Board Thread:Game Discussion/@comment-5996974-20130521101634/@comment-8005832-20130524163818

I understand everyone's frustration with the changes to the game. Since the new reward system was implemented, I've yet to get a complete set of any one character. However, it does seem funny to use the word greedy solely for Mobage. Their behavior might seem to be motivated by greed, but I think they are simple acting in accord to the company's main function - it needs money to survive. (needs, not wants)

I feel more that the complaining players are the ones who are truly being greedy.

Let's compare TFL to physical example, like Yu-gi-oh or any other CCG (Collectible Card Game) that you buy in a store.

1) you have to purchase a starter/game pack to even begin play.  TFL - no purchase necessary, simply download the game.

2) You have to pay a fee or buy a minimum number of boosters to enter a tournament/event.

TFL - no purchase necessary, simply meet the level 5 requirement.

3) Rewards are given only to the top finishers (determined by host).  TFL - everyone who competes gets some form of free compensation.

TFL gives other tons of free content. However, it's the things that are obtained by money that seem to have any value to players. Many feel that you can only get the good cards by spending money/coins. Don't forget that the coins can be obtained for free by accepting offers from mobage to try new games or winning them from facebook contests. All your problems with events? This game would be nothing without the events. No one would play it for more than a week without events.

But here's where it gets real. It's player greed that drives dissatisfaction. You want all the good stuff NOW and FOR FREE. Mobage and all game companies understand simple human psychology. That's why they offer things like DLC and guaranteed x3/x5 raid cards for x amount coins. Most players have poor impulse control. Something is compelling players to spend their limited resources (TIME and MONEY) on something very trivial. How did you develop this desire to spend so much for so little? That's simple, the game taught you. It kept giving you stuff the more you played it. You quickly subconsciously absorbed this simple rule of the game. Play, get stuff - and then they changed the rules - Pay, get better stuff. Good boy, you've been housebroken.

I've mentioned Skinner Boxes before and I'm doing it again because it's so important and prevalent in today's gaming culture not to. Take some time to learn about them and how they work. I'll go ahead and say it - TFL is not a game, it's a sophisticated program built around the skinner box model. There is no way to beat TFL because there is no ending, no final boss fight, no dramatic finale. On a meta level, every time you spend money, you lose and it wins. Every time you spend hours on taping the screen, you lose and it wins. It's you versus the "game". The only way to win is to stop playing.

I have yet to beat the TFL, but I'm pretty damn close.