Ramblings and a giveaway

This week we had a surprise announcement from the Splinterlands team (if you've been living under a rock and haven't heard the news yet, here's the link to the official post): for the second time, the team is forced to downsize and reorganize. I must say, although it was clear that the enthusiasm around the game was far away from what it used to be, I wasn't expecting another reorganization. But it is what it is, and tough times sometimes demand tough measures.

I won't bother anyone with the details, that can be found in the official post; but after reading it all, I think the best possible solution was found, and I'm really glad to see Matt on the wheel; and more important, with a 100% dedicated focus on Splinterlands! No more side projects to take away the focus from where It should always have been: creating new and better mechanics, making land finally a reality, and improving player experience!

Land is clearly the priority now, and it won't be long before it goes live: that will bring the game into a whole new level, and will be a massive dec and cards sink. The focus on Rebellion seems to come in second in the line of priorities, and only then player experience. I hope the latter gets developed at the same pace as Rebellion set, and preferably sooner! Speaking for myself, and given the current bear market, I'm not willing to invest nearly as much as I did in Chaos set, and it's likely I'm not the only one. Making the game even more enjoyable for any new player has to be the goal! Getting rid of bots in battles, creating new skins, an improved tutorial with a chance of getting soulbound cards along the way while learning the game mechanics... there are a lot of little things that can help.

Games in web2 don't offer nfts, or abilities to win crypto; they focus on one thing: FUN. A fun game keeps players playing! And we do seem to have a big problem in new player retention. For me, the game is still a ton of fun: I've been playing for 5 years, and I'm still a true fan! But clearly this is not the case for the majority of the newcomers. I do believe the team is going to be able to progress through these hard times; Splinterlands is filled with incredible talent, and in a few months I'm hoping these hard times will just be another bump on the road to success!

See you on the battlefield! ;)

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By the way, if you haven't joined a guild yet and you're a dedicated player, our guild Roaring Twenties is at level 10! If you're thinking about joining in, you can check the info on the guild page, or reach us on discord here to discuss membership!

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So, and who won this week's card?

Congratulations @tabs1250! The Merdaali Guardian is going your way!

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For this next giveaway, the card that will be switching hands is...

The Bramble Pixie!

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Rules:

No upvote, follow or resteem required. Just comment! Or even better, tag a fellow player! Winner will be randomly chosen at post payout; good luck everyone!

Still haven't joined Splinterlands? In what planet do you live in? Click the banner below and join the fun! (It has my referral link; you can go directly to the website if you don't want to use it; either way... join in! 😎 )