Post by Forum Administrator on May 16, 2017 5:08:15 GMT -8
Post 24th May 2017 Major Patch Changes Review™ Soccer Spirits
Today (23rd May 2017) marks the release of the Soccer Spirits Galaxy Live Major Patch Notes:
As usual, we will do a review on the upcoming patch and see how it impacts the game.
We will examine the developers' behaviour via the patch notes.
A more detailed review on the game content (Colosseum of Infinity, Galaxy Live) will follow after tomorrow patch...
Let's start with the introduction of the new Universe Server:
If you are a new player starting in Soccer Spirits Universe Server,
That's how strong they are going to be and these Japanese players will dominate the Universe Server.
New players starting at the Universe Server, will be no match for them.
*Update 15th June 2017 from a player playing in Universe Server:
Next, let's look at the new Chains System:
This picture is taken from the developers' notes: soccerspirits.freeforums.net/thread/715/developer-notes-update-soccer-spirit
In the major patch notes, there was no mention of the dimension stone reward; instead, only crystals were mentioned.
Why was there no mention in the patch notes? Probably translation error? Or were they trying to hide something?
What's the real issue here?
It's the developers' attitude and behaviour.
Worse of all,
Compared to new players who only need to do the chains once to get the rewards:
since we do not get DS the 2nd time round.
Looking at it from another perspective, us, loyal players are doing twice the work, but getting paid only once.
The losses amount to ~1200 ds (not including time invested) if you've completed most of the chains.
Sage - Extreme Evolution (EE)
This picture is taken from the March 2017, mid-sized patch notes: soccerspirits.freeforums.net/thread/638/march-sized-update-soccer-spirits
So...... the developers were doing their best to give Sage an EE for the past 2 months....
Let's see what we've got.
And let's see the reactions from the community:
This guy's reaction basically summed up the whole review on Sage EE.
Lowering the Pay Wall of Dimension Stone & Crystal Shop
Basically, the prices of items in the shops are lowered.
Now pay2win players are getting more value worth in return for their $$$.
In contrast, this is bad news to free-to-play players. This means that:
Previous patches have also seen the inclusion of new pay-to-win content like 7* players, APU system, spirit stone slot reroll with DS etc.
The direction that this game is taking, is progressively towards more and more P2W (Pay-to-Win).
This is in contrast with the game we started with in 2014, where the pay wall for P2W players are high and it's harder to P2W.
But now, over the past few patches, this gap between F2P (free-to-play) and P2W players is widening greater and greater.
If you are a F2P player thinking to start Soccer Spirits, good luck to you.
Based on this change to the game alone, has the game really been getting better than it was in 2014?
When public chat channel was first introduced in July 2015, you login into game at daily reset and chat channels are usually full up to ~25.
Now?
It's contradicting to think that the game is getting better while the game population has dropped by more than half.
Reason? Developers have gone back on the principles that made this game a success, turning this game more and more, into a pay2win game.
Right after the major patch maintenance, once again, what was written earlier, is proven right.
They are selling a legend pick package for 99$, lowering the paywall once again for P2W (pay-to-win) players.
If you are a F2P (free-to-play) player, and you do not buy this package, you are set back by 1 legend against your fellow players.
Next, let's take a look at the Chains Rework:
And because their resources were not reset, they retain immense amounts of resources that allow them to purchase any legends/cards that are released now, immediately.
To see how serious the cheating was, let's show some screenshots.
Look at those players that login-ed 4d / 5d ago, what a coincidence? All of them didn't login for the same amount of days.
However, they were let off after few weeks ban, with the resources (crystals/ds/gold) untouched, not reseted.
And this is just ONE club; there are many more out there.
Hence, if you are feeling bad losing to some of the big whales in league, you don't have to.
Because a group of them are actually cheaters who carried out 'invalid purchases and been let off the hook by the developers with their resources untouched, unreseted (crystals/dimension stones/cards).
That's what you have been competing against & will continue to compete against.
Now that you know the truth, you do not have to feel bad anymore.
Today (23rd May 2017) marks the release of the Soccer Spirits Galaxy Live Major Patch Notes:
As usual, we will do a review on the upcoming patch and see how it impacts the game.
We will examine the developers' behaviour via the patch notes.
A more detailed review on the game content (Colosseum of Infinity, Galaxy Live) will follow after tomorrow patch...
Let's start with the introduction of the new Universe Server:
If you are a new player starting in Soccer Spirits Universe Server,
- You will probably be no match for the Japanese players who had a 11+ months headstart into the game.
Japanese server was introduced around 11th June 2016.
soccerspirits.freeforums.net/thread/383/soccer-spirits-japan-version-changed
- These Japanese players, they not only get to keep their data/team from previously, but they are getting compensated at the rate of 3 times their team superbs.
As a new player, you might not know how imbalanced this is.
- After ~1 year of play, the endgame player could have like ~100 superbs worth on their legendary cards and multiply this by 3.
For an average Japan player with 5~10 legendaries, that would be ~50 superbs worth and multiply this by 3.
That's how strong they are going to be and these Japanese players will dominate the Universe Server.
New players starting at the Universe Server, will be no match for them.
*Update 15th June 2017 from a player playing in Universe Server:
Next, let's look at the new Chains System:
This picture is taken from the developers' notes: soccerspirits.freeforums.net/thread/715/developer-notes-update-soccer-spirit
In the major patch notes, there was no mention of the dimension stone reward; instead, only crystals were mentioned.
Why was there no mention in the patch notes? Probably translation error? Or were they trying to hide something?
- For new players, it will make no difference for you since you had not done any chains yet.
- For veteran players, you will have to redo the chains that you took months to do, all over again.
What's the real issue here?
It's the developers' attitude and behaviour.
- Remember last year, the developers took away the level 60 card borders/frames and forced us to farm them (suits) all over again from Club Matches.
Many people quitted after that. They were disgusted by the behaviour of the developers. - Now, once again, they took away the chains that we've done and force us to do it all over again.
These chains take months and months to farm. All these efforts, taken away in an instant and we are forced to redo it.
Worse of all,
- Loyal, veteran players are not getting dimension stone rewards from doing it.
Compared to new players who only need to do the chains once to get the rewards:
Loyal, Veteran players have to do the chains twice (once before major patch, once after) to get the same rewards
since we do not get DS the 2nd time round.
Double the efforts, but the same rewards?
Loyal players are not being rewarded but instead being punished?
Looking at it from another perspective, us, loyal players are doing twice the work, but getting paid only once.
The losses amount to ~1200 ds (not including time invested) if you've completed most of the chains.
Sage - Extreme Evolution (EE)
This picture is taken from the March 2017, mid-sized patch notes: soccerspirits.freeforums.net/thread/638/march-sized-update-soccer-spirits
So...... the developers were doing their best to give Sage an EE for the past 2 months....
Let's see what we've got.
And let's see the reactions from the community:
This guy's reaction basically summed up the whole review on Sage EE.
Lowering the Pay Wall of Dimension Stone & Crystal Shop
Basically, the prices of items in the shops are lowered.
This is good news for pay-to-win players; the pay-wall is lowered.
Now pay2win players are getting more value worth in return for their $$$.
In contrast, this is bad news to free-to-play players. This means that:
The gap between P2P and F2P is going to widen bigger and bigger.
Previous patches have also seen the inclusion of new pay-to-win content like 7* players, APU system, spirit stone slot reroll with DS etc.
The direction that this game is taking, is progressively towards more and more P2W (Pay-to-Win).
This is in contrast with the game we started with in 2014, where the pay wall for P2W players are high and it's harder to P2W.
That gave F2P players a chance to compete with people who pay.
But now, over the past few patches, this gap between F2P (free-to-play) and P2W players is widening greater and greater.
F2P almost can no longer compete with the P2W players in this game anymore
If you are a F2P player thinking to start Soccer Spirits, good luck to you.
Based on this change to the game alone, has the game really been getting better than it was in 2014?
When public chat channel was first introduced in July 2015, you login into game at daily reset and chat channels are usually full up to ~25.
Now?
Chat channels are barely full up to 10~11.
It's contradicting to think that the game is getting better while the game population has dropped by more than half.
Reason? Developers have gone back on the principles that made this game a success, turning this game more and more, into a pay2win game.
Right after the major patch maintenance, once again, what was written earlier, is proven right.
They are selling a legend pick package for 99$, lowering the paywall once again for P2W (pay-to-win) players.
A classic legend that originally cost 900$, now cost 1/9 the price.
If you are a F2P (free-to-play) player, and you do not buy this package, you are set back by 1 legend against your fellow players.
Either Pay Up or Lose
Next, let's take a look at the Chains Rework:
Let's see how the Community / Player Base react to the Chains Rework
Almost a legend is added into every chain to gate the chains (stop players from completing it without a legend).
Many of the chains make no sense at all
A card that is almost unused by anyone like zhen long, why would he have a new-star legend as nemesis?
Utterly disappointed with the Chains Rework.
For everyone who lost your chains and are unable to complete them again, you have lost so much advantage against other players...
Time to either buy legends to pay to complete the new chains or..... play without the chains and lose the advantage....
Let's review the Balancing next,
Review Done.
On a side note, maybe it's a good thing that they didn't do any notable balancing (͡ ͡° ͜ つ ͡͡°)
Their balancing might have made the patch even worse.
New Content (Galaxy Live)
Galaxy Live was in beta phase from the December StarBurst major patch to now.
In the beta phase, there were 2 modes: Normal & Ban modes.
The developers should have the match data where,
But yet, even with this data, they chose to introduce Galaxy Live PvP in Ban mode only; the mode which most players don't prefer.
It's simple.
Ban mode forces players to invest in a good variety of substitutes for the PvP team for replacement when players are banned.
For example, against enemy Presty, you need to prepare 4 assists, in case the opponent bans both your assists.
New players will probably get facerolled when enemy bans your GK, striker, CM, assists etc.
New players probably wouldn't even have a full invested pvp team, not to mention having replacements.
Even for endgame players, you might have the cards; but do you have the time?
If 45 minutes auto PvP league match is not enough, now we have to do 45 minutes manual PvP match.
Colosseum of Infinity
Let's share an Apocalypse/Mugiwara conversation for this review; will be interesting.
The pictures sum it all.
You get no GP for spending BP to do it. The only rewards is small amount of gold + small chance for gatekeepers/5* swirlies.
If you are a new player and need 5* swirly for evolution, this CoI mode is worth doing and trying your luck for the 5* swirly.
For intermediate/veteran players, you probably need to prioritize your BP usage.
Unless you do not sleep and spend your life 24/7 for Soccer Spirits...
Overall, skipping it for better rewards at CoD/CoT is a better option.
Initially, it is quite novel to do Galaxy Live ban mode. You ban opponent's players and see them ending up with hilarious formations.
But after a while,
That's probably when you should stop and let go.
New legends (Nabi, Miri)
Probably need more time to review their performance.
Shouldn't be long since they are in almost every chain and people have to buy them to complete the chains.
Hence, most people are going to have them and will be using them.
A lot of people have been surprised at the number of big spenders in the game which have almost all legends.
People have been asking, how come there are so many big spenders? Is Soccer Spirits making lots of profits?
Let's reveal the truth.
10 months ago, there was a permanent ban spree on players who engaged in, or paid 3rd parties to engage in invalid purchases.
(Invalid purchases = credit card frauds, refunds; meaning you obtain the in-game packages, then refund the $$$, resulting in no $$$ paid).
Most players are very unhappy or even very UPSET
Many of the chains make no sense at all
A card that is almost unused by anyone like zhen long, why would he have a new-star legend as nemesis?
The chains rework was supposed to make the game better, more fun, not worse
Utterly disappointed with the Chains Rework.
Might as well call it the P2C (Pay-To-Complete) Your Chains Rework
For everyone who lost your chains and are unable to complete them again, you have lost so much advantage against other players...
Time to either buy legends to pay to complete the new chains or..... play without the chains and lose the advantage....
Let's review the Balancing next,
There was no notable balancing done.
Review Done.
On a side note, maybe it's a good thing that they didn't do any notable balancing (͡ ͡° ͜ つ ͡͡°)
Their balancing might have made the patch even worse.
Galaxy Live was in beta phase from the December StarBurst major patch to now.
In the beta phase, there were 2 modes: Normal & Ban modes.
The developers should have the match data where,
95% of players prefer to do normal mode > ban mode live PvP
But yet, even with this data, they chose to introduce Galaxy Live PvP in Ban mode only; the mode which most players don't prefer.
Why is this the case?
It's simple.
What the developers care about is $$$, not the player base
Ban mode forces players to invest in a good variety of substitutes for the PvP team for replacement when players are banned.
For example, against enemy Presty, you need to prepare 4 assists, in case the opponent bans both your assists.
Galaxy Live PvP is for whales, veteran endgame players alike; not for new players
New players will probably get facerolled when enemy bans your GK, striker, CM, assists etc.
New players probably wouldn't even have a full invested pvp team, not to mention having replacements.
Time versus Rewards
Even for endgame players, you might have the cards; but do you have the time?
If 45 minutes auto PvP league match is not enough, now we have to do 45 minutes manual PvP match.
Galaxy Live PvP requires you to spend your life 24/7 for Soccer Spirits
Please enjoy ;dead Colosseum of Infinity
Let's share an Apocalypse/Mugiwara conversation for this review; will be interesting.
The pictures sum it all.
CoI is basically designed to be a GP sink.
You get no GP for spending BP to do it. The only rewards is small amount of gold + small chance for gatekeepers/5* swirlies.
If you are a new player and need 5* swirly for evolution, this CoI mode is worth doing and trying your luck for the 5* swirly.
For intermediate/veteran players, you probably need to prioritize your BP usage.
There won't be enough BP for CoI, CoD & CoT altogether.
Unless you do not sleep and spend your life 24/7 for Soccer Spirits...
Overall, skipping it for better rewards at CoD/CoT is a better option.
The Experience
The new content (Galaxy Live, Colosseum of Infinity) are nice. It's fun to give it a try. Initially, it is quite novel to do Galaxy Live ban mode. You ban opponent's players and see them ending up with hilarious formations.
But after a while,
The novelty wears off & it starts to become a chore doing it.
That's probably when you should stop and let go.
New legends (Nabi, Miri)
Probably need more time to review their performance.
Shouldn't be long since they are in almost every chain and people have to buy them to complete the chains.
Hence, most people are going to have them and will be using them.
Final Note
A lot of people have been surprised at the number of big spenders in the game which have almost all legends.
People have been asking, how come there are so many big spenders? Is Soccer Spirits making lots of profits?
Let's reveal the truth.
(Invalid purchases = credit card frauds, refunds; meaning you obtain the in-game packages, then refund the $$$, resulting in no $$$ paid).
Some of them claimed to have participated unknowingly, and eventually,
This group of players were let off after a few weeks ban, with all their crystals/dimension stones/cards obtained from fraud/refunds untouched.
And because their resources were not reset, they retain immense amounts of resources that allow them to purchase any legends/cards that are released now, immediately.
Hence, you couldn't beat these cheaters, not because you didn't grind, play or spend enough, but because they cheated.
To see how serious the cheating was, let's show some screenshots.
Attached below are screenshots of one of the top 5 clubs at that point in time.
Look at those players that login-ed 4d / 5d ago, what a coincidence? All of them didn't login for the same amount of days.
Nah, it was not a coincidence. They were all 'banned'. Even the club leader was banned.
14 out of 37 (>33%) of the members were carrying out 'invalid' purchases and got banned.
However, they were let off after few weeks ban, with the resources (crystals/ds/gold) untouched, not reseted.
And this is just ONE club; there are many more out there.
Many of them have changed their IGNs now and you might not know who they are even when you see them in PvP league.
Hence, if you are feeling bad losing to some of the big whales in league, you don't have to.
Because a group of them are actually cheaters who carried out 'invalid purchases and been let off the hook by the developers with their resources untouched, unreseted (crystals/dimension stones/cards).
That's what you have been competing against & will continue to compete against.
Now that you know the truth, you do not have to feel bad anymore.
End of Review
*Screenshot of Bigball letting permanent banned players who cheated with invalid purchases, back into the game after submitting an apology, with their resources (gold/cards/ds/crystals untouched unresetted)
fuck this game .-.