Home › Forums › Angry Birds Transformers Forum › Reassessing my life. OMG, what have I done? › Reply To: Reassessing my life. OMG, what have I done?
So, I hear what everyone is saying and can’t agree more. I started ABT when it was in beta. I lost my data twice when Rovio “updated”. Considering where I am in the game right now, I would have everything maxed probably more than a half a year ago. I’ve seen all the terrible changes and how it’s become more like AB2 with all the add-ons and costs. I have already taken formal actions to expose some of it, but to no avail. However, we have options. I don’t want to take away from the seriousness and beneficial truth of just walking away, but I have posted elsewhere on the ABT forum, more than once, that the only way to force Rovio to listen is for everyone to stop playing. It’s the same for any consumer-based activity. If you don’t like the prices, then cut out the service. It may be inconvenient for a while … but the benefits could be dramatic. We don’t have to quit unless you really want to.
Also, I don’t like being taken advantage of anymore than anyone else. It’s not “just” an addiction to keep pulling the handle and hoping the cherries will line up, it’s a hope that things will get better (definition of insanity – doing the same thing over again and hoping for change!). In a world of cruddy, high-speed releases (like Battlefront sucking out $120 from players for just over 2 years of game play and then expecting another $60 for a new release??), half-hearted programming (like ABT), and other cruddy declines in quality that we’re faced with, the real problem is that we keep buying into it. When we allow Rovio access to our private information and sit through the long commercials – WE are asking for it. We could blame Rovio … but they are just taking advantage of what WE are letting them do.
So – for those who have escaped: good for you! YOU took control back and you deserve that piece of mind. For me, I haven’t played in a few days and I’m fine with that. Do I miss competition points? Yep. Do I miss a daily reward? Yep. Do I care? No. I don’t have to log in every day, obsessed to play the game, and there’s my control. I have shut down access to all of their private data hijacking, and I repeat it every time they update because I know they reset those parameters. It’s only when I feel like it, get bored, or want a quick break that playing again suffices. You can play the game that way, too, and gain control.
The challenge is that unless we can convince 10 million players to stop simultaneously, it doesn’t matter how often we check back in – Rovio’s making money and so they’re not going to change. I’ve even taking to having fun with the “send feedback” after every crash option (and maybe someday I’ll post that … ’cause it’s super fun!). I just feel sad that people were ‘pushed’ out. I feel sad that people were ‘sucked’ in. I hope, that in reassessing one’s life, we take the opportunity to look at everything. ABT, other video games, electronics, etc. Living life by earning money to buy things (that makes “the man” wealthier) just so we can go back and earn more money (again, to ‘keep’ making “the man” wealthier), is a form of slavery. I’ve written in detail about this on my own blog site – and this “reassessing my life” post – is a perfect example.
Whatever change you make – and whatever course you take – just remember – it’s yours. You own it. Rovio can’t “make” you do anything – no one can. The only real thing we have control of in this life is our selves and our own choices. Well… anyway … sorry – guess I went off on a tangent. Maybe the real question is – are “we” the angry birds? And, how do “we” [the angry birds], fight back?
Hmmm…. play well, my friends!