Design Challenges Update - We Want Your Feedback

[Dunsnoozin]

Might have jumped the gun ... or they got my rant and adjusted the targets ... platinum keys are 4100 blueprints so a jump of 700.  I should get there after my next submission, leaving 2 lots of voting and one more submission to reach the end.  5200 is a 4 star average and that may be possible ... a jump of 1000 or 1100 for the last level ...

[Dunsnoozin]

Nope, didn’t jump the gun.  It was only 7 goes round the challenge with the end at 4900, or a 4.5 star average.  Given the subjectivity of the voting that is still too hard to achieve.  I will be lodging a formal complaint through the game too.  If that end goal is not brought back to a reasonable level (4 stars maximum) then I will cease design challenges, there is no point - it consumes far to much materials for such miserly prizes.  Only the 1k simcash is worth the effort.  I got t lots of 4 star and 2 4.5 star.  Doubt many people did much better / make the end.

[hvdth]

The new design challenge is on track for bringing the game back to designing cities but it has a lot of challenges in itself. First off the voting system is really off. Most of the wining designs are not the best & I believe it is due to players voting on uglier cities so theirs gets farther in the competition. Not impressed with the tiny little images you have to submit for voting, should at least be able to zoom in and let us explore like when we visit other cities trading centres. We don’t even get to keep our cities after the challenge which is uncool when you put a lot of work into it. Once it’s gone all you get is the little picture that hopefully does some kind of justice for your city but usually not. You also have to be a photographer in order to win lol. The other ridiculous part is that the points you earn are so little compared to the amount you need to win anything on the event track, not at all worth it. You’re getting closer EA but still a fail that does not entice me to play the new city design challenges. 

[PinnacleValley]

@hvdth I think your insight is very enlightening. I never liked the concept of “look at what I’ve done”…but the design challenge has offered a unique breath of fresh air to the game. Sadly the voting appears to have eroded drastically  - if you have a good design that meets the subject matter (which of all the ones I was presented to vote on only 2 met the camping theme) folks immediately vote against it which is their right. I always vote for the better design of the 2 and find the really impressive ones have received a very low total…in fact the most impressive one I’ve seen to date simply had a 1.0 which was absolutely ridiculous…which tends to take the breath out of the game.

I’m not sure what the solution is…perhaps you break it down to rank level ranges and have folks vote only on a different range than theirs which may reduce some of the undue discrimination that takes place. Perhaps you select a panel to review the designs and adjust accordingly. I really don’t know the answer but I think something needs to be done quickly or folks may quit participating.

One of many things I don’t understand is the happiness level…mine showed 90% this week and had 100% happiness with all services provided when I submitted the design. If someone could enlighten me I would appreciate it.

My score will not impact my participation…but quite honestly I saw at least 10 designs that were far superior to the “winner” that simply hap hazardously threw water, trees, castles, casinos, etc. all around their city with no rhyme or reason. It’s sad. I’m confident these folks that vote with “prejudice” are wondering why they didn’t win…it’s simple your design was too good and you became victim of what you yourself are doing. Maybe one day these individuals will understand what goes around comes around.

[Dunsnoozin]

Three quick points:

1) completely agree that people will vote against the good designs to promote their own.  This was suggested in previous posts and will certainly happen.  Like pinnacle, I vote for the best because I want to reward effort and want others to do the same to me.  I actually voted for the winner this time but pretty certain the alternative was trash.

2) I don’t get the star awards.  Last season I got 4 stars 5 times (31, 31, 35, 35 and 39 votes) and 4.5 stars twice (40 and 41 votes).  This season I’ve had 4 stars (40 votes) and 3.5 stars (39 votes).  Either the thresholds have moved or there is more to it than the number of votes you get.  I would like to see how many votes I lost also.  Is that the same, going down as I ‘improve’, going up as people vote tactically, ...?

3) glad to see the back of the impossible event tracks.  Never made the end in any goes.  The ‘spend on what you like’ option is quite good but would be nice to have a big simcash prize as only one building and a few other bits I’m interested In.

[SwissPiggie]

1. Voting system is skewed- put multiple (or ALL) designs up and let voting begin.

• Choosing 1 out of 2 is not “real” voting.. 
• Half the time both designs aren’t worth voting for. It’s forced voting. 
• How often a design goes up is not clear- how is that decided? All designs should be available for all to vote on. 
• The calculation system for votes is not transparent. People want to see who got  how many votes- as is, you only see a final score.
• The end for losers only shows a total #votes but again, this is a skewed result.
• Prizes should be better- there should be 1st 2nd 3rd and a ranked list at end. 

[MichealYun]

@SwissPiggieIf not choosing 1 out of 2, and 'forced voting', lots of designs from novice would predictably get no upvotes, let alone stars. This will discourage many players from playing the game. And people's criteria for what a design looks like are completely different. If it shows the votes of a design, that could effect your voting more or less.

To tell the truth, except the last one, your suggestions are too idealistic and player-centered, lack of objectivity and feasibility.

.

[PinnacleValley]

@MichealYun  While I completely agree with your position to encourage players to participate, let’s at least put some parameters on what a design is. I saw more presentations this week with a minimum number of houses and population, 3 or less buildings (1 for the minimum requirement, 1 miscellaneous & inevitably the Disney castle), 3 or 4 big lakes and some trees. None strategically placed and only occupying a 3rd of the available space…this was not a design but just a half hearted effort and sadly they were voted 3.5 and 4.0 (at least the 2 I had to vote for which was the least worse…that’s why I requested a no vote option).

I also understand your perspective in your final sentence, but I believe you were a little too harsh on @SwissPiggie who actually provided some keen insight and interesting food for thought. Of course the perspective is player centered and perhaps idealistic…but at the end of the day isn’t that what we’re striving for?

[PinnacleValley]

@EA_Leeloo  I have asked the question generically with no response so now I will direct it specifically…would you please explain why the happiness and population level changes after submitting a design? 

When I first asked the question my concern was the happiness level dropped to 90%…when I submitted the design it was at 100% - so I assumed I didn’t have sufficient coverage for all resources. Moving forward I have ensured all resources are covered (education, entertainment, landmark, etc.), have upgraded fire, police, hospital and utilities (water, power, sanitation) and have upgraded all roads. During the voting process my city reflected a population of 28k + and a happiness level of 100% - when I checked this morning my population was 90 and my happiness level at 90%. Why?
I have accepted the fact that the voting system is flawed…but changes in population and happiness level are beyond suspect. So what’s going on?

[SwissPiggie]

@MichealYun  Lots of designs from novice? This is a contest, every player is equally up against the next. There are no “levels”. Perhaps their should be levels, so the voting won’t be forced. Skewed voting is not voting at all. 

Anywho. Actually, it’s your perception that is player focused and lacks objectivity. You’re considering the throwback from “novice” players who might get their feelings butt-hurt if they don’t get a star and won’t play anymore??

If? When? But? You can’t think like this and run a contest, there are going to be winners and losers. You can’t win if you don’t play, and you also can’t lose. 

Let the best design win. Period. Otherwise it’s not really a contest, now is it? It’s not complicated, unless you’re playing this game. In which case, it is. Who knew voting for the best design would be so complicated. Jeez.