The virtual farm game universe of Roblox’s Grow a Garden has been recently filled with an increasingly rising wave of frustration from its users, as a main game mechanic – crop theft – continues to plant discord in its enormous player base. Released in March, the idle farm simulator gained a huge following in no time, even briefly surpassing concurrent player counts of long-time titles such as Fortnite, especially after its historic first summer update on June 14th brought it to more than 16 million players. However, while all this was brewing, the feature by which players can steal other people’s laboriously cultivated crops for a minimal amount of 37 Robux has become the universal cause of indignation.
Community boards, like Reddit, are filled with grievances, with many players outraged. Accounts of sessions being cut short because of discovering stealing players in personal gardens tell us just how serious the problem is. Although theft was built in as a game feature, most of the gaming community is now strongly campaigning for its removal outright, contending that it takes away from otherwise peaceful and rewarding farm gameplay.
In response to the increasing tensions, a number of community-created solutions have been proposed. One of the most widely put-forward concepts is that a “favorites” system be implemented, where players would be able to mark and protect their favorite crops as favorites against thieves. Another well-populated suggestion is to increase the Robux threshold at which stealing happens very high, trying to dissuade opportunistic thieves by making the act much less financially motivated.
For users of current systems, practical loss avoidance solutions are being developed, though none give optimal protection. The use of free private servers gives safety against thieves but necessarily restricts players from the rest of the public society. As an alternative, strategic crop choice, with many small, worthwhile crops instead of fewer highly worth giants, can restrict the motive for thieves. Savvy players also suggest strategically hiding valuable produce among less visible flora instead of openly flaunting it.
The challenge for the developer is to balance the desired dynamic of the theft mechanic with enjoyment for the player. While theft in a multiplayer game cannot help but be inherent when coded, protection or tweaking can encourage a more balanced experience for non-hardcores while allowing for room for a strategic dimension for those who welcome the “kleptomania” of the game. The next updates will surely be analyzed by a fan base expecting an end to this undesirable phenomenon.
