My Letter to "Contact Us"--My Solution to Orange Crate Issue

[TikiKrissy]

Hi all,
I just sent this to Contact Us. I'm hoping that offering solutions rather than just complaining about the difficulties in earning the Orange Crate will do us some good.
Thought some of you might be interested in my letter.
Thanks in advance for looking at this!
TikiKrissy

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Hi there!

First, I'd like to compliment the VMK team on the cool new Orange Coffee Table Crate that we can win by playing the Haunted Mansion Game. It's great! So Halloween-y and cool!

However, I'd like to talk about a complaint I have and offer a solution. I'm having an EXTREMELY difficult time winning these crates. People have been leaving the Haunted Mansion game constantly if they've determined that they're not going to win the game. Then NOBODY is able to win the crate in that particular game. I'd like to make a request--that the Orange Coffee Table Crate be winnable in other ways in VMK. My solution would be to maybe do some or all of the following:

- Make it a random prize when playing Pirates (like the current credit bonuses)

- Make it a Treasure Chest prize in the Pirates Treasure Room (use your key and maybe win it)

- Make it a Fantasyland prize from pulling out the Sword in the Stone

- Make it a random prize on Jungle Cruise, or possibly a prize if you get a certain amount of points on Jungle Cruise

- Make it a random prize on Castle Fireworks Remixed, or possibly a prize if you get a certain amount of points in Fireworks

- Make it a Host prize instead of the Bat Bag that was also given out last year

I realize that the crates are tradeable, but right now it's really difficult to find anyone who has them up for trade, since many of us are dealing with Players who quit the Haunted Mansion game (as explained above). I'd love to have a bunch of these crates for my Halloween room, but it's a huge challenge.

Thanks so much for reading this, and I hope that you will implement one or more of my solutions. I am also really happy that you released the Crate towards the beginning of October so that we may use them in our Halloween rooms.

Long Live VMK!!
Best Wishes,
TikiKrissy

 

[mikeyandscoobyx2]

WOOT GO TIKI!!

WONDERFUL LETTER!

 

[BattyMcDoon]

- Make it a Host prize instead of the Bat Bag that was also given out last year

This is the best idea I've heard! No that i don't like bat bags or something...

 

[Kairi-Angel]

i like the letter, but even though i do like playing the mansion game, even though i only won four times the other day, but i got tons of credits from playing too. I wouldn't have had those credits if it wasnt for the crates so im just stuck in the middle

 

[bytheblood]

Or they could just give it to everybody who completes the game, just as they gave the Alice wall shrubs to everybody who rode the dark rides.

 

[Kasiks]

- Make it a Fantasyland prize from pulling out the Sword in the Stone

No for that one, I need the mad tea party pin

 

[cteddiesgirl]

- Make it a Fantasyland prize from pulling out the Sword in the Stone

No. Then we'd have to spend credits to get it. We are already having to pay out enought credits this month.

Keep it in the credit earning games.

 

[Awsumgoofey]

Another way to get the crates is just like when you played friendly Pirates to get the most credits at capture the flag. Get five other friends together, 3 on 3 game and take turns winning. You get your credits and Orange Crates every other game. So it is a win for everyone! With friends playing there is no worry of people leaving, with three on each side if one should happen to crash you can still play. You can also do this with 1 on 1 if not enough friends are on. It is also alot more fun then frieldly pirates is, due to the fact you are still trying to get as many credits as you can.

I remember seeing so many threads on friendly pirates meets for DIS friends during the Tuesday double credits days, you can do the same thing with friendly Mansions.

Just a way I have been gaining some extra credits and crates while fireworks is so messed up.

Hope it helps,
Goofy

 

[paloma91]

Mansion is one game that needs some serious programming done to it. Either be able to use your mouse effectively or not at all. I cannot use the arrow keys when I play as the Windows XP computer I have gives errors and either hangs or I need to click them off to continue. Another problem that alot of people are having is that their computer hangs.

When I play, I use the mouse which sometimes works to move my character and sometimes moves in the opposite direction for no reason.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Another problem that alot of people are having is that their computer hangs.

When I play, I use the mouse which sometimes works to move my character and sometimes moves in the opposite direction for no reason.

Yep. This happens to me a lot.

 

[SkippyPaul]

Very well composed letter.
It seems that since all the updates ppl are having alot of issues in the mini games.
Jungle cruise......well why even bother with that game. If you cant get on the board you get a hole 20 credits. Why not add any incentive and put crates in there.
Haunted mansion.....between the horrible lag, inconsiderate ppl leaving the game and your character going in the opposite direction, its next to impossible to even play the game let alone win a crate.
Pirates.... once my favorite game has also turned in to an ocean of lag compounded by rude ppl. But why not put the crates in the pirate chests that you win with keys, why limit these crates to one game? After all those pirate walls should have expired months ago. Not everyone is good at mansion or even enjoys the game.
October and December are very expensive months. But I say put the crates in all mini games.

 

[mtlhddoc2]

I didnt know this was an issue. I have played a few dozen games of mansion and won about 20 crates, only 2 times did someone leave the game (and once was ME from crashing).

I also have no problems playing on a 5 year old computer using the arrow keys. I would suggest that you use VMK Pal when playing mansion, and restart VMK after about every 8 games or so. This will cut down on most of your technical issues. Most of the people who are complaining about not being able to win are having computer problems of their own. There are many many ways to fix most of these issues. I would say, look up general PC speed help and follow the instructions, like cleaning Temp files, removing spyware and viruses, removing the 9 billion things that start up when your computer does (the average person has 27 things start when their PC does, accounting for almost a 40% drop in computing power nationwide) I have 3 things that start when my PC does. My free Virus scanner, my free Anti-spyware scanner and windows. AIM alone will reduce your PC computing power by up to 10%, full version of AOL, up to 20%.

So, my recommendation to all of you. Before you go on rants such as "Mansion sux, it crash my pc all the time" - maybe, just maybe, think that it is your PC and how you take care of it that is the issue. A computer is like a car in many many ways. Now you have your car, and you buy yourself a surfboard. Does that surfboard stay on the roof of the car all the time? Even when you arent using it in the winter? What about that lawnmower? The 500 pounds of brick? Your car would slow way down and it would take you longer o get out of your driveway if every day, you had to load a surfboard, lawnmower and 500 pounds of brick into your car before starting it up, and then it would be weighed down by all that stuff and would not go as fast....

Food for thought. I realize most of you are kids and can not clean up your computers, but the adults can.

 

[souper]

Well, if the crate stays around for a long time...it will be like the pirate walls. Those (unlike me) that can play pirates will have the walls. Those that can play mansion will have the crates...and the 2 can trade.

It would be nice if it was awarded to all that caught a certain minimum of ghosts.

 

[AstroGigiblue]

Well, if the crate stays around for a long time...it will be like the pirate walls. Those (unlike me) that can play pirates will have the walls. Those that can play mansion will have the crates...and the 2 can trade.

It would be nice if it was awarded to all that caught a certain minimum of ghosts.

I agree with Happy on this one. I stink at pirates, so I will never see a crate if they put it there.
Yes I crash a ton in Mansion. But, at least I have a chance with the mansion game, in pirates I wouldn't have a prayer. I apologize again to anyone I play mansion with - I am not leaving games, I don't give up credits that easily!
True, pirate and mansion peeps can swap prizes if need be.
Pirates already gives out a ton of prizes. Thrones, Hats, Magic, Credits, Walls. Mansion has a chance to give out something, and the one single thing is a crate. Yay for that!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I didnt know this was an issue. I have played a few dozen games of mansion and won about 20 crates, only 2 times did someone leave the game (and once was ME from crashing).

I also have no problems playing on a 5 year old computer using the arrow keys. I would suggest that you use VMK Pal when playing mansion, and restart VMK after about every 8 games or so. This will cut down on most of your technical issues. Most of the people who are complaining about not being able to win are having computer problems of their own. There are many many ways to fix most of these issues. I would say, look up general PC speed help and follow the instructions, like cleaning Temp files, removing spyware and viruses, removing the 9 billion things that start up when your computer does (the average person has 27 things start when their PC does, accounting for almost a 40% drop in computing power nationwide) I have 3 things that start when my PC does. My free Virus scanner, my free Anti-spyware scanner and windows. AIM alone will reduce your PC computing power by up to 10%, full version of AOL, up to 20%.

So, my recommendation to all of you. Before you go on rants such as "Mansion sux, it crash my pc all the time" - maybe, just maybe, think that it is your PC and how you take care of it that is the issue. A computer is like a car in many many ways. Now you have your car, and you buy yourself a surfboard. Does that surfboard stay on the roof of the car all the time? Even when you arent using it in the winter? What about that lawnmower? The 500 pounds of brick? Your car would slow way down and it would take you longer o get out of your driveway if every day, you had to load a surfboard, lawnmower and 500 pounds of brick into your car before starting it up, and then it would be weighed down by all that stuff and would not go as fast....

Food for thought. I realize most of you are kids and can not clean up your computers, but the adults can.

This is not the case for all people.
I reboot my computer every evening before I start playing.
I make sure that extra programs such as yahoo/msn/ messengers are closed out and not running. I do not have my email open either.
I do not use AOL at all.
I use plain only firefox to play VMK. I have no extras downloaded to it. No extra toolbars, media junk or anything like that.
I clean out my temp files before closing out firefox every night. Then, I clean out my temp files everytime after playing just 1 game of HM. I will also close out and clean out my temp files a couple times during the night.
I have no peripherals on either such as my speakers, my printer, etc. My scannner isn't even plugged into my computer.
As for all the extra little programs that are in the program manager, I don't know enough about computers to know what is absolutely necessary to keep my computer working properly.
I also have my computer scan for viruses and spyware during startup.

btw, my computer is 6 years old.
Now. What would you suggest I do without spending any money?

I agree with Happy on this one. I stink at pirates, so I will never see a crate if they put it there.
Yes I crash a ton in Mansion. But, at least I have a chance with the mansion game, in pirates I wouldn't have a prayer. I apologize again to anyone I play mansion with - I am not leaving games, I don't give up credits that easily!
True, pirate and mansion peeps can swap prizes if need be.
Pirates already gives out a ton of prizes. Thrones, Hats, Magic, Credits, Walls. Mansion has a chance to give out something, and the one single thing is a crate. Yay for that!

But, like mansion, you can play friendly pirates as long as you can find the people to do it with.
As for the prizes already given there, get rid of the hat. That should have been there only for pirates month. I can see the uses for the walls even though I don't need them anymore. And the thrones are long overdue to be replaced as well.

 

[mtlhddoc2]

stop using firefox is my first suggestion, it is a memory hog. Download IE7 is my second.

If you virus scanner is MacAfee or Norton, remove it and install "Avast!"

If you have MSN Messager or Yahoo Messager, disable them.

As far as what "should be running" well, nothing should be running! Anything that appears as an icon by your clock is not nessecary with the exception of mouse software, virus scanner and maybe a graphics card or something like that. I am sure there are ALOT of things you can do, such as clean up your hard drive to make sure you have at least 5 gig of free space on your C drive. Remove programs you do not use, or use infrequently, especially games. Uninstall any extral toolbars or addons you have on your machine (IE, Yahoo, Ebay, Google toolbars, Viewpoint addins)

 

[BattyMcDoon]

mtlhddoc2 - Do you have any suggestions for a Mac lap top user? I don't have problems crashing but I do have major problems freezing in game.

 

[mtlhddoc2]

qare you using Safari, or IE?

Unfortunately, MACs are a whole different animal. The only thing I could really suggest on a MAC is that if you are using IE, stop and use Safari. If you still have problems, it is one of three probable things: low Hard Drive space, low RAM and slow/inconsistent Internet Speed/Connection. Not all cable/DSL companies are the same, some are better than others as far as consistent speed and line drops and things. Worst case scenario, your MAC OS is kablooey - reinstalling the MAC OS will fix that in most cases.

 

[BattyMcDoon]

qare you using Safari, or IE?

Unfortunately, MACs are a whole different animal. The only thing I could really suggest on a MAC is that if you are using IE, stop and use Safari. If you still have problems, it is one of three probable things: low Hard Drive space, low RAM and slow/inconsistent Internet Speed/Connection. Not all cable/DSL companies are the same, some are better than others as far as consistent speed and line drops and things. Worst case scenario, your MAC OS is kablooey - reinstalling the MAC OS will fix that in most cases.

I use Safari and Firefox when I need to have to players on at once. I know for a fact my current connection is horrible because it is a public network and I have no way of changing that at the moment. I'm kind of new to the whole Mac world as I only just started using it for art purposes so I have no idea how to check on my hard drive space or ram and knowing alot about PC only seems to help some while using a Mac. lol

 

[mtlhddoc2]

what version of MAC OS is it?

I bet that wont matter though, I can say, with authority, that your issue is probably your connection. It freezes because your computer is not getting/trransferring enough data to and from the VMK servers. The big issue with the VMK software is that when it logs in, logs out or crashes, it memory spikes the computer, which causes freeezing hanging issues with alot of people