@Background Pony #80DD  
By that I meant progressing through the main story, like the paywalls and stuff that’ve always been there, compared to the extra gem decorations or characters that are there just because. (The Canterlot map is a better example of this, though.)
 
On the other hand, with the gems a lot easier to obtain without paying (and without hacking either), and a lot of the gem-costing ponies winnable from a minigame, it’s still entirely possible to get through or procure a respectable amount of the game’s content without paying for any gems.
 
…At least, if you don’t mind waiting, which is the key trade-off.

@chainchomp2
 
“I wouldn’t think anyone would be obligated to buy every single thing that costs gems, though. They’re mostly just bonus characters that aren’t compulsory.”
 
Why not though? Sure, there’s no obligation to acquire everything, but there’s no obligation to play the game in the first place either. What’s the point in paying for a fraction of a game, anyway?

@Background Pony #80DD  
Gems are still easier to obtain freely than they were compared to the game’s debut, it’s just as of a few months ago they started throwing more gem sinks at you and all that marketing shizz. I wouldn’t think anyone would be obligated to buy every single thing that costs gems, though. They’re mostly just bonus characters that aren’t compulsory.
 
Otherwise, everything old or what was there before was toned down to be more realistic. I started another save when I got my new phone in November and have already gotten through the main part of the game.
 
What’s left to be desired is the lack of any action or fix for the rollback problem that’s been plaguing a lot of users, and actually made me give up on my first save enough that I could finally switch phones (because I was attached to my iOS save that way, pathetically).

@zippysqrl
 
Oh, good.
 
Freemium games are cancer.

@Background Pony #80DD  
yep

Is this game still as much of a scam as it was when it was new?

Does “Luna’s Dreamwalk” still work on that? I’m getting a new phone soon, that should be finally able to run this crap, but there’s no way in hell I’m paying real money for virtual furniture.

Odd name for a piece of furniture.