Avalanche

Its all the same because there is only so much you can do with a site. Think about it, people want the features so owners make sure to have them and then add something new. Yes most of it is overused, but each tries to find a new way of having this feature.

I mean think about it. What can you suggest that hasn't been done by a vp site? It seems just about all the features has been used in one way or another. They make HAs, because most of the people want HAs. They make battle systems, because most of the people want that too. You have to look at it from a business standpoint. If that what works, then they will use it to their fullest advantage. Its not that they don't want to do something new, its the fact most people don't want sites without these things, or its already been done.

Originally Posted by Michi

Its all the same because there is only so much you can do with a site. Think about it, people want the features so owners make sure to have them and then add something new. Yes most of it is overused, but each tries to find a new way of having this feature.

I mean think about it. What can you suggest that hasn't been done by a vp site? It seems just about all the features has been used in one way or another. They make HAs, because most of the people want HAs. They make battle systems, because most of the people want that too. You have to look at it from a business standpoint. If that what works, then they will use it to their fullest advantage. Its not that they don't want to do something new, its the fact most people don't want sites without these things, or its already been done.

I understand that the business side is all about getting the masses, and such but my point is are they honestly doing that because of these overused features? Yes, some are necessary or fit well in some cases, but I'm referring to the sites where they really just don't fit that well and yet the site uses it anyway, because it's another feature they can add to their list. Yeah some sites modify the cookie-cutter features to make it seem more original or tied into their site but quite frankly I look at a list of all these sites and they're features are the exact same. There's almost nothing differing among them, except that some may lack a few features due to money.

Take Aywas for example. Aywas did something functionally unique by creating a system of customization and they're HUGE. You're site won't get huge for having a run of the mill battle or breeding system. Uniqueness is what attracts people to the site to begin with, otherwise there's just nothing really that interesting. Subeta I think was the first to use HA's. So when they did it, it was original and now they're huge too. But every other site who uses and HA isn't. It's when you do it first, and when you become known for doing something first and originally that you get the masses. Not by copying everything. Sites need a unique feature about them functionally or they're handicapping themselves.

And there are PLENTY of things I could suggest instead of using things like battle systems. Some I'm not going to because that would give away some of the originality I'm saving for my own site but here's an idea: How about a training system. Not one where you click 'train' and then they get 'training points' but an actual training system with functions. Like train them to hunt, and then they'll catch other critters. Train them to fly or swim so you can access new areas. Train them to use magical abilities to find things or increase the easiness of some sort of game. Functional training. I have never seen a site do anything even remotely similar to that.

What bugs me the most though, is that they spend so much time on the originality of the storyline and art and pets and then there's just NO originality in the features or functions of the site. It's very disappointing and repetitive and boring.

And there are PLENTY of things I could suggest instead of using things like battle systems. Some I'm not going to because that would give away some of the originality I'm saving for my own site but here's an idea: How about a training system. Not one where you click 'train' and then they get 'training points' but an actual training system with functions. Like train them to hunt, and then they'll catch other critters. Train them to fly or swim so you can access new areas. Train them to use magical abilities to find things or increase the easiness of some sort of game. Functional training. I have never seen a site do anything even remotely similar to that.

Isn't this pokemon?
Nothing is new under the sun.

Originally Posted by haseshi

Isn't this pokemon?
Nothing is new under the sun.

No, Pokemon is you teach it a move and then it can do it. I'm talking training, something that takes awhile and has different levels and stuff. You're right that there is nothing new under the sun but that doesn't mean we can't come up with some original features. There are things in the world that people have not even considered adding to a petsite, and the fact that owners are content to just do the same old same old is frustrating.

I really am tired of seeing hundreds of different petsites with a hundred features in common. It's just so boring and overdone after awhile and it's really silly.

I was looking through some of the sneak peaks on this forum and it's amazing how uninterested I was in what's usually my favorite part of a vps: the features and functions! And it bothers me how site owners spend hundreds of dollars to develop sites which are basically identical except for the art and story lines. I mean really, why spend a hundred dollars to pay a programmer to build a battle system for fuzzy kittens. Really? I like fuzzy kittens because they're CUTE. When I played Pokemon I hated battling Skitty's because they were too cute to fight. I understand if you have this whole war-like story line with big powerful looking creatures but LET THE KITTENS BE.

The fact is a lot of pet site owners go with the same features because its been proven to work, once you have the original features of a pet site built, then you should start implementing new features that are unique to your site. Not a whole lot of owners watch other pet sites, in terms of what they're doing.

Sure, you can say human avatars are "unoriginal" but the more sites that have it, the more users that come from the RPG field, which is why a lot of them introduce this feature, and plus its a major hit among players.

Can we please break away from the expected features and forget them, and pop out some new ones? Honestly I would rather play a site with several totally original features and no cliche ones, than play on a site with all the cliche's and only one original feature. Originality is huge and quite frankly the best. Let's skip the idea of battles, quests, explore areas, HA's and every other unoriginal feature. Let's go for a feature where your friends can leave items on your pet for you to find(and then remove if you wish), or create a feature where instead of exploring you get a huge picture full of items and you have the find the pet hiding in them. Okay these are somewhat lame suggestions but PLEASE GIVE US SOMETHING NEW!

So true, but then I don't agree because if you introduce new things without "Tutorials" about how to play them, users are going to complain about things being hard, or something like that.

And plus, you could make a feature where instead of just "Creating your human avatar", you'll have to capture it through an explore system, and bam, you'll get to decorate it and everything else.

No, Pokemon is you teach it a move and then it can do it. I'm talking training, something that takes awhile and has different levels and stuff. You're right that there is nothing new under the sun but that doesn't mean we can't come up with some original features. There are things in the world that people have not even considered adding to a petsite, and the fact that owners are content to just do the same old same old is frustrating.

So, why don't you implement original new features of your site? SIM games have a lot of quality features and not so many pet sites have those type of features.

And also, there's so many games out there that it isn't hard to come up with new ideas, especially if you're very creative.

Join the club.

http://www.virtualpetlist.com/showth.../10278-Ideaist

This is something I just dont get. A basketball team is always gonna have 5 players on each team, 2 baskets, and a ground. There jerseys are different colors, their players alldifferent, and the color of the backboards doesnt matter and differ. I see petsites as being the same. I mean sometimes unique things come alongut overall there are a lot of similarities but its to be expected.

I personally love the different sites and find them plenty different from each other. It seems to me that maybe you need to find a different gaming genre all together.