I hope that you understand that so far, it's just a rumor because the game isn't released yet in Japan and TechCrunch is kinda the only source that everybody have... I know that you're salty but seriously get a break from the game because Niantics is planning to release in 200 countries. The bs we're going true will continue for a moment.
Defending ?
No, just telling ya how mmo launch is.
It's HORRIBLE for any game in general.
Customers want flawless service, that's normal.
Just stating the fact.
I'm not salty, I stopped playing. Just observing now. With some degree of amusement to be honest.
My point is that if they don't communicate then BS fills the gap. That is their first mistake. Even bad MMO launches communicate the desperation their teams are in and try to explain how they are working behind the scenes. And no, they are not all horrible. Overwatch was not horrible. Clash Royale was not horrible. Etc.
Secondly, bad MMO launches tend not to throw petrol on the fire by opening things up further, which increases their support load, while they are struggling with stability.
Third. I don't think anyone wants flawless service but anyone can see that this game is very simple. Trivial, even. It is more simple than draw something, or any supercell title. It doesn't even have notifications, or a proper background mode. It doesn't need to show other players, it is just a database of locations taken from Ingress, with a daemon that warps in pokemon, and a capture mechanic. Yet it eats the battery up and has appalling notification of bad connectivity or bad server responses.
One thing they have got right is the monetisation. It will unfailingly allow you to spend money on IAPs and unfailingly deduct for attempts to use them. However after that, it falls to pieces.
I don't see why Niantic should be given the benefit of the doubt because they don't communicate their own perspective and you can only judge them as devs by the actions which are: no communication, add territories, subtract features, no attempt to compensate for outages, no improvement in server reliability.
It sounds like I'm raging, I'm not at all. I spent $9.99 on day 1 and I don't want a refund and had my fun. However I don't understand why anyone here gives them the benefit of the doubt, while they remain silent. This is no longer day 1 through day 5 after all.