I don’t want to start anything, so I held off posting this for a long time. But I can’t take it anymore.
I feel bad for our Shanthi.
I thinkknow that she’s the nicest sim-owner I’ve come across. Normally they aren’t democratic, are flat-out rude, or don’t ever show their face and any complaints you may have, tough. I love how she puts big changes to vote and is patient enough to let us post about our concerns/suggestions. Personally, when people may ask a question that has been very clearly covered several times, I think she has the right to get irritated when it comes up again. People keep getting fired at her “rudeness,” and it makes me sad. I just wish she was appreciated more.
She’s running a great site; it’s the only one I’m still playing, because the other ones I played I got sick and tired of. I’m sure it’s hard to keep up with, along with a real life that she has to run as well.
So I think if we just listen, sift through the posts/FAQ if we have a question, don’t post “me too!” replies to bug threads, and not fire at her when she gets irritated, I believe we’d all be happier.
Okay, that’s all. I’m sorry, I bit my tounge for as long as possible.
Well I suppose this is a “me too” kind of answer but I have to say I agree with you Freedom. Shanthi helped me out in my early days selling me a very good horse at a bargain price. Whenever I have been really stuck on anything she has been helpful too.
I think it needs to be said (even if it may seem obvious to most of us) that something that is written often comes out more sharply than it would if spoken as there is no tone, facial expression or body language to soften the comment. i have sometimes struggled myself to say something that is a bit critical, but no offence meant, without sounding angry or aggressive. It must be intensely frustrating to see the same questions asked endlessly when the answers are on site already so a “to the point” reply is not to be wondered at
I too have tried many games. This and one other are the only ones I have kept going.
I have also done voluntary work for various organisations while working full time and despite my best efforts have had to give them all up eventually. I could not run a game like this in the time I have away from work and can only offer my admiration to Shanthi (and the owner of the other game!) for spending so much of their spare time for my pleasure.
No this isn’t bootlicking, just the chance to say a genuine thanks to someone who works hard and whose efforts I benefit from.
So THANKS SHANTHI!
I’ve never played a game where the owner was so active in fixing and helping and creating things. Most updates/fixes take days or even weeks in other games I’ve played but here Shanthi tries (and usually does) to fix problems within a day or two unless of course it’s a big time consuming project.
I have been playing this game for a few months now, and I have to say, I’m very impressed. Not only does Shanthi do a great job running Final Furlong, she is very friendly and helpful. I’ve always been a fan of horse racing, and now thanks to Shanthi, I have the chance to experience what it’s like to “own” and manage a stable of racehorses. Thanks a lot for a super-fun, challenging game!
I loves the Shanthi. She brings such joy (and most of the time I don’t think she knows HOW much joy!). She cures boredom with a click of the mouse I, too, have played many games online over the years–AND–I have also ONE other game I play regularly. This one and that one are totally unrelated and different, and they both are changing constantly, SO–they continue to be fun year after year after year. I started this game in 2010 and came back because I started talking to another Final Furlong person (HEY YOU. You know who you are… we should blab someday! lol) and remembered my horses and the crazy story I never finished. I had fun here that first time, and though I didn’t always succeed (I’m usually an instant-gratification kind of girl…) I was curious about the game and where it would take me. Never knew I’d make it to 2012 and still be playing and loving this game so entirely. And I DO! I love this game! And I love its creator! Bah! I shall refrain from saying anymore about your truly lovely character (coughcough sorry, couldn’t resist…). BUT–Glad to know there are others who feel the same! Can’t begin to give enough thanks for months–years!–of happiness and fun and laughter and silliness and goofdom. Thank ya, Mizzus Shanthi!
EDIT: And I apologize if most of that didn’t make sense… I’ve been writing huge essays so that part of my brain that does the grammar-thing is… shot… BUT… yeah. CRAZYMAD LOVE!
Shanti has been patient w/ KayLeigh and I “mistakenly” posting under each others names. We always manage to get on right after the other has gotten off the site and “forget” to logout, so then I post something that is clearly from me under Kayleigh’s name. My Bad
We(me!!) are trying to be more aware of who we are logged in as.
Shanti does an awesome job and really tries hard to fix the problems as they arise. I have never done coding but heard it can be very tedious and time consuming.
I could never do it because I am totally impatient and get frustrated easily if it does not go fast enough for me.
I think I have said it before, but this is the sort of game that I have always wanted to play, ever since I was a kid. This is the closest I am ever going to come to owning horses. The concept itself is already impressive, but the fact that Shanthi is so dedicated to improving it and fixing code problems is wonderful beyond words. I know that Andrea has also done work on this game, and perhaps there are others…I appreciate everything that everyone has done to make this such an absorbing, ever-improving game. My heartfelt thanks to all of you. Hugs for everyone!
I agree completely with whats been said, she always takes the time to answer questions/prolems/bugs even if the questions have been done before and are somewhat obvious thanks so much Shanthi for all you do
I have to echo what everybody has said before this. Unlike Brenda, I have done coding in the past and, yes, it can be very tedious and time consuming, especially when you get a “bug” that defies all reason to identify (and you spend hours staring at it, thinking “why the **** is this not working…?”).
I really enjoy FF as well as another virtual racing game that I’m in (Shanthi will know which one I’m talking about as Deb and Alan often refer to the fact that they use her database).
Thanks Shanthi, for “fulfilling” a longtime dream of mine. When I was growing up in Jamaica, my family used to own a few racehorses and, in the 90’s, I bought a few shares in an Irish ownership syndicate that was very briefly on the Stock Market in England. During that time, one of the syndicates horses, Royal Academy, won the Breeder’s Cup Mile ridden by probably the greatest jockey in the world, Lester Piggott (I don’t think there are many jockeys who could take a horse whose best distance was about six furlongs and beat some of the best milers in the World). This is the closest that I think I’ll ever be able to get to “owning” racehorses.
I have made a few suggestions in the past for changes to FF, but, Shanthi, believe me when I say that I will not lose any sleep over whether they get implemented or not. If they do then “yay, thanks”, if not then “oh well, no biggie”. As I asked in a post some time ago, between the “bugs” that seem to pop up out of nowhere, and the improvements that you are always making to add to our enjoyment, and trying to answer the questions that we “newbies” are constantly asking, when do you get a chance to have a life outside FF?
Thanks again for all the hours of fun and entertainment (and frustration) you have provided.
Thanks, everyone. The to-do list for FF never ends ('cause even if it did, it seems there are always cool new things to add!), but having happy(ish), active members makes it worthwhile.
Wow I totally agree with everything said here!! This game does rock! I play other sim games that are non automated and one thats semi-automated and I must say that Final Furlong is the most entertaining of all because even if you’re flat broke, you can find a way to make more money and its fun. And when we had the tax bug Shanthi you truly saved so many of us from quitting. This is a game that I hope to continue to play as long as it is around and look forward to seeing it in a year or two (or even 6 months for that matter!). I have always dreamed of owning rl champion racehorses and maybe I will, you never know. But for the time being this is as close as they come to being “real” for me. I’ve always had this crazy dream that one day I would own a filly that won the triple crown and seeing Rags to Riches win the Belmont made it seem more realistic than crazy. But even if it doesn;t happen in real life, maybe it could happen here, so thank you Shanthi for everything you do. [And for heling put dreams into perspective].
Shanthi is the bomb. I’ve been around for AGES mainly because of the fantastic work Shanthi does. I’ve been in and out of other sim games but have settled on FF for the past few years (a) because of time and growing up and (b) because Shanthi has made a fantastic game and keeps things going really well. Yay for Shanthi!
Well, I’m relatively new here and I have to agree with all the other posts. It is true that you rarely see an online game with an admin that is truely active. For the few days I’v been on this game I’d like to say that this is the “realest” horseracing game I’ve played.
nods I’m fairly new here as well and if I have a question, it is almost always answered promptly and the answer is never rude. I used to play a game that I don’t even know if it’s still around anymore, but the owner was always flat out rude and argumentative to the least little thing. This game is the best I’ve played.
Thanks, guys. I’m hoping to have more time to work on FF soon, right now work and my real horse are keeping me running around like a chicken with its head cut off. (And we won’t even touch the marathon training.)
I, too, have played many games online over the years–AND–I have also ONE other game I play regularly. This one and that one are totally unrelated and different, and they both are changing constantly, SO–they continue to be fun year after year after year. 
I started this game in 2010 and came back because I started talking to another Final Furlong person (HEY YOU. You know who you are… 
CRAZYMAD LOVE! 
We always manage to get on right after the other has gotten off the site and “forget” to logout, so then I post something that is clearly from 
