Fireworks: A question of honor? lol

[Nibblemouse]

i only sandbag if it looks like im going to get under 246,000 or so but usually i don't stop

 

[PhiloftheFuture]

for the most part, i don't sandbag as i am trying to break the 280,000 mark, and i figure that the more practice and timing i get in, the better.

i do better when there is someone else that is doing really well and pushes me to do better, but i get frustrated when that person sandbags at the end, and i don't get to see if i could actually win against them.

that said, with all the potential for credit spending in the next few months, i might have to play the sandbag game just to be able to afford everything.

one thing nice about the way scoring is set up is that more than one can get a lot of credits at a time, but it is pretty unfair to the top player.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

for the most part, i don't sandbag as i am trying to break the 280,000 mark, and i figure that the more practice and timing i get in, the better.

i do better when there is someone else that is doing really well and pushes me to do better, but i get frustrated when that person sandbags at the end, and i don't get to see if i could actually win against them.

that said, with all the potential for credit spending in the next few months, i might have to play the sandbag game just to be able to afford everything.

one thing nice about the way scoring is set up is that more than one can get a lot of credits at a time, but it is pretty unfair to the top player.

They could solve that problem with one easy step. Make the winner get more credits than the others. Don't change what they get. Just give the winner more credits just because they win. Sheesh! It's not a difficult fix to do!

 

[Goofy_Bob]

...Do you consider it unsportsman-like...to quit at 240,000 when you could actually score much higher?

The first several times I got over 240k I was not in first place (apparently no sandbaggers were playing) and I was thrilled to get the Fireworks magic and the 1300 credits. Imagine my surprise the first time I got 1st place! I got only 675 credits, but I got a merit pin ("Gold Spectacular"?), and a print out coupon for a braclet. I was confused at the reduced credits, but figured the pin and coupon were supposed to make up for the difference. The next few times I came in first I was sad to see I only got the 675 each time with no other bonuses.

Why VMK decides to make 2nd Place better rewarded than first I don't get that at all. Personally I think the 1300 credits and first/every 10th-time Fireworks should be given to everyone who crosses the 240k mark. And I think the 1st place winner should get a bonus, like Mansion or Pirate's winners get 40/100 credits for winning plus whatever other credits they got from playing. But that's not the way of Fireworks. You get the "Best" results by coming in 2nd or less.

I have always been one of those people who always tries to Be The Best. I rarely succeed, but I feel I should strive for perfection. Alas, I'm only perfect at being imperfect . With that said, I have felt a twinge of conscience when I "bail" at 240k, but I do it anyway, because I want the Best Reward. I guess that gives me a certain level of moral flexibility. Heh. Because if that means I don't play brute force to score as much as possible, but have to play tactfully to get over 240k but less than The Next Guy, then I will. I send Jiminy Cricket to whistle somewhere else! As others have mentioned, I play the Game within the Game and do it shamelessly. Don't hate the playa, hate the game... lol

Also, know that after winning your first fireworks magic pin, you will get another pin after you WIN 10 games, and you will get another pin after 10 more games where you earn 240,000 or more and do NOT WIN.

You know I've wondered about that. After getting my first Fireworks pin (which I had known was 1st Loser over 240k) I kept getting more pins at what appeared to be random intervals. So are they 10 conecutive >240k Wins or 1st Loser? Or just every 10 for each intermingled? I need to start writing that down...

I sure wish VMK in their Help Files would flat out list what prizes/credits/rewards you get for what score in what game. That would clear up much confusion, instead of this willy-nilly trial and error guessing game system that new players (and some verterans) have to go through. And if they change the game, just adjust the Help Files accordingly.

But like so many other things in VMK they really leave you wondering...

Oh, I'm new btw, so hi everyone!

Welcome milliepie!

 

[Kasiks]

I hate ppl doing that ... even if before I did it too because I needed to get quickly credits (I dont like knowing I need credits too ppl ...)

Next time, I see some one who might be doing it in the game, I will stop playing before 240K so the person will still be first and I will be laughing

 

[PhiloftheFuture]

They could solve that problem with one easy step. Make the winner get more credits than the others. Don't change what they get. Just give the winner more credits just because they win. Sheesh! It's not a difficult fix to do!

a lot of stuff in vmk seems like it would be an easy fix, but alas there are still those 'bugs' hanging around. can anyone say dc monster?

 

[cteddiesgirl]

a lot of stuff in vmk seems like it would be an easy fix, but alas there are still those 'bugs' hanging around. can anyone say dc monster?

Sorry, but that's not the point of this thread.

The point is that people are basically getting cheated out of credits.
In fact, this just happened to me.
I only make 240k once out of every 10 or so games. And almost every time, I'm cheated out of the credits I should have gotten because I was unable to know when to stop clicking like mad just to get the 240k. I never know going into the very last round if I will make it or not. But, it's the people that can make 240k by the end of level 5 round 2 that know just when they can stop and do it at a slower pace. So people like me don't really stand a chance in heck of ever getting those higher credits.

It seems as though the times that I can make it, I end up playing with those that quit early. And it's those times when I can't that I end up playing with those that don't quit.

It just gets me .

 

[AmberDaze]

The point is that people are basically getting cheated out of credits. In fact, this just happened to me. And almost every time,

It just gets me .

Hey Terri, if you ever see me on, I would be glad to play with you until you reach that 240,000 mark so you can get the credits.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Hey Terri, if you ever see me on, I would be glad to play with you until you reach that 240,000 mark so you can get the credits.

I would like that sometime.

But, as I said, I can manage it only maybe once out of 10 times playing. And I can't play it 10 times in a row. For some reason, if I play it more than twice at one time, I tend to get worse.
Probably a combination of my own frustration (at myself & my pc) and my computer.

 

[PhiloftheFuture]

Sorry, but that's not the point of this thread.

The point is that people are basically getting cheated out of credits.
In fact, this just happened to me.
I only make 240k once out of every 10 or so games. And almost every time, I'm cheated out of the credits I should have gotten because I was unable to know when to stop clicking like mad just to get the 240k. I never know going into the very last round if I will make it or not. But, it's the people that can make 240k by the end of level 5 round 2 that know just when they can stop and do it at a slower pace. So people like me don't really stand a chance in heck of ever getting those higher credits.

It seems as though the times that I can make it, I end up playing with those that quit early. And it's those times when I can't that I end up playing with those that don't quit.

It just gets me .

i totally understand your frustration there are times when i end up winning fireworks only to get HALF of what the losers get. perhaps, as stated by others, there is an unstated game within the game. the stated game being to get as high as you can. the unstated game is to get as close to 240,000 as possible. it doesn't seem fair though, that the unstated goal wins more than the primary goal.

i guess my point with the dc monster comment is that there are several little 'quirks' about vmk that aren't really fair and are frustrating, fireworks being one of them. one of the reason why i don't have inferno is that i keep on dc-ing after waiting so long in line, trying to get into staff games. both seem like easy fixes, but they don't fix them.

 

[zeniff]

it took me about 2 weeks before i was able to even reach 240000 in fireworks

 

[shadow pirate]

Ok, well, maybe it's not as melodramatic as my title, but I want to pose this question to the board: Do you consider it unsportsman-like (sportsperson-like?) to quit at 240,000 when you could actually score much higher? My husband and I were debating this recently. He says "No, it's just part of how the game is played. Stopping is ok, if credits are what you're after." I said that I think it is somewhat unsportsmanlike. I always score the best I can. If I'm winning the game, I win and don't take those extra credits away from those in second and third. If there's someone playing who's better than me, then great -- I can always use extra credits! Anyway, just curious as to what everyone else though.

OK, unless I'm doing quests I more than likely run into this problem. I stop at 240,000 because most others do the same. It becomes a point that, in order to get a reasonable amount of credits, you need to get to 240,000 and then stop. If VMK wants people to play the best they can consistently, they need to up the credit amounts on for winning.

 

[Laurabearz]

In the begining.... I never sand bagged... Drove me crazy when other's did....(just ask Lauralee rofl)

Now.... I sand bag, unless I have a freaky high score... then I will continue... but then again I rarely play fireworks anymore. I stopped the other day with 240,059 and 'lost out' to 240,024 (but it was my 10th win so I got firework magic.... so it all works out)


BUT I have to say this. If the big money was in first place.... very few people would have a shot at it. So I guess it is better for One person to Win and 4 others to get big money than for ONe to get big money with 4 LOSERS

 

[cteddiesgirl]

BUT I have to say this. If the big money was in first place.... very few people would have a shot at it. So I guess it is better for One person to Win and 4 others to get big money than for ONe to get big money with 4 LOSERS

But that's just it. They don't need to change what those 4 people get if they reach 240k. All they have to do is up the amount that the winners get.
I think that would be satisfying to all. Those reaching 240k and not winning would still get a lot of credits and the winners wouldn't be losers.
Even if it's only 100 more credits, people would still be trying to get the better scores and would challenge themselves to try win.

 

[Goofy_Bob]

But that's just it. They don't need to change what those 4 people get if they reach 240k. All they have to do is up the amount that the winners get.
I think that would be satisfying to all. Those reaching 240k and not winning would still get a lot of credits and the winners wouldn't be losers.
Even if it's only 100 more credits, people would still be trying to get the better scores and would challenge themselves to try win.

I totally agree. Though don't need to (and should not) lower the over 240k score for which you get 1300 credits that are given out like this:

1000 for score over 240k
300 for reaching 5th Level.

If you take 1st place they take away your 1000 credits for over 240k and you get 675 credits which breaks down to:

375 for first place
300 for reaching 5th Level.

They should fix it to:

1000 for score over 240k
300 for reaching 5th Level.
375 for first place.

Why take away the 1000 for over 240k just because you got 1st place? But like CT says, if the 1st place bonus was even 100 (as you get for winning in Pirates), heck I think even 40 (like ghosts), it would spur people on to get 1st place! I know I would charge 1st place every time if I got 1340, 1400, or 1675!!

I really don't understand it.

Hey, I wonder, can anyone answer... If you get 260k or 280k (neither I've attained, my highest is 258k, with a few 256k below that) how many credits do you get?

 

[PirateDaisy]

To answer your question goofybob, you do not get any extra credits for reaching 260K or 280K. You get the same amount if you get first place. Although, you do get extra credits for reaching the top 10 list. It's been so long since I've been there that I completely forgot; maybe someone else will enlighten us.

 

[Mnementh]

Now.... I sand bag, unless I have a freaky high score... then I will continue... but then again I rarely play fireworks anymore. I stopped the other day with 240,059 and 'lost out' to 240,024 (but it was my 10th win so I got firework magic.... so it all works out)

So, even if you never get over 240,000 and finish second, you can still get fireworks magic for winning 10 times? It doesn't really matter, because I've never gotten first (best was third) and I've never gotten 240,000 (best was 222,000), but still something to keep in mind.

 

[tigressjewel]

If you take 1st place they take away your 1000 credits for over 240k and you get 675 credits which breaks down to:

375 for first place
300 for reaching 5th Level.

They should fix it to:

1000 for score over 240k
300 for reaching 5th Level.
375 for first place.

Why take away the 1000 for over 240k just because you got 1st place? But like CT says, if the 1st place bonus was even 100 (as you get for winning in Pirates), heck I think even 40 (like ghosts), it would spur people on to get 1st place! I know I would charge 1st place every time if I got 1340, 1400, or 1675!!

This makes perfect sense and would be awesome! I think we should all copy and paste this into a contact us form to vmk.

 

[PirateDaisy]

So, even if you never get over 240,000 and finish second, you can still get fireworks magic for winning 10 times? It doesn't really matter, because I've never gotten first (best was third) and I've never gotten 240,000 (best was 222,000), but still something to keep in mind.

No, to clear things up. First place will receive a fireworks magic pin after 10 wins, only AFTER you have received your first fireworks magic. Which can only be obtained by reaching 240K and are on the 2nd-5th place.

Also, if you win 20X in 2nd-5th place; obtaining a score of 240K +, you will also receive a fireworks pin. Hope that helps.

 

[Goofy_Bob]

To answer your question goofybob, you do not get any extra credits for reaching 260K or 280K. You get the same amount if you get first place. Although, you do get extra credits for reaching the top 10 list. It's been so long since I've been there that I completely forgot; maybe someone else will enlighten us.

Thanks. Maybe someday I'll make that list.

This makes perfect sense and would be awesome! I think we should all copy and paste this into a contact us form to vmk.

Of course it makes perfect sense, I said. it! Muahaha! LOL

Ahem. Ok, sure, I sent the following to the Contact Us page:

About Fireworks credits rewards. Many players, including myself, don't understand why a player is encouraged to not take first place in Firworks. If a player gets a score of over 240k but doesn't come in first place that player gets 1300 credits that are given out like this:

1000 for score over 240k
300 for reaching 5th Level.

1300 is fantastic and I don't think it should change. But If the player takes 1st place you take away their 1300 credits and instead give 675 credits which breaks down to:

375 for first place
300 for reaching 5th Level.

It should fix it to:

1000 for score over 240k
300 for reaching 5th Level.
375 for first place.

Why take away the 1000 for over 240k just because you got 1st place? If you feel that's 1675 credits is too much, maybe you could keep the 1000 and 300 and change the 1st place bonus to: 100 (as you get for winning in Pirates), or even 40 (like ghosts), it would spur people on to get 1st place! I know I would charge 1st place every time if I got 1340, 1400, or 1675 instead of bailing out or sandbagging and stopping just over 240k, which is less satisfiying and encourages slacking off. Thanks.

Don't know if it'll do any good, but there you go. Your turn.