Happy Aquarium: Limited Edition Mystery Fish Idol
Like the Pet Idol from Happy Pets, also owned by Crowdstar, users who purchase the new Limited Edition Mystery Fish Idol will get one free fish egg per day from the assortment of premium and level-locked fish at the store. That includes fish like Zemo, Chompers, and the Cinco de Mayo Fish.
Costing 300 Pearls or 250 Facebook Credits (which is roughly $25 USD), the idol will be available while supplies last or until the end of May 29th, (whichever comes first).
Earn money by clicking ads- Paid since 2008
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Happy Pets brings all the horses to the yard with new decor
Under ideal conditions, your Happy Pets yard can look like the one in the image above, but unless you've 320 Facebook Credits (roughly $32 USD) to spend on building a horse stable, or enough friends to send you the 80 items required, all those pretty horses you see there will remain a "look, but no touch" deal.
Until you get that stable out of the way, you could settle for pimpin' a yard for those horses instead. Four new items are now available at the yard store, including a new wallpaper, Horse Farm, which goes for whoppin' 11,250 Coins, while netting buyers 1,688 XP. Fortunately, it's not a premium item, but it's still six times the cost of the regulars. The new decor pieces are Pitchfork (350 Coins), Haystack (400 Coins), and Cow Skull (5,500 Coins).
As for other horse-related goodies, rocking horses are now available for free on the gifts page. They're being offered in the colors Brown, Pink and Blue.
Until you get that stable out of the way, you could settle for pimpin' a yard for those horses instead. Four new items are now available at the yard store, including a new wallpaper, Horse Farm, which goes for whoppin' 11,250 Coins, while netting buyers 1,688 XP. Fortunately, it's not a premium item, but it's still six times the cost of the regulars. The new decor pieces are Pitchfork (350 Coins), Haystack (400 Coins), and Cow Skull (5,500 Coins).
As for other horse-related goodies, rocking horses are now available for free on the gifts page. They're being offered in the colors Brown, Pink and Blue.
Cafe World: Complete your Spice Rack at 40 percent off
Cafe World Spice Rack 40 percent off
To build a spice rack in Cafe World, you need 5 kinds of items -- Shelves, Small Jars, Medium Jars, Large Jars, and Lids -- that total 30 in all. Each required item costs one Cafe Cash, which is the game's premium currency. If you've made no progress on your rack, then you'll basically need to pay 30 Cafe Cash, or roughly $7 USD to complete it.
But instead of begging for more friends gifts or clicking wall links, you can now purchase all the entire Cafe World Spice Rack for 40% off of whatever items you still need. Please note that this offer only works if you click the "Buy All Items" button.
To build a spice rack in Cafe World, you need 5 kinds of items -- Shelves, Small Jars, Medium Jars, Large Jars, and Lids -- that total 30 in all. Each required item costs one Cafe Cash, which is the game's premium currency. If you've made no progress on your rack, then you'll basically need to pay 30 Cafe Cash, or roughly $7 USD to complete it.
But instead of begging for more friends gifts or clicking wall links, you can now purchase all the entire Cafe World Spice Rack for 40% off of whatever items you still need. Please note that this offer only works if you click the "Buy All Items" button.
Social City's Limited Edition real estate: Stadium, McMansion, and Jewelry Store
Social City Football Stadium, Mauve McMansion, and Jewelry Store
Three new premium-priced Social City buildings are now up for City Bucks while supplies last -- two leisure buildings and one residential. These are Football Stadium (69 CB), Mauve McMansion (30 CB), and Jewelry Store (24 CB).
Football Stadium is the priciest and largest attraction, taking up a 3x3 square grid. It earns 10,000 Coins every 2 days and grants an amazing 60,000+ Happiness Points. The MegaCorp Tower, a non-premium attraction that unlocks at level 32, only puts out 40,000+ tops. But for what's essentially the price of $7 USD, the stats on the Stadium do need to be high.
Mauve McMansion brings in 500 Population Points, which the A-Frame House 1 is also capable of, but at four times the size. Clearly, getting the McMansion is all a matter of looks. The A-Frame goes for just 20,000 Coins.
Jewelry Store is another case of looks over functionality. It earns a meager 200 Coins every 2 days, a construction XP of 230, and Happiness Points at +7,000. For a store of its ilk, one would expect a little more profit. But for a store of its price, you are getting what you've paid for.
Three new premium-priced Social City buildings are now up for City Bucks while supplies last -- two leisure buildings and one residential. These are Football Stadium (69 CB), Mauve McMansion (30 CB), and Jewelry Store (24 CB).
Football Stadium is the priciest and largest attraction, taking up a 3x3 square grid. It earns 10,000 Coins every 2 days and grants an amazing 60,000+ Happiness Points. The MegaCorp Tower, a non-premium attraction that unlocks at level 32, only puts out 40,000+ tops. But for what's essentially the price of $7 USD, the stats on the Stadium do need to be high.
Mauve McMansion brings in 500 Population Points, which the A-Frame House 1 is also capable of, but at four times the size. Clearly, getting the McMansion is all a matter of looks. The A-Frame goes for just 20,000 Coins.
Jewelry Store is another case of looks over functionality. It earns a meager 200 Coins every 2 days, a construction XP of 230, and Happiness Points at +7,000. For a store of its ilk, one would expect a little more profit. But for a store of its price, you are getting what you've paid for.
FarmVille makes TIME Magazine's Top 50 Worst Inventions List
TIME Magazine has released its list of "50 Worst Inventions" and somehow FarmVille has made the list of one of the fifty!
The list of fifty worst inventions is compiled of "the world's bright ideas that just didn't work out". I'm not sure how TIME is rating success, as over 80 million people from around the world are playing FarmVille and the game developer, Zynga, has made itself a billion dollar company largely with the help of their number one game, FarmVille. It seems a little ridiculous for FarmVille to be on the same "50 Worst Inventions" list along with Agent Orange and Asbestos. For the complete list of fifty inventions read here: TIME's Complete List of 50 Worst Inventions
According to TIME, FarmVille deserves a spot on their worst list because of its addictive nature and for it's attribute of triggering unproductivty as a time-waster encouraging players to do "mindless chores on a digital farm, requiring endless clicking of a mouse to plant and harvest crops". Even so, Zynga, referred to as "evil geniuses" by TIME must have gotten something right with their "worst invention" because over "ten percent of Americans (alone) have created their online homestead (farms)."
What do you think FarmVille Freaks, should FarmVille deserve a spot on this list?
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
The list of fifty worst inventions is compiled of "the world's bright ideas that just didn't work out". I'm not sure how TIME is rating success, as over 80 million people from around the world are playing FarmVille and the game developer, Zynga, has made itself a billion dollar company largely with the help of their number one game, FarmVille. It seems a little ridiculous for FarmVille to be on the same "50 Worst Inventions" list along with Agent Orange and Asbestos. For the complete list of fifty inventions read here: TIME's Complete List of 50 Worst Inventions
According to TIME, FarmVille deserves a spot on their worst list because of its addictive nature and for it's attribute of triggering unproductivty as a time-waster encouraging players to do "mindless chores on a digital farm, requiring endless clicking of a mouse to plant and harvest crops". Even so, Zynga, referred to as "evil geniuses" by TIME must have gotten something right with their "worst invention" because over "ten percent of Americans (alone) have created their online homestead (farms)."
What do you think FarmVille Freaks, should FarmVille deserve a spot on this list?
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Treasure Isle: Fire God Mountain takes players to the Center of the Earth
Treasure Isle Fire God Mountain is open
The anticipation for the newest, hottest map of Treasure Isle has been so intense, there's even an official Facebook fanpage of 64,000+ members -- the Treasure Isle's Volcano Diggers Anonymous -- devoted to it. But today, the wait for Fire God Mountain is finally over!
To reach Fire God Mountain, you need to travel to the first page of Tiki Isles, where you'll spot a burning, animated volcano in the north. To get in, you're going to need 5 tubes of SPF-3000. To note, you'll start with 6 tubes for free, but it won't be enough on the long dig down, so you've gotta use Wall posts (those tubes aren't giftable) to request more from fellow players.
Treasure Isle: Enter the Volcano
Beating the Mountain maps requires completely new strategies and tools. There are 14 levels to explore. Fruits-wise, only Lava Mangoes will work in the mountain for energy replenishment. (You can also use Energy Packs.) Instead of dumbly plowing through every tile, you'll need to dig SMART and FAST.
Treasure Isle: Really Close and Nearby
For more info, check out the "Volcano FAQ" tab on your Treasure Island window, and the newly updated Fire God Mountain Info Thread at the Zynga forums. Click here to launch the game and get digging!
The anticipation for the newest, hottest map of Treasure Isle has been so intense, there's even an official Facebook fanpage of 64,000+ members -- the Treasure Isle's Volcano Diggers Anonymous -- devoted to it. But today, the wait for Fire God Mountain is finally over!
To reach Fire God Mountain, you need to travel to the first page of Tiki Isles, where you'll spot a burning, animated volcano in the north. To get in, you're going to need 5 tubes of SPF-3000. To note, you'll start with 6 tubes for free, but it won't be enough on the long dig down, so you've gotta use Wall posts (those tubes aren't giftable) to request more from fellow players.
Treasure Isle: Enter the Volcano
Beating the Mountain maps requires completely new strategies and tools. There are 14 levels to explore. Fruits-wise, only Lava Mangoes will work in the mountain for energy replenishment. (You can also use Energy Packs.) Instead of dumbly plowing through every tile, you'll need to dig SMART and FAST.
Treasure Isle: Really Close and Nearby
For more info, check out the "Volcano FAQ" tab on your Treasure Island window, and the newly updated Fire God Mountain Info Thread at the Zynga forums. Click here to launch the game and get digging!
Treasure Isle offers a free Lava Pineapple via its own sponsored link
With social games scams about, I don't normally trust the ads on the right-hand side of the Facebook site, but a free Treasure Isle Lava Pineapple certainly sounded too good to pass up.
And guess what? I hit the jackpot! Click here to grab your free Lava Pineapple, which grants 30 Energy and only works inside of Fire God Mountain.
But remember, don't go clicking on Facebook ads willy-nilly. Let a professional (that's moi) do that for you!
And guess what? I hit the jackpot! Click here to grab your free Lava Pineapple, which grants 30 Energy and only works inside of Fire God Mountain.
But remember, don't go clicking on Facebook ads willy-nilly. Let a professional (that's moi) do that for you!
FrontierVille stocks the market with its first Mystery Crate
Uh-oh -- looks like FrontierVille is targeting collection hounds by stocking the in-game market with Mystery Crates.
frontierville six collectibles
The mystery crates can be found in the 'Special' section of the market and cost 25 Horseshoes. You'll gain 10 XP by purchasing one of these bad boys, and you'll get one of six collectible items. What those are -- well, I don't know just yet. I'm too cheap to shell out for these crates, so will have to do some research to find out what's lurking in that wooden crate.
What did you find inside your FrontierVille Mystery Box? If you have pictures, send them to libe@games.com, and I'll add them here.
frontierville six collectibles
The mystery crates can be found in the 'Special' section of the market and cost 25 Horseshoes. You'll gain 10 XP by purchasing one of these bad boys, and you'll get one of six collectible items. What those are -- well, I don't know just yet. I'm too cheap to shell out for these crates, so will have to do some research to find out what's lurking in that wooden crate.
What did you find inside your FrontierVille Mystery Box? If you have pictures, send them to libe@games.com, and I'll add them here.
FarmVille: Japanese Barn is now available
FarmVille has just released the Japanese Barn, a 20 slot storage building. The frame is available in the market for 5000 coins or the barn for 50FV$. In order to build the barn, you will need to receive 10 of each of the following from your neighbors: brick, reed thatch, bamboo, nail and wooden board.
Will you be asking your neighbors for some help to build the Japanese Barn?
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Will you be asking your neighbors for some help to build the Japanese Barn?
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
FarmVille New England Decorations: Covered Bridge, White Pine Tree, & Cliff
farmville cliff farmville covered bridge
FarmVille released three new limited edition New England themed decorations including a Covered Bridge, White Pine Tree, and Cliff.
These LE decorations can be purchased with coins or farm cash (White Pine Tree) during the next ___ days in the FarmVille Market.
farmville cliff farmville white pine tree farmville covered bridge
FarmVille New England Decorations (Released July 27th 2010):
Covered Bridge – 400,000 Coins
Cliff – 70,000 Coins
White Pine Tree*- 4 FV$
*The White Pine Tree is a decorative tree, meaning it will not yield coins and is not harvestable.
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Will you purchase any of these decorations for your farm?
FarmVille released three new limited edition New England themed decorations including a Covered Bridge, White Pine Tree, and Cliff.
These LE decorations can be purchased with coins or farm cash (White Pine Tree) during the next ___ days in the FarmVille Market.
farmville cliff farmville white pine tree farmville covered bridge
FarmVille New England Decorations (Released July 27th 2010):
Covered Bridge – 400,000 Coins
Cliff – 70,000 Coins
White Pine Tree*- 4 FV$
*The White Pine Tree is a decorative tree, meaning it will not yield coins and is not harvestable.
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Will you purchase any of these decorations for your farm?
FarmVille New England Animal: Morgan Horse
farmville morgan horse
There is a new Limited Edition New England themed animal, the Morgan Horse, that hit the FarmVille Market tonight.
The Morgan Horse can be purchased for 24 FV$ farm cash in the FarmVille Market during the next 9 days only.
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Will you purchase a Morgan Horse for you FarmVille Horse collection?
There is a new Limited Edition New England themed animal, the Morgan Horse, that hit the FarmVille Market tonight.
The Morgan Horse can be purchased for 24 FV$ farm cash in the FarmVille Market during the next 9 days only.
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Will you purchase a Morgan Horse for you FarmVille Horse collection?
Gamestop invests further in social games with Kongregate purchase
It looks like game retailer Gamestop's interest in social gaming no longer begins and ends with its promotion of subsidiary Jolt Online. That's because the retail giant has announced plans to purchase web-based casual gaming hub Kongregate.
While most of Kongregate's thousands of free-to-play Flash games are single-player experiences, the site has many elements familiar to more traditional social games, like chat rooms, achievements, friends lists and a site-wide leveling system. The site also has its own virtual currency, Kreds, which players can use to purchase in-game items and levels in some of the more popular Kongregate games. These social and community features have helped the site attract 10 million registered players who spend 23 million hours on the site every month.
The acquisition seems like a logical move for Gamestop, which must be worried sick about the effect downloadable titles and web-based social games could have on their bottom line. Every credit card dollar spent directly in an online game is one fewer dollar available for Gamestop's bread-and-butter $60 game discs, and selling a handful of in-game cash cards in stores won't stop the bleeding. By investing in companies like Kongregate and Jolt Online, Gamestop guarantees they'll at least have a foothold in the new gaming ecosystem if and when brick-and-mortar video game stores become as quaint and outdated as record stores and malt shops.
While most of Kongregate's thousands of free-to-play Flash games are single-player experiences, the site has many elements familiar to more traditional social games, like chat rooms, achievements, friends lists and a site-wide leveling system. The site also has its own virtual currency, Kreds, which players can use to purchase in-game items and levels in some of the more popular Kongregate games. These social and community features have helped the site attract 10 million registered players who spend 23 million hours on the site every month.
The acquisition seems like a logical move for Gamestop, which must be worried sick about the effect downloadable titles and web-based social games could have on their bottom line. Every credit card dollar spent directly in an online game is one fewer dollar available for Gamestop's bread-and-butter $60 game discs, and selling a handful of in-game cash cards in stores won't stop the bleeding. By investing in companies like Kongregate and Jolt Online, Gamestop guarantees they'll at least have a foothold in the new gaming ecosystem if and when brick-and-mortar video game stores become as quaint and outdated as record stores and malt shops.
FarmVille New England Buildings: Vacation Estate, New England Barn, & New England Shed
farmville new england barn farmville vacation estate
Continuing with the New England theme, FarmVille released three new limited edition buildings including the Vacation Estate, New England Barn, and New England Shed.
You can purchase these buildings along with other New England LE items released tonight during the next 9 days in the FarmVille Market.
farmville new england shed farmville vacation estate farmville new england barn
FarmVille New England Buildings (Released July 27th 2010):
Vacation Estate – 50 FV$
New England Barn – 30 FV$
New England Shed – 24 FV$
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Will you purchase any of these Limited Edition buildings for your farm?
Continuing with the New England theme, FarmVille released three new limited edition buildings including the Vacation Estate, New England Barn, and New England Shed.
You can purchase these buildings along with other New England LE items released tonight during the next 9 days in the FarmVille Market.
farmville new england shed farmville vacation estate farmville new england barn
FarmVille New England Buildings (Released July 27th 2010):
Vacation Estate – 50 FV$
New England Barn – 30 FV$
New England Shed – 24 FV$
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Will you purchase any of these Limited Edition buildings for your farm?
FarmVille Mystery Game, Round 3: Find out what you can win
farmville mystery game update
Tonight marks the third installment of the FarmVille Mystery Game. This Mystery Game features new prizes.
You can play this Mystery Game by accessing it via the FarmVille Market. This game will be available during the next 7 days only. Each play will cost 20 FV$.
Mystery Games yield exclusive prizes that you cannot get anywhere else. However, like Mystery Boxes, playing a Mystery Game is a gamble at your own risk as you are not guaranteed any one specific prize.
farmville beach cottage farmville angora goat farmville hooded merganser
farmville ornate cottage farmville new carriage farmville mill
The following are confirmed prizes for this Mystery Game (Released on July 27th 2010):
Angora Goat
Beach Cottage
Hooded Merganser
Mill
New Carriage
Ornate Cottage
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Tonight marks the third installment of the FarmVille Mystery Game. This Mystery Game features new prizes.
You can play this Mystery Game by accessing it via the FarmVille Market. This game will be available during the next 7 days only. Each play will cost 20 FV$.
Mystery Games yield exclusive prizes that you cannot get anywhere else. However, like Mystery Boxes, playing a Mystery Game is a gamble at your own risk as you are not guaranteed any one specific prize.
farmville beach cottage farmville angora goat farmville hooded merganser
farmville ornate cottage farmville new carriage farmville mill
The following are confirmed prizes for this Mystery Game (Released on July 27th 2010):
Angora Goat
Beach Cottage
Hooded Merganser
Mill
New Carriage
Ornate Cottage
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Facebook Credits gift cards set to rule the world. First stop: Target
It's official -- Target has everything. In addition to buying camping supplies, kitchen equipment and cheap designer duds, you will soon be able to buy Facebook Credits gift cards.
Starting September 5, Target will be the first retailer to carry these cards, which will be available for $15, $25 and $50. The $15 card will be available exclusively at Tar-zhay.
If you play social games, you know that Facebook Credits are quickly becoming a popular way to buy virtual items in games such as FarmVille, Mafia Wars, Bejeweled Blitz, City of Wonder, FIFA Superstars and more. To see a complete list of games that accept Facebook Credits, go here.
Considering that Americans are predicted to spend 1.6 billion on virtual goods and social games this year and Facebook Credits is quickly becoming the de facto currency for making those purchases, we're sure that we will be seeing these bright blue cards in every big box retailer when the 2010 holiday buying season rolls around.
Hey, I'm not complaining. I already plan to ask St. Nick to stuff a few of these in my stocking as well. The only people that might have a problem with these cards are folks who work for FarmVille publisher Zynga (which has its own special form of currency for its games). We'll see who wins out in this virtual currency battle in the end.
Do you use Facebook Credits to buy virtual items in games? Or something else?
Starting September 5, Target will be the first retailer to carry these cards, which will be available for $15, $25 and $50. The $15 card will be available exclusively at Tar-zhay.
If you play social games, you know that Facebook Credits are quickly becoming a popular way to buy virtual items in games such as FarmVille, Mafia Wars, Bejeweled Blitz, City of Wonder, FIFA Superstars and more. To see a complete list of games that accept Facebook Credits, go here.
Considering that Americans are predicted to spend 1.6 billion on virtual goods and social games this year and Facebook Credits is quickly becoming the de facto currency for making those purchases, we're sure that we will be seeing these bright blue cards in every big box retailer when the 2010 holiday buying season rolls around.
Hey, I'm not complaining. I already plan to ask St. Nick to stuff a few of these in my stocking as well. The only people that might have a problem with these cards are folks who work for FarmVille publisher Zynga (which has its own special form of currency for its games). We'll see who wins out in this virtual currency battle in the end.
Do you use Facebook Credits to buy virtual items in games? Or something else?
The only Farmville guide you need
In looking for interesting things to post here on Games.com -- The Blog, we come across a lot of links to things that claim to be "The Ultimate Farmville Guide" or "How to make infinite cash on Farmville with no effort," or something along those lines. An overwhelming majority of the time, those guides are either poorly written, rambling blog posts or part some sort of pyramid scheme of resellers hawking the same old common sense tricks.
Then there's PC World's Farmville Almanac, which blessedly does not fall into either of those categories. Using clear language, easy-to-read charts and a pleasing presentation, the Almanac has everything a Farmville player needs to know from planting their first seeds to to milking the cash crops available at the higher levels. It even gives different advice depending on how frequently you're willing to log in to the game -- great for people who have better things to do than plan their entire life around their virtual harvests.
The only people this guide doesn't apply to are those who are literally trying to cheat the system by getting some sort of auto-clicking program to play Farmville for them. But really, if you're one of those people, you shouldn't be playing Farmville at all. You should be participating in your other hobbies of tripping little old ladies and kicking puppies. You monster.
Then there's PC World's Farmville Almanac, which blessedly does not fall into either of those categories. Using clear language, easy-to-read charts and a pleasing presentation, the Almanac has everything a Farmville player needs to know from planting their first seeds to to milking the cash crops available at the higher levels. It even gives different advice depending on how frequently you're willing to log in to the game -- great for people who have better things to do than plan their entire life around their virtual harvests.
The only people this guide doesn't apply to are those who are literally trying to cheat the system by getting some sort of auto-clicking program to play Farmville for them. But really, if you're one of those people, you shouldn't be playing Farmville at all. You should be participating in your other hobbies of tripping little old ladies and kicking puppies. You monster.
Mahjongg Dimensions wants you to send friends to the 'Fire Dimension'
Even if you're not hip to the whole Mahjongg scene, Mahjongg Dimensions on Facebook is an easy way for anyone to kill 5, 20 or 220 minutes any given day of the week. This game is not only a cool 3D version of the classic game, but you only have one minute to match tiles like a real Mahjongg master.
Like all Facebook games, there's the ever-present upsell -- in this case, to buy boosts for your game. But, lucky you, this week is Fire Dimension week, which allows players to send a free Deluxe Fire Bonus to friends, so they can "experience the Fire Dimension." Is that also a subtle way to tell our friends to go to hell? To the Fire Dimension with you all!
mahongg dimensions facebook
Play Mahjongg Dimensions on Facebook >
Like all Facebook games, there's the ever-present upsell -- in this case, to buy boosts for your game. But, lucky you, this week is Fire Dimension week, which allows players to send a free Deluxe Fire Bonus to friends, so they can "experience the Fire Dimension." Is that also a subtle way to tell our friends to go to hell? To the Fire Dimension with you all!
mahongg dimensions facebook
Play Mahjongg Dimensions on Facebook >
BigPoint CEO: Social game company sales values are "crazy"
$182 million. $300 million. $563.2 million. These are the kind of numbers that are getting thrown around casually in social gaming acquisitions these days, and they could go even higher, especially if industry-leader Zynga decides to sell out. But are these companies really worth as much as their buyers think they are?
As far as BigPoint CEO Heiko Hubertz is concerned, the answer is a definite "No." In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz the head of the online game publisher expressed extreme skepticism over the amount of money behind some recent high profile buyouts. "Just look at the Disney and Playdom acquisition," Hubertz said. "That was a crazy valuation from my point of view. We're also in the same segment and if you want to grow at the same speed as your competitors you cannot only grow organically, you have to buy other companies. In 12 months, maybe 18 months the prices will be more realistic and then we can look at buying more companies."
But are the prices so unrealistic now? That largely depends on what you think of the future prospects of social gaming. If you agree with Screen Digest's prediction that social gaming is going to be worth $1.5 billion a year by 2014, then investing millions for an established front-runner in the space doesn't seem so ridiculous. On the other hand, if you think social games are a fad that most players will soon grow tired of, those millions of dollars might as well be toilet paper.
Hubertz, for his part, is looking to zig where others are zagging by scooping up what he sees as struggling, undervalued publishers in the traditional console market. "In the traditional games industry, in the boxed industry, there are developers who are really struggling and they are not asking for high valuation, they are just asking for survival," he said. "We're looking exactly for these kind of developers because when it comes to high quality 3D games they have the experience. We can just give them another engine, they don't need to use the Xbox or PlayStation technology, they can use our web technology. They can still develop the same quality of game it's just for a browser."
As far as BigPoint CEO Heiko Hubertz is concerned, the answer is a definite "No." In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz the head of the online game publisher expressed extreme skepticism over the amount of money behind some recent high profile buyouts. "Just look at the Disney and Playdom acquisition," Hubertz said. "That was a crazy valuation from my point of view. We're also in the same segment and if you want to grow at the same speed as your competitors you cannot only grow organically, you have to buy other companies. In 12 months, maybe 18 months the prices will be more realistic and then we can look at buying more companies."
But are the prices so unrealistic now? That largely depends on what you think of the future prospects of social gaming. If you agree with Screen Digest's prediction that social gaming is going to be worth $1.5 billion a year by 2014, then investing millions for an established front-runner in the space doesn't seem so ridiculous. On the other hand, if you think social games are a fad that most players will soon grow tired of, those millions of dollars might as well be toilet paper.
Hubertz, for his part, is looking to zig where others are zagging by scooping up what he sees as struggling, undervalued publishers in the traditional console market. "In the traditional games industry, in the boxed industry, there are developers who are really struggling and they are not asking for high valuation, they are just asking for survival," he said. "We're looking exactly for these kind of developers because when it comes to high quality 3D games they have the experience. We can just give them another engine, they don't need to use the Xbox or PlayStation technology, they can use our web technology. They can still develop the same quality of game it's just for a browser."
Mafia Wars promises 'a better user experience'
Mafia Wars players have been extremely vocal about the game's bugs and general sluggishness. So it seems very brave for Zynga reps to say that a better user experience is on its way in the most recent post on the official Mafia Wars blog:
"Our team has fixed a whole lot of bugs over the past 2 days. Some of these issues include fixing cross-promotional items that players weren't receiving, replacing wonky error messages and stopping players from awarding themselves extra skill points when they complete jobs."
OK, so we're glad that some bugs have been fixed. Some is better than none. Perhaps more telling are the seemingly endless comments after the post, brimming with suggestions on other things that need to be fixed or changed in the game, including "overloaded' servers, complaints about players using 'snag' cheat apps, no more challenge missions and allow clans/all players to share loot... to name a few.
The post ends by saying "Our work is far from over." Seems like a lot of fed-up virtual mobsters will agree with that.
"Our team has fixed a whole lot of bugs over the past 2 days. Some of these issues include fixing cross-promotional items that players weren't receiving, replacing wonky error messages and stopping players from awarding themselves extra skill points when they complete jobs."
OK, so we're glad that some bugs have been fixed. Some is better than none. Perhaps more telling are the seemingly endless comments after the post, brimming with suggestions on other things that need to be fixed or changed in the game, including "overloaded' servers, complaints about players using 'snag' cheat apps, no more challenge missions and allow clans/all players to share loot... to name a few.
The post ends by saying "Our work is far from over." Seems like a lot of fed-up virtual mobsters will agree with that.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Mall World Cheats & Tips: 5 easy ways to get ahead
Mall World is a hot Facebook game by 50 Cubes, where players get to own their own fashion store while shopping and wearing the latest fashions on their avatar. The game has shown huge success, with almost 5 million monthly actives, and almost 1 million daily actives. There is no other game quite like Mall World on Facebook, and we have all of the latest hints, tips, and cheats to help you get ahead of your friends in Mall World.
1. Play the Dressing Room Game
The Dressing Room game can be accessed by clicking the "Dressing Room Game" button on the right side of the game screen. You are allowed five plays per day, which gives you the opportunity to earn quick XP and coins. The game is actually a pretty easy one, as long as you have the eye for fashion and can memorize which accessories go with which outfits. Memorize the different collections in the catalog, and you will completely ace the dressing room game. Mix and match the different outfits until you get one that is the highest rating as indicated by the meter on the left side of the game.
2. Don't Go Crazy With Decorating
One of the biggest mistakes someone new to Mall World can do, is spend all of their money decorating their shop. It can be very tempting to buy the latest fashions and buy furniture for your store to make it look the best, but you will not earn the coins back and it doesn't benefit you enough to waste time doing it. Instead of buying expensive furniture, spend all of your money stocking your store so that you get the best return for your money.
3. Buy Clothing for Yourself
Buying clothing for yourself is basically the name of the game in Mall World, and it's not just for fun. Buying clothes for your avatar actually gives you XP, which allows you to level up. Leveling up gives you access to new catalogs so that you can stock your store with better higher earning clothing and accessories. Buy yourself tons of outfits and go crazy.
4. Earn the Squeaky Clean Bonuses
Every day, clothing is spread around your store and if you click on it to pick it up you earn a ton of coins. Once you've cleaned up your own store, you can visit all of your neighbors and earn the Squeaky Clean Bonus from them as well. Basically, the more neighbors you have, the more coins that you will earn. Getting neighbors is beneficial in most Facebook games, but in Mall World it helps out even more.
5. Pay Attention to Profits
When you're buying catalogs for new outfits for your store, it's easy to just pick outfits based on which one you like the best. However, there is actually an art to maximizing your profits through picking the right outfits. Take a peek at what the total cost of the item is, and then what the sell price of the item. If it doesn't give you a profit of at least $50, you shouldn't even buy it unless there is nothing else to buy and you need something quickly. Make sure to look at the profits, and not just pick the prettiest clothes for your store.
Play Mall World on Facebook Now >
1. Play the Dressing Room Game
The Dressing Room game can be accessed by clicking the "Dressing Room Game" button on the right side of the game screen. You are allowed five plays per day, which gives you the opportunity to earn quick XP and coins. The game is actually a pretty easy one, as long as you have the eye for fashion and can memorize which accessories go with which outfits. Memorize the different collections in the catalog, and you will completely ace the dressing room game. Mix and match the different outfits until you get one that is the highest rating as indicated by the meter on the left side of the game.
2. Don't Go Crazy With Decorating
One of the biggest mistakes someone new to Mall World can do, is spend all of their money decorating their shop. It can be very tempting to buy the latest fashions and buy furniture for your store to make it look the best, but you will not earn the coins back and it doesn't benefit you enough to waste time doing it. Instead of buying expensive furniture, spend all of your money stocking your store so that you get the best return for your money.
3. Buy Clothing for Yourself
Buying clothing for yourself is basically the name of the game in Mall World, and it's not just for fun. Buying clothes for your avatar actually gives you XP, which allows you to level up. Leveling up gives you access to new catalogs so that you can stock your store with better higher earning clothing and accessories. Buy yourself tons of outfits and go crazy.
4. Earn the Squeaky Clean Bonuses
Every day, clothing is spread around your store and if you click on it to pick it up you earn a ton of coins. Once you've cleaned up your own store, you can visit all of your neighbors and earn the Squeaky Clean Bonus from them as well. Basically, the more neighbors you have, the more coins that you will earn. Getting neighbors is beneficial in most Facebook games, but in Mall World it helps out even more.
5. Pay Attention to Profits
When you're buying catalogs for new outfits for your store, it's easy to just pick outfits based on which one you like the best. However, there is actually an art to maximizing your profits through picking the right outfits. Take a peek at what the total cost of the item is, and then what the sell price of the item. If it doesn't give you a profit of at least $50, you shouldn't even buy it unless there is nothing else to buy and you need something quickly. Make sure to look at the profits, and not just pick the prettiest clothes for your store.
Play Mall World on Facebook Now >
FarmVille Official Podcast (9/27): Halloween, Nursery Barn, Crafting Co-Op jobs
Last week's official FarmVille Podcast was rescheduled until day. It is hosted by FarmVille Community Manager, Lexilicious. You can listen to the video below, read the FarmVille Freak Summary, or read the entire transcript at the bottom of the post.
Excess Nursery Barns Removed
Animals from removed 2nd Nursery Barn can be found in your Gift Box.
100 FV$ rewarded to affected players.
Will only be compensated for one removed Nursery Barn.
Will not restore animals or give more farm cash for Nursery Barns for users possessing more than 2. (Players with 3 or more will still only receive, 1 – 100 farm cash and the restoration of one buildings worth of animals.
FarmVille did warn users that having more than one Nursery Barn was risky. (But why didn't they warn players in advance that the Nursery Barns would be deleted today?)
Crafting Co-Op Jobs
Jobs are based on recipes available with Crafting Buildings.
Job requires that a certain number of ingredient be planted and harvested to get the reward.
Rewards for completing jobs include XP, Coins, and Bushels.
Access Crafting Jobs through same Co-Op icon in menu.
Process works similar to normal Co-Op Jobs.
Nursery Barn Expansion
20 additional storage space for baby animals.
LE & German Theme
Feathered Friend Mystery Game
LE Germany items and Dogwood LE Crop (with mastery, available until October 19th)
Coming Soon to FarmVille
Soon players can purchase CLOTHING including Costumes for their avatars in the coming weeks.
Halloween features including a constructible Haunted House, and a Halloween Candy Holiday Basket (Collection Event).
Players will soon be able to visit a special neighbor to earn one new consumable and one new decoration.
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Excess Nursery Barns Removed
Animals from removed 2nd Nursery Barn can be found in your Gift Box.
100 FV$ rewarded to affected players.
Will only be compensated for one removed Nursery Barn.
Will not restore animals or give more farm cash for Nursery Barns for users possessing more than 2. (Players with 3 or more will still only receive, 1 – 100 farm cash and the restoration of one buildings worth of animals.
FarmVille did warn users that having more than one Nursery Barn was risky. (But why didn't they warn players in advance that the Nursery Barns would be deleted today?)
Crafting Co-Op Jobs
Jobs are based on recipes available with Crafting Buildings.
Job requires that a certain number of ingredient be planted and harvested to get the reward.
Rewards for completing jobs include XP, Coins, and Bushels.
Access Crafting Jobs through same Co-Op icon in menu.
Process works similar to normal Co-Op Jobs.
Nursery Barn Expansion
20 additional storage space for baby animals.
LE & German Theme
Feathered Friend Mystery Game
LE Germany items and Dogwood LE Crop (with mastery, available until October 19th)
Coming Soon to FarmVille
Soon players can purchase CLOTHING including Costumes for their avatars in the coming weeks.
Halloween features including a constructible Haunted House, and a Halloween Candy Holiday Basket (Collection Event).
Players will soon be able to visit a special neighbor to earn one new consumable and one new decoration.
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
FarmVille deletes extra Nursery Barns, replaces with 100 free Farm Cash
FarmVille has taken the, ahem, liberty of deleting any extra Nursery Barns from player's farms. Only one Nursery Barn is allowed per farm, but a recent glitch let farmers build more than one.
Community Manager Lexi 'Lexilicious' Smith says that, "if you were in possession of more than two Nursery Barns, we will not be able to restore any lost animals or building materials from your excess Nurseries."
The good news is -- those affected won't walk away empty handed. If you had an extra barn removed, you will be rewarded wtih an extra 100 Farm Cash (wow!). That and all of the animals from your deleted barn should appear in your gift box. Man, now I wish I had gone to the trouble of building that extra barn.
On the other hand, I'm still creeped out that someone can come in an delete a virtual item in your game anytime they want. Remember when Amazon deleted George Orwell's books '1984' and 'Animal Farm' from people's Kindles? Of course, that's another topic for another time.
Community Manager Lexi 'Lexilicious' Smith says that, "if you were in possession of more than two Nursery Barns, we will not be able to restore any lost animals or building materials from your excess Nurseries."
The good news is -- those affected won't walk away empty handed. If you had an extra barn removed, you will be rewarded wtih an extra 100 Farm Cash (wow!). That and all of the animals from your deleted barn should appear in your gift box. Man, now I wish I had gone to the trouble of building that extra barn.
On the other hand, I'm still creeped out that someone can come in an delete a virtual item in your game anytime they want. Remember when Amazon deleted George Orwell's books '1984' and 'Animal Farm' from people's Kindles? Of course, that's another topic for another time.
CrowdStar is Number 2 on Facebook, Playfish and Playdom eat dust
CrowdStar, creator of Happy Pets, is now the Number 2 social games company on Facebook with 54.6 million monthly users, according to Inside Social Games, beating out big timers Playdom and Playfish. We all know that Zynga has and probably will be the biggest social games company for a long time, which is why the focus on leading statistics has been on the coveted Number 2 spot.
So, how does a game company with no big time entertainment corporation behind it sneak in just beneath the sleeping giant's nose? Persistence, consistency and freedom. It's been over a month since Playfish has put out Madden NFL Superstars and Playdom had a drought for months before it released ESPNU College Town on September 27.
CrowdStar, on the other hand, has released two games in the past two weeks, It Girl and Pop Boom, which already have 2.5 million and 1.6 million monthly players respectively. Without the constraints of a corporate stepmother like Playdom's Disney or Playfish's Electronic Arts, CrowdStar can probably get more games developed, polished and out on the market in a fraction of the time it takes a developer like Playdom to even get clearance for one game from the higher ups.
While some might consider this a stroke of luck, developers still have to make good games to get noticed. Playfish is close behind CrowdStar with over 50 million monthly users, and a killer app could knock out CrowdStar more quickly than the company found itself in the spot. And that's the beauty of the social games business: everyone is on their toes.
So, how does a game company with no big time entertainment corporation behind it sneak in just beneath the sleeping giant's nose? Persistence, consistency and freedom. It's been over a month since Playfish has put out Madden NFL Superstars and Playdom had a drought for months before it released ESPNU College Town on September 27.
CrowdStar, on the other hand, has released two games in the past two weeks, It Girl and Pop Boom, which already have 2.5 million and 1.6 million monthly players respectively. Without the constraints of a corporate stepmother like Playdom's Disney or Playfish's Electronic Arts, CrowdStar can probably get more games developed, polished and out on the market in a fraction of the time it takes a developer like Playdom to even get clearance for one game from the higher ups.
While some might consider this a stroke of luck, developers still have to make good games to get noticed. Playfish is close behind CrowdStar with over 50 million monthly users, and a killer app could knock out CrowdStar more quickly than the company found itself in the spot. And that's the beauty of the social games business: everyone is on their toes.
Mafia Wars: Harvest 20 FarmVille crops for a free stamina refill
Mafia Wars cross promotions have been popular lately, and here is another from Zynga that will refill your stamina in Mafia Wars after harvesting 20 crops in FarmVille. While we're sure that this promotion will appear in your game in due time, why wait for that?
Mafia Wars Manic has found a shortcut link that will take you straight to the pop-up in Mafia Wars. Just copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://tiny.cc/lr9nx
After that, follow the pop-up to open up FarmVille and start harvesting. But remember to use all of your stamina up before starting this promotion to make the work worth your while.
Mafia Wars Manic has found a shortcut link that will take you straight to the pop-up in Mafia Wars. Just copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://tiny.cc/lr9nx
After that, follow the pop-up to open up FarmVille and start harvesting. But remember to use all of your stamina up before starting this promotion to make the work worth your while.
USA Network launches Club Psych: Social games branding drudges on
USA Network, part of NBC Universal, is launching a new program to maintain its spot as the number one free cable network: Character Rewards. An addition to its existing Character Arcade, this online program will reward USA fans for watching video content, playing their games and responding to the network on Twitter and Facebook. Players can then use these rewards for virtual goods or tangible gifts like gift cards.
To start the Character Rewards initiative USA has launched Club Psych, an online hub surrounding the hit crime drama, during the show's fifth season. Rewards for amassing points from challenges like "Watch a Full Episode of Psych" include a Nintendo Wii, Psych DVDs and bobble heads, from the looks of the website. There are also leaderboards for players to compete for ultimate Psych fan status.
If these branded social games can innovate in terms of design and push social games forward then I'm all ears, but if all we gamers are to see are more FarmVille and Social City clones, then count me out. And when brands like USA hold chief concern in creating "brand ambassadors," according to senior vice president of brand strategy and digital for USA Network Alexandra Shapiro, it's hard to swallow that they're concerned with making influential, forward-thinking games.
To start the Character Rewards initiative USA has launched Club Psych, an online hub surrounding the hit crime drama, during the show's fifth season. Rewards for amassing points from challenges like "Watch a Full Episode of Psych" include a Nintendo Wii, Psych DVDs and bobble heads, from the looks of the website. There are also leaderboards for players to compete for ultimate Psych fan status.
If these branded social games can innovate in terms of design and push social games forward then I'm all ears, but if all we gamers are to see are more FarmVille and Social City clones, then count me out. And when brands like USA hold chief concern in creating "brand ambassadors," according to senior vice president of brand strategy and digital for USA Network Alexandra Shapiro, it's hard to swallow that they're concerned with making influential, forward-thinking games.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Baking Life: Halloween goodies and costumes galore
Baking Life, a popular bakery ownership game by San Francisco-based ZipZapPlay, has released a number of special Halloween themed items to decorate your bakery, and even a few costumes to decorate yourself with! The game has launched decorations, a couple of recipes, a new gift, and some fun Halloween masks. No scary stuff here - all these items are fun and adorable just like the rest of Baking Life.
For those looking to send a Halloween gift to a friend, the Candy Pumpkins is a special baked good that can only be received from friends. You get to skip the pain of cooking the recipe and go right to the fun part - eating it. The store is full of decorations too, such as the Jack-o-Lantern, the Spooky Witch, and the Spooky Ghost (shown on the right). For recipes, you can make yourself a Graveyard Cake or Halloween Cookies.
Finally, the best part - the Halloween Masks. Baking Life has given players the chance to wear one of several cute masks including a Ghost Blanket, a Pumpkin Head, a PIrate or Ninja Mask, and a Frankenstein.
For those looking to send a Halloween gift to a friend, the Candy Pumpkins is a special baked good that can only be received from friends. You get to skip the pain of cooking the recipe and go right to the fun part - eating it. The store is full of decorations too, such as the Jack-o-Lantern, the Spooky Witch, and the Spooky Ghost (shown on the right). For recipes, you can make yourself a Graveyard Cake or Halloween Cookies.
Finally, the best part - the Halloween Masks. Baking Life has given players the chance to wear one of several cute masks including a Ghost Blanket, a Pumpkin Head, a PIrate or Ninja Mask, and a Frankenstein.
Fantasy University on Facebook: Filled with pop culture and humor, missing motivation
Simutronics Corp's new Facebook game Fantasy University (F.U.) is less about gaming and more about being an interactive pun-filled storybook.
From the moment the F.U. experience begins, you will see humorous pop culture references ranging from TV and film to comic books and teen culture. The Facebook app will bring you several giggles in your first 10 to 20 minutes of play as you work your way through a fun character creation tool. The finely inked hand drawn characters and settings are also an instant delight. However, after those first 20 minutes are up, you will soon find that this game is lacking any real substance worthy of your ongoing attention.
fantasy university on facebook
There isn't a central story or theme in Fantasy University. The game is not like Farmville, where you try to develop the biggest and best farm, or like Mafia Wars, where you are on a one-way track to being Facebook kingpin. Instead, you are simply students at an odd University that makes Hogwarts seem mundane. Every character and setting is either a play on words or a crossbreed of different fan fiction. For example, the dormitory is called Mordorms as a play off of Mordor from Lord of the Rings. It's even drawn with the one-eye of Sauron at the top. The first person you meet is Mad Willy Jack, who is a combination of Captain Jack Sparrow and Edward Scissorhands.
fantasy university on facebook
The game kicks off with an entertaining character creation menu. There are six classes of students at F.U Dodgebrawler, Mathemagician, Cheermonger, Slackninja, and Emomancer. You can easily pick up from the compound words the personality type and special ability of each character class. Gamers can modify the face, hair and weapons. You'll get most of your fun going through the different hairstyles like the 'Playin Kid' high top (based off of Kid 'n Play), the 'Verine' for Wolverine, 'Good ol Chuck' for Charlie Brown and the 'Smallville' for actor Tom Welling.
The game boils down to a series of fetch quests, picked up from the student union message board or one of the many cartoony characters, with a few battles sprinkled in between. Health doesn't replenish over time so you'll need to buy parsnip juice for a quick health boost or visit the school nurse. You'll kill a couple Spongeblobs (creatures that haunt the dreams of parents) here and there, while gaining experience and new abilities. Gamers can also craft new objects by experimenting with different items combinations from their inventory. The novelty of the humor begins to wear off without any story or motivational factors to tie all of your actions together. Fantasy University doesn't need to be Plot intensive; it just needs a goal to work towards.
Since most of the fetch quests will require a lot of clicking around to search and several lines of text to read, it will take a while before you stumble into the social part of the game. Gamers can invite BFFs to join their party, using them in battle or to complete various quests. Certain quests are designated by social class so you will only be able to go on it if one of your friends happens to be a Cheermonger, Emomancer or one of the other various classes.
fantasy university on facebook
Fantasy University is still in 'beta' so there's definitely room for improvement. Simutronics Corp just needs to add a touch of depth to the design so that gamers have a reason to uncover the various layers of comical pop-culture references.
From the moment the F.U. experience begins, you will see humorous pop culture references ranging from TV and film to comic books and teen culture. The Facebook app will bring you several giggles in your first 10 to 20 minutes of play as you work your way through a fun character creation tool. The finely inked hand drawn characters and settings are also an instant delight. However, after those first 20 minutes are up, you will soon find that this game is lacking any real substance worthy of your ongoing attention.
fantasy university on facebook
There isn't a central story or theme in Fantasy University. The game is not like Farmville, where you try to develop the biggest and best farm, or like Mafia Wars, where you are on a one-way track to being Facebook kingpin. Instead, you are simply students at an odd University that makes Hogwarts seem mundane. Every character and setting is either a play on words or a crossbreed of different fan fiction. For example, the dormitory is called Mordorms as a play off of Mordor from Lord of the Rings. It's even drawn with the one-eye of Sauron at the top. The first person you meet is Mad Willy Jack, who is a combination of Captain Jack Sparrow and Edward Scissorhands.
fantasy university on facebook
The game kicks off with an entertaining character creation menu. There are six classes of students at F.U Dodgebrawler, Mathemagician, Cheermonger, Slackninja, and Emomancer. You can easily pick up from the compound words the personality type and special ability of each character class. Gamers can modify the face, hair and weapons. You'll get most of your fun going through the different hairstyles like the 'Playin Kid' high top (based off of Kid 'n Play), the 'Verine' for Wolverine, 'Good ol Chuck' for Charlie Brown and the 'Smallville' for actor Tom Welling.
The game boils down to a series of fetch quests, picked up from the student union message board or one of the many cartoony characters, with a few battles sprinkled in between. Health doesn't replenish over time so you'll need to buy parsnip juice for a quick health boost or visit the school nurse. You'll kill a couple Spongeblobs (creatures that haunt the dreams of parents) here and there, while gaining experience and new abilities. Gamers can also craft new objects by experimenting with different items combinations from their inventory. The novelty of the humor begins to wear off without any story or motivational factors to tie all of your actions together. Fantasy University doesn't need to be Plot intensive; it just needs a goal to work towards.
Since most of the fetch quests will require a lot of clicking around to search and several lines of text to read, it will take a while before you stumble into the social part of the game. Gamers can invite BFFs to join their party, using them in battle or to complete various quests. Certain quests are designated by social class so you will only be able to go on it if one of your friends happens to be a Cheermonger, Emomancer or one of the other various classes.
fantasy university on facebook
Fantasy University is still in 'beta' so there's definitely room for improvement. Simutronics Corp just needs to add a touch of depth to the design so that gamers have a reason to uncover the various layers of comical pop-culture references.
AM Linkage: Zynga worth more than Electronic Arts, How to prep for zombie invasion
Zynga's Value Tops Electronic Arts as Virtual-Goods Sales Surge [Bloomberg]
10 games to help you prepare for a zombie invasion [Gamasutra]
Why social game maker Zynga wants a patent on virtual currencies [Venture Beat]
Report: Your Office Cube-Mate is Stalking Your Facebook Wall [Social Times]
Zynga "expanding operations into Ireland" [Gamesindustry.biz]
Facebook, Groupon And Zynga Investor Mail.ru (aka, DST) Shoots For $5.7B Valuation In IPO [TechCrunch]
What Disney Got in the Playdom Acquisition [Inside Social Games]
10 games to help you prepare for a zombie invasion [Gamasutra]
Why social game maker Zynga wants a patent on virtual currencies [Venture Beat]
Report: Your Office Cube-Mate is Stalking Your Facebook Wall [Social Times]
Zynga "expanding operations into Ireland" [Gamesindustry.biz]
Facebook, Groupon And Zynga Investor Mail.ru (aka, DST) Shoots For $5.7B Valuation In IPO [TechCrunch]
What Disney Got in the Playdom Acquisition [Inside Social Games]
Tiki Resort's Halloween Night Charm sets the sun on your island
Do islanders even celebrate Halloween? Well, in Tiki Resort they do with the new Halloween Night Charm, which unlocks five Halloween mystery items and sets the night upon your island getaway. With the big night just around the corner, it's alright to have nighttime last a bit longer than usual. Not to mention that 29 Facebook Credits, or $2.90, isn't half bad for transforming the look of your entire island.
You'll also find that your visitors have donned zombie and witch costumes to keep the spirits high. But don't leave the islanders dressed up with nowhere to go. The Hallow's Eve Treehouse and the Borderland Haunted House are both 30 percent off, costing 70 ($7) and 105 ($10.50) Facebook Credits, respectively. So, now you have no excuse to avoid transforming your island into the ghoulish getaway it should be this season.
You'll also find that your visitors have donned zombie and witch costumes to keep the spirits high. But don't leave the islanders dressed up with nowhere to go. The Hallow's Eve Treehouse and the Borderland Haunted House are both 30 percent off, costing 70 ($7) and 105 ($10.50) Facebook Credits, respectively. So, now you have no excuse to avoid transforming your island into the ghoulish getaway it should be this season.
FrontierVille's Ditch That Buggy Goal will tickle you pink
Ditch that Buggy
In the midst of the FrontierVille Halloween update's shoddy shenanigans, Zynga added a sequel to the Hot Wheels! Goal titled, "Ditch that Buggy." Apparently, while cruising the frontier you unfortunately hit a pothole and busted up your ride. All you need to do in this thankfully simple Goal (wasn't a Headless Horseman enough?) is ask your friends for 15 bars of Saddle Soap, 15 cans of Elbow Grease and clear 15 patches of grass.
Do these three tasks and a Deluxe Pink Buggy will be yours. Apparently, "fixing" means "buying" to them frontier folk, so enjoy a second ride in addition your fixed-up Deluxe Buggy from before. Also, if you have any Elbow Grease or Saddle Soap on you, it can be used to complete this Goal, inching you that much closer to a delightfully--well, depending on how you look at it--pink set of wheels. So, not to sound ungrateful or anything, but how about a paint job?
In the midst of the FrontierVille Halloween update's shoddy shenanigans, Zynga added a sequel to the Hot Wheels! Goal titled, "Ditch that Buggy." Apparently, while cruising the frontier you unfortunately hit a pothole and busted up your ride. All you need to do in this thankfully simple Goal (wasn't a Headless Horseman enough?) is ask your friends for 15 bars of Saddle Soap, 15 cans of Elbow Grease and clear 15 patches of grass.
Do these three tasks and a Deluxe Pink Buggy will be yours. Apparently, "fixing" means "buying" to them frontier folk, so enjoy a second ride in addition your fixed-up Deluxe Buggy from before. Also, if you have any Elbow Grease or Saddle Soap on you, it can be used to complete this Goal, inching you that much closer to a delightfully--well, depending on how you look at it--pink set of wheels. So, not to sound ungrateful or anything, but how about a paint job?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Celebrate Thanksgiving in Treasure Isle with fall decorations
Zynga has jumped into the fall / Thanksgiving celebration in Treasure Isle by releasing what could be just the first round of new fall and Thanksgiving themed decorative items in the treasure-hunting game.
These items can be found, you guessed it, by clicking on "Decorations" in the store. Here's a list of the available items, along with prices and special features, where available:
Cranberry Truck - Adds 10 spaces to your Backpack - 40 Island Cash
Big Barn - Adds 10 spaces to your Backpack - 40 Island Cash
Squirrel Table - 10,000 coins
Small Squash - 150 coins
Cornstalks - 200 coins
Indian Corn - 150 coins
Brown Pile of Leaves - 200 coins
Pile of Red Leaves - 200 coins
Pile of Yellow Leaves - 200 coins
Cornucopia - 400 coins
Wooden Fence - 100 coins
Cranberry Crate - 100 coins
Plough - 500 coins
Fortunately, the only two items on this list that are limited edition are the Cranberry Truck and the Big Barn, which will both only be available in the game for the next 12 days. After that, your chance at potentially 20 extra spaces of Backpack inventory will be gone, that is, until Zynga can release another item with a similar (or even the same) effect.
These items can be found, you guessed it, by clicking on "Decorations" in the store. Here's a list of the available items, along with prices and special features, where available:
Cranberry Truck - Adds 10 spaces to your Backpack - 40 Island Cash
Big Barn - Adds 10 spaces to your Backpack - 40 Island Cash
Squirrel Table - 10,000 coins
Small Squash - 150 coins
Cornstalks - 200 coins
Indian Corn - 150 coins
Brown Pile of Leaves - 200 coins
Pile of Red Leaves - 200 coins
Pile of Yellow Leaves - 200 coins
Cornucopia - 400 coins
Wooden Fence - 100 coins
Cranberry Crate - 100 coins
Plough - 500 coins
Fortunately, the only two items on this list that are limited edition are the Cranberry Truck and the Big Barn, which will both only be available in the game for the next 12 days. After that, your chance at potentially 20 extra spaces of Backpack inventory will be gone, that is, until Zynga can release another item with a similar (or even the same) effect.
Earn 2 free FarmVille Farm Cash in A Christmas Carol Promotion
Thanks to the good folks at FarmVille Feed, we've come to learn that Zynga has launched yet another free Farm Cash promotion in FarmVille.
This time, the promotion is for the upcoming release of Disney's A Christmas Carol on DVD. Simply click on the sponsored link window as seen at right, and you'll be able to watch the movie trailer and answer a question about your own holiday memories.
After that's said and done, you'll be rewarded with 2 Farm Cash, which can be found added to your total immediately upon refreshing the page.
We personally have yet to have this offer spawn on our own farms, but with the holiday season approaching, will we see more holiday-themed offers being given to FarmVille players? Stay tuned to find out.
This time, the promotion is for the upcoming release of Disney's A Christmas Carol on DVD. Simply click on the sponsored link window as seen at right, and you'll be able to watch the movie trailer and answer a question about your own holiday memories.
After that's said and done, you'll be rewarded with 2 Farm Cash, which can be found added to your total immediately upon refreshing the page.
We personally have yet to have this offer spawn on our own farms, but with the holiday season approaching, will we see more holiday-themed offers being given to FarmVille players? Stay tuned to find out.
My Vineyard Quaint Mystery Box: Find out what's inside
Playdom's My Vineyard released a new Mystery Box today - the Quaint Mystery Box. This one will cost you 18 Wine Cash each, and the resulting items are completely random. These items are all cozy realistic items for your vineyard, and many players on the Playdom forums are claiming that this is the best Mystery Box yet. We bet you want to know what's inside don't you? Here you go:
Quaint Cottage
Quaint Planter
Quaint Table and 2 Chairs
Quaint Swing
Quaint Banquet Table
While they're not exactly Thanksgiving items, you could still throw yourself a pretty quaint Turkey Day feast with these items. Get something you don't like? Sell it in your General Store to other players and make a profit!
This Mystery Box is limited quantity, and there are only 9,666 available as of this writing. We're sure these will sell fast because the items inside are just too cute for words.
Play My Vineyard on Facebook >
Quaint Cottage
Quaint Planter
Quaint Table and 2 Chairs
Quaint Swing
Quaint Banquet Table
While they're not exactly Thanksgiving items, you could still throw yourself a pretty quaint Turkey Day feast with these items. Get something you don't like? Sell it in your General Store to other players and make a profit!
This Mystery Box is limited quantity, and there are only 9,666 available as of this writing. We're sure these will sell fast because the items inside are just too cute for words.
Play My Vineyard on Facebook >
New FarmVille Limited Edition Crop: White Pumpkin
In a very late update this evening (or early this morning, depending on your thinking), Zynga has added a new limited edition crop to FarmVille in the form of the White Pumpkin.
This crop has been released as part of the now full-fledged Thanksgiving theme, and is available to grow until December 17. White Pumpkins can be planted for 100 coins per square, and they take a full eight hours to mature. You'll earn a single experience point for each square of the White Pumpkins that you plant, and they can be harvested for 150 coins, for just a 50 coin profit overall.
White Pumpkins are masterable, with the first star of mastery being available at a whopping 1000 harvests. With the crop's time limit of a month, it might be harder for some users (especially those with smaller fields) to make it through the three stars, so start planting these pumpkins now if you want a chance at earning the limited edition mastery sign.
This crop has been released as part of the now full-fledged Thanksgiving theme, and is available to grow until December 17. White Pumpkins can be planted for 100 coins per square, and they take a full eight hours to mature. You'll earn a single experience point for each square of the White Pumpkins that you plant, and they can be harvested for 150 coins, for just a 50 coin profit overall.
White Pumpkins are masterable, with the first star of mastery being available at a whopping 1000 harvests. With the crop's time limit of a month, it might be harder for some users (especially those with smaller fields) to make it through the three stars, so start planting these pumpkins now if you want a chance at earning the limited edition mastery sign.
Treasure Isle: New limited time fall themed animals
Along with the new Thanksgiving decorations released in Treasure Isle, Zynga has also given us eight new adorable fall animals to wander our islands. These animals are all available for only 12 days, and each one of them requires you to pay out with Island Cash. This could definitely get expensive if you're wanting to collect them all.
These animals are not just cute companions, they also provide you bonuses to your max energy. Any animal that gives you +3 to energy will cost you 65 Island Cash. Animals that give you +2 energy are priced at 55 Island Cash, and animals that give you 1 energy will set you back 35 Island Cash. Here are the animals you can get your hands on right now in Treasure Isle:
Rex the Raccoon - 3 Energy
Skunky the Skunk - 3 Energy
Sam the Squirrel - 2 Energy
Foxy the Fox - 2 Energy
Fuzz the Fox - 2 Energy
Bun Buns the Bunny - 1 Energy
Ben the Badger - 1 Energy
Bucky the Buck - 1 Energy
These aren't the most creative names we've ever heard of, but we'll give Treasure Isle a break. These items aren't really very fall-themed, but Treasure Isle are calling them fall animals.
Which animal do you think is the cutest?
These animals are not just cute companions, they also provide you bonuses to your max energy. Any animal that gives you +3 to energy will cost you 65 Island Cash. Animals that give you +2 energy are priced at 55 Island Cash, and animals that give you 1 energy will set you back 35 Island Cash. Here are the animals you can get your hands on right now in Treasure Isle:
Rex the Raccoon - 3 Energy
Skunky the Skunk - 3 Energy
Sam the Squirrel - 2 Energy
Foxy the Fox - 2 Energy
Fuzz the Fox - 2 Energy
Bun Buns the Bunny - 1 Energy
Ben the Badger - 1 Energy
Bucky the Buck - 1 Energy
These aren't the most creative names we've ever heard of, but we'll give Treasure Isle a break. These items aren't really very fall-themed, but Treasure Isle are calling them fall animals.
Which animal do you think is the cutest?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
CityVille Cheats and Tips: A Goods Management Guide
CityVille Goods
Now that you've expanded your Franchise empire along with the boundaries of your booming town in CityVille, it's time to get those Goods in line. I don't know about you, but I often find myself maxed out on Goods upon logging into the game. In fact, it's gotten to the point where, at times, I can't even harvest my crops before somehow getting rid of my gobs of Goods. However, there are a few ways to optimize your Goods management so that you don't run into the same problem.
1. The Right Crops for the Right Time
The number one way to control the amount of Goods you produce is planting smart. This isn't FarmVille anymore where the motto normally goes, "The more crops, the better!" Remember to be sure of the yield of each crop and its harvest time before planting. Now, you don't have to break out the calculator or anything (well, unless you're that intent on efficiency), but an idea of how many Goods are waiting for you in a few hours or days is good to keep in mind. For instance, I would strongly recommend against planting a field full of corn when you already have half of your Goods limit in storage.
Jump behind the break for four more tips on how effectively manage your Goods.
CityVille Storage
2. You're Gonna' Need a Bigger Boat
Or in this case, a bigger barn. There are currently only four storage solutions in the game and they're as follows:
-Silo: 250 coins; 100 Storage
-Red Barn: 1,000 coins; 415 Storage
-Sticks: 1,125 coins; 485 Storage
-Cargo Shed: 10 City Cash; 1,000 Storage
While it is mighty tempting to just say, "Forget it," and put up for the Cargo Shed, smart buys and even smarter positioning can help you avoid paying real dollars just to keep your Goods in safe keeping. While Silos are the cheapest solution to Storage, they're not exactly efficient. A much better strategy, although more expensive, would be to line up multiple Barns and Sticks adjacent to one another facing your farmland. In fact, the best way to build in CityVille is in a grid format similar to this, though it's not 100 percent necessary. The bottom line here is that if you place Barns and Sticks intelligently along the borders of your farmland or city, letting Silos fill in any unavoidable blanks, you should be fine when it comes to Storage.
3. Time is Money (and Goods)
Say it with me: Collect from and supply businesses as often as possible. Actually, collecting from Businesses should hold a much higher priority than collecting rent, taxes and free from residential buildings. Here's a scenario: if you only have a few Energy left, yet both your Businesses and Housing are ready to be collected from, which would spend your remaining Energy on? If your answer was cutting down Trees, you're are not even close to getting it. All kidding aside, just collect from the Businesses. This way, you'll get both coins and will be able to supply those Businesses, which costs nothing but Goods--and that's exactly what we want to get rid of.
Franchise Supply
4. Meet Expanding Demand with Expanding Supply
Franchises are a funnel for Goods. Every day, you'll be able to supply a huge portion of your Goods to your Businesses in other cities. And it only gets better with the more places your Businesses pop up. As soon as you're able to, open another Franchise as soon as possible. (Second and third Franchise opportunities open up at Levels 10 and 20.) With two Franchises running Businesses in multiple cities you could easily unload 75 percent of your Goods the moment you log in and click the "Supply" button a few times.
5. All Aboard!
While we've touched on Shipping before, we didn't exactly touch its importance when it comes to Goods management. And the reason why it's at the end of this list is because, frankly, it's a last resort. But don't think it's not equally as important. To put it into perspective, shipping Goods via Train can rid you of up to 700 Goods in an instant. While many of us haven't expanded to a local waterway to give international shipping a go, surely that will provide an even better way of dumping excess Goods elsewhere while making some money in the process. So, when you're at a loss of where to put the rest of those Goods after everything else has been taken care of, send them off on a train and make a few friends happy.
Now that you've expanded your Franchise empire along with the boundaries of your booming town in CityVille, it's time to get those Goods in line. I don't know about you, but I often find myself maxed out on Goods upon logging into the game. In fact, it's gotten to the point where, at times, I can't even harvest my crops before somehow getting rid of my gobs of Goods. However, there are a few ways to optimize your Goods management so that you don't run into the same problem.
1. The Right Crops for the Right Time
The number one way to control the amount of Goods you produce is planting smart. This isn't FarmVille anymore where the motto normally goes, "The more crops, the better!" Remember to be sure of the yield of each crop and its harvest time before planting. Now, you don't have to break out the calculator or anything (well, unless you're that intent on efficiency), but an idea of how many Goods are waiting for you in a few hours or days is good to keep in mind. For instance, I would strongly recommend against planting a field full of corn when you already have half of your Goods limit in storage.
Jump behind the break for four more tips on how effectively manage your Goods.
CityVille Storage
2. You're Gonna' Need a Bigger Boat
Or in this case, a bigger barn. There are currently only four storage solutions in the game and they're as follows:
-Silo: 250 coins; 100 Storage
-Red Barn: 1,000 coins; 415 Storage
-Sticks: 1,125 coins; 485 Storage
-Cargo Shed: 10 City Cash; 1,000 Storage
While it is mighty tempting to just say, "Forget it," and put up for the Cargo Shed, smart buys and even smarter positioning can help you avoid paying real dollars just to keep your Goods in safe keeping. While Silos are the cheapest solution to Storage, they're not exactly efficient. A much better strategy, although more expensive, would be to line up multiple Barns and Sticks adjacent to one another facing your farmland. In fact, the best way to build in CityVille is in a grid format similar to this, though it's not 100 percent necessary. The bottom line here is that if you place Barns and Sticks intelligently along the borders of your farmland or city, letting Silos fill in any unavoidable blanks, you should be fine when it comes to Storage.
3. Time is Money (and Goods)
Say it with me: Collect from and supply businesses as often as possible. Actually, collecting from Businesses should hold a much higher priority than collecting rent, taxes and free from residential buildings. Here's a scenario: if you only have a few Energy left, yet both your Businesses and Housing are ready to be collected from, which would spend your remaining Energy on? If your answer was cutting down Trees, you're are not even close to getting it. All kidding aside, just collect from the Businesses. This way, you'll get both coins and will be able to supply those Businesses, which costs nothing but Goods--and that's exactly what we want to get rid of.
Franchise Supply
4. Meet Expanding Demand with Expanding Supply
Franchises are a funnel for Goods. Every day, you'll be able to supply a huge portion of your Goods to your Businesses in other cities. And it only gets better with the more places your Businesses pop up. As soon as you're able to, open another Franchise as soon as possible. (Second and third Franchise opportunities open up at Levels 10 and 20.) With two Franchises running Businesses in multiple cities you could easily unload 75 percent of your Goods the moment you log in and click the "Supply" button a few times.
5. All Aboard!
While we've touched on Shipping before, we didn't exactly touch its importance when it comes to Goods management. And the reason why it's at the end of this list is because, frankly, it's a last resort. But don't think it's not equally as important. To put it into perspective, shipping Goods via Train can rid you of up to 700 Goods in an instant. While many of us haven't expanded to a local waterway to give international shipping a go, surely that will provide an even better way of dumping excess Goods elsewhere while making some money in the process. So, when you're at a loss of where to put the rest of those Goods after everything else has been taken care of, send them off on a train and make a few friends happy.
Game of the Day: Winterbells
winterbells
winterbellsNeed a holiday game that's quick and cute? Winterbells is the game for you.
Winterbells, created by Orisinal, is one of the most beautiful Games of the Day ever. It follows a cute white bunny rabbit who embraces his curiosity of the heavens. Taking to the sky with a giant leap, he bounds from winter bell to winter bell, exploring the endless night. You can almost smell the cool, crisp, fresh winter air. Eventually, the mischievous bunny's ascent is cut short by a mistimed jump, and he glides back down to the earth, caught by the fresh snowfall.
Hint: Jumping on a bird doubles your score!
Click here to Play Winterbells >
winterbellsNeed a holiday game that's quick and cute? Winterbells is the game for you.
Winterbells, created by Orisinal, is one of the most beautiful Games of the Day ever. It follows a cute white bunny rabbit who embraces his curiosity of the heavens. Taking to the sky with a giant leap, he bounds from winter bell to winter bell, exploring the endless night. You can almost smell the cool, crisp, fresh winter air. Eventually, the mischievous bunny's ascent is cut short by a mistimed jump, and he glides back down to the earth, caught by the fresh snowfall.
Hint: Jumping on a bird doubles your score!
Click here to Play Winterbells >
Tron: Legacy on Facebook puts you in the Light Cycle
You've seen the film and you've already beaten the games to a pulp, but now is your chance to become part of Tron just like our good friend Jeff Bridges, except with far less CGI. To help fuel the buzz of its upcoming sequel (as if it needs anymore), Tron: Legacy, Disney has created an interesting Facebook app titled "Get on the Grid" that will launch you into what appears to be one of the major scenes in the movie that releases Dec. 17.
Take a look at how the app works after the break.
Developed by Alfred and Adam Deo of Digital Outlook, the app uses face mapping technology to put your head into the helmet of a Light Cycle. And since this seems to be a scene ripped straight from the movie, it looks like you'll be taking Sam Flynn's place in getting beat down by the digitized version of his father. (Come to think of it, this is an interesting sneak peek at what might go down between the two in the film.)
Tron Legacy App in actin
How it works is simple. All you need to do once inside the app is click on the "Start" button, which will then give you a list of options for how to upload an image of your face. You can rip your Facebook profile picture using Facebook Connect, but make sure it follows the app's guidelines or you'll end up looking like me (see above). You can also upload an image from your computer or take one right then and there with a web cam, which would probably be the best option to make for the coolest video to share. And that's the beauty of it, Tron fans everywhere will be able to say, "Look guys, I just got beat up by Jeff Bridges!" And that's an honor we can only dream of having in the real world. For the time being (and while we were hoping for a full-featured Facebook game), a nifty Facebook app will have to do.
Click here to "Get on the Grid" with Tron on Facebook Now>
Take a look at how the app works after the break.
Developed by Alfred and Adam Deo of Digital Outlook, the app uses face mapping technology to put your head into the helmet of a Light Cycle. And since this seems to be a scene ripped straight from the movie, it looks like you'll be taking Sam Flynn's place in getting beat down by the digitized version of his father. (Come to think of it, this is an interesting sneak peek at what might go down between the two in the film.)
Tron Legacy App in actin
How it works is simple. All you need to do once inside the app is click on the "Start" button, which will then give you a list of options for how to upload an image of your face. You can rip your Facebook profile picture using Facebook Connect, but make sure it follows the app's guidelines or you'll end up looking like me (see above). You can also upload an image from your computer or take one right then and there with a web cam, which would probably be the best option to make for the coolest video to share. And that's the beauty of it, Tron fans everywhere will be able to say, "Look guys, I just got beat up by Jeff Bridges!" And that's an honor we can only dream of having in the real world. For the time being (and while we were hoping for a full-featured Facebook game), a nifty Facebook app will have to do.
Click here to "Get on the Grid" with Tron on Facebook Now>
Zynga designed FarmVille as "a negative experience," says Braid creator
In a recent interview with Gamasutra, developer of hit Xbox Live Arcade game Braid Jonathan Blow claimed that Zynga's creation of FarmVille "is actually about designing something that's a negative experience." He made the statement when asked to return to his infamous stance on damaging design trends in video games. While Blow refrains from telling developers what games to create, he did have strong words for the 54.2 million-strong farming simulator.
"I still wouldn't tell people, 'Don't make that game' exactly, I would say, 'Think about what you're making and be careful when you make it and try not to exploit players,' Blow said to Gamasutra. "But I mean now that we've got FarmVille and stuff like that, I pretty much would say 'don't make that kind of game' because I don't see much value in it."
Not much value in it, eh? Well, how does millions in annual revenue sound for value? Unfortunately, that's not exactly what he meant. "It's about 'How do we make something that looks cute and that projects positivity' -- but it actually makes people worry about it when they're away from the computer and drains attention from their everyday life and brings them back into the game, Blow said.
Look after the break for more of what Blow had to say about games like FarmVille, but be warned: it's not pretty.
FarmVille Gifting Quests
Blow, who is in the midst of developing his second major game titled "The Witness," went on to say that games like FarmVille are designed for players to exploit their friendships into a mechanical means of game progression. We imagine he's referring to the issues with gifting quests (pictured) and possibly even the recent complaints that FarmVille might as well be named "BegVille."
As the independent developer continued, no one was safe. "And there's this kind of new way where people are, like Bryan Reynolds working on FrontierVille and stuff, making it supposedly deeper, but that kind of thing has been very token so far, Blow said. "And in fact, I would argue that the audience of that kind of game doesn't necessarily want a deeper game, or certainly that's not proven; it's very speculative."
His beef, apparently, is with developers like Zynga and not the Facebook platform, claiming that there is plenty of room for creative game ideas on Facebook. Unfortunately in his eyes, the FarmVille style is not the way to go.
"I still wouldn't tell people, 'Don't make that game' exactly, I would say, 'Think about what you're making and be careful when you make it and try not to exploit players,' Blow said to Gamasutra. "But I mean now that we've got FarmVille and stuff like that, I pretty much would say 'don't make that kind of game' because I don't see much value in it."
Not much value in it, eh? Well, how does millions in annual revenue sound for value? Unfortunately, that's not exactly what he meant. "It's about 'How do we make something that looks cute and that projects positivity' -- but it actually makes people worry about it when they're away from the computer and drains attention from their everyday life and brings them back into the game, Blow said.
Look after the break for more of what Blow had to say about games like FarmVille, but be warned: it's not pretty.
FarmVille Gifting Quests
Blow, who is in the midst of developing his second major game titled "The Witness," went on to say that games like FarmVille are designed for players to exploit their friendships into a mechanical means of game progression. We imagine he's referring to the issues with gifting quests (pictured) and possibly even the recent complaints that FarmVille might as well be named "BegVille."
As the independent developer continued, no one was safe. "And there's this kind of new way where people are, like Bryan Reynolds working on FrontierVille and stuff, making it supposedly deeper, but that kind of thing has been very token so far, Blow said. "And in fact, I would argue that the audience of that kind of game doesn't necessarily want a deeper game, or certainly that's not proven; it's very speculative."
His beef, apparently, is with developers like Zynga and not the Facebook platform, claiming that there is plenty of room for creative game ideas on Facebook. Unfortunately in his eyes, the FarmVille style is not the way to go.
FrontierVille Update: General Store, Talior Shop, et al get reduced costs
In an update that surely many a player will appreciate, Zynga has reduced the cost to construct several buildings in FrontierVille. In fact, most of the cost have literally been cut in half. Check it out:
General Store Upgrade
The parts required to upgrade the General Store is now cut down from 10 to 5.
The "Expand the General Store" quest task to collect Building Plans is also cut down from 10 to 5.
Tailor Shop
The parts required to finish the Tailor Ship is now cut down from 5 to 3.
Horseshoe Pit
The parts required to finish the HS Pit is now cut down from 10 to 5.
Snowy Homestead
The neighbor requirement is now reduced to 2 from 10.
We're going to go out on a limb and say that the last change to the Snow Homestead palette change is a typo. As of right now, it already takes 10 Neighbors to buy the "item." Man, if only these changes were around when I was struggling to build my General Store back in the day. Hopefully this trend of fewer requirements sticks as Zynga introduces new buildings to the game.
[Source and Image Credit: FrontierVille Forums]
What are your thoughts on Zynga reducing the building requirements to these items? What other things would you like to see Zynga ease up on a little?
General Store Upgrade
The parts required to upgrade the General Store is now cut down from 10 to 5.
The "Expand the General Store" quest task to collect Building Plans is also cut down from 10 to 5.
Tailor Shop
The parts required to finish the Tailor Ship is now cut down from 5 to 3.
Horseshoe Pit
The parts required to finish the HS Pit is now cut down from 10 to 5.
Snowy Homestead
The neighbor requirement is now reduced to 2 from 10.
We're going to go out on a limb and say that the last change to the Snow Homestead palette change is a typo. As of right now, it already takes 10 Neighbors to buy the "item." Man, if only these changes were around when I was struggling to build my General Store back in the day. Hopefully this trend of fewer requirements sticks as Zynga introduces new buildings to the game.
[Source and Image Credit: FrontierVille Forums]
What are your thoughts on Zynga reducing the building requirements to these items? What other things would you like to see Zynga ease up on a little?
Friday, January 13, 2012
FarmVille New Years Clothing: Tiaras, Top Hats, Party Dresses, and more!
With tonight's FarmVille update, we see the official launch of the New Years celebration in the game. Since most Winter Holiday items have already expired from the store, or are quickly on their way out of the proverbial door, it only makes sense that Zynga would make the most of the remaining year by releasing items allowing us to celebrate its end. Such items are now available in the Clothing section of the FarmVille marketplace, as seven new clothing items have been added to the game.
These items are those that you might remember seeing here in a FarmVille Sneak Peek, as we showed them to you back on the 18th of December (notice that some of those unreleased items are not in this release - are more items coming in the future?). For girl players / avatars, there is a Black Tiara, Silver Tiara, Gold Party Dress, Purple Party Dress, and a Silver Party Dress, all of which cost Farm Cash. Both of the Tiaras are available for 5 Farm Cash each, while the Party Dresses cost 10 Farm Cash each.
Meanwhile, boy players / avatars can be outfitted in either a Black Top Hat or a Silver Top Hat. Remember, boy avatars can unlock a full Tuxedo from within the Party Barn that was released in full last week. These top hats are both premium items, and would add an equally luxurious touch to your avatar's ensemble this New Years season. Both Top Hats can be purchased for 5 Farm Cash each.
All of these items will be available for a short while into the New Year - for the next 13 days, to be exact. Be sure to head into the game sometime before then if you want to make sure your in-game avatar can ring in the new year in style!
These items are those that you might remember seeing here in a FarmVille Sneak Peek, as we showed them to you back on the 18th of December (notice that some of those unreleased items are not in this release - are more items coming in the future?). For girl players / avatars, there is a Black Tiara, Silver Tiara, Gold Party Dress, Purple Party Dress, and a Silver Party Dress, all of which cost Farm Cash. Both of the Tiaras are available for 5 Farm Cash each, while the Party Dresses cost 10 Farm Cash each.
Meanwhile, boy players / avatars can be outfitted in either a Black Top Hat or a Silver Top Hat. Remember, boy avatars can unlock a full Tuxedo from within the Party Barn that was released in full last week. These top hats are both premium items, and would add an equally luxurious touch to your avatar's ensemble this New Years season. Both Top Hats can be purchased for 5 Farm Cash each.
All of these items will be available for a short while into the New Year - for the next 13 days, to be exact. Be sure to head into the game sometime before then if you want to make sure your in-game avatar can ring in the new year in style!
FarmVille New Years Tree: Confetti Tree
Personally, we love the now frequent additions of extremely unique, or otherwise impossible-in-the-real-world trees that have been released in FarmVille over the past few weeks. Keeping with this new in-game theme of sorts is tonight's release of the Confetti Tree, a bright, colorful tree that has been released as part of the New Years theme of limited edition items.
The Confetti Tree costs 5 Farm Cash to add to your farm, and can be harvested once every 2 days. You'll gain just 15 experience points for purchasing the tree, but you'll also make 150 coins each and every time you harvest it (of course, the tree grows colorful clusters of confetti).
As of this writing, the rumors surrounding this tree are that if you add this level 1 Confetti Tree to an Orchard on your farm, you'll have a chance to spawning a level 2 Disco Ball Tree as a Mystery Seedling. We'll be sure to confirm or deny this as more information becomes available, but either way, Disco Ball Trees have begun showing up as Mystery Seedlings, so make sure to collect all that you see your friends posts on your news feed!
The Confetti Tree will be available in the game for the next 21 days, and for those that are still on a holiday kick, it can be decorated with Lights and Snow once you purchase it. The tree is masterable, with the first star of mastery being available after 75 harvests.
The Confetti Tree costs 5 Farm Cash to add to your farm, and can be harvested once every 2 days. You'll gain just 15 experience points for purchasing the tree, but you'll also make 150 coins each and every time you harvest it (of course, the tree grows colorful clusters of confetti).
As of this writing, the rumors surrounding this tree are that if you add this level 1 Confetti Tree to an Orchard on your farm, you'll have a chance to spawning a level 2 Disco Ball Tree as a Mystery Seedling. We'll be sure to confirm or deny this as more information becomes available, but either way, Disco Ball Trees have begun showing up as Mystery Seedlings, so make sure to collect all that you see your friends posts on your news feed!
The Confetti Tree will be available in the game for the next 21 days, and for those that are still on a holiday kick, it can be decorated with Lights and Snow once you purchase it. The tree is masterable, with the first star of mastery being available after 75 harvests.
FarmVille Winter Countdown: Everything you need to know
The Winter Countdown has officially launched in FarmVille, allowing users to earn and share 12 unique items in a Holiday / Winter theme, one item per day, in an effort to earn themselves a very special prize at the end of the 12 day Winter Countdown.
This event will take a bit of cooperation between yourself and your FarmVille neighbors, so meet us behind the break to see how you can help your friends (and help yourself) earn these 13 new items! First, you'll only be able to start participating in the event when you see a pop-up like the one at the top of this post, alerting you that the Countdown has officially started in your own game. We're expecting this to be a slow rollout, as most new features are in FarmVille, so if you don't see the countdown the next time you log into the game - don't panic!
Once you accept the pop-up above, you'll be shown the Winter Countdown menu, where each day, a new item will be revealed. This initial item for day 1 is the White Soldier, a returning item from last year's Winter Holiday celebration. If you were playing the game at this time last year, and have a White Soldier already present on your land, this will NOT count as participation for Day 1 in this year's Winter Countdown - you will need to earn another one in order to earn credit for participating. The same will go for any other re-released items that we'll see launched in this event, such as the Gold Ornament (seen in the top image).
To do so, you'll need to click on the Ask/Share button underneath the item's name. This will allow you to post a news post to your feed, sharing a White Soldier with friends, and simultaneously asking your friends to send you a White Soldier as well.
Each day, a new item will be available to send, and if you can manage to log-in to the game and collect all 12 items as they are available (that is, login consistently and collect each day's item for the next 12 days in a row), you'll receive a special bonus prize at the end. The prize is shown at the bottom of the Winter Countdown menu, and looks like a Mystery Animal Crate.
To access the Winter Countdown menu at any time, you'll need to look out for the Blue and Red wrapped present icon that will be found in the top right corner of the FarmVille gameplay area. Don't worry about closing the window when you first see it upon launching the game, as this icon will allow instant access to the event from here on out.
Check out the rest of our Holiday 2010 coverage right here.
This event will take a bit of cooperation between yourself and your FarmVille neighbors, so meet us behind the break to see how you can help your friends (and help yourself) earn these 13 new items! First, you'll only be able to start participating in the event when you see a pop-up like the one at the top of this post, alerting you that the Countdown has officially started in your own game. We're expecting this to be a slow rollout, as most new features are in FarmVille, so if you don't see the countdown the next time you log into the game - don't panic!
Once you accept the pop-up above, you'll be shown the Winter Countdown menu, where each day, a new item will be revealed. This initial item for day 1 is the White Soldier, a returning item from last year's Winter Holiday celebration. If you were playing the game at this time last year, and have a White Soldier already present on your land, this will NOT count as participation for Day 1 in this year's Winter Countdown - you will need to earn another one in order to earn credit for participating. The same will go for any other re-released items that we'll see launched in this event, such as the Gold Ornament (seen in the top image).
To do so, you'll need to click on the Ask/Share button underneath the item's name. This will allow you to post a news post to your feed, sharing a White Soldier with friends, and simultaneously asking your friends to send you a White Soldier as well.
Each day, a new item will be available to send, and if you can manage to log-in to the game and collect all 12 items as they are available (that is, login consistently and collect each day's item for the next 12 days in a row), you'll receive a special bonus prize at the end. The prize is shown at the bottom of the Winter Countdown menu, and looks like a Mystery Animal Crate.
To access the Winter Countdown menu at any time, you'll need to look out for the Blue and Red wrapped present icon that will be found in the top right corner of the FarmVille gameplay area. Don't worry about closing the window when you first see it upon launching the game, as this icon will allow instant access to the event from here on out.
Check out the rest of our Holiday 2010 coverage right here.
FarmVille Mystery Game (12/26/10): Best of Animals Week
If you're a big animal collector in FarmVille, you'll be happy to know that this week's Mystery Game has been released, and it contains a new set of six exclusive animals that are sure to set your zoological gene on fire. This week's game will cost 20 Farm Cash to play, for each individual dart you'd like to play, which is 4 Farm Cash more than the "normal" 16 Farm Cash price.
This week's game contains the following items that are up for grabs:
Baby Giraffe
Baby Zebra
Purple Mane Pony
White Lion Cub
White Unicorn
Camargue Horse
If you missed your chance at some of these items when they were released previously in the game (the Camargue Horse was released as part of the French Chateau theme, for instance), you'll want to make sure to try your hand at this week's Mystery Game, as there's no telling when (if ever) the items will make another reappearance in the game after this week.
This week's game contains the following items that are up for grabs:
Baby Giraffe
Baby Zebra
Purple Mane Pony
White Lion Cub
White Unicorn
Camargue Horse
If you missed your chance at some of these items when they were released previously in the game (the Camargue Horse was released as part of the French Chateau theme, for instance), you'll want to make sure to try your hand at this week's Mystery Game, as there's no telling when (if ever) the items will make another reappearance in the game after this week.
FarmVille New Years Items: New Year Horse, Party House, Cider Fountain & More
All together, these items are mostly Farm Cash items that will set you back a pretty penny (or virtual Farm Cash) if you choose to purchase them all, but there is one item for those that would rather stay clear of spending premium currency. Meet us behind the break to find out what it is. First off, the new animal is the New Year Horse, which should look familiar, as we brought you a Sneak Peek of this (and many other items in this release) last week. The New Year Horse costs 22 Farm Cash, and comes outfitted with a cute Top Hat, noise maker, and New Years Sash. If purchased, you can harvest from your New Year Horse once every three days, to receive 140 coins each time. Of course, you'll also be able to place the New Year Horse in your Horse Stable, offering the potential to receive a New Year Foal (with matching top hat and sash).
Moving on, the new building is the animated Party House. This building costs 25 Farm Cash, and is a brightly decorated building with pulsing lights shooting from the windows, two rotating spotlights from the roof of the home, and four clusters of balloons perched at the home's corners. Sure, it might be a tad expensive, considering that it is just a decorative building, but the sheer quality of the animation seems to make it worth the price.
Finally, there are three decorations that are now available to purchase, two of which are Farm Cash-only. These items are the Cider Fountain and the New Year Band. The Cider Fountain is another animated item, which consists of a large tower of glasses over which Cider is pouring down, into a large trough at the bottom. It costs 15 Farm Cash to add to your farm. The New Year Band costs 20 Farm Cash, and is a truly clever item, consisting of a three piece band, instruments, stage equipment and lighting, with the band being made up of a Chicken drummer, a Duck guitarist, and a sheep playing the keyboard. How cute!
The other decoration is a simple stationary Happy New Year sign that costs just 4,800 coins to add to your land. Even if you don't want to spend the Farm Cash on these other items, this sign will allow you to still celebrate the holiday in fashion. You'll gain 48 experience points for purchasing the sign, which will only be available for the next 5 days.
All other items will be available for the next 13 days, so keep these separate time limits in mind when deciding which items to purchase. You wouldn't want to miss out on collecting any of these neat items, now would you?
Moving on, the new building is the animated Party House. This building costs 25 Farm Cash, and is a brightly decorated building with pulsing lights shooting from the windows, two rotating spotlights from the roof of the home, and four clusters of balloons perched at the home's corners. Sure, it might be a tad expensive, considering that it is just a decorative building, but the sheer quality of the animation seems to make it worth the price.
Finally, there are three decorations that are now available to purchase, two of which are Farm Cash-only. These items are the Cider Fountain and the New Year Band. The Cider Fountain is another animated item, which consists of a large tower of glasses over which Cider is pouring down, into a large trough at the bottom. It costs 15 Farm Cash to add to your farm. The New Year Band costs 20 Farm Cash, and is a truly clever item, consisting of a three piece band, instruments, stage equipment and lighting, with the band being made up of a Chicken drummer, a Duck guitarist, and a sheep playing the keyboard. How cute!
The other decoration is a simple stationary Happy New Year sign that costs just 4,800 coins to add to your land. Even if you don't want to spend the Farm Cash on these other items, this sign will allow you to still celebrate the holiday in fashion. You'll gain 48 experience points for purchasing the sign, which will only be available for the next 5 days.
All other items will be available for the next 13 days, so keep these separate time limits in mind when deciding which items to purchase. You wouldn't want to miss out on collecting any of these neat items, now would you?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Facebook mobile social games will grow industry at once, CTO expects
When Facebook launched its mobile apps and games platform on iPhone and iPad, we were admittedly confused. But after Facebook CTO Bret Taylor (pictured) spoke with mocoNews, we have a better idea of what Facebook is getting at with "Project Spartan." According to Taylor, Facebook hopes to go 100 percent cross platform with Facebook Mobile through the mobile web, but its master plan goes deeper still.
"It really addresses some of the areas I've heard a lot of concerns about from mobile developers, and it plays to our strengths," Taylor told mocoNews. "For startups, it's very difficult to get their apps discovered. They have a honeymoon period in the app stores where they might be in a top 10 list and get a lot of downloads, but once that honeymoon period is over, discovery is very difficult. By integrating with these social channels in mobile, they can get discovered in really organic ways."
Facebook looks to bring the discoverability of Facbook games and apps to mobile. Sure, Facebook has the support of some major game creators with HTML5-based versions of Words with Friends, FarmVille and even wooga's new Magic Land. But at the moment, users have to search for these apps through Facebook's iOS app or mobile web presence--not exactly an ideal method for discovery.
It sounds like Taylor and Facebook look to grow the mobile and social games industries all at once across all platforms including Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry. To do that, Facebook is encouraging more developers to create HTML5 or native mobile app versions of their social games that Facebook Mobile can redirect to, which is about the only way we see this method working. However, with game shares (at least for non-gamers to see) almost entirely in the Ticker--which doesn't exist on mobile--where do the new social gamers come in?
"It really addresses some of the areas I've heard a lot of concerns about from mobile developers, and it plays to our strengths," Taylor told mocoNews. "For startups, it's very difficult to get their apps discovered. They have a honeymoon period in the app stores where they might be in a top 10 list and get a lot of downloads, but once that honeymoon period is over, discovery is very difficult. By integrating with these social channels in mobile, they can get discovered in really organic ways."
Facebook looks to bring the discoverability of Facbook games and apps to mobile. Sure, Facebook has the support of some major game creators with HTML5-based versions of Words with Friends, FarmVille and even wooga's new Magic Land. But at the moment, users have to search for these apps through Facebook's iOS app or mobile web presence--not exactly an ideal method for discovery.
It sounds like Taylor and Facebook look to grow the mobile and social games industries all at once across all platforms including Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry. To do that, Facebook is encouraging more developers to create HTML5 or native mobile app versions of their social games that Facebook Mobile can redirect to, which is about the only way we see this method working. However, with game shares (at least for non-gamers to see) almost entirely in the Ticker--which doesn't exist on mobile--where do the new social gamers come in?
It Girl maker CrowdStar looks beyond Facebook for 1 billion players
At last month's HTML5 Dev Conference in San Francisco, CrowdStar CEO Peter Relan (pictured) said, "We want to create the game that reaches a billion people." The company has announced just how it plans to make that happen: Project Trident. CrowdStar revealed its plans to create a global, mobile platform and recognizable gaming franchises. Of course, CrowdStar will still hang out with Facebook--let's just say "it's complicated."
TechCrunch reports that, as part of its plan to diversify beyond Facebook, CrowdStar will launch It Girl (and Top Girl for iOS) franchise in Asia across Japan, Korea and China. Starting with NHN Japan, the company plans to introduce both It Girl and Top Girl to five Asian social networks in Q4 (October through December) alone. According to TechCrunch, Top Girl has already been downloaded from the App Store 4 million times.
In addition to launching It Girl on five Asian social networks before Dec. 31, CrowdStar reportedly plans to release another three games before year's end across Facebook, mobile and global networks. That amounts to more games released in the end of 2011 than CrowdStar put out in all of 2010.
It looks like the maker of hits like Happy Aquarium seeks to make a comeback, and according to TechCrunch, one of those eight games will hit this weekend. (We'll have more details on that soon enough.) But this comes just as competitor Zynga announces its own pseudo-independent social game platform and a ton of games. Anyone else feeling a bit ... claustrophobic?
TechCrunch reports that, as part of its plan to diversify beyond Facebook, CrowdStar will launch It Girl (and Top Girl for iOS) franchise in Asia across Japan, Korea and China. Starting with NHN Japan, the company plans to introduce both It Girl and Top Girl to five Asian social networks in Q4 (October through December) alone. According to TechCrunch, Top Girl has already been downloaded from the App Store 4 million times.
In addition to launching It Girl on five Asian social networks before Dec. 31, CrowdStar reportedly plans to release another three games before year's end across Facebook, mobile and global networks. That amounts to more games released in the end of 2011 than CrowdStar put out in all of 2010.
It looks like the maker of hits like Happy Aquarium seeks to make a comeback, and according to TechCrunch, one of those eight games will hit this weekend. (We'll have more details on that soon enough.) But this comes just as competitor Zynga announces its own pseudo-independent social game platform and a ton of games. Anyone else feeling a bit ... claustrophobic?
G5 builds a free download of Virtual City Playground on iPhone, Android
CityVille Hometown is the only definitive CityVille experience on iPhone, but some mobile gamers might dream bigger. That's where Swedish developer G5 hopes to come in with Virtual City Playground for iPhone and Android. The game was just released to both devices for absolutely free, which allows players to enjoy its Sandbox Mode, building and maintain their own city.
Recently released to the iPad in August, the game appears to take numerous factors into consideration as players develop their cities like mass transit, recycling and general eco-friendliness. Players get to launch community events in their cities to keep citizens happy, which contribute to the balance players must keep between Time, Income, Environment, Population, and Happiness for a successful city.
G5 will provide free updates to the game regularly, but Virtual City Playground contains 87 quests that you must pay up to access through in-app purchases. And just like its city-builder competition, the game sports Game Center and Facebook integration as well as 95 achievements to earn.
And when you keep Virtual City Playground in the background, it's said that your citizens will continue to work for you by transporting goods. Not much seems to have changed since the game hit iPad, but that doesn't seem to be the point. If you've yet to get a look at what Virtual City Playground is all about, check out this trailer. (Hint: It looks a lot ... like, way similar to most city-builders.)
Click here to download Virtual City Playground on iPhone and here to download on Android Now >
Recently released to the iPad in August, the game appears to take numerous factors into consideration as players develop their cities like mass transit, recycling and general eco-friendliness. Players get to launch community events in their cities to keep citizens happy, which contribute to the balance players must keep between Time, Income, Environment, Population, and Happiness for a successful city.
G5 will provide free updates to the game regularly, but Virtual City Playground contains 87 quests that you must pay up to access through in-app purchases. And just like its city-builder competition, the game sports Game Center and Facebook integration as well as 95 achievements to earn.
And when you keep Virtual City Playground in the background, it's said that your citizens will continue to work for you by transporting goods. Not much seems to have changed since the game hit iPad, but that doesn't seem to be the point. If you've yet to get a look at what Virtual City Playground is all about, check out this trailer. (Hint: It looks a lot ... like, way similar to most city-builders.)
Click here to download Virtual City Playground on iPhone and here to download on Android Now >
Since Lady Gaga v. Lady Goo Goo, Mind Candy CEO remains defiant
Alright, so the case wasn't really "Lady Gaga v. Lady Goo Goo," but that sounds way cooler than "Lady Gaga v. Mind Candy." Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Mind Candy CEO Michael Acton Smith said, "I'm always up for a good battle if anyone else wants to do this." He was referring to Lady Gaga's lawyers' recent injunction against the Moshi Monsters creator for "The Moshi Dance," a YouTube music video starring Lady Goo Goo, one of its many annoying if adorable parody characters.
"I think a lot of people have been surprised by the judgment," Acton Smith said. "I personally think the law in this area is too strict and there are people looking at it for review at the moment. I think it would have been fine in the US where parody is much more acceptable. And it's not detracting from her sales or damaging her in my opinion, and so I think it was a bit frustrating."
The decision was reached last week in a London courthouse, but oddly enough the ruling only prevents Mind Candy from creating musical material with Lady Goo Goo--she can still exist within the game. Just as the developer readied to release the video as a single on iTunes, the lawyers swooped in. But Acton Smith told GamesIndustry.biz that he plans to press onward with an album of Moshi Monsters music and a live tour featuring the critters.
"We're having discussions around that at the moment," Acton Smith told GamesIndustry.biz. "But obviously we do need to be a little bit careful, because the high court must be respected when they injunct something." The Mind Candy CEO said this in response to questions about Dustbin Beaver, the plain-as-day parody of Justin Bieber in Moshi Monsters, which boasts 50 million players these days. We hear Bieber's lawyers' have equally helmet-like hair that's impervious to defense arguments. God speed, Moshlings.
"I think a lot of people have been surprised by the judgment," Acton Smith said. "I personally think the law in this area is too strict and there are people looking at it for review at the moment. I think it would have been fine in the US where parody is much more acceptable. And it's not detracting from her sales or damaging her in my opinion, and so I think it was a bit frustrating."
The decision was reached last week in a London courthouse, but oddly enough the ruling only prevents Mind Candy from creating musical material with Lady Goo Goo--she can still exist within the game. Just as the developer readied to release the video as a single on iTunes, the lawyers swooped in. But Acton Smith told GamesIndustry.biz that he plans to press onward with an album of Moshi Monsters music and a live tour featuring the critters.
"We're having discussions around that at the moment," Acton Smith told GamesIndustry.biz. "But obviously we do need to be a little bit careful, because the high court must be respected when they injunct something." The Mind Candy CEO said this in response to questions about Dustbin Beaver, the plain-as-day parody of Justin Bieber in Moshi Monsters, which boasts 50 million players these days. We hear Bieber's lawyers' have equally helmet-like hair that's impervious to defense arguments. God speed, Moshlings.
Beat down wizards for sweet deals with Wizardia on Facebook and mobile
Wizardia, an upcoming sword-and-sorcery Facebook game by Lithuanian developer Yummi Apps, seems to promise everything cool these days. Wizardia is both an Android and iOS game with Google Maps integration for location-based gameplay and sponsored real world prizes.
Taken separately, none of these features are particularly novel, since Parallel Kingdom is another fantasy mobile title that's already well-known for its use of Google Maps. Games And Prizes is entirely devoted to the namesake. But Yummi Apps, which just recently remodeled itself from a commercial apps producer into a social games developer, plans to bring all these elements into one package. And they plan to pull it off sometime this fall, too.
As far as what playing Wizardia would be like, Yummi Apps hopes to combine city building with turn-based strategy. According to a release, Yummi Apps specifically cites CityVille as an inspiration, and gives a nod to the PC stalwart, Heroes of Might and Magic.
Though billing itself as "the first social game in the world to integrate real life into online gaming" would be a lie, Wizardia does enough to take the concept farther than most. Not to jinx Wizardia, which looks more polished than anything we've seen before (just watch the above trailer), but we've also known of similarly ambitious projects that never took off. Yet if everything works out, one day this brand-integrated Facebook game will have you battling in a Barnes & Noble for a book discount. Or perhaps, like Rovio's caffeinated plans for Angry Birds, you could get your game on in Starbucks for free cups of coffee.
Taken separately, none of these features are particularly novel, since Parallel Kingdom is another fantasy mobile title that's already well-known for its use of Google Maps. Games And Prizes is entirely devoted to the namesake. But Yummi Apps, which just recently remodeled itself from a commercial apps producer into a social games developer, plans to bring all these elements into one package. And they plan to pull it off sometime this fall, too.
As far as what playing Wizardia would be like, Yummi Apps hopes to combine city building with turn-based strategy. According to a release, Yummi Apps specifically cites CityVille as an inspiration, and gives a nod to the PC stalwart, Heroes of Might and Magic.
Though billing itself as "the first social game in the world to integrate real life into online gaming" would be a lie, Wizardia does enough to take the concept farther than most. Not to jinx Wizardia, which looks more polished than anything we've seen before (just watch the above trailer), but we've also known of similarly ambitious projects that never took off. Yet if everything works out, one day this brand-integrated Facebook game will have you battling in a Barnes & Noble for a book discount. Or perhaps, like Rovio's caffeinated plans for Angry Birds, you could get your game on in Starbucks for free cups of coffee.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Scam Alert: 50 free FarmVille Cash from Groupon Wall post is phony
It should already be known as rule of thumb not to click on offers from any social game that don't come from the game itself. But just in case you missed that memo, All Facebook reports that the recent FarmVille Wall post offering 50 free Farm Cash from Groupon is malware just waiting to attack your computer.
The link, which comes from either a third-party Blogspot FarmVille news blog or will redirect those unaware to a Facebook application page (seen above) offering 25 free Farm Cash. It may look similar to a FarmVille freebie, but this is extremely simple to copy. Remember, the only way to gain Farm Cash from the game is to either buy it yourself, have it rewarded directly from a Zynga or FarmVille News Feed Post or take advantage of the sponsored links featured beneath the game screen. (The real Groupon offer is found beneath the game screen.)
All Facebook suggests that if you have unfortunately already clicked on the faulty offer, you should remove and block the application from your Facebook profile. To remove applications from your profile, just click the Account tab in the upper right of your screen and go to "Privacy Settings." Then, click on "Apps and Websites," click "Edit Settings," find the relevant application and choose the small "X" to the right of it to remove it permanently. Also, you might want to perform a full malware and virus scan on your computer using whatever software you prefer. Now, remember to think twice before clicking on any old FarmVille post.
The link, which comes from either a third-party Blogspot FarmVille news blog or will redirect those unaware to a Facebook application page (seen above) offering 25 free Farm Cash. It may look similar to a FarmVille freebie, but this is extremely simple to copy. Remember, the only way to gain Farm Cash from the game is to either buy it yourself, have it rewarded directly from a Zynga or FarmVille News Feed Post or take advantage of the sponsored links featured beneath the game screen. (The real Groupon offer is found beneath the game screen.)
All Facebook suggests that if you have unfortunately already clicked on the faulty offer, you should remove and block the application from your Facebook profile. To remove applications from your profile, just click the Account tab in the upper right of your screen and go to "Privacy Settings." Then, click on "Apps and Websites," click "Edit Settings," find the relevant application and choose the small "X" to the right of it to remove it permanently. Also, you might want to perform a full malware and virus scan on your computer using whatever software you prefer. Now, remember to think twice before clicking on any old FarmVille post.
FarmVille Model Farm gets all mushy with Valentine's Day update
Model Farm Valentines
The FarmVille Model Farm, or what I like to call the interactive Market, has been updated with Valentine's Day items. FarmVille Freak reports that the new relatively new feature has shed its wintry decorations in time for a heavy dose of pink. Of course, every item is up for sale. Clicking on any given decoration will open a preview window just like it does in the Market, giving you the option to buy the item with either coins or Farm Cash depending on the item.
While you'll find plenty of lovely decorations including the Love Shack and Romantic Coach, also available are some of the Winter Wonderland items like the Icelandic Horse and Totem House. Of course, all of these items cost Farm Cash, so do not pay a visit with an empty wallet. Unless you just want the free random bonus, then by all means stop by.
Check out the rest of our Valentine's Day coverage right here.
Have you seen the new items in the Model Farm yet? Would you ever purchase items from FarmVille via the Model Farm?
The FarmVille Model Farm, or what I like to call the interactive Market, has been updated with Valentine's Day items. FarmVille Freak reports that the new relatively new feature has shed its wintry decorations in time for a heavy dose of pink. Of course, every item is up for sale. Clicking on any given decoration will open a preview window just like it does in the Market, giving you the option to buy the item with either coins or Farm Cash depending on the item.
While you'll find plenty of lovely decorations including the Love Shack and Romantic Coach, also available are some of the Winter Wonderland items like the Icelandic Horse and Totem House. Of course, all of these items cost Farm Cash, so do not pay a visit with an empty wallet. Unless you just want the free random bonus, then by all means stop by.
Check out the rest of our Valentine's Day coverage right here.
Have you seen the new items in the Model Farm yet? Would you ever purchase items from FarmVille via the Model Farm?
FarmVille Valentine's Day Showcase Two includes Chinese New Year
With Valentine's Day still over two weeks away, but Zynga is already thinking about other important February holidays in FarmVille. Take a look at the new FarmVille Showcase, which features a few new Valentine's Day items including the hilarious Venus Gnome. But check out the Chinese Dragon in time for the Lunar New Year this Feb. 3.
Also seen in the video are what appear to be some sort of Asian-style bridge, a Heart Pig, a heart-filled canoe and what looks like a picnic scene under a tree. And since the Chinese New Year celebration starts next week, it's safe to expect this set of items to release before then at the very least.
Also seen in the video are what appear to be some sort of Asian-style bridge, a Heart Pig, a heart-filled canoe and what looks like a picnic scene under a tree. And since the Chinese New Year celebration starts next week, it's safe to expect this set of items to release before then at the very least.
Angry Birds 2 spotted ... in Germany?
Well, considering Angry Birds developer Rovio is based in Finland, it's not too far of a stretch. It appears that a German TV network has caught the first glimpses of Angry Birds 2, The Register Hardware reports. Known as Deutsche Welle, the network posted a short feature surrounding the small studio that created one of the most successful casual games to date. After showing a few quotes from Rovio CEO Mikael Hed, a few designers and fans of the game, the reporter mentions that the team is currently working on two more Angry Birds games.
The first, referred to simply as "Pink," is the Valentine's Day edition set to release on Feb. 14 (how fitting). The game will probably play out like the recent Angry Birds Halloween with a series of levels surrounding the holiday. But most importantly, the feature shows several images of what looks like the official sequel to Angry Birds. The reporter conveniently refers to them merely as "new versions of their game." From what we can judge by these blurry snapshots, the characters largely look the same within far more detailed environments.
Keep in mind, none of these screen shots have been officially confirmed by Rovio as Angry Birds 2. But if the studio was will
The first, referred to simply as "Pink," is the Valentine's Day edition set to release on Feb. 14 (how fitting). The game will probably play out like the recent Angry Birds Halloween with a series of levels surrounding the holiday. But most importantly, the feature shows several images of what looks like the official sequel to Angry Birds. The reporter conveniently refers to them merely as "new versions of their game." From what we can judge by these blurry snapshots, the characters largely look the same within far more detailed environments.
Keep in mind, none of these screen shots have been officially confirmed by Rovio as Angry Birds 2. But if the studio was will
Facebook urges game makers to ditch Flash, go HTML5
Here's your proverbial nail in coffin for the Flash versus HTML5 debate. All Things Digital reports that Facebook plans to spread the good news of HTML5 to all of the social game developers living within its cushy walls. The norm today for social games is to be developed using Adobe's Flash, which many peg for being a resource hog that isn't cross platform. (My laptop's processor and cooling fan can attest to the former.) This means that developers like Zynga can't simply take FarmVille for Facebook and throw it on the iPhone--that version was built from the ground up.
But no more. The former CTO of Second Life-creator Linden Lab, Cory Ondrejka, gave a lecture at Facebook headquarters yesterday proclaiming the benefits of making the switch to HTML5. Now a member of the Facebook team, Ondrejka wrote this in a blog post:
With wide adoption and industry support, HTML5 will transform desktop and mobile gaming, creating amazing user experiences that are only a link away. Already, over 125 million people visit Facebook using HTML5 capable browsers just from their mobile phone, and that number skyrockets when we add in desktop browsers. The future is clear.
With HTML5, the next step for website development that can also handle pretty intense game creation, making several versions of the same social game would be a thing of the past. In fact, Zynga's recent release of Mafia Wars: Atlantic City across nearly all smartphones was thanks to HTML5. Using this fresh technology, it's possible that social games could look no different if played on Facebook through a computer or a smartphone. Ondrejka admitted that HTML5 still has a ways to go when rendering games. Despite this, he wrote "We want to help," referring to Facebook's mission to getting as many developers on the HTML5 bandwagon as possible. And that means more social games in more places for us.
But no more. The former CTO of Second Life-creator Linden Lab, Cory Ondrejka, gave a lecture at Facebook headquarters yesterday proclaiming the benefits of making the switch to HTML5. Now a member of the Facebook team, Ondrejka wrote this in a blog post:
With wide adoption and industry support, HTML5 will transform desktop and mobile gaming, creating amazing user experiences that are only a link away. Already, over 125 million people visit Facebook using HTML5 capable browsers just from their mobile phone, and that number skyrockets when we add in desktop browsers. The future is clear.
With HTML5, the next step for website development that can also handle pretty intense game creation, making several versions of the same social game would be a thing of the past. In fact, Zynga's recent release of Mafia Wars: Atlantic City across nearly all smartphones was thanks to HTML5. Using this fresh technology, it's possible that social games could look no different if played on Facebook through a computer or a smartphone. Ondrejka admitted that HTML5 still has a ways to go when rendering games. Despite this, he wrote "We want to help," referring to Facebook's mission to getting as many developers on the HTML5 bandwagon as possible. And that means more social games in more places for us.
Friday, January 6, 2012
FarmVille English Countryside Sneak Peek: English Roses, Red Currant Crops and more
In addition to the new buildings and crops that we gave you a brief snapshot of earlier this week, it looks like FarmVille's English Countryside expansion will come with plenty of other crops, aside from flowers, for your to grow.
We've come across images of five new crops that appear to be English Countryside specific. While one is another flower - that being the lovely pink English Roses - the other four are actual food items. From left to right in the image above, you have the Red Currant, Radish, Turnip, and English Peas.
All of these crops will apparently be masterable, and it looks like we'll be able to gather bushels from them as well. It's great that Zynga is releasing more realistic crops to the game, along with their whimsical crops for holidays, as fans have been calling for more realism for some time. Whether this is the extent of the English Countryside crops, or whether there are more still yet to be discovered remains to be seen, but we'll make sure to let you know as soon as we find out more.
Which of these crops are you most looking forward to growing on your second,
We've come across images of five new crops that appear to be English Countryside specific. While one is another flower - that being the lovely pink English Roses - the other four are actual food items. From left to right in the image above, you have the Red Currant, Radish, Turnip, and English Peas.
All of these crops will apparently be masterable, and it looks like we'll be able to gather bushels from them as well. It's great that Zynga is releasing more realistic crops to the game, along with their whimsical crops for holidays, as fans have been calling for more realism for some time. Whether this is the extent of the English Countryside crops, or whether there are more still yet to be discovered remains to be seen, but we'll make sure to let you know as soon as we find out more.
Which of these crops are you most looking forward to growing on your second,
Game of the Day: Treasure Seekers: Follow the Ghosts
The Game of the Day is going to bring you hidden object game awesomeness! Treasure Seekers: Follow the Ghosts: Jump into an exciting adventure as you help Nelly and Tom free some unlucky ghosts who are being trapped by an evil alchemist! Use your Hidden Object skills to explore a mysterious world, and discover valuable clues.
Click --> play Treasure Seekers: Follow the Ghosts
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.
Click --> play Treasure Seekers: Follow the Ghosts
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.
FarmVille English Countryside will allow you to build a Pub and dig for artifacts
New details about the FarmVille English Countryside expansion have been revealed on Zynga's official fan page for the event, called simply "FarmVille English Countryside." We've not only been given a more detailed look at the Sheep Pen, via the picture above, but we now also know that there will be two additional characters (at least) to meet and interact with in two separate activities.
First, we'll be able to "dig for artifacts" with Professor Milton. There's no telling what this will entail - it could be as simple as receiving new collection items when we plant seeds, similar to how we find items in the Limited Time collections now, or it could even see a makeshift Treasure Isle feature come to the game, with plots to dig and treasures to discover. Zynga has been incredibly light on the details so far, but we're looking forward to what this all means.
Next, we'll be able to build a new building in the form of a Pub. Again, details are nonexistent at this point, as to whether or not the Pub will serve a purpose after it has been built, or simply be decorative, but this does give us something else to look forward to as we make our way into the new farm.
We'll make sure to bring you continued coverage on the game-changing feature as Zynga reveals new items, so keep checking back.
[Image Credit: Zynga]
Check out the rest of our FarmVille Cheats & Tips right here.
In the meantime, let us know what you think of these two new activities - what do you hope the "digging for artifacts" activity entails?
First, we'll be able to "dig for artifacts" with Professor Milton. There's no telling what this will entail - it could be as simple as receiving new collection items when we plant seeds, similar to how we find items in the Limited Time collections now, or it could even see a makeshift Treasure Isle feature come to the game, with plots to dig and treasures to discover. Zynga has been incredibly light on the details so far, but we're looking forward to what this all means.
Next, we'll be able to build a new building in the form of a Pub. Again, details are nonexistent at this point, as to whether or not the Pub will serve a purpose after it has been built, or simply be decorative, but this does give us something else to look forward to as we make our way into the new farm.
We'll make sure to bring you continued coverage on the game-changing feature as Zynga reveals new items, so keep checking back.
[Image Credit: Zynga]
Check out the rest of our FarmVille Cheats & Tips right here.
In the meantime, let us know what you think of these two new activities - what do you hope the "digging for artifacts" activity entails?
FrontierVille Great Tomato Race Timed Mission: Everything you need to know
Another new timed mission is available in FrontierVille, this one showing us just how evil those upcoming coyote varmints can apparently be - and showing us just how much they love tomatoes! The new timed mission is called "The Great Tomato Race" and it must be accepted on your land before March 28 in order to be able to complete it. You'll have seven days from the time of acceptance to finish this mission for your reward.
The story here is that coyotes have broken into the Jackalope Lodge's kitchen and drank all of their tomato sauce for the annual spaghetti dinner. You'll need to help the Lodge members out by gathering back all of the lost product so the spaghetti dinner can go on without a hitch. To do this, you'll need to complete three tasks:
Harvest 100 Tomatoes
Harvest 10 Neighbor Tomatoes
Collect 10 Sauce Pans Tomatoes luckily only take 15 minutes to grow, so don't be frightened by such a large number (that is, you can plant them in waves if you'd like to not do it all at once, and still not take up much time). Meanwhile, if you know of any neighbors with Victory Gardens, this would be the great time to help them with their Tomatoes, as they likely have at least five planted for you. Finally, gathering Sauce Pans is as easy as posting a general news item to your feed, asking your friends to send you Sauce Pans. Luckily, this is a "give one, get one" setup, so it shouldn't be too hard to find friends that are willing to help you, since they'll be helping themselves in the process.
The rewards for completing the Great Tomato Race are 700 coins and one Cheese Wheel decoration. This Cheese Wheel is only available (currently) through completing this mission, so make sure to do so if you want it.
If you don't have this mission on your account currently, it might be due to the fact that you have the "Same Procedure as Every Year" mission still active (this is unlikely, since they don't seem to be directly connected). Either that, or the update simply hasn't rolled around to your account yet, so keep checking back to make sure you haven't received it. This mission IS active in the game however, so go ahead and stock up on Sauce Pans by helping your friends, and you'll be prepared for the mission once it does pop in to your game.
The story here is that coyotes have broken into the Jackalope Lodge's kitchen and drank all of their tomato sauce for the annual spaghetti dinner. You'll need to help the Lodge members out by gathering back all of the lost product so the spaghetti dinner can go on without a hitch. To do this, you'll need to complete three tasks:
Harvest 100 Tomatoes
Harvest 10 Neighbor Tomatoes
Collect 10 Sauce Pans Tomatoes luckily only take 15 minutes to grow, so don't be frightened by such a large number (that is, you can plant them in waves if you'd like to not do it all at once, and still not take up much time). Meanwhile, if you know of any neighbors with Victory Gardens, this would be the great time to help them with their Tomatoes, as they likely have at least five planted for you. Finally, gathering Sauce Pans is as easy as posting a general news item to your feed, asking your friends to send you Sauce Pans. Luckily, this is a "give one, get one" setup, so it shouldn't be too hard to find friends that are willing to help you, since they'll be helping themselves in the process.
The rewards for completing the Great Tomato Race are 700 coins and one Cheese Wheel decoration. This Cheese Wheel is only available (currently) through completing this mission, so make sure to do so if you want it.
If you don't have this mission on your account currently, it might be due to the fact that you have the "Same Procedure as Every Year" mission still active (this is unlikely, since they don't seem to be directly connected). Either that, or the update simply hasn't rolled around to your account yet, so keep checking back to make sure you haven't received it. This mission IS active in the game however, so go ahead and stock up on Sauce Pans by helping your friends, and you'll be prepared for the mission once it does pop in to your game.
FarmVille Mystery Game (02/27/2011): Best of Mystery Animals return
If you missed your chance at many of the FarmVille Mystery Games released over the past few weeks and months, you'll be happy to know that a selection of six of the "best" of the animals featured in those games have been brought back for another look in this week's game.
Quackers has restocked the game with animals ranging from ducks to owls, with even a big of magic thrown in. Here's the list of what to expect if you choose to purchase a dart this week for 20 Farm Cash:
Kung Fu Duck
Blue Duck
Amur Leopard
Great Eagle Owl
Asian Wild Horse
Pink Unicorn
The Pink Unicorn appears to be one of the rare items for this Mystery Game, so I hope you're feeling lucky if you're going after that particular animal. No matter which animal you'd like on your farm, you'll need to play quickly, as you only have a week to clear out the dart board of balloons before this Mystery Game resets, taking these six animals with it, replacing them with six entirely new items (potentially in a St. Patrick's Day theme?).
Quackers has restocked the game with animals ranging from ducks to owls, with even a big of magic thrown in. Here's the list of what to expect if you choose to purchase a dart this week for 20 Farm Cash:
Kung Fu Duck
Blue Duck
Amur Leopard
Great Eagle Owl
Asian Wild Horse
Pink Unicorn
The Pink Unicorn appears to be one of the rare items for this Mystery Game, so I hope you're feeling lucky if you're going after that particular animal. No matter which animal you'd like on your farm, you'll need to play quickly, as you only have a week to clear out the dart board of balloons before this Mystery Game resets, taking these six animals with it, replacing them with six entirely new items (potentially in a St. Patrick's Day theme?).
Thursday, January 5, 2012
FarmVille English Countryside: Pause feature has farmers rioting
See that big elephant in the middle of the room? He's got the word "Pause" written on his side, and I suppose now is as good of a time as any to address him. While we've all been looking forward to the English Countryside expansion in FarmVille for weeks now, many of us have probably had our excitement dashed by Zynga's choice to implement a "Pause" feature between farms.
For those that are unfamiliar with the addition, or simply haven't made it to the English Countryside yet, the "Pause" feature is as follows: The farm that you are currently playing on; that is, the one you see on your screen and are interacting with (regardless of whether it's your original farm or your second farm), is your active farm, and will progress as normal with crops, trees, animals, and other functions proceeding at their normal rates in time.
Your other farm, meanwhile, will remain paused. Crops won't wither while you're away, but they also won't grow either. In fact, it seems as though nothing happens on your other farm while it's the "Paused" farm. Crop and trees won't grow, animals will not become ready to harvest. Hybrid seeds won't grow in the Greenhouse, your Leprechaun Cottage won't produce Gold - your farm is put at a literal stand still, forcing you to choose between your Home Farm and your English Farm as to which one to actually "play." This, of course, brings the entire English Countryside expansion into question. This "second farm" should really be called an "alternate farm" as a choice must be made between which to run at any point in time. As you might expect, the "feature" has forced users into a very vocal uproar, as they have flooded the game's official forums with posts against the feature.
Zynga itself is asking for feedback, good or bad, about the Pause feature, and as of this writing, that particular feedback thread has made its way to 82 pages - that's 814 posts - with the vast majority of these speaking out against the inclusion. Users are saying, quite believably, that they will simply refuse to make the trip to England in their game if the Pause function isn't removed.
User Pimpernell seems to sum up many users' thoughts:
I won't start playing EC until the pause is removed. I've put a lot of time, effort and real money into my farm and I can't see the point of freezing it while playing the 2nd one. What a ridiculous idea.
While many users have said they agree with the option to turn Pause on and off, they don't believe it should be mandatory, as they want and would love to work on two farms at once. We can see the reasoning behind the Pause function - that being so users don't have to worry about withering crops because they forgot about their "other" farm, but the fact that it's mandatory does throw a big wrench in many players' plans.
We'll make sure to update you if and when Zynga changes their mind about this feature, or at least adds an option to turn it off.
[Image Credit: misssonia]
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Let us know what you think of the Pause feature. Will you skip going to the English Countryside as a result, or are you ready to leave your Home Farm behind for something new?
For those that are unfamiliar with the addition, or simply haven't made it to the English Countryside yet, the "Pause" feature is as follows: The farm that you are currently playing on; that is, the one you see on your screen and are interacting with (regardless of whether it's your original farm or your second farm), is your active farm, and will progress as normal with crops, trees, animals, and other functions proceeding at their normal rates in time.
Your other farm, meanwhile, will remain paused. Crops won't wither while you're away, but they also won't grow either. In fact, it seems as though nothing happens on your other farm while it's the "Paused" farm. Crop and trees won't grow, animals will not become ready to harvest. Hybrid seeds won't grow in the Greenhouse, your Leprechaun Cottage won't produce Gold - your farm is put at a literal stand still, forcing you to choose between your Home Farm and your English Farm as to which one to actually "play." This, of course, brings the entire English Countryside expansion into question. This "second farm" should really be called an "alternate farm" as a choice must be made between which to run at any point in time. As you might expect, the "feature" has forced users into a very vocal uproar, as they have flooded the game's official forums with posts against the feature.
Zynga itself is asking for feedback, good or bad, about the Pause feature, and as of this writing, that particular feedback thread has made its way to 82 pages - that's 814 posts - with the vast majority of these speaking out against the inclusion. Users are saying, quite believably, that they will simply refuse to make the trip to England in their game if the Pause function isn't removed.
User Pimpernell seems to sum up many users' thoughts:
I won't start playing EC until the pause is removed. I've put a lot of time, effort and real money into my farm and I can't see the point of freezing it while playing the 2nd one. What a ridiculous idea.
While many users have said they agree with the option to turn Pause on and off, they don't believe it should be mandatory, as they want and would love to work on two farms at once. We can see the reasoning behind the Pause function - that being so users don't have to worry about withering crops because they forgot about their "other" farm, but the fact that it's mandatory does throw a big wrench in many players' plans.
We'll make sure to update you if and when Zynga changes their mind about this feature, or at least adds an option to turn it off.
[Image Credit: misssonia]
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Let us know what you think of the Pause feature. Will you skip going to the English Countryside as a result, or are you ready to leave your Home Farm behind for something new?
It'll be raining cats and dogs in FrontierVille 'soon'
This week, FrontierVille rolled out a mission where you build a doghouse and help save a hungry dog. But, it looks like the tired old pooch will be one of the first of several breeds of furry friends that will be arriving on the frontier.
When you finish the Doghouse mission, you get a pop up window that has the image above and the following message:
"Need a pal on the Frontier? Pets are coming to FrontierVille! Dogs, cats and rhinoceroses (all right, maybe not rhinos) are on their way soon! Who's a Good Boy then?"
So, yes, your virtual piece of the Wild West might soon be littered with cats and dogs -- and maybe the folks behind the scenes will go ahead and indulge us with a pet rhinoceroses -- just for kicks. Who wouldn't want a rhino to add to their menagerie?
When you finish the Doghouse mission, you get a pop up window that has the image above and the following message:
"Need a pal on the Frontier? Pets are coming to FrontierVille! Dogs, cats and rhinoceroses (all right, maybe not rhinos) are on their way soon! Who's a Good Boy then?"
So, yes, your virtual piece of the Wild West might soon be littered with cats and dogs -- and maybe the folks behind the scenes will go ahead and indulge us with a pet rhinoceroses -- just for kicks. Who wouldn't want a rhino to add to their menagerie?
FarmVille English Countryside Tips & Tricks: Use your Gift Box to fill your farm
With the release of the English Countryside in FarmVille comes the interesting issue of farm-specific items. That is, if you purchase an item from the store, place it from your gift box, or in any other way add an item to one farm or the other, there currently is no way to move that item to your other farm.
For example, if you were to purchase a Dogwood Tree for your Home Farm, and then decide that it would be better suited on your farm in the English Countryside, you'll simply have to purchase a second Dogwood Tree in England - you can't pick up the Dogwood Tree and move it across farms.
However, this doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. While, yes, purchasing Farm Cash animals or decorations does take on a bit more seriousness, as you have to be absolutely certain which farm you'd like to place that item on permanently, the simple ability to being able to take most items from your Gift Box across the pond (and back again) does present many new opportunities. First and foremost, you've got a lot of new animals buildings to stock in the English Countryside, what with the Horse Stable, Sheep Pen, Chicken Coop and Dairy Barn all being currently available. What better way to stock those buildings, for free, than to use your Home Farm to do so. In addition, what better way to create a full forest of trees than to use extra Mystery Seedlings than you may not otherwise choose to grow?
All you'll need to do is use the buildings from your Home Farm, or even News Feed posts, to your advantage. If you're at a state (as many farmers are), that you have an unneeded amount of Mystery Eggs, as an example, you can take those Mystery Eggs over to the English Countryside, and open them there. If you receive chickens, but you Home Farm's Chicken Coop is full, voila - you've found instant inhabitants for your new Coop.
The same can be said for your Nursery Barn. If you grow your baby animals up into otherwise uninteresting Cows or Horses that you would normally just sell, you can leave those animals in your Gift Box until you travel back over to England and place them into your Dairy Barn or Horse Stable.
You can use News Feed posts in the same way. Claim free Calves, Foals, and even Horses from friends who have completed tasks on their own farms, and you'll have animals that can be used to populate your English Countryside farm without spending a virtual dime. These will give you profit for the extent of their presence on your new farm, that is, if you choose to have that farm be the "active farm," and your other farm "Paused."
Either way, it should be noted that there are some items that simply can't be used on both farms, even if you have them in your Gift Box, and are ready to use them. You'll know if an item can't be used on your English Countryside farm if you open your Gift Box and see "Locked to Home" in red font, like in the image below.
Of course, it will be up to each individual player as to how many items to dedicate to the English Countryside farm, as opposed to the Home Farm, but these are just a few tips to get you started at catching your English farm up to speed with the one that you're used to using everyday.
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Will you use these tips to add free animals to your English Countryside farm? Or, would you rather all animals on your second farm fit the theme of England?
For example, if you were to purchase a Dogwood Tree for your Home Farm, and then decide that it would be better suited on your farm in the English Countryside, you'll simply have to purchase a second Dogwood Tree in England - you can't pick up the Dogwood Tree and move it across farms.
However, this doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. While, yes, purchasing Farm Cash animals or decorations does take on a bit more seriousness, as you have to be absolutely certain which farm you'd like to place that item on permanently, the simple ability to being able to take most items from your Gift Box across the pond (and back again) does present many new opportunities. First and foremost, you've got a lot of new animals buildings to stock in the English Countryside, what with the Horse Stable, Sheep Pen, Chicken Coop and Dairy Barn all being currently available. What better way to stock those buildings, for free, than to use your Home Farm to do so. In addition, what better way to create a full forest of trees than to use extra Mystery Seedlings than you may not otherwise choose to grow?
All you'll need to do is use the buildings from your Home Farm, or even News Feed posts, to your advantage. If you're at a state (as many farmers are), that you have an unneeded amount of Mystery Eggs, as an example, you can take those Mystery Eggs over to the English Countryside, and open them there. If you receive chickens, but you Home Farm's Chicken Coop is full, voila - you've found instant inhabitants for your new Coop.
The same can be said for your Nursery Barn. If you grow your baby animals up into otherwise uninteresting Cows or Horses that you would normally just sell, you can leave those animals in your Gift Box until you travel back over to England and place them into your Dairy Barn or Horse Stable.
You can use News Feed posts in the same way. Claim free Calves, Foals, and even Horses from friends who have completed tasks on their own farms, and you'll have animals that can be used to populate your English Countryside farm without spending a virtual dime. These will give you profit for the extent of their presence on your new farm, that is, if you choose to have that farm be the "active farm," and your other farm "Paused."
Either way, it should be noted that there are some items that simply can't be used on both farms, even if you have them in your Gift Box, and are ready to use them. You'll know if an item can't be used on your English Countryside farm if you open your Gift Box and see "Locked to Home" in red font, like in the image below.
Of course, it will be up to each individual player as to how many items to dedicate to the English Countryside farm, as opposed to the Home Farm, but these are just a few tips to get you started at catching your English farm up to speed with the one that you're used to using everyday.
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Will you use these tips to add free animals to your English Countryside farm? Or, would you rather all animals on your second farm fit the theme of England?
FrontierVille English Countryside: Expand your farm with Surveyors
While you may be excited to make the trip to the English Countryside in FarmVille, keep in mind that you won't be landing in an area that's as large as the Home Farm size you may be used to. Luckily, there are six expansions ready for you in the game's store. However, this isn't a process as simple as having a specific amount of neighbors and then unlocking them with coins.
Each expansion is locked to you (at least the coin option is) until you can collect enough "Surveyors" to unlock the ability to purchase each particular expansion with coins. Your first farm expansion, for example, is called the "English Homestead," and it expands your second farm to the 14 x 14 size for 25,000 coins. First, though, you'll need to ask two surveyors to help you.
Meet us behind the break to see how to add Surveyors' help to your land and expand your farm to new sizes.
To receive the help of Surveyors, you'll need to think of Surveyors as your friends. You'll be able to receive their help by clicking on the "Unlock" button on your next expansion and then clicking on the "Invite Friends" button to send out individual requests to friends, asking them to help you expand.
In the image above, we've moved onto the second expansion, which requires six Surveyors in total. This expansion takes the two Surveyors you gathered for the first expansion and simply adds to them. That is, you only need to have four additional friends help you in order to reach the full six. This means that the feature is cumulative, which should help you expand just a bit faster.
Once you collect the needed Surveyors for a particular expansion, you'll be able to purchase it as normal for coins (which increase with each expansion, just as the number of Surveyors increases). It will apparently take 20 Surveyors in total to unlock the final expansion currently available - the English Estate - but we'd imagine the coin price tag will be the issue to slow people down, rather than the number of Surveyors. Still 750,000 coins is much better than the multi-million coin price tags we've seen back in the Home Farm, so I guess we can't really complain.
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Have you already started expanding your land in the English Countryside, or are you waiting until your Home Farm is completely expanded before spending the coins?
Each expansion is locked to you (at least the coin option is) until you can collect enough "Surveyors" to unlock the ability to purchase each particular expansion with coins. Your first farm expansion, for example, is called the "English Homestead," and it expands your second farm to the 14 x 14 size for 25,000 coins. First, though, you'll need to ask two surveyors to help you.
Meet us behind the break to see how to add Surveyors' help to your land and expand your farm to new sizes.
To receive the help of Surveyors, you'll need to think of Surveyors as your friends. You'll be able to receive their help by clicking on the "Unlock" button on your next expansion and then clicking on the "Invite Friends" button to send out individual requests to friends, asking them to help you expand.
In the image above, we've moved onto the second expansion, which requires six Surveyors in total. This expansion takes the two Surveyors you gathered for the first expansion and simply adds to them. That is, you only need to have four additional friends help you in order to reach the full six. This means that the feature is cumulative, which should help you expand just a bit faster.
Once you collect the needed Surveyors for a particular expansion, you'll be able to purchase it as normal for coins (which increase with each expansion, just as the number of Surveyors increases). It will apparently take 20 Surveyors in total to unlock the final expansion currently available - the English Estate - but we'd imagine the coin price tag will be the issue to slow people down, rather than the number of Surveyors. Still 750,000 coins is much better than the multi-million coin price tags we've seen back in the Home Farm, so I guess we can't really complain.
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Have you already started expanding your land in the English Countryside, or are you waiting until your Home Farm is completely expanded before spending the coins?
FarmVille English Countryside: 15 new crops to plant and master
We've been bringing you FarmVille Sneak Peeks for the past few weeks concerning the unreleased crops that we thought would be releasing as part of the English Countryside expansion, and now we've found that 18 crops have officially launched in the game, many of which we correctly predicted.
The 15 crops are all labeled as "English Countryside" crops, and are available to view in your Home Farm's marketplace, but can't be planted. You'll have to make the trip to England yourself in order to plant and master these new crops. There are six new flowers here, some grains, vegetables, and even some tasty Black Tea that can be grown in this new market section. We have all of the details about these new crops for you behind the break.
Here's a look at the new crops in the English Countryside, in no particular order:
Black Tea: Plant for 50 coins. Harvest in 8 hours for 110 coins. First star of mastery at 900 harvests.
Field Beans: Plant for 80 coins. Harvest in 16 hours for 210 coins. First star at 600 harvests.
English Peas: Plant for 200 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 290 coins. First star at 750 harvests.
Radish: Plant for 90 coins. Harvest in 18 hours for 230 coins. First star at 600 harvests.
Turnips: Plant for 160 coins. Harvest in 16 hours for 290 coins. First star at 600 harvests.
Red Currant: Plant for 40 coins. Harvest in 4 hours for 75 coins. First star at 1100 harvests.
Cornflower: Plant for 60 coins. Harvest in 16 hours for 110 coins. First star at 600 harvests.
Foxglove: Plant for 101 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 202 coins. First star at 660 harvests.
English Roses: Plant for 125 coins. Harvest in 6 hours for 165 coins. First star at 950 harvests.
Cara Potatoes: Plant for 250 coins. Harvest in 2 days for 620 coins. First star at 450 harvests.
Barley: Plant for 80 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 170 coins. First star at 750 harvests.
Hops: Plant for 150 coins. Harvest in 10 hours for 220 coins. First star at 780 harvests.
Pink Asters: Plant for 50 coins. Harvest in 1 day for 130 coins. First star at 310 harvests.
Bluebells: Plant for 120 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 210 coins. First star at 850 harvests.
Spring Squill: Plant for 140 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 220 coins. First star at 780 harvests.
As you can see, these crops offer anywhere from 1-3 experience points per square planted, so while they may be relatively normal in that respect, it is nice to see some lower mastery requirements for the first star. Just how quickly these crops can truly be mastered, however, will be dependent on whether or not you choose to leave the English farm running, while your other farm is paused.
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Which of these crops will you attempt to master first? Or, if you had expected to stay on your original farm, will any of these crops be enough to make you change your mind?
The 15 crops are all labeled as "English Countryside" crops, and are available to view in your Home Farm's marketplace, but can't be planted. You'll have to make the trip to England yourself in order to plant and master these new crops. There are six new flowers here, some grains, vegetables, and even some tasty Black Tea that can be grown in this new market section. We have all of the details about these new crops for you behind the break.
Here's a look at the new crops in the English Countryside, in no particular order:
Black Tea: Plant for 50 coins. Harvest in 8 hours for 110 coins. First star of mastery at 900 harvests.
Field Beans: Plant for 80 coins. Harvest in 16 hours for 210 coins. First star at 600 harvests.
English Peas: Plant for 200 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 290 coins. First star at 750 harvests.
Radish: Plant for 90 coins. Harvest in 18 hours for 230 coins. First star at 600 harvests.
Turnips: Plant for 160 coins. Harvest in 16 hours for 290 coins. First star at 600 harvests.
Red Currant: Plant for 40 coins. Harvest in 4 hours for 75 coins. First star at 1100 harvests.
Cornflower: Plant for 60 coins. Harvest in 16 hours for 110 coins. First star at 600 harvests.
Foxglove: Plant for 101 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 202 coins. First star at 660 harvests.
English Roses: Plant for 125 coins. Harvest in 6 hours for 165 coins. First star at 950 harvests.
Cara Potatoes: Plant for 250 coins. Harvest in 2 days for 620 coins. First star at 450 harvests.
Barley: Plant for 80 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 170 coins. First star at 750 harvests.
Hops: Plant for 150 coins. Harvest in 10 hours for 220 coins. First star at 780 harvests.
Pink Asters: Plant for 50 coins. Harvest in 1 day for 130 coins. First star at 310 harvests.
Bluebells: Plant for 120 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 210 coins. First star at 850 harvests.
Spring Squill: Plant for 140 coins. Harvest in 12 hours for 220 coins. First star at 780 harvests.
As you can see, these crops offer anywhere from 1-3 experience points per square planted, so while they may be relatively normal in that respect, it is nice to see some lower mastery requirements for the first star. Just how quickly these crops can truly be mastered, however, will be dependent on whether or not you choose to leave the English farm running, while your other farm is paused.
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Which of these crops will you attempt to master first? Or, if you had expected to stay on your original farm, will any of these crops be enough to make you change your mind?
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