Beta server live

[Michael]

Discussion Thread for News/Update Thread Beta server live

Original Message
Beta server is now live with fences... Test everything out and leave comments for him.

http://apps.facebook.com/farmgame/index.pS?server=beta

Thank Joey of IDA Creative.

[smbeia]

Discussion Thread for News/Update Thread Beta server live

Original Message


Can't get the link to work for me; takes me to what I believe to be Server E, with the normal selection of items in the cash shop.... Any advice appreciated! -Suzanne

[Michael]

Can't get the link to work for me; takes me to what I believe to be Server E, with the normal selection of items in the cash shop.... Any advice appreciated! -Suzanne

Look in the in game shop.

[Arlita]

It is taking me to server E and there are no fences in cash shop..

[JLao]

Some things to note when you switch to the beta server:


You may be starting with an empty or old farm because the beta server is using an old farm database which I don't know when this database snapshot was taken.
When you switch to the beta server you can switch back to the previous server you were on by going to your Settings (http://apps.facebook.com/farmgame/settings.pS) page. Note that if you are on the beta server, the settings page will not highlight any of the live servers (Server A-E) since you are not on any of them so just click on which ever one you were on before switching to the beta server to get back to your live farm.
You will be spending cash that you have on the beta server when you purchase fences. Your cash on your live farm will not be spent.
Fences can be purchased from the Store button IN THE GAME (and not in the cash shop).
When you remove a fence you WILL NOT GET A REFUND for the cash spent.


Things still being added:


Add confirmation screen when you click "Remove" to remove a fence.


You can now also scroll your farm view by clicking and dragging any grass tile.

[Michael]

Fences are not in the cash shop... They are in the same place you buy crops.

[smbeia]

Fences are not in the cash shop... They are in the same place you buy crops.

Thanks, Michael; actually JUST thought to look there instead- sorry to be slow!! So far everything works well!

-Suzanne

[Arlita]

I found them in the store... I only work 1 farm.. Are the fences going to be made available on other server??

[Teresa]

I found them in the store... I only work 1 farm.. Are the fences going to be made available on other server??

Yes they will, this is just to test and make sure there are no problems before going live on your regular farm.

[Arlita]

Thank you so very much.. I will be sure to let my friends know..

[Wildberry]

Ace! Have been toying around with them immediately...

Seems a bit hard to put a stone wall just "behind" a field - it's possible to put it up to a field on the "front". Maybe I need to practise... I love the stone wall! :D



W...

[Jackyd]

how cool

am I OK to plant and make money to buy more fences on the beta server?

thanks :daisy:

[TequilaMasFina]

Add, Move and Remove worked on all 6 fence types. Looks good here.

Firefox 3.0.7
Windows XP, SP1

[Wakey]

how cool

am I OK to plant and make money to buy more fences on the beta server?

thanks :daisy:

Small scale then that shouldn't be a problem but I wouldn't do anything too intensive as they aren't intended for full play so may 'fall over' if people try and play too seriously. It may also be fully reset at regular periods to test other changes so if you put in too much work you may end up losing that work

[Jackyd]

Can't seem to park Brick wall and Stone wall really close to ploughed plot

grass block highlighted though

still excellent designs :chick06:

[Jackyd]

Small scale then that shouldn't be a problem but I wouldn't do anything too intensive as they aren't intended for full play so may 'fall over' if people try and play too seriously. It may also be fully reset at regular periods to test other changes so if you put in too much work you may end up losing that work

OK thanks, got over excited and already have no money left lol

[Joy]

I was a bit taken aback to see dead crops, but I quickly came to my senses -- this is kind of a ghost farm, right? I put up a white picket fence with gates, accidentally "removed" a couple of sections, learned a bit. I can't wait to play with the other fences. This is cool!
Thanks very much.

[Wakey]

I was a bit taken aback to see dead crops, but I quickly came to my senses -- this is kind of a ghost farm, right? I put up a white picket fence with gates, accidentally "removed" a couple of sections, learned a bit. I can't wait to play with the other fences. This is cool!
Thanks very much.

Its running off the data of one of the old servers, so its basically whatever you had on that server before the switch was made

[Super Moo]

Loved all the designs! played around with them can't put the stones fences close to a crop on the back on the front is cool and can't put them close to each other so they look continues i get holes in between but maybe thats just me and need more practice lol Thanks they r great and working!:cow_white:

[TequilaMasFina]

Ok, I came up with an issue...

If I click on a fence style and click on a fence type, then click on a different type, the system lets me choose the second one and place it. The problem is, the first type I clicked on is floating around and cannot be placed or released.

[Mel]

Discussion Thread for News/Update Thread Beta server live

Original Message


I was able to buy & manipulate so far, have not had chance to check every single one out yet, but will be tonight! Great job to the Prince & King!

Happy Farming! ~:OD

[Wakey]

Loved all the designs! played around with them can't put the stones fences close to a crop on the back on the front is cool and can't put them close to each other so they look continues i get holes in between but maybe thats just me and need more practice lol Thanks they r great and working!:cow_white:

The problem is due to them sitting in the middle of a square. This is the lesser of two evils really as you would need alot of graphics to make them work otherwise.

Vertically

One Graphic per element that sits on the left of the square
One Graphic per element that sits on the right of the square


Horizonatally

One Graphic that extends all the way across the top of the Square
One Graphic that extends all the way across the bottom of the Square
One Graphic that extends just a tenth into the top left of the square
One Graphic that extends just a tenth into the top right of the square
One Graphic that extends just a tenth into the Bottom left of the square
One Graphic that extends just a tenth into the Bottom right of the square


You would need these for pretty much every 'sub design' of each fences so you would be looking at perhaps close to 100 different grapics


As for lining them up, it can be done but you need the right subsection to ensure they overlap correctly and takes a bit of time to master it. Basically if the fence has an 'ending' on it it needs the next piece to start with an ending which will be used to overlap the other part to create a seemless join

[smbeia]

Loved all the designs! played around with them can't put the stones fences close to a crop on the back on the front is cool and can't put them close to each other so they look continues i get holes in between but maybe thats just me and need more practice lol Thanks they r great and working!:cow_white:

I haven't had quite the same experience in terms of placing the segments close together; I can get them as close as I want to each other, and in fact I can overlap them, just like I am able to do with buildings, so that together they appear as if there were only one.

[kiminbend]

I haven't had quite the same experience in terms of placing the segments close together; I can get them as close as I want to each other, and in fact I can overlap them, just like I am able to do with buildings, so that together they appear as if there were only one.
So far so good...now, any changes I make to this farm will NOT be apparent on my regular farm...correct? Since the Beta Farm is before the Mansion was introduced. but after the yellow house.
I don't want to make too many drastic changes while playing with the fences.

[smbeia]

So far so good...now, any changes I make to this farm will NOT be apparent on my regular farm...correct? Since the Beta Farm is before the Mansion was introduced. but after the yellow house.
I don't want to make too many drastic changes while playing with the fences.

You are right, Kim. Nothing I've done all evening on the Beta farm has had any impact whatsoever on any of my "regular" farms.

[Super Moo]

I haven't had quite the same experience in terms of placing the segments close together; I can get them as close as I want to each other, and in fact I can overlap them, just like I am able to do with buildings, so that together they appear as if there were only one.
__________________

Thanks suzane i new it was me that needed more practice lol


You would need these for pretty much every 'sub design' of each fences so you would be looking at perhaps close to 100 different grapics

Thanks Simon for the explanation! it makes sense!

[Super Moo]

oh i forgot to mention that i love the idea of moving in the farm by dragging on the grass! much easier!:m0283:

[Keya]

Thanks bunches, I love the new fences and choice of direction and type feature... can't wait for them to go live :mouse:

[consfashion]

Fences are beautiful!!

Thank you!

:cat-catching-fly:

[kiminbend]

I found that building the brick or concrete are a tad difficult...easier if you work from the back of the fence towards the front. The rest are quite easy to match up. Since they are so linear kind of takes away from the "rolling" hills effect. Oh well lol
Thank you for the opportunity to try this out!! Also, it is much easier if you clear the plots and move trees before placing the fences.Then plant.

[Black Rose]

LOVE being able to drag my farm around!

Tried a couple of fences before I ran out of money. How long is this beta going to run, so I know whether to purchase trees with my other farm money to place on the beta farm? OR, if it's reset, will it be reset to the amount we originally had, or to the amount we had left after we bought a dozen fences? Is there any way to give us play money for the beta, or maybe make it so the fences cost nothing during this test? With only $1000, there wasn't much to play with, unfortunately. :-(

Ok, now onto possible bugs. I started with the brown wooden fence, the cheapest. The first section I bought was the "gate" section, that ran from the SW to the NE (not sure how you guys label them, maybe "right facing"?). When I FIRST placed it, straight out of the store, I was able to place it on top of an existing crop. Then I tried to move it, and found that I couldn't put it anywhere NEAR a crop, let alone on top of one. I also discovered that when you're trying to MOVE a gated fence section, your cursor is on top of the graphic, and the white "shadow" underneath (the square that tells you what block your cursor is in) isn't visible at all. All other fence sections don't have this problem.

I would have loved to be able to buy more fence sections, to try them all out in different configurations, but alas, I ... is ... broke ... *pout* ... *sniffle*

[smbeia]

LOVE being able to drag my farm around!

Tried a couple of fences before I ran out of money. How long is this beta going to run, so I know whether to purchase trees with my other farm money to place on the beta farm?

Hi, Black Rose!!

Unless you are having better luck than others, your giftbank will not be accessible from the beta server. You can buy trees with other farm money, but I doubt you will be able to place them.

BTW, I experienced the same thing regarding the difference between placing a newly purchased fence and trying to move the same fence to a spot near crops...

[Black Rose]

Hi, Black Rose!!

Unless you are having better luck than others, your giftbank will not be accessible from the beta server. You can buy trees with other farm money, but I doubt you will be able to place them.

BTW, I experienced the same thing regarding the difference between placing a newly purchased fence and trying to move the same fence to a spot near crops...

Oh poo! LOL I'll try it out tomorrow, when I have more brainpower. I'll try with bought trees and with trees gifted to me (I'll accept them after I'm already in the beta) and see if I have any luck. I'll report back with my findings.

I am curious about which old farm server they decided to use (was it E?). Because I had something like $1201 and 4 dead crops. I can understand the dead crops, because at one time, I looked at all the servers without doing anything on them (except my main, B). But the amount of money I had is odd. Not the original $1000, and since I hadn't harvested anything, I wonder where the extra $201 came from??

[KYcindylou]

i CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THEM LIVE!!!!!!

[KYcindylou]

Bit of a problem with east side fences matching up, on stone walls and brick, but hey it's all good!

[C%C Farms]

I only got to try four pieces. But out of them I learned that the brick and concrete walls won't place anywhere close to a plowed field. However, the stone wall and the wooden fence butt up pretty flush.

[C%C Farms]

I wanted to add. When I was playing with the drag feature, it stuck and every time i moved the mouse my farm moved.

[smbeia]

I am curious about which old farm server they decided to use (was it E?). Because I had something like $1201 and 4 dead crops. I can understand the dead crops, because at one time, I looked at all the servers without doing anything on them (except my main, B). But the amount of money I had is odd. Not the original $1000, and since I hadn't harvested anything, I wonder where the extra $201 came from??

Yes, in my case the data was copied from my farm on server E. Too bad all that was on there was a solitary orange tree!

[typhoidmary]

I really like the dragging of the screen and had no problems (I use the most recent Firefox & Vista -if it makes any difference).

The user-friendly fence orientation selection is quite handy (advice for spatial orientation impaired farmers like me - draw your fence before buying and count the sections needed first)

I could get the non-gated sections of the stone, barbed wire and brown fence flush against the crops, but not the picket (ran out of money before being able to test brick and concrete).

When first purchased, I could place the gated sections of the picket and barbed wire flush with the crops, but not the stone, brick or concrete gated sections. If I moved the gated picket and barbed wire away from the crops and then attempted to place them flush again, it was not allowed

The white highlighting for placement of the brick was erratic....it was generally not visible bar some brief flashes

Overall, I like it and will like it more once fences can be placed by crops

[CatsChair]

looks good. I am not so good at the front corner, but suspect that is my hand-eye coordination, not a design flaw. Very cool!

[rnesbit1]

I had a problem with the white picket fence. I had a ghost of it stuck with my cusor. I couldn't put it down or get rid of it. I tried getting a different fence, plowing, going to the gift box, nothing worked.

[kiah]

oh very good michael and team :) great little picket fences.

[Sally]

I had a problem at first, in that I didn't realise that it only worked in BIG mode, not zoomed out.
BUT once I'd sorted that, I had real problems placing white picket fences - it kept giving me error messages saying "fences can only be placed on grass" even when I was placing them on grass! The only way I found to place them was to make all the squares next to the grass, grass as well; so no problem placing them in a big expanse of grass, but definite problems anywhere (less than 1 1/2 squares ) near harvested or ploughed land.
Haven't tried any others yet, but I'm on a server with lots of dosh so will have a go later with different styles.

[Wildberry]

Ok, I came up with an issue...

If I click on a fence style and click on a fence type, then click on a different type, the system lets me choose the second one and place it. The problem is, the first type I clicked on is floating around and cannot be placed or released.Something similar happens to me. When I click a fence/wall and then decide I want another bit I get two types over another.

Another issue is when I want to click the red X in the fence window after I'm done... I place a fence under the X, the window doesn't close.


Been mainly messing with the stone wall, tbh... I love the design! Now all we need is sheep ;)



W...

[mama susie]

I LOVE THE FENCES,only work one farm for now,can't wait for all servers to carry them.Thank you so much for doing what you all do.:cow dance::cow_white:

[de boerderie]

Cool! Nice!
Works fine for me!
Let them come!!!
:m0261:

[Teresa]

I LOVE THE FENCES,only work one farm for now,can't wait for all servers to carry them.Thank you so much for doing what you all do.:cow dance::cow_white:

They will be available on all servers as soon as the testing on the beta server is done to make sure there are no major bugs.

[Kimmie]

I only had 200 to play with, and wasted crops...so I couldn't play much. :(

[kiminbend]

Here is mine:
http://www.myfarmcommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=215&pictureid=1164
http://www.myfarmcommunity.com/album.php?albumid=215&pictureid=1167

[Wildberry]

Here is mine:
http://www.myfarmcommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=215&pictureid=1164Uhm, that shows up as a white, empty page because it's between URL tags?



W...

[kiminbend]

Uhm, that shows up as a white, empty page because it's between URL tags?



W...
Hmm I could see it...I'll delete and try again.

HELP!!

[smbeia]

Hmm I could see it...I'll delete and try again.

HELP!!

You used the image icon to display it in your post, right?

If so, did you copy the image URL by mistake, instead of the BB code below it?

If you entered the BB code, is your picture perhaps not visible to others yet because it is awaiting moderation? I don't see any mods online right now (except me, who doesn't yet have picture-approving abilities... )


-Suzanne

[JLao]

The following update has been pushed to the beta server


You will now get a confirmation popup window when you try to remove a fence.
Adjusted fences so they can be placed closer to plowed fields and buildings. In some cases you can overlap the fences onto the plowed field or building.
For testing purposes I have disabled the cost of fences so they are CURRENTLY FREE even though the prices displayed remain the same.

[Sally]

Right, I've tried all the styles;

Concrete - lovely style, easy to place and fits squares perfectly, looks good.
Stone wall - ditto, although ended up having to get extra middles piece to cover up a gap when trying to fit around squares.
Brown fence - just does not fit squares, each piece far too short. Could possibly buy extra middles to fill gaps, but might show.
Barbed Wire - also does not fit squares, each piece far too short, and could not use extra middles pieces as it would be a nightmare to fit them in so they don't show. had difficulty placing this anyway as it is hard to see against the green grass.
Brick - a good looking fence, it fits the squares, but the end posts are not square so you cannot put two together at a corner....also had real difficulty matching the pieces up - so much so that I couldn't and the end result looks awful. I tried refreshing the screen but it still showed all the joins.
White Picket fence - as mentioned before, looks good, places together easily without joins showing, but does not fit squares.

Obviously if the fences are for animals and do not have to be bound by the squares then it is not a problem, but there are those that will wish to use the fences/walls around crops and the square problem is serious.

That's it for now, will try out some more ideas tomorrow.

[Shlamko]

I have a bug to report.

First of all, the fences didn't cost me any money, I stayed with 1000 after I put some.

And then, I couldn't place two fences at the same time. I put one fence- it goes down. I try to put another one- in won't stay. I press a new piece of fence, and try to put it down- and the first one is suddenly there!

[jaytay]

The following update has been pushed to the beta server


You will now get a confirmation popup window when you try to remove a fence.
Adjusted fences so they can be placed closer to plowed fields and buildings. In some cases you can overlap the fences onto the plowed field or building.
For testing purposes I have disabled the cost of fences so they are CURRENTLY FREE even though the prices displayed remain the same.


Thanks for the affordability! As I move these fences around, it occurs to me that some pre-fab corner sections would be very nice, using the angles of the existing "squares". Maybe corner sections should cost more than straight fence....

[Wildberry]

Adjusted fences so they can be placed closer to plowed fields and buildings. In some cases you can overlap the fences onto the plowed field or building.
I don't see any change for the stone wall. They still can only be placed up to a field on the "front" and not on the "back" side.

Also, walls drop down where they hover, not where the arrow is. As the arrow will be in a plowed or crops field when I want to put the stone wall behind it it won't allow it! I hope this helps...

I stopped using the stone wall bits with the pillar endings. Combing two bits without ends looks way more real :D



W...

[kiminbend]

http://www.myfarmcommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=215&pictureid=1167
http://www.myfarmcommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=215&pictureid=1166

Woo Hoo:cow dance::cow dance:

[JanineC]

So far, the only real problem I am having is that once I picked up a piece of brick fence I couldn't put it down again. I switched to a different kind of fence and original piece was still stuck to my cursor. I haven't tried everything out, but I wanted to post regarding that glitch right away, before I forgot to do so! I haven't read through this entire thread (sorry!), but I did read far enough to see that at least one other person had this same issue. Thanks for setting up the beta server -- and I love the fences!

[kiminbend]

The brick and concrete walls marry together so much easier than yesterday...I was really having probs with the brick.

[MamaTutti]

I tested all fences and here is what I found.
picket, stone and wood fences work perfectly.
concrete sections are to long but pieces match up seamlessly.
brick wall pieces don't blend and I have trouble fitting them to specific area.
barbed wire fits and works great but it is very hard to see where the ends match up.

Here is a link to my Beta farm so you can see what I mean.

http://apps.facebook.com/farmgame/index.pS?server=beta

[Daniela]

I like them!!!! I've been playing around with all types, but I think I like the stone walls the best. I had no problems at all lining them up straight or creating "boxed in" gardens. I'm probably not going to fuss with having fences flush against crops, but as was stated above it's not always possible to do. It seems like many people are hoping to place them flush so be prepared for some complaints...unless it's not too late to make adjustments.

[kiminbend]

I tested all fences and here is what I found.
picket, stone and wood fences work perfectly.
concrete sections are to long but pieces match up seamlessly.
brick wall pieces don't blend and I have trouble fitting them to specific area.
barbed wire fits and works great but it is very hard to see where the ends match up.

Here is a link to my Beta farm so you can see what I mean.

http://apps.facebook.com/farmgame/index.pS
Sorry...just takes the user to their own BetaFarm. No way to link to the beta farm.

[JanineC]

I just had the "sticky fence" issue with the concrete wall -- I formerly had it with the brick wall. What I mean is, the wall won't leave my cursor, even though I've chosen something else to use and tried to put the unwanted section back.

I'm also having trouble lining up the wall segments, as some of the segments want to be in front of, or behind, a segment that needs to be in the reverse order. I hope that makes sense!

I can see now in concrete terms why it is taking so long to get the fences developed -- there are innumerable factors to take into consideration. (Not that I doubted this before, but I can see it first-hand now and have a greater appreciation still of the time and mental effort required to get these things to work properly!!)

I hope this feedback helps.

[jeanne.moyano]

I clicked on the link you posted to view the fences so I could give feedback. Now I can't get back to my real farm which is a little disturbing since I had over 3 million $$ and now I have nothing. What do I need to do? Help! Thanks.

[kiminbend]

I clicked on the link you posted to view the fences so I could give feedback. Now I can't get back to my real farm which is a little disturbing since I had over 3 million $$ and now I have nothing. What do I need to do? Help! Thanks.
Scroll down to settings...once you get there click on the server you're farm is on...A,B,C,D or E. If you don't remember...click on each (1 by 1) remembering to click on settings ea time. The farm you are on will be hilighted. Hope this helps.

[Mel]

I clicked on the link you posted to view the fences so I could give feedback. Now I can't get back to my real farm which is a little disturbing since I had over 3 million $$ and now I have nothing. What do I need to do? Help! Thanks.

You must go down to the bottom of the screen & click on "settings", then click on which ever server your working farm is on (A,B,C,D or E)!

That's how you change to any farm on the other servers.

Happy Farming!

[TheWrightPlace]

go to settings at the bottom of the page and you willsee five servers listed. I suggest you start with D, but if you do not find your farm there, keep looking on them all till you find it.

[MamaTutti]

OK - I changed the link for my Beta farm. Try it again.

[satiglenn]

Yes, I am having the same "sticky fence" issue as you described. It got so bad (three different fence pieces stuck to my cursor at once) that I finally just gave up. I also was thinking that maybe the fences were a little small in height. It doesn't really matter that much to me, as I will be using them anyway regardless of how tall they are. I was just wondering if anybody else thought this?

[paulinekatie]

Yes i was all so having the sticky fence issue but i just pressed f5 and they all worked well after that.

[jaytay]

OK - I changed the link for my Beta farm. Try it again.

Nope. How about if you take a screen shot and post it?

[jaytay]

I also was thinking that maybe the fences were a little small in height. It doesn't really matter that much to me, as I will be using them anyway regardless of how tall they are. I was just wondering if anybody else thought this?

Hmm, you have a good point. Looking carefully at KiminBend's pictures a few posts ago makes it clear that the horses could simply step over the barbed wire! Proportion check might be in order here.

[Diana's heaven]

Worked on for quite awhile this afternoon with Few problems. Was able to get fences right up to the edge of property by making sure the area was cleared first. I could even put trees in back of that! The only problem I had was trying to get the right hand side of the concrete wall to line up correctly. I probably need more practice. I had lots of money on my beta farm so I played with each of them.
Great going guys, can't wait for more stuff:cow dance:

[kiminbend]

Hmm, you have a good point. Looking carefully at KiminBend's pictures a few posts ago makes it clear that the horses could simply step over the barbed wire! Proportion check might be in order here.
Rather difficult to adjust proportion...think about it...all of the animals (especially chickens would be tiny). I've often thought of the proportion as well (on one farm the potato plants are larger than the horses)...but that is also perspective. Rather difficult to have plots of actual size and animals as well. So, just need to work on the perspective. :m0229:

Plus that fence is electrified!!!:mad cow:

[nathie]

I absolutely LOVE being able to move around my farm without having to use the directional arrows- being able to move around with your mouse is wonderful- please don't change.:daisy:

[farmer gurl]

i love the fences and being able to move around the farm more easily. Only problem I had was the 'sticky fence' issue that others have had.

[Xordaii]

1) wonderful, I love how the fences look! Aesthetically, they are beautiful.

2) I love being able to not have to click click click to move everywhere. Tendonitis wrists LOVE your new feature of dragging the landscape to navigate.

3) As much as I have been looking forward to the new fences (about all I was waiting for since Christmas!) I think they need more work:
a) I am getting the sticking fence when purchasing fences, too. It happens if I choose a fence, then choose another of the same kind before placing the first one. Mostly just need some subroutines like with the crop planting, that if you click on something else in a menu, it clears the cursor.
b) The fence pieces are all different lengths!! They would be much easier to use if they were the same size.
c) You said they are easier to place if you overlap the ends with posts, as in if the front and side both have a end post/block of the same type. This doesn't work on the gate type fences, because they are 1) longer than the other pieces with posts (my front and back, front had a gate, were wildly different lengths) and 2) the fronts have not posts. Hard to match up still, can be done, but with a LOT of effort, refreshing, moving, refreshing, and sometimes even that doesn't work. My picket gate still sticks out past the ends of my sides to it.
d) Already mentioned this, but the gates are longer than the sides/back sections in all sets except the brick and cement. This COULD be because in those two sets, the thickness of the actual fence was taken into account for how long the sections could be, but was also taken into account for the others, like the brown fence, when they aren't the same thickness. I have done that on occasion when making things, easy to do, but it could also be that the graphics just were not the same lengths :D

EDIT: The only fences which seem to have no problem (after a LOT of practice, grin) were the brick and the cement walls. They appear to be all of one uniform size, which is probably why it is easier to place them. Of particular problem was they picket, and stone fences. The wire fence was slightly easier, but still of differing sizes, resulting in rectangular fenced areas, instead of square.

[arfing1]

The fences are beautiful but I do have a question or two.

I went into the beta sever and the one of my five farms on it is in server E, but I understand the "data snapshot" was taken at an earlier time. So several hundred trees and weeks of work on that farm is gone. I have absolutely no intention of spending all that time and money to get it back to put fences in. I feel like all that work was for naught and quite frankly, I am annoyed.

So the first question is - when this is final, will I get my farm back with all the trees, or have I effectively lost 2 weeks of work? Please please answer this before I go and do more work only to learn it too will be lost.

If switching over to the new servers entails this losing of work and gifts and purchases, will we at least get a notice - like - do not do anything on your farms until XX date? At this point I am afraid of spending more money and doing hours of tedious tree planting only to have it all missing when the farms are switched and the fences become available to all farms.

THANKS!!

[smbeia]

The fences are beautiful but I do have a question or two.

I went into the beta sever and the one of my five farms on it is in server E, but I understand the "data snapshot" was taken at an earlier time. So several hundred trees and weeks of work on that farm is gone. I have absolutely no intention of spending all that time and money to get it back to put fences in. I feel like all that work was for naught and quite frankly, I am annoyed.

So the first question is - when this is final, will I get my farm back with all the trees, or have I effectively lost 2 weeks of work? Please please answer this before I go and do more work only to learn it too will be lost.

If switching over to the new servers entails this losing of work and gifts and purchases, will we at least get a notice - like - do not do anything on your farms until XX date? At this point I am afraid of spending more money and doing hours of tedious tree planting only to have it all missing when the farms are switched and the fences become available to all farms.

THANKS!!


Arfing,

Your farm on server E is still intact; you just can't put fences on that one yet, as they have not been publicly released. The Beta server is not really for us to permanently develop, just to test fences. First of all, I am not sure you actually CAN develop it beyond planting crops and re-arranging items that are already there; at least in my case, it is not linked to the giftbank so I am personally unable to put any new items, purchased or gifted, onto it. Secondly, the server might be reset at any time, and so any development you do on it might be lost.

Sorry- I feel like I'm having a hard time being clear here... but my point is, you don't have to worry because the Beta server has nothing to do with your farm on server E. No changes you make on the Beta server will affect your server E farm in any way. When the fences are publicly released, your farm on server E will still have everything you put on it to date, and more! Let me know if I can be clearer on anything, and have a great day! -Suzanne

[TheWrightPlace]

the beta server is just a focused test area for workin the kinks out of the fences getting them ready to go live on your regular farms. they are not intended to be played ful force, in fact you cannot access your gifts from the beta server, so it would not work too well for switching too. the fences when ready will come to all servers. your farm is still back on E wating for you just like you left it.

[arfing1]

Arfing,

Your farm on server E is still intact; you just can't put fences on that one yet, as they have not been publicly released. The Beta server is not really for us to permanently develop, just to test fences. First of all, I am not sure you actually CAN develop it beyond planting crops and re-arranging items that are already there; at least in my case, it is not linked to the giftbank so I am personally unable to put any new items, purchased or gifted, onto it. Secondly, the server might be reset at any time, and so any development you do on it might be lost.

Sorry- I feel like I'm having a hard time being clear here... but my point is, you don't have to worry because the Beta server has nothing to do with your farm on server E. No changes you make on the Beta server will affect your server E farm in any way. When the fences are publicly released, your farm on server E will still have everything you put on it to date, and more! Let me know if I can be clearer on anything, and have a great day! -Suzanne

You were very clear, thank you. Now that I've played around a little I find that fence issue that everyone else has mentioned. Can't seem to line up the brick one very well. Also I love being able to move around the screen without using the arrows, but if the arrows themselves could be moved to the bottom in full screen and the cash total and farm nme be moved further to the top - that would further enhance the full screen view and actually give more room to work. As it is, anything close to the cash totals won't work at all unless all of the little notices (like that cost you $20 or harvested or you just made $X) are faded away.

Well I feel better now knowing I won't lose the work I'm about to do. Oh and another word about proportion - I always thought it was a little strange that the horses were so much bigger than the front porch of the white house, and now with the brick and stone house too. Any chance of ever fixing that?

Thank you all so much.

[TheWrightPlace]

if they make the horses smalller, then they also need to make the cows and the goats smaller, and then they will need to make the chickens smaller and then the chickens will be so smal they will only be a couple pixels, impossible to click on! and if we have to click on eggs to collect them... well I think that is why the animals a so big compared to everything else.

[C%C Farms]

I am one of the unlucky ones. The beta version of my farm is a shot of a farm I hadn't even used. So I only had the 1000 to use. And that doesnt even refresh each day. If a friendly gnome sees this and sees fit to somehow throw me a little $$$, well that would be wonderful. cause I would really like to be able to give some feedback on this fence issue

[Mrs. Farmin' Foss]

I am one of the unlucky ones. The beta version of my farm is a shot of a farm I hadn't even used. So I only had the 1000 to use.

Same for me...I had about 40 assorted trees and 4 plots of something gone rotten LOL

I guess I'll have to leave the fencing to others!

Cheers E

[kiminbend]

I am one of the unlucky ones. The beta version of my farm is a shot of a farm I hadn't even used. So I only had the 1000 to use. And that doesnt even refresh each day. If a friendly gnome sees this and sees fit to somehow throw me a little $$$, well that would be wonderful. cause I would really like to be able to give some feedback on this fence issue
No charge for the fences...Michael changed it.
:sheep:

[Xordaii]

Just to be very clear, for those of you not aware of how this has been working:

The beta server is a "copy" or snapshot, of the Server E at some time in the last few weeks. It may LOOK like server E, but it isn't. The farms on the beta server are just for practicing and testing placing the fences, to give Michael and developers feedback about how they work, what needs fixed, and a way for us to praise them for giving us the fences.. ;)

You still have all your farms on Servers A-E, and time is not standing still on them. If you don't want the crops to rot, this is how you switch back to use your REAL farms so you can manage them:

As it was stated on the first page, but this can be hard to find, go to your "Settings" page. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, right below the Wall comments and the Gifts Received areas. Just above the Facebook toolbar, is a link that says "Settings", click on it. At the top of this new page, a list of links like so should appear:

myFarm Server > Server A - Server B - Server C - Server D - Server E

Click on the one you were on. If, like me, you forgot to look before clicking on the link to test the fences, you may be in for a round of switching servers before you remember which is your farm :D. Hope this helps. I can just see the horror when some people realize this beta server is not the "new" server and they were neglecting their farms waiting for the official fence release on the "new" servers.

If you would like to test the fences further, don't worry. You can come back to the beta server as long as it is running, by clicking on the link in the first post of the first page on this thread. Try bookmarking the two pages, the beta server, and the Settings page, for even faster switching. Have fun!!

[jaytay]

Try bookmarking the two pages, the beta server, and the Settings page, for even faster switching. Have fun!!

Ah, a clever and helpful idea! I have to confess that I'm almost having more fun playing with the Free fences (a generous adjustment for those of us who had zilch on the phantom server) than working my regular farm, but it's good to be reminded that there's an easy shortcut between the two fields! And now I have a reason to work the regular farm again, to save up money for fencing when it goes "live" and I have to pay for it!

[Ordnung]

I LOVE the fences - ALL of them! Looking forward to buying many when available. Thanks too for the minor adjustments. YAY for fences.:birds in love:

[Xordaii]

Update on how the fences work:

After much practice, and figuring out new ways of using the ends and non-ended pieces, I think the Cement, brick, and stone walls DO fit together nicely, as long as you put them together a certain way. Good enough for me. These three also FIT well around squares of crops. With a bit of rearranging, you CAN find a way to make them look great with squares. I already have plans for all three in my farm :)

On the other hand, we have the Barbed Wire, Brown Fence (driftwood), and White Picket. Same as above, the White picket and the Driftwood one can be made to fit nicely, but not around squares. No matter what combo of ends and middles I used, I could not get the fence to stretch in any way, shape, or form to fit around three squares of garden. While fitting together nicely to make a very pretty fence, it won't help those of us who set up our farms using grids and graphs. Our gardens will peek through!

The Barbed Wire fence has its own problem. Like the driftwood Brown Fence and the White Picket, it won't fit around squares, but it also has a very low contrast to the green grass background. As an artist, yes, I can see that silver is the color of barbed wire (my family is one of the few that actually stretches barbed wire by hand back home. I am intimately aware of how dangerous it is and what it looks like.) However, it may be a better idea to sacrifice realism in this instance, and go with a dotted black or rusty wire color, or compromise with a dark grey? It is hard to test, much less place accurately, this type of fence.

Anyone having a hard time making the pieces fit around squares, don't "match" the ends with posts. for example, a 3x3 square. Start with the middles, use either gates, or the non-post very long middles. Now pick a pair of parallel sides to call front and back. On these, finish off the ends of these sides with the fence type with only one end posted. The posts should go in the corners. Now you should end up with four slots on the ends of the "sides" with no fence. Finish these slots with more fence with no end posts. This was the only way I could get things to line up.

[Jane]

Wow... I think I will have to come back to this tomorrow... I have NO farm on the beta version... but am glad to be able to play around with the fences. However, it is not so simple, and needs a bit closer scrutiny in order to line the fences up.

One suggestion... if people are going to have difficulty lining up fences when they go LIVE, then perhaps the option could exist where we can give back/sell back unwanted fences. I say this, because in the time of messing around with the free option... I gave back more fences than I kept!! :smile1:

[JLao]

Update:

The sticky fence issue should be resolved. If you are in the middle of moving a fence, it will not allow you to purchase another fence at the same time. You will have to drop the current fence you have first.

If you pick up a fence from the Fence Store then select a new fence the old fence will be discarded.

[kiminbend]

There was a post earlier re: 90 degree corners for the fences...at first I pooh poohed it...but after working more with the fences I think that it may be a good idea...I realize more art work...however a LOT less headache for players (that are extremely precise) and mods. Personally, I would just..."place a tree or 2 in the corners and no one will notice that the corners don't always meet."

Thank you for the HARD work...it IS appreciated.

[MaryArthur]

will we be keeping this beta farm? I hate to put effort into something that will just disappear!

I would like to fence the entire parcel in sections but again I would like some assurrance that the farm will exist...

[kiminbend]

will we be keeping this beta farm? I hate to put effort into something that will just disappear!

I would like to fence the entire parcel in sections but again I would like some assurrance that the farm will exist...
Probably not. But it IS fun to play with and once it goes live, you will have it down pat! Worth the effort
:m0229:

[farmergirl]

will we be keeping this beta farm? I hate to put effort into something that will just disappear!

I would like to fence the entire parcel in sections but again I would like some assurrance that the farm will exist...

no. you wont be keeping the beta farm, it is for testing only. so dont put a lot of effort and farming into it. they may even clear it periodically. just use it to play with the free fencing...and have fun!

[Patti Cross]

I don't think I have seen this problem mentioned.... I am only allowed to place one section of fence each time I go to the server. Am I missing something? I click the Store, then the fence style, then the section I want. If I haven't already selected something, it works. If I have already placed a section (and it seems happy where I have it) nothing happens... no other fence section appears, nothing attaches or sticks to the cursor. I can go to another server and when I come back repeat the process. I've tried clicking the red "Buy" before selecting the section I want with no change.

Really like the ability to drag the farm to where I want to work without having to use the directional arrows. Hope this becomes a regular feature soon! Very nice addition.

Love the fences, too. I look forward to working with them. Like everyone else, I am grateful for the opportunity to test them on the virtual server.

Patti
Stone Meadows

[kiminbend]

I don't think I have seen this problem mentioned.... I am only allowed to place one section of fence each time I go to the server. Am I missing something? I click the Store, then the fence style, then the section I want. If I haven't already selected something, it works. If I have already placed a section (and it seems happy where I have it) nothing happens... no other fence section appears, nothing attaches or sticks to the cursor. I can go to another server and when I come back repeat the process. I've tried clicking the red "Buy" before selecting the section I want with no change.

Really like the ability to drag the farm to where I want to work without having to use the directional arrows. Hope this becomes a regular feature soon! Very nice addition.

Love the fences, too. I look forward to working with them. Like everyone else, I am grateful for the opportunity to test them on the virtual server.

Patti
Stone Meadows
Let me make sure I understand...you click on the style fence you want....then you click on the section of fence...place that section...then go back and select another section (even the same section as before) and you can't pick it up and place it...correct?
Jeez...I'm sorry, I don't know what that could be...try the basics...make sure your cache is clear inc your flash cache...I use CCleaner (it's free) only drawback is, everytime you log into any website you will have to enter your user name and password...but it does clean everything nicely. I wish I could have helped more...maybe our absolutely terrific mods (or Simon) can help you more.

[nathie]

After reading many of the posts- I must say that I agree with the issues regarding length and placement.

I don't understand all the programming but have a suggestion.

Not sure if this is true for PC's as I am a Mac girl only. On the mac desktop you have an option to snap files on your desktop to a grid. Would it possible to have an option that would "snap to grid" to make it easier to align the fences?

This would be an option as not everyone likes to have a structured farm and this would allow the free form farmers to play the fences as they so desire.

Thank you for all of your efforts!:cow_white:

[typhoidmary]

After reading many of the posts- I must say that I agree with the issues regarding length and placement.

I don't understand all the programming but have a suggestion.

Not sure if this is true for PC's as I am a Mac girl only. On the mac desktop you have an option to snap files on your desktop to a grid. Would it possible to have an option that would "snap to grid" to make it easier to align the fences?

This would be an option as not everyone likes to have a structured farm and this would allow the free form farmers to play the fences as they so desire.

Nice idea, but I too have no idea what the programming burden would be

Actually, this would be a nice feature for trees as well, especially if you are like me and love everything having straight lines, but terrible eye-hand coordination

[Patti Cross]

Let me make sure I understand...you click on the style fence you want....then you click on the section of fence...place that section...then go back and select another section (even the same section as before) and you can't pick it up and place it...correct?

That's correct .... not only can I not pick it up, it doesn't even show that I've selected another section.


Jeez...I'm sorry, I don't know what that could be...try the basics...make sure your cache is clear inc your flash cache...

I appreciate your trying to help, but it isn't a cache issue. It is cleared regularly. Also, I don't have this problem or anything remotely similar happening anywhere else.

Thanks,
Patti

[farmer gurl]

This is not really an error just something weird that happened. I somehow placed a piece of wall in the green area surrounding my farm! There is one particular spot that I can place it and nowhere else. lol i will do a screen dump and post a pic of what i mean.

[farmer gurl]

I don't think I have seen this problem mentioned.... I am only allowed to place one section of fence each time I go to the server. Am I missing something? I click the Store, then the fence style, then the section I want. If I haven't already selected something, it works. If I have already placed a section (and it seems happy where I have it) nothing happens... no other fence section appears, nothing attaches or sticks to the cursor. I can go to another server and when I come back repeat the process. I've tried clicking the red "Buy" before selecting the section I want with no change.

Really like the ability to drag the farm to where I want to work without having to use the directional arrows. Hope this becomes a regular feature soon! Very nice addition.

Love the fences, too. I look forward to working with them. Like everyone else, I am grateful for the opportunity to test them on the virtual server.

Patti
Stone Meadows

I just had the same problem, i had to remove a fence and then i could select another. The problem then happened again so i clicked randomly and the problem went away. how odd.

[Word-nerdine]

Had the same problem today, but last time I tested the fences. Did have a problem with one fence that wouldn´t go anywhere near a plowed plot, but after removing it and buying a new fence it worked fine. I love that there are so many different fences. Looking good.

[Wildberry]

I sometimes just drop a stone wall somewhere and then move it to its proper location.

I like the stone, brick and concrete walls a lot! Love how one can overlap them... I bet my farm will look ace once they're out of beta :D Good stuff guys, keep up the good work :)



W...

[jill]

Excellent items The link worked but the farm I wanted to try the fences on first cannot be used yet, never mind. Well done I am very impressed.
:cowboy:

[jill]

Also had problems with fences. You have to remove one type to use the other type. I know the glitches will be ironed out as I can't wait to make my farms even better looking.:cow_white:

[Jackyd]

can we net play on the testing server no more :angry:

just thought I'd go in and have another go at placing them before they go live but can't select any new ones

I'll patiently wait untill tomorrow though then go mad buying them all lol:farmer:

[Jackyd]

ooopppsss, thought I'd give it one more go and things are fine again

:cowboy:

[jill]

I have noticed on my regular farms advertised the fences for sale but they are not working. You go to the store and click what you want and nothing.

[Mel]

I have noticed on my regular farms advertised the fences for sale but they are not working. You go to the store and click what you want and nothing.

I have started a new thread for issues with the new fences. I know about this issue as I have the same problem. As soon as we know what the root cause is, a fix will be done and everything will be noted.

Until then thank you!

Happy Farming!

[Penny]

I don't think I have seen this problem mentioned.... I am only allowed to place one section of fence each time I go to the server. Am I missing something? I click the Store, then the fence style, then the section I want. If I haven't already selected something, it works. If I have already placed a section (and it seems happy where I have it) nothing happens... no other fence section appears, nothing attaches or sticks to the cursor. I can go to another server and when I come back repeat the process. I've tried clicking the red "Buy" before selecting the section I want with no change.

Patti - I am having this problem on an intermittent basis...I have found if I click the refresh button I can then pick up another new fence from the purchase window. Sometimes I can pick up ten in a row if I keep setting them down and getting another. If I stop to try to place a sections of fence together it locks up and I have to refresh again.

This is a problem on the BETA server 2 days now....So, far today I have had the same problem on my winter farm Server D. There is a definite locking up happening in the the purchase window
both BETA and normal server. Refreshing is a troublesome fix, but it does work.

[Mel]

I just finished putting up a very large sections of fence (concrete) around my mansion. After I placed all the piecces I refreshed my screen and all the pieces went into proper layering and even to my surprise, it went right into the trees (with the trees coming to the forfront) exactly as I was wanting it to do.

All issues with the concrete fence seem to be fixed.

Happy Farming!

[Penny]

There is a definite locking up happening in the the purchase window
both BETA and normal server.
This "locking up" is gone atm, seems to be working fine now on Server D.

[Patti Cross]

Patti - I am having this problem on an intermittent basis...I have found if I click the refresh button I can then pick up another new fence from the purchase window. Sometimes I can pick up ten in a row if I keep setting them down and getting another. If I stop to try to place a sections of fence together it locks up and I have to refresh again.

This is a problem on the BETA server 2 days now....So, far today I have had the same problem on my winter farm Server D. There is a definite locking up happening in the the purchase window
both BETA and normal server. Refreshing is a troublesome fix, but it does work.

Thanks, Penny! It's great to know I'm not imagining it! :m0261: And, that it can be worked around. Hope it's fixed soon.