Lilys and Runi's reaction to Pottermore's Million Point Competition

Runi: So I think we both agree that a contest like this ruins the game a bit right?

Lilys: Definitely, more than ruins the game because I doubt there was ever much of a 'gaming' element to Pottermore. I think the greatest insult to users is and will be that it undermines all other hard work that they've put in under the past 4 months.

A bit off topic, but do you think that Pottermore has ever been a 'valid' game when compared to other computer games and online games?

Runi: Well that's another discussion entirely but we'll probably circle back in a bit...so Pottermore as game? I think it barely qualifies

Lilys: Yep definitely, as you can tell I'm probably still a bit seriously annoyed at Pottermore...

Runi: I think we all are but thing is, as a gamer, or if I'm going to be less provocative, a gaming enthusiast... It's kind of bad design as a game

Lilys: I've never gamed before Pottermore so I have nothing to compare it to. My main thing in whether to define Pottermore as a game or not will decide whether we can protest at them changing the rules of the 'game'.

A parallel that Pottermore may not like me making is like the ending of the first Hunger Games Books; the Capital change the rules at the last second which inadvertently leads to the destruction of their state...

  

Runi: Well the thing is I'm willing to say that Pottermore is more... guitar hero+cooking mama. There's not much else going on there, and there's no real strategy other than time/resource management, which admittedly some games are based on but it's not too... good as both of those are far more enjoyable…

and yes... changing the rules like this with the competition (I knew we would be back!) is a poor choice. I know we all want more ways to earn points but this seems a bit extreme.

I think if instead, People were credited for common room activity on their accounts by posting something with #(inserthousehere)pride might have been smarter

Lilys: I definitely think so, that would help them with their massive troll problem (insert petition link here) as well as put more people onto the site, not talking about it on external sites

Runi: But this all-or-nothing event seems more of a rigging as Pottermore is the judge and less... fair as a result. Well that's a bit funny? Talking about external sites? The contest is everywhere BUT pottermore.com

Lilys: Yes and I was also going to say that by having competitions on external sites, not only is Pottermore breaking their own Terms and Conditions but it's the biggest admission of failure that there onsite communication systems do not work.

Runi: Actually you can type #slytherinpride in the common room

Lilys: As you said in the previous reaction post, they could have made the point threshold a lot less, picked specific users or even a specific house and given them a special badge or something....anything apart from 1 million points

Runi: I was actually kind of shocked

Lilys: However, typing it in the common room isn't going to give Pottermore their free publicity but which the other thing I am especially upset about…

Runi: Well my one hope is the fact they said they'd award other points for other things. I think that was their "let's not screw ourselves over" clause. I knew you’d talk about the publicity, that's the one part where I don't have much of a problem to be honest.

Lilys: In my mind, if it were a better competition that was fairer I wouldn't mind. However, with this model we aren't getting anything back, even if we win the 1 million points. So we're doing a lot of work for Pottermore with nothing in return. Make us a badge, change moderation or something and I'd be a lot less grudging about it

Runi: Well two things... one they never said we wouldn't get anything back... to quote: "There may even be extra house points awarded for particularly imaginative and creative contributions." not too comforting but that does show that they're open to participation prizes

Lilys: Yes it does, however I think that we should know the full scope and possibilities of the competition BEFORE we start. Sure some prizes can stay secret but I want to know exactly what the prizes would be given for and the 'value' of the prizes. Eg a points prize of no more than 20,000...

Because at the moment we're not even sure if the competition is for the most hashtags generated or the most creative posts with the hashtags are we?

Runi: Though as for the promotion... and wanting it free, I can't blame them too much. I mean it IS forced here which puts a bad taste in my mouth, but... they do have a vested interest in reminding more people that Pottermore exists.... Goodness knows I think if you mention it to people they'd ask "what?"

The full list of prizes? Oh I wish Pottermore would do that... but then they never really have till the last moment...Let's not forget about house cups and poor Ravenclaw’s prize

Lilys: Yes of course. The promotion is the least of my things and I would mind less if it wasn't a 'do it or die' situation. Because the point prize threshold is so high you have no choice but to feel the need and pressure to participate which means in a way Pottermore are forcing people into free advertising. I would much rather advertise a site because I actually enjoyed going on it and everything worked, not because of a competition that seems morally wrong to most full-time users.

And prizes and their meaning/ worth is another long conversation for another day...

Runi: Definitely... and yes, the do or die seems patently unfair, and like Pottermore just wants to drum up activity... which reminds me, I don't think they were staying by that whole "inactivity=deletion" thing

Lilys: I think they've turned this into a cycle of negativity. They manage to create interest in the site from new users that lasts approximately a week and then they die off which means they need to keep creating more and more absurd things. However, if they looked at it form the other direction and actively worked to fix the site and retain users on it with things like easier communication, better moderation, lack of trolls, more games etc. their job would in fact be a lot easier.

Runi: Well actually that would be easier in the long run, but harder in the short run I'd think

Lilys: Of course, but here's hoping that these people are looking at the long run...

Runi: Plus they are limited in JKR content, which is the main draw for things on Pottermore, so really all they can hope to do is program things in that encourage returning and some sort of investment… I hate to say it but this is what Pottermore needs to learn from small things like Farmville or any basic Facebook game

Lilys: Yes, again I've never played any other games in my life but the format seems pretty simple if I can work out what they're getting wrong. And I know they're a small and probably understaffed company but I think even opening a dialogue with users and being more open with them (like with the competition) would make their job easier and our time spent on the site or related things happier.

Lilys: Also we should touch on the fact that to properly participate in the hashtags you need to either have your profile or all posts with the hashtags set to public. That has definitely raised some even larger alarms bells for me and other users...

Runi: You know I don't think Rowling would have entirely approved that move, if I may invoke the word of Jo…

Lilys: I definitely think so, she's got young children of her own, how would she feel that one, if they were to use the site they'd be exposed to highly inappropriate material and then opening up social media profiles to the public which can also be bad given the sick nature of some people.

In addition, Facebook has a user policy that users have to be over 13 to use the site, I've no doubt that there are younger users on Pottermore so does this mean they will be excluded from participation or will have to break the Facebook terms and conditions?

Rune: The problem is it passes the buck to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...... on one end of course, but on the other, regarding breaking terms, I imagine the logic wasn't addressed. But if I may try and explain the monkey logic... it would force the parents to do it

wow that's four bucks passed on, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and parents

Lilys: And I think they would be mighty please if they realized the extent of it.... So just to sum up in my mind so far...Pottermore have:

- generated free publicity

- created an entirely unfair concept that can be loosely called a game

- entered a chain that will require them to continue creating such things as they can't retain most users any other way

- require all people who want to participate to use public settings on their social network sites

- strongly encourage children to break other websites' terms and conditions about age to be able to participate and put these children at risk because of the above points

That seems pretty sickening to be honest if you ask me...

Runi: I can't really argue too much on this event being rather scummy on Pottermore's part, but I do have to acknowledge that some parts aren't exactly their fault

Lilys: Just for sake of argument and to hopefully make me feel a lot better about the site. Apart from probably not having the funding and man hours, how is some of this not Pottermore's fault?

Runi: Well the problem is and this sounds completely nuts to say, their biggest problem is quite frankly Rowling's content, which may or may not be produced at any given time

If they had a steady stream of Rowling content, they wouldn't need to resort to these gimmicky events

Lilys: That is true, I have wondered how that does work. But doesn't the comment sense thing to do then is to improve the site and introduce more games etc?

Runi: And given what we got last time, I honestly think they might be running out of things to say…

Lilys: Definitely, and Rowling is really busy at the moment. Two mini-series adaptions, Fantastic Beasts and whatever other writing she's doing

Runi: Yes, but being blatantly honest, that doesn't direct people to the site as well as Rowling content or big events like these…Rowling's business is great for fans... but not for Pottermore and let's not forget the Daily Prophet.

Lilys: Oh is Rita Skeeter still in Patagonia?

Runi: No, she's just been temporarily shoved into a vanishing cabinet I'd imagine

Lilys: But wouldn't creating a really addictive quidditch game that people can unlock by generating a certain number of house pride hashtags work better?

Runi: Actually I think this is something Pottermore should learn from other games... on Facebook. Inviting friends to Pottermore for games. "play quidditch, don't have six friends to join you? invite people via their email!"

Lilys: Exactly! I've played Candy Crush a bit so I could definitely see that working!

Runi: Even wizard's chess via an APP would be a good plan

Lilys: And the type of app where it could generate a random opponent or a friend etc...

And yet, two people in their early 20s can think of this but supposedly people with assumed business degrees can't...

Runi: Well being fair I do have business degrees

Lilys: I don't...point given is they should be miles ahead of us, not the other way around as it's seeming

Runi: well the problem is, I think Pottermore is limited, and their main goal (getting money) is not really happening...  That forces them to wait for Jo to release snippets that get people on the site and (hopefully) buying ebooks

Lilys: And I guess ads aren't an option for them?

Rune: So to recap: 1)make a botched event 2) get free advertising 3)??? 4) PROFIT

Lilys: Or *shock horror* have paid accounts for $5 or something...eg you can cast 100 duels and brew 10 potions and then you need to pay the one off $5....I'd say many of the 'addicts' in this community would

Hmmm seems the flow chart is a bit wonky there....

Runi: No, they said a while ago that they wouldn't charge or advertise on the site

Lilys: Well then I'm not sure if I should be grateful or upset about that given this competition..

Runi: Personally I'd say it's a bit of both... I mean I'm constantly upset at Pottermore but I know WHY it is stupid... doesn't always make it better but it's better than knowing nothing

Lilys: Yes, however when you know that there are probably viable ways to fix it and the huge current flaws, it's enough to make anyone antsy.

So do you think people will participate in the competition and that it will be a fair competition (e.g. that Pottermore hasn't chosen a winner in advance)

Runi: I'm not too sure on fairness. I do know that most of the staff is NOT Slytherin, Rowling herself is a Gryffindor and previous fiascos.... the odds are certainly "weighted" to say the least.

Lilys: I thought they posted a picture once saying the majority of staff were Ravenclaw

Runi: but participation I think follows the prisoner's dilemma rule. Simply that we all know that by participating there will be a stain on the winning house, but they have a better chance at winning the cup, in truth we'd all probably be better off if no one participated. However... we probably don't trust each other enough to choose that option

Lilys: Yes and then there's the pressure or non-pressure of conformity from housemates...

Of course and as you can see on Pottermore's announcement post on Facebook that regardless of whether we decide or not, many others will be participating

Runi: Thus, we all chose to participate in some form or another, screwing us all in the process. The whole thing is less conscientious objection or protest through participation. All in all I think the prisoner's dilemma still fits best given this. Too bad we can't shout out "participation gets you set on fire!"

Lilys: Well I know that I'm certainly going to be taking digs at Pottermore during the competition. I've got all of my point milestone pictures set to post and I'll be accompanying them with, 'I earn points for #SlytherinPride'

What do you think?