suggestion how to see the Family links very easy. I'm not that good in english but i'm trying to explain... U can find it on my blog.. is not a big discovery but most users don't use this FB feature and is a benefit for all addicted MW fan's...check it...maybe this can help
ReplyDeletehttp://mafiawarshelperbybomber.blogspot.com/2012/01/fb-family-list-for-timeline-owners.html
For a week now I've seen little or no posts for mafia wars in my feed. I created a new list just for the game and that is gone as well. This is the beginning of the end of the game for me
ReplyDeleteAlthough the Timeline sucks, There is some workarounds for getting to the post that you need. Facebook has made it where you can divide your friends into groups. If you get everybody in your friends list that plays MW into a group it is real easy to go through the newsfeed. Also there this this link here (http://www.facebook.com/?sk=app_10979261223) that brings up nothing but MW newsfeed. There is also an App that you can Install from FBpurity.com. Once installed look up how to disable the Timeline. Follow the instructions. It somehow reverts your internet browser to IE 7 (temporarily ofcourse) and makes it easier going onto your friends walls.
ReplyDeleteTimeline is almost unintelligible. Can't find anything on the pages of those who use it. If you make MW unusable, I will leave FB.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but Pistol Pete DID NOT coin the term that Facebook is similar to My Space. Give credit where credit is due and not just to your cronies. People have been making the comparison since the first time-lines came out more than a month ago.
ReplyDeleteLOL, where do I say Pistol Pete coined the phrase? I said he pointed it out. Why people who think they are first want credit for things is beyond me. I write a blog and simply point out on occasion where I hear things. If you feel you were the first person to ever make this comparison, let us know who you are. We have a piece of cheese for you that will go great with that whine.
DeleteNO to google.....they're tooo invasive, look up news regarding them scanning your personal comments & photos, IF you're using google+, and integrating them into the google searches. Meaning, if someone were to enter my name in the google search, they're going to get photos, comments, etc, as well as all the other info out there on the net, with 1 click in the google search box! That, to me, is frightening!!! So, I refuse to use google+. They can get away with this, where Facebook cannot, at least at this time!
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding me Mr. Anonymous. Just to play point counter- point. I did make this observation before it was unleashed on the public via the developer network. However, to your point this crony did not attempt to say I was the first to coin it. Nor is my ego so big to think I was the first. If you were one of the hundreds of thousand that made the same observation I congratulate you. Just think about this, considering the vast number of people out there that have been on both Facebook and MySpace it was not so tough to come to this opinion. Just remember this was my opinion and I am certainly entitled to it. Now if you were to actually post using your name, I guess I could actually credit you here and on the show or better yet why not tell me who was the first person to have this thought.
ReplyDeleteMeeeow! MW Lootlady
ReplyDeleteYou TELL 'em Jen!!
ReplyDeleteLMAO.. somehow i knew that this was going to get turned into "Jen u dont give me credit" type ranting.. if u want credit start your own blog and you can have all the credit for being the first..what is more important.. the facts and help she hunts down for us or making sure the first person to coin a phrase or whatever gets "credit" for it.. With all the junk and such from both zynga and fb.. em just grateful for the help Jen gives all of us. and I SAID THIS FIRST lol
ReplyDeletegggggggrrrrrr....that says alot
ReplyDeletesomehow i knew this would turn into blah blah so and so did not say it first.. Jen does enuf already just trying to keep all the muss that zynga and fb throws at us sorted.. and personally I would rather have her spend her time helping all of us than trying to sort out who said what first.. if u want credit .. get ur own blog and u can have it .. Jen does her best and if u no like it..dont read it.. or send her buckets of money so she can hire peep to make sure everyone gets their credit .. and the new timeline sucks no if ands or buts about it
ReplyDeleteI am only on FB to play MW's, Zygna is making it difficult without FB to keep playing. NOW, FB is going to change the platform that not to many customers like. My page was not been changed yet and if it is and makes MW's more difficult to play then I guess it would be time to take my toys and play elsewhere. FB and Zygna had a good thing going here until they got GREEDY! For any successful business, They HAVE to HEAR and or SEE how their customers feel.
ReplyDeleteIf i said something that someone else already said, feel free to take the credit. I didn't read all the comments. Just putting in my 2 cents :)
can Pistol Pete help us by making additional spoklets which can only showing MW wall post from 1 or 2 of our friend in certain time? its hard to return the favour of our friend after they help us in game in this timeline mode
ReplyDeleteregard and thanks
have stopped playing all games except mafia wars.will stop that as well if this comes true and get back my social life
ReplyDeleteWill Timeline still affect us if we change our current FB profile to that of a page?
ReplyDeleteJust an idea.
stinks..
ReplyDeleteI didn't take the time to read every single post above but, I do have timeline (hate it) I have found if ya post your mw post and then go to your wall and click on "activity log" and make the mw post and have it "starred on timeline" instead of the default of "allow on timeline" it will be visible on your wall and ppl will actually be able to find it. I was able to build (complete) through level 13 of the Assassin's Academy while using timeline so it can be done. I did notice a post above someone said that timeline had no time on the posts and you can't tell how old they are?? Mine have a time of posting on them so that statement is NOT true. I still hate timeline however..lol
ReplyDeletehave given away a lot of games because of zygna, and if facebook is going to be intrusive as people say then it is time that I turned the computer off and get back to interaction in real life
ReplyDeletebring mafia wars back to the original
ReplyDeleteI am not on Timeline...yet...They should've carved out a piece of this awful layout for "game posts". Surely FB has a way to tell if the post being made is coming from me typing it on my wall or me clicking a button inside Mafia Wars (or whatever other game). As is I am deleting every post I ever made. There is no "mass delete" prior to date feature which would also be useful. Another oversight by the fine FB programming team. I will delete posts every day once I get Timeline'd. I am not planning on giving up on MW yet but this is getting a little ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI don`t have timeline yet & I don`t want it !! Why didn`t they have a vote to see how many wanted it? It`s great if you don`t play games ( I guess) As far as I`m concerned they can shove it !!
ReplyDelete