Live in Wayfarer 3.1 is a new set of acceptance criteria! Please browse the information in this category with caution as it is in reference to the previous review guidelines. To learn more about the new criteria, see here: https://niantic.helpshift.com/a/wayfarer/
Answers
We all have been arguing about this for years now as we can see with the AMA repeated questions. I agree that the guidelines are still open to both interpretations. I'm not sure why we can't have a very simple "yes" or "no" answer to this question.
My feeling is that because it's a major corporation (McDonald's) is really at the heart of this. I'm sure sponsored stops have been approached to business like this and they don't want to de value that availability with free ones popping up all over. I think they use the wording of it "review them like you would any business" for this purpose. The playground at McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A ect are not eligible because they are generic. But if there is a playground at a local hot spot you can nominate and approve those.
The debate seems to he more what constitutes a commercial playground. Is it one inside a business but that's free to use and access? Is it one that you need to pay to use in a public area? Is it o e you need to pay to access I general? Personally I'm if the opinion if it's free to use and access, whether it be in a mcdonalds, an airport or a park or street, then it should be accepted as it's clear it's for everyone's use. If its one you have to pay to use in any way, either for the play area itself or to get into he building the play area is in, then thays when you consider it a business and decide if its unique enough
I would be of the mind set if the playground or play area in question has no company logo or identifying company features in the main photo it would be ok.
"....Personally I'm if the opinion if it's free to use and access, whether it be in a mcdonalds, an airport or a park or street, then it should be accepted as it's clear it's for everyone's use. If its one you have to pay to use in any way, either for the play area itself or to get into he building the play area is in, then thays when you consider it a business and decide if its unique enough"
@gazzas89-PGO That was my conclusion as well, and seems like a reasonable interpretation of the vague and confusing guidance we've received on this topic from official sources. I wish that whoever is disliking our posts for putting forth this interpretation would just come out and give their own thoughts on why they think we are wrong in this...
Yeah I hate this one too. I have seen (and submitted) some rather elaborate indoor playgrounds.
But I have 100% rejection rates on them I
I had a play area in a pub garden accepted a few months ago. It's not indoors or at a fast food outlet, sure, but I saw it and thought it was worth a go. People agreed with me that it was separate 'point of interest' to the pub itself.
I've had some people use the "mcdonalds fast food playground" clarification to reject mall playgrounds/coin operated rides, despite those being specified as eligible. It's frustrating.
Forget about McDonalds even single location (non chains) with very visually unique playgrounds get rejected as basis of generic business.
My personal fav is a playground my kids love (& I would like to get a portal there while waiting heh) it has a 2 storey tall shark mouth with a golden tooth. We are talking about a 20 foot tall open shark mouth here. If that is not visually unique etc I dont know what is...
Another is the Lucky Looney (which for historical value alone should be in game, I dont care what the building is) and I even submitted a Dala Horse (which yes is located inside an Ikea but it def has cultural value and is visually unique)
Dang, those playgrounds sound awesome. Hopefully they get approved if you try them again.
You have to remember another thing. We are to vote not and not nominate things that are mass produced. I vote yes on a playground in a small park. If it is a large park, I will permit more than one. I know those are usually has produced.
The playgrounds at fast food restaurants are mass produced. I used to work at Burger King. We had one that was mass produced. One day, the playground was replaced by another mass produced playground.
With few exceptions, I believe most are mass produced and ineligible. I vote no if I see a playground at a fast food restaurant. I might have given 3 stars once. That was one of the exceptions. I will not specify where. Just walking there and back is a day's walk for me.
I mean, most playgrounds in parks are mass-produced and come from kits and installed by professionals. The only difference is that most fast food playgrounds and regular playgrounds is that FF ones are mostly plastic where as Park playgrounds are usually wood, metals, some type of composite, or also plastic.
I think, a lot of playground at fast food restaurant are mass produced. And I vote "no" if I see playground only as fast food.
I live near the central of Arkansas. I still type regarding playgrounds. One Sonic that I will not place nearish me actually has an outdoor playground for the children. That is not uncommon. That is the one time I gave 3 stars. Between where you drive in and that playground is a volleyball court with the net and volleyball. That is one time I might have skipped voting because the volleyball court was so new that it did not and still does not make Google Maps in Satellite View. Then, the volleyball court did not make Street View.
I will always reject any playgrounds on commercial properties such as McDonald's. Primary reason is a 'generic business', do not endorse businesses because it's not fair to mark one business but not every business in the city. Like gazebo in apartment swimming pools, commercial playgrounds are just too common and mass-produced.
Uh, what?
There is nothing suggesting a gazebo in apartment complexes are ineligible. Also, indoor playgrounds are pretty far from the examples that get used as "generic mass-produced" ineligible objects.
All the more reason I wish Niantic would clarify more on "generic businessess" and the msdonalds playground stuff.
Waiting for an useful answer by Nia I'd like only to throw the following in here:
Some people stated, that they reject playgrounds for being mass produced ..... ****?
Nearly evry playground I know is mass produced, because 99% of the playgrounds are built by the same 3(?) companies with the same set of parts, because it has to fit different laws and it needs to be officially certified - so there are specified companies for that. But this doesn't change that a playground is a meeting place with educational value. A playground isn't a mass produced single object like a concrete cast figure on the pole of someones fence gate ....
You should look at distinguishable features like surrounding buildings to help prove location.
Maybe a candidate for the next round of AMA to get a clear ruling:
"Are playgrounds that are part of a single commercial business eligible?"
This would make a ruling on McDonald's, smaller business etc, while still keep playground in public areas of i.e. shopping malls eligible.