WARNING:

THIS WHOLE THREAD CONTAINS A LOT OF SPOILERS
DO NOT READ FURTHUR UNLESS YOU LIKE SPOILAGE OR KNOW THE GAME.

My biggest gripe about this game is that I don't like the fact that the parentage gets "lost" or "disappears".
I was really lloking forward to this aspect and really thought there'd be some kind of Family Tree.
I still find that you can accidently inbreed your island and turn it into Pitcairn.
I guess I was hoping to much in this part of the game as I am quite let down.

Also, where are the pink hair kids? Pretty upset about this, I was hoping for some other colour hair too.

I also think there wasn't much thought put into the puzzles.
I like that in VV you have to Clear the rocks to get the creek to water the plants to get the flowers to get the butterflies.
Here, it seems a little less linear and they don't connect as well.

The collection thing is a bit of a gimmick... seems like a filler to say, "Hey it's new and approved!!". I would of liked to have seen this developed more,maybe be a bigger part of the story line and/or part of a puzzle.

Also, the gong thing with the four pieces as 4 separate puzzles was a little lame... and seems like it was easier to stretch it over 4 puzzles instead of making it one and coming up with 3 other puzzles.

So the whole 16 new completely different puzzle thing is a bit of a crock, especially when some are the same as VV such as the Algae Fish and the Herbs. THEN other things don't make sense. Why not have to make a school?? THEN that helps develop language (they could have had a teacher) THEN you read the writing on the wall. A few more new ideas would have been appreciated. It does seem that the most major thing that happened was repackaging.

Also, why do the coconuts never re-appear? And they should re-appear after a bit, I thought once I got Level 3 Farming that the people would learn how to sustainably grow instead we just got the same lame puzzle from VV (the fertily fish become the algae fish).
All in all, I have to say I'm quite disappointed in the game. I was expecting a lot more. And I do regret paying the $20 or so dollars that I did. I would reccommend people to it came out on sites they subsrcibe too.

Oh, and while I appreciated the taunt of the crate on the beach, finding one piece of the gong in it was pretty lame and disappointing. I appreciate it might have been a joke from the developers but why not put in something else as well.
A "rosetta stone" or "dead sea scrolls" - then they could read the writing on the wall.
Simply no thought put in at all.

Also, the training time of some it very excessive and just annoys me. I don't see the need to make a villager do something 10 or more times in order to learn something.

I couldnt agree more with you!
It is indeed utterly disappointing.

Same faces, same grafics and most of all, same puzzles & solutions. Not much interconnection between them; it all depends far too much on the tech level again, not so much on combining new things.
So, solving the puzzles boils down to a long wait on the scientists to gain the points...

Well, everyone has the right to their own opinion, no question about that.
But what I really DON'T like about this message is the containing of spoilers (and lots of them!) without any warning.
Not very thoughtfull I think.

hi - i've read your post with interest. It is clear you have not played the game completely - otherwise you will know that two of your statements are incorrect. *****SPOILER**** Coconuts regenerate after level 3 farming is gained. There is a teacher - you have to complete puzzles to find him/her. Hope this helps ease your disappointment a bit.

If you mean elder then yes, I found them, if you mean something else then ok

And fair enuff re: coconuts, I guess it just takes a long time

And no, not really. The coconut thing was just a minor thing. It is more the lack of thought put into the puzzles. As Marielle said: "Not much interconnection between them; it all depends far too much on the tech level again, not so much on combining new things.
So, solving the puzzles boils down to a long wait on the scientists to gain the points..."

(Your also right about the graphics, I think they're a lot more messy than the first game and parts are kind of ugly.)

But thanks re: heads up about coconuts, by that stage it was late and I was tired and I hadn't seen them grow back and I'll look out for a teacher.

Tama: Sorry about that Chief. Can't put a warning in the title line but put one up the top. Thanks for bringing that to my attention
Oh and thanks for whoever put Spoilers in the title You rock.

kk - so whats the problem about a teacher then?? You found one!! lol! And the coconuts are like the berries in VV1 - they take ages to grow back! There are one or two puzzles which are rather on the simplistic side - but if we wanted them all in great detail - we couldn't expect the game to be out this soon - we have been given exactly what we asked for!! lol xx

Concerning the graphics:
I get a very ugly banding effect in the water (ocean) and just checked; I do have 32bit color depth...

In addition to that, I think the whole layout and look of the island/villagers is simply re-used from the first part.
(I know there is something new concerning clothing, looking forward to trying it out :-) )

yeah the clothing bit is fun-ish. but considering you only had to press f6 to change clothes the first time round - this is a bit annoying.

Agree re: clothing. I think it's too much and too late in the game.
And re: teachers, that's not really what I meant. Even in VV the villagers started teaching the others.

I meant rather than the lame, repetive puzzles, why not have a school where you can train a teacher that help create writing or develop that idea rather than get the tech points.

And as for the coconuts, well. I would have liked to see a bit more effort in the farming, the tech description said: new ways to utilise farmiong or something? Maybe we haven't found out yet but I don't think it was new at all. Why not be able to plant coconuts or find seedlings for a berry bush or something? I don't know, I just thought it was pretty disappointing and predictable.

I also think that the way to get one of the gong pieces is pretty much plagarism, I mean c'mon, Harry Potter and Gillyweed anyone?

And yeah, I agree once again Marielle that the graphics and layout is too same same, like I said, this is just re-packaged VV.

But you're right I guess Hurryhurry, they did get it out quickly and you can't please everyone all the time

I know - there are parts that are fab - and parts which are a bit the same as before- but it is a sequel - you can't expect miricles in such a short period of time!! i've just completed the last puzzle. it's taken me less than 24 hours. (with a little help from my time travel!)but i couldn't wait. i hope they spend AGES on VV3 and get it perfect!

Agreed, I would rather they spent the time, put in the effort and really made it a good, solid third installment.

This one is more an extension to VV than a sequel. It really doesn't do Virtual Villagers justice.

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Lizzie/Desktop/Liz/untitled.bmp

pls ignore that last post - random!!!!

I hardly think you can give a balanced opinion if you skip over many of the game's features by that means. You seem to want LDW to take their time bringing out VV3 then admit that you cheated to get through VV2 because you "couldn't wait". I suggest you practice what you preach.

I will agree that as a sequel it is important to retain many of the features of the original game. If it went from a top-down view to a first-person viewpoint, for example, it would be a completely new game, not a follow-up. Players who enjoyed VV1 might not feel comfortable with it.

Haha Arnie, that was really made me laugh. How right you are :)I guess that makes me not only a critic but a hypocrite.

Still, like I said, I feel this is like all those adverts that advetise, "NEW AND IMPROVED" and all they did was change the packaging

I agree with you Tamarinde

This wasnt even supposed to be in the first game, you got lucky and it was not removed.

I have no banding effect in the water and im running 32 bit on a laptop. Sounds you have a [censored] video card or another problem. its not the games graphics.

Its an island what more do you expect for layout. You got a beach on one side some palm trees...there is no "use and reuse" to be had here. Its an island. What do you want a shopping mall

LOL. You know the majority of the changes done in TLC were taken straight from all of the contributors in the Suggestions/Improvements thread as well from the additional behavior thread. And I would have to disagree with you on LDW not putting much thought into the puzzles. Sure we still have herbs, but they added what you can do with them. Sure they still farm, oh my I guess they don’t need to eat from a garden. Sure they still fish, but they added a puzzle to it. But again this is a squeal, and every sequel I’ve ever played always has common themes and puzzles. And they did add seven brand new puzzles that were not in ANH, as well as several new features. So I guess if you thought this sequel was going to be a brand new game, well then you should be let down. But that would only be due to you expecting more then what they ever suggested. As far as the create containing a gong piece, I was expecting there were tools in it. I was guessing that I would use these tools to clear the vines and the thicket. Was I disappointed when I found the gong piece? No not at all, it just meant I had to look elsewhere to find the cutting tools. Viewing this as a sequel I think it is very fresh, and am not disappointed one bit. It adds new levels of difficulty (you might not realize all of the additional difficulty since you cheated yourself by using the time warp “feature”) and added a lot of features that so many forum members asked for. And for that I tip my hat to the whole LDW team.

Monk: Uh, we obviously expected a bit more I think that is what this whole post is about. Though a shopping mall is going a bit far. This isn't Dawn of the Dead.

I have the feeling that most people love this game, because they decided to - I for once do think its "lame", as someone put it, when the sequel contains at least 3 puzzles that are similar or even the same as the first game. Especially with all the deliberated suggestions and ideas from this community the sequel could have had so much more depth.

You should not automatically asume that everyone being far ahead does the time-travel cheat. You forgot the beta testers from bigfish, for example.

Does that mean (to you) those who don't love the game decided not to love it?

Well if these comments are coming from Big Fish beta testers, my opinion of them got even lower then what it was before. I know it just takes a few bad apples to give the whole bunch a bad name, but when they don't have enough morals to live by the NDA the signed, I can't think to highly of them. But hey, that is just me.

I'm not sure I agree with the criticism. I bought Bejeweled 2 when it came out and didn't blast the developers because the game still made me line up jewels! Bejeweled 2 added some new features to the basic game idea and I paid my money willingly for it to get the improvements. Most sequels are a lot less "different" from the original game than VV2 is, as far as I can tell.

I'm glad I amused you but my response was to hurryhurry. Are you saying you are another who cheated, rushed through the game, then felt qualified to denigrate the hard work that has gone into it?

well im a beta tester for LDW and had it before big fish did, and if they are ahead of me....well..what more can i say Its a little too obvious in most cases.

If you look at 90% of the games on the market you will see vast similarities in sequels to games. Its not a new game or a new concept its part 2. I mean the game costs what 20$ and your complaining. Lets looks at a couple other games.

Bejeweled. I believe its like 19.95 most places. Bejeweled 2, holy cow its the same game but the jewels look more detailed and an extra puzzle or mode. Warcraft 1 2 and 3. Holy cow each new game came out with a couple new units and a building or two, and a diff map scenario. These games are still wildly popular. Counter strike...many different forms...all the same game, same ideas, concepts, and strategies. Half life...same game, updated graphics, couple new guns...Point being i think the people got more than you'd expect from most sequels in any genre of gameplay. The island looks nicer, the behaviors are improved, tons of added behavior models, lots of additions in skills. Many new puzzles, added collectables with bonuses for completion. 3 puzzles are the same you say. There are 16 puzzles to solve. 3 is a rather meager number. I might agree if it was 8 or more of the same thing. Game takes longer to beat, many added events.

The biggest problem is everyone hyped up this game so much that some people are sadly dissappointed because they built up such an idea of what "they" would have liked to see and dont really see the game overall and that there are vast more bonuses to the game and some things added that werent even requested. Im sorry that you dislike the game...and this is my last post on the topic.

I'd say simply move along.

Warren, I'm fairly certain that the BFG evaluators don't sign an NDA, although that doesn't excuse the leaks that happened, by any means.

before this becomes a thread of flaming, I was criticising the game, not anyone personally.
(Unless you count the developers which wasn't really my intention although I do realize I have done that.)
My points are valid and fair.

And as for Bejewelled, either 1 or 2, they reek of boringness, hence Virtual Villagers being a nice fresh breathe of air from all those awful match 3 games out there.

I guess that is why I was expecting more, they raised the bar and set a high standard of play with their first game to which, in my opinion (and the examples I given) this games doesn't measure up.

I still think this is a little better game than most out there and I am very impressed with the Developers.

That doesn't mean I have to blindly follow that it's all so great when I think it's more of the same and that they haven't reached their own high standard when they developed a game as great as Virtual Villagers in the first place.

Please remember that these are all PERSONAL OPNINIONS and there is no need to call people bad apples. That is unfair and a little unbecoming.

And like I named this post: No one ever errected a statue to a critic

P.s What is a NBA or whatever it is anyway?

Umm... sounds like you're playing VV1 by mistake

Ok, my bad. When I heard they were beta testers I assumed just that. So they are more of a focus group, but one would think LDW would require BFG to work under a NDA.



Well the bad apples I'm referring to are the ones who leaked the game two weeks ago, and even created a cracked version. I was not saying anyone in this thread was one of the bad apples; just pointing out my view of that group is not too high due to the above mentioned bad apples. But if these comments are from someone from the BFG focus group, then I do see that as a problem.

I'm not saying everyone should blindly follow anything; just that I believe the standard you are judging the game on is faulted, IMHO.

I will simply follow Forrest Gump and say, "and that's all I have to say about that."

Enjoy.

NDA.

Beta testers for LDW signed a Non Disclosure Agreement. Essentially, no details of the game would be leaked before full release and details of the actual beta testing would remain confidential.

Not just LDW Arnie. Every company I have ever tested for requires them as well. Even a few focus groups I have been involved in required them.

Right. First off we are paying customers and allowed our opinions. Arnie - I do not like your attitude.

I am happy overall with VV2 - it has been MUCH anticipated. However, like I said before, not everyone will be pleased with every aspect. This is a forum for people to discuss that : the good , the bad and the darn right ugly!! Arnie, I'm sure that many other people will have used the time warp cheat. I'm not the first and certainly wont be the last. I used it soley to get a feel fot the game before starting it properly. I also don't have time to sit on my PC for days on end and I like to check in and out of my village. I don't believe in cheating thru the whole game - it is a total waste of money if you do that! I was having the conversation with LADY EMZ about bits of the game that she wasn't happy with - and trying to see if i could help. It didn't warrant an attack from you! Many thanks

Hmmm...might be time to end this discussion before rocks and boulders start to fly. Everyone is entitled to their opinion about the game, but this is turning into opinions about each other.