Growtopia's annual events are a large part of the game and allow for the developers to add themed items for these events, enticing players to log on and enjoy the event before it's over. However, over this past year, it seems more and more apparent that annual events are taking the bigger load on content for the month's update. I don't exactly find this healthy for the game because it creates an unhealthy aspect of 'FOMO' (fear of missing out) and doesn't greatly benefit the depth to the game since annual events are annual and temporary.
In regards to holidays, Hamumu said this in 2016:
(from this thread)
I know that the developers of Ubisoft are different people to the previous developers with different attitudes, ideas, motives, etc., but the point still stands. Permanent content is better than temporary content - you may entice players into Growtopia through these fun and engaging annual events, but these events are limited to 7~ days of an entire month. People want to do more things in general than only during specific time-periods.
Temporary content does break up the cycle of gameplay players experience which is absolutely healthy, but the extent of prioritisation of these events over general content updates doesn't actually develop, add to, or change the cycle of gameplay in the first place. Annual events don't need to be swept under the rug, but they shouldn't be the only content for the month. Yes, we also get the IOTM and the Subscriber's item, but they also have temporary availability.
Currently, the game feels like "play during week(s) of event, then stop until the next one happens." We're excited for new content, especially for the new upcoming new feature mentioned, but improving the general content of the game and old features should be the priority over annual events, or at equal. The roadmap is definitely a way to go for transparency of Growtopia and things to look forward, and I know that this list of priorities is for the next couple of months, but I feel that permanent content such as new features (like Card PVP and Startopia) and improving and developing older content (like Blocktor's Orders and Startopia 2.0) are much more valued. I found that the month of June 2019 was nearly perfect, which started off with improvements and balancing to the Pandemic (improving older features), had Super Pineapple Party (annual event) and also Blocktor's Orders (new feature/improving older features).
In regards to holidays, Hamumu said this in 2016:
Originally posted by Hamumu
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I know that the developers of Ubisoft are different people to the previous developers with different attitudes, ideas, motives, etc., but the point still stands. Permanent content is better than temporary content - you may entice players into Growtopia through these fun and engaging annual events, but these events are limited to 7~ days of an entire month. People want to do more things in general than only during specific time-periods.
Temporary content does break up the cycle of gameplay players experience which is absolutely healthy, but the extent of prioritisation of these events over general content updates doesn't actually develop, add to, or change the cycle of gameplay in the first place. Annual events don't need to be swept under the rug, but they shouldn't be the only content for the month. Yes, we also get the IOTM and the Subscriber's item, but they also have temporary availability.
Currently, the game feels like "play during week(s) of event, then stop until the next one happens." We're excited for new content, especially for the new upcoming new feature mentioned, but improving the general content of the game and old features should be the priority over annual events, or at equal. The roadmap is definitely a way to go for transparency of Growtopia and things to look forward, and I know that this list of priorities is for the next couple of months, but I feel that permanent content such as new features (like Card PVP and Startopia) and improving and developing older content (like Blocktor's Orders and Startopia 2.0) are much more valued. I found that the month of June 2019 was nearly perfect, which started off with improvements and balancing to the Pandemic (improving older features), had Super Pineapple Party (annual event) and also Blocktor's Orders (new feature/improving older features).
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