[tomason]

@martin-mix-9 Well, I don ‘t know that getting coins really counts as cheating in terms of gameplay, and honestly, I haven’t the foggiest clue of how these people figure out even HOW to cheat. However, I do rest assured that they will be discovered in this league format sooner than later. When Rovio started this league-style global competition there were several bugs still to iron out, some of which were attributable to their server becoming overwhelmed and others involving coding that gave a significant advantage to smartphone users over PC users. I’m certain there are people much smarter than me here that could articulate more technically the myriad of potential variables that can go wrong… But trust and believe the potential for failure on any scale is always possible… that kind of is true for everything, all the time… but I digress.
In my league I am number #1 (at 1,155,990) for the third time in four weeks and I can promise and swear that I have never ever cheated while playing any angry birds game… mainly because I don’t know how, but also because I find games and puzzles are better and more fun if played as they were meant to be played… you know? That score was not easy or cheap to achieve, and always involves some real out-of-the-box thinking and calculating… plus Rovio always leaves markers to help you aim… if you know what to look for.
The problem you described is a new one and I’ve not seen or heard of that one. If you spent ANY cash in power-ups to achieve those scores then you are truly entitled to a proper refund, I did that last week (because of the phone advantage thing) and it can be done.

[tomason]

@martin-mix-9 All valid points and I came in 7th in stone last week so did not advance to copper (stayed in stone),I believe it is helpful if you get scoring early on when the new tournament starts every Sunday at midnight. That’s just my experience, not sure if it is a bona-fide fact. but I’ve been first place in all my league play EXCEPT last week when I came in on Monday afternoon.
Wow, top two eh? Here’s the thing though. They are eliminating known cheaters, the person that was in first in my league this week was taken out completely, I mean his name is no longer available and it went from 40 to 39 in competition. Dunno if this data is helpful, I hope it is.

[tomason]

You nailed it. As far as I can tell, If you finish in the top 5, you get a green arrow next to your name and advanec. If you don’t advance then you stay back in your old grouping until you move up or move down. Just win all of the time and you’ll be fine.

[tomason]

I requested a refund. Both fb and rovio had to be contacted with screenshots as well with copies of correspondence to each. They were gracious about it though, I will say they were very polite and professional and made good on this issue as it is/was legit. If you go that route, I suggest being equally prepared to prove your case.

[tomason]

At this point, there has been so many glitches and unfair advantages to NOT being on a PC (which I am), that even though I was doing as good as is possible (!1 last two weeks) I can’t compete when as much as 100,000 points are awarded my rivals because of some BS. So NOT buying power ups is a very good idea especially when you can’t possibly win even when you have them.

[tomason]

YOU ARE 100% CORRECT. The motivating factor for businesses is almost always the big mamooo. So it is and so it always will be. I for one am pleased that they make money while supplying a great game for all of us to enjoy. They also hate bad press though (remember the privacy debacle) and they don’t want to cook the goose (or geese) that lay golden eggs, so they will no doubt be at least interested that this is being noticed to the game’s detriment which translates to you, myself, and others to pull money AWAY from the game. “Discouraging scores are saving money” is a headline they can relate to for $ure when the golden eggs are no longer laid… so to speak

[tomason]

1st in league this week and 1st last week. my current is 1,815,690.
I’m on a PC

[tomason]

Right on stosh, good job!

[tomason]

I just contacted Rovio and sent them the following (copy and pasted):

I was told the phone apps can score more points than PC users due to a difference in platforms, and can score tens of thousands more points due to this difference. I have spent like $200.00 in just this time, because I play a lot. I will stop spending, and will advise others to as well if this is allowed to occur. I have been #1 in both weeks of league play, and don’t wish to ;lose next week due to a glitch,. Thanks you guys, and if this problem isn’t a problem then the $ shall flow like a wild river as usual.

[tomason]

I’m on a PC, and done well in the tournament (#1 this week as well as last week in league play but LOTS of $ spent). Are you saying that other platforms are able to score in ways we can’t EVEN in competitive gameplay? If so, that is a huge mistake where it counts, and the Rovio techs truly should not let this be possible,. I will shut down my spending instantly if that is true and if it remains so after we make some noise.

[tomason]

I was told the smart phone platforms gameplay works slightly differently, in that there is a moment after certain shots where they can score a poopload o’ points if they are quick. This is not an option for PC users, and so I hope they are not grouping “these” with “those”. There’s no way pc users can legitimately compete with that.

[tomason]

Folks are unlikely… VERY unlikely to see an officially sponsored tournament that has no power-ups. Oh, it’s a great idea, but for obvious reasons no one will promote an event that is essentially preventing the host from making money. That is the unfortunate (but true) reality. As for cheaters (referenced by Andrew Apps), wouldn’t they be incentivized to lay the hell low on something super ostentatious like a tournament? They really should just play honestly or don’t bother playing at all. I will seriously blow the whistle on someone flouting the rules and the spirit of legitimate competition.
The server that handles AB Friends appears to be running at full steam now

[tomason]

Yeah, I have the same thing here, with FF, IE, Chrome, etc. all get the same message… It’s likely their server. Surely a temporary problem.

[tomason]

I’m 46 years old and run a business. I’ve had a lot of life experiences (three serious careers, been all over the world, etc.) and everywhere you will go, the attitude about anything brightly colored and particularly animated items are always chucked in the bin of childish material. Rovio has furthered this child-related image with the endless marketing (which is a great $ idea) and with the animated cartoons, all of which build the brand and make money like mad while giving the uninitiated an unfortunate false impression of the game itself.

Ostensibly, Angry Birds is a pass-the-time game created with nothing too massive for the adult mind to donate significant portions of time nor thought… initially. What the designers actually produced (from my point of view and in my opinion) is an ingenious game that employs all laws of probability and of physics (as well as a provision for the “luck” factor). Those are pretty difficult concepts to get right from a design and development standpoint. This is why it is so appealing as a game for intelligent adults… IT’S COMPLEX.

So the short answer to the “is it childish” question from me would be as follows:
The game is playable and enjoyable for the wisest of all ages, but the cartoons are for the kids.

Adults that don’t like the game and claim it to be unpleasant will also be confounded by the physical world and how things move around in general. So, like a chimp, instead of enjoying it – they will get mad at it , screech at it, and potentially throw some excrement at it but never ever play it again and then dismiss it as “childish”. Sour grapes!

[tomason]

Thank You Kelani! That was extremely useful and helpful. I appreciate your timely and thorough reply because you just saved me as lot of grief. My computer is super fast and I have tinkered with it beefing speed and space so it really comes down to the editing software itaelf… I’ll look at what Adobe’s CC 2014 suite can manage first, as I’m fairly certain that will be studio quality stuff… the question again is do we need it to be that complicated for the sake of recording something like AB strategies, you know? I’ll be back when I have anything to report for our pc users who have an interest in this.

[tomason]

Thanks for looking into it… I’m looking into the possibilities with Adobe’s newest “all you can eat” offering called “Creative Cloud” which includes some edgy video/sound editing software, so I’ll see if PC users can use that to real-time screen capture video … I’ll get back to you about what I find out. Thanks again, guys & gals!

[tomason]

LOL…I think that’s the third or fourth time I’ve seen that response (the first time I saw it was several months back). I can see why it’s necessary and time saving to have that one on auto dial. A lot of people come here (myself included) assuming there will be codes revealed and such in a forum like this, but the fact is you’re completely correct and those codes come & go and there will be international interest in winning that code that day (that is, on the rare day that these things happen… usually holidays)… and the prize is cool, but there’s usually just 1 per event and then that code is as valuable as the co2 exhaled when you say the expletive of choice upon realization that, yet again, it has gone to a kid on an island somewhere in the south pacific where the time zone was perfect for his wakey-wake time and he was wearing his lucky mitten…

There shall be no codes… lest ye earn them thyself, so sayeth the Bird

[tomason]

If you’re not sure which version you have, then look at your EULA or the game’s credits (click the cogwheel or the information “i” on the welcome screen. when the credits start to roll, You’ll see a three part “version number”… I think its always 3 or 4 parts like this:

v4.0.1 (that’s the newest Seasons version for PC)

THEN you go to

http://download.angrybirds.com/

find your game. Click it and just start the opening file process and it will reveal which version is being released by Rovio most recently. This is Rovio’s site, so you need not worry for shysters. Rovio is the company that makes these games

My first Angry Birds game came free with my computer and never did update nor did it ever inform me there even WAS an update, so the above method is a fool proof way to be sure you’re current.

[tomason]

I totally agree with you, scott230.I’ll admit that once the novelty of the “last chance” wore off, I (without thinking long about it)just began to ignore it. It IS the challenge that makes AB fun in all the game titles, and the challenge is what REALLY hooks people into the game, not easy-out weasel-ops meant for the “everyone gets a trophy” types who hate and loathe a challenge. I would wager, however that those… types are not to be found in this forum. Clearly, if somebody has made it all the way into this site, they surely have learned how to deal with the brand of frustration these games can deliver on occasion… ? I think it does a small part in teaching folks to deal with frustration as well as think in terms of the laws of physics… plus, it’s the challenge (unless one is a hacker/cheater and I have no clue what motivates them).

[tomason]

Wicket182, you really shouldn’t feel bad, everyone is playing the same program and the parameters of the game are… as they are. I figured out the “Last Chance” option fairly quickly, and just assumed everyone else did too. Never even crossed my mind to feel any moral quandary or ethical question. You know, unless it’s a legitimate cheat with INTENTION to scam people, I don’t think you have much to be sorry about. Especially since you took some time to type a well crafted explanation and shared your insights with the rest of the class, you’re golden. As my boss used to say… fuhgedda-boudit!

Still, that took stones to step up like that. Pretty cool.

[tomason]

jtwade, I see now that I have overreacted to your post. I do react that way about this topic, but I see now that you were actually just trying to help. I do stand behind what I said, but now seen in full context, it will have to be to a reply to a post that only really ever existed to an imaginary philosophical foe which you are not.

[tomason]

AMslimfordy, I deeply apologize if you ended up with my reply in a place where it seemed a reply to you. It was actually meant for the other chap that was in this thread (who is also a competent communicator and by all signs, perfectly reasonable as well) that was suggesting special care to be taken wilst saying anything negative (or seemingly negative) about Rovio..
I have ONLY seen you practice the best of conduct and candor in these forums, and I am horrified that you thought I was addressing your input with my even slight acidity. In all honesty, I find your demeanor here more than appropriate at all times and the team there is lucky to have a patient and articulate person to field what must be a constant barrage of questions, comments, and complaints. From here forward I’ll respond by name, specifically.

[tomason]

Note: The views expressed in this posting of mine belong to me and are not necessarily the views of anyone else in the world and are written here for what could be best described as a discussion.

Rovio are going to be just fine and we all love them here, obviously.. and of course no one wants any trouble, LEAST of all the creators of this excellent site who REALLY deserve no negative attention in any way. I get that, I do, and I completely agree… But to the extent that we can’t express ourselves even with a passing question of premature release announcements? Really? I thought my question was a fair one and one I would politely inquire to anyone from Rovio in person, given the opportunity. So the advocated position posited in the above post seems to suggest that we should instead live in fear of retribution and shun all forms of critical thought in exchange for obsequiousness and a sort of fawning willful compliance.. or else.
If simply posing a question that any reasonable person may ask in a forum that ostensibly exists for the sake of conversation on a variety of topics(all related to video games we all love) is no longer allowed, we have come to an alarming place indeed. Besides, this site could not possibly be held responsible for all of the thoughts and feelings expressed by individuals as we discuss what happens to be on our minds from time to time… and really, occasional non sugar-coated queries may even result in something good. Perhaps the powers that be may glean some valuable marketing data points from those of us who genuinely love their products enough to dedicate so much time to the topics we bring to the table here and the games those topics concern.

[tomason]

I just checked the download page… still version 1.2.1

This is odd odd indeed, being that Rovio sent me this:
`

BUT when you click it, same old version 1.2.1… why even send these emails to at all if the update is not ready? reminds me of the obamacare web mess

[tomason]

Your negative and challenging tone is curious to me, sparty83. as well as completely inappropriate, unnecessary, and uncalled for. My question was not directed at you in the first place, and with some applied observation can be seen to be a reasonable query. Now that you have gracelessly inserted yourself into my life, I will do my best to patiently reply.

The spirit of Trin’s question clearly emphasized the part I cut and pasted directly from the posting as it was ultimately a plea for assistance in acquiring a code, ending in “Any help would be appreciated!”. I am guessing, since he has stated in the previous sentence leading to the request for help that he has “searched everywhere, but can not find out how to get the code”, that this is why he bothered to take a few minutes on a nice Sunday afternoon to put thought to text and ask a question.

My interest in a more complete answer was due to the unanswered portion of the question that I felt could use a little elaboration. As you can see, I have received a satisfactory answer that adequately puts those question marks back in their normal place. Furthermore, I am not asking for a thing, in terms of expectations from this site with regard to codes. I was simply throwing an idea into the ethers to spark a conversation and for a little clarification which again, was answered more than proficiently by a reasonable person with a sensible awareness of decorum. More importantly, it was answered by the individual who was, in fact, asked.

Maybe a less combative attitude would be appropriate going forward, as there is no call for anything beyond that here with our fellow gamers. We’re here to have fun and to communicate, yes? Surely we’re not here pick verbal jousting matches with absolute strangers who happen to share a common interest.

After all this explanation (which I didn’t owe to you, sparty83, nor did I earn the responsibility of writing you via proxy), I hope we can part ways here without further negativity.

Good day.