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MAFIA SPIRIT

Friday, June 1, 2012

VIP Membership Plan Updated And Changed

For those of you who Zynga deemed worthy enough to participate in the VIP Membership Plan (Many Still Do Not Have The Option) It has been updated. There are many changes to the VIP program as well. Oh Joys.

The banner below has not changed so if you looked just at it you would not notice anything unusual.

VIP Membership Benefits June 1 2012

You need to click on the ‘View Benefits’ button to see what has changed with the VIP Membership Plan.

VIP Benefits June 1 2012 I am not going to analyze each piece of information in the above image. I will ask this, though, who will be left playing this game in 19 months when those few players reach the ‘Titanium Benefits’ level? With less than 400,000 Daily Active Users (shown below) now and the continually declining player base coupled with this kind of a change/modification I, personally, do not see a true benefit in wasting one’s money on this at all.

DAU 6-1-2012 AppDatadotcom

Zynga needs to figure out ways to draw players back into the game before they institute such garbage because all this will likely succeed at is drive even more players away from the game.

I can only guess that the VIP Membership plan is Zynga’s attempt to do just that. Here is their description of the VIP Membership plan. Let’s See what you think;

VIP Membership Plan Description June 1 2012Here is what I took from it when I read it; 

VIP Membership Plan Description June 1 2012 Satire

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Fight List

These days, with so many quitting Mafia Wars, sometimes it appears that someone is attacking you for no reason, or that they are hitting you too often. Usually the person is playing the game just as you are, clicking on names on the fight list. They do not have anything against the player they are attacking, you’re just a target on the list and nothing more. They keep hitting because, like you, they need their daily ices. This can often take over 100 attacks to get the ice.
Due to the dwindling numbers of players, fight lists are more likely to have the same names on them more often. It’s easy logic when one thinks about it. If there’s only 1,000 playing in a city at a time, then the odds of a player being in the 20 on the fight list are greater than if 5,000 players are playing at that moment. This will not get better with the current rate that players are quitting the game.
Players attacking and being attacked by the same player can lead to conflict. “Why are you attacking me???” Sometimes, there might be a reason you are being attacked. Maybe you have been lucky enough to land on their Rivals list, or they saw that you had attacked or iced them. Perhaps your family is at war with their family. What do you do? Sometimes a friendly message to the attacker will stop the attacks, other times, it might take diplomatic help from your family. If you’re just a name on the fight list, send them a friend request, and get them into your mafia. This will keep you from appearing on their fight list.
If you have been placed on their Rivals list, and they are intent on attacking you, perhaps a common friend might ask them why, and act on your behalf. A lot of times the grudge that keeps you on the Rivals list is not worth a conflict with the common friend to the attacker, and will result in the attacker moving on.
If the attacks are due to your family being in a war with the attacker’s family, then there are 2 things to do… fight hard in the game, and look to your family’s admins to work it out with the other family. Let them know you are taking a beating, as your family members might be able to divert the attacker’s attention by attacking them. Wars can last a couple hours or go a few months. They are also the most exciting parts of the game.
As players have left Mafia Wars, it has become more a game about fighting than completing missions and projects. Names will show up more often on your “Fighters” list, as well as on the “Your Attackers” list. While getting attacked and iced is part of the game, one does want to minimize the attacks that are at them specifically, as opposed to being incidental from showing up on the random fight list.  

Guest article written by {M}WidowMaker, a contributor at http://mistyfiedmafiawars.blogspot.com/ 

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Mark Pincus – The Comedian

All Things DI was reading through my E-Mails when I came across something interesting. It was an E-Mail update from seekingalpha.com. Within the contents of the E-Mail I read “CEO Mark Pincus at the D10 conference isn't enough to keep his company from making new lows.”

I just had to find out more so I followed some links and came across an article on allthingsd.com that was written by Tricia Duryee and it was titled;

Zynga’s Mark Pincus Talks About His Management Style, Acquisitions and Mobile

Basically the article is an interview with Mark Pincus being interviewed by someone named Kara.

At first it seemed like your A-typical boring interview with planned responses from pre-scheduled questions. Then I came across some responses of Mark Pincus that just made me bust a nut. Here’s what cracked a rip in my britches;

Kara: The “potential”? I assume that most of your business will shift to mobile.

Mark: Let’s not forget the opportunity on PCs. A lot of the traffic happens when people are at work, on boring conference calls.

The three drivers of our business and market: Games becoming more free, accessible and social.

Just building audience brings revenue, though.

 

Final question: How do you lessen your attachment with Facebook?

Mark: There’s nothing stopping us from putting our games in other places. I have a 90-10 rule. When a platform can get you millions of daily active users, then that’s when you invest. Facebook has done that for some time, and now iOS and Android are just getting to that point. I think people have a latent interest in playing, and we will go anywhere where we can make it free, accessible and social.

Since nearly every feature in Mafia Wars requires some sort of demand or requirement for the purchase of RP’s, I don’t see it.

Ok, yes it is true that I can log into the game for free without having to buy a membership. Yes, I can click a few buttons that give an illusion that I am accomplishing something. Yes, I can participate in all the in-game events and tasks.

What I can’t do is keep up. I spend priceless amounts of my time trying to play this game while trying to get the tasks completed before a countdown clock reaches 0. I do not get to complete every mission in a timely manner. Since the Limited Time Properties have been modified to have 15 levels I haven’t completed a single property to its maximum level. My mission bar still has 2 active missions that are seemingly just sitting there. In fact, the Extreme Mission had to be changed since Zynga closed Italy. I can’t compete with those who do spend money – the ‘VIP’ members. I just ain’t important to Zynga!

DAU 5-29-2012 AppDatadotcom

And then what did you say about “building an audience bringing in revenue?” I can clearly see how that works in the above image. That is, chase everyone away from the game until only those who spend money for a slight advantage are left. Is that right? Co-bull-u-shit-gh Co-bull-u-shit-gh!

Now that Zynga (ZNGA) hit an all-time low with the cost per share of its stocks and is now worth $4.5 billion you might want to consider trying to find that audience that will bring you that revenue.

Thanks for the laugh Mr. Pincus.

Auld Lang Syne Sale

The Auld Lang Syne Sale Is Open.

Auld Lang Syne Sale is here!

Auld Lang Syne

Mobsters,

Auld Lang Syne Sale is here!

Purchase any 15 qualifying items* in the Marketplace to earn yourself an Amish Goon (203/118)*

Amish Goon

Sale items also include 4 limited items, including Jousting Lance (182/105), Cloak of Mail (105/182),V for Vintage (183/104) and Bone Awl (104/183). 

Jousting LanceCloak Of MailV For Vintage Bone Awl

Auld Lang Syne sale ends at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time) on 3rd June 2012, after which these exclusive items will no longer be available.

*Only items selling in the Marketplace are eligible for this reward. However, items selling for less than 5RP, Treasure Chest items and Skill Point Reallocation are not eligible for the prize.

Get these items today!

-The Mafia Wars Team

Auld Lang Syne Sale

Auld Lang Syne has many uses although it has become most recognized as the traditional signature song/poem that marks the ringing out of the old and bringing in of the new.

"Auld Lang Syne"

wikipedia

(Scots pronunciation: [ˈɔːl(d) lɑŋˈsəin]: note "s" rather than "z") is a Scots poem written by Robert Burnsin 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294). It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight. By extension, it is also sung at funerals, graduations and as a farewell or ending to other occasions.

As well as celebrating the New Year, Auld Lang Syne is very widely used to symbolise other "endings/new beginnings" – including farewells, funerals, graduations, the end of a (non-New Year) party or a Boy Scout gathering, the election of a new government, the last lowering of the Union Jack as a British Colony achieves independence and even the closing of a retail store. The melody is also widely used for other words, especially the songs of sporting and other clubs, and even national anthems. In Scotland and other parts of Britain, in particular, it is associated with celebrations and memorials of Robert Burns.

Auld Lang Syne Old Times Be Forgot Lyrics

A more modern version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ was released in 1980 and sung by the late, great, singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg. Fogelbergs version was titled ‘Same Old Lang Syne’. 

Same Auld Lang Syne Lyrics Dan Fogelberg

What does all this have to do with Mafia Wars? We don’t rightly know. Many are speculating that Zynga is sending us hidden messages that the game may be on it’s last leg. And it may very well be. But remember that ‘Auld Lang Syne’ can also represents the bringing in of the new. We, therefore, could just as easily speculate that changes may soon come to Mafia Wars. Remember back around April 10, 2012 Zynga had suggested Avatars as a possible feature for Mafia Wars. We will have to wait and see.

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