farmville birthday cake
With its own upcoming birthday (June 19th) FarmVille is getting in the spirit of celebrating birthdays by releasing some special birthday themed decorations.
You can purchase these birthday themed items in the FarmVille Market with farm cash only and there is no expiration date. As these are farm cash items, they are also sendable meaning that you can send them to your FarmVille neighbors and friends as a special birthday surprise.
Birthday Cake – 9 FV$
Animal Balloons – 7 FV$
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Monday, February 13, 2012
FarmVille Changes Wheat Crop
Update: Due to technical issues, the Wheat Crop was not actually changed tonight. However, the changed mentioned below will be the anticipated changes made to the Wheat Crop as released by Zynga/FarmVille.
"Please note: Due to technical issues, this feature is not yet available. We sincerely apologize for any confusion or frustration this may have caused you. We will do our best to get this feature to you in the near future." (Official FarmVille Forum)
As mentioned via Monday's (June 14th) official FarmVille Podcast, changes have been made to the Wheat crop.
Because Wheat will be a key crop to the upcoming release of Crafting Cottages, FarmVille decided to lower the harvest time and Crop Mastery for Wheat.
Here is the new specifications for Wheat seeds:
Wheat
Hours: 12
XP: 1
Cost: 13 coins
Yield: 61 coins
Crop Mastery: 500, 1500, 3000
In addition, Whither for Wheat is being turned off until June 21st, this is to allow people to adjust to the new time line.
How do you feel about the new Changes made to the Wheat crop?
"Please note: Due to technical issues, this feature is not yet available. We sincerely apologize for any confusion or frustration this may have caused you. We will do our best to get this feature to you in the near future." (Official FarmVille Forum)
As mentioned via Monday's (June 14th) official FarmVille Podcast, changes have been made to the Wheat crop.
Because Wheat will be a key crop to the upcoming release of Crafting Cottages, FarmVille decided to lower the harvest time and Crop Mastery for Wheat.
Here is the new specifications for Wheat seeds:
Wheat
Hours: 12
XP: 1
Cost: 13 coins
Yield: 61 coins
Crop Mastery: 500, 1500, 3000
In addition, Whither for Wheat is being turned off until June 21st, this is to allow people to adjust to the new time line.
How do you feel about the new Changes made to the Wheat crop?
FarmVille Silo Home & Wind Turbine
In addition to new coin purchasable animals, FarmVille has added two new expensive items- the Silo Home and the Wind Turbine.
If you are a high level farmer and looking for something to spend your coins on then you may want to consider this new building and decoration.
Silo Home – Level 65 required to unlock, costs 1,000,000 coins (1 million coins)
Wind Turbine – 1,500,000 coins (yes that is 1.5 million coins)
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
If you are a high level farmer and looking for something to spend your coins on then you may want to consider this new building and decoration.
Silo Home – Level 65 required to unlock, costs 1,000,000 coins (1 million coins)
Wind Turbine – 1,500,000 coins (yes that is 1.5 million coins)
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
FarmVille Black Stallion Mystery
Earlier today, June 15th, and prior to updates, FarmVille released the Black Stallion to the FarmVille Market for only a few minutes. It seems that this limited and unannounced release was unintentional and accidental.
Those farmers that were lucky enough to snag the Black Stallion were able to purchase it for reportedly 40,000 coins.The Black Stallion is able to be placed in the Horse Stable and some farmers are already yielding foals.
Currently, the Black Stallion is not available for purchase, but hopefully will be soon in the near future.
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Those farmers that were lucky enough to snag the Black Stallion were able to purchase it for reportedly 40,000 coins.The Black Stallion is able to be placed in the Horse Stable and some farmers are already yielding foals.
Currently, the Black Stallion is not available for purchase, but hopefully will be soon in the near future.
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
YoVille: New Summer Theme?
yoville summer theme
Hope you all are ready for Summer! Summer will kick off sometime this week in Yoville. The Hollywood Theme will be coming to an end with this last release. Platinum Ninja has posted on YoVille.com. Read her Official Blog after the jump.
Hey Guys,
We wanted to give everyone a heads up that the Hollywood Theme will be coming to an end later today with the Hollywood' Theme's last release of items. Hopefully you all are having fun decorating your homes and are getting creative with your Hollywood Sets and Hollywood Home Items! There were some pretty homes and sets that we saw posted on the forums with this release of items and we can't wait to see what you guys come up with next! Here is a sneak peek of some of the Hollywood Set items coming soon.
yoville moon landing
For those of you who were wondering we do not have any immediate plans to remove this Hollywood Theme from the Furniture Store. We will keep you updated if there are any changes to this but for now we plan to have this theme in the store for purchase for a while.
Later this week expect to see a new Summer inspired Theme to hit YoVille! Summer is almost officially here so it's time to celebrate it and have some fun in the sun! So stay tuned! Well that's about all folks make sure to keep your eyes out for more the rest of the Hollywood Sets coming hopefully later today the kick off of a new Summer theme later this week.
Thanks
Platinum Ninja
Tell us what you think in comments.
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
Hope you all are ready for Summer! Summer will kick off sometime this week in Yoville. The Hollywood Theme will be coming to an end with this last release. Platinum Ninja has posted on YoVille.com. Read her Official Blog after the jump.
Hey Guys,
We wanted to give everyone a heads up that the Hollywood Theme will be coming to an end later today with the Hollywood' Theme's last release of items. Hopefully you all are having fun decorating your homes and are getting creative with your Hollywood Sets and Hollywood Home Items! There were some pretty homes and sets that we saw posted on the forums with this release of items and we can't wait to see what you guys come up with next! Here is a sneak peek of some of the Hollywood Set items coming soon.
yoville moon landing
For those of you who were wondering we do not have any immediate plans to remove this Hollywood Theme from the Furniture Store. We will keep you updated if there are any changes to this but for now we plan to have this theme in the store for purchase for a while.
Later this week expect to see a new Summer inspired Theme to hit YoVille! Summer is almost officially here so it's time to celebrate it and have some fun in the sun! So stay tuned! Well that's about all folks make sure to keep your eyes out for more the rest of the Hollywood Sets coming hopefully later today the kick off of a new Summer theme later this week.
Thanks
Platinum Ninja
Tell us what you think in comments.
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
Friday, February 10, 2012
FarmVille Swiss Alps Buildings: Hotel Switzerland, Swiss Clock Shop & Swiss Tower
Tonight FarmVille released the Hotel Switzerland, Swiss Clock Shop, and Swiss Tower as part of their limited edition Swiss Alps theme.
These buildings can be purchased with farm cash during the next days only and after which will be retired items.
FarmVille Hotel Switzerland, Swiss Clock Shop, and Swiss Tower
FarmVille Swiss Alps Buildings (Released July 15th 2010):
* Hotel Switzerland – 60 FV$
* Swiss Clock Shop – 42 FV$
* Swiss Tower – 34 FV$
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
These buildings can be purchased with farm cash during the next days only and after which will be retired items.
FarmVille Hotel Switzerland, Swiss Clock Shop, and Swiss Tower
FarmVille Swiss Alps Buildings (Released July 15th 2010):
* Hotel Switzerland – 60 FV$
* Swiss Clock Shop – 42 FV$
* Swiss Tower – 34 FV$
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
FarmVille Unreleased Crane: Preview Image and Animation
FarmVille Unreleased Crane
Thank you to FarmVille Freak J-Chaves for finding this unreleased FarmVille Crane!
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Thank you to FarmVille Freak J-Chaves for finding this unreleased FarmVille Crane!
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
FarmVille Cascadian Farm Crop: Organic Blueberries
The Cascadian Farm sponsored crop, Organic Blueberries has been released!
Keep in mind this limited edition crop can be mastered. The first organic crop can be planted until July 26th at midnight.
Organic Blueberries:
Cost: 20 coins
Sells for: 80 coins
Harvest Time: 4 hours
Xp: 2
Mastery:
First Star: 200
Second Star: 400
Third Star: 600
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Keep in mind this limited edition crop can be mastered. The first organic crop can be planted until July 26th at midnight.
Organic Blueberries:
Cost: 20 coins
Sells for: 80 coins
Harvest Time: 4 hours
Xp: 2
Mastery:
First Star: 200
Second Star: 400
Third Star: 600
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
Sneak preview: Playdom's next game is Market Street
Tonight we discovered something new and exciting - a brand new upcoming game from Playdom titled Market Street. Right now, you can only see the game's application fan page and not actually play the game itself. While we didn't get a chance to play the game, it appears to be a shopping and store management game along the same lines as Mall World and Fashion World. Here is the description of Market Street according to the game's Facebook page:
Hire your friends, stock your displays, fire the slackers. Build the world's most successful retail store in Market Street!
Love the game? Use the Reviews tab above to give us a 5 star rating!
Even though you can't actually play the game yet, we're sure that it will be coming out soon as it looks like Playdom is prepping for a big release. It looks bright and colorful and fun, and we can't wait to give it a try!
Become a fan of the Market Street fan page to be alerted when the game has officially gone live.
Hire your friends, stock your displays, fire the slackers. Build the world's most successful retail store in Market Street!
Love the game? Use the Reviews tab above to give us a 5 star rating!
Even though you can't actually play the game yet, we're sure that it will be coming out soon as it looks like Playdom is prepping for a big release. It looks bright and colorful and fun, and we can't wait to give it a try!
Become a fan of the Market Street fan page to be alerted when the game has officially gone live.
New study predicts we'll spend 1.5 billion in social games by 2014
While the real-life economy continues to tank, the virtual economy for games on social networks is booming. A new study from Screen Digest says that FarmVille junkies and their ilk have been fueling this relatively new economy by opening their wallets and buying one-to-10 dollar items with wild abandon. In 2009, social gamers spend $639 million and those numbers are expected to grow to 1.5 billion in 2014.
While playing games on a social network has turned non-gamers into virtual farmers, mobsters, etc, this explosive economy has also come at the expense of the rest of the portal-driven casual games business, which has a big cross-over audience. This must be at least part of the reason casual gaming companies like Big Fish and PopCap have worked to get their games on Facebook over the past year, and I'm sure we'll hear more about this in the not-too-distant future.
The study also predicts that spending on social network games will start to slow down this year, forcing publishers to look at social networks outside of Facebook to expand their empire and -- the part I like the most -- force publishers to create better (as in better quality) games. If that translates into companies releasing more creative games on Facebook, well, that's something I can get behind.
While playing games on a social network has turned non-gamers into virtual farmers, mobsters, etc, this explosive economy has also come at the expense of the rest of the portal-driven casual games business, which has a big cross-over audience. This must be at least part of the reason casual gaming companies like Big Fish and PopCap have worked to get their games on Facebook over the past year, and I'm sure we'll hear more about this in the not-too-distant future.
The study also predicts that spending on social network games will start to slow down this year, forcing publishers to look at social networks outside of Facebook to expand their empire and -- the part I like the most -- force publishers to create better (as in better quality) games. If that translates into companies releasing more creative games on Facebook, well, that's something I can get behind.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
YoVille Collections Mystery Box: Here's How It Works
YoVille Pink Puzzle Piece
YoVille Animated ElkThis is an official post by Zynga's Platinum Ninja.
We wanted to give you all a heads up that there will be a new Collections Puzzle item coming soon to YoVille! What is it you ask? It's going to be an Animated Elk! He is super cute and he will animate! How awesome is that! He'll go perfect in your Camp Yo. Let's review how this will work and how get your hands on this elk.
How to get Puzzle Pieces for this New Collection?
To receive puzzle pieces for this specific item you will have to open up a Collections Mystery Box. Your friends can send these boxes to you through the Free Gift Page. You'll be needing pink puzzle pieces to build this specific Elk Item so try to collect as many as you can!
YoVille Collections Mystery BoxBy opening this Mystery Collections Box you will get a chance to get pink puzzle piece. Currently the Collections Mystery Box has many different puzzle piece colors including orange, purple and red and will soon include pink so it will be jam packed with puzzle pieces galore! Opening a Collections Mystery Box it will be random which color of puzzle piece that you will receive, so the more you open the better chances you have at getting some pink pieces! Once you collect each puzzle pink piece to complete the puzzle you will be able to redeem the Animated Elk.
This will pretty much work exactly like many of our other Collection Items! Make sure to have your friends send you as many Mystery Collection Boxes as they can and be a good friend and send some in return to up your chances on collecting all the pink pieces!
YoVille Collections Inventory
Don't forget to check on your Collections status and number of pieces collected so far by visiting your Inventory and then clicking on the Collections Tab. You will also be able to redeem your collections pieces from here so don't forget to use this helpful tool.
Stay tuned for this new collections item coming soon to YoVille! We'll keep you updated on when this is available in game.
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
YoVille Animated ElkThis is an official post by Zynga's Platinum Ninja.
We wanted to give you all a heads up that there will be a new Collections Puzzle item coming soon to YoVille! What is it you ask? It's going to be an Animated Elk! He is super cute and he will animate! How awesome is that! He'll go perfect in your Camp Yo. Let's review how this will work and how get your hands on this elk.
How to get Puzzle Pieces for this New Collection?
To receive puzzle pieces for this specific item you will have to open up a Collections Mystery Box. Your friends can send these boxes to you through the Free Gift Page. You'll be needing pink puzzle pieces to build this specific Elk Item so try to collect as many as you can!
YoVille Collections Mystery BoxBy opening this Mystery Collections Box you will get a chance to get pink puzzle piece. Currently the Collections Mystery Box has many different puzzle piece colors including orange, purple and red and will soon include pink so it will be jam packed with puzzle pieces galore! Opening a Collections Mystery Box it will be random which color of puzzle piece that you will receive, so the more you open the better chances you have at getting some pink pieces! Once you collect each puzzle pink piece to complete the puzzle you will be able to redeem the Animated Elk.
This will pretty much work exactly like many of our other Collection Items! Make sure to have your friends send you as many Mystery Collection Boxes as they can and be a good friend and send some in return to up your chances on collecting all the pink pieces!
YoVille Collections Inventory
Don't forget to check on your Collections status and number of pieces collected so far by visiting your Inventory and then clicking on the Collections Tab. You will also be able to redeem your collections pieces from here so don't forget to use this helpful tool.
Stay tuned for this new collections item coming soon to YoVille! We'll keep you updated on when this is available in game.
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
A Tour Around The New Yoville Campground
YoVille RV Cliff Side
For 20,000 coins you can purchase the Yoville Campground. This property comes with a RV that has your standard living room, bedroom, bathroom, a lake to go swimming in, and a beautiful cliff side view. This site is perfect for camping, fishing, or just a peaceful get away. Photos of the campground are available after the link. Let us know what you think in comments. YoVille Campground Back Yard RV
YoVille Campground Living Room
YoVille Campground Lake
YoVille Campground Front Yard
YoVille Campground Floor Plan
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge
For 20,000 coins you can purchase the Yoville Campground. This property comes with a RV that has your standard living room, bedroom, bathroom, a lake to go swimming in, and a beautiful cliff side view. This site is perfect for camping, fishing, or just a peaceful get away. Photos of the campground are available after the link. Let us know what you think in comments. YoVille Campground Back Yard RV
YoVille Campground Living Room
YoVille Campground Lake
YoVille Campground Front Yard
YoVille Campground Floor Plan
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge
Yoville: Camp Yo Bathroom Items Arrive
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Bathtubs
New Camp Yo Bathroom Items have been added to the YoVille Furniture Store. Items include Camp Yo Bathtubs (8 Yo Cash), Showers (7 Yo Cash), Towels(550 Coins), Sinks(4 Yo Cash) and much more all available in Blue, Brown, Red & Tan.
Prices and Photos after the link. YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Toilet Mat and Towel Basket
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - RV Door, Floor, Wall
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Bath Mat, Mirror
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Bath Sconce, Toilet Mat
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Sink Counter, Sink
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Toilet, Medicine Cabinet, Shower
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Bath Cabinet, Toilet
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
New Camp Yo Bathroom Items have been added to the YoVille Furniture Store. Items include Camp Yo Bathtubs (8 Yo Cash), Showers (7 Yo Cash), Towels(550 Coins), Sinks(4 Yo Cash) and much more all available in Blue, Brown, Red & Tan.
Prices and Photos after the link. YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Toilet Mat and Towel Basket
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - RV Door, Floor, Wall
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Bath Mat, Mirror
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Bath Sconce, Toilet Mat
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Sink Counter, Sink
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Toilet, Medicine Cabinet, Shower
YoVille Camp Yo Bathroom - Bath Cabinet, Toilet
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
YoVille New Limited Edition Premium Hair: Tyke and Sleek Hair with Bangs
YoVille Sleek Hair With Bangs
New permanent hairstyles have been released in Yoville Salon. Sleek Hair with bangs for the ladies and Tyke hair for the guys. These are available in black, blonde, brown and red for 18 YoCash or purple for 20 YoCash. Get them while you can there only here for 3 days!
YoVille Tyke Hair
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
New permanent hairstyles have been released in Yoville Salon. Sleek Hair with bangs for the ladies and Tyke hair for the guys. These are available in black, blonde, brown and red for 18 YoCash or purple for 20 YoCash. Get them while you can there only here for 3 days!
YoVille Tyke Hair
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
YoVille: Camp Yo Fishing Clothes and Gear now at the Fashion Store
The Camp Yo Clothes we told you about have arrived at YoVille. You will find everything you need to go fishing from vest for 850 coins to fishing poles for 11 YoCash. While your there check out the Yo Scout Uniforms available for 1300 coins and Badges for 7 Yo cash. Accessories include a hand held s'more, insect repellent, and a hatchet.
Prices and photos after the link.
YoVille Fishing Rod, Fishing Hat
YoVille Camp Yo: Fishing Boots, S'more, Scout Uniforms
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
Prices and photos after the link.
YoVille Fishing Rod, Fishing Hat
YoVille Camp Yo: Fishing Boots, S'more, Scout Uniforms
This article originally appeared on YoVille Lounge.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Horses finally go clippity-clop into Ranch Town
Ranch Town horses
We don't talk about Ranch Town too often here on Games.com - The Blog!, but that isn't because no one is playing it. Ranch Town has over 700,000 monthly players, which might be modest but isn't too shabby. Today, horses were released in Ranch Town for the first time. Unlike some games, the animals in Ranch Town aren't just for decoration - these ones actually have added benefits such as producing more ingredients that can be used in the game. Here are the new horses:
Palomino - Produces 12 Steam Points every 4 minutes
Bay - Produces 13 Steam Points every 7 minutes
Pinto - Produces 10 Steam Points every 10 minutes
Steam Points in Ranch Town are used to power machines in the game, such as the Cheese Maker, the Butter Maker, and the Soil Processor. These horses all require Meteor Credits, which cost money to buy. It's interesting that it has taken this long for a game about ranches to finally have horses. It seems like development has slowed quite a bit in Ranch Town, however, as it's not quite the smash hit that Meteor was probably hoping for.
We don't talk about Ranch Town too often here on Games.com - The Blog!, but that isn't because no one is playing it. Ranch Town has over 700,000 monthly players, which might be modest but isn't too shabby. Today, horses were released in Ranch Town for the first time. Unlike some games, the animals in Ranch Town aren't just for decoration - these ones actually have added benefits such as producing more ingredients that can be used in the game. Here are the new horses:
Palomino - Produces 12 Steam Points every 4 minutes
Bay - Produces 13 Steam Points every 7 minutes
Pinto - Produces 10 Steam Points every 10 minutes
Steam Points in Ranch Town are used to power machines in the game, such as the Cheese Maker, the Butter Maker, and the Soil Processor. These horses all require Meteor Credits, which cost money to buy. It's interesting that it has taken this long for a game about ranches to finally have horses. It seems like development has slowed quite a bit in Ranch Town, however, as it's not quite the smash hit that Meteor was probably hoping for.
Facebook games: Are you embarassed to tell people you play them?
You come home from work and the first thing you do is log in and check your farm. You set alarms for yourself so that you remember to come back and check on your crops. You buy gift cards from Target so that you can buy credits in your favorite game without anyone seeing the purchase on your credit card statement. Maybe you ask your friends to check on your cafe while you're on vacation, or you download spreadsheets full of Facebook game cheats to get a leg up on your friends. You're probably like me - Facebook games are a big part of your free time.
Facebook games don't have the best reputation. FarmVille has basically made it so that everyone assumes that if you play games on Facebook, you're going to spam all of your friends constantly with invites and wall posts and gifts. People are losing their jobs or ruining their financial security because they're buying Farm Cash and spending so much time in FarmVille. Almost everyone has heard of FarmVille, (after all, it's the biggest game of all time) and no one likes to admit that they have a farm.
If you played a game like Modern Warfare, World of Warcraft, or Civilization V, it's not embarrassing to talk about how you play it. Gamer cred only exists if you're not talking about Facebook games. This kind of snobbery among gamers is caused by a generalization that Facebook games aren't really games, and Facebook gamers aren't really gamers. We know that's not true, of course, but do you stick up for yourself or back down?
Facebook games don't have the best reputation. FarmVille has basically made it so that everyone assumes that if you play games on Facebook, you're going to spam all of your friends constantly with invites and wall posts and gifts. People are losing their jobs or ruining their financial security because they're buying Farm Cash and spending so much time in FarmVille. Almost everyone has heard of FarmVille, (after all, it's the biggest game of all time) and no one likes to admit that they have a farm.
If you played a game like Modern Warfare, World of Warcraft, or Civilization V, it's not embarrassing to talk about how you play it. Gamer cred only exists if you're not talking about Facebook games. This kind of snobbery among gamers is caused by a generalization that Facebook games aren't really games, and Facebook gamers aren't really gamers. We know that's not true, of course, but do you stick up for yourself or back down?
FrontierVille Boosts can help your harvest, revive withered crops - for a price
FrontierVille boosts have made their debut in the Market (after appearing briefly a few weeks ago), and these are designed to help make all of your harvesting easier -- for a premium. These items cost anywhere between 10-100 Horseshoes (roughly $1 to $10).
If you've played FarmVille most of the boosts will seem pretty familiar, and while I'd probably avoid buying most of these, I do like the idea of the Wither Protection boost -- I can't count how many times I've planted crops on my frontier, then forget and come back to find a bunch of withered plants.
Here's the complete list of FrontierVille boosts currently available:
Fruit Ready
Cost: 80 horseshoes
Effect: Instantly make all fruit trees ready to harvest
Animal Ready
Cost: 100 Horseshoes
Effect: Instantly make all animals ready to harvest
Fruit Harvest
Cost 36 Horseshoes
Effect: Instantly harvest all fruit trees
frontierville tips on games.com
Animal Harvest
Cost: 20 Horseshoes
Effect: Instantly harvest all animals
Unwither Crop
Cost: 20 Horseshoes
Effect: Unwither all crops
Wither Protection
Cost: 10 Horseshoes
Effect: Crops planted while this is in effect will never wither
If you've played FarmVille most of the boosts will seem pretty familiar, and while I'd probably avoid buying most of these, I do like the idea of the Wither Protection boost -- I can't count how many times I've planted crops on my frontier, then forget and come back to find a bunch of withered plants.
Here's the complete list of FrontierVille boosts currently available:
Fruit Ready
Cost: 80 horseshoes
Effect: Instantly make all fruit trees ready to harvest
Animal Ready
Cost: 100 Horseshoes
Effect: Instantly make all animals ready to harvest
Fruit Harvest
Cost 36 Horseshoes
Effect: Instantly harvest all fruit trees
frontierville tips on games.com
Animal Harvest
Cost: 20 Horseshoes
Effect: Instantly harvest all animals
Unwither Crop
Cost: 20 Horseshoes
Effect: Unwither all crops
Wither Protection
Cost: 10 Horseshoes
Effect: Crops planted while this is in effect will never wither
What a Facebook phone could mean for social gaming
TechCrunch has reported that Facebook is secretly working on a mobile phone device, having staffed up a team of elite engineers to work on the potential project that could bring a cellular phone with Facebook capabilities right into your pocket. While this rumor hasn't yet be confirmed, we can't help but wonder what this could mean for social gaming.
If Facebook creates a phone, it would most likely mean the creation of a Facebook-engineered mobile operating system that works on whichever hardware manufacturer Facebook strikes a deal with, similar to how Google's Android operating system works on different devices. Facebook is already a platform, meaning that companies are operating upon it with the use of APIs, interconnectivity, and applications. A mobile device would definitely not be out of the question, since Facebook already is intimately familiar with running and monetizing applications.
What could this mean for our favorite games? First of all, if gaming on Facebook is a priority for the company, one would reasonably expect that this phone would support Adobe Flash, since almost all of the top revenue-generating Facebook games require the Flash player in order to work. The alternative move would be offering software that would allow Facebook applications that run in Flash to be ported over to work on the new phone. This seems like an unlikely situation.
A Facebook-branded phone would most definitely have Facebook Credits integrated tightly within the system. Instead of purchasing apps with money (such as the Apple account on the iPhone, or Google Checkout on the Android OS), it is likely that Facebook Credits could become the main currency. This means that applications that are currently monetizing through these credits will see a much wider adoption of the currency.
Facebook could easily integrate their ad platform into all applications on the phone. This could mean that we see interstitial ads on our favorite games that require some sort of click-through to access a game. It could also mean that some mobile screen space (which is already at a premium) could be taken over by these ads. Most likely, it would mean little for gaming because Facebook makes a 30% cut off the sale of Facebook Credit purchases which should mean they have interest in driving players to these games with a good flow and experience.
Notifications could be surfaced to game and application developers via an API, meaning that you could receive push notifications or dashboard alerts when in-game milestones are reached. Think of how great it could be to get alerts to your phone when your crops are ready to harvest, or your cookies are ready to come out of the oven, or your energy is replenished. Imagine a tightly woven achievement/badge system that brings social competition directly into the main layer of your phone. Imagine being able to initiate game experiences with your Facebook friends that could be played both on the phone or within a browser. You could even accept your gifts or neighbor invites easily directly on your phone. The possibilities are endless.
While we certainly hope that the Facebook phone would allow us to play our favorite Facebook games on the fly, there are definitely many technological barriers that stand in the way. The odds of all Facebook games working without a hindered user experience is quite unlikely, and the odds that Facebook game developers will jump right into the porting process to have their games work on the phone are also uncertain. Even so, we can't help but imagine a Facebook app store filled with free and paid games to play while we're not at a computer.
If Facebook creates a phone, it would most likely mean the creation of a Facebook-engineered mobile operating system that works on whichever hardware manufacturer Facebook strikes a deal with, similar to how Google's Android operating system works on different devices. Facebook is already a platform, meaning that companies are operating upon it with the use of APIs, interconnectivity, and applications. A mobile device would definitely not be out of the question, since Facebook already is intimately familiar with running and monetizing applications.
What could this mean for our favorite games? First of all, if gaming on Facebook is a priority for the company, one would reasonably expect that this phone would support Adobe Flash, since almost all of the top revenue-generating Facebook games require the Flash player in order to work. The alternative move would be offering software that would allow Facebook applications that run in Flash to be ported over to work on the new phone. This seems like an unlikely situation.
A Facebook-branded phone would most definitely have Facebook Credits integrated tightly within the system. Instead of purchasing apps with money (such as the Apple account on the iPhone, or Google Checkout on the Android OS), it is likely that Facebook Credits could become the main currency. This means that applications that are currently monetizing through these credits will see a much wider adoption of the currency.
Facebook could easily integrate their ad platform into all applications on the phone. This could mean that we see interstitial ads on our favorite games that require some sort of click-through to access a game. It could also mean that some mobile screen space (which is already at a premium) could be taken over by these ads. Most likely, it would mean little for gaming because Facebook makes a 30% cut off the sale of Facebook Credit purchases which should mean they have interest in driving players to these games with a good flow and experience.
Notifications could be surfaced to game and application developers via an API, meaning that you could receive push notifications or dashboard alerts when in-game milestones are reached. Think of how great it could be to get alerts to your phone when your crops are ready to harvest, or your cookies are ready to come out of the oven, or your energy is replenished. Imagine a tightly woven achievement/badge system that brings social competition directly into the main layer of your phone. Imagine being able to initiate game experiences with your Facebook friends that could be played both on the phone or within a browser. You could even accept your gifts or neighbor invites easily directly on your phone. The possibilities are endless.
While we certainly hope that the Facebook phone would allow us to play our favorite Facebook games on the fly, there are definitely many technological barriers that stand in the way. The odds of all Facebook games working without a hindered user experience is quite unlikely, and the odds that Facebook game developers will jump right into the porting process to have their games work on the phone are also uncertain. Even so, we can't help but imagine a Facebook app store filled with free and paid games to play while we're not at a computer.
YoVille: English Cottage Theme coming soon, you choose the wardrobe!
Zynga will soon be ending the snazzy Romantic Theme in YoVille for something a little more cozy: the English Cottage Theme. According to a sneak peek released on the YoVille blog, this theme will capture the comforts of autumn before the our favorite fall month, October.
Better yet, Zynga wants you to choose the wardrobe to go with this theme, which will only be around for about two weeks before the month-long Halloween festivities begin. The team has opened up a survey on what you think will best accompany the homey feeling of the English Cottage. Do you want to keep it simple with traditional fall wear or go all out with the "English" hook and dip your feet into a kilt? It's all up to you (do the kilts come with face paint?)!
Better yet, Zynga wants you to choose the wardrobe to go with this theme, which will only be around for about two weeks before the month-long Halloween festivities begin. The team has opened up a survey on what you think will best accompany the homey feeling of the English Cottage. Do you want to keep it simple with traditional fall wear or go all out with the "English" hook and dip your feet into a kilt? It's all up to you (do the kilts come with face paint?)!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Zynga CEO Mark Pincus says that its games are like J.J. Abrams' Lost
Zynga CEO Mark Pincus
In a recent interview with Technology Review, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus (pictured above) compared the structure of his studio's games to how the plot of Lost, one of the most talked about series on TV, was put together.
"I spent time talking to people like J.J. Abrams, who was one of the creators of Lost, because I thought there were so many similarities between the way he structured Lost, and its plot and character evolution, and the way that we try to structure games," Pincus said.
Pincus elaborates, saying that both Lost and Zynga games like FrontierVille contain several story arcs at once. Lost contained smaller plot lines such as character back stories and relationships juxtaposed by the grandiose story lines like the Smoke Monster and The Others. Comparatively, "A long arc of aspiration in FrontierVille might be finding your spouse or unlocking the Gold Rush territory, and a short arc that you need to do to achieve the long arc is something like building a cabin that then requires other short arcs like cutting down trees," Pincus explained.
When asked how Zynga hooks in players like Abrams' show kept viewers' glued to the TV every week, Pincus claimed that his studio's goal is to master the five-minute session gameplay model (sound familiar?) to provide those that claim to "not have the time" a reason to play. Oddly enough, the head of Zynga claimed hen doesn't like seeing players who devote long periods of time to Zynga games, but what about money? Regardless of the Zynga gameplay model, let's just hope FrontierVille doesn't end like Lost did.
In a recent interview with Technology Review, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus (pictured above) compared the structure of his studio's games to how the plot of Lost, one of the most talked about series on TV, was put together.
"I spent time talking to people like J.J. Abrams, who was one of the creators of Lost, because I thought there were so many similarities between the way he structured Lost, and its plot and character evolution, and the way that we try to structure games," Pincus said.
Pincus elaborates, saying that both Lost and Zynga games like FrontierVille contain several story arcs at once. Lost contained smaller plot lines such as character back stories and relationships juxtaposed by the grandiose story lines like the Smoke Monster and The Others. Comparatively, "A long arc of aspiration in FrontierVille might be finding your spouse or unlocking the Gold Rush territory, and a short arc that you need to do to achieve the long arc is something like building a cabin that then requires other short arcs like cutting down trees," Pincus explained.
When asked how Zynga hooks in players like Abrams' show kept viewers' glued to the TV every week, Pincus claimed that his studio's goal is to master the five-minute session gameplay model (sound familiar?) to provide those that claim to "not have the time" a reason to play. Oddly enough, the head of Zynga claimed hen doesn't like seeing players who devote long periods of time to Zynga games, but what about money? Regardless of the Zynga gameplay model, let's just hope FrontierVille doesn't end like Lost did.
Pet Society to introduce Playfish Cash conversion method for coins Oct. 21
In a recent post to the Pet Society Facebook page, Playfish announced that the way players will find coins in the game is changing this Thursday, Oct. 21. You'll no longer be able to buy coins directly with your credit card, PayPal account or other methods, but soon you will have to convert existing Playfish Cash into coins at a specific rate:
5 Playfish Cash = 750 coins
10 Playfish Cash = 1500 coins
30 Playfish Cash = 4500 coins
Fortunately, all the old-fashioned ways of collecting coins like visiting friends, selling items back to the store and spinning the Daily Lottery Wheel aren't going anywhere. While it seems that Playfish is trying to simplify things, you currently can only buy Playfish Cash in packages of 55 for $10 and up. While you could always pay via Facebook Credits to get smaller packages of Playfish Cash, that's even further from a direct purchase than before. But we like to look on the cheaper brighter side of life.
Our best guess as to why Playfish is making the switch is simply to get players buying more packages of Playfish Cash than simply coins, which could in turn lead to more items and boosts bought with your leftover virtual dollars. Pretty sneaky, sis.
5 Playfish Cash = 750 coins
10 Playfish Cash = 1500 coins
30 Playfish Cash = 4500 coins
Fortunately, all the old-fashioned ways of collecting coins like visiting friends, selling items back to the store and spinning the Daily Lottery Wheel aren't going anywhere. While it seems that Playfish is trying to simplify things, you currently can only buy Playfish Cash in packages of 55 for $10 and up. While you could always pay via Facebook Credits to get smaller packages of Playfish Cash, that's even further from a direct purchase than before. But we like to look on the cheaper brighter side of life.
Our best guess as to why Playfish is making the switch is simply to get players buying more packages of Playfish Cash than simply coins, which could in turn lead to more items and boosts bought with your leftover virtual dollars. Pretty sneaky, sis.
Braaains on Facebook: It's zombie vs. zombie in this promising new game
Zombies beware! Social gamers are coming for your Braaains! Well, at the least, we're coming for what's left of your brains. From shows like Supernatural to AMC's upcoming comic adaptation The Walking Dead, it's clear that everyone is gearing up for the zombie apocalypse – including, Broken Bulb Studios.
Braaains, the new Facebook game from Broken Bulb, gives gamers the chance to amass armies of zombies and wage war on Facebook friends and enemies. While the game is still in its infancy, Braaains' Mafia Wars style gameplay will surely grab zombie fans instantly.
Braaains' begins with a quick tutorial to get you started on your way to total zombie domination. You start by exhuming a bare bones zombie from the graveyard. Although the tutorial points out your first zombie to select, you can choose your zombie based off of personality (Depressed, Raging, Schizo, etc), date of death and title (which is more like an army Rank). Each zombie also has a phonetic name based off of typical zombie ramblings like Raaagh Aagraaggh and Mraaagh Raaagh. None of these names or personality traits seem to affect actual gameplay. There 21 zombies to choose from all with the same vitals and cost. The only real change happens with subsequent zombie additions to your army in which case the price tag goes up substantially. Hopefully, Broken Bulb will add more diversity to this process in future updates.
braaains on Facebook
After you've selected your zombie, you can go back to the world map. Here you will find eight other locations: the Stolen Sheriff Van, Warehouse, Hospital, Clothing Shop, Enhancers, Weapon Shop, Science Shop and the Mad Scientist. The Warehouse is used to upgrade various stats: Strength, Health, Agility and Defense. The Stolen Sheriff Van takes you to street fights with AI and other Facebook gamers. Most of the other locations are used to buy offensive and defensive enhancements.
The fight sequences are auto-simulated events animations based on your stats and the stats of your opponent. Gamers can skip these animations. If you win, you can immediately post the win to your Facebook Wall. You will also see an ongoing rundown of your in-game activities in the news feed below the game screen. After battles, you gain experience and coins, which can both be shared with friends. If you share your spoils of war, your friends will receive an additional coin bonus. Unfortunately, sometimes the sharing doesn't actually work; a task as simple as adding a friend appears to be bugged. When you send a friend request, the person on the receiving side will probably not receive the invite. Adding friends or allies isn't a major deal right now. Unlike Mafia Wars, having several allies doesn't help you out in battle. Success in battle focuses primarily on your own zombie army.
As you go up levels, you will collect brain tokens. You also gain brains for unlocking achievements. These can be used to upgrade your zombie army and buy more items. In this game, upgrading your zombies is called training, which you do in the Warehouse. You can also equip your minions with weapons or clothing for defense. You should note that the weapons are obscure. Starter weapons range from household items to mechanics tools, like the garden rake or the tire iron. The meat log is more powerful than a dirt spade, while a cheese wheel is more powerful than both of them combined.
Right now, Braaains still has some significant updates to make before it will grab the attention of the broader social gaming fan base. For starters, frequent cartoony pop-up error messages will alienate more than a few gamers.
Also, Broken Blub needs to work on adding in the team atmosphere to this game. While I couldn't use my allies in a fight, I could always choose to fight my allies. Sending gifts is limited to one item per person per day. However, there's no real way of knowing if a friend sent you an item. One time I actually received the item that was supposed to be given, or at least I think I did, but there was no alert so I had no idea who it came from. Another time I sent a friend a cheese wheel, and they never received it. When I tried to send the item again, I was unable to because they had already received a gift from me. So, where did the cheese go?
Braaains could have a promising future if Broken Bulb is able to work through some of the quirky mechanics and really focus on adding in more social activities.
Braaains, the new Facebook game from Broken Bulb, gives gamers the chance to amass armies of zombies and wage war on Facebook friends and enemies. While the game is still in its infancy, Braaains' Mafia Wars style gameplay will surely grab zombie fans instantly.
Braaains' begins with a quick tutorial to get you started on your way to total zombie domination. You start by exhuming a bare bones zombie from the graveyard. Although the tutorial points out your first zombie to select, you can choose your zombie based off of personality (Depressed, Raging, Schizo, etc), date of death and title (which is more like an army Rank). Each zombie also has a phonetic name based off of typical zombie ramblings like Raaagh Aagraaggh and Mraaagh Raaagh. None of these names or personality traits seem to affect actual gameplay. There 21 zombies to choose from all with the same vitals and cost. The only real change happens with subsequent zombie additions to your army in which case the price tag goes up substantially. Hopefully, Broken Bulb will add more diversity to this process in future updates.
braaains on Facebook
After you've selected your zombie, you can go back to the world map. Here you will find eight other locations: the Stolen Sheriff Van, Warehouse, Hospital, Clothing Shop, Enhancers, Weapon Shop, Science Shop and the Mad Scientist. The Warehouse is used to upgrade various stats: Strength, Health, Agility and Defense. The Stolen Sheriff Van takes you to street fights with AI and other Facebook gamers. Most of the other locations are used to buy offensive and defensive enhancements.
The fight sequences are auto-simulated events animations based on your stats and the stats of your opponent. Gamers can skip these animations. If you win, you can immediately post the win to your Facebook Wall. You will also see an ongoing rundown of your in-game activities in the news feed below the game screen. After battles, you gain experience and coins, which can both be shared with friends. If you share your spoils of war, your friends will receive an additional coin bonus. Unfortunately, sometimes the sharing doesn't actually work; a task as simple as adding a friend appears to be bugged. When you send a friend request, the person on the receiving side will probably not receive the invite. Adding friends or allies isn't a major deal right now. Unlike Mafia Wars, having several allies doesn't help you out in battle. Success in battle focuses primarily on your own zombie army.
As you go up levels, you will collect brain tokens. You also gain brains for unlocking achievements. These can be used to upgrade your zombie army and buy more items. In this game, upgrading your zombies is called training, which you do in the Warehouse. You can also equip your minions with weapons or clothing for defense. You should note that the weapons are obscure. Starter weapons range from household items to mechanics tools, like the garden rake or the tire iron. The meat log is more powerful than a dirt spade, while a cheese wheel is more powerful than both of them combined.
Right now, Braaains still has some significant updates to make before it will grab the attention of the broader social gaming fan base. For starters, frequent cartoony pop-up error messages will alienate more than a few gamers.
Also, Broken Blub needs to work on adding in the team atmosphere to this game. While I couldn't use my allies in a fight, I could always choose to fight my allies. Sending gifts is limited to one item per person per day. However, there's no real way of knowing if a friend sent you an item. One time I actually received the item that was supposed to be given, or at least I think I did, but there was no alert so I had no idea who it came from. Another time I sent a friend a cheese wheel, and they never received it. When I tried to send the item again, I was unable to because they had already received a gift from me. So, where did the cheese go?
Braaains could have a promising future if Broken Bulb is able to work through some of the quirky mechanics and really focus on adding in more social activities.
Digital Chocolate's lead social designer asks, 'Is social broken?'
Aki Järvinen, lead social designer for MMA Pro Fighter creator Digital Chocolate, questions whether the social aspect of social games is broken in a guest post on Gamasutra. While this question isn't exactly a new one, Järvinen deeply explores several modes of social experience in Facebook games and stakes claim to the idea that, "Social games mainly work as distractions rather than playful social interactions."
He explains that because social games aren't played with others immediately in real time that their social qualities are constrained, which is why the most social thing about Facebook games are the the opportunities to share information via News Feed posts. But isn't that exactly what Facebook has been suppressing for months?
If social games are to truly embrace their name, Järvinen suggests that somehow more immediate bonding experiences are introduced into the genre without taking away from what these are all about: the quick fix. This seems to be exactly what games like YoVille and Happy Pets hope to accomplish with their live chat features. Järvinen also nods to FrontierVille for inching closer towards this goal through giving us players serious incentive (think of your Reputation Level) to visit friends and collaborate on Goals.
In his dissertation, Järvinen comes to the conclusion that we might actually be satisfied with the somewhat artificial level of social interaction in our Facebook games, saying, "it might very well be that when we scratch the surface of social in social games we will, and we should find, more surface."
He explains that because social games aren't played with others immediately in real time that their social qualities are constrained, which is why the most social thing about Facebook games are the the opportunities to share information via News Feed posts. But isn't that exactly what Facebook has been suppressing for months?
If social games are to truly embrace their name, Järvinen suggests that somehow more immediate bonding experiences are introduced into the genre without taking away from what these are all about: the quick fix. This seems to be exactly what games like YoVille and Happy Pets hope to accomplish with their live chat features. Järvinen also nods to FrontierVille for inching closer towards this goal through giving us players serious incentive (think of your Reputation Level) to visit friends and collaborate on Goals.
In his dissertation, Järvinen comes to the conclusion that we might actually be satisfied with the somewhat artificial level of social interaction in our Facebook games, saying, "it might very well be that when we scratch the surface of social in social games we will, and we should find, more surface."
Mafia Wars Italy trailer shows an 'Old Country, New Mafia'
Now that you've finally shut that Don Romo up, Zynga has released the official trailer for Mafia Wars: Italy. Set to release by the end of October, Italy, unlike the recent Dublin Challenge Mission, will be the next full-blown city for you digital gangsters to wreak havoc upon.
The trailer is filled with animated, illegible script that we imagine establishes the plot for this new city, but imagery speaks much louder than words we can't make out in the first place. If the super violent trailer is any indication, expect lots of hits, street fights and high speed chases... on garbage trucks? Oh, and expect lots of explosions too, because we all know it just isn't Mafia Wars without explosions.
The trailer is filled with animated, illegible script that we imagine establishes the plot for this new city, but imagery speaks much louder than words we can't make out in the first place. If the super violent trailer is any indication, expect lots of hits, street fights and high speed chases... on garbage trucks? Oh, and expect lots of explosions too, because we all know it just isn't Mafia Wars without explosions.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
'Facebook Addiction' author Nnamdi Osuagwu discusses a tragic phenomenon [Interview]
While it's far from official, you've probably already figured out from this year's headlines that Facebook gaming addiction could be very real. This type of 'addiction' is extremely recent and while 19 percent of Facebook gamers admit to being addicted, it's not exactly being treated like one.
We turn to Nnamdi Osuagwu, IT consultant and author of "Facebook Addiction: The Life and Times of Social Networking Addicts," (a novel that explores our rampant digital culture and incessant need to update our status and check in on our friends by melding fact with fiction) to see if he can give us any answers.
Facebook AddictionWith cases emerging of violent and negligent crimes as a result of Facebook gaming, the threat seems very real. However, Facebook addiction, like gaming addiction has yet to be classified as an official disease or disorder by the American Medical Association. Why do you think this is?
[Experts in] medicine, generally, are late adapters to technology. Not in terms of medical devices or things of that nature, but online technology. Maybe this is just the outside looking in because some doctors are now getting on Twitter and health services are now figuring out ways to integrate social media into their organizations.
So, if they're late adapters on that scale, you can assume on another scale of looking at online issues like gaming addictions and things like that they'll be late adapters in terms of recognizing that as a threat. In order for them to recognize it as an issue, unfortunately more cases have to surface. That's the nature of the beast when you're dealing with medicine.
Dr. Hilarie Cash, who runs an Internet addiction program called reSTART, says Facebook games are designed to be addictive. Would you agree with that?
Being on the development side, I wouldn't say they're designed to be addictive. They're designed to keep people on as long as possible. That helps you advertise, that helps you track your analytics, increases in usage, stuff like that. Saying that they're specifically designed to be addictive sounds somewhat malicious; like, they have malicious intent when they build these systems. That's like saying Facebook or Twitter is designed to be addictive when we see different people using it in various ways.
It's technology, and I think online technology is designed to keep people using it for as long as possible. That's why we build it. She's obviously looking at it from the mental side; that's her background. I could understand her feelings about them being designed to be addictive, but I don't think we're building these systems that way. There are a lot of different things in projects that I may build, but I never think about it with malicious intent nor am I trying to harm somebody. I just think about how we keep people using it, how we can be of the best service. To say whether that's designed to be addictive, I don't know.
In your opinion, how do we go about stopping or treating Facebook gaming addiction? Is it even treatable?
I'm a firm believer in a person finding what they want to do in life and going towards that. With anything that you spend a lot of time doing, I think it should be geared towards the dream you have. So, if you're spending the majority of your time on Facebook, and you're not trying understand it or if you want to build your own game some day, you're just sucking up time. In terms of treating it, it's a tough call. A lot of times in medicine, they treat the symptoms of something.
To bring it back to gaming addiction, it is an issue. Not just in Facebook games, but games in general-games where either you have to spend a lot of time in or games in which you can become someone else-what's the underlying issue? That might be a way of trying to solve the problem. I'm no psychiatrist, but I would want to find out why you feel the need to spend 10 to 12 hours a day on this particular game. What about the other things that are going on in your life?
What exactly drove you to write a novel on Facebook addiction?
I wrote the book because I have a background in computer science.The idea hit me one day when I was online watching my friends interact. Twitter was out, but it wasn't as popular when I started to think about the idea of writing a book about people who update their status continuously throughout the day-similar to how you send a tweet.
I started to think of the comparisons between Facebook addiction and alcohol or drugs and that's how I came up with "Facebook Addiction." The goal was to write a fictional book based on that, but I wanted the reader to really feel it, to essentially identify with some of the characters. So, I just wrote it like it was real, like these people are really suffering.
Your novel characterizes traits of Facebook addicts. What are some signs of Facebook addiction?
I think when it starts to negatively impact your life. I'm not an addiction expert, but from other projects like my first novel, "Ice Cream Melts," where the goal was get real-life 'ice cream melts' stories, which are the transitions from a high point to a low point. So, I did interviews with people that had addictions. And one of the things they always say is, 'It started off small, and I really noticed it when it started to negatively impact my life.'
So, I think when Facebook starts to seriously cause issues in your life, whether you're having issues at work or neglecting your current responsibilities or that you just have to be on it. When you just see it impacting relationships with other people, I think you might want to question your Facebook usage.
We turn to Nnamdi Osuagwu, IT consultant and author of "Facebook Addiction: The Life and Times of Social Networking Addicts," (a novel that explores our rampant digital culture and incessant need to update our status and check in on our friends by melding fact with fiction) to see if he can give us any answers.
Facebook AddictionWith cases emerging of violent and negligent crimes as a result of Facebook gaming, the threat seems very real. However, Facebook addiction, like gaming addiction has yet to be classified as an official disease or disorder by the American Medical Association. Why do you think this is?
[Experts in] medicine, generally, are late adapters to technology. Not in terms of medical devices or things of that nature, but online technology. Maybe this is just the outside looking in because some doctors are now getting on Twitter and health services are now figuring out ways to integrate social media into their organizations.
So, if they're late adapters on that scale, you can assume on another scale of looking at online issues like gaming addictions and things like that they'll be late adapters in terms of recognizing that as a threat. In order for them to recognize it as an issue, unfortunately more cases have to surface. That's the nature of the beast when you're dealing with medicine.
Dr. Hilarie Cash, who runs an Internet addiction program called reSTART, says Facebook games are designed to be addictive. Would you agree with that?
Being on the development side, I wouldn't say they're designed to be addictive. They're designed to keep people on as long as possible. That helps you advertise, that helps you track your analytics, increases in usage, stuff like that. Saying that they're specifically designed to be addictive sounds somewhat malicious; like, they have malicious intent when they build these systems. That's like saying Facebook or Twitter is designed to be addictive when we see different people using it in various ways.
It's technology, and I think online technology is designed to keep people using it for as long as possible. That's why we build it. She's obviously looking at it from the mental side; that's her background. I could understand her feelings about them being designed to be addictive, but I don't think we're building these systems that way. There are a lot of different things in projects that I may build, but I never think about it with malicious intent nor am I trying to harm somebody. I just think about how we keep people using it, how we can be of the best service. To say whether that's designed to be addictive, I don't know.
In your opinion, how do we go about stopping or treating Facebook gaming addiction? Is it even treatable?
I'm a firm believer in a person finding what they want to do in life and going towards that. With anything that you spend a lot of time doing, I think it should be geared towards the dream you have. So, if you're spending the majority of your time on Facebook, and you're not trying understand it or if you want to build your own game some day, you're just sucking up time. In terms of treating it, it's a tough call. A lot of times in medicine, they treat the symptoms of something.
To bring it back to gaming addiction, it is an issue. Not just in Facebook games, but games in general-games where either you have to spend a lot of time in or games in which you can become someone else-what's the underlying issue? That might be a way of trying to solve the problem. I'm no psychiatrist, but I would want to find out why you feel the need to spend 10 to 12 hours a day on this particular game. What about the other things that are going on in your life?
What exactly drove you to write a novel on Facebook addiction?
I wrote the book because I have a background in computer science.The idea hit me one day when I was online watching my friends interact. Twitter was out, but it wasn't as popular when I started to think about the idea of writing a book about people who update their status continuously throughout the day-similar to how you send a tweet.
I started to think of the comparisons between Facebook addiction and alcohol or drugs and that's how I came up with "Facebook Addiction." The goal was to write a fictional book based on that, but I wanted the reader to really feel it, to essentially identify with some of the characters. So, I just wrote it like it was real, like these people are really suffering.
Your novel characterizes traits of Facebook addicts. What are some signs of Facebook addiction?
I think when it starts to negatively impact your life. I'm not an addiction expert, but from other projects like my first novel, "Ice Cream Melts," where the goal was get real-life 'ice cream melts' stories, which are the transitions from a high point to a low point. So, I did interviews with people that had addictions. And one of the things they always say is, 'It started off small, and I really noticed it when it started to negatively impact my life.'
So, I think when Facebook starts to seriously cause issues in your life, whether you're having issues at work or neglecting your current responsibilities or that you just have to be on it. When you just see it impacting relationships with other people, I think you might want to question your Facebook usage.
Win a Trip to Las Vegas by Playing Games.com Poker on Facebook
Games.com is sending one lucky winner on an all expenses paid trip for two to Las Vegas! All you need to do is sign up and play one hand of Games.com Poker on Facebook. That's all you need to do for a chance to win an all expenses paid trip for five days. Play often as each hand played will count as an additional entry into the sweepstakes.
Play Games.com Poker on Facebook and win!
Play Games.com Poker on Facebook and win!
FrontierVille Second Kid Goals: Everything you need to know
The Cabbage Patch Goals were a dead giveaway, weren't they? Not to mention that we so called it earlier this week. The new feature in FrontierVille is even more little buggers to make your digital life on the homestead that much busier. And that's even the half of it. While this series of Goals is titled "Second Kid," there are four more series of Kids Goals available. That makes for six little brats!
After you let that sink in--and complete the Cabbage Patch Goals--step right up to make that second baby. Here's what you'll need to do in all four missions: These Goals are going to require that you be pretty far along in the game. I hate to say it, but newer players shouldn't bother tackling these Goals.
Oh, Baby?
-Feed 10 Sheep
-Have 200 Wood (will be used)
-Have 20 Cloth (reward for visiting neighbors)
Kids are People Too!
-Feed 20 Sheep
-Have One Wool Socks (Sheep Collection Item)
-Have One Milk
Which Name?
-Accept help from one Neighbor
-Get Two Daily Bonuses from the Cabin
-Get Ten Baby Names (most likely an item request)
The Blessed Event!
-Harvest 10 Cabbage
-Have One Crib
-Buy Alphabet Blocks from the Market
Complete all four of these missions and your second crying, snotty ball of joy is all yours. Enjoy it while it's still cute. They start talking after a while, you know. Have fun with that. Also, completing this Goal unlocks the "Third Kid" Goal series. You know, if you're feeling extra masochistic these days.
After you let that sink in--and complete the Cabbage Patch Goals--step right up to make that second baby. Here's what you'll need to do in all four missions: These Goals are going to require that you be pretty far along in the game. I hate to say it, but newer players shouldn't bother tackling these Goals.
Oh, Baby?
-Feed 10 Sheep
-Have 200 Wood (will be used)
-Have 20 Cloth (reward for visiting neighbors)
Kids are People Too!
-Feed 20 Sheep
-Have One Wool Socks (Sheep Collection Item)
-Have One Milk
Which Name?
-Accept help from one Neighbor
-Get Two Daily Bonuses from the Cabin
-Get Ten Baby Names (most likely an item request)
The Blessed Event!
-Harvest 10 Cabbage
-Have One Crib
-Buy Alphabet Blocks from the Market
Complete all four of these missions and your second crying, snotty ball of joy is all yours. Enjoy it while it's still cute. They start talking after a while, you know. Have fun with that. Also, completing this Goal unlocks the "Third Kid" Goal series. You know, if you're feeling extra masochistic these days.
ESPNU College Town and SportsNation throw a pool party on campus
ESPNU SportsNation Pool Party
SportsNation Pool PartyIn the middle of November, the last thing we're thinking about is hopping into a swimsuit and going to a pool party. But that won't stop us from joining ESPN's SportsNation in ESPNU College Town. Colin and Michele of the popular sports program run by the fans have enrolled in ESPNU in a big way with the SportsNation Pool Party item.
All players need to do is log into their game and click the SportsNation link in the news section, which will take them to the SportsNation fan page. From there, follow the promo link from the appropriate News Feed post and, just like that, the brand new building will appear in your gift inventory. Or you can enter the code "SportsNation" after clicking the "Promo" tab just above the game screen.
Plopping the Pool Party somewhere will net your campus 1,250 Happiness, which is to be expected when a pool party sponsored by ESPN falls from the sky. And if you look closely enough, you might find Colin busy promoting the shindig with a big red sign--he's not too happy about it, either. If only this kind of stuff happened when I was in college.
SportsNation Pool PartyIn the middle of November, the last thing we're thinking about is hopping into a swimsuit and going to a pool party. But that won't stop us from joining ESPN's SportsNation in ESPNU College Town. Colin and Michele of the popular sports program run by the fans have enrolled in ESPNU in a big way with the SportsNation Pool Party item.
All players need to do is log into their game and click the SportsNation link in the news section, which will take them to the SportsNation fan page. From there, follow the promo link from the appropriate News Feed post and, just like that, the brand new building will appear in your gift inventory. Or you can enter the code "SportsNation" after clicking the "Promo" tab just above the game screen.
Plopping the Pool Party somewhere will net your campus 1,250 Happiness, which is to be expected when a pool party sponsored by ESPN falls from the sky. And if you look closely enough, you might find Colin busy promoting the shindig with a big red sign--he's not too happy about it, either. If only this kind of stuff happened when I was in college.
Restaurant City's Bollywood theme now available in store
It seems as though Playfish may have officially changed the release date of new items in Restaurant City from Thursday to a day earlier, as, for the third week in a row, we've seen the release of the game's newest items on Wednesday evening, this time in a Bollywood theme.
Meet us behind the break for a look at the newly available Indian items.
As for this week's new items, we're being taken to Bollywood, to the set of our very own Bollywood film, with items celebrating the Slumdog Millionaire in all of us. Some of the items are fairly basic, like the standard Indian Chair or Table, while others come in a much more elaborate form, including golden accents, bright colors, and tons of fun patterns. You can purchase items for both Playfish Cash or in-game coins.
Premium items include lavishly decorated elephants, fit for a royal caravan, a mystical, sparkling statue, a fiery Indian Wallpaper, and a female dance troupe figure set, which fits perfectly with the Bollywood (Indian musical) theme.
Meanwhile, many standard items are also available to purchase with your hard-earned coins. These include plenty of decorative items (male dance troupes, food and flower pots, a spice rack, a tall vase and even a Tuk-Tuk, or Rickshaw-like vehicle. You can add intricately carved doors and windows to your restaurant, along with paintings that celebrate the best in Bollywood's over-the-top musicals.
This theme may not look like much when just viewing the individual pieces (which can be done either by jumping into your restaurant now, or taking a look at the official Restaurant City blog), but when combined, it is actually a really pretty item set that we're sure your virtual customers will love.
Meet us behind the break for a look at the newly available Indian items.
As for this week's new items, we're being taken to Bollywood, to the set of our very own Bollywood film, with items celebrating the Slumdog Millionaire in all of us. Some of the items are fairly basic, like the standard Indian Chair or Table, while others come in a much more elaborate form, including golden accents, bright colors, and tons of fun patterns. You can purchase items for both Playfish Cash or in-game coins.
Premium items include lavishly decorated elephants, fit for a royal caravan, a mystical, sparkling statue, a fiery Indian Wallpaper, and a female dance troupe figure set, which fits perfectly with the Bollywood (Indian musical) theme.
Meanwhile, many standard items are also available to purchase with your hard-earned coins. These include plenty of decorative items (male dance troupes, food and flower pots, a spice rack, a tall vase and even a Tuk-Tuk, or Rickshaw-like vehicle. You can add intricately carved doors and windows to your restaurant, along with paintings that celebrate the best in Bollywood's over-the-top musicals.
This theme may not look like much when just viewing the individual pieces (which can be done either by jumping into your restaurant now, or taking a look at the official Restaurant City blog), but when combined, it is actually a really pretty item set that we're sure your virtual customers will love.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
FarmVille: Gift box capacity increasing to 500
FarmVille Gift Box 500
Good news for you farmers with a packed gift box - more space is coming soon! An increased FarmVille gift box capacity is slowly rolling its way out to all FarmVille players, and many of you might already see this feature released in your game. Previously, the highest capacity for gifts was only 200, so this is a huge upgrade that more than doubles your available space for gift storage.
This increased space probably has its ups and downs. First, it means that you'll have more pages of gifts, and we all know that paging through gifts to find the one you want is already a little bit of a pain. It could also mean that whatever FarmVille has up its sleeve for this holiday season means sending and receiving a lot of gifts. That could be a good or a bad thing, but it is the season for gifting after all. This is a pretty great holiday present from Zynga, and we're definitely not going to complain about the extra space!
Good news for you farmers with a packed gift box - more space is coming soon! An increased FarmVille gift box capacity is slowly rolling its way out to all FarmVille players, and many of you might already see this feature released in your game. Previously, the highest capacity for gifts was only 200, so this is a huge upgrade that more than doubles your available space for gift storage.
This increased space probably has its ups and downs. First, it means that you'll have more pages of gifts, and we all know that paging through gifts to find the one you want is already a little bit of a pain. It could also mean that whatever FarmVille has up its sleeve for this holiday season means sending and receiving a lot of gifts. That could be a good or a bad thing, but it is the season for gifting after all. This is a pretty great holiday present from Zynga, and we're definitely not going to complain about the extra space!
FarmVille Sneak Peek: Candy Cane Cow, Calf, Black Mini Stallion and Foal
FarmVille Candy Cane Cow, Candy Cane Calf, Black Mini Stallion, Black Mini Foal
It's time for another edition of FarmVille Sneak Peek, where we give you the scoop on the latest unreleased items that are hopefully headed to a game near you. This edition brings you the new Candy Cane Cow and Candy Cane Calf, and also the Black Mini Stallion and Black Mini Foal.
As usual, we have no idea if these will actually make it into FarmVille or not - however if they show up here it's a pretty good indication that you'll be seeing these available for purchase sometime in the near future. The Candy Cane Cow is just in time for the holiday and matches the other Candy Cane items we've been seeing.
It's time for another edition of FarmVille Sneak Peek, where we give you the scoop on the latest unreleased items that are hopefully headed to a game near you. This edition brings you the new Candy Cane Cow and Candy Cane Calf, and also the Black Mini Stallion and Black Mini Foal.
As usual, we have no idea if these will actually make it into FarmVille or not - however if they show up here it's a pretty good indication that you'll be seeing these available for purchase sometime in the near future. The Candy Cane Cow is just in time for the holiday and matches the other Candy Cane items we've been seeing.
FarmVille Sneak Peek: Unreleased Snow Lady
Want to know what you can find this holiday season in FarmVille, and too impatient to wait and see. Don't worry, we've got you covered with our details on the latest unreleased items in your favorite farming game. Tonight we've received a tip about a FarmVille Snow Lady that will most likely hit the market soon.
This Snow Lady does an adorable little dance, so she will be more than just a simple decoration for your farm. We're sure she has a mate somewhere, and perhaps there will be more dancing snow people available? We'll have to wait and see what holiday items are released in FarmVille this season.
Don't forget, there is no guarantee that the Snow Lady will show up in FarmVille, but we're pretty sure you can count on it given that the art has been made already.
This Snow Lady does an adorable little dance, so she will be more than just a simple decoration for your farm. We're sure she has a mate somewhere, and perhaps there will be more dancing snow people available? We'll have to wait and see what holiday items are released in FarmVille this season.
Don't forget, there is no guarantee that the Snow Lady will show up in FarmVille, but we're pretty sure you can count on it given that the art has been made already.
It Girl travels to France with new Paris location unlocked
In a long overdue location unlock, Crowdstar's It Girl has finally released the first set of Paris stores. These new French stores allow you to buy new looks, go to new parties, unlock new collections, and explore new areas and deck out your avatar like a Parisian girl. The only main issue with this is that you have to be level 45 because you can gain access to the new area. Because of this, we don't have too much details to provide you - but if you are lucky enough to be high enough in level to access Paris, you can share details in the comments!
Along with the new location, there are three new couture limited edition items that are available to players of all levels. The new items are the Tres Chic Parisian Dress for 51 Facebook Credits, the Frenchie Zig Zag Booties for 55 Facebook Credits, and the Parisian Beret Hair for 39 Facebook Credits. This is the first time we have seen a hair item in the limited edition couture store.
All in all, it looks like It Girl's trip to Paris is elegant, and if you're high in level you should enjoy this new unlocked location.
Along with the new location, there are three new couture limited edition items that are available to players of all levels. The new items are the Tres Chic Parisian Dress for 51 Facebook Credits, the Frenchie Zig Zag Booties for 55 Facebook Credits, and the Parisian Beret Hair for 39 Facebook Credits. This is the first time we have seen a hair item in the limited edition couture store.
All in all, it looks like It Girl's trip to Paris is elegant, and if you're high in level you should enjoy this new unlocked location.
Paradise Life: New game feels a bit too familiar to be a paradise
Paradise Life
Ice Break Games seem to be creating better and better games with each effort. Their first title, Ranch Life, never really took off. Their second game, Cafe Life, currently has almost 2.7 million monthly players. Now they're trying again with Paradise Life, a game that feels just a little too familiar to Zynga's FrontierVille to be declared an innovative success for social games.
Paradise Life is literally FrontierVIlle on an island setting. You have your own island, and on it you have to clear the growth, harvest plants, build structures, fish from ponds, and even defeat villains in the exact same way as FrontierVille. You have your energy meter which controls all actions within the game, your food meter which allows you to buy meals from the store (which convert into energy), favor points (such as reputation in FrontierVille) that are awarded for helping on your friend's islands, a questing system the follows the template FrontierVille has created, family members and the ability to unlock them, collections, wishlists, you name it. In fact, some of the interfaces are so similar that it's a blatant copy of Zynga's hit wild west game.
Paradise Life
Zynga have received such a bad reputation in the past for cloning other games by smaller developers and making them into huge successes. It's actually kind of ironic to see the same thing happening right back at Zynga to FrontierVille, which was Zynga's first original design. However, it remains to be seen if Paradise Life will prove to be a success for Ice Break Games, as it doesn't appear to do anything to better Zynga's design. Zynga's success has come from taking the ideas that other people come up with and making them more polished and better suited to a social game audience. Paradise Life is clearly an identical clone with a fresh island setting.
Don't get us wrong, the game is cute and well done. It's polished more than Cafe LIfe, and feels really great to play. The avatars are very cute, the colors are bright and inviting, and it's so much of an exact copy of FrontierVille that we're sure it will see some residual success because of that. However where games like Ravenwood Fair have iterated on a successful design like FrontierVille and made a new unique fresh-feeling game, we can't help but feel like Paradise LIfe brings very little of worth to our selection of games to play.
Ice Break Games seem to be creating better and better games with each effort. Their first title, Ranch Life, never really took off. Their second game, Cafe Life, currently has almost 2.7 million monthly players. Now they're trying again with Paradise Life, a game that feels just a little too familiar to Zynga's FrontierVille to be declared an innovative success for social games.
Paradise Life is literally FrontierVIlle on an island setting. You have your own island, and on it you have to clear the growth, harvest plants, build structures, fish from ponds, and even defeat villains in the exact same way as FrontierVille. You have your energy meter which controls all actions within the game, your food meter which allows you to buy meals from the store (which convert into energy), favor points (such as reputation in FrontierVille) that are awarded for helping on your friend's islands, a questing system the follows the template FrontierVille has created, family members and the ability to unlock them, collections, wishlists, you name it. In fact, some of the interfaces are so similar that it's a blatant copy of Zynga's hit wild west game.
Paradise Life
Zynga have received such a bad reputation in the past for cloning other games by smaller developers and making them into huge successes. It's actually kind of ironic to see the same thing happening right back at Zynga to FrontierVille, which was Zynga's first original design. However, it remains to be seen if Paradise Life will prove to be a success for Ice Break Games, as it doesn't appear to do anything to better Zynga's design. Zynga's success has come from taking the ideas that other people come up with and making them more polished and better suited to a social game audience. Paradise Life is clearly an identical clone with a fresh island setting.
Don't get us wrong, the game is cute and well done. It's polished more than Cafe LIfe, and feels really great to play. The avatars are very cute, the colors are bright and inviting, and it's so much of an exact copy of FrontierVille that we're sure it will see some residual success because of that. However where games like Ravenwood Fair have iterated on a successful design like FrontierVille and made a new unique fresh-feeling game, we can't help but feel like Paradise LIfe brings very little of worth to our selection of games to play.
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