I was so excited when this game came out, I play the full hour on the demo then purchased it. Now that I have played it awhile I have to say it is one of my least liked Last Day of Work game. Not saying it is horrible because even being one of my least favorite games they make it is still better than a lot of games I own, but I would be lying to say I wasn't disappointed.
I think what made past Last Day if Work games work so well was the interaction. Yes, it took time to get some of the major goals done but there were always other things that could be done as well while that got accomplished. With Virtual Families there is only so many times I can take my kid around the yard looking for collectibles while waiting for the store to update before it gets old. I do think the game has great potential I just feel like it was maybe rushed a bit to be released. I am sure for some it might work well the way it is set up but for me, when I want to play a game I paid for and limited on my free time then I want it to be ready to play when I am, or at least be able to play some aspect of it besides the repetitive search for coins which is based on luck more than anything else.
I do have suggestions I would love to see implemented into game play if another version was released.
Jobs - I would love for jobs to have some effect on game play rather than just making money. I think each job field should have it's own perks and disadvantages. For example, if the person's job was in the food industry then food would be more filling. The down side could be because they spend most of the time in the kitchen, they are more likely to break the computer while using it.
Promotions - I think it would be great to have a mini game to go along with promotions. Maybe a match 3 or something to do with there work ( sticking to food jobs ) like matching up cupcakes. When the game is over for every 3 you get you get cupcakes you can either pick to take them home to your family (+ food) or sale them at a stand (+ money).
Store - I think the store should be done away with all together and be put on the computer, going along with the theme they sale collectibles online. The way the store is set up now and the restock time makes no sense to me. I would love for a "Shop Online" option to be on the computer where it would take you too a screen of what other people are selling at that moment and when the "auctions" end. They could bid on items and be outbid or win them. There could a few of the same items at different prices so you would have to try to get the set deal. Also the auctions would end all at different times so wouldn't be so long of a wait for a restock as new items would be rotated in/ replaced one at a time.
Collectibles - Love you can sale extra collectibles you find, would also like it if you could buy them at outrageously high prices. They would be rare but would appear in the auctions really high. This wouldn't be affordable to buy all you need for your collection but would help if you got lucky and that last bug you needed happened to be on the shop now page for $5000.
Consistency -. With the time and money ( been discussed before in this forums so wont get into it in depth ). Also I see people post "well in reality so and so happens so that's why it has to be that way in game", then later same person will post, "well it is just a game" I think it should either have fantasy aspects of it ( like past village games ) or not. I think the line is blurred as to where they are trying to take this game. This might be an issue I only have with it, but it seems like it is suppose to be like reality one for some part of it then it is like oh well ya totally normal for a mother to carry around her baby for 2 years and never put it down. Also my two year old surfing the net while there's a fire in the kitchen and both parents are passed out in the couch. I guess my couples not going to win parents of the year anytime soon plus they basically sold there youngest for 500 bucks
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More Puzzles and Game Progression - Start off with a one room home, have to expand before taking on a wife/husband. More stuff to buy/upgrade that have different effects on your people. More actions and reactions. Because you did this, the family member did this, this happened, and effect the game this way. The progression through the game is slow and more done on it's own. I have two families one I play with every time I open the game and one I don't mess with other than making them have a baby once. They are basically on the same levels of each other as far as job promotion. The family I rarely open do have less money but only because I don't look and sale collectibles, but besides that nothing is drastically different. If someone puts hours/days of work in one family it should show some how in the game. The house should be bigger, they should be WAY further along in the jobs titles, there kids should be better behaved, they should be happier. They do have more items in the house but the items have little to no effect on them. I hate to sound harsh but at times it seems more like an interactive screen saver than a game. With past village games if you didn't accomplish a task there was major cause and effect. You didn't clean a lake, the tribe died. You found a way to get a clean you got fish and were able to go to the next task. I think this game is lacking a lot of that. Once I bought the game I kept waiting for something big to happen, for me to have to do something and that never happened. The email events are cool but to far apart and few to keep it entertaining for me
I have 5,000,000 other ideas for this game, but figured the post is already long enough. I am sure some will disagree but that's okay, what makes everything interesting is different opinions and in cases like this there is not a right or wrong. I am sure if I feel this way there have to be others as well. I would love to hear your thoughts and look forward to see what changes they bring if they do another installment of this game.