The New Housing System is Terrible

[MsQi]

... The moment a game causes you genuine distress just to use a basic feature, you know it needs reworking.

I assume you are talking about how the placards work. I have to agree it is poorly designed. Everything you see seems to indicate that you can purchase the property. It even confirms what you are purchasing for. Then it it says you can't purchase it because it's "not ready". If they insist on having a hidden timer they should just gray out the button or replace the button with the words "not ready for purchase". The way it works now is kind of sadistic. Of course those who do it a lot quickly grow numb to it, but that is not good for people psychologically. It's also just bad interface design. Something that appears like it should do something, should do that thing. If it's not going to do that that thing at this time it should be inactive, or at the very least have some indication that you are taking a chance. Maybe put "Attempt to Purchase Land"?

[NanaWiloh]

I assume you are talking about how the placards work. I have to agree it is poorly designed. Everything you see seems to indicate that you can purchase the property. It even confirms what you are purchasing for. Then it it says you can't purchase it because it's "not ready". If they insist on having a hidden timer they should just gray out the button or replace the button with the words "not ready for purchase". The way it works now is kind of sadistic. Of course those who do it a lot quickly grow numb to it, but that is not good for people psychologically. It's also just bad interface design. Something that appears like it should do something, should do that thing. If it's not going to do that that thing at this time it should be inactive, or at the very least have some indication that you are taking a chance. Maybe put "Attempt to Purchase Land"?

Idea I had on the way home allow people to click purchase only 3 times in one day and no more, unless the house comes up for purchasing then they can click it again.