The Itch
Vistas from a digital gadabout…

Below is the text of an open letter to Dups, (@dups) and CC’d to a few folks from my empire family.

Recent changes to the site removed the ability to pay for upgrades to your account, and eliminated the need to pay for stock releases. These changes dramatically alter the game-scape. 5 days ago – before this occurred, I spent money on changes. Looks like I made a big mistake.

—

Dups, and rest of the Empire Avenue Team -

I can’t help but feel pretty cheated by this move. I’m also CERTAIN that I’m not alone. I do not for one minute believe that charging real dollars during the beta was appropriate – however, I supported the site, and Brad – with real dollars. Rare in today’s world – considering the number of start-ups and entrepreneurial endeavors clamoring for users and user-revenue.

There are a number of us who have supported the ad-hoc changes necessary in a beta environment – particularly in an environment that demands breaking new ground. But to devalue our historic and current efforts to work with EmpireAvenue to build WITH Empire, FOR Empire – is going too far.

On November 17th, I chose (finally) to pay cash – instead of the hundreds of thousands of ‘eaves’ I’ve spent upgrading. To finally cross the million mark, after being knocked down time and time again due to system changes, game changes, personal attacks, and user abuse of the system.

” If you spent money OR eaves on Expanding Shareholder Influence Upgrades since Monday November 15, 2010, we will give you a credit for the full amount of the money spent and refund all eaves spent.”

5 days later, the 21$ I felt justified in paying has no value. You returned 70,000 eaves – that I worked for. The 130,000 eaves that my $21 did pay for however, you have not returned. You have offered 21,000 – which is less than I would get if I spent $21 today (23K per the ‘buy’ page).

Your offer to provide ‘additional upgrades’ is not quite reasonable either. What? Like another expired coupon for Outback Steakhouse? Like another name change? For a user to pay cash into a game or service – there is an agreement to purchase product with a perceived value. In this case – you have removed all of the perceived value, and summarily absorbed the cash. I’m only 20$ in the grand scheme. Small fries. [ED: Removed a little personal content here], spend that in gas just getting to the places I hunt. Frankly – buy me [ED: Here too] and we’re even… but 21,000 eaves? 2 nights divs. NOT worth 20$. Not even CLOSE.

So – if you offered 130,000 eaves? Would that be fair compensation?

No. Not anymore…

Without the need to PAY for upgrades, there is no barrier to continued share sales. Money will roll in as long as we do EXACTLY what we’ve done for months. Generate value for shareholders. (Which isn’t something EA does – we do it.) So now – 130K is easier to earn, and the effort spent over the last months is gone.

I can appreciate how difficult it is to build a site like this – and I realize how hard it is to please everyone. But in this case – you have directly impacted a group of people who have weathered some very substantial storms as a result of our dedication to the site and it’s intended purpose – or purposes – as changes have occurred along the way. Of the things done on Empire Avenue to test, alter, and twist the site closer to your vision I think you’ve really missed the mark on this one. Worse – you’ve seen great people walk away after these changes. People who worked hard to see the vision that you and the crew were promoting. This feels like another stab at those people…

Greg Scratchley
@gscratch

http://www.scratchley.org

On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 2:18 PM, Empire Avenue Support wrote:

Hi Greg, as per our policy, we cannot refund the money, we will give you a credit towards another upgrade

Cheers
Dups

On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 2:03 PM, Greg Scratchley [gmail] wrote:

Dups and Team -

Frankly – since my upgrade was on the 17th, and 21,000 shares is irrelevant, a refund via paypal of the 21$ US purchase would be my choice.

-

Greg Scratchley
(E)ITCH

/eom

On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 10:24 AM, Empire Avenue wrote:

Hi [X] @gscratch Greg Scratchley,

We’re sending you this email because you have spent money buying Expanding Influence Shares upgrades on Empire Avenue. Today we made a change to remove priced upgrades of shares beyond the 10,000 shares limit on Empire Avenue. This is obviously a big step for us, and it was not an easy decision by any means! It will mean that accounts will get automatically upgraded to the next level when they come close to selling out! At no charge.

Running a beta of a mass-market game/application means that we spend a lot of time looking at each feature and each aspect of the site. Our goal is to create a truly inclusive and world-changing social networking game, an application which reaches deep into real life and more. The concept of charging and blocking shares upgrades just did not fit with the future of the site.

Now, you’re probably thinking, “Heck, I spent money!”… We understand how it feels when companies change core pricing like this. However, we are going to provide you a credit to spend on other virtual goods and services available now or in the future at Empire Avenue. We will exchange any remaining credit, at your request, into Eaves at a rate of 1,000e for each $1. If you spent money OR eaves on Expanding Shareholder Influence Upgrades since Monday November 15, 2010, we will give you a credit for the full amount of the money spent and refund all eaves spent.

This is a very personal type of credit. We have your e-mail on file, and all you have to do is e-mail us from this address, and tell us which upgrade you want to do, when and for which Ticker. There is no time limit on this! Feel free to exercise it at any time.

Your Credit with Empire Avenue: $21.00

We thank you *very* much for all the support you’ve given us over the past several months.

Your truly,
Duleepa “Dups” Wijayawardhana
CEO, Empire Avenue
@dups, (e)DUPS