Can we discuss the atrocity that is "PIMD economy" in it's current state? With the Bento Black Market at an all time high, it is more efficient for player to outsource their bento accumulation rather they stay in game, selling furniture, shards (unless special box shards), etc. What use to cost 2b, is now double or even triple because of the influx of Black Market sales and there's been zero solution to that issue. These people on the Black Market are making alts, so their mains are remaining hidden to avoid any actual consequences. Players who stay in-game and actively try to sell are more punished since nothing seems to move out their of inventory. Is there a plan in motion to assist in this problem?
Black market is ruining the game. Those of us that care about not being banned are at a serious disadvantage. And since the odds of being banned for it are incredibly low, that is making me feel pretty silly, as I sit here paying store prices for things like a free 1/10th of a spin.
I recently submitted a feedback ticket about potentially making trades public knowledge. I feel as if that would be the next best step to combat the Black Market, and allow ATA to punish players who participate in these illicit sales accordingly. Not only does this help combat the Black Market, but also allows players to protect themselves from potential scammers. The PIMD economy is struggling, and bentos aren’t what they use to be and instead carry a dollar amount over just an in-game currency.
#Justice4Peps This seems to have really become a bigger problem recently, especially with the increase of limited release items and others with high demand, low accessibility such as the lucky box avatars and 105/105 shard avatars. The market is changing rapidly. I think players feel the pressure more than ever to find alternative ways to obtain these items, and those of us who don't are more likely to feel at a disadvantage. I have always enjoyed PIMD's free market economy and private trading, but I do agree that some kind of in game market place could be a solution. I think it would encourage healthy in game trading and would become ever more useful as more items enter the game code. I would like to see options for making a variety of offers as well as auctions.
I am afraid that the same thing is going to happen in this game that happened in one of ATA’s other games I played for nearly 14 years, Kingdoms at War. The black market buying/selling of charms (KaW’s version of bentos) and buying/selling of LB level accounts, made the game unplayable for those who aren’t big spenders after a couple of years. The reason I believe the devs did nothing, and why I believe they will not do anything here either, is more than likely that people who can spend big on accounts and bentos and things like that, will usually also spend big IN game. Or, in the case of PIMD and KaW, people use bentos as a means of paying for EC parties. Who makes money from every EC party? The devs. Who can pay for more EC parties with more bentos and such? The players. The devs have no real reason to stop the black market issues because in all reality, the money they gain outweighs the cost of losing some players. In most mobile games, a small group of whales/big spenders will forever and always determine how the game develops over time. It isn’t fair to the average player, but from a business standpoint it’s a sound philosophy. If 10% of your player base accounts for 80% of your profits, you’re going to cater to the 10%. And since in reality, the majority of that 10% players are likely using the black market, the company will turn a blind eye to it, because again, the gain is greater than the loss. Not saying it’s right or fair, it isn’t. However, it is a sound principle for a business. I think we as players often forget that ATA is that. A business. They can say or do all they’d like to put on and make us think they care about the majority of the community, but at the end of the day, they will always prioritize profit over player. That is why nothing will be done about the bento black market.
R.I.P @Rajat He was sacrificed for token gains while the devs did nothing to actually dismantle the black market.