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