Why Are We Still Playing?

Why are we still playing Mafia Wars when Zynga clearly doesn't give a rat's a$s about listening to a thing we say? That is a question that I've been asking myself more and more lately, and I have to admit, I'm almost at my breaking point for Mafia Wars.

Zynga is not interested in feedback, they don't care about fixing things, they nerf features continually, and we're supposed to just take it, because it's their game? Sorry, that does not compute. It might be their game, but we give the game viability.

 Zynga can feed me their bullsh*t about metrics all day long, they say it's about the numbers, but the numbers they care about are obviously NOT the players, and what they don't realize is, they can't continue to wring money out of us the way they are. They're chasing us off!! Natural game attrition can be attributed to some of the losses, but the simple fact is, the numbers wouldn't look like that if Zynga would stop spinning and lying. They must have an entire department devoted to spinning new bullsh*t and economy-sized reels of red tape.


And now they're also ignoring the Get Satisfaction thread that over 560 people had "liked" as of yesterday. 208 people have clicked +1, and I keep telling people that's the number we need, but the number of Facebook likes should have been a very good indication of how many people supported the thread. 

If Zynga irritates you, go to this Get Satisfaction thread and +1 it. Your "likes" no longer count in Zynga's eyes, they want to make people to go out of their way for the +1.

If you are pissed that they took away Stamina Packs, even after telling us that stamina packs were here to stay, go and +1 the Get Satisfaction thread.

If you never even had Power Packs and are mad about that - GO  AND +1 THE THREAD.

If you had Power Packs, and now you don't - GO AND +1 THE THREAD. 

If you have nerfed Power Packs, and thought they were better before the nerf - GO AND +1 THE THREAD.

Additionally, leave a comment on the thread. Comments are what keep the thread visible in the front page of Get Satisfaction.

Even if you've already left a comment, please go leave another comment. Tell Zynga what you think about them ignoring nearly 600 players who think Power Packs Should Be Put Back!

Otherwise? I might just throw my hands up and walk away from the game entirely. Zynga's game is no longer fun because they keep trashing it.

Mafia Wars Live recap notes

This past episode of Mafia Wars Live was the 9th broadcast, the first without Nate, and the first with Ben. It was also plagued by sound issues, and it was very difficult to glean any information from it. It was so bad that they didn't even bother posting the video, but they did post a list of the player-asked questions and the answers that Ben and Jeff provided during the broadcast.

MORE ZYNGA LIES:
"Getting a feature released to everyone has always been one of our priorities."

"We are pleased that you enjoyed the original Stamina Pack, but they were experimental in themselves."  

BULL!!! Where do they get off lying to our freaking faces!!

Igtenos asked: Why oh why do you hate Exotic animal feed so much? And Special Parts? We've complained countless times DO NOT TAKE THESE ITEMS OFF THE GIFT PAGE yet here we are yet again with the Exotic Animal Feed taken off the gift page.

Answer: Ah, the eternal struggle to properly stock the free gifts page. We are constantly reevaluating the mix of things that appear on it. We appreciate your continued feedback about what should be on it. 

. . .BLAH BLAH BLAH. How many freaking times have we complained about them bumping useful items from the Free Gifts page in favor of crap we don't care about? Nor do they appreciate our continued feedback, or this question wouldn't have even been asked.

• A fight loot "refresh" should be coming in a few weeks. They won't give us another double loot event because they want us to work hard for the new loot.
  
  
• The hit list won't be updated in the "foreseeable future".
  
  
• Loyalty program won't be updated any time soon.
  
  
• Family-related achievements will be coming.
  
  
• Future Union Hall updates will probably include an option to collect cash from properties.
  
  
• Ice Seasons are to be an ongoing event, but look for changes soon.
  
  
• There will be a new fighting feature that will make surviving attacks much more important. ★★You hear that, Health Haters??★★
  
  
• More bullshite about Power Pack "experiments".
  
  
• They liked IreneNP's idea about being able to find Family members by typing in their name, and said it was likely to be added eventually.
  
  
• Family mock wars are coming soon. Month is working on that feature now.

Don Jimbo asked: How soon could a feature be included, possibly in the inventory section, to identify the items used in defense when a player was last attacked or if that player were attacked at that moment?

Answer: We recall this coming up in a previous episode of Mafia Wars Live!, so this makes 2 people who want such a feature... or the same person asking twice? Unfortunately, we would need quite a bit more interest in such a feature to consider devoting the time it would take to create.

(So in other words no one at Zynga gives a crap about your idea.)

If you have any follow up or entirely new questions, be sure to ask them in the forum post for Episode 10 of Mafia Wars Live!, which will broadcast live at 3:30 pm PDT on Wednesday, September 7th.

Zynga Lies About Stamina Packs and Power Packs

Zynga can try and shove this "experiment" crap down our throats all they want, but we know a Nerf when we see one. And this Power Pack Hullabaloo is all just a pack of lies on Zynga's part.

Please go to this thread on Get Satisfaction and give them a piece of your mind over how all of this has been handled. Be sure to hit that +1 button, that's what we need more of. 

As recently as LAST WEEK, Zynga was telling us that the stamina packs were here to stay. 8 days later, stamina packs are ancient history and its successor has already been royally nerfed. That was August 17th. Stamina packs are here to stay, ok.

The irony is that at the time of that last "Stamina Packs are here to stay!" post, power packs had already been introduced an hour previously, upon which many players no longer had even stamina packs. The FAQ on power packs quickly followed, advising us that power packs were a new feature and slowly being rolled out to all players. That was a week ago today.

The Mafia Wars blog told us that Power Packs were replacing stamina packs. Ok.

The power packs were pretty cool, so the only problem in my mind was that they were taking their sweet a$s time about finishing the rollout. Nowhere did Zynga ever say anything about Power Packs being an "experiment". 

A mere 3 blog posts later, Zynga finally lets us know about this experiment. And now I have NO power packs and NO stamina packs. During a time when there are two things going on in the game that require conflicting uses of my stamina. That's bullshit. What happened to the "level playing field" Zynga? I guess it didn't fit in your business plan this time around.

I wonder if I myself can continue trying to fit into Zynga's business plan, for that matter.

Power Packs Phase Two: NERFED

As always seems to be the case, Zynga can't leave a good thing alone. I really enjoyed the power packs just as they were, and I told people to settle down about stamina packs being gone, because the power packs were an upgrade. Well, they've been downgraded again.

Thanks, Zynga. I really have nothing but a bad taste in my mouth over how Zynga has been handling things recently.

 According to Cerulean Master's post on the forum, half of us will now have a 50% stamina refill every 8 hours, and the other half will have a 100% stamina refill every 16 hours. So basically, the first group has a chance to squeeze more stamina out of the packs that the second group does. WTFG with the level playing field there, Zynga. Gah.

In both test groups a Power Pack will continue to provide a 200% health refill every 10 minutes if one chooses to use them to restore their health. Also, any remaining unused Stamina Packs will now reward a mystery bag when redeemed.

Entering Phase 2 means we are getting closer to determining the proper balance and releasing some form of Power Packs to everyone. We appreciate your patience. The feature can be discussed in this forum thread.

Meh. I wish they would have left it alone.

Power Packs replace Stamina packs

One question that I am hearing a lot of is, "Where did stamina packs go!?" It seems, in their infinite short-sightedness, Zynga removed the option to send Stamina packs, yet didn't bother to roll out the Power packs to everyone. Way to go Zynga, that was pretty mean to some of your players.

Hopefully everyone will have the Power packs this coming week.

But to answer another burning question: the power packs are to replace the stamina packs. Or as the official blog put it, the stamina packs have been "upgraded" to power packs. I was kind of mad about this when I first realized it, because they said that stamina packs were here to say. But when I thought it through - the power packs ARE an upgrade. 120% stamina every 8 hours, versus a stamina refill every 16 hours? Plus the opportunity to use the power packs for healing and extra health if you want.

Yes, I'd agree, the power packs are an upgrade!

stamina packs survey

Another survey! This one about the stamina packs that were recently introduced to the game.

The questions are pretty much the same as those that were used for the short survey about Brazil ruby level loot.

My answers were much more positive on this subject. Stamina packs are something that we've been waiting for a long time, and it sucks to realize they are a "limited time" feature. For now.

Go HERE to fill out the survey for yourself and voice your opinion. Hopefully we can keep the stamina packs around!

The Night Before The Raven

Twas the night before The Raven, when all through the house

Not a peripheral was stirring, not even my mouse.

The Mystery Bags were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that Stamina Refills soon would be there.

The Yakusa were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of Bloody Knuckles danced in their heads.

And mamma with her Master Chief, and I in my Skull Cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long Mafia War’s nap.

Sorry... this feels like a fairy tale from the Brother's Grimm... and I mean the original book version... not the cutsie cartoon version!

Tomorrow the Raven will appear "sometime" should I choose to go fighting... I have tried several Serial Level test runs... and think that I am now ready to try and defeat this beast without wasting a single unit of Stamina searching for a Sniper Shot!!

Here are all of the things that I have done to be ready for battle:

• Sent out Blue Mystery Bags to my entire mafia (using the Chrome Extension FGS) asking that they send one back in return.
• I have 6 Stamina Packs in my ZMC (Zynga Message Center) just in case I try and open one too early or any have expired.
• Accepted all gifts that are not Mystery Bags, Brazil Crew Requests, or Stamina Packs.

Here are the things I have not done today... or at least in the last 12 hours:

• Brazil crew slots are empty, 10 people wait to be added.
• I have not collected the Brazil properties since this morning
• It has been more than 24 hours since I used my last energy pack.
• I have not even visited the Marketplace so no Fight Club Energy Refill was used.
• I did not visit Atlantic City today.
• I did not open my e-mail bonus.
• I did not post for help with any jobs.
• I did not open a single mystery bag.

Soooo... now I am ready... I will post my game plan in the morning... as you can tell from the above list... Some options are solid full refills... some are small energy or stamina adds... some are dice rolls trying to get refills.

I have the house to myself all day... and except for puppy piddle duty I am ready to serial level and battle my best to not use a single RP or combo to defeat this goon!!!

What tips and tricks do you have to make it through the session with a Raven body in hand?

PS - If I had found more than 4 Sniper Shots per 10,000 stamina I honestly wouldn't have gone to all this trouble to avoid RP... but if you make me use every bit of time for 8 solid hours just searching for parts to TRY and play... I'll change from Checkers to Chess... not a problem!! The 3-D board is 10 ft away... we can go THERE too! This is supposed to be a game and a challenge... not an 8 hour job for a year for a single skill point. /rant

Stamina Pack FAQ

Stamina with a Twist and Shout

Instant Increase = Careful Opening

Be very careful how you plow through your gifts... the stamina pack refills the meter as soon as you open them... Use FGS / JGrabAll / or other click savers at your own risk.

Your first warning might come in the Facebook gift area:

Or if you first notice it in the ZMC (Zynga Message Center):

Once you click "Accept Gift:

Your stamina will be filled to the top... but no extra.

There is a 16 hour timer... but not a visible timer... just an internal clock. If you accept another one too early it will turn to a Mystery Boost...

Spreading the Love

As soon as you enter the game you will see them on the free gift page waiting to share stamina happiness throughout your family...

This is a limited time gift with no announced end date. Time to send send send and ice ice ice!

This & Next Week 7/8

The weekly update has been posted as the Mafia Wars blog. As usual, I'm mostly interested in what's coming next week. ALL I SAW WAS STAMINA PACKS!!!!!!  

Coming Next Week*
*As far as is currently scheduled, but things can change.

• Icing Seasons

Earn reputation badges and new mastery items each week by icing opponents in Icing Seasons!

• Assassin Boss Fight: The Raven - ROUND 2

The Raven returns! Ice players on the fight list to pick up the Assassin’s trail. He’s very hard to find, but when you get close you'll discover special Ammo with which to fight him.

• New Mission Event: Ties That Bind

You’re taking on a newly-elected state governor in Brazil. Keep your head down and power through a major smear campaign to earn a Glamour Helmet (62/150).

• New Ruby Mastery Loot in Brazil

Finished your Brazil districts to Ruby Mastery? Go back and complete Brazil jobs in any ruby-tiered district to earn new red-hot loot!

• Stamina Packs!

We've saved the best for last: You’ll be able to send and receive free stamina packs for a limited time!