Pink Poogle Toy Forum

When this happened late last night (my time) the trade chat was upset, but the bdc was very, very upset about this change.

IMHO, I don't know that people will actually quit over this, I think if they stop, take a deep breath and just watch a few things in auctions, people will know the time left pretty well within a couple of days.

It's the rest of us who don't use the auctions much (I almost never do, too slow to get that last bid in) who will decide to not even bother trying anymore.

It was a kind of pointless change to make, especially since there was no warning or anything mentioned in the news that it was happening. Maybe they're just testing this out to see how it works?

Well, I am not liking this, not a bit. I decided to buy myself a HP today, and it's making me nuts not knowing when the auction will end.

I agree with you atomicblonde. It is a skill much like restocking or shop wiz hunting.

Although I must say you were polite in saying the word "stupid." I had a much nastier word for what I was thinking.

If they don't want auction snipers, they should do what shapu suggested, limit the number of auctions an account can purchase in a day. After all, they set limits like this on shop wiz hunting and restocking by instituting bans. Why couldn't the same thing be done here?

I do hope someone from TNT is lurking about right now because shapu's idea is a good one. *cough* just do it *cough*

The stuff about slower connections not having a chance at auctions is just baloney anyway. I picked up a Lab Map piece for 11K several days ago, and I'm on dial-up.

Could I have done that under the new system? No. I wouldn't even have known what (half) hour the auction was ending.

This is not helpful to buyers or sellers. Can you imagine the outcry if eBay instituted such a change?

"Auction Update
We have changed the way auctions work slightly to prevent last minute auction sniping. Now rather than the exact time remaining, it will say Very Long, Medium or Short for the time left, rather the exact minutes remaining. "



Wonder why?

Wow. I don't personally auction snipe, and I hardly use the auction actually, but even I think this is stupid, like the people above me have stated.

*rolls eyes* So, now I'll never win anything again 'cause I'll never know when to bid? Yay...!

If they insist on not giving us the actual time, could they at least give us something a little more definite than short, medium, long, extra long? Like "between 1 and 2 hours," "between 16 and 17 hours," etc. So, that way you at least know the approximate time the thing ends. Or keep the old time system, but eliminate the countdown clock altogether when it hits the 81+ list--that way you know it is within a minute or so, but don't know the exact second the auction will end.

And, with all of these beta testers around, did anyone think of asking them about better alternatives? In other words, did anyone try this out before instituting it?

Because you will still have auction snipers--in fact, this might actually help them in the long run. Because the non-snipers like you and me won't even bother with the auctions anymore--yet the auction snipers will still be hanging out on the 61-80 list--because they know those will end in about 30 seconds or so.

The new system is total garbage.

I brought up a discussion about this over on the Premium Board this morning and Snarkie came in and answered a lot of the questions we had.

To make a long story short, here were the topics I brought up:

1. This should have been posted in the news. (They now added that, thanks, guys!)

2. It's difficult as a bidder not knowing how long your NP will be "tied up".

3. ABOUT CHEAT PROGRAMS: Programmers wont take that long to figure out when each status changes, and how long it is until the auction ends from that. By programming that in, and let the autobidders calculate the exact end time and bid easier now that most auctioneers wont be used to the new system.

4. Since premium users can still see the time remaining in an auction by going through the auction module on neopets portal, is it an advantage? Will it be changed?


Snarkie came in and posted this reply:




So, there's their side of the story at least. I'm so glad they saw the auction sniper software side of things and made sure to take safety measures when the time shift takes place to they they can't take advantage of it bu randomizing it.

It's about time! I'm so sick of snipers, now maybe us average people will have a chance just like the ones that spend every waking moment trying to get things that we'll actually use.

Pah, there's absolutely nothing wrong with auction sniping.
If you've got the skill to do it, then more power to you.
People on the neoboards apparently complained because they couldnt grab something easily. Well, duh.
If you can't take the heat, get out of the auctions.

I agree with you here.

Though I am 100% against sniper programs, those who snipe by hand deserve some respect.

Sniping is an art form. It's difficult, and takes practice to master.

I personally never sniped, (I have the fast connection, but not the nerves or the patience required) but many of my friends make thier income that way, and I've had the pleasure of seeing what goes on from their side.

If you're fast, and you have the talent to pull it off, I don't see why you shouldn't get the rewards.

Sniping is NOT so different from restocking in many ways. I understand TNT wants to make the playing field a little more "fair" for your average Joe (or Jane), but in all honesty, as long as your connection is good, all it takes is determination and time to learn how to snipe.

Though I wish I had the desire to sit and make a sniper out of myself, I didn't. But it doesn't mean I don't respect those who work hard in the Auction House. Taking away their livelyhood is almost like creating a program that says when you restock in the main shop the items will go to some random person who tried to buy it in the next minute to keep the good restockers from "taking all the good items".

I believe in fair play, but skill and hard work are one thing. "Dumbing down" the game level because people didn't bid high enough or fast enough and are sore about losing is another.

I dont think this will make any difference to snipers, they already know that items 1-20 finish within 10secs and 20 - 40 within 20 secs etc.

I went there to see if it was any easier, and its exactly the same, sniping on items in the 20-30 section is still as impossible as always and there are many many snipers there. A lab map for example had over 50 bids on it in the last 10 secs. so nothing has changed . My connection isnt fast enough and it takes over 15 secs to get my bid through so I dont bother with the auctions since I always get outbid, but for those with a nice fast connection, sniping is going to be just as easy as before IMO, as most of them just refresh in that 1-20 section anyway.

SS:)

lol since the time for "short med long " is variable, guess eveyrones screwed

Greaaat. *blinks and shakes her head* And just when I was getting good at sniping, too. Guess I'll go hunt the shop wiz until I'm bored enough to learn the new system. XD

...next thing you know, they'll take the ending-soon auctions off the front page of the auction house.

I hate it. The auctions were a place were auction sniping earned you a profit. Now its hard to even get a close enough bid. If they wanted to prevent auction sniping they should have just allowed you to bid and/or win an auctuin 10-20 items a day.