5) In this year's addition of Ultimus Week. I want to talk about a recent addition to the league I like quite a lot. I’m referring, of course, to Dotts. While it’s initial release was met with near unanimous praise, it seems that recently it has fallen under some scrutiny. I’ll attempt to address this later. First, I want to talk about why I like it. I think Dotts provides something the league has needed for quite a long time. A sense of community outside of the virtual football team they’re playing for. While attempts have certainly been made to create a greater sense of community, they’ve hardly had the same success. Even in its current minimalist state, I have no doubt that Dotts has certainly reignited some users' interest in the ISFL. Though I certainly don’t have any sort of data to back that up, I’d still be willing to bet on it. Although after about a week or so I stopped buying dotts packs in order to save my money for equipment. Which brings me to another criticism. The price. At $500,000 dollars a pack, there are some who see this as a rather expensive price to pay. I can certainly sympathize with users who express this sentiment. At the start of Dotts’ release, I was around 28 million dollars. After buying packs, weekly training, and equipment. I’m now at just over a million. All this is to transition into one of Dotts’ largest complaints. It’s entirely designed as nothing more than a money sink. In the eyes of some users at the very least.
Here’s where my opinion comes into play. Yes, Dotts by its own nature, is a money sink. It was always going to be a money sink. The important distinction however, was this Dotts’ intention? I personally have trouble believing that argument. I’m of the belief that the foundation of the Dotts’ idea had no interest in the league's economy whatsoever. From what very limited knowledge I possess of Dotts’ creation, and it’s very dedicated user base behind it. I fully believe it was designed as a way to encourage community growth and nothing more. However, in its current state Dotts’ has become a much more controversial subject to older members of the league. This divisiveness has, in some ways, become a branching off point for much broader criticism of the league. As interesting as those topics are, this is not the place for them. However, in order to properly have a discussion about Dotts, I feel it’s important to mention.
To circle back, the $500,000 price point upon further, more in depth thinking. Has certainly led me to be less inclined to purchase future Dotts packs. As much as I’ve come to adore the project, and the uncountable hours of effort put in. My current interest in the league as a whole, prevents me from really taking a huge leap towards making a sustainable amount of money. Which then leads us into the realm of conspiracy. I’ve noticed a bit of a pattern. While I won’t be naming any names, I’ve seen that the majority of users who either buy dotts packs every week, or have a subscription. Are on the newer, less experienced side of the spectrum. As such, they don’t have the amount of wealth that some of the older, much wealthier users who aren’t buying as many packs. Which of course allows me to ask the question. Who is Dotts for? Is it for the users who want to be fully involved with trading, collecting and sharing cards. Or is it for the richer users to stay richer, while also still managing to pull literal millions out of the economy each day? Or is it for something even further down the conspiratory road? Is Dotts nothing more than a ploy for head office to increase productivity around the league? To generate more media, podcasts, and other discussions to make the forums look more active? Thereby making it look more appealing to new players?
Have we all secretly been duped by our silent overlords? Maybe. Though like I said, I wholeheartedly believe that this was never Dotts intention. However, I see it as a definite side effect of the Dotts money sink. Unlike the casino, or the stock market. Both of which are also quite obvious money sinks that aim to either revamp, or destabilize the league economy, depending on who you ask. Dotts doesn’t currently provide any means of making your money back. Given league rules, it’s unlikely you will ever be able to make any money from Dotts either. So in conclusion, while I love Dotts in concept. I fear that somewhere along the process, far more sinister intentions have come from it. Creating unneeded consequences that derail the original idea of creating a much needed greater sense of community.
Here’s where my opinion comes into play. Yes, Dotts by its own nature, is a money sink. It was always going to be a money sink. The important distinction however, was this Dotts’ intention? I personally have trouble believing that argument. I’m of the belief that the foundation of the Dotts’ idea had no interest in the league's economy whatsoever. From what very limited knowledge I possess of Dotts’ creation, and it’s very dedicated user base behind it. I fully believe it was designed as a way to encourage community growth and nothing more. However, in its current state Dotts’ has become a much more controversial subject to older members of the league. This divisiveness has, in some ways, become a branching off point for much broader criticism of the league. As interesting as those topics are, this is not the place for them. However, in order to properly have a discussion about Dotts, I feel it’s important to mention.
To circle back, the $500,000 price point upon further, more in depth thinking. Has certainly led me to be less inclined to purchase future Dotts packs. As much as I’ve come to adore the project, and the uncountable hours of effort put in. My current interest in the league as a whole, prevents me from really taking a huge leap towards making a sustainable amount of money. Which then leads us into the realm of conspiracy. I’ve noticed a bit of a pattern. While I won’t be naming any names, I’ve seen that the majority of users who either buy dotts packs every week, or have a subscription. Are on the newer, less experienced side of the spectrum. As such, they don’t have the amount of wealth that some of the older, much wealthier users who aren’t buying as many packs. Which of course allows me to ask the question. Who is Dotts for? Is it for the users who want to be fully involved with trading, collecting and sharing cards. Or is it for the richer users to stay richer, while also still managing to pull literal millions out of the economy each day? Or is it for something even further down the conspiratory road? Is Dotts nothing more than a ploy for head office to increase productivity around the league? To generate more media, podcasts, and other discussions to make the forums look more active? Thereby making it look more appealing to new players?
Have we all secretly been duped by our silent overlords? Maybe. Though like I said, I wholeheartedly believe that this was never Dotts intention. However, I see it as a definite side effect of the Dotts money sink. Unlike the casino, or the stock market. Both of which are also quite obvious money sinks that aim to either revamp, or destabilize the league economy, depending on who you ask. Dotts doesn’t currently provide any means of making your money back. Given league rules, it’s unlikely you will ever be able to make any money from Dotts either. So in conclusion, while I love Dotts in concept. I fear that somewhere along the process, far more sinister intentions have come from it. Creating unneeded consequences that derail the original idea of creating a much needed greater sense of community.
![[Image: etrigan.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/823286124390252584/828228281379323924/etrigan.png)
