Non-Disney Online Games Virtual Family Kingdom Thread

[whs_singingrose]

no beta shirt here either.

 

[Blackfaer]

yay I have my name! I'm not a guest anymore!

I have to say, I think people are seriously over-reacting to nothing. Reading through the last several pages of posts, one person posted a vague mention of something said in passing, and by 2 pages later people were ready to sue the VFK people for false advertising, or at least give up on VFK entirely.

Right now, we've got a small group of people taking time out of their lives to try and create something to fill the void VMK has left. They're working like crazy to get this thing running and when you consider the timeline that a typical professional game company with dozens of employees work on for a game of this level of complexity, they're doing amazingly well. Remember that these people have no corporate backing, they're doing this in their free time.

Perhaps, hindsight being 20/20, it might have been better if they asked for Beta testers to be adults. But they had no idea of the numbers they would get or the problems they would run into. And considering that the whole point was making up for how bad everyone felt about VMK leaving, I hardly think it would have made them any friends if they had so done. Instead of people complaining about how the whole game is not kid-friendly (which quite frankly I don't see) we'd have people complaining that they don't let kids play.

Most of the complaints are about things that we're guessing at. We have post after post of people complaining about paying for parental controls, without anyone knowing the first thing as to what that might mean. A passing comment like that certainly doesn't mean they're going to make it unsafe for anyone who doesn't pay! We don't even know what that might mean!

We have people complaining about the lack of response, or the less-than-secure login - while these are reasonable concerns, again, this is BETA testing - not a finished game - and if you're concerned about those things, don't be a Beta tester. Wait for the game to be completed. Beta testing used to mean exactly what this is - not Alpha testing, as some have argued. Beta testing has for decades been a process of getting outside involvement in running through the programming to find bugs that the developers don't find because they don't think of the creative things people try or they don't have the software or hardware that causes conflicts. If you look at older games, Beta Testers get credits at the end, and there's usually just a few of them, like 5-20. They're usually required to sign non-disclosure agreements and have to promise to put in a certain number of hours to test out all the glitches. To expect full service and proper security at this point would be asking a lot of a typical company, let alone a group of programmers trying to do something in their spare time.

I love the people on this board, and there are many great comments and all, but I'm getting tired of so many posters looking at all the people with VMK and/or VFK as some horrible corporate evil monster that's out to get our children molested. One big concern is that they came on and ADVERTISED their plans on the forum, a clear violation of the rules! Looked at another way, a couple of people with a plan to ease our suffering by creating a replacement for VMK, who also happened to be members of this forum, came into the forum where their friends are and told us all about their plan so that we might be slightly less sad. How evil and horrible! They should be shot!

I guess all I'm saying is, cut them a little slack! This is not some sick plan to steal your children or your identity. This is a few good people trying to help, and they're making the occasional mistake. Give them some time before you condemn them!

Why do you think Disney VMK was so tight-lipped about everything? It's because every time someone let something slip (like Sarah's comment about future pay-for-play programs) the rumour mill immediately started churning out conspiracy theories. If you appreciate how much harder Sarah and their team are working to keep us informed, please don't undermine their efforts by contributing to these outraged reactions when rumours start off supposition. At least wait until you actually hear what they're planning before you start lambasting them.

I'm sorry for those who don't agree or still suspect some ulterior motive, but all the evidence points to them being completely aboveboard volunteers out to try and make us happy. Yes, they plan to eventually make money off of it - hardly an evil motive considering they're family people just like us who are investing not only their time but their savings (or their credit) to get this off the ground. 8000 people on at once adds up to many thousands of $ in bandwidth and server expenses; one of the reasons Disney shut down VMK. I know many of you have no concept of the expense of such an undertaking, but I can guarantee that Disney was paying literally millions of dollars a year for VMK's operation. It's not as simple as some people seem to think.

I'm sorry if anyone feels like this is a flame or a rant, but I'm getting really tired of all the angry posts I've been reading when there's nothing to be angry about. I imagine some of it is just misdirected from the pain we all feel at the loss of VMK, and I know safety of kids is a pretty major hot button. But if you look at what has actually happened so far, VFK has not done anything to make kids unsafe; most of what people are upset about is entirely based on wild guesses as to what the future might hold, or assigning ulteriour motives due to lack of knowledge. Let's just bring some objectivity to the discussion, okay?

 

[wenyeva]

Well said, Blackfaer.

About the beta shirts -- as I mentioned before, they they aren't in the inventories now. I logged in for a moment when they were available, and chose the shirt. Then they took them away again, but I still have the shirt on. That is why you may see a couple of people wearing them -- I think everyone who has them logged on during the brief time last night when they were available. But they aren't available now, and I bet if I change out of mine I won't be able to get it back until they give them back to everyone, because it's not listed in my inventory any more either.

They have said that the shirts will reappear, so be patient.

It is kind of disturbing how many people are friending me because of the t-shirt...

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Woot! Hanging out with Fin and Candle! And Fin remembers me, I feel special

 

[Mnementh]

I like to give the benefit of the doubt most times. I'm sure the VFK staff had intended to include all of the important stuff in the game that everyone says is missing (a fully functional report box, etc.). I think VMK's closing caught them off guard and they decided they should release it as is for our sakes. Maybe it was a mistake to release it so soon without all of these safety features, but I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they had us in mind when they decided to open the game too soon so we would have somewhere to keep our friendships alive.

 

[snowgracefulstone]

yay I have my name! I'm not a guest anymore!

I have to say, I think people are seriously over-reacting to nothing. Reading through the last several pages of posts, one person posted a vague mention of something said in passing, and by 2 pages later people were ready to sue the VFK people for false advertising, or at least give up on VFK entirely.

Right now, we've got a small group of people taking time out of their lives to try and create something to fill the void VMK has left. They're working like crazy to get this thing running and when you consider the timeline that a typical professional game company with dozens of employees work on for a game of this level of complexity, they're doing amazingly well. Remember that these people have no corporate backing, they're doing this in their free time.

Perhaps, hindsight being 20/20, it might have been better if they asked for Beta testers to be adults. But they had no idea of the numbers they would get or the problems they would run into. And considering that the whole point was making up for how bad everyone felt about VMK leaving, I hardly think it would have made them any friends if they had so done. Instead of people complaining about how the whole game is not kid-friendly (which quite frankly I don't see) we'd have people complaining that they don't let kids play.

Most of the complaints are about things that we're guessing at. We have post after post of people complaining about paying for parental controls, without anyone knowing the first thing as to what that might mean. A passing comment like that certainly doesn't mean they're going to make it unsafe for anyone who doesn't pay! We don't even know what that might mean!

We have people complaining about the lack of response, or the less-than-secure login - while these are reasonable concerns, again, this is BETA testing - not a finished game - and if you're concerned about those things, don't be a Beta tester. Wait for the game to be completed. Beta testing used to mean exactly what this is - not Alpha testing, as some have argued. Beta testing has for decades been a process of getting outside involvement in running through the programming to find bugs that the developers don't find because they don't think of the creative things people try or they don't have the software or hardware that causes conflicts. If you look at older games, Beta Testers get credits at the end, and there's usually just a few of them, like 5-20. They're usually required to sign non-disclosure agreements and have to promise to put in a certain number of hours to test out all the glitches. To expect full service and proper security at this point would be asking a lot of a typical company, let alone a group of programmers trying to do something in their spare time.

I love the people on this board, and there are many great comments and all, but I'm getting tired of so many posters looking at all the people with VMK and/or VFK as some horrible corporate evil monster that's out to get our children molested. One big concern is that they came on and ADVERTISED their plans on the forum, a clear violation of the rules! Looked at another way, a couple of people with a plan to ease our suffering by creating a replacement for VMK, who also happened to be members of this forum, came into the forum where their friends are and told us all about their plan so that we might be slightly less sad. How evil and horrible! They should be shot!

I guess all I'm saying is, cut them a little slack! This is not some sick plan to steal your children or your identity. This is a few good people trying to help, and they're making the occasional mistake. Give them some time before you condemn them!

Why do you think Disney VMK was so tight-lipped about everything? It's because every time someone let something slip (like Sarah's comment about future pay-for-play programs) the rumour mill immediately started churning out conspiracy theories. If you appreciate how much harder Sarah and their team are working to keep us informed, please don't undermine their efforts by contributing to these outraged reactions when rumours start off supposition. At least wait until you actually hear what they're planning before you start lambasting them.

I'm sorry for those who don't agree or still suspect some ulterior motive, but all the evidence points to them being completely aboveboard volunteers out to try and make us happy. Yes, they plan to eventually make money off of it - hardly an evil motive considering they're family people just like us who are investing not only their time but their savings (or their credit) to get this off the ground. 8000 people on at once adds up to many thousands of $ in bandwidth and server expenses; one of the reasons Disney shut down VMK. I know many of you have no concept of the expense of such an undertaking, but I can guarantee that Disney was paying literally millions of dollars a year for VMK's operation. It's not as simple as some people seem to think.

I'm sorry if anyone feels like this is a flame or a rant, but I'm getting really tired of all the angry posts I've been reading when there's nothing to be angry about. I imagine some of it is just misdirected from the pain we all feel at the loss of VMK, and I know safety of kids is a pretty major hot button. But if you look at what has actually happened so far, VFK has not done anything to make kids unsafe; most of what people are upset about is entirely based on wild guesses as to what the future might hold, or assigning ulteriour motives due to lack of knowledge. Let's just bring some objectivity to the discussion, okay?

amen blackfaer, thanks for taking the time to post exactly what i have been thinking but have been too lazy and aggravated to type, I havent been posting here lately because it seems like all the excitement of beta testing is gone (remember all the laughs the first couple of days?) and this thread had just become to negative for me Heres hoping this will help bring the fun back into the testing

 

[lindseysmomma]

yay I have my name! I'm not a guest anymore!

I have to say, I think people are seriously over-reacting to nothing. Reading through the last several pages of posts, one person posted a vague mention of something said in passing, and by 2 pages later people were ready to sue the VFK people for false advertising, or at least give up on VFK entirely.

Right now, we've got a small group of people taking time out of their lives to try and create something to fill the void VMK has left. They're working like crazy to get this thing running and when you consider the timeline that a typical professional game company with dozens of employees work on for a game of this level of complexity, they're doing amazingly well. Remember that these people have no corporate backing, they're doing this in their free time.

Perhaps, hindsight being 20/20, it might have been better if they asked for Beta testers to be adults. But they had no idea of the numbers they would get or the problems they would run into. And considering that the whole point was making up for how bad everyone felt about VMK leaving, I hardly think it would have made them any friends if they had so done. Instead of people complaining about how the whole game is not kid-friendly (which quite frankly I don't see) we'd have people complaining that they don't let kids play.

Most of the complaints are about things that we're guessing at. We have post after post of people complaining about paying for parental controls, without anyone knowing the first thing as to what that might mean. A passing comment like that certainly doesn't mean they're going to make it unsafe for anyone who doesn't pay! We don't even know what that might mean!

We have people complaining about the lack of response, or the less-than-secure login - while these are reasonable concerns, again, this is BETA testing - not a finished game - and if you're concerned about those things, don't be a Beta tester. Wait for the game to be completed. Beta testing used to mean exactly what this is - not Alpha testing, as some have argued. Beta testing has for decades been a process of getting outside involvement in running through the programming to find bugs that the developers don't find because they don't think of the creative things people try or they don't have the software or hardware that causes conflicts. If you look at older games, Beta Testers get credits at the end, and there's usually just a few of them, like 5-20. They're usually required to sign non-disclosure agreements and have to promise to put in a certain number of hours to test out all the glitches. To expect full service and proper security at this point would be asking a lot of a typical company, let alone a group of programmers trying to do something in their spare time.

I love the people on this board, and there are many great comments and all, but I'm getting tired of so many posters looking at all the people with VMK and/or VFK as some horrible corporate evil monster that's out to get our children molested. One big concern is that they came on and ADVERTISED their plans on the forum, a clear violation of the rules! Looked at another way, a couple of people with a plan to ease our suffering by creating a replacement for VMK, who also happened to be members of this forum, came into the forum where their friends are and told us all about their plan so that we might be slightly less sad. How evil and horrible! They should be shot!

I guess all I'm saying is, cut them a little slack! This is not some sick plan to steal your children or your identity. This is a few good people trying to help, and they're making the occasional mistake. Give them some time before you condemn them!

Why do you think Disney VMK was so tight-lipped about everything? It's because every time someone let something slip (like Sarah's comment about future pay-for-play programs) the rumour mill immediately started churning out conspiracy theories. If you appreciate how much harder Sarah and their team are working to keep us informed, please don't undermine their efforts by contributing to these outraged reactions when rumours start off supposition. At least wait until you actually hear what they're planning before you start lambasting them.

I'm sorry for those who don't agree or still suspect some ulterior motive, but all the evidence points to them being completely aboveboard volunteers out to try and make us happy. Yes, they plan to eventually make money off of it - hardly an evil motive considering they're family people just like us who are investing not only their time but their savings (or their credit) to get this off the ground. 8000 people on at once adds up to many thousands of $ in bandwidth and server expenses; one of the reasons Disney shut down VMK. I know many of you have no concept of the expense of such an undertaking, but I can guarantee that Disney was paying literally millions of dollars a year for VMK's operation. It's not as simple as some people seem to think.

I'm sorry if anyone feels like this is a flame or a rant, but I'm getting really tired of all the angry posts I've been reading when there's nothing to be angry about. I imagine some of it is just misdirected from the pain we all feel at the loss of VMK, and I know safety of kids is a pretty major hot button. But if you look at what has actually happened so far, VFK has not done anything to make kids unsafe; most of what people are upset about is entirely based on wild guesses as to what the future might hold, or assigning ulteriour motives due to lack of knowledge. Let's just bring some objectivity to the discussion, okay?

 

[SharkMeal]

VFK_Dragon said the Beta shirts will be in our inventory when Beta is over

She told me that too. She was in my backyard lol.

*hisses at everyone* my backyard!

 

[the_jedi_master]

I think beta should have been only Beta 1-3 at the most maybe 4.

 

[SharkMeal]

I think beta should have been only Beta 1-3 at the most maybe 4.

Yeah there are still too many people for the servers to handle even with there
4 day upgrade..

VFK just caused so much lag it froze my whole computer and i had to reboot.

 

[aengus]

I thought most of the complaints were derrived from

repeated broken promises
failure to respond to help calls
changing their position on pay to play
and a legitimate question they opened themselves up to of whether the final product is indeed a game for children/families

 

[swimmingneno]

a little to many shadows here:

 

[Dreamytime]

I thought most of the complaints were derrived from

repeated broken promises
failure to respond to help calls
changing their position on pay to play
and a legitimate question they opened themselves up to of whether the final product is indeed a game for children/families

1) Promises: Everyone knows (and if you read back a couple pages you will read a nicely worded post about intentions) that we all have good intentions, yet sometimes those are unrealistic. I believe this is the case here...they want to give us everything we want and are asking hosts and begging through email. I believe that some of the things are just unrealistic, and apparently they are seeing that as well. Like today for example, they waited to open to do some more things to the product. They will probably take it down and tweak again sometime during the day.

2) Help Calls: over 15k in guest names...I am thinking that they have been inundated with help calls from real issues to when am I going to get my name, and where is my shirt and why can I log in but not so-in-so. Seems they are working not only on a budget of money but of people as well.

3) Pay-to-Play: The position has always been this..in the sign-up that we had from the beginning....even when we were going round and round and finally silenced about talking about the game at all. Hosts said 'no pay-to-play'. But these are the same hosts who were clueless that VMK was closing until they read the newsletter. Hosts are glorified players....just a rung or so above you and I.

4) Is it for family or not: According to their constitution and their website - yes. We (the royal 'we' as I have been silent) have been suppositioning all day long about their pay-to-play parental options because of a Host's response to a Dis Member. Like I said before, I truly think that in the scheme of things the Hosts are learning just like us and have limited knowledge beyond what we do. Mostly they are in game right now to make us feel comfortable and give us the homey feeling of VMK. Were they ready to open doors for business? Heck no. Not even close. But I know that when I got on VFK, after crying my eyes out all night because of the loss of my beloved game, that was the first moment of happiness I felt in a while.

I am verbose I know. My point is...be patient. Don't surmise, suppose, and (uh looking for another S word to finish my alliteration here....) suspect (muahaha I found one) until we get out of Beta.

If you are concerned about the kiddies, then lock up the thread. But we are doing Toons and Pirates which are both violent (and you CAN say a lot there, believe me, I play Pirates), GAIA which when I visited is not a kiddie friendly game, and other games...including sending us to a Beta testing site where there are tons of Mature games.

I love each and every one of you....... My Dis Family and the only forum I have coming to my mailbox. But gosh, I am SOooooooo tired of the negativism. Cut them some slack. I know I had to eat some crow from my questioning of whether they were legitimate. I was considering the thousands of dollars and man-hours that it takes to put together such a site. But they are doing it...investing THEIR time, THEIR money and THEIR man-hours.

Give them a chance and be positive...after all they don't have to do this...then where would we all be?

 

[aengus]

OK well patience doesn't cover the fact they have edited their prior updates yesterday on their website. Why would anyone edit previous date posts? thats kind of suspicious no? They edited posts from last week is what I mean, and this was done yesterday.

 

[goldengourd]

amen blackfaer, thanks for taking the time to post exactly what i have been thinking but have been too lazy and aggravated to type, I havent been posting here lately because it seems like all the excitement of beta testing is gone (remember all the laughs the first couple of days?) and this thread had just become to negative for me Heres hoping this will help bring the fun back into the testing

I agree. I haven't even been reading this thread for awhile because so much of it is Whining and Complaining. I just scanned through today to catch up. And because I miss all my friends. I will continue to follow VFK through its beta phase and just judge it on its own offerings. Not for what I lost from VMK's death. I will miss VMK. However, this other game might be fun and with friendship companionship. But it will never be VMK, and I WILL NOT continue to judge it as such, but rather judge it for what it is and might be someday. I guess I'm just a little further along on the grief process than some. I've accepted and moved on. Any more than I expect my current dog to be the same dog as I lost a few years ago, do I expect this game to be the same as the Disney Magic. VFK is still better than playing Spider Solitaire endlessly....

 

[Dreamytime]

OK well patience doesn't cover the fact they have edited their prior updates yesterday on their website. Why would anyone edit previous date posts? thats kind of suspicious no? They edited posts from last week is what I mean, and this was done yesterday.

I notice that they are not as 'girly' anymore...well....(no offense to any middle school girls reading this) but it doesn't sound like it is written by a 9th grade girl anymore. Personally I found the previous posts, prior to editing, were more suspicious than the ones now. You know what I am meaning. We tend to skip over the posts which are poorly worded, have misspellings and lack grammar. We banish the poster forever as uneducated and therefore uninformed. Or, conversely, in my own dealings with WDIG, I wondered how someone, who is getting thousands of dollars more than I will ever see in my yearly salary, could lack the writing skills of the 9th grade girl above. Spell-check anyone?

Do you believe the true intent of the posts has changed or just the vocabulary has been lifted from middle school level to something a business might like an investing/advertising company to see?

 

[aengus]

I notice that they are not as 'girly' anymore...well....(no offense to any girls reading this) but it doesn't sound like it is written by a 9th grade girl anymore. Personally I found the previous posts, prior to editing, were more suspicious than the ones now. You know what I am meaning. We tend to skip over the posts which are poorly worded, have misspellings and lack grammar. We banish the poster forever as uneducated and therefore uninformed. Or, conversely, in my own dealings with WDIG, I wondered how someone who is getting thousands of dollars more than I will ever see in my yearly salary could lack the writing skills of the 9th grade girl above. Spell-check anyone?

Do you believe the true intent of the posts have changed or just the vocabulary has been lifted from middle school level to something a business might like an investing, advertising company to see?

They removed all the information relating to what they were promising us and when they would deliver it.

 

[SkippyPaul]

I know everyone has tried to be patient with this game. But its just to many "iffy" things here. First theres the security issue. IMO younger peeps have no business in that game right now. And the ppl at VFK should have recognized that from the get go. The little bit Ive been in the game so far, everything is to sporatic. Lets work on connection issues for a few hours, then work on giving the girls new clothes, then lets run to staples for a new router and swing by walmart for another handful of beta tee's. Its drivin my add off the scale. So luckily Sweet and I got involved in another game because something Sara said last nite didnt sit well with me. And can someone answer WHY Sara seems so familiar to me. I know we know her. Idk who she is and its not important but something about her last nite seemed to familiar to me.
Hang in there I guess.

 

[Belle1997]

I think we understand this is beta (well alpha ) and they have run into complications that I do not believe are broken promises

They never changed their position in my view. I read the rules and what they are thinking it did state possible fees for enhanced stuff

I also do believe this will stay a free sight but you can purchase extra stuff. Most of the "Free" sites do this. And so did disney pirate pins anyone?

In park only quest sure left the people /families that could not effort the park passes for Disney out. But could still trade for the items. Why you think this can not work in VFK.

And yes the question about what parent controls will be there that are free versus the extra. As I put out suggestions of what enhanced features would be.

IE full chat log on what you child is saying on VFK. I have no idea. But I am sure many parents would like to know what there kids are really doing on this site.

But we know nothing is ever free really.

Yes they maybe should have waited to open it. I think it is fine what they did.

It made the transition less painful I think. I will not judge until I see the final product.

We are all making assumptions trying to read between the lines. I think we are actually too negative with really no backing behind it.

Yes the communications could be more thorough. But I would hate to be in their shoes right now.

If they did not open in time many would have said see it was a scam.

So they did open but not ready they are incompetent.

I figure they are darn if they do and darn with they don't.

I do not get it. I sat in the car ride home tonight and tried to talk out my feeling with my hubby. I guess I see them as the underdogs I always vote for the underdogs. Yes they started off on the wrong foot with many. Gee the person who has not be openlying been excited about a project or made decision based on their hearts not their heads and made some bad decisons. You have a special place in this world. Because I do believe we have all made these mistakes.

Nice thing about mistakes you can always work to never make them again. And make sure you try even harder to improve yourself.

I agree be cautious but are we not really starting rumours, creating concerns that might not even be their. Jumping to conclusions or trying to see all aspects which is really just guess work.

Maybe I am just too naive. I guess because I would never think of scamming someone I never think others are scamming me. (though I do know it exists)

I guess I believe in the goodwill of people first. I do believe these people are taking a big risk to get this to work.

I am sure their families have suffered. They see a need they are trying to create what is missing for us. If in the end they make money from it I see nothing wrong from that if it becomes the high quality game they are hoping for.

I really wish I could understand why so many negative thinkers. Where would be be if this was not even a possible option. I will take possible over nothing right now.

So my opinion is if this is a issue for you. Stay away and watch how it develops you have lost nothing. By waiting.


I remember a story about a man who bought up swamp land in florida with fake companies (or companies that really did not do anything) I guess when Walt was doing this he was scamming us all.

As for the kids who are not supervised that is a shame because there are alot more dangerous sites out there for them to get involved with.

On most forum boards we chat openly but we do not really know most of the people. We have no idea if a persons identity is real, I for one would never let my child partipate in any forum board without me watching their pms. I do believe Dis a safe site. Many safe guards are in place. Many adults look out for the kids we know do not have proper adult supervision. That is why I am proud to be a member of Dis.

I never thought about this but my hubby said about my Zeta gals. How do you really know they are all females. If you have not met all of them. I could not answer that. I said well you can tell but can we really?

I am just saying you can say this about most places on the net today. So when we look for things wrong we are bound to fine them in everything we do.

 

[snowgracefulstone]

They removed all the information relating to what they were promising us and when they would deliver it.

Just my opinion here but could that have something to do with the fact that they realized that the promises they were making were unrealistic?? and maybe something to do with the slamming they were taking on this board from that. To me, too many people are attempting to hold them to the same standards that we tried (and failed) to hold vmk too, vmk very often promised us something and didnt deliver on time or at all (can anyone say tcg?) and that was a three year old website from a well established company, this is a group of people who have never done this before who so far are only doing it to give us (vmk refugees) a place to hang out. Everyone needs to chill out and remember how to say "Thank You!!". If you find their motivation or methods suspicious, dont play! Its simple.