Single post in General Feedback thread

Glad I stumbled over this thread! I've been enjoying the site for the past few weeks. It's definitely one of the most feature-rich egg-clickers out there, and it's clear how much love is going into the whole project. The artists are doing a great job with the new generations, and the mechanical additions inspired by mainline series gimmicks are a lot of fun. Keep up the great work! I do have some concerns regarding the monetization of the site. I understand server and labor costs can be high, so I get that you need to ensure the project is properly financed. But I wanted to share my thoughts on a trend that, in my opinion, has turned many virtual pet sites into graveyards. As a new player, I’ve noticed some dark patterns emerging from the microtransaction model. On top of the subscription, there’s money to be spent on most mechanics. The limits on adoptions are pretty noticeable and seem designed to tempt players into spending. While you do get nice features in return, I’m mainly worried about the temporary boosts and number-pushing features. These just give players a brief chance to slightly influence the gacha mechanics of the game. The calculations feel rather opaque, and it’s hard to understand how these small, temporary boosts impact the overall system. This space is home to many neurodivergent people like myself, and the game caters to teenagers and children. Microtransactions and dark patterns, coupled with the nostalgia of a beloved franchise, historically target and exploit dedicated demographics. So, I just wanted to address that there are ways to rethink monetization without simply shifting numbers in gambling mechanics.

• Cele’s could be a great way to generate income for the server, where people know exactly what they’re getting. These aren’t recurring costs that slowly chip away at your money.
• There needs to be a clear, understandable write-up of any possible way people can spend their money to influence their chances on hatches. Calculators exist for this, but clear communication and proper information pipelines are crucial for ethical monetization.
• The first thing people see when they log in is the list of disabled, paid features in the announcement box. While useful, they should be designed not to tempt players by default.
• Strongly reconsider how the box system works. It’s a lot of money one can spend on an already system-laden site.

These are just some points I had off the top of my head. I really think this place is phenomenal and inspiring, and I hope it doesn’t fall into the pitfalls of a lack of transparency, accessibility, and obtainability. This is just my personal view on microtransactions in online spaces, as virtual pet sites and Pokémon are homes to many who were driven off by the current “games as a service” climate. No argument intended, just sharing my thoughts. Thank you so much!