I love this game but I refuse to give it a good review (energy, gems, emotional labo)

[susansxoxopets]

The game has a pop-up asking me to submit a 5 star review if I like Castle Story. I LOVE CASTLE STORY. But I have never felt so financially gauged by a game in my life. I always feel like I don't have enough gems and energy. I understand that the company needs to make money and that they want us to feel strapped for certain resources so that we will spend real money. There is a storm8 YouTube video where the game designer explains this to an audience of game developers: basically that they pride themselves on strategically making
players feel like they are struggling, and this is why they are a top grossing game. The player's emotions are manipulated and used as currency- the more we feel struggle, the more likely we are to impulsively spend real money. While this is typical in business, I just want to let you know how this loyal player really feels. I play several times daily. I'm addicted. I love the graphics, the sounds, the goals. I spend real money on the game like once a week. But I would not give this game a good review or even admit to another living soul that I play it because I am ashamed that I spend money playing this game. I spend the money on gems out of boredom and frustration and I feel bad about myself aftewards.
The game's revenue strategy may work, but it's not going to be sustainable because it makes the player feel bad. The game is addictive but not affordable, so using gems feels like a series of cheap thrills. I know that I will eventually stop playing the game for this reason and I wouldn't recommend anyone start playing.
In order to keep people like me as patrons, here are a few hints:
I notice when something more fair and reasonable happens. I really liked the changes that happened when I upgraded the Tabernum and received better drops and especially the 33 percent energy savings on harvesting crops. This motivated me to play more. I recently received a random drop that made me feel good about the game- Sir Pigglesworth randomly gave me 5 gems and it was amazing. It would be great to have more "weekend warrior" type opportunities to earn unlimited energy minutes. BUT... fix your bugs so that I don't have to loose 2.5 minutes on unlimited energy restarting the game to get my unlimited energy. I reported this and they just told me to restart, which says to me "we're fine with advertising a reward of 10 unlimited minutes that requires a game restart that will cut those 10 minutes down to 7 or 8. You are ripped off and we are fine with that because we don't know how to fix this." That's poor quality. If you're going to be a poor quality game, you need to be cheap as well. Please consider having better sales on gems. Reduce the cost of your gem items, they are ridiculous. Better random drops. How about a monthly player appreciation box we can chop for an energy refill? Some pleasant surprises would make this game feel more legit and fair... and less like something rich kids spend their allowance on to feel less empty inside for a few moments. Thanks.

[dragonsdip]

I have to agree with you.

Sadly things are not clear either on how to get items that you need for the games. I am trying to find the Cloudberry tree and how do you find the monsters that give you the wisp essences.

I too spend a fortune on this game that is really addictive, but I am going to be trying to find something else to do with my valuable time as we don't even get the chance to level up anymore. level 50 has become boring and you can't expand quickly as that takes a long time to get the expansion certificates as well as doing the challenges which you make extremely hard as you only can get certain things from certain items that will product them every 4/6 or 8 to 12 hours and then they don't produce them anyway.

So I am find it extremely frustrating and also will NOT rate the game.

I also think you are only after our money and not interested in improving the tasks at all.

I AM EXTREMELY DISATISFIED WITH THIS GAME NOW. I have been playing it for years and years. But nowhere to go now.

[Bahaqueen]

MANY TEARS FALLING READING THIS THREAD. To think I was the only one. I've been playing for years also, just returned this past week for gameplay and was happy to make a few purchases since it has been about 2 years since I've played and for the same reasons I have read in this thread. Now that I have renewed my groove in the game and have remembered how things work (crafting for events and goals, exchange & adventure trips, cropping, etc.) I have come to realize this game has quadrupled times 10 in cost. To my astonishment, the most basic things like animals, critical buildings and other necessary gameplay items are 50-500 GEMS ...wait...whaaat...G E M S !!!!! AND that's just for ONE item. For the love of consumers' that afford your very reason for waking up in the morning with a "JOB" S8 is absolutely BREEDING THE MARROW out of their loyal...let me say it again...LOYAL players, have you no compassion?!?

Indeed I am outraged because I also play BS, FS and RS which I had to stop playing (had to make a choice of the favourite of the 4 games) because I simply cannot afford to play all of them to their full potential. So back now to my return to this game around 10/22/2018...

I too REFUSE to rate this game!!!! The only true updates are the pricing, the micromanaging of every single aspect of the most important functions like: upgrading buildings, charging gems just because a goal or quest or adventure or temporary event has expired, the laborious process of expanding & materials, coin requirements and amount of tickets required to achieve said expansion, and the absolute injustice of requiring what...30 tickets to obtain ONE permit. This game can singularly be compared to some of the worlds most unjust rulers & tyrants!!! And with no regard to its INVESTORS, when will S8 at least piss or spit on us to put the fire out!!! I feel abused and greatly mishandled by S8 and their refusal to provide useful updates and overall product enhancements with respect & honour to their greatest asset...THE CONSUMER!!!! Alas, IT IS MUCH EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO ENTER THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE...

YOUR LOYAL INVESTOR

[Trudyscandles]

Wow! I too thought I was one of the only people to quit playing this game and then come back again and again. I am a fairly new level 50 player. I have played this game on and off for years. At level 49 I played an event and got all the way to the last goal and didn't get to finish after spending literally ALL of my energy on the event for 14 days. I didn't have the money to buy gems to complete the event, so out of frustration I quit playing this game for 2 months. You shouldn't have to spend money just to complete an event. There was no way to complete it otherwise. I play literally every day, once per hour of every hour I am awake and I only average 5 hours sleep per night.

I have now spent $70 on gems in the past few weeks and purchased items that help with energy production so I decided to participate in the current event. I am actually stressed because I am still worried I might not make it to the finish!

Yes, it seems s8 is getting quite money hungry.

I have made myself a vow, if I get fed up enough to quit playing this game and uninstall it again it will be the last time ever!

Trudy