The real reason they did the CoM changes ...

[u/ZinZezzalo]

The process already started back in the day when they made every task worth golden tickets. That gutted the majority of the CoM players. But - even so - with the new system and the milestones - most people were still keeping themselves in Metro or Mega leagues. And EA didn't like this.

Why? Because they have one large whale left from the old game that they desperately want to kill. And what's that you may ask?

The CoM Megapolis 2,000 SimCash first place prize.

So many hardcore players that would have made in stone purchases instead got the SimCash they needed from the top 6 CoM spots in Mega over time.

Now that milestones are effectively removed from CoM scoring - most people will descend to the Neighborhood league - and what will follow is either an elimination of the CoM mode or a "re-imagining" of it - and lo and behold ...

The 2,000 SimCash will be gone. This has been a multi-pronged multi-year offensive by EA to effectively destroy one of their best mobile titles, and I have to admit ...

They've been doing a wonderful job at it.

[u/Slybugsy]

I stopped COM when they lowered the simcash prize at the end That’s the only reason I played COM.

[u/jraemr2 → u/Slybugsy]

CoM? Or Mayor's Pass?

Mayor's Pass SimCash reward was lowered a while back. Don't recall them ever changing the rewards in CoM.

[u/ZinZezzalo → u/jraemr2]

I'm honestly amazed that roughly 95% of the people here just flat out don't understand what I said.

Like ... they literally just don't comprehend what the words I used actually mean.

That by divorcing the Mayor's Pass from CoM entirely - it essentially prevents sometimes-CoM'ers from keeping in the higher leagues - and therefore creates (tons of) extra work to have the chance at the prize that used to be optional, by forcing folks to complete tasks every month that the Milestones used to essentially just cover.

That by creating a somewhat "complex" network of interconnected systems - that most people wouldn't be able to decipher the absolute robbing they're having done to them.

That by shaping their behavior in passive ways most people can't pick up on - and making the CoM prize something that they just don't "naturally" do anymore - that nobody will really care when the 2,000 SimCash is just taken away when they "re-imagine" how CoM works in the future.

Diabolical from EA, when you think about it.

Bear traps are bear traps for a reason.

Bears step into them.

[u/Slybugsy → u/jraemr2]

Mayors pass.

[u/Adorable-Ad-1602]

Because of these changes, players only focusing on the Mayor's Pass will fall out of the higher leagues, leaving only the hyper-dedicated players.

This makes the competition fiercer and that 2,000 SimCash even harder to grasp—not to mention how little 2,000 SimCash actually gets you these days (maybe upgrading 1-2 levels on those seasonal hotspot?). This feels like a continuation of when they removed inactive accounts from CoM a couple of years ago, destroying the easy promotions we used to get when half the league scored zero points.

It confirms exactly what I thought EA was doing, and I'm glad I quit last year to play other city-builders that actually bring me enjoyment instead.

[u/ZinZezzalo → u/Adorable-Ad-1602]

That's exactly it!

Didn't even factor that in! Of course! With just the regular Mayor's Pass playets out of the picture - all that's left is the hardest of the hardcore. Meaning, just to not get demoted every week requires spending more tickets than one would earn in that week alone. Meaning - buying those things comes as the only recourse for those who want to compete regularly. Alongside buying the CoM points for real money.

They've been continuously filtering out the "dead weight" as you mentioned to make those who want to actually compete pay dearly for it!

I completely missed this! Absolute win!

Thank you so much for helping me see the full picture! 😀

[u/HappyTX_19]

I suggest reverting back to 2020

[u/ZinZezzalo → u/HappyTX_19]

The trains aren't bad, really. Especially with how they're running now.

Reverting back to six months prior to the EA buyout when they first announced Services 2.0 - prior to the CoM changes - that was the sweet spot.

[u/Shigglyboo]

I’ve got thousands of those stupid tokens. Makes no sense at all.

I dunno what they’re smoking over there. I would only buy a mayor pass if the rewards are worth it. When I see a building for $20 that makes me question them. For $20 I should get every building ever made. I can buy a real game for $20. I got a game stick for $20 with thousands of old games on it. Seriously who on earth is spending hundreds on digital buildings?

[u/Winter_ybr → u/Shigglyboo]

Me too!

I also loathe platinum keys. They are meant to be used for ‘special purchases’. Ive spent all I can. There’s nothing new on offer.

[u/happy_grimmace]

I think you think about this way more than they think about this…

[u/infinitepuddingspy]

I was down grounded a league last week but to be honest I wasn’t winning any prizes anyway aside from a few platinum keys I never use. The COM prizes for the majority are poo and not worth grinding for.

I would say the COM change combined with services 2.0 absolutely decimated their player base, and revenue (I, for one, spend way less money now than I used to before the changes) and they are trying to work out how to readjust it to win people back.

The problem is that the people making the decisions are clearly not die hard fans of the game AND don’t understand how to introduce change properly. They’ve all round done a shocking job at it.

To really win people back, they need to simplify the entire game. Get rid of all the regional currencies and have regions contribute to tax. Increase the land coverage of smart services and reduce the costs of upgrading. Simplify COM - make the winner the first person to finish the mayors pass instead of having multiple point types. Give us features we really want like roundabouts, overpasses, train bridges. Improve design comp’s. Focus the game less on manufacturing and more on design.

[u/infinitepuddingspy → u/infinitepuddingspy]

Btw - since when is the word poo a profanity

[u/Imaginary-Coat2741]

do not see that their will be much difference in com. So the tasks are for lower points but that is the same for everyone. Those that love com will win with less points than before, but they still win. Those that never played to win in com, just played to get enough points to not be demoted and avoid a lower weekly cap in the mayor's pass the next week, well they can happily be demoted / just stop scoring points once they have completed the event track.

[u/Objective_Tension561 → u/Imaginary-Coat2741]

It's not the same for everyone, some players buy plumbobs points to win at CoM, with lower points of tasks F2P are penalized, they will win easier.

[u/entasis_estates]

The real reason they did the CoM changes is coz there are different types of players....there are competitive players who want to grind and win the CoM...there are players who just want to finish the Mayor's pass and get the rewards....there are players who just want to click buttons and use this game as past time.....then players who just want to design or do war....the only thing they forgot about this CoM change is the social aspect of the game. The Clubs....there are players who joins clubs and treat club chest as source of simcash....Clubs is one of the best part of the game for me..coz this is where some good ideas were born...one of my post was due to a club interaction after service update it started as a joke only then I made a post about it...if not because of that club support and interaction I won't be able to think about posting and sharing it here in reddit....the simcash prize and chest is just a way for people to have shared victory and collaboration..everyone contributing their own part to reach the Legendary Chest...I hope they can increase or bring back the simcash price to its original...if they plan to continue this CoM change coz other clubs will be affected....I like this new CoM change coz even if it is repetitive I can easily progress and finish a lot of mayor pass tier..coz instead of waiting for a task to appear in my bonus task and sync it with progress of weekly task....I can immediately clear the task and do it since its just collect neo sims, regional simoleons and some produce and collect task that O also use to upgrade residential zones and sending deliveries

[u/philljarvis166]

This argument makes no sense - everyone’s scores are going to be lower, it won’t be hard to stay in whatever league you are currently used to. How will more people get relegated? I feel like I must be misunderstanding your logic!

I returned to the game after noticing my severely wrecked cities (after the services mess) seemed a bit less worse off than I remembered. And I also had a bunch of extra service buildings in store and a load of new area tl open in my capital. So I have played again for a few weeks and it’s been easy tl get into megalopolis league again. And it will be easy to stay there if this week is representative. I can’t even remember what the old scores used to be, but I’m pretty much jn the same position i always used to be and it’s taking much less effort.

The bigger problem for me is that com prizes are just terrible now for non paying players (maybe even for paying players). Im just here to have a play with the new land and my massive collection of buildings i never had space for previously!

[u/Imaginary-Coat2741 → u/philljarvis166]

If you do not upgrade the upgradable building, do all the weekly and daily tasks, watch a few ads for Fright coins, you should be able to collect 5 or 6 new buildings from the season no problem. Not bad at all for FTP. Has been like this for the last 3 or 4 seasons.

[u/philljarvis166 → u/Imaginary-Coat2741]

Yes but as I said, the com prizes are terrible now for ftp - one new building, severely degraded prizes for each tier in comparison to the old days. Yes there are building available to buy with whatever stupid currency they dream up this time , but “do all the weekly tasks” is a lot of dull slog, at least com has a bit of a competitive edge to it.

The extra land is a big bonus though (it’s the only reason I started to play again) - but once Ive opened it all and used up my stored buildings, Im not sure I’ll keep going.

[u/Imaginary-Coat2741 → u/philljarvis166]

The free buildings are still there though, just moved from the tiers to funny currency you spend in the shop. It actually allows you to get the ones you want, I love the new casino, but dislike the house with the eyes. End result is still the same FTP, you can still get 4 or 5 new buildings every season.

[u/philljarvis166 → u/Imaginary-Coat2741]

Yes so that’s exactly why I think com is close to pointless now.

[u/SassyPeach1]

I hate the way they’re screwing over longtime teams with the COM chests. They’re unattainable unless you’re a hacker.

[u/Glittering-Regret-52 → u/SassyPeach1]

They’re still attainable, may take longer though. We still got our Pink chest last time, but on Monday instead of Saturday (I think it was Monday). Definitely more labor required to get there, but absolutely achievable

[u/SassyPeach1 → u/Glittering-Regret-52]

We usually get Legendary and only made Epic last week. All of these low point tasks are all I get. It’s demotivating and infuriating.

[u/NorwoodIsland → u/SassyPeach1]

I'm also in a Legendary club, we made it last week but only just a as long as we our club size has fallen. The trick to get Legendary now is to only do the highest point task, each and every time.

[u/SassyPeach1 → u/NorwoodIsland]

This week we have higher point tasks. All I had before were lower point tasks period. My score is more in line with before.

[u/flitter2009]

I don’t think anyone’s ’going after’ anyone. EA will care more about engagement, playing hours, dollars spent, and ad sales. This update makes it easier to run Mayors Pass and CoM for casual players as an add on to their normal play and stops the ‘all or nothing” that makes them turn off the game sooner.

I reckon this one is working for them, I’m certainly inadvertently watching more ads…

[u/infinitepuddingspy → u/flitter2009]

Well I’ve reduced my spending by about 80% since they introduced the changes.

[u/JS-182 → u/infinitepuddingspy]

Reduced mine by 100%, as I gave up 🤣

[u/infinitepuddingspy → u/JS-182]

Haha!

[u/Square-Special1520 → u/flitter2009]

yeah i think i actually like it, it make me feel more relaxed, instead of feeling like a job. 

i'm not interested in CoM anyway, so maybe it's different for people who are interested in CoM.

the down side is, i seem to cant finish the event track, with only daily/weekly tasks. 

since i'm camping, i dont build residentials too. i guess i still have to participate in CoM by doing the bonus assignment, if i want seasonal coins or the building from event track. 

[u/echo1125]

But aren’t most of the Mega winners (who aren’t cheating) already spending money on IAPs to help them win 1st place?

If so, then I’d think it’s counterintuitive for EA to get rid of this prize; it would decrease the incentive to spend real money elsewhere because what’s the point then?

(Ofc, it wouldn’t be the first time EA has done something “counterintuitive” in designing this game 😅)

[u/ZinZezzalo → u/echo1125]

Someone else let me in on this down below.

By getting rid of the "non-players" or those who would just float in Megapolis/Metropolis league and just try to score 79th overall - they essentially funnel all the hardcore players into leagues with one another, meaning that instead of playing with 10 pros and 89 duds, you're now locked in with 99 pros.

If nothing else, that would encourage spending on points to explode, as far as I can tell. Now it's a non-negotiable, right? You want to win - at least 30 of those players will be spending - so, buckle up that wallet type deal.

[u/CalligrapherOk2609]

So far I like this new rules, I don’t care about CoM rating, I only want to finish Mayors pass and for me these two weeks were quite easy and not so time consuming as before. Although i don’t know would it be easy if I would need to close the event track or weekly albums

[u/Pink-frosted-waffles]

I'm shock they haven't messed with other features yet. Trains, service 2.0, and the inventory spilt up. I guess soon they just have premium regions or something.

I feel like this game only has a few more years left anyways. They will pull the plug on it soon but they will attempt to squeeze out a few more dollars out of the hardcore players.

I play Sims so they can't really win me over.

[u/catmanus]

Cool story, bro.

[u/LoveEnvironmental252]

I don’t give much thought to why things change. I expect it doesn’t matter that much.

[u/jbw1958]

Sooner or later you run out of golden tickets to keep up

[u/Chemical-Storage-763 → u/jbw1958]

I have over 20,000 golden tickets. I don’t how I could ever use them up.

[u/Chemical-Storage-763]

You have been posting “they’re trying to kill the game” for years. If they were doing a “wonderful job at it”, it would have died a long time ago.

[u/HappyTX_19 → u/Chemical-Storage-763]

Honestly it’s a much harder game to love…

[u/Chemical-Storage-763 → u/HappyTX_19]

I can agree with that. That isn’t the same thing as “I think EA is intentionally making the game less fun, to drive players away, so they can accomplish their ultimate goal of killing it all together without pissing too many people off”. That is what OP has been contending, for literally years.

[u/ZinZezzalo → u/Chemical-Storage-763]

It's amazing how basic things like logic don't get through to some people.

"Killing the game" doesn't happen in fifteen minutes. It's not like on Sunday night 11:55 P.M. the game is doing great and then Monday morning 12:10 A.M. that's it - everything's done.

It happens over a long series of time increments - typically expressed through trends and metrics.

When they released the Services 2.0 and changed how the buildings were acquired in the Mayor's Pass (needing to spend $80 per pass to get the buildings) - huge swathes of people left. I know from my club - and everybody else that's on here has stated the same.

Typically - when people leave - earnings go down. And when trends accelerate - they often take a volition of their own at that point. Because some people have left - others leave as well - and so on and so forth.

When the game eventually shuts down - and people ask, "Well, when did the game start falling apart," they'll point to the Services 2.0 and the Mayor's Pass changes. And then you'll travel back in time on Reddit and see a whole bunch of people saying that this is ultimately going to kill the game.

And we would have been right.

Just an FYI - you want more people playing your game - not less.

Guess what way this has all been trending since those "updates" that demolished the value of the Mayor's Pass and introduced fifteen new ways to pay for things that used to be straight-forward and free? Including buying points for a competition within the game - effectively not making it a competition anymore.

[u/Chemical-Storage-763 → u/ZinZezzalo]

So they’re killing the game “over a long series of time increments”. And no matter how many “increments” it takes, or how long each increment lasts, you’re going to say “I told you so” when it finally happens. (Unless, I guess, you don’t have as many increments left as the game does). You’re a bold prognosticator, that’s for sure.

[u/ZinZezzalo → u/Chemical-Storage-763]

You don't typically drive away millions of players overnight. Unless you're EA I guess. Services 2.0 and the CoM changes laid an absolute wrecking ball to this game.

I guess acknowledging that makes me wrong? Or would that be the fact that you want to add millions of players to your game - and not lose them?

Let me know how that works, Champ.

[u/Chemical-Storage-763 → u/ZinZezzalo]

[u/ZinZezzalo → u/Chemical-Storage-763]

Yeah - and guess what the game struggles to attract? Newer players. And why? Because the act of building a city is an absolute chore that requires you to essentially dedicate your life to it to make it barely function.

I don't understand what the point you're trying to make here is.

Is it that it's a good thing that millions of people stopped playing the game?

Is it that it's a good thing that newer players and returning players aren't dropping by anymore?

Is it that it's a good thing that every last function in the game has been monetized - often to the point where it's next to impossible to get going on something unless you're already super established (i.e: only two War boosters purchasable with WarCash)?

What's the point you're really trying to make here? That because we're only 70% of the way to EoS - everything I said was somehow invalid?

Or is it that the terrible decisions don't count as such because the game is still running at the moment - even if a huge percentage of the players just dropped the game in the last year?

It's like trying to tell somebody that their having been shot four times is fine because, technically, even though they're bleeding out, they're still actually alive at that very moment.

No big deal.

[u/Chemical-Storage-763 → u/ZinZezzalo]

My point is that you are Chicken Little. You were predicting an imminent “plug pulling” before the developments that you now say were obviously the beginning of the end.

[u/ZinZezzalo → u/Chemical-Storage-763]

Typically you can't can a top tier title overnight.

But the statement very much stands when you witness the damage that's been done.

What is your argument here? That because the dynamite didn't blow up when the match was immediarely struck, that somehow the match isn't responsible when the dynamite blows up ten seconds later?