Customizing Pets (Split #4)

[TDG]

Old thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=33206

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[Matrinka]

Can anyone tell me where all you can find Kreludan Grundo Slippers? Only from the Neocola machine? Were they a prize for a game like the Daily Dare?

I ask because I was cleaning out my SDB and found Kreludan Grundo Slippers in there... and I have absolutely NO IDEA where they came from. I've never gotten anything from the NeoCola machine. I don't remember ever buying or trading for them. It's driving me mad trying to think of where they came from!

[Pickles]

Can anyone tell me where all you can find Kreludan Grundo Slippers? Only from the Neocola machine? Were they a prize for a game like the Daily Dare?

I ask because I was cleaning out my SDB and found Kreludan Grundo Slippers in there... and I have absolutely NO IDEA where they came from. I've never gotten anything from the NeoCola machine. I don't remember ever buying or trading for them. It's driving me mad trying to think of where they came from!

I know I've picked them up from the Igloo Garage sale before, and they used to get donated to the Money Tree all the time, but as far as I know they weren't Daily Dare prizes.
Do you do Esophager quests? I think I might've gotten them there before...
They also might've been optional as some of the Game Master challenge prizes from last fall...but I'm not sure on that.
Are they give out as random events? I know I've found other clothing items (one of the Neovian dresses) through a random event before...

[The Wonder Weezel]

Hey, do you get clothes to keep for your pet after you buy an island paint brush?

[Pickles]

Hey, do you get clothes to keep for your pet after you buy an island paint brush?

If you take the clothes *off* the pet (putting them in your closet), and then paint your pet a different color, then yes.

[Matrinka]

Thanks for the info on the slippers! I probably bought them before you could customize with them.

Now, has anyone else looked at the new items you can buy with NC? The latest "talisman" gives me a little bit of concern.

Winged Talisman
Some say this talisman grants its wearer incredible powers. Others say, "haha, not even!" Those people are mean.
Price: 400 NC
Uses: Unlimited
Expires: 180 days

So... what are those incredible powers? Why can't we try it on in the customization shop? Does it let you have more chances at Something Has Happened events?

So much for NC not unbalancing the game system. Maybe I'm over reacting... but this seems like the first pebble of the NC avalanche sliding down the hill.

[yvonne_l_d]

There is a rumor that it helps with the game of Shenkuu River Runner. I hope it's not true.

[Nefasturris]

There is a rumor that it helps with the game of Shenkuu River Runner. I hope it's not true.

Jellyneo has the talisman and a few other items listed as helping out with the game. Click.

Does anyone know where it goes when you buy it?

[Pickles]

There is a rumor that it helps with the game of Shenkuu River Runner. I hope it's not true.

Jellyneo has the talisman and a few other items listed as helping out with the game. Click.

Does anyone know where it goes when you buy it?

Just go to the NC Mall - if it's not on the first page, it'll be under the last category...which I can't remember the name of. The one on the furthest right, with the fruits.

Unfortunately, from what everyone on the neoboards were saying last night, the talisman *is* the one in the game, and it *does* help with game play.

So much for not being able to buy items to give you an advantage in the game.

[Meech]

Darn it... and I just blew off some steam DEFENDING the mall...

[Scythemantis]

The fact that some players can spend money to earn a few extra points is never, ever going to inconvenience anyone else. If you got along fine before this was implemented, there's no tangible reason to complain.

[Mongrel]

The fact that some players can spend money to earn a few extra points is never, ever going to inconvenience anyone else.

See, here's the thing: it gives other people an advantage. Who's to say they won't do it again? Who's to say that they won't give people a talisman to train their pets for half the codestone price at the Training School, or to get more Random Events, or to send scores more than three times a day? It's a slippery slope, and I think Neopets is sliding down it.

[Pickles]

It's the principle of the fact that the site was started as a free site and intended to be free, and TNT stated very specifically that there would be no way to gain a significant advantage from items purchased from the NC Mall. I didn't mind the clothes - I could care less. But when you start talking about items that can give you an advantage...when will they stop? Will it just be items to help flash games, or will they start providing items that can help out in plots, or the battledome? Now that they've taken the first step...who's to say they'll quit?
It's very disheartening to see them so quickly coming back off their promise in the editorial, especially having played for nearly 7 years now, and remembering how things used to be.

Edit: Moongewl beat me too it. But I definitely agree!

[yvonne_l_d]

The fact that some players can spend money to earn a few extra points is never, ever going to inconvenience anyone else. If you got along fine before this was implemented, there's no tangible reason to complain.

The Talisman itself probably won't harm me. It won't turn users into millionaires overnight, just for some money. BUT receiving neopoints for money is the line in the sand in terms of being able to justify the mall. I defend the idea of paid, non-transferable clothing items because it does not provide any in game benefit, such as points, trophies, better scores, etc. It just gives the purchaser a chance to show off their style and makes them feel good. The Talisman, however, does provide points for money.

I realise that premium also does the same thing, slightly, by increasing random events for premium users, and that doesn't bother me. So perhaps I shouldn't be upset about this. I was just really hoping there would be no NP for money in the cash mall.

[Daze]

TNT, I approved of the NC Mall since it was released, but the recent addition of the winged talisman (which improves game-play during Shenkuu River Rush) seems to go against anything you have ever said regarding Neopets and money. For $4 USD players can buy an item which makes it easier for them to play a game that gives Neopoints and trophies?? What about the players that can't purchase from the mall? Are they doomed to never be able to have a trophy from River Rush just because they don't live in the US or Canada and people with less talent can just buy items to make the game easier? ~karlsomewhat14
To be honest, it ended up in the Mall due to a communication breakdown amongst the staff. The item was nominated to be placed in the Mall, but it was sort of in limbo. Everyone had differing opinions on it and we were discussing those opinions, but it ended up being approved to go up anyway. Basically, we fudged a bit.

As for the differing opinions... well, each side had valid points. You have to be good at the game in the first place or the item does no good for you. Essentially, it doesn't make a very poor player into a superstar, trophy-winner overnight. Also, users who are great at the game will already be earning their 1,000 NP maximum each go anyway and can't earn any more, so it doesn't make anyone "rich" from using it. Those users who can't earn 1,000 NP in the game without the talisman could be spending the same time playing a different game they're better at, so all the talisman did was let them earn the NP on a game they like more. Obviously, though, the other folks at the table worried about the affect on trophy spots. Trophies earn Neopoints, and they earn prestige, which is part of the game as well. (Unlike with Mall wearables, you can't tell who earned the trophy on their own or who earned it with the help of the Winged Talisman, though, interestingly, the same can be said for the other Shenkuu River Rush game-play items you can purchase for Neopoints.)

Anyway, this is why we were in debates and the item shouldn't have gone up just yet. But it did go up, so we gauged your reactions, watched high score lists, monitored the Neopoints won, etc. (things we always do when we launch something new). We know "functional" items would sell very well, and one of the reasons the Mall exists is to earn revenue, but we don't want anyone to be able to buy their way through the game of Neopets. So, we're trying our best to come up with items that are useful but don't give anyone a huge advantage - the perfect balance. We can think about these things until our brains implode and not know what exactly will happen with certain items, so this was a very informative accident. We'll keep trying more items, and some of them won't work, but the only way for us to know is to test them. So, in the future, you'll see more and different types of items in the Mall. Feel free to send us your feedback, or even your own item ideas.

(By the way, thanks to the folks who sent in feedback and participated in boards that discussed the item rationally and logically - those who understood both sides but still expressed their concerns with the item. It's our decision, but we *do* actually listen, despite what some think. Complaints without valid reasoning or logic do nothing to help us see your points!)

In the end, we decided to take the talisman down come Tuesday when we had the next Mall update. It should be noted that no one who has earned a trophy since it sold has purchased the talisman. We'll continue to watch it since those who purchased the item paid for it and are able to keep it until it expires, but so far, it has not been detrimental to the high score list.


Thankyou TNT for being honest and direct.