I’m getting a little bored with Mafia Wars and quite frankly this blog. I seem to be posting the same things over and over again and that’s because Mafia Wars is the same thing over and over again. It’s pretty sad that the most exciting thing to happen in a long while was Awe Lizzy and her antics [1]. In a sense she actually put some social back into the game. Zynga isn’t doing much to improve enjoyment despite all the feedback they have been given. All we see are repeat events and new things for sale. The Arena was a nice concept in the beginning but I feel it has damaged the game. The majority utilize it as a leveling tool. Those who level get stronger and those who try to compete with these players come in 5th and 6th every time. I’ve been using the Arena for that purpose and in hindsight it was a fast forward to complete boredom and possibly the end of days. I've reached my personal goals and there doesn't seem to be much left to do. I enjoy blogging but some things have got to go. Based on the metrics, it’s clear that most could care less about the stuff in the Marketplace. Zynga doesn’t promote this site so why should I promote all their crap? On May 15th, the Mafia Wars Loot Lady Blog will be 3 years old. I need to give up some things so that I can get over my obsession with documenting everything. Any ideas or feedback from you will be much appreciated. I thank each and everyone of you for the continued support and I do hope Zynga will figure out a way to make the game fun again.
Take a break Jen. At least a month. x
ReplyDeleteThat would be the worst thing I could do. If I took even a couple days off, I wouldn't come back.
DeleteIt would be the best thing you could do. Zynga does not want you. Or any MW player. They want the game and all the spenders and possible lawsuits to either sell or quit. Hence... why the arena was created. It is a shame you fell for their tricks.
DeleteYou're blog is running counter to their aims. You're obviously very talented as shown by your following. Move on to your next venture. One that is sustainable and not laced with Zynga scams. :)
looks like fb gave lizzy the boot. disabled profile, and lost her 3.7k level mw account.
DeleteThis is exactly why mw needs its own username/password profile. or have linking from fb / myspace to a mw profile.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001114207148
We need to hold a memorial service for lizzy's account!
yeah the game is getting boring as it is right now
ReplyDeleteOoooh now I feel a burned out by my most helpfull girly friend (: .Jen you have so right. But can we not put all hands together and find a solution.You are free to quit of course .But I feeling a disaster in MW land. If MWLL close down.The Game is dead !! I now for shure.
ReplyDeleteyour walk through of missions are invaluable to many. a kind thank you for that. go with your metrics for what to continue with. frankly all the repeat events are not worthy of reading about - as they appear in game anyway.
ReplyDeletei dont care a bit about loot of any kind. This was never loot wars for me, though zynga sells the heck outta the crap.
But you are right - the game has become NON SOCIAL and simply boring.
Once 25,000,000 players are down to 300,000 and sadly 1/2 or more are mini's.
The cold hard facts of the game is there is nothing they can do to attract new players (except mini's).
Well you are very right mate and to be honest i am looking to quit, it is not easy to draw new players to a game that is such a challenge to get off the ground with unless you find yourself a good mentor and are patient. Totally agree with your theory that it is becoming growingly more anti social (the part that makes it worth while might i say is the social side). Best of luck to you all. Lastly MWLL i hope you take a long hard think about it as you are a very valuable person to those that play, don't make your decision lightly :)
DeleteI agree, at first look, the game challenge to finish ny, but this game has way too complex. one needs to start a mini, and a decent group. then after a few months of learning, start a new account.
DeleteThe learning curve MW's gives you is 650 levels. You better know what you're doing way before then. A mentor, and knowledge of computers for installing browsers,scripts, and cut-n-past will make the game easier.
MWLL blog is great, most don't have 70k energy or pay $ to fly by the stuff.
I do agree many players are quitting, as some players find it too complex at the start, then find it boring when they catch up. or get disgusted seeing other players sell accounts.
Thank you Jennifer for a wonderful blog and the helpful information you share. I agree with you that the game is on a fast forward to being finished. I do think the fight list will be gone in a few months and only those who chose to remain to do the arena will be left. Soon afterwards the game will completely fold. I no longer enjoy it as much. It is feast or famine with what they put out. Strong unethical clans make playing very difficult for smaller families and people just leave.
ReplyDeletethe strong clans do make some play hard, but i think Zynga's turn to make it more and more for the paying player is sqeezing out the non paying player which in turn is shrinking the playing platform causing the less scuting round for the stronger clans. I know the game is desinged for paying players but you need the non paying for the growth
DeleteYou were promoting arena and playing arena 24/7 ..now it's a bad thing .You dont see the social side in the game because you have no idea what a DB is ,because you're part of a bot family...scripts dont talk back ya know ? As for this post ,you're just waiting for a bunch of ''fans'' to tell you how great you are and what an amazing job you're doing with this blog.Trust me ,this game will go forward without it very good ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Arena is a bad thing for the game as far as player retention. For me personally, it's great and awesome. I do know what a drive-by is and my family has encountered many of them. I never liked fighting and I never will. The only reason I build my stats was because of my OCD. It's all just numbers to me and I could care less who I can beat and who I can't. I never said the game would not go on without my blog, it most certainly would. I asked my READERS for feedback on what they want to read. I did not ask for praise. I really don't need that, I can just look at my numbers and compare to other sites. As for the trolls like you, why do you even visit? If you left a name, I would love to do a driveby on your family and show you what a "bot" family can do. If you were all that, you would have told us who you were, lol.
DeleteLOL Jenn
Deletethat is exactly why so many dont leave names on ur blog. with what u just said you and others would do drive bys on ppl that have an opinion that isnt accepted by you.
Deletethousands of ppl have said it for the last 3 yrs that you and your script friends have destroyed this game. since you now see that ppl dont play anymore your afraid that maybe just maybe the bots and scripts did ruin it.
well jen i speak for alot of ppl that all agree ban the bots or lose the game.
guess who won. lol not the bots
We all can agree, ban the bots, lose the game anyway so the choice is do you want to lose the game now or later? Impossible to play without scripts. Do you think I want to burn through that 70K energy and stamina manually? No and I would have quit. My stats are pretty low compared to a lot of players and the main reason is money spent. People who spend money use scripts. Take them away and you lose money spending players and then the game. Scripts are there for all to use, those who don't choose to be weaker. It's pretty simple.
DeleteI feel the bots ruined this game along with players that cheat. Open a new account and start playing, but don't fight a soul or rob anyone and watch what happens. You'll be attacked by a level 3000 plus within two days. Why? Because someone wants to pad their stats at all costs and roams the halls where the newbies come in copying the green strip and then attacking. Zyng does nothing to stop this kind of behavior. Nothing! Any new player gets frustrated and quits in disgust. And bots, well that's another problem altogether. The reason the server lags like crazy is all the bots. I saw the same thing on myspace and that was yanked. The same will happen here. Probably already on the table, just getting what they can first. Cheats lead to the end of everything. MPBT, they cheated and it was cancelled, Magestorm, Diablo and the list goes on. No game filled with bots, cheats or anything that gives players an unfair advantage will ever make it. The public will not support cheating. When the game went from millions to thousand of players, it was over at that point. The current players are only being conned out of money at this point. The day is coming, I guess by September you will see this game being cancelled. Save your money, every player that paid on myspace lost out, this will be the same.
DeleteLOL this week it's the bots!! Last week CC players lol, please make up your minds.. Could it be the game is getting stagnant, not enough creativity by Zynga?
DeleteStop promoting Marketplace items, I never read it when it costs RP's to buy. I understand VIP is here to stay so for those folks, you have to post some things but I don't plan on paying back for a game in which Zynga has not listened to my criticisms including the endless New York Limited Property Building..So over IT!
ReplyDeleteThere have to be a way ZYNGA lissen to there players.If you quit Jen , a disaster is coming over them. I believe also the now! ...I need MWLL always ..Every single day. And with me thousends off other players to. you are the Hart of a giant OCTOPUS named MW PLAYERS. excuse my bad english.
ReplyDeleteyeah, it's pretty relentless copy paste task. besides those walk though, XP ratios for new district to find out if it's crappy enough to just ignore it all. I do find almost everything you post useful in it's own way, but to reduce the crap you can just post important ones that effects game play. like new SD XP ratios, walk through of new missions. cut posting of MP items which cost ridiculous 35RP each ! promotions are OK to blog about. but their crap as you say that requires RP you can cut that out. like ongoing "HIGH ROLLER PACK" or whatever they say, "Progresssive sale" which is almost exclusively expensive ! Collectable stat cards - which are freakin way more expensive. you can manage it in your own way.
ReplyDeleteLet's see... I love your snarky comments and the walk-throughs and the foreshadowing of what's to come. I don't like the parts about you being bored and wanting to stop, because I love the snarky comments and don't want them to stop :) I don't need to hear about VIP loot or collector's loot or Arena-anything because to me that's clutter. Likewise anything to do with 2X property builds because I'm still not convinced that's worth my RPs.
ReplyDeleteit would be more fun if you really had to think ( you know use your brain) about accomplishing something If you (not you personally) really had to figure something out and not rely on a bunch of bots that would be fun it would also be much more social I know bots take care of things but really they also make for a very "BORING" game
ReplyDeleteWell, bots do exactly what a brain is not for, unless brain math turns you on - but in that case brain training games are much better than MW. The day a bot can really "think", will be celebrated as the born of the A.I. My opinion it that bots unveil the really boring nature of the game. If a bot can do the all the fun, well, then there's no really "human fun" nor "human thinking" in the game.
DeleteI didn't go to math school. So I'm not doing the math!
DeleteAll I can say if it was not for you and all the info you have given MW players I would of not made it this far. I am so thankful for all your info, you are a angel!!! Thank you so much for all the info you provide...
ReplyDeleteYer things are getting pretty boring with mafia wars. I've not reached my goals yet not a cc player as i can@t afford to be. Try my best everyday hardly missed a day playing and then you go into the arena and come 5th or 6th so the only thing that was improved has now been messed about with again and the lower end of the skill lose out again.Zynga are taking the enjoyment out of the game by there un-improvements (if there is such a word lol)
ReplyDeleteso true
DeleteI mostly read your blog for the limited missions information and game quirks (along with news of Spockholm updates). I am not VIP,so my eyes kind of glaze over on those write ups (sorry) and I usually ignore the marketplace stuff
ReplyDeleteI do hope that you continue to keep us informed on game stuff,but I understand if you decide that you have had enough
Kathie
You are so right Jen, the social aspect of the game is gone. IMO when Zynga created the Red Families, is when much of the socialization went its merry way. There are some Red Families that do not even have a group page or a war wall, therefore how can they interact with each other.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to confess to not reading LL as much as I use to, the reason as you said, repeat, repeat, repeat. I did the arena for a bit, but that is not social interaction either.
Zynga wants the money but does not want to listen to the players and what they want. The player database is shrinking, hmmmmmm wonder why. (cheeky there)
Jen you and all have done an awesome job to try to keep us all updated on new things, and I commend each and everyone that has contributed to that. And yes Awe Lizzy and cohorts seem to have been the most exciting thing in a very long time. That did bring many awesome people and players together and I have met them and we are now friends (not Lizzy & cohorts - but those that have been battling for months with that situation).
My hat is off to Jen, Pistol Pets, Rebel (knew him long before MW, over in pogo) and all the others.
Much L/H/R
the 'red' families were to try to limit what already existed, tagged groups which could have hundreds/thousands of players banded together. The limit to 100 family members added another spike in the games heart.
DeleteDon't do it !
ReplyDeleteI stopped over 4 months ago, and haven't missed the 'clicking' game at all, thought I would 'miss' it maybe, after 3-4 years daily play but...nope not a second. So many other things to do that do give you some satisfaction. Just pull the plug.
ReplyDeleteI visit here every day,
ReplyDelete.
Don't do it !
I RESPECT AND ENJOY EVERYTHING YOU PUT INTO YOUR BLOG. HOPEFULLY Z WILL GET ON THE BALL.
ReplyDeleteSeveral ideas:
ReplyDelete1) Only promote loot that has skill point bonuses - everything else becomes obsolete, so why bother with it?
2) Walkthroughs - if something new comes out that is very similar to one you've covered, say so, and don't do it unless you really want to - heaven knows you deserve a change of pace.
3) Save your efforts for actual novelties, in the event Zynga has anything new ever again.
4) If you could look closely at any Zynga corporate news, from your perspective, that would possibly help us.
5) Solicit and publish Mafia Wars fan fiction (for instance, Mark Pincus reducing rp costs permanently by 75 percent).
Part of what makes the game fun and interesting is the competition with the other players. When it turned into a high rollers game with those who are way above everyone else it becomes less fun for everyone. I can totally understand how it would become boring if you can beat almost everyone and are just leveling repeatedly. Maybe using a new account for a while would help. I really hope you don't give up on your blog. It's a huge source of information. We need you!
ReplyDeleteI lost interest quiet a while ago and thought about quiting but instead I started more accounts! I know that doesn't fix anything. I believe I have 9 or 10 accounts, zynga or facebook have takin 3 from me. I pretty much went a different way with each one of them. What is sad is 1 I started was much stronger than my original account after 30 days. And even worse my original account can't serial level, I think I've been playing for little over 4 years...think it was right after they went to the new properties in NY. My days are numbered for sure, I can easily go 2,3 even 4 days without touching it and it doesn't even bother me and most of the time I don't even do all there extra crap they put up
ReplyDeleteHey Heath here ya there mate and am about 300 ices off my final ones ever. i tried the new acounts to try find the passion again but i see even in ya red tags these days ppl seem to be getting self centered about the game so the social(fun side) is really dipping away
DeleteI think, the Arena is a nice feature for those who dont have much time to play. I like it. The main problem of the game are the whole kamikaze accounts. Some player are doing 100 or more levels daily. How? It's all about skills, personal att and def. MW is not a social game more ... it is a 24h auto-play game.
ReplyDeleteHey Jen. I WISH you were doing this back when I first started game. Granted there was not much of a game back then. (NY only, no gift requests and such).. I kept on making blunders and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. BUT, I am so glad you decided to start this up, regardless of *when. To many players, your blog is the first read of the day, before we even log in to game. There is a lot to this game. I did not gain a full understanding of how to make a better account through better game play, until I started reading your stuff. Many people don't have the head for numbers, stats, xp ratio and all that. You have taken the time to break that all down into very basic language so ALL of us can understand what this stuff means. I know you're questioning whether or not this all has been worth it. All this effort, and has it paid off. Is normal. All I can say is; You are damn good at what you do. Even if you do decide to hang this up, I could easily see you landing a job reviewing games for IGN, EA,or even Game Spot. PC gamers and console gamers would LOOOOVE your OCD, you see a lot more about games than tutorials and story-line walk-throughs.
ReplyDelete~ That said.. simply, thanks for what you do. And if you do leave it all behind, I hope others would be willing to take the reins. Hang in there lady. I agree with some of the other comments, maybe you need a little break. AND this guy 'Teddy Bear' has some good ideas ^^
Everything said here, and more! Drop the Market place if we need to know what's in there we can look. I have learned so very much about this game reading your blog. Appreciate all the work you put into it. I see a lot of people who don't have or never have made a mini and they are acting like they know all about them, lol. It takes a lot of thought and interaction from the person creating it. There are so many ways it can be built. Just wish people would stop talking about things they know nothing about. Keep up the good work, just cut the Market place stuff :D
Deletedaily reader and in your mafia. I would miss your insight tremendously. You have put more effort into this game and helping others than anyone else ever. I appreciate all you have done and the time you've put in. I hope you find a solution that works for you and keeps you here. I'll send a donation to buy you a cup of coffee to help defrag a little. It's only a game for entertainment purposes. Keep it fun, keep it simple. I believe Zynga follows your blog and listens sometimes. Take care
ReplyDeleteChuck the truck
I've played MW from the beginning under many different guises, but repeated events, the constant begging players to buy reward points, and superfluous pop-ups grind you down.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the game it used to be - and it's just becoming not fun anymore. There are more events in the game that I don't do, than I do do!! And I so bored of asking for property parts all the time! Plus, if you don't 'pay-to-play' - you end up with people sitting on you all the time - because you have no chance of ever being strong enough to beat them. And when people are sitting on you, you can't play your game properly anyway.
One thing though that has kept me playing is your blog. I check it every day - and share stuff from it :) But I completely understand how time consuming and repetitive it must be. Is there anyone that could help share your load and post your blog for you? I would be quite happy to offer my services if I could help. I have the time, am internet friendly and would be only to willing the share the burden.
Don't go - just delegate - because 3 years of dedication is a lot to give up :)
Why not just use your Facebook account to blog? It's easier, and quicker than managing a blog. Plus, most MW players have a Facebook account - and will only to happy to share your posts :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you keep this going.I come here before I log on to see what's new.I come here when the game has problems.Your an important part of the game for many players.You are the only player I know that can get a rise out of the powers that be at Zinga.You will be missed.This is a sad day
ReplyDeleteNooooooo!! You cant leave Jen, we are way to many people counting on you and enjoying everyone of your posts, I would be so sad if you ever left, you are the one who taught me everything I know about mw.
ReplyDeleteI agree we miss and need the social part of the game back, with the FFA and fun and friendly banter... But please don't leave us :)
I always like whatever you put on this blog, even if i use only little bit of it. Before i knew about your blog, game was less fun to play. I also think the game is dying, but i hope it will not be because of you Jennifer! If you stay, i'll keep following you.
ReplyDeleteI am an unabashed Mafia Wars Loot Lady fan. I not only visit the site, but keep up-to-the-minute with RSS. I would miss all the great info and insight into the game if you stopped. I agree it can be tedious at times. I am not VIP or a collector so the marketplace stuff rolls right past me with nary a peek.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a ton of MW sites. Each had something then but none had the depth and detail that yours had. Now days I can count the MW sites worth reading on one hand and have 4 fingers left over.
The walkthroughs and guides are really helpful. You have done a great service to those who play the games over these years.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could stop announcing the deals in the marketplace as they have enough popups already that do that.
Some members of my family have started new accounts also. We created a new red tag and wanted to see what would happen. Only one rule: NO REAL MONEY! Not that I ever spent any anyway but some do. We have about 20 people trying this with about 30 accounts. It really was a lot of fun starting over but most of us had topped out after about 30-45 days. It did bring back some social aspects though. Trading loot and collection items and that kind of thing. So....now i have 2 more accounts to play in addition to my others.....LOL. During the heyday we had a VERY large family....over 10,000 people. Some say 15,000. Talk about social!
ReplyDeleteAnyway....thanks for all the info over the years Jen. Your blog was very valuable to all of us. Stick around and be social. Keep us up on anything "new". Glitches are always appreciated too.
[SIN] Ice Pick Johnny
Original[SIN] Iced Pickles
Maybe you will maybe you wont , i left and i came back its not just the game its the people 4 weeks then i came back and believe me my life is busy , think good and hard Jen take a break see how you feel , would be a great loss to the game if you quit.
ReplyDeleteDo it do it do it.
ReplyDeleteYou have my respect.
The ultimate death of the game will not be due to Zynga's failure to add more player interaction which isn't utterly dependent upon spending money and losing to power players. It will be due to the bulk of players falling in line with it. I refused to use the Arena as a leveling tool. Everything in the game is about leveling and I wanted some interactive competition for the sake of putting my current level to USE. This is impossible.
ReplyDeleteI've been playing well over 3 years myself and also only because of the OCD. The sad fact is that Z has NEVER listened to player feedback, or they would have fixed all those bugs back in the day instead of piling on new crap. Players overwhelmingly hated Flash, so they have piled that on, as well.
ReplyDeleteTo me, adding the arena--something that cannot even be seen if you can't upgrade to the latest Flash--meant that they were once again changing not just the rules of the game but the game itself. Anyone who invested time and energy playing MW is suddenly SOL if they can't--or won't--play this. I haven't even been able to load the game itself within FB for months because I can almost never get a full page load. If not for the brainiacs at Spockholm, I would have been gone ages ago. Thanks to them again for AAN, because without it, my fight page does nothing and is unplayable, too.
What does that leave? No real new game content in eons.
New cities? Even if they do get off their duffs and make one, it's only going to mean more dumb properties to build (I'd have played FV if that's what interested me--another complaint they never heeded) and too many players are big enough to finish them in no time anyway, so they're little more than another secret district.
New missions? Now full of arena requirements so I don't bother now.
New boards? What's the point when only 1-3 people even win prizes and you never even see how they end anyway?
Even the actual social events are pointless because it's too hard to get enough people to send stuff anymore and the posts on FB don't even show up most of the time.
I clicked the hell out of my mouse for almost 3 years before I was driven to using a script but honestly, when the only way you can play a game is to put it on automatic, what's the point? Especially when they are systematically defeating those scripts that work and transforming it into a whole 'nuther game than what I signed up for?
I have a red family that does next to nothing but I think I have only stayed as long as I have because I've been the one to earn most of those perks and I, too, am driven by ticking off the milestones.
There is much Zynga does not grok or they would not be crashing and burning as they are. Not only have they never listened to players or shown any interest in what really keeps us coming back (really, what company laughs in the face of FREE beta testing and feedback?!), I suspect that they have had so many code monkeys with their hands in this game that it is probably impossible to fix everything that's wrong. They really need to admit that MW is FUBAR at this point. They should have made the arena a totally separate game and pulled the plug on this one. I'm sure the only reason they haven't is the diehards and credit card cowboys with no self control, hoping to squeeze every last possible dollar from the nitwits who are even more compulsive than we are.
I love MWLL and find your walkthroughs invaluable (especially now, to know if I should even bother starting something that's only going to end up with arena requirements anyway) but honestly, I think if it dies, it might hasten the end of MW itself. For me, it would be a blessing because I obviously don't have the willpower to stop myself. Then again, I played VW heavily and walked away rather easily on the heels of a boycott. . . Only more proof that Z is incapable of learning a lesson, as we all know where that game ended up.
Not a very helpful rant so will close with some real advice: The people at Spockholm need to put their heads together to do their own game instead of simply troubleshooting someone else's mess. I suspect they would come up with something people would really want to play, create a real working partnership with players, and maybe find far richer rewards than they do relying on donations. If so, you might just find your blog and obsessions find new life outside of MW.
I think the idea of team spockholm doing their own game is great, and that you should really think about it.
DeleteI think this is a great idea. There are so many little things Z could do to make the game more enjoyable. But they don't. Obviously they don't give a damn.
DeleteI been playing 4 years. I have earned every rp. I have to level 100 times for what VIP players get for buying. I for one like to compete and play the game. Most just like to buy and just brag about there stats.But some of us players, who like to play the game, really get tired of playing so hard and turn around and see that vip players get 100 levels worth of rp's every week, while we struggle harder and harder to ice. How can we compete with players who are buying what we consider as earning by how good you play the game. 1 year ago 400 level was awesome. Now today 400 level is common for level 400 players. Something is wrong.I for one see no since in playing if you buy everything. sure i could go buy every family job everyday then what? Brag and beat up on mini's. BRUTAL BOB
ReplyDeleteJen.. i have been a faitfully reader for all those 3 yrs.. what i would like to suggest is quit with the documentation aspect ofr the game people can read the game banners, if they can't so be it, rather then spend your time, being critical of what needs improvement.. someone at Zynga seems to follow your advice at times, and any little bit helps.
ReplyDeleteReally walk-throughs of new events and Special Events are the best part of your blog.I really appreciate the number of RP I've saved over the last 2+ years with being coached as to how little my gains are with some items hyped like mad by Zynga and the marketers. Your input is valued daily.
ReplyDeletePull the plug and get on with your life. Your blogs are great, but you sound in need of a change.
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you for all the hours you (and your crew) have put into the blog all these years. I loved learning about ratios and best places (or at least avoid the worst places) to spend RPs. I've found nothing of this quality for any of the other Zynga games I play.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Spockholm will get less active if you cut back on your hours.
Personally I enjoy your blog. I visit it daily looking to find info on the latest Z screw up or walk through on SD's. The marketplace items ..I ignore them... the arena...I've been in less than 100....I don't use mini's anymore because I don't care about chasing anymore....but I do enjoy this place you've created here and respect your opinion and I thank you for all your efforts in trying to motivate Z to improve play for all...
ReplyDeleteI think I enjoy reading your blog for the insights into the game and the sometimes tongue in cheek humour. Zynga probably has NO IDEA how many players have stayed in their game with the help derived from your blog.
ReplyDeleteThey do not deserve to be given any plugs from you for any of their marketplace promotions. Cut those out if you like, we see enough of that spammed in the game. Please, Zynga does not warrant you advertising for them!
The walkthroughs and posts about glitches and tips and tricks are greatly appreciated.
I would be nervous to be a VIP player pumping money into this game, because sadly I see its time coming to a close.
A game based on the concept of constantly improving and growing can only go on so long before it gets to need too much of everything. Loot, stats, begging, stamina , everything! I think the game has reached its critical mass and will naturally implode or die a sad death.
When VIP players were introduced, I felt that this would be the end of the game. Two classes of players could not play together.I still feel that even after the lack of any imagination or anything new and interesting, VIP might have been the final blow.
Hopefully the game will die a graceful death and I would love to see you stick it out to the end. Perhaps, you could find ways to post just once a day or so but keep at it.
Good luck with your decision. I have enjoyed reading you til now and will accept any choice you need to make.
I'm really saddened to hear. I've enjoyed reading your blog for years, not just for its useful information. You are a talented writer! I've laughed out loud many times. Somebody in the gaming industry (or any other industry) should tap into your ability to document and get to the bottom of everything, even something as irrational as Zynga. In short, thank you Jen, for what you shared. I know many, many MW players feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteIf you give up on the blog, I just want to thank you for years of help with your walk-throughs and reviews of different aspects of the game. I'm sure a lot of us are started to get bored with the game. There's only so much you can do before it feels like you're running in a hamster wheel going nowhere.
ReplyDeletewoooooooooohoooooooo nice
ReplyDeletewaooo that awesome :)
ReplyDeletekeep this blog active plsss
ReplyDeletethis blog very helpfull ..specially for me
and many thanks for the updated game " Mafia War" for sure
`best regard
`Adi Blue Infinitty
You do a great job and I look at this page everyday but lets get real there's ads all over so you do make money don't you or somebody is if not you I would hate to see ypu go but can you really give up the BUCKS!
ReplyDeleteYes I do make some from the ads but it's not enough to be a deciding factor. Most of what I've ever made goes right back into it. I need to buy a lot of reward points for my main as well as test accounts to check and verify things. Now that my accounts are built up, it's not as much as I used to use but the revenue itself isn't enough incentive. If I made a lot more than I would probably keep going at it and treat it like a job. There just aren't enough players or ad clickers to ever have ambitions of growth to the level to make a living off ad revenue.
DeleteI come here for info on things and to catch tips......i appreciate what you do and i know it would get boring at times for you, so just cut down what you write about..... dont bother with the Zynga stuff as people who want to buy the stuff will check and see it anyway......:)
ReplyDeleteNice stats by the way.....:)
If it was not for MWAP I would not have time to play anymore
ReplyDeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteZynga has become one big Arena fiasco and super store !!! For this reason your blog has also become a boring mess of Zynga advertisements.
Reading the MWLL is one of the first things I have done every day since I first heard of you way back when. It has been an integral part of my game plan always. Laely I find myself basically simply skimming through the day's post as most concern VIP, Arena, or Marketplace promos and I don't even want to read all that crap.
I had even wondered if you might be willing to do the blog in two separate sections : One for VIP/Sales and one for game plays. I don't consider VIP or Arena as a part of Mafia Wars game play; just as I never considered Mafai Wars Poker a part of the MW Game. Poker is poker no matter what title you might hand on it !
MW would not be the same if you quit the blog completely but I do feel your talents are wasted in this game we still call Mafia Wars although it no longer has any connection to the name or semblance to the original idea of Mafia wars. The First "extra" property build that had nothing to do with the city or storyline of the time and then all the Cross Promotions was when things started to seriously unravel although the obvious exodus became serious with the secret gift snafu that Zynga never could fix and took overly much time to finally remove. Who can forget all the cries of rage and frustration when most players found that their secret gifts had already been opened and stolen ?
When all is said and done I believe that what we are hearing here is that numerous players, myself included, would miss a big part of our game if you were to leave and that the Marketplace crap can be left to Zynga and their banners and popups. Very few actually read them and an even smaller percentage buy them. Let Zynga but their ads just any other company. Don't be their FREE ad agency !
Hi Jen, I hear you loud and clear as I am in the same situation with the Mafia Wars Wiki at the moment (on the verge of leaving). The endless onslaught of repetitive events and push of purchasable content has turned something fun into a chore.
ReplyDeleteMy only useful suggestion is to delegate. Open the blog up completely to all of the other admins/etc involved with your page and let them choose to, or not to, post about all the marketplace/vip/etc junk.
IIRC, links to your blog are not allowed on the Mafia Wars Forums. To me that is a big 'f u' from Zynga and shows just how little they care about the community.
I am sure I will get flamed for this, but if taking 'even a couple days off' would result in you never returning. Then quite frankly you already know what you want to do and you are ready to do it. You are just having trouble letting go.
I had a serious think about this all myself recently. I worked out that my main hesitance to leaving the Wiki was a fear that doing so would result in the end of the Wiki. And larger than that was the fear that if the Wiki died out then that would essentially mean that all the time and energy put into would was for nothing. And if that isn't enough, it kinda feels like leaving would be letting everybody down.
I don't know if any of that is helpful, or applies, to you as well but what I ultimately have to accept is that I must do what is right for me. As you must also do. I have to accept that if I leave a project and nobody else steps up then that project has had it's time and that is okay. I have to understand that if a project dies out that does not mean that it was all for nothing or a waste of time, and that it certainly does not mean that it has all gone unnoticed or unappreciated. The end of one thing is just making room for the beginning of something new. Who knows what exciting thing your new found abundance of time might lead you to.
Whatever you decide, know that all your effort and community involvement has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. You in particular have been one of the biggest and most influential driving forces of the Mafia Wars community. So thank you for that.
~Brad Roberts AKA Karmakula
You do such a good job with the wiki. It's sad and this is exactly what I'm struggling with. Your advice is very much appreciated. We should talk about it as it may help us both. Passion was always the driving force as I'm sure it was for you as well. That seems to have disappeared in ourselves and more importantly the players. I'm sure you often ask why you are doing it.
DeleteVery very well said Brad, and I think you guys really should talk about it. Hell...if Zynga no longer wants to support their own product, why do we want to let it take up so much of our lives?
DeleteThank you so much for all the effort that you've put into the blog. I visit it daily and find it a valuable resource. Like you, I've been bored with the game for a while. However, it's still more fun than Angry Birds; and with automation, I can launch it and walk away for a while and still get something out of it. I knew that it was over when the Arena launched. Is the about Mafia, not gladiators. What a goofy game! Quit if you need to. You've earned a break. Life will go on, even without Mafia Wars.
ReplyDeleteYou've been a *tremendous* help, and hope you continue to post!
ReplyDeleteMW has helped me get through chemo and radiation treatment for cancer, along with an ostomy ;( operation, and more treatments.
Sometimes I just didn't have the attention span to read a book, so MW --and help from Loot Lady--made life a bit more enjoyable through the long months since last October :)
With all good wishes,
Gwen in L.A.
Mafia wars without loot lady ...hard to imagine these days ... Been playing the game for as long as you have had your page ..... I think the one thing that turned the game in monotony was the introduction of VIP Loot not Vip because iot has always sort of been around back to the days of ruby platinum and diamond players ... no longer is there striving to get loot to increase your mafia strengths ... its all delivered on a silver plater .. a little bit of fighting and you are maxed and then all the jobs that you use to repeat do to improve your numbers are gone .. the fighting .. even the arena .. whats left for you .. the rp and the weekly 200 + item I understand ... but without all the things that make the game entertaining ..I can understand why you are bored ... this is only my thoughts on the matter .. I was VIP for every alternate month beginning at the last week of each month to get the loot from both months but It took away all the things I use to like doing .. so I stopped purchasing VIP ..now when a new secret city comes ..I farm it and when new arena loot comes I go hard in there and the same with fighting ... I would like the rp every week for a low cost but then I don't have a game to play ... I hope this has been helpful to you Jen and by the way ... those are great numbers .. I play every day and am still only level 4600
ReplyDeleteAttack: 26850 .
Defense: 21025
Health: 14802
Energy: 6140
Stamina: 11515
I should proof read lol .... "turned the game monotonous"
DeleteI feel guilty that I have spent money on the game....
ReplyDeleteThanks for being honest and saying how you feel.
ReplyDeleteI sure understand it as, many years ago I've been co-owner of another game's (The Sims) blog, and I used to dedicate a lot to that... Everyday I posted news and files to download to boost the game. Then one day I realized I was barely playing, and I was basically only updating the blog for the others - not for my self enjoyment anymore... The owner had stopped playing already, and there was only 1 active admin out of 5... I kept dedicating for some few months, not posting everyday anymore... Until I stopped for once :/ It's sad, we see so many people benefiting from it, we feel like we *can't* just leave them all... But in the other hand, doing something that we don't enjoy as much anymore isn't any good either.
I'm sure that if you keep the blog going, a lot of people will be very happy! :) But will you?
If you feel you're bored enough, then you shouldn't keep forcing yourself... even if it's hard to say good bye, it will be better for you. If you're still unsure, then keep up with the blog - BUT only if you don't feel it as an "obligation" ;)
Take care and whatever is your final decision - thanks for all the time you've dedicated to the mw players! :)
I was bored playing MW too a long time ago. I don't see the point either to play MW any longer. Declaring wars is the most stupid and bored thing and the irony at the same time - because Mafia Wars was named after this LOL
ReplyDeleteI have an idea, we can drop out from the game at the same time. If we set the date and advertise a little bit I'm sure we can gather huge number of people who would like to leave MW game in style. What do you think?
That could be massive drop out from the game ever :)
We can create image/logo for MW Quit - MW Game Over or so?
I remember the day when I quit FarmVille, I planted flowers and wrote huge sign GAME OVER with flowers and let them withered, then I posted image of my farm and drop out from FV :)
Then we can all get back to real life :)
Don Shkrbone from VT Elite clan.
I love it!!!!!!
DeleteDrop marketplace loot. No one should be buying that anyway.
ReplyDeleteI walked away from the game for 10 months, Jen. Didn't even do daily builds. Came back refreshed - your blog was still here and still handing out useful information along with the daily links. I also noticed I'd been left behind in stats because I've spent less than $100 in roughly 3 or 4 years of playing. Lately, there's been a lot of talk about folks using their little armies of kami accounts to help them level 200 times a day - (some) paying players I've spoken to don't like it at all but they don't understand that Zynga simply don't care.
ReplyDeleteThe best loot is almost always outdated within 6 months (self-perpetuating cycle of spending there) and to Zynga, anything that makes people spend more - like trying to keep up with kami-levelers - is good for business. Make no mistake readers, Zynga run a business - not a charity. RPs/XPs are the MW currency and that's about as complicated as it gets.
You're 100% right - they're out of creative material and just keep recycling ideas we've all seen before. Maybe you do need a break - stop and smell the roses, get away from the game and if you start missing the juice, then play BUT don't sweat the blog. Write when you feel like it or don't write at all. Entirely up to you and no pressure other than what you feel within yourself :)
you did awesome job. just stop spending money on the game. zynga dont worth it
ReplyDeleteGet 4 other helpers and each take a day M-F and take the weekend off so you don't have to do so much or go to only weekly like your podcast.
ReplyDeleteI learn so much from you.
Take the summer off and enjoy life. I agree that this game has become very boring. I've been following your blog since I started playing and got a lot of really great info. I appreciate that so much. You need a vacation, I've been thinking the same thing you you just put into words. Maybe what Z needs is for the "loyal daily" players to take a break, might be their wake up call.
ReplyDeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteSome suggestions:
1) Don't blog about the marketplace, you don't care, we don't care, don't waste your time.
2) I'm Henry the Eighth I am...Henry the Eighth....second verse same as the first....SHAME ZYNGA. If an Event pops up that's been done before keep the post as SHORT as humanly possibly. E.G. Richies Event same as www.lootlady.com/post and point to the old one. End that there.
3) Get some help. Ask someone you trust implicitly to post / vet comments, you may already do this.
4) Keep things that need to be improved in the game at the top of your current events. They may notice this and getting them sorted would make you happy.
Feel free to ignore all without offense.
If you quit today just know you helped so so many people and we're all grateful. I for one open three sites in the mornings, facebook, bbc for the news and this blog. That's pretty cool!
Chin up girlie!
cut down on all promotions Zynga is offering .. it should cut down the blogs by 50 % at least..
ReplyDeleteI agree with others that you should first cut out all the pseudo-ads for zynga loot and so forth...this seems to take up a good chunk of your time...and concentrate on the game play...perhaps include more of the social/personal, which is a big reason I still read you every day...the game may be boring, but you are most definitely NOT...and your generous, kind, playful character NEVER fails to shine through! :) <3
ReplyDeleteI have my coffee and read MWLL every morning so I know what to expect when I load the app. I would hate to see you go but you have to do what's right for you. If you had enough, you had enough.
ReplyDeleteI read almost all the comments here and I agree with some of them. One of them above that states the red tag killed the social aspect of the game more than anything else, is spot on. It really took away from the interaction between families. The spontaneity is forever gone because of the red tag feature.
I keep reading that Zynga doesn't listen to the players and that's the problem... I have the opposite opinion, I think they listened to the players too much and instead of letting the developers develop the app, the more boisterous players started making the rules. The red tag is the biggest example of that. I think Zynga should have let the developers develop and the players play... but unfortunately it's too late to turn back, the damage has been done.
I hope you stick around LL but if it's time to go, so be it. I want to offer you a big thank you for your years of dedication and time. Your blog helped me immensely.
I think we all appreciate the work you have been doing Jen. It's Zynga's fault things are getting boring in Mafia Wars. I have been playing MW for a few years now and I must admit it's boring now. I am level 5218 in a family and enjoy helping those that need it but it's like same old same old day in day out. I spend most of my time doing objectives and once done I leave the game. There's nothing in the game that excites me enough to hang around longer once the objectives are done.
ReplyDeleteTake some off, if and when you come back things will hopefully be better but I wouldn't my breath.
Thank you for all your help throughout the years. Take care of YOU first, the game will still be here :)
ReplyDeleteReduce your workload, as you said no one cares about the marketplace promotions (unless you are getting a kickback from zynga? nah) The only effort Zynga is doing is to try to relieve us from our money when we all know is just a matter of time before the game is put to rest. The only new players are just mini accounts. If we truly knew the number of actual players not counting mini accounts, the result would be scary. I want to personally THANK YOU for your blog here, without the information it provides, I would have quit long ago and moved on which we all will do very soon hopefully.
ReplyDeleteWOW , i would hate to see this part of mafia wars disappear. i look forward to reading these post as i always hope you can give us all in-sight to the game. I wish you could tell us all how to ban together and make zynga do the right things for the players that have spent money and time on this game. I sure hope you stay :)
ReplyDeleteSoon there will be only the big spenders left playing the game. It is very difficult to keep up with them. Without the lower level weaker players, they will be forced to ice amongst themselves. So in all reality the big spenders ruin the game for themselves, with the help of Zynga. The playing field is so uneven right now it is ridiculous! When I first stated playing 3 yrs ago it was fun, now it is all about the money.
ReplyDeletePlease keep us up to date on the new missions, limited time events and boss fights. I can wait til items are released to find out what they are so reporting on new generation stuff is "nice to know" but not necessary to play. Also, since I rarely go to the Marketplace except to grab a Fighter's energy refill, it really doesn't matter what is available. Not VIP, not giving Zynga any money, so that stuff isn't of value to me. I agree that the game is boring of late. The most enjoyable event recently has been the limited time ops. Zynga should work on making them a permanent part of the game.
ReplyDeletePlease continue Snarky comments, advise about the jobs and tips.
ReplyDeleteOpinions and walk thrus all valuable. The latest and greatest scripts. I started reading as a newbie and while I am not a major player I still come to your page for info. Marketplace articles not reading since I do not spend $$ and do not have large amounts of RP laying around.
I understand your fatigue, frustration with game, been getting there myself. So will watch for your decision and thank you for all you have done/
I completely understand you. I know exactly how you feel. I have OFTEN asked myself why I am still playing this game. Like you said, it's just the same things over and over again, and if you don't spend money on the game you never actually advance much. You have to know that all the other players at your level are all clicking the same things you are and getting all the same bonuses you are...there is no real challenge anymore to the game. The Arena is just a big joke. But the real kicker...the biggest deal breaker....the straw that breaks the camel's back is ZYNGA deciding not to offer support any longer. Honestly, the support was never great to begin with, truth be told, but at least I could fire off an e-mail and hope for the best. Now I have to read forums and try to glean information from players who know just as much as I do. This is a total slap in the face for all the time I have invested in this game. And that brings me to the bigger issue. The amount of time I have given to this game is staggering. In hindsight, I have given MW so much of my life that could have or should have been spent doing other things...valuable things. Things that are meaningful and productive. I wonder sometimes if I have used MW as an escape from some part of my reality that I don't want to deal with...kind of like an alcoholic who drinks to dull the sadness...and if so, it might be time for me to put it down and get busy living. I didn't mean for this to become a confessional, but I just want you to know that as much as I value you, I would completely understand if you feel that it's time to move on with your life, too. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your wonderful banter, your wit, your wonderful way of enlightening us all and you sheer dedication to this hobby of ours. But when it's time to go...it's time to go. Only you will know if you have crossed that bridge, but if you have...I wish you happy trails, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThe Marketplace items, IMO, are just "price anchoring". They need to make really bad offers, so we fall for what seems to be the "good deals", like boost packs or the better starter packs or double building or whatever.
ReplyDeleteWe are in the dawn of the internet, where this kind of game with no concrete goal or ending is not prohibited nor labelled as the really bad choice that it is. Adding to that, the fighting module works like a pyramid scheme - the new players need people weaker than themselves. If we could only beat people around our strength, the game would have ended years ago - when they tried to apply that rule to the fighting.
We are in the dawn of the internet, where so few people think that they are wasting to much time of their life spending so many hours a day in front of a game with no end nor purpose and no fun, and I think this should be considered specially for those proud "non script players". Yeah, I hope one day they make laws limiting the time a game company can take for a player accomplish the daily tasks, since mafia wars normal tasks are only for junk addicts to keep up.
We all need to figure out that if the game player base is shrinking, the game is inexorably ending. Ergo, all this stuff Zynga makes us to do in the game now is just to distract who is paying to keep paying until they finally pull the plug on it.
All that said, during this journey we made friends, we learned lessons, and we read your blog. I admire your effort, intelligence and politeness dealing with all kinds of players and people who stopped by here through all this years. The respect you have earned for maintaining this blog is well deserved.
I too am bored with the game!! I suggest forwarding your statement with most if not all of the replies to Zynga & let them read for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI understand your frustration. You are my first stop every morning. You always give helpful insight and tips and usually a laugh or two. But, in the end, you have to do what you have to do for YOU!!!!! It's not said often enough. Thanks for all you do!
ReplyDeletev
ReplyDeleteI guess deep down you want to quit but are having trouble taking that final step. The game IS boring and has been for a while. I think it started to slide back end of 2010 when they ramped up on the events.
ReplyDeleteWhatever your views on CC players, VIP or script users, it's all down to Zynga chasing the $$. They have NEVER cared what the players think.
How else could they lose almost 20 million monthly users? What is it now 200k? How many are minis?
MW is on life support and its time to flick the switch, Took me a year to wean myself away, in total 3 and a half years of daily play. It's hard but from your comments you are tired of it and you are just going through the motions.
Thanks for your efforts, millions appreciate it, it was not in vain but now I think you need to let go and do something more constructive!! All the best!
How many thousands have you spent on this game? Looking back at your account and doing some math, plus all the RP you use to test, unless you have some kind of deal I don't know about the numbers are.. staggering. You are already strong but there will always be someone stronger. IMO use a full bot program or a combination of scripts that will level you 24/7 and do most of your chores for you too, stop blogging about things that don't really matter - take a break, but leave your bot going and just check it a couple of times a day when you blog about something semi important; in a few months if the game is still going strong, you may feel the urge to continue. Either that or just totally quit, and hopefully that will help end a lot of other people's misery too.
ReplyDeleteWhat you don't want to do though is quit, and then come back a month later and feel like you lost ground (especially considering how much you've already spent), which is why I just say run full bot for awhile and take it easy until you decide.
Jen, you are my go-to person every day. Your attention to detail is unmatched. Your wit and humor is splendid, and I love you for all you do. I felt a pang of sadness when I read your post but it really got me thinking and you know what? You are absolutely right. If it were not for the social interaction that I have with my family, this game would bore me to tears. And sometimes I get angry about the way Zynga treats us. A few people mentioned how abandoned we felt as Zynga did away with player support, but what was not mentioned was all the other things they took away from us. They took away our daily chance. They took away slots. They took away the toolbar !!!! (SERIOSLY???? Those points were sometimes what made the difference between leveling or not! Come on Zynga!) They took away our e-mail bonuses. And then, as if they hadn't stripped us down enough, they took away player support. Now the whole entire game is nothing but a big scheme to get money out of the players who have the means to invest, while making the ones who don't spend real money left in the dust. Of course I understand that Zynga is a business and that they have to make money somehow, but when the entire thing becomes a thinly veiled vehicle for payments all the fun is immediately sucked out of the game. These are the things that make me angry and I know I am not alone in my feelings. With a decline in player participation and morale, you would think that Zynga would do something to keep the customers happy...but no! They just inundate us with more of the same and take away our ability to get help when their product glitches. Even the so-called VIP's can't get help. That is just ridiculous. So I understand your feelings and if you stop blogging I will miss you...but might join you in the departure.
ReplyDeleteIf it weren't for MWLL, I would not know what is goin' on with ALL the added extra BS they try and get ppl to buy, I myself dont pay to play, "IF" it werent for my minis boosting my account, I would walk away and all I do is ICE for the majority, hell, I havent even finished aany city but NY/Vegas, for the others take too long to fool with, I dont even have any energy per say, its ALL stamina so I may fight...but, your blog has an impact on my play depending on the info, I dont do Arena, find it a bit of a bore, I could play a single person game and have more fun....
ReplyDeleteI may be the only person around who doesn't use minis and kamis, nor pay to play and have worked my way up to where I am the hard way. Change whatever you want, Jen, just don't go away. You are part of my enjoyment in this game...
ReplyDeleteI stopped playing back in October I think, when Sandy blew through Long Island and I lost power for a week and internet for almost 2. It was a cold turkey shock!!! I just started again a few weeks ago due to surgery recovery and free time. You were very helpful, Jen, in getting back on track and figuring out what was going on. Thank you for that. But I must say, I completely understand how you feel. I tried to be helpful to my weaker mafia and even posted links to your site for them. That was about as social as I could make it. The property builds are quite honestly, the worst thing in the game for me. Too much begging, not enough help and that 3 times a day clock all just add up to a real pain in the ass. Arena is ok but honestly, I only use it because it is faster than fighting to run through my stamina and get family rewards. Go or stay, just wanted to say thank you for all you do and I wish you well. :-)
ReplyDeleteIf you are bored of everything maybe it s a good option to retire and do something useful on life just like me :)
ReplyDeleteI always think about going back into the Poker scene but I would probably lose my boyfriend over it. At least this keeps me at home and there isn't the potential to lose thousands of dollars.
Deletei stopped playin that stupid game a year ago .... put couple of G's in that account..... and without thinking it twice, i gave it to a good friend ..... life is better now :D
ReplyDelete