Player rewards: what would you find fair?

[Scythemantis]

The staff has hinted a few times that they're working on some sort of reward system for players who have been around a while, and it was even implied to be some sort of compensation for the mass revamps. Unfortunately, they've also been taking their sweet time and said they may not even be able to do it. Feh!

What do you think would be both rewarding and fair for players with older accounts? What would you want within reason for being a player for over a year? Two years? Six years?


If it were up to me, I'd say every player should get some sort of special point or token on the anniversary of their account's creation, which they could cash in at a special shop. Some sensible prizes could be:

-Any one color change.

-Any one species morph, with some new species only available in this manner (perhaps some of the april fool's species)

-Unlock one alternate pet pose (old-style grey, darigan, faerie, and an assortment of new exclusives, provided you have that color)

-Lab ray activation without the lab map.

-Permanent protection for one pet against color-changing or harmful random events.

-A "color closet", allowing you to save colors that your pets have previously been and re-apply them as you please.

Some of these would cost a year, others quite a few.

[Byakuya San]

Although many of those would be nice, they don't seem that reasonable. I would like to see old poses unlockable, though.

I'm thinking more along the lines of special items and trophies. Maybe even access to a resort-style world which is upgraded as your account ages. For example, a 1-year old account would get a simple room in a lodge, and in each of the coming months they could go to a swimming pool, restaurant, gift shop, etc., where they could feed their pets, increase their happiness/intelligence, and buy exclusive items. Then, with each year, you would get upgraded to a fancier room with more benefits. Maybe exclusive clothes could show up in the closet of the new room, and the quality would depend on how well you participated in site events that year. Of course, this is just an idea that I came up with off the top of my head, so it could probably use some tweaking.

[Skynetmain]

I don't know what an appropriate 'older player' age would be, but at least a couple years should be the standard.

As for rewards, you did a great list.

If it were up to me, I'd say every player should get some sort of special point or token on the anniversary of their account's creation, which they could cash in at a special shop. Some sensible prizes could be:

-Any one color change.

-Unlock one alternate pet pose (old-style grey, darigan, faerie, and an assortment of new exclusives, provided you have that color)

-Lab ray activation without the lab map.

-A "color closet", allowing you to save colors that your pets have previously been and re-apply them as you please.

Those would be great!

[Phlameseeker]

The colour closet sounds awesome, but it would have to be one of the TOP prizes. Also, how would the lab affect it? Cos otherwise people could use the lab to train their painted pets, and not worry about the colour change consequences?

When did TNT mention this btw *been out of the loop for a while *

[TDG]

The colour closet sounds awesome, but it would have to be one of the TOP prizes. Also, how would the lab affect it? Cos otherwise people could use the lab to train their painted pets, and not worry about the colour change consequences?

When did TNT mention this btw *been out of the loop for a while *

They've been hinting at it recently, but I'm still reminded of issue 189 when they blatantly said that there would be rewards coming soon. As we're currently on Issue 321, I'm not holding my breath.

[Phlameseeker]

Cool, cheers for the animated explanation How long you guys been around then? 70 months myself

[TDG]

Cool, cheers for the animated explanation How long you guys been around then? 70 months myself

Just under 61 months for me

[Scythemantis]

Some I came up with may seem a little far-fetched, but remember we're talking about a year of living or more!

Course, maybe just exclusive stuff would be better. Pet species, items and colors only available to older accounts, but not, say, free robot and darigan pets for older accounts.

You know what would be really fun? The ability to attach any item you own as a petpet, say for a single point. There was a glitch once that allowed people to do just that, so it's not impossible coding or anything.

[Mongrel]

The ability to attach any item you own as a petpet, say for a single point. There was a glitch once that allowed people to do just that, so it's not impossible coding or anything.

Fun, but prone to abuse. You could attach expensive items to protect them from REs, or attach dung and the zap it with the PPLR to get avatars.

-Unlock one alternate pet pose (old-style grey, darigan, faerie, and an assortment of new exclusives, provided you have that color)

Unfortunately, we all know this one's never going to happen. There was too much push for customization, so we're only going to get standardized poses.

-Lab ray activation without the lab map.

No. Just please no. It would cheapen the lab map's non-Neopoint value. Right now, pride and a feeling of heightened status come with getting the lab map. Give that to anyone over a certain age--even if that age is six or seven years--and it loses that value.

-A "color closet", allowing you to save colors that your pets have previously been and re-apply them as you please.

While I can see upsides to this, I also see downsides. My preference would be a "coat remover" option, where you can take off only the last color applied.

-Any one color change.

-Any one species morph, with some new species only available in this manner (perhaps some of the april fool's species)

-Permanent protection for one pet against color-changing or harmful random events.

I do like these, particularly the color insurance.

For my own suggestion, I've always thought that making a fifth pet slot available after a year or two would be great. With the account purge date set at two years, perhaps opening up a fifth pet slot(for 50,000 NP or so) after two years would be a good user loyalty reward, and keep five from becoming the new four.

[Cerise]

My account's 80 months old, and Id be happy with a neat little avatar or decent looking sidebar being given for each year of playing. Exclusive colors and pets would be pretty fancy too.

As long as it didnt give a huge NP advantage to older players, just about anything would be fair. All you'd have to do to get any of the rewards would be stick around and follow the rules. No need to buy anything with real money, or have a fast computer or lots of NP. Im sure any kind of reward would be whined at by newer players though.

[Kenjiro]

Speaking as a relative newcomer, account age shouldn't be the only thing to judge 'veteran' players on. A player that has been around for like 2-3 years and plays it every day should deserve the same as a player with 6+ years who only logs on once a month..

[May]

I don't think that older players should be rewarded with anything that currently exists on the Neopets site because then it's unfair to the people who have worked hard to get those things.

Instead, perhaps create certain items to be rewarded to players at certain times. I think a non-trade petpet would be nice (like the new users get those cardboard petpets).

[Pudding]

I'd really like a fifth pet slot--I've been around long enough to remember when we got the fourth, and they heavily implied that the fifth slot would be coming soon. That was in early 2000.

Alternatively, a new daily for long-time players would be sparky. It wouldn't have to give out anything spectacular: I'd love mildly-useless items with Neopets in-jokes from back in the day.

Heck, I'd be pretty happy if my shield were just updated. It'll be two years off this month.

[Scythemantis]

The ability to attach any item you own as a petpet, say for a single point. There was a glitch once that allowed people to do just that, so it's not impossible coding or anything.

Fun, but prone to abuse. You could attach expensive items to protect them from REs, or attach dung and the zap it with the PPLR to get avatars.[/quote]

Wait...how do either of those constitute abuse? You can protect any item from RE's by just putting them in your shop, trading post or deposit box. Same thing. And you can attach any cheapo petpet to get avatars.

-Unlock one alternate pet pose (old-style grey, darigan, faerie, and an assortment of new exclusives, provided you have that color)

Unfortunately, we all know this one's never going to happen. There was too much push for customization, so we're only going to get standardized poses.[/quote]

Players were allowed to keep certain older styles if they already owned the pet.

No. Just please no. It would cheapen the lab map's non-Neopoint value. Right now, pride and a feeling of heightened status come with getting the lab map. Give that to anyone over a certain age--even if that age is six or seven years--and it loses that value.

Isn't that a little....snooty? Status is such an abstract concept, and I don't see how "status" can make a difference here. The lab ray is just a tool. Back in the day, it was only worth 30,000 neopoints anyway.

[Mongrel]

Wait...how do either of those constitute abuse? You can protect any item from RE's by just putting them in your shop, trading post or deposit box. Same thing. And you can attach any cheapo petpet to get avatars.

Well, the purpose of attaching a random item would be "fun." Using it for any other purpose would be abuse.

Players were allowed to keep certain older styles if they already owned the pet.

But that was only a concession to longtime players. The implication behind everything they've said and done since then is that we're getting only the customization pets.

Isn't that a little....snooty? Status is such an abstract concept, and I don't see how "status" can make a difference here. The lab ray is just a tool. Back in the day, it was only worth 30,000 neopoints anyway.

Right now, the lab ray is a symbol of an achieved status. Anyone can get the lab ray so long as they expend the time and effort on the site. I remember working for a long time to earn enough for the lab map, and how proud I was of getting it. If anyone could get the map by logging in once a year, I lose that pride. So do the other users who sniped pieces and watched the Auction House carefully and worked for a long time to earn the points for it.