But they didn't meet in a strip club. Business Insider reports that Mark Pincus, CEO and founder of Zynga, filed for a restraining order against Vera Svenchina, an amateur filmmaker and former stripper from Russia. Seriously folks, you can't make this stuff up. According to Business Insider, Pincus filed for the restraining order in San Francisco court in Feb., claiming that Svenchina threatened his wife and children and even visited him personally in his home twice in one week.
Pincus cited several bizarre emails and voice mails across several days in February, in which Svenchina makes insane and offensive claims including Zynga was her Russian family's idea, Google's co-founders killed her father, that Pincus's children are "ugly babies" and that "I wish them all the worst." It was likely easier for the court to grant the restraining order in March after learning that Svenchina was put into a mental ward for 72 hours after she went to Mountain View Police Department in May 2010 to report that Google was sending messages to her brain, ordering her to kill herself.
Pincus claims to have met Svenchina when she was dating a friend of his, Business Insider reports. But a reader submitted a letter to the news website that appears to reveal that Pincus had agreed to invest in one of her independent films (she's a bit of an entrepreneur--just like Mark!). However, a glaring grammatical error towards the ends raises a red flag. Hey, it was only a matter of time before Pincus attracted a stalker--it's one of the few drawbacks of being a billionaire. And at least it's a more... exciting one than Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's recent "fan."
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
FrontierVille Pet Shop Collection offers Chunky Chow as a reward
Along with the release of the Pet Shop today in FrontierVille, Zynga has also added a new collection to complete. As usual, this collection is named appropriately as the Pet Shop Collection, and you'll be able to earn the five items necessary to complete it by either whacking the frame of the Pet Shop while building it, or by collecting the Daily Bonus from a completed Pet Shop afterwards. Here are the five items to look out for:
Fish Food
Hamster Wheel
Bird Food
Catnip
Lizards
Finishing this collection rewards you with a Chunky Chow, the food item that you had to collect back when helping the Old Dog who appeared on our Homesteads a few weeks ago. It's presumable we'll need tons of Chunky Chow in the future, as this item is also awarded via the Pet Shop Goals, so make sure you hold onto this prize in case you need it in the coming days and weeks.
Have you already completed this collection, or are you still trying to build the frame of your Pet Shop?
Fish Food
Hamster Wheel
Bird Food
Catnip
Lizards
Finishing this collection rewards you with a Chunky Chow, the food item that you had to collect back when helping the Old Dog who appeared on our Homesteads a few weeks ago. It's presumable we'll need tons of Chunky Chow in the future, as this item is also awarded via the Pet Shop Goals, so make sure you hold onto this prize in case you need it in the coming days and weeks.
Have you already completed this collection, or are you still trying to build the frame of your Pet Shop?
CityVille: Sign up for daily emails offering free energy, crew members and more
While most other Zynga games already offer a daily email rewards program, offering you items like free fuel in FarmVille or free energy in FrontierVille, the developer has launched a similar email system in CityVille, allowing users to be rewarded daily just for playing the game (and for giving Zynga permission to email you).
There's a catch here though - a good one, at that. Instead of being sent a random item, or just a single item that doesn't change everyday, you'll be able to choose your reward via the pop-up menu above, that you'll see when logging into the game itself. From there, just choose whether you'd like to receive free Energy, crew for one of your buildings, a building ingredient, or even a mystery item.
It doesn't seem as though you'll be locked into that choice though, as Zynga has shown off an image stating that you'll be given the option to choose yet again when receiving your email. If this does turn out to be the case, you'll be able to choose one price on Monday, a different prize for Tuesday, and so on and so forth depending on your current needs at the time. It's a nice setup, to be sure, but it only helps to further confirm that we're apparently stuck with the energy system the way it is, whether we like it or not.
What do you think? Which of these prizes will you most likely choose as your daily reward?
There's a catch here though - a good one, at that. Instead of being sent a random item, or just a single item that doesn't change everyday, you'll be able to choose your reward via the pop-up menu above, that you'll see when logging into the game itself. From there, just choose whether you'd like to receive free Energy, crew for one of your buildings, a building ingredient, or even a mystery item.
It doesn't seem as though you'll be locked into that choice though, as Zynga has shown off an image stating that you'll be given the option to choose yet again when receiving your email. If this does turn out to be the case, you'll be able to choose one price on Monday, a different prize for Tuesday, and so on and so forth depending on your current needs at the time. It's a nice setup, to be sure, but it only helps to further confirm that we're apparently stuck with the energy system the way it is, whether we like it or not.
What do you think? Which of these prizes will you most likely choose as your daily reward?
FarmVille Guide: Using the new and improved Gift Box
A time for celebration is here Farmers! The new and improved FarmVille Gift Box that we brought you a sneak peek of a few days ago has officially gone live in the game! If you're still looking at the old Gift Box, just be patience, as the new one will roll around to your account soon.
So, we're all pretty sure that this new Gift Box is great, right? Well, yes, it is great, but it can also take a bit of getting used to. We're here to help you acclimate as quickly as possible, by showing off not only the Gift Box's new layout, but also some entirely new features to the Gift Box that will have you playing the game in a much more streamlined and therefore enjoyable process.
Meet us behind the break for a full look at the new Gift Box in FarmVille.
First and foremost, you haven't lost any items that were in your Gift Box with this new update, so don't fret if things that you know usually appeared on the first page (Nails, Special Delivery Boxes, Watering Cans and the like) no longer appear. If you'd like to find them the old fashioned way, you can still scroll through your pages of items to find them. However, you no longer have to do anything the "old fashioned way" with this new update. Looking specifically for a Mystery Seedling to plant or a Watering Can to help it grow? Simply search for the item by typing its name into the Search box.
Your Gift Box will automatically filter your items with each new letter you type. So, you can stop searching at any time if you'd like, without typing in the whole world of the item you're looking for, as it will likely be showing it to you on the first page after only typing two or three letters. Additionally, you can skip searching (say, if you didn't want to leave Full Screen mode so that you can type), by simply using the tab buttons at the top of the Gift Box to sort your items by type.
For most users, Consumables will likely contain the most items, as you may have stored Nails, Wooden Boards and the like for future building projects. That being the case, you may still have to scroll to new pages to find items even when sorting to just the Consumables tab, making the manual Search feature much more desirable. For all other categories, however, simply choosing the appropriate tab will likely suffice. You can also note that the Wish feature is still about as useless as ever (from my experience anyway).
So, now you're used to navigating the Gift Box. That's great and all, but here's something you might not have come across before now - you now have the ability to sell items in bulk! Yes, that's right - no more clicking twice to sell a single item (once to click on the "Sell" button and a second click to confirm). You'll now be able to click on the Sell button to see a window like the one below, where you can manually input how many of a particular item you'd like to sell, up to your maximum amount currently available. You'll then have to confirm this transaction via another simple click, only to see all of your specified items automatically sold (or deleted) and your profits (if applicable) automatically added to your bank.
I'd be lying if I said this feature shouldn't have been added to the game months ago, just as we were given the option to use more than one Special Delivery Box at a time (as an example), but I digress. This is a case where "better late than never" definitely holds true, and I'll gladly stop complaining. Hopefully, this means that the Storage Menu update will also be released in the very near future. You'll know when it does, as you'll be able to see me dancing in the streets from miles away. Until then, dear Farmers. Until then.
For more of our FarmVille tips, tricks and guides, look right here.
What do you think of the update to the FarmVille Gift Box? Did you like it the way it was, or will you willingly accept these (awesome and needed) changes?
So, we're all pretty sure that this new Gift Box is great, right? Well, yes, it is great, but it can also take a bit of getting used to. We're here to help you acclimate as quickly as possible, by showing off not only the Gift Box's new layout, but also some entirely new features to the Gift Box that will have you playing the game in a much more streamlined and therefore enjoyable process.
Meet us behind the break for a full look at the new Gift Box in FarmVille.
First and foremost, you haven't lost any items that were in your Gift Box with this new update, so don't fret if things that you know usually appeared on the first page (Nails, Special Delivery Boxes, Watering Cans and the like) no longer appear. If you'd like to find them the old fashioned way, you can still scroll through your pages of items to find them. However, you no longer have to do anything the "old fashioned way" with this new update. Looking specifically for a Mystery Seedling to plant or a Watering Can to help it grow? Simply search for the item by typing its name into the Search box.
Your Gift Box will automatically filter your items with each new letter you type. So, you can stop searching at any time if you'd like, without typing in the whole world of the item you're looking for, as it will likely be showing it to you on the first page after only typing two or three letters. Additionally, you can skip searching (say, if you didn't want to leave Full Screen mode so that you can type), by simply using the tab buttons at the top of the Gift Box to sort your items by type.
For most users, Consumables will likely contain the most items, as you may have stored Nails, Wooden Boards and the like for future building projects. That being the case, you may still have to scroll to new pages to find items even when sorting to just the Consumables tab, making the manual Search feature much more desirable. For all other categories, however, simply choosing the appropriate tab will likely suffice. You can also note that the Wish feature is still about as useless as ever (from my experience anyway).
So, now you're used to navigating the Gift Box. That's great and all, but here's something you might not have come across before now - you now have the ability to sell items in bulk! Yes, that's right - no more clicking twice to sell a single item (once to click on the "Sell" button and a second click to confirm). You'll now be able to click on the Sell button to see a window like the one below, where you can manually input how many of a particular item you'd like to sell, up to your maximum amount currently available. You'll then have to confirm this transaction via another simple click, only to see all of your specified items automatically sold (or deleted) and your profits (if applicable) automatically added to your bank.
I'd be lying if I said this feature shouldn't have been added to the game months ago, just as we were given the option to use more than one Special Delivery Box at a time (as an example), but I digress. This is a case where "better late than never" definitely holds true, and I'll gladly stop complaining. Hopefully, this means that the Storage Menu update will also be released in the very near future. You'll know when it does, as you'll be able to see me dancing in the streets from miles away. Until then, dear Farmers. Until then.
For more of our FarmVille tips, tricks and guides, look right here.
What do you think of the update to the FarmVille Gift Box? Did you like it the way it was, or will you willingly accept these (awesome and needed) changes?
FarmVille Easter Trees: Spring Egg Tree & Giant Spring Egg Tree
After undergoing a name change, and being priced a bit higher than expected, a pair of Spring Egg Trees (formerly Cream Egg Trees) have arrived in the market in FarmVille. Specifically, the two trees are the Spring Egg Tree priced at 7 Farm Cash and the Giant Spring Egg Tree which costs 12 Farm Cash. Long time fans will notice that this is more than the normal prices for new trees (which tend to be 5 and 10 Farm Cash respectively). Hopefully, this won't be a sign of things to come.
The higher price aside, you still have the ability to save quite a bit of Farm Cash by only purchasing the regular Spring Egg Tree and then hoping to receive the giant version from a Mystery Seedling either from your own Orchard or claimed from your News Feed. Either way, it's great to see true Easter items finally being released in the store and we'll be sure to let you know if there are more items released in this theme in the future.
Check out the rest of our Easter 2011 coverage right here.
The higher price aside, you still have the ability to save quite a bit of Farm Cash by only purchasing the regular Spring Egg Tree and then hoping to receive the giant version from a Mystery Seedling either from your own Orchard or claimed from your News Feed. Either way, it's great to see true Easter items finally being released in the store and we'll be sure to let you know if there are more items released in this theme in the future.
Check out the rest of our Easter 2011 coverage right here.
Monday, December 26, 2011
FrontierVille: Plum, Raspberry, and Almond Trees available with new collections
So, the Orchard feature in FrontierVille is definitely nearing a release, as we've now been given the option to purchase three new trees/bushes from the in-game store, along with sending three other trees to our friends via the game's free gifts page. If you purchase one of the three trees in the store, you'll also have access to completing one of three matching collections, which reward even more trees. See where we're going with this? It looks like - very soon - our time in FrontierVille might turn into something resembling "all trees, all the time."
The three new trees are the Plum Tree, Raspberry Bush and the Almond Tree. Before you get too excited, however, know that all three cost Horseshoes, so you can't buy them cheap. A single Raspberry Bush costs 50 Horseshoes, a Plum Tree costs 30 Horseshoes, and an Almond Tree costs 20 Horseshoes. While these are definitely expensive, I doubt it's time to raise your pitchforks and torches just yet, as Zynga has been known to overprice items in the store, only to give them away for free by completing missions or other tasks sometime down the line. As difficult as it might be, now might be the time to practice a bit of willpower to see what truly develops before handing over that many Horseshoes for a single tree.
Want to see what you'll earn by finishing these three collections? Meet us behind the break. Once you have at least one of these trees or a Raspberry Bush on your land, you can go to work completing the corresponding collections. The Almond Collection requires you to find a variety of food items that contain Almonds, as seen below.
For finishing it, you'll receive another Almond Tree and 50 XP.
For the Plum Collection, you'll need to find either flowers from the Plum Tree itself, or products that contain Plums (as you'd expect).
For finishing the Plum Collection, you'll receive another Plum Tree and 50 XP.
Finally, the Raspberry Collection is incredibly similar, containing food items or parts of the bushes themselves that you must collect by tending to the bushes already on your land.
For finishing this final collection, you'll receive another Raspberry Bush (easily the most valuable prize, as of this writing), and 50 XP.
All told, these collections are incredibly self-explanatory, but might also be incredibly difficult (or at least expensive) to finish, depending on what other methods - if any - Zynga decides to give us for adding them to our Homesteads. We'll make sure to keep you updated as/if your options grow.
What do you think of these three new trees? Which one is your favorite? Will you spend that many Horseshoes on a single tree, or do you think Zynga will release free or at least cheaper ways to acquire them in the future?
The three new trees are the Plum Tree, Raspberry Bush and the Almond Tree. Before you get too excited, however, know that all three cost Horseshoes, so you can't buy them cheap. A single Raspberry Bush costs 50 Horseshoes, a Plum Tree costs 30 Horseshoes, and an Almond Tree costs 20 Horseshoes. While these are definitely expensive, I doubt it's time to raise your pitchforks and torches just yet, as Zynga has been known to overprice items in the store, only to give them away for free by completing missions or other tasks sometime down the line. As difficult as it might be, now might be the time to practice a bit of willpower to see what truly develops before handing over that many Horseshoes for a single tree.
Want to see what you'll earn by finishing these three collections? Meet us behind the break. Once you have at least one of these trees or a Raspberry Bush on your land, you can go to work completing the corresponding collections. The Almond Collection requires you to find a variety of food items that contain Almonds, as seen below.
For finishing it, you'll receive another Almond Tree and 50 XP.
For the Plum Collection, you'll need to find either flowers from the Plum Tree itself, or products that contain Plums (as you'd expect).
For finishing the Plum Collection, you'll receive another Plum Tree and 50 XP.
Finally, the Raspberry Collection is incredibly similar, containing food items or parts of the bushes themselves that you must collect by tending to the bushes already on your land.
For finishing this final collection, you'll receive another Raspberry Bush (easily the most valuable prize, as of this writing), and 50 XP.
All told, these collections are incredibly self-explanatory, but might also be incredibly difficult (or at least expensive) to finish, depending on what other methods - if any - Zynga decides to give us for adding them to our Homesteads. We'll make sure to keep you updated as/if your options grow.
What do you think of these three new trees? Which one is your favorite? Will you spend that many Horseshoes on a single tree, or do you think Zynga will release free or at least cheaper ways to acquire them in the future?
FrontierVille Orchard Goals: Everything you need to know
It's official folks - the Orchard is on its way to FrontierVille! While we may not have exact details as to what building the Orchard structure itself will entail, we can give you a sneak peek of the Orchard's Goals to give you an idea of what to expect when the Orchard does start rolling out (presumably within the next few hours of this writing).
The Orchard goal line consists of four different Goals. Remember, as these goals are as-of-now unreleased, they are subject to change at any time. Here's what's required in Part I of IV:
Tend 10 Apple Trees
Hire 2 Neighbors
Place the Orchard on your Homestead
It looks like you have to tend Apple Trees on your own land, and now a Neighbors' so keep that in mind. For finishing this first quest, you'll receive 300 XP. Part II of IV has you tending to even more trees, along with asking your friends to send you some items.
Tend 25 Peach Trees
Have 15 Fruit Decals
Clear 8 Grass
If you've yet to receive the Orchard goals on your Homestead, make sure to save all of your Grass, as you'll need them here. The Fruit Decals will presumably be earned through a general news post to your feed. For finishing this second quest, you'll receive 500 XP (I must say, the rewards have been pretty good so far).
Part III of IV asks you to - guess what - tend more fruit trees! You'll also have to collect more items from friends, and will actually have to finish your Orchard's construction before moving on.
Tend 20 Apricot Trees
Collect 15 Fruit Crates
Store 5 Fruit Trees
This officially confirms the fact that the Orchard will be used for tree storage, freeing up space on our land (not that we expected it to perform a different function, but I digress). There doesn't seem to be a requirement for which exact tree you store, so feel free to store any kind you'd like. The rewards for these quests get better and better, as finishing this one off gives you 700 XP.
Finally, for Part IV of IV, it seems like we'll be stuck for a few days waiting for the Orchard's Daily Bonus to recharge, if it does indeed work as other buildings do.
Collect Daily Bonus Orchard 3 Times
Collect Water Well Bonus 1 Time
Harvest Trees in Storage 30 Times
Now we've also learned that we'll be able to use the Orchard to harvest our trees in mass quantities, as we'll need to do that for 30 trees to complete this task. All in all, nothing surprising so far, but this goal probably will trip up a few players that have deleted the water well from their land, as they'll need to go through the process of building another just to collect it's bonus.
Finishing this final quest will reward you with 1,000 XP and the Raspberry Bush seen above. This item is normally available in the store for 50 Horseshoes, so it looks like my warning about saving your Horseshoes will have come in handy, as you'll simply receive one here for free.
As of this writing, this is where the Orchard goal series ends, but we'll make sure to let you know if Zynga adds anymore content to the quest line in the future.
Check out the rest of our FrontierVille Cheats & Tips right here.
Have you received the Orchard on your land yet? What do you think of this new tree storage / harvesting building?
The Orchard goal line consists of four different Goals. Remember, as these goals are as-of-now unreleased, they are subject to change at any time. Here's what's required in Part I of IV:
Tend 10 Apple Trees
Hire 2 Neighbors
Place the Orchard on your Homestead
It looks like you have to tend Apple Trees on your own land, and now a Neighbors' so keep that in mind. For finishing this first quest, you'll receive 300 XP. Part II of IV has you tending to even more trees, along with asking your friends to send you some items.
Tend 25 Peach Trees
Have 15 Fruit Decals
Clear 8 Grass
If you've yet to receive the Orchard goals on your Homestead, make sure to save all of your Grass, as you'll need them here. The Fruit Decals will presumably be earned through a general news post to your feed. For finishing this second quest, you'll receive 500 XP (I must say, the rewards have been pretty good so far).
Part III of IV asks you to - guess what - tend more fruit trees! You'll also have to collect more items from friends, and will actually have to finish your Orchard's construction before moving on.
Tend 20 Apricot Trees
Collect 15 Fruit Crates
Store 5 Fruit Trees
This officially confirms the fact that the Orchard will be used for tree storage, freeing up space on our land (not that we expected it to perform a different function, but I digress). There doesn't seem to be a requirement for which exact tree you store, so feel free to store any kind you'd like. The rewards for these quests get better and better, as finishing this one off gives you 700 XP.
Finally, for Part IV of IV, it seems like we'll be stuck for a few days waiting for the Orchard's Daily Bonus to recharge, if it does indeed work as other buildings do.
Collect Daily Bonus Orchard 3 Times
Collect Water Well Bonus 1 Time
Harvest Trees in Storage 30 Times
Now we've also learned that we'll be able to use the Orchard to harvest our trees in mass quantities, as we'll need to do that for 30 trees to complete this task. All in all, nothing surprising so far, but this goal probably will trip up a few players that have deleted the water well from their land, as they'll need to go through the process of building another just to collect it's bonus.
Finishing this final quest will reward you with 1,000 XP and the Raspberry Bush seen above. This item is normally available in the store for 50 Horseshoes, so it looks like my warning about saving your Horseshoes will have come in handy, as you'll simply receive one here for free.
As of this writing, this is where the Orchard goal series ends, but we'll make sure to let you know if Zynga adds anymore content to the quest line in the future.
Check out the rest of our FrontierVille Cheats & Tips right here.
Have you received the Orchard on your land yet? What do you think of this new tree storage / harvesting building?
FrontierVille Big Barn Goals: Everything you need to know
If you're like me, you were probably feeling a bit disappointed after the release of the Livestock Pen in FrontierVille, as the building doesn't allow us to do anything about the massive Cow and Oxen collections we have on our land. With so many quests requiring you to sell adult Cows and Oxen, it only makes sense to have mass quantities of them on hand at once, but they still take up a lot of space. It looks like Zynga has decided to help us there, as you can now upgrade your original Barn into a Big Barn.
This Big Barn isn't simply an upgrade of the Barn already in the game, it is an entirely new building Turns out Zynga has decided to simply upgrade the first Barn. Once upgraded you'll be able to store Mules, Horses, Oxen and Cows. Just think of all of the land you'll save! Along with the upgrade to your original Barn, there is a four-part goal series to go along with it. Just keep in mind that as these goals are (as of this writing) unreleased, their requirements are subject to change upon their release.
Here's what's expected of you in Part I of IV:
Place the Big Barn
Collect 15 Blueprints
Tend 20 Cows
The Blueprints looks to be earned through individual gift requests sent to your friends. For finishing this goal, you'll receive a Fast Hands boost, 250 coins and 250 XP. For Part II of IV, you'll need to tend more animals, on both your own land or on a neighbors' Homestead.
Tend 20 Oxen
Tend 15 Horses on your own Homestead or a Neighbors'
Tend 20 Neighbor Apple Trees
These three tasks are fairly self-explanatory, and once you finish the trio, you'll receive an equally basic set of prizes: 500 coins and 500 XP.
For Part III of IV, things once again become a bit more complicated, as you'll be required to actually finish the construction of your Big Barn (the details of which are currently unknown) before you can move on.
Customize the Big Barn
Hire Bess 3 Times
Collect 15 Muck Boots
Fortunately, you'll be slowed down by the Bess requirement in this goal anyway, so if you've yet to finish the Big Barn's construction, you've just been given a fairly large window in which to do so without falling behind. Finishing this third quest gives you 750 coins, 750 XP and 5 Animal Ready Boosts. This is a huge prize, but you'll likely need the boosts for the final goal, so don't waste them!
As I said, Part IV of IV will likely require you to use those Animal Ready Boosts, unless you currently have 100 or more adult animals that can be stored in your Big Barn.
Store 100 Animals in your Big Barn
Collect Daily Big Barn Bonus 2 Times
Tend 50 Mules, Horses, Oxen or Cows on your Homestead or a Neighbors'
The only animals allowed to be stores in the Big Barn are Mules, Horses, Oxen and Cows. Presumably, these animals will need to be adults before they can be stored, as is the case with the Livestock Pen. Either way, as this is the last goal in the mission series, the pressure is off, and you can be more casual in your approach. For finishing this final goal, you'll receive 1000 coins, 1000 XP and a Cast Iron Fence decoration, as seen below.
We'll make sure to give you all of the details about building a Big Barn on your land as soon as we can, but remember to keep these goals in mind as you work on your Homestead over the coming days.
Check out the rest of our FrontierVille Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of these Big Barn goals? Are you looking forward to being able to store all of these different animals? Or, do you think it could make future goals requiring you to tend your friends' animals all the more difficult if they're all in storage?
This Big Barn isn't simply an upgrade of the Barn already in the game, it is an entirely new building Turns out Zynga has decided to simply upgrade the first Barn. Once upgraded you'll be able to store Mules, Horses, Oxen and Cows. Just think of all of the land you'll save! Along with the upgrade to your original Barn, there is a four-part goal series to go along with it. Just keep in mind that as these goals are (as of this writing) unreleased, their requirements are subject to change upon their release.
Here's what's expected of you in Part I of IV:
Place the Big Barn
Collect 15 Blueprints
Tend 20 Cows
The Blueprints looks to be earned through individual gift requests sent to your friends. For finishing this goal, you'll receive a Fast Hands boost, 250 coins and 250 XP. For Part II of IV, you'll need to tend more animals, on both your own land or on a neighbors' Homestead.
Tend 20 Oxen
Tend 15 Horses on your own Homestead or a Neighbors'
Tend 20 Neighbor Apple Trees
These three tasks are fairly self-explanatory, and once you finish the trio, you'll receive an equally basic set of prizes: 500 coins and 500 XP.
For Part III of IV, things once again become a bit more complicated, as you'll be required to actually finish the construction of your Big Barn (the details of which are currently unknown) before you can move on.
Customize the Big Barn
Hire Bess 3 Times
Collect 15 Muck Boots
Fortunately, you'll be slowed down by the Bess requirement in this goal anyway, so if you've yet to finish the Big Barn's construction, you've just been given a fairly large window in which to do so without falling behind. Finishing this third quest gives you 750 coins, 750 XP and 5 Animal Ready Boosts. This is a huge prize, but you'll likely need the boosts for the final goal, so don't waste them!
As I said, Part IV of IV will likely require you to use those Animal Ready Boosts, unless you currently have 100 or more adult animals that can be stored in your Big Barn.
Store 100 Animals in your Big Barn
Collect Daily Big Barn Bonus 2 Times
Tend 50 Mules, Horses, Oxen or Cows on your Homestead or a Neighbors'
The only animals allowed to be stores in the Big Barn are Mules, Horses, Oxen and Cows. Presumably, these animals will need to be adults before they can be stored, as is the case with the Livestock Pen. Either way, as this is the last goal in the mission series, the pressure is off, and you can be more casual in your approach. For finishing this final goal, you'll receive 1000 coins, 1000 XP and a Cast Iron Fence decoration, as seen below.
We'll make sure to give you all of the details about building a Big Barn on your land as soon as we can, but remember to keep these goals in mind as you work on your Homestead over the coming days.
Check out the rest of our FrontierVille Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of these Big Barn goals? Are you looking forward to being able to store all of these different animals? Or, do you think it could make future goals requiring you to tend your friends' animals all the more difficult if they're all in storage?
FarmVille GagaVille Higher Goal: Everything you need to know [Update]
Update: It seems that some time during the night, Zynga changed the "Visit GagaVille" requirement to "Get Five Secret Ingredients." You can earn these ingredients via individual gift requests sent to friends.
While Lady Gaga's Born this Way album may have been released earlier this week, the GagaVille festivities haven't stopped in FarmVille, as tonight sees the release of Goal 9: Higher, that happens to be the most difficult (or should I say, time consuming) goal yet. Unless you're a farmer with tons of unplowed, free land, or unless your crops are currently ready to harvest, you'll need to wait until you have 200 plots of free land before you can finish this one off.
Visit GagaVille
Get 5 Secret Ingredients (see update above)
Plan 100 Crystals
Plant 100 Chrome Daisies
If you'd like to finish this quest rather quickly, see if you can rearrange some of your decorations and other items on your farm to make room for these plots. Also, if your English Countryside farm is still rather empty, feel free to complete this goal there as progress carries over. Either way, once you complete this quest (that is, if you can complete it within its one-day time limit), you'll receive 100 XP, 2,500 coins and 1 Gaga Instant Grow. Considering how these daily quests keep getting more complex, you might hold onto this item until at least tomorrow evening to see if a new goal releases that could benefit from some fast-growing crops.
Check out the rest of our GagaVille coverage right here. >
What do you think of tonight's goal? Will you save your Instant Grow until Double Mastery has been turned on, or will you simply use it right away on a slow-growing crop?
While Lady Gaga's Born this Way album may have been released earlier this week, the GagaVille festivities haven't stopped in FarmVille, as tonight sees the release of Goal 9: Higher, that happens to be the most difficult (or should I say, time consuming) goal yet. Unless you're a farmer with tons of unplowed, free land, or unless your crops are currently ready to harvest, you'll need to wait until you have 200 plots of free land before you can finish this one off.
Visit GagaVille
Get 5 Secret Ingredients (see update above)
Plan 100 Crystals
Plant 100 Chrome Daisies
If you'd like to finish this quest rather quickly, see if you can rearrange some of your decorations and other items on your farm to make room for these plots. Also, if your English Countryside farm is still rather empty, feel free to complete this goal there as progress carries over. Either way, once you complete this quest (that is, if you can complete it within its one-day time limit), you'll receive 100 XP, 2,500 coins and 1 Gaga Instant Grow. Considering how these daily quests keep getting more complex, you might hold onto this item until at least tomorrow evening to see if a new goal releases that could benefit from some fast-growing crops.
Check out the rest of our GagaVille coverage right here. >
What do you think of tonight's goal? Will you save your Instant Grow until Double Mastery has been turned on, or will you simply use it right away on a slow-growing crop?
FrontierVille Building an Orchard: Everything you need to know
Earlier this evening, we brought you an in-depth look at the new Orchard Goals in FrontierVille. This new building will allow you to store your fruit trees and harvest from them in bulk, saving you time along with clearing up tons of space on your Homestead (a theme Zynga seems to have adopted recently, much to our excitement). The Orchard itself must be built as any other building in the game, by starting with its base.
You must be level 26 or higher to receive the Orchard feature. As you might expect, once you build the base, you'll need to collect six all new ingredients: 15 each of Cuttings, Rootstocks and Grafting Waxes, and 10 each of Insect Sprays, Pruners and Fencing. For a complete look at how the Orchard works, meet us behind the break.
Once you've collected all of the ingredients necessary to complete the building of your Orchard, you'll be left with an open square that can hold up to 250 trees by default. It doesn't matter which kind of tree you put inside it, but the tree must be fully grown before it can be stored. To grow the new trees on the free gifts page - the Sour Cherry, Green Apple and White Peach Trees - along with those in the store (the Almond and Plum Trees, along with the Raspberry Bush), you'll need to collect water from your friends to grow them. You can also collect water by claiming the Daily Bonus from a fully built Water Well (A-HA! The Well finally serves a purpose!).
But wait - do you have more than 250 trees on your Homestead, or close to it? Don't worry about running out of space, as Zynga has built in four capacity upgrades to the Orchard. Each upgrade will add an additional 250 tree slots on your Orchard. Again, you can upgrade four times, with each upgrade giving you 250 more slots - that's room for 1,000 more trees, in addition to the 250 you're given by default! To upgrade, you'll simply need to complete the steps above, collecting all six of the building ingredients as you did while initially building the Orchard.
Sure, collecting dozens of items with friends will be a time consuming process, but just think - these expansions have been built into the feature, meaning that Zynga actually gave some forethought to our needs! We could be waiting weeks or months for storage upgrades on the Orchard, but instead, we can undertake them as soon as we want. I, for one, am not going to complain about that.
As usual, this feature is on a slow rollout, so you may not have access to the Orchard in your game just yet. Keep checking back though and it will eventually roll out to you as well. In the meantime, you might as well throw all of those trees in your inventory onto your land to start building them into adults. That way, you can truly take advantage of this new feature when it launches.
Check out the rest of our FrontierVille Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of the Orchard feature? How many trees do you think you have on your land right now? Will you upgrade to the full capacity?
You must be level 26 or higher to receive the Orchard feature. As you might expect, once you build the base, you'll need to collect six all new ingredients: 15 each of Cuttings, Rootstocks and Grafting Waxes, and 10 each of Insect Sprays, Pruners and Fencing. For a complete look at how the Orchard works, meet us behind the break.
Once you've collected all of the ingredients necessary to complete the building of your Orchard, you'll be left with an open square that can hold up to 250 trees by default. It doesn't matter which kind of tree you put inside it, but the tree must be fully grown before it can be stored. To grow the new trees on the free gifts page - the Sour Cherry, Green Apple and White Peach Trees - along with those in the store (the Almond and Plum Trees, along with the Raspberry Bush), you'll need to collect water from your friends to grow them. You can also collect water by claiming the Daily Bonus from a fully built Water Well (A-HA! The Well finally serves a purpose!).
But wait - do you have more than 250 trees on your Homestead, or close to it? Don't worry about running out of space, as Zynga has built in four capacity upgrades to the Orchard. Each upgrade will add an additional 250 tree slots on your Orchard. Again, you can upgrade four times, with each upgrade giving you 250 more slots - that's room for 1,000 more trees, in addition to the 250 you're given by default! To upgrade, you'll simply need to complete the steps above, collecting all six of the building ingredients as you did while initially building the Orchard.
Sure, collecting dozens of items with friends will be a time consuming process, but just think - these expansions have been built into the feature, meaning that Zynga actually gave some forethought to our needs! We could be waiting weeks or months for storage upgrades on the Orchard, but instead, we can undertake them as soon as we want. I, for one, am not going to complain about that.
As usual, this feature is on a slow rollout, so you may not have access to the Orchard in your game just yet. Keep checking back though and it will eventually roll out to you as well. In the meantime, you might as well throw all of those trees in your inventory onto your land to start building them into adults. That way, you can truly take advantage of this new feature when it launches.
Check out the rest of our FrontierVille Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of the Orchard feature? How many trees do you think you have on your land right now? Will you upgrade to the full capacity?
FarmVille maker Zynga nears IPO; will it surpass Activision Blizzard?
In Zynga's proverbial poker game with the rest of the games industry, it's about to drop a royal flush. All Things Digital reports that the creator of Facebook money machines FarmVille, CityVille and more is preparing to file its initial public offering (IPO). In other words, soon everyone--not just investment firms and select financial elite--can buy Zynga stock. Rumors of a Zynga IPO have brewed for months now, but All Things D predicts, based on confidential sources, that it could come within the next week.
Considering the company has already been valued at $10 billion pre-IPO, imagine how high it would price itself upon going public, which All Things D imagines will be much more. If Zynga is already said to be worth more than $7.8 billion video games behemoth EA, this offering could set the 4-year-old company to be worth more than Activision Blizzard's reported $13 billion, the most valuable games publisher on the planet. With potential like that, no wonder the company has made 14 acquisitions in just 12 months and posted revenues of about $850 million last year.
And if Zynga becomes the biggest games company globally, what then? Mark Pincus has already expressed his ambitions for the red-and-white bulldog. When he led the opening ceremony for Zynga's Seattle office, Pincus mentioned his adoration for what Amazon has done for online retail, revealing that he wants Zynga to essentially become the Amazon of games.
But more importantly than that, how will this affect the rest of the industry? If PopCap aims to compete on the same level as Zynga and EA, its own reported IPO better come sooner rather than later. This potentially obscene valuation could send not ripples, but waves through the traditional games industry, inspiring even more high-level executives to ditch Xbox and Nintendo for an ever-shrinking slice of the Facebook pie. This is about far more than a whole lot (alright, an insane amount) of money; it's about the industry possibly taking a 180, if it hasn't already.
[Image Credit: New York Times]
How high do you think Zynga will price itself after an IPO? If Zynga becomes more valuable than even Activision, how will this affect the industry on the whole?
Considering the company has already been valued at $10 billion pre-IPO, imagine how high it would price itself upon going public, which All Things D imagines will be much more. If Zynga is already said to be worth more than $7.8 billion video games behemoth EA, this offering could set the 4-year-old company to be worth more than Activision Blizzard's reported $13 billion, the most valuable games publisher on the planet. With potential like that, no wonder the company has made 14 acquisitions in just 12 months and posted revenues of about $850 million last year.
And if Zynga becomes the biggest games company globally, what then? Mark Pincus has already expressed his ambitions for the red-and-white bulldog. When he led the opening ceremony for Zynga's Seattle office, Pincus mentioned his adoration for what Amazon has done for online retail, revealing that he wants Zynga to essentially become the Amazon of games.
But more importantly than that, how will this affect the rest of the industry? If PopCap aims to compete on the same level as Zynga and EA, its own reported IPO better come sooner rather than later. This potentially obscene valuation could send not ripples, but waves through the traditional games industry, inspiring even more high-level executives to ditch Xbox and Nintendo for an ever-shrinking slice of the Facebook pie. This is about far more than a whole lot (alright, an insane amount) of money; it's about the industry possibly taking a 180, if it hasn't already.
[Image Credit: New York Times]
How high do you think Zynga will price itself after an IPO? If Zynga becomes more valuable than even Activision, how will this affect the industry on the whole?
Calling all Parrotheads: Jimmy Buffet's MargaritaVille is coming to Facebook, iPad
Jimmy Buffet's classic song MargaritaVille started out as just that -- a easy-listening '70s tune to belt out while waving a frosty Margarita over your head, preferably at some beachside bar teeming with bikini-clad patrons.
Over the years, MargaritaVille has turned into a multi-billion dollar franchise, complete with restaurant chains, hotels, branded food and drink -- and now its headed to Facebook and iPad in the form of MargaritaVille Online, a free-to-play online game that will actually let you create your own version of Buffet's fictional paradise.
"You can build a boat (and) you can build a bar. You gotta evade the pirates. You can have adventures," the singer says in this USA Today article.
In the game, which Buffet is creating with game developer THQ, players will be able to earn virtual dollars which can be used to buy decor for their boats/bars and have the option to spend real-life cash if they want the process to move more quickly. Characters and locations from Buffet's life, song and books will also make an appearance in the game, which is designed to be a wink and a nod to Parrotheads everywhere. Some examples of this are, according to the USA Today article, Captain Tony's Boats and Planes, which is based on a character ripped from Buffet's song 'Last Mango in Paris' and Joe Merchant's Trading Post, borrowed from his 1992 novel 'Where is Joe Merchant?'
Gallery: MargaritaVille Online on Facebook
And, yes, you will be able to listen to Buffet's music in the game (something we've been seeing more and more in social games, i.e. Lady Gaga in FarmVille, Dr Dre in Mafia Wars, etc), and players will be able to create their own virtual band. Eventually, players will be able to upload their own cover version of Buffet's songs.
It appears there will also be real life benefits for playing MargaritaVille Online. Buffet mentions something about buying virtual cheeseburgers and margaritas for friends "should earn you a real burger or beer at a restaurant." There are no details on how this will work at the moment, but offering real-world benefits for virtual activities is still a largely untapped feature in social games that we will probably see much more of over the next few months, years.
There are currently no details on when MargaritaVille Online will launch, so stay tuned.
Over the years, MargaritaVille has turned into a multi-billion dollar franchise, complete with restaurant chains, hotels, branded food and drink -- and now its headed to Facebook and iPad in the form of MargaritaVille Online, a free-to-play online game that will actually let you create your own version of Buffet's fictional paradise.
"You can build a boat (and) you can build a bar. You gotta evade the pirates. You can have adventures," the singer says in this USA Today article.
In the game, which Buffet is creating with game developer THQ, players will be able to earn virtual dollars which can be used to buy decor for their boats/bars and have the option to spend real-life cash if they want the process to move more quickly. Characters and locations from Buffet's life, song and books will also make an appearance in the game, which is designed to be a wink and a nod to Parrotheads everywhere. Some examples of this are, according to the USA Today article, Captain Tony's Boats and Planes, which is based on a character ripped from Buffet's song 'Last Mango in Paris' and Joe Merchant's Trading Post, borrowed from his 1992 novel 'Where is Joe Merchant?'
Gallery: MargaritaVille Online on Facebook
And, yes, you will be able to listen to Buffet's music in the game (something we've been seeing more and more in social games, i.e. Lady Gaga in FarmVille, Dr Dre in Mafia Wars, etc), and players will be able to create their own virtual band. Eventually, players will be able to upload their own cover version of Buffet's songs.
It appears there will also be real life benefits for playing MargaritaVille Online. Buffet mentions something about buying virtual cheeseburgers and margaritas for friends "should earn you a real burger or beer at a restaurant." There are no details on how this will work at the moment, but offering real-world benefits for virtual activities is still a largely untapped feature in social games that we will probably see much more of over the next few months, years.
There are currently no details on when MargaritaVille Online will launch, so stay tuned.
FarmVille: Wandering animal adoptions return, bring on the doe eyes
Remember those annoying adorable wandering animals in FarmVille? Well, they're back. As of this writing, an Ugly Duckling has already appeared on my farm, its big ol' eyes pleading, "Somebody love me?" Honestly, how can you resist clicking that "Share" button after looking at a poor sap like that? FarmVille Freak reports that the Ugly Duckling is joined by a list of homeless critters.
Llama
Ugly Duckling
Black Sheep
White Kitty
Turtle
Bull
Himalayan Cat
Belted Duck
Wandering Stallion
White Kitten Wandering Bull Black Sheep
It's unknown why these animals are suddenly back on the scene. Did a nearby zoo experience a massive security breach by PETA, setting hundreds of previously-caged animals loose and in the direction of your farm? Who know, but you have to imagine these guys have friends somewhere in the wild, no? Regardless of whether you see these as just more bothersome pop-ups or a chance at some otherwise inaccessible animals, you may as well hit that "Share" button when you one.
[Image Credit: FarmVille Freak]
Have you seen wandering animals on your farm yet? Which one would you want to adopt most?
Llama
Ugly Duckling
Black Sheep
White Kitty
Turtle
Bull
Himalayan Cat
Belted Duck
Wandering Stallion
White Kitten Wandering Bull Black Sheep
It's unknown why these animals are suddenly back on the scene. Did a nearby zoo experience a massive security breach by PETA, setting hundreds of previously-caged animals loose and in the direction of your farm? Who know, but you have to imagine these guys have friends somewhere in the wild, no? Regardless of whether you see these as just more bothersome pop-ups or a chance at some otherwise inaccessible animals, you may as well hit that "Share" button when you one.
[Image Credit: FarmVille Freak]
Have you seen wandering animals on your farm yet? Which one would you want to adopt most?
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Empires & Allies goes patriotic with July 4th decorations and military units
To celebrate this weekend's Fourth of July holiday in the US, Zynga has released a series of limited edition decorations and military units in Empires & Allies. For the new decorations, there's a trio to choose from, including the Uncle Sam Statue for 18 Empire Points, the Soldier Statue for 10,000 coins and the Army Exercise for 5,000 coins.
If you're more of a fighter than an "island decorator," you can instead spend your time purchasing two new units: The P-40 Warhawk Fighter costs 26 Empire Points, but comes with 75 Health Points of its own. Still not impressive enough? Then why not purchase the F-35 Lightning II, a fairly high-level unit that requires you to be level 25 or higher to purchase. This unit in particular is the first in a collection that Zynga is calling "Squad-Bonus Aircraft." If you purchase this, along with all other units released in the future, you'll receive a "Special Surprise" at the end. No word yet as to what that surprise actually is.
Again, all of these items are limited edition, and they'll only be available for the next 19 days. If you haven't reached level 25 yet, you've got quite a bit of time to plow through and level up to that point so you can add the F-35 to your collection, but don't delay! It's likely these items will disappear for good (or at least until the Fourth of July next year) after they expire.
Check out the rest of our July 4th coverage right here. >
What do you think of the Fourth of July items released in Empires & Allies this week? Will you collect these squad-based aircraft to have a chance at your special surprise? What are you hoping that surprise turns out to be?
If you're more of a fighter than an "island decorator," you can instead spend your time purchasing two new units: The P-40 Warhawk Fighter costs 26 Empire Points, but comes with 75 Health Points of its own. Still not impressive enough? Then why not purchase the F-35 Lightning II, a fairly high-level unit that requires you to be level 25 or higher to purchase. This unit in particular is the first in a collection that Zynga is calling "Squad-Bonus Aircraft." If you purchase this, along with all other units released in the future, you'll receive a "Special Surprise" at the end. No word yet as to what that surprise actually is.
Again, all of these items are limited edition, and they'll only be available for the next 19 days. If you haven't reached level 25 yet, you've got quite a bit of time to plow through and level up to that point so you can add the F-35 to your collection, but don't delay! It's likely these items will disappear for good (or at least until the Fourth of July next year) after they expire.
Check out the rest of our July 4th coverage right here. >
What do you think of the Fourth of July items released in Empires & Allies this week? Will you collect these squad-based aircraft to have a chance at your special surprise? What are you hoping that surprise turns out to be?
Cafe World Slow Cooker Goals: Everything you need to know
Ready to add yet another cooking appliance to your cafe in Cafe World, chefs? No? Well, I'm sorry to say Zynga expects you to, as you can now have a Slow Cooker in your cafe, and of course, they have announced goals to go along with it. Since these goals are likely to take you quite a while to finish, let's not waste any time and get straight to the guide, shall we?
Place the Slow Cooker!
Place Slow Cooker
The Slow Cooker, as you might have guessed, comes as just a base, but that base is free to add to your cafe (it takes up a single square's space). From there, you'll need to collect eight Stoneware Dishes and eight Meat Racks, along with six Timers and four Oven Gloves to finish it off.
A Visit from Grandma
Collect 5 Invitations for Grandma
Serve or Ask for 20 French Onion Soup
Cook Homestyle Pot Roast
As of this writing, there isn't any sort of in-game text that says each friend can only send you one invitation ever, so perhaps we've lucked out there. As for the French Onion Soup, it takes four hours to cook, while Homestyle Pot Roasts take a full two days to cook, unless you speed them up with spices.
Find Cooker Fixin's
Collect 7 Cups of Cubed Beef
Collect 7 Cups of Broth
Spice 5 Friends' Stoves
With Grandma on her way to your cafe, you'll need to find lots of ingredients to use in your Slow Cooker, so get to asking your friends for help.
Grandma's Arrival
Finish Slow Cooker
Collect 5 Cups of Broth
Collect 3 Pearl Onions
Yet again, you'll spend your time with this goal asking friends to help you with items. If it isn't the Broth or Onions, it will be the actual ingredients needed to build the Slow Cooker. With enough time (and patient friends), you'll be able to finish this one eventually.
Grandma's Here!
Complete Level 1 Mastery of Beef Bourguignon
Collect 6 Andouille Sausages
Collect 2 Pearl Onions
As you might have guessed, the Beef Bourguignon is a new recipe that can be cooked inside your finished Slow Cooker. For finishing this goal, you'll receive the Summer Jambalaya recipe which will come in handy next.
Grandma's Best
Complete Level 1 Mastery for Summer Jambalaya
Collect 8 Cups of Molasses
Spice 5 Neighbor Stoves
Yet again, you'll be able to cook this new recipe inside your Slow Cooker. Once this goal has been put to rest, you'll receive another new recipe in the form of the Gingerbread Spoon Cake for your trouble.
Dish Best Served Slow
Complete Level 1 Mastery for Gingerbread Spoon Cake
Collect 9 Poblano Peppers
Collect 3 Cups of Molasses
Finishing this goal gives you yet another recipe: Grandma's Chili. Your next goal will wrap this whole series up, so I hope you're ready.
A Great Grandma!
Complete Level 1 Mastery for Grandma's Chili
Cook Gingerbread Spoon Cake 8 Times
Serve of Ask for Beef Bourguignon 5 Times
Remember, with all of these mastery tasks, you may have some Mastery spices sitting in your spice rack. Using them will give you bonus Mastery Points for a dish without actually cooking it additional times, so they're worth pulling out right about now. For finishing this final goal, you'll also receive your final Slow Cooker recipe (as of this writing): Sweet Pulled Pork.
It's always possible that more Slow Cooker goals, along with more Slow Cooker recipes will be released in the future, but for now, this gives you plenty to work on, don't you think?
What do you think of these Slow Cooker Goals? Are you excited about adding a Slow Cooker to your cafe, or are you tired of building all of these different appliances?
Place the Slow Cooker!
Place Slow Cooker
The Slow Cooker, as you might have guessed, comes as just a base, but that base is free to add to your cafe (it takes up a single square's space). From there, you'll need to collect eight Stoneware Dishes and eight Meat Racks, along with six Timers and four Oven Gloves to finish it off.
A Visit from Grandma
Collect 5 Invitations for Grandma
Serve or Ask for 20 French Onion Soup
Cook Homestyle Pot Roast
As of this writing, there isn't any sort of in-game text that says each friend can only send you one invitation ever, so perhaps we've lucked out there. As for the French Onion Soup, it takes four hours to cook, while Homestyle Pot Roasts take a full two days to cook, unless you speed them up with spices.
Find Cooker Fixin's
Collect 7 Cups of Cubed Beef
Collect 7 Cups of Broth
Spice 5 Friends' Stoves
With Grandma on her way to your cafe, you'll need to find lots of ingredients to use in your Slow Cooker, so get to asking your friends for help.
Grandma's Arrival
Finish Slow Cooker
Collect 5 Cups of Broth
Collect 3 Pearl Onions
Yet again, you'll spend your time with this goal asking friends to help you with items. If it isn't the Broth or Onions, it will be the actual ingredients needed to build the Slow Cooker. With enough time (and patient friends), you'll be able to finish this one eventually.
Grandma's Here!
Complete Level 1 Mastery of Beef Bourguignon
Collect 6 Andouille Sausages
Collect 2 Pearl Onions
As you might have guessed, the Beef Bourguignon is a new recipe that can be cooked inside your finished Slow Cooker. For finishing this goal, you'll receive the Summer Jambalaya recipe which will come in handy next.
Grandma's Best
Complete Level 1 Mastery for Summer Jambalaya
Collect 8 Cups of Molasses
Spice 5 Neighbor Stoves
Yet again, you'll be able to cook this new recipe inside your Slow Cooker. Once this goal has been put to rest, you'll receive another new recipe in the form of the Gingerbread Spoon Cake for your trouble.
Dish Best Served Slow
Complete Level 1 Mastery for Gingerbread Spoon Cake
Collect 9 Poblano Peppers
Collect 3 Cups of Molasses
Finishing this goal gives you yet another recipe: Grandma's Chili. Your next goal will wrap this whole series up, so I hope you're ready.
A Great Grandma!
Complete Level 1 Mastery for Grandma's Chili
Cook Gingerbread Spoon Cake 8 Times
Serve of Ask for Beef Bourguignon 5 Times
Remember, with all of these mastery tasks, you may have some Mastery spices sitting in your spice rack. Using them will give you bonus Mastery Points for a dish without actually cooking it additional times, so they're worth pulling out right about now. For finishing this final goal, you'll also receive your final Slow Cooker recipe (as of this writing): Sweet Pulled Pork.
It's always possible that more Slow Cooker goals, along with more Slow Cooker recipes will be released in the future, but for now, this gives you plenty to work on, don't you think?
What do you think of these Slow Cooker Goals? Are you excited about adding a Slow Cooker to your cafe, or are you tired of building all of these different appliances?
Facebook Game Faceoff: Bejeweled Blitz vs Diamond Dash
bejeweled blitz diamond dash
Either way you look at it, you're still blowing up valuable rocks. Welcome back to Facebook Game Faceoff, where we pit two similar Facebook games against each other, and leave it up to you to decide the ultimate winner. In one corner, we have PopCap's Bejeweled Blitz, a social interpretation of the classic casual game where players must destroy as many gems as possible in 60 seconds. In the other corner stands Diamond Dash, Wooga's take on the gem-bashing puzzle genre that focuses more on goofy elemental power-ups, but keeps true to its inspirations.
Bejeweled Blitz Diamond Dash
We'll chalk up each game to three criteria. First, we'll compare each games play style, as destroying gems in each is slightly different. Second is friend interaction, which is pretty vital to such competitive games. And finally, of course, the power-ups (and explosions)--you know, the flashy light show we all come for? Ready ... fight!
Bejeweled Blitz gameplay
How Do You Bash Gems?
Bejeweled Blitz requires players to shift gems in order to match them, and thus blow 'em up. This creates a dynamic where you need not only be fast, but think about positioning and movement at the same time. Players can either click and drag gems or simply click the first gem and the second to switch their positions. Because of how the game works, skilled players look one step ahead of whatever gems they're bashing in hopes of creating chain reactions for major points.
Diamond Dash gameplay
In Diamond Dash, all players need to do is click sections of three or more identical gems to cause them to explode. This of course leads to more gems falling in their place, hopefully in big chunks of colors. This leads to extremely fast gameplay, and most of the game's focus is on speed, but we'll get into that later. However, there isn't much room for on-the-fly plotting or much strategy, though some players just want to click things ... really fast.
Bewjeweled Blitz Jewel Jabber
Oh, So You Wanna Talk Trash?
PopCap's gem basher has leader boards that update weekly in tournaments for all of your friends to see how awesomely (or terribly) you're doing. But then you can rummage through your friends' statistics like how may badges they've earned at each point rank and how their performance compares to your own. But Bejeweled Blitz has an interesting feature called Jewel Jabber, where players can send each other custom messages with matching avatars through the News Feed.
Diamond Dash Friend Challenge
Leader boards are of course include in Diamond Dash, and they too update weekly with new tournaments. And while the stat breakdowns for this game aren't as deep (nor is the friend interaction), there is one cool feature to speak of. It's the challenge, a feature that pits you against the score of the friend who is ranked just above you, and provides you with a score bonus when playing. This allows you a sliver of a chance to catch up to say, this guy that has over 400 thousand points on me.
Cat's Eye Gem
We're Going to Pump ... You Up!
Bejeweled Blitz has a list of power-ups that players can buy before each session with Coins. These include explosive ones like Detonator, which destroys every power gem on the board at once, or Scrambler, a power that, well, scrambles the gems on the board. Not to mention the things that can happen while playing a standard game--join five gems together and watch the sparks fly. But nothing can top the almighty Cat's Eye Gem, a secret that only unlocks after you reach a certain score. This fierce feline will boost your score through the roof as it blasts the entire board with its laser eyes.
Diamond Dash Magic Diamond
Diamond Dash, on the other hand, offers players new power-ups as they level up, the first of which being an ability that you activate through raw speed. Once you destroy enough gems in quick succession, the board will set ablaze, increasing points for as long as you can keep it going. Later on, you'll unlock a meter that, as you speedily blow up gems, will fill until it reaches a massive Magic Diamond. Once it does, it'll turn a single gem into a Magic Diamond. There are a few possibilities for Magic Diamonds, but the coolest is by far flaming gems that when clicked send a ball of fire crashing through an entire column of gems.
Each game offers blazing fast gem-crushing gameplay that can't be matched by any game other than, well, each other. While Bejeweled Blitz focuses on quirky power-ups and slightly cerebral puzzle solving (for advanced players), Diamond Dash is all about speed and watching the board come to life with fire and sparkly explosions. Both games offer compelling reasons to stay, but ultimately it's Bejeweled Blitz that keeps us around for its depth of friend interaction and insane laser-eyed cats. Now, we want you to be the ones who decide which is the best.
Bejeweled Blitz vs Diamond Dash: Who is the winner?
Bejeweled Blitz all the way!Diamond Dash is clearly the winner!
VoteView ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com
Have anything to add about either of the contenders? Ready for some good old trash talkin'?
Either way you look at it, you're still blowing up valuable rocks. Welcome back to Facebook Game Faceoff, where we pit two similar Facebook games against each other, and leave it up to you to decide the ultimate winner. In one corner, we have PopCap's Bejeweled Blitz, a social interpretation of the classic casual game where players must destroy as many gems as possible in 60 seconds. In the other corner stands Diamond Dash, Wooga's take on the gem-bashing puzzle genre that focuses more on goofy elemental power-ups, but keeps true to its inspirations.
Bejeweled Blitz Diamond Dash
We'll chalk up each game to three criteria. First, we'll compare each games play style, as destroying gems in each is slightly different. Second is friend interaction, which is pretty vital to such competitive games. And finally, of course, the power-ups (and explosions)--you know, the flashy light show we all come for? Ready ... fight!
Bejeweled Blitz gameplay
How Do You Bash Gems?
Bejeweled Blitz requires players to shift gems in order to match them, and thus blow 'em up. This creates a dynamic where you need not only be fast, but think about positioning and movement at the same time. Players can either click and drag gems or simply click the first gem and the second to switch their positions. Because of how the game works, skilled players look one step ahead of whatever gems they're bashing in hopes of creating chain reactions for major points.
Diamond Dash gameplay
In Diamond Dash, all players need to do is click sections of three or more identical gems to cause them to explode. This of course leads to more gems falling in their place, hopefully in big chunks of colors. This leads to extremely fast gameplay, and most of the game's focus is on speed, but we'll get into that later. However, there isn't much room for on-the-fly plotting or much strategy, though some players just want to click things ... really fast.
Bewjeweled Blitz Jewel Jabber
Oh, So You Wanna Talk Trash?
PopCap's gem basher has leader boards that update weekly in tournaments for all of your friends to see how awesomely (or terribly) you're doing. But then you can rummage through your friends' statistics like how may badges they've earned at each point rank and how their performance compares to your own. But Bejeweled Blitz has an interesting feature called Jewel Jabber, where players can send each other custom messages with matching avatars through the News Feed.
Diamond Dash Friend Challenge
Leader boards are of course include in Diamond Dash, and they too update weekly with new tournaments. And while the stat breakdowns for this game aren't as deep (nor is the friend interaction), there is one cool feature to speak of. It's the challenge, a feature that pits you against the score of the friend who is ranked just above you, and provides you with a score bonus when playing. This allows you a sliver of a chance to catch up to say, this guy that has over 400 thousand points on me.
Cat's Eye Gem
We're Going to Pump ... You Up!
Bejeweled Blitz has a list of power-ups that players can buy before each session with Coins. These include explosive ones like Detonator, which destroys every power gem on the board at once, or Scrambler, a power that, well, scrambles the gems on the board. Not to mention the things that can happen while playing a standard game--join five gems together and watch the sparks fly. But nothing can top the almighty Cat's Eye Gem, a secret that only unlocks after you reach a certain score. This fierce feline will boost your score through the roof as it blasts the entire board with its laser eyes.
Diamond Dash Magic Diamond
Diamond Dash, on the other hand, offers players new power-ups as they level up, the first of which being an ability that you activate through raw speed. Once you destroy enough gems in quick succession, the board will set ablaze, increasing points for as long as you can keep it going. Later on, you'll unlock a meter that, as you speedily blow up gems, will fill until it reaches a massive Magic Diamond. Once it does, it'll turn a single gem into a Magic Diamond. There are a few possibilities for Magic Diamonds, but the coolest is by far flaming gems that when clicked send a ball of fire crashing through an entire column of gems.
Each game offers blazing fast gem-crushing gameplay that can't be matched by any game other than, well, each other. While Bejeweled Blitz focuses on quirky power-ups and slightly cerebral puzzle solving (for advanced players), Diamond Dash is all about speed and watching the board come to life with fire and sparkly explosions. Both games offer compelling reasons to stay, but ultimately it's Bejeweled Blitz that keeps us around for its depth of friend interaction and insane laser-eyed cats. Now, we want you to be the ones who decide which is the best.
Bejeweled Blitz vs Diamond Dash: Who is the winner?
Bejeweled Blitz all the way!Diamond Dash is clearly the winner!
VoteView ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com
Have anything to add about either of the contenders? Ready for some good old trash talkin'?
Who's laughing now? FarmVille maker Zynga files for $1 billion IPO
For all of the people who have complained about the annoyance of Facebook friends' FarmVille wall posts and how Zynga games are "not really games," put this in your pipe and smoke it. Zynga has just filed an S-1 with the SEC, which means the company plans to go public.
The filing says that Zynga plans to raise as much as $1 billion dollars, though that number is still murky at this point. Even so, that's not shabby for a company who built its foundation on simple games with not-so-state-of-the-art graphics that let you play, among other things, a virtual farmer, mafia member and city builder.
In a letter to potential shareholders, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus says its operating philosophies are the following: "Games should be accessible to everyone, anywhere anytime ... games should be social ... games should be free ... games should be data driven and games should do good."
The S-1 filing then talks about the risks to the stock holders, many of which would be applicable to most game companies -- with a few exceptions. Zynga's reliance, and possible over-reliance, on Facebook for its success. From the S-1 filing:
"If we are unable to maintain a good relationship with Facebook, our business will suffer.
Facebook is the primary distribution, marketing, promotion and payment platform for our games. We generate substantially all of our revenue and players through the Facebook platform and expect to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Any deterioration in our relationship with Facebook would harm our business and adversely affect the value of our Class A common stock.
We are subject to Facebook's standard terms and conditions for application developers, which govern the promotion, distribution and operation of games and other applications on the Facebook platform. We have entered into an addendum to these terms and conditions pursuant to which we have agreed to use Facebook Credits, Facebook's proprietary payment method, as the primary means of payment within our games played through Facebook. This addendum expires in May 2015."
Then, there's also the note that Zynga makes most of its money from a small number of players who pay real-life cash for virtual goods in these games. The filing doesn't reveal what percentage of players are funneling cash into Zynga's coffers, but the industry standard for social games is between 1% to 5%.
"A small percentage of our players account for nearly all of our revenue. We lose paying players in the ordinary course of business. In order to sustain our revenue levels, we must attract new paying players or increase the amount our players pay. To retain paying players, we must devote significant resources so that the games they play retain their interest and attract them to our other games. If we fail to grow or sustain the number of our paying players, or if the rate at which we add paying players declines or if the average amount our paying players pay declines, our business may not grow, our financial results will suffer, and our stock price may decline."
Zynga IPO stats - infographics
The filing says that Zynga plans to raise as much as $1 billion dollars, though that number is still murky at this point. Even so, that's not shabby for a company who built its foundation on simple games with not-so-state-of-the-art graphics that let you play, among other things, a virtual farmer, mafia member and city builder.
In a letter to potential shareholders, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus says its operating philosophies are the following: "Games should be accessible to everyone, anywhere anytime ... games should be social ... games should be free ... games should be data driven and games should do good."
The S-1 filing then talks about the risks to the stock holders, many of which would be applicable to most game companies -- with a few exceptions. Zynga's reliance, and possible over-reliance, on Facebook for its success. From the S-1 filing:
"If we are unable to maintain a good relationship with Facebook, our business will suffer.
Facebook is the primary distribution, marketing, promotion and payment platform for our games. We generate substantially all of our revenue and players through the Facebook platform and expect to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Any deterioration in our relationship with Facebook would harm our business and adversely affect the value of our Class A common stock.
We are subject to Facebook's standard terms and conditions for application developers, which govern the promotion, distribution and operation of games and other applications on the Facebook platform. We have entered into an addendum to these terms and conditions pursuant to which we have agreed to use Facebook Credits, Facebook's proprietary payment method, as the primary means of payment within our games played through Facebook. This addendum expires in May 2015."
Then, there's also the note that Zynga makes most of its money from a small number of players who pay real-life cash for virtual goods in these games. The filing doesn't reveal what percentage of players are funneling cash into Zynga's coffers, but the industry standard for social games is between 1% to 5%.
"A small percentage of our players account for nearly all of our revenue. We lose paying players in the ordinary course of business. In order to sustain our revenue levels, we must attract new paying players or increase the amount our players pay. To retain paying players, we must devote significant resources so that the games they play retain their interest and attract them to our other games. If we fail to grow or sustain the number of our paying players, or if the rate at which we add paying players declines or if the average amount our paying players pay declines, our business may not grow, our financial results will suffer, and our stock price may decline."
Zynga IPO stats - infographics
FrontierVille Fireworks Stand: Build it, then custom-create your own 'works
FrontierVille rolls out a new Fireworks stand just in time for Fourth of July. Build it and then use it to craft custom fireworks. Stay tuned for our complete guide.
Got any must-hear tips on how to build this Fireworks stand fast?
Got any must-hear tips on how to build this Fireworks stand fast?
FrontierVille Fourth of July goals: Everything you need to know
Just in the nick of time, FrontierVille rolls out its special Fourth of July goals for 2011. Best get started on these over the holiday weekend -- this series of missions expire on July 21.
The first mission is called This Land is Your Land, and it's relatively easy to complete. Here's what you need to do:
frontierville this land is your land mission
- Chop trees 30 times on your homestead or a neighbor's
- Plant 25 wheat
- Visit 15 neighbors
Stay tuned for our complete guide....
The first mission is called This Land is Your Land, and it's relatively easy to complete. Here's what you need to do:
frontierville this land is your land mission
- Chop trees 30 times on your homestead or a neighbor's
- Plant 25 wheat
- Visit 15 neighbors
Stay tuned for our complete guide....
New CityVille Apple Pie crop with instant growth
If you're in need of instant goods in CityVille, you now have an easy option for growing new goods quickly -- that is, if you're willing to fork out the cash. The Apple Pie crop was released today, and for the hefty price of 4 City Cash, you can grow yourself a delicious meal in no time at all.
The Apple Pie crop makes 115 goods and grows instantly. No waiting whatsoever -- your crop is ready to be harvested as quickly as you plant it. However, 4 City Cash doesn't come cheap. I'm not too sure that I will ever be in the need of extra goods so bad that I cannot wait for a train delivery. You never know though, there could be someone who wants immediate gratification.
The Apple Pie crop is only available for the next 4 days, so it will be disappearing pretty soon after the 4th of July weekend.
The Apple Pie crop makes 115 goods and grows instantly. No waiting whatsoever -- your crop is ready to be harvested as quickly as you plant it. However, 4 City Cash doesn't come cheap. I'm not too sure that I will ever be in the need of extra goods so bad that I cannot wait for a train delivery. You never know though, there could be someone who wants immediate gratification.
The Apple Pie crop is only available for the next 4 days, so it will be disappearing pretty soon after the 4th of July weekend.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
FrontierVille Pioneer Trail Tips: Where did my friends go?
FrontierVille's Pioneer Trail, or better known now as simply Pioneer Trail, has plenty of you confused over just what happened to your friends when you made the transition to the new game. Have your old friends who haven't come over yet been left behind? What about while you're on the trail--can you interact with friends other than those you hired?
A lot of headlines we've seen circulating the web have made claims that this new game limits the amount of friends you can play with, and that's simply not the case. (At least it won't be once all of your friends join the new app.) So, here's a breakdown of exactly how The Pioneer Trail has and will affect your friendships in the game.
On the Pioneer Trail:
Embarking on the Pioneer Trail allows players to make better use out of their most dedicated and reliable friends. Each time you play through the Pioneer Trail maps to Fort Courage, you're strongly encouraged to choose three friends to fill the roles of Hunter, Carpenter and Doctor during your travels. While this does increase your maximum Rations (the Energy-like resource on the Pioneer Trail), it's also up to your friends to visit you on the Trail to refill your Rations and do you general or specific favors.
My Jobs
When you're elected as part of a friend's trail team, you can (and should) do the same. Visiting a friend on the Trail is much like visiting a friend's homestead--you're given five free actions to partake in. However, after you've completed those favors, you can choose the reward you're given from your Trail Boss, or the player whom you're visiting, from Meat to Prize Tickets. (Visiting friends also refills your Rations a bit.)
You can visit your friends on the Trail through the "My Jobs" button below the "Travel" button three times daily, though you can only help them every few hours. However, you can fill a role in several friends' teams. For instance, you can be the Hunter in both Bobby Sue's Trail team and Billy Joe's Trail team, but you can only fill one role per team.
Off the Pioneer Trail:
Many players are reporting that they've yet to see their friends appear in their Neighbor Bars on the homestead. This is because those friends have yet to make the transition to the Pioneer Trail app. Because the game is a brand new app, Pioneer Trail will only recognize your friends who have come over to the new app.
At this point, Zynga seems to have made it so players do not have a choice but enter the new Pioneer Trail game, so it's only a matter of time before all of your friends will be on board. Once your friends make the transition, it should be possible again for you to visit those friends and vise versa. Speaking of which...
Pioneer Trail Crew Jobs
Visiting Friends:
To be clear, you can only visit your friends on the Pioneer Trail with whom you have a role in their team. This is done by pressing the "My Jobs" button beneath the "Travel" button. (The more roles you take on for friends, the more friends you can visit on their Trails.) To visit your friends' homesteads like normal, just click on their portraits like you usually do--however this can only be done while you're on your own homestead.
So, The Pioneer Trail does not limit the friends you can play with, as long as they too have installed the new game. Again: You can only visit friends on their homesteads from your own homestead. You can visit your friends on the Trail at any time from the "My Jobs" button, but only those with which you have roles.
Invite Friends Pioneer Trail
A Known Issue:
This is probably the most confusing aspect of the new game thus far. When requesting friends to become members of your Trail team, or even just to send friends Gifts in general, the list of friends that appears does not differentiate your Pioneer Trail friends from your friends in other games or otherwise. (You can send friends Gifts regardless of whether you're a part of their Trail team.)
For instance, when you want to add friends to your new Trail team, the menu for adding friends doesn't just show those who have installed the Pioneer Trail, but all of your Facebook friends. Hopefully this issue is fixed soon, as this is what's looking to cause the most confusion overall.
Check out the rest of our FrontierVille Cheats & Tips right here. >
Have anymore questions about how The Pioneer Trail has affected your friendships in FrontierVille?
A lot of headlines we've seen circulating the web have made claims that this new game limits the amount of friends you can play with, and that's simply not the case. (At least it won't be once all of your friends join the new app.) So, here's a breakdown of exactly how The Pioneer Trail has and will affect your friendships in the game.
On the Pioneer Trail:
Embarking on the Pioneer Trail allows players to make better use out of their most dedicated and reliable friends. Each time you play through the Pioneer Trail maps to Fort Courage, you're strongly encouraged to choose three friends to fill the roles of Hunter, Carpenter and Doctor during your travels. While this does increase your maximum Rations (the Energy-like resource on the Pioneer Trail), it's also up to your friends to visit you on the Trail to refill your Rations and do you general or specific favors.
My Jobs
When you're elected as part of a friend's trail team, you can (and should) do the same. Visiting a friend on the Trail is much like visiting a friend's homestead--you're given five free actions to partake in. However, after you've completed those favors, you can choose the reward you're given from your Trail Boss, or the player whom you're visiting, from Meat to Prize Tickets. (Visiting friends also refills your Rations a bit.)
You can visit your friends on the Trail through the "My Jobs" button below the "Travel" button three times daily, though you can only help them every few hours. However, you can fill a role in several friends' teams. For instance, you can be the Hunter in both Bobby Sue's Trail team and Billy Joe's Trail team, but you can only fill one role per team.
Off the Pioneer Trail:
Many players are reporting that they've yet to see their friends appear in their Neighbor Bars on the homestead. This is because those friends have yet to make the transition to the Pioneer Trail app. Because the game is a brand new app, Pioneer Trail will only recognize your friends who have come over to the new app.
At this point, Zynga seems to have made it so players do not have a choice but enter the new Pioneer Trail game, so it's only a matter of time before all of your friends will be on board. Once your friends make the transition, it should be possible again for you to visit those friends and vise versa. Speaking of which...
Pioneer Trail Crew Jobs
Visiting Friends:
To be clear, you can only visit your friends on the Pioneer Trail with whom you have a role in their team. This is done by pressing the "My Jobs" button beneath the "Travel" button. (The more roles you take on for friends, the more friends you can visit on their Trails.) To visit your friends' homesteads like normal, just click on their portraits like you usually do--however this can only be done while you're on your own homestead.
So, The Pioneer Trail does not limit the friends you can play with, as long as they too have installed the new game. Again: You can only visit friends on their homesteads from your own homestead. You can visit your friends on the Trail at any time from the "My Jobs" button, but only those with which you have roles.
Invite Friends Pioneer Trail
A Known Issue:
This is probably the most confusing aspect of the new game thus far. When requesting friends to become members of your Trail team, or even just to send friends Gifts in general, the list of friends that appears does not differentiate your Pioneer Trail friends from your friends in other games or otherwise. (You can send friends Gifts regardless of whether you're a part of their Trail team.)
For instance, when you want to add friends to your new Trail team, the menu for adding friends doesn't just show those who have installed the Pioneer Trail, but all of your Facebook friends. Hopefully this issue is fixed soon, as this is what's looking to cause the most confusion overall.
Check out the rest of our FrontierVille Cheats & Tips right here. >
Have anymore questions about how The Pioneer Trail has affected your friendships in FrontierVille?
FarmVille Pic of the Day: Brayzdin's farm-eating dragon [Interview]
To help spice up your Monday afternoon, I've got one of the wildest FarmVille designs we've ever had the honor of featuring here on Games.com. On their farm, FarmVille artist Brayzdin created a fire breathing dragon. But this isn't your ordinary, flat, hay-bale dragon. This dragon is literally on the farm, devouring, clawing, and breathing fire on it.
This dragon, made of various types of trees, is one of the most impressive FarmVille illusions I've ever seen. When I first came across Brayzdin's farm, I almost didn't see the dragon-like beast because it was so massive. Not only is it perfectly shaped, but the stacked trees and layered objects give it a three-dimensional feel. My favorite parts are that creepy lizard tongue and the arm wrapping around that huge mountain.
Here's what farm artist Brayzdin had to say about the masterpiece:
What inspired your creative farm design?
Not much inspiration, just one day I decided to use trees, for my design........and the end result was a big green dragon.............and no arborists!
Do you have any awesome decorating tips to share?
Try your best not to use hay bales.....its too simple. Using for water is OK though.
How long did it take you to complete the design?
Less than two weeks.
What do you think of Brayzden's dragon farm?
If you have an AWESOME FarmVille farm that you want to see featured on Games.com, please email a picture to editors@games.com, Include a few words about the inspiration for your design and maybe a few tips for people who need an assist!
This dragon, made of various types of trees, is one of the most impressive FarmVille illusions I've ever seen. When I first came across Brayzdin's farm, I almost didn't see the dragon-like beast because it was so massive. Not only is it perfectly shaped, but the stacked trees and layered objects give it a three-dimensional feel. My favorite parts are that creepy lizard tongue and the arm wrapping around that huge mountain.
Here's what farm artist Brayzdin had to say about the masterpiece:
What inspired your creative farm design?
Not much inspiration, just one day I decided to use trees, for my design........and the end result was a big green dragon.............and no arborists!
Do you have any awesome decorating tips to share?
Try your best not to use hay bales.....its too simple. Using for water is OK though.
How long did it take you to complete the design?
Less than two weeks.
What do you think of Brayzden's dragon farm?
If you have an AWESOME FarmVille farm that you want to see featured on Games.com, please email a picture to editors@games.com, Include a few words about the inspiration for your design and maybe a few tips for people who need an assist!
Diamond Dash creator: 'Asynchronous play is not going to go away'
Well, there goes my dream of a real-time Diamond Dash battle with hundreds of crashing fireballs. Wooga CEO Jens Begemann (pictured) laid it out for everyone who had questions about social gaming at his GDC Europe keynote recently. Begemann said, "Social games are not here to take today's gamers and make them Farmville farmers," Gamasutra reports. The CEO of currently the second most popular Facebook games creator (according to AppData) also pointed out that, "Asynchronous play is not going to go away."
What he seems to imply here is that hardcore social games aren't going to overtake Facebook and other platforms. Social games weren't designed for your friends that play Call of Duty for 30 hours a week, but for those who pop into FarmVille for a few minutes to check on their crops every day. This is exactly why Begemann thinks that asynchronous gameplay (think of how friend interaction is handled in Empires & Allies as opposed to CivWorld): It caters so much better to casual spurts of play.
Begemann is of the belief that the majority of the 270 million plus Facebook gamers play for just minutes a day, and judging from a recent study regarding FarmVille players he's probably right. So, there are a great amount of Facebook gamers that play hardcore games like the recently-released Edgeworld by Kabam or Kixeye's Backyard Monsters. But, in Begemann's eyes, they pale in comparison to the growing casual Facebook player base that just doesn't have the time or care to check in on whether their base was invaded in the middle of the night.
"Social games are parallel play," Begemann said during his keynote address. "People want to play for themselves. Sometimes, they may walk up to the other and either help or destroy what the other has been doing." Considering wooga--which just launched Magic Land--is the second largest social games developer right now, it's hard to argue with that ideology. However, the hardcore approach is doing just fine for a select few companies. If anything, Facebook is proving to be quite the microcosm of the games industry at large.
[Image Credit: Jens Begemann]
Which way do you think the social games industry is going to end up leaning more toward? Do you agree that both casual and hardcore games have a place on platforms like Facebook and Google+?
What he seems to imply here is that hardcore social games aren't going to overtake Facebook and other platforms. Social games weren't designed for your friends that play Call of Duty for 30 hours a week, but for those who pop into FarmVille for a few minutes to check on their crops every day. This is exactly why Begemann thinks that asynchronous gameplay (think of how friend interaction is handled in Empires & Allies as opposed to CivWorld): It caters so much better to casual spurts of play.
Begemann is of the belief that the majority of the 270 million plus Facebook gamers play for just minutes a day, and judging from a recent study regarding FarmVille players he's probably right. So, there are a great amount of Facebook gamers that play hardcore games like the recently-released Edgeworld by Kabam or Kixeye's Backyard Monsters. But, in Begemann's eyes, they pale in comparison to the growing casual Facebook player base that just doesn't have the time or care to check in on whether their base was invaded in the middle of the night.
"Social games are parallel play," Begemann said during his keynote address. "People want to play for themselves. Sometimes, they may walk up to the other and either help or destroy what the other has been doing." Considering wooga--which just launched Magic Land--is the second largest social games developer right now, it's hard to argue with that ideology. However, the hardcore approach is doing just fine for a select few companies. If anything, Facebook is proving to be quite the microcosm of the games industry at large.
[Image Credit: Jens Begemann]
Which way do you think the social games industry is going to end up leaning more toward? Do you agree that both casual and hardcore games have a place on platforms like Facebook and Google+?
LEGO Universe goes free-to-play; remember to give the kids a try, too
We know your inner child can't resist, but try to remember your outer children, kay? The LEGO Group has finally made a nice chunk of LEGO Universe, the MMO (massively multiplayer online game) created by NetDevil, free to play. The game is going the way of Facebook games and the legion of MMOs before it to make bank a few extra bucks. However, fans who want to get in on the action for free will be relegated to the new Free to Play Zone, an area blocked off from the rest of the game.
But don't think this form of digital plastic segregation means you'll be lesser than those willing to put up 10 bucks a month (which The LEGO Group points out you can upgrade to at any time). Free players will be granted access to two adventure zones to romp through, a player property area to build new LEGO creations in and the chance to participate in mini games and face the ominous-sounding Spider Queen. Well, as ominous as plastic toys can get.
Just like in your favorite Facebook games, free players can visit their friends' property areas and see what they've created. The LEGO Group says in a statement, "If you haven't played LEGO Universe yet, now is the time!" Obvious marketing speak or not, it's pretty tough to disagree with free. LEGO Universe is available for free digital download only right here. If you can't sate your inner 12-year-old long enough for your real 12-year-old to play, you might want to install this baby on two machines.
LEGO Universe gameplay
Click here to download LEGO Universe for free Now >
Have you tried LEGO Universe already? If so, what did you think? If not, is free enough to reel you in?
But don't think this form of digital plastic segregation means you'll be lesser than those willing to put up 10 bucks a month (which The LEGO Group points out you can upgrade to at any time). Free players will be granted access to two adventure zones to romp through, a player property area to build new LEGO creations in and the chance to participate in mini games and face the ominous-sounding Spider Queen. Well, as ominous as plastic toys can get.
Just like in your favorite Facebook games, free players can visit their friends' property areas and see what they've created. The LEGO Group says in a statement, "If you haven't played LEGO Universe yet, now is the time!" Obvious marketing speak or not, it's pretty tough to disagree with free. LEGO Universe is available for free digital download only right here. If you can't sate your inner 12-year-old long enough for your real 12-year-old to play, you might want to install this baby on two machines.
LEGO Universe gameplay
Click here to download LEGO Universe for free Now >
Have you tried LEGO Universe already? If so, what did you think? If not, is free enough to reel you in?
Syfy Games set to launch on Facebook with new partner KlickNation
KlickNation games
We first caught wind of Syfy getting into the social games biz back in March, and it has moved quickly, all things considered. A glance at KlickNation's top games is enough to tell you why Syfy chose this fledgling, Sacramento, CA-based game developer to make their Facebook games. KlickNation currently has about 1.2 million players spread out across four major games (in order of most popular to least) -- Six Gun Galaxy, Age of Champions, Superhero City, and Starship Command: Battle for Earth. These four fall right in line with the kinds of genres the Syfy Channel purports to service.
Under its undisclosed, multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with Syfy, KlickNation will be unleashing a combat game about the Olympian gods, called Age of Immortals, later this year. Syfy President David Howe also reports that "around six Facebook games" are in the works. KlickNation must be ecstatic, because partnering with Syfy (in conjunction with NBC Universal) means access to a newer, wider audience and bigger budgets. And, who knows, maybe one of these games will be turned into a new Syfy film or TV series.
Syfy Games logo
Truth be told, the Syfy Channel leaves many science fiction fans feeling lukewarm. Every now and then, the network champions a gem, such as Battlestar Galactica, but lately have taken to indulging in corny, B-movie fare, such as Megashark vs Giant Octopus. Or even worse, the network airs shows that have nothing to do with science fiction, such as WWE SmackDown. Then again, shows like Megashark vs Giant Octopus could be translated into one helluva Facebook game.
We first caught wind of Syfy getting into the social games biz back in March, and it has moved quickly, all things considered. A glance at KlickNation's top games is enough to tell you why Syfy chose this fledgling, Sacramento, CA-based game developer to make their Facebook games. KlickNation currently has about 1.2 million players spread out across four major games (in order of most popular to least) -- Six Gun Galaxy, Age of Champions, Superhero City, and Starship Command: Battle for Earth. These four fall right in line with the kinds of genres the Syfy Channel purports to service.
Under its undisclosed, multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with Syfy, KlickNation will be unleashing a combat game about the Olympian gods, called Age of Immortals, later this year. Syfy President David Howe also reports that "around six Facebook games" are in the works. KlickNation must be ecstatic, because partnering with Syfy (in conjunction with NBC Universal) means access to a newer, wider audience and bigger budgets. And, who knows, maybe one of these games will be turned into a new Syfy film or TV series.
Syfy Games logo
Truth be told, the Syfy Channel leaves many science fiction fans feeling lukewarm. Every now and then, the network champions a gem, such as Battlestar Galactica, but lately have taken to indulging in corny, B-movie fare, such as Megashark vs Giant Octopus. Or even worse, the network airs shows that have nothing to do with science fiction, such as WWE SmackDown. Then again, shows like Megashark vs Giant Octopus could be translated into one helluva Facebook game.
Angry Birds creator might be worth a happy $1.2 billion [Rumor]
The perma-frown on the Angry Birds' faces might finally turn upside down. Bloomberg reports, citing "two people with knowledge of the discussions," that Finnish creator Rovio could be valued at $1.2 billion if talks to receive extra funding go through. The creator of arguably the most popular mobile game, um, ever is in investment talks with a company in the entertainment business. That most vague of statements leaves the possibilities up to ... a couple hundred companies, but industry analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities has narrowed it down to a select few.
Of course, Zynga could be the big spender, especially considering recent rumors. But Pachter goes on to make educated guesses including EA, News Corp. and Disney. "I can see how Disney would take 'Angry Birds' and turn them into a theme-park ride and a movie," Pachter told Bloomberg. "Zynga could take 'Angry Birds' and make it into 'FarmVille.'"
We're going to just ignore that blanket statement regarding FarmVille. As for EA, though, we doubt it's in any position to invest right now considering it just spent an effective $1.3 billion alone on Bejeweled creator PopCap. But Pachter makes a whole lot of sense with his Disney guess, especially since Rovio has made its goals for the Angry Birds franchise crystal clear. And don't forget, Disney has been in the games biz for quite some time before even Facebook games with Playdom.
(A sidenote: Can I just say how surprised I am that Rovio is being valued at just $1.2 billion? When's the last time you mentioned the damned game and someone hadn't heard of it? Sure, Zynga is worth at least $11.5 billion thanks to virtual goods, but I've yet to hear of a FarmVille movie.)
On top of being found on every device out there (even Facebook someday), Rovio works diligently on turning Angry Birds into an internationally-recognized icon much like--dare I say--Mickey Mouse. And Old Big Ears has grown a bit ragged over the years, no? As with all rumors, this is all wild, but educated, speculation. Now all we can do is wait for Rovio to announce a "Steamboat Angry Birds" update somewhere down the line.
[Via TouchArcade]
[Image Credit: Geek.com]
Who do you think would most likely be the big Angry Birds investor? What do you think Rovio would do with the cash injection?
Of course, Zynga could be the big spender, especially considering recent rumors. But Pachter goes on to make educated guesses including EA, News Corp. and Disney. "I can see how Disney would take 'Angry Birds' and turn them into a theme-park ride and a movie," Pachter told Bloomberg. "Zynga could take 'Angry Birds' and make it into 'FarmVille.'"
We're going to just ignore that blanket statement regarding FarmVille. As for EA, though, we doubt it's in any position to invest right now considering it just spent an effective $1.3 billion alone on Bejeweled creator PopCap. But Pachter makes a whole lot of sense with his Disney guess, especially since Rovio has made its goals for the Angry Birds franchise crystal clear. And don't forget, Disney has been in the games biz for quite some time before even Facebook games with Playdom.
(A sidenote: Can I just say how surprised I am that Rovio is being valued at just $1.2 billion? When's the last time you mentioned the damned game and someone hadn't heard of it? Sure, Zynga is worth at least $11.5 billion thanks to virtual goods, but I've yet to hear of a FarmVille movie.)
On top of being found on every device out there (even Facebook someday), Rovio works diligently on turning Angry Birds into an internationally-recognized icon much like--dare I say--Mickey Mouse. And Old Big Ears has grown a bit ragged over the years, no? As with all rumors, this is all wild, but educated, speculation. Now all we can do is wait for Rovio to announce a "Steamboat Angry Birds" update somewhere down the line.
[Via TouchArcade]
[Image Credit: Geek.com]
Who do you think would most likely be the big Angry Birds investor? What do you think Rovio would do with the cash injection?
Fruit Ninja Frenzy on Facebook: We roll out our banana rating system for this juicy new game
Fruit Ninja creator Halfbrick has single handedly turned slicing fruit into one of the hottest forms of portable entertainment. Its simple game, where you, as a fruit ninja, use a razor sharp weapon and lightening fast reflexes to chop as many pieces of flying produce as possible, racking up points and -- if your slicing and dicing skills rival that of the average Iron Chef -- earn permanent bragging rights among your friends.
Since its initial release in 2010, Fruit Ninja has sold well over 3 million copies on mobile devices, last week, made its debut on Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming system. Now the game has arrived on Facebook in the form of Fruit Ninja Frenzy, and is one of the best mobile-to-social-network game renditions in recent memory.
Gallery: Fruit Ninja Frenzy on Facebook
Fruit Ninja Frenzy borrows heavily from the Bejeweled Blitz game model and takes the Arcade Mode from the original game and gives would-be ninjas one minute to chop as many pieces of fruit as possible, while avoiding bombs, which, when hit, subtract points from your score. After the round ends, you get extra bonus points for pulling off combos or other feats (standard for all Fruit Ninja games), along with "Juice" which can be used to purchase certain power-ups or "Smoothies" to give you a leg up in your next game. And, yes, these boosts, which remove bombs from the game entirely, give you a little extra time or start you off with a random power up, are crucial if you really want to max out your score. You start the game with one power-up slot, and two more can be unlocked by paying Facebook Credits.
There are other power-ups to be had as well, but those must be purchased using the game's other form of virtual currency, Starfruit. There are two ways to get Starfruit in the game: first, by purchasing them using Facebook Credits or second, earning them by completing achievements. Once you have Starfruit, you'll be able to use it to buy to some extra fancy boosts, new blades, backgrounds and more Juice.
fruit ninja frenzy achievements
As for the Achievements -- they are one of the main driving forces of the game. Just when you think you've maxed out your fruit ninja skills, you can check out the game's list of achievements for new challenges, such as the 'Strawberry Snobbery" goal, where a ninja needs to score of 100 in a game, without slicing a single strawberry. Or, there's the "Fruit Machine" goal, which a player earns by slicing 5,000 fruit. And then there's the achievement for the underachiever -- the 'Wake Up" goal, which can be earned by playing through the entire game without taking a single slice at a piece of fruit.
The other main driving force of the game are the leaderboards, also reminiscent of Bejeweled Blitz, which are wiped clean weekly. Even though leaderboards are one of the oldest motivators in video game history, there's just something about going head-to-head against your Facebook friends that will keep you coming back for more.
Before you attempt to play Fruit Ninja Frenzy, heed these two warnings about the game's performance. If you play this game on a laptop, plug in a mouse. Using the touch pad to slice and dice fruit isn't impossible, but it's not exactly easy either. It's also a good idea to turn down the graphics setting on the game to improve performance. On my relatively new MacBook Pro, the game ran a little choppy on the highest settings, but once I turned the visuals to 'low,' it ran as smooth as (apple) butter.
Once you get these little problems worked out, get ready to unleash your inner ninja warrior on wave after wave of flying virtual fruit. Like Bejeweled Blitz, Fruit Ninja Frenzy has a highly addictive quality, and I'm willing to be you won't be able to stop playing after just one game (or two, three, five or 10 ...).
Note: Fruit Ninja Frenzy is not yet available to the public, so bookmark the link below and check back here for more details on when you can get a slice of the action. but a company rep says that should change "by the end of day today."
Fruit Ninja Frenzy on Facebook >
Games.com 30-Second Review
Pros: Excellent Facebook translation of the hit game; one-minute timed game, achievements, boosts and weekly leaderboards will have you slicing more fruit than a Guatemalan mango farmer.
Cons: Game runs choppy on the highest graphical setting, a little difficult to play using a laptop's touchpad
Final Verdict: Fruit Ninja Frenzy is top banana when it comes to new Facebook games. Top. Banana.
top banana
Since its initial release in 2010, Fruit Ninja has sold well over 3 million copies on mobile devices, last week, made its debut on Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming system. Now the game has arrived on Facebook in the form of Fruit Ninja Frenzy, and is one of the best mobile-to-social-network game renditions in recent memory.
Gallery: Fruit Ninja Frenzy on Facebook
Fruit Ninja Frenzy borrows heavily from the Bejeweled Blitz game model and takes the Arcade Mode from the original game and gives would-be ninjas one minute to chop as many pieces of fruit as possible, while avoiding bombs, which, when hit, subtract points from your score. After the round ends, you get extra bonus points for pulling off combos or other feats (standard for all Fruit Ninja games), along with "Juice" which can be used to purchase certain power-ups or "Smoothies" to give you a leg up in your next game. And, yes, these boosts, which remove bombs from the game entirely, give you a little extra time or start you off with a random power up, are crucial if you really want to max out your score. You start the game with one power-up slot, and two more can be unlocked by paying Facebook Credits.
There are other power-ups to be had as well, but those must be purchased using the game's other form of virtual currency, Starfruit. There are two ways to get Starfruit in the game: first, by purchasing them using Facebook Credits or second, earning them by completing achievements. Once you have Starfruit, you'll be able to use it to buy to some extra fancy boosts, new blades, backgrounds and more Juice.
fruit ninja frenzy achievements
As for the Achievements -- they are one of the main driving forces of the game. Just when you think you've maxed out your fruit ninja skills, you can check out the game's list of achievements for new challenges, such as the 'Strawberry Snobbery" goal, where a ninja needs to score of 100 in a game, without slicing a single strawberry. Or, there's the "Fruit Machine" goal, which a player earns by slicing 5,000 fruit. And then there's the achievement for the underachiever -- the 'Wake Up" goal, which can be earned by playing through the entire game without taking a single slice at a piece of fruit.
The other main driving force of the game are the leaderboards, also reminiscent of Bejeweled Blitz, which are wiped clean weekly. Even though leaderboards are one of the oldest motivators in video game history, there's just something about going head-to-head against your Facebook friends that will keep you coming back for more.
Before you attempt to play Fruit Ninja Frenzy, heed these two warnings about the game's performance. If you play this game on a laptop, plug in a mouse. Using the touch pad to slice and dice fruit isn't impossible, but it's not exactly easy either. It's also a good idea to turn down the graphics setting on the game to improve performance. On my relatively new MacBook Pro, the game ran a little choppy on the highest settings, but once I turned the visuals to 'low,' it ran as smooth as (apple) butter.
Once you get these little problems worked out, get ready to unleash your inner ninja warrior on wave after wave of flying virtual fruit. Like Bejeweled Blitz, Fruit Ninja Frenzy has a highly addictive quality, and I'm willing to be you won't be able to stop playing after just one game (or two, three, five or 10 ...).
Note: Fruit Ninja Frenzy is not yet available to the public, so bookmark the link below and check back here for more details on when you can get a slice of the action. but a company rep says that should change "by the end of day today."
Fruit Ninja Frenzy on Facebook >
Games.com 30-Second Review
Pros: Excellent Facebook translation of the hit game; one-minute timed game, achievements, boosts and weekly leaderboards will have you slicing more fruit than a Guatemalan mango farmer.
Cons: Game runs choppy on the highest graphical setting, a little difficult to play using a laptop's touchpad
Final Verdict: Fruit Ninja Frenzy is top banana when it comes to new Facebook games. Top. Banana.
top banana
CityVille Sneak Peek: This Dam might provide mayors with free Energy
Wait a tick, I have more batteries than I count in my inventory, don't you? Anyway, Zynga has hinted at The Dam, a feature that's likely coming soon to CityVille. According to the promotional artwork for the teased feature, this Dam could be quite huge, and will provide players with Energy somehow. But we have a few guesses of our own (of course).
First of all, it's almost certain that this feature will be as big a deal as the Bridge was, especially considering the hype Zynga looks to generate over this with a teaser post on the forums complete with promo artwork. But how's about some more ... wild guesses? (You didn't even have to ask!)
Perhaps we can super-charge unused Batteries through the Dam to make them more worthwhile. Heck, the Dam could even manufacture its very own Batteries for us to use. And if that's the case, I'd expect multiple levels of this new feature, with each level producing more potent Batteries.
Though, since Batteries are so easy to come by these days (at least for me), maybe the Dam will provide with a different kind of Energy. Juice to recharge Community Buildings and Houses for rent collection sounds like a pretty nifty idea to me. As with all sneak peeks, we'll just have to wait and see ... and keep on guessing until then.
[Source and Image: Zynga]
What do you think Zynga will do with a feature like this? More importantly, what do you hope the Dam will become in CityVille?
First of all, it's almost certain that this feature will be as big a deal as the Bridge was, especially considering the hype Zynga looks to generate over this with a teaser post on the forums complete with promo artwork. But how's about some more ... wild guesses? (You didn't even have to ask!)
Perhaps we can super-charge unused Batteries through the Dam to make them more worthwhile. Heck, the Dam could even manufacture its very own Batteries for us to use. And if that's the case, I'd expect multiple levels of this new feature, with each level producing more potent Batteries.
Though, since Batteries are so easy to come by these days (at least for me), maybe the Dam will provide with a different kind of Energy. Juice to recharge Community Buildings and Houses for rent collection sounds like a pretty nifty idea to me. As with all sneak peeks, we'll just have to wait and see ... and keep on guessing until then.
[Source and Image: Zynga]
What do you think Zynga will do with a feature like this? More importantly, what do you hope the Dam will become in CityVille?
CityVille Bike Shop, Sunglasses Store and Ice Cream Parlor upgrades now available
If you're a fan of business upgrades in CityVille, then hold onto your hats! Three existing businesses have been given upgrades this week, with the Bike Shop, Sunglasses Store and Ice Cream Parlor being ready for boosts! Before we begin, it's important to note that upgrading these three businesses will not see you changing their appearance at all; you'll simply upgrade their payouts, while also increasing the amount of Goods needed to supply them each time.
As an example, the Ice Cream Parlor can be upgraded twice, with the first upgrade (technically to Level 2) coming after collecting from and supplying your Ice Cream Parlor 50 times. This takes the parlor's stats to 495 coins earned for every 100 Goods supplied (the default is 308 coins for every 70 Goods). Once that's done, you can complete the upgrade process all over again to reach Level 3, where you'll supply the parlor with 130 Goods and earn 660 coins in the process.
You'll need to complete similar tasks to upgrade the Sunglasses Store and Bike Shop, but remember, you can speed up your work considerably by asking your friends to help you out, rather than going it alone. Since the buildings don't change in appearance, these upgrades are fairly large no-brainers: if you've got the Goods to supply their higher demands, why not accept the higher payouts in return? As usual, we'll continue to let you know when more upgrades are released in the future, so keep checking back.
Which of these three business upgrades will you start first in CityVille? Do you own all three businesses already, or will you have to actually build one first so that you can actually upgrade it?
As an example, the Ice Cream Parlor can be upgraded twice, with the first upgrade (technically to Level 2) coming after collecting from and supplying your Ice Cream Parlor 50 times. This takes the parlor's stats to 495 coins earned for every 100 Goods supplied (the default is 308 coins for every 70 Goods). Once that's done, you can complete the upgrade process all over again to reach Level 3, where you'll supply the parlor with 130 Goods and earn 660 coins in the process.
You'll need to complete similar tasks to upgrade the Sunglasses Store and Bike Shop, but remember, you can speed up your work considerably by asking your friends to help you out, rather than going it alone. Since the buildings don't change in appearance, these upgrades are fairly large no-brainers: if you've got the Goods to supply their higher demands, why not accept the higher payouts in return? As usual, we'll continue to let you know when more upgrades are released in the future, so keep checking back.
Which of these three business upgrades will you start first in CityVille? Do you own all three businesses already, or will you have to actually build one first so that you can actually upgrade it?
Digital Chocolate expands its reach with acquisition of Sandlot Games
Digital Chocolate, a social game developer for mobile and Facebook best known for the popular game Millionaire City, has just acquired Sandlot Games. Sandlot Games are a publisher that host a variety of games on their web portal, with favorites being Super Granny and Cake Mania. The company is headquartered in Bothell, Washington and was founded in 2002, making it a fairly experienced casual games development team.
Trip Hawkins, Founder and CEO of Digital Chocolate says that this acquisition will help them "now expand further in Seattle and Eastern Europe." He also mentions that they expect to be the leading game studio in 5 of the 7 cities where they have a development presence. The partnership is mutually beneficial, enabling both parties to reach larger audiences with their cross--platform titles.
Digital Chocolate has been doing well in their efforts to go cross-platform. The company has had over 100 million game installs of titles like Millionaire City and Zombie Lane on the web, and has released over 100 social and casual titles.
Trip Hawkins, Founder and CEO of Digital Chocolate says that this acquisition will help them "now expand further in Seattle and Eastern Europe." He also mentions that they expect to be the leading game studio in 5 of the 7 cities where they have a development presence. The partnership is mutually beneficial, enabling both parties to reach larger audiences with their cross--platform titles.
Digital Chocolate has been doing well in their efforts to go cross-platform. The company has had over 100 million game installs of titles like Millionaire City and Zombie Lane on the web, and has released over 100 social and casual titles.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Look, Zynga, MapleStory maker Nexon can make a billion bucks too
Well, at least in Japan. TechCrunch reports that Nexon, the South Korean creator of hit free-to-play game franchise MapleStory, looks to make up to $1.3 billion from its initial public offering (IPO) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company, which has since expanded onto Facebook with a version of MapleStory and two other games, expects to reel in over 100 billion yen.
Better yet, the Nexon IPO could boost the now Japan-based company's market cap, or the public consensus on how much a company is worth, up to between $7.7 and $9 billion. For those keeping score, that's not terribly far off from where Zynga is expected to land. (You know, when its IPO actually happens.) And in the Japanese social game space, that could set Nexon in first place ahead of both DeNA and GREE.
Many credit Nexon as one of the first companies to popularize the free-to-play game model in the Western world. The company is also known for releasing the world's first graphics-based MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), The Kingdom of the Winds, in 1995. That said, we're surprised this hadn't happened sooner.
On Facebook, Nexon currently enjoys around 1.7 million monthly players, according to AppData. That's thanks almost entirely to MapleStory Adventures. However, the publisher's Wonder Cruise has yet to officially release on Facebook and its brand spankin' new Zombie Misfits is slowly climbing. Now, if only Nexon would take that extra cash and put Dungeon Fighter in our iPhones already.
Have you played MapleStory Adventures yet? What do you think of Nexon's games on Facebook so far?
Better yet, the Nexon IPO could boost the now Japan-based company's market cap, or the public consensus on how much a company is worth, up to between $7.7 and $9 billion. For those keeping score, that's not terribly far off from where Zynga is expected to land. (You know, when its IPO actually happens.) And in the Japanese social game space, that could set Nexon in first place ahead of both DeNA and GREE.
Many credit Nexon as one of the first companies to popularize the free-to-play game model in the Western world. The company is also known for releasing the world's first graphics-based MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), The Kingdom of the Winds, in 1995. That said, we're surprised this hadn't happened sooner.
On Facebook, Nexon currently enjoys around 1.7 million monthly players, according to AppData. That's thanks almost entirely to MapleStory Adventures. However, the publisher's Wonder Cruise has yet to officially release on Facebook and its brand spankin' new Zombie Misfits is slowly climbing. Now, if only Nexon would take that extra cash and put Dungeon Fighter in our iPhones already.
Have you played MapleStory Adventures yet? What do you think of Nexon's games on Facebook so far?
Facebook's Zuckerberg 'pretty sure' company won't make social games
Riiight. We're onto you, Mark. Jokes (momentarily) aside, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) and COO Sheryl Sandberg told journalist Charlie Rose during a PBS interview that aired Monday night that Facebook will not build its own social games, Business Insider reports. However, it's interesting to note that the Big Z is the one who led the conversation into games, and continues to praise them.
"One thing that we haven't talked about at all here are games, right," Zuckerberg told Rose. "I mean, games is probably the biggest industry today that has gone really social, right. I mean, the incumbent game companies are really being disrupted and are quickly trying to become social. And you have companies like Zynga."
Despite his deep enthusiasm for social games, the Facebook chief said, "No, I'm pretty sure we're not going to build any games." That is, after Rose repeatedly interrupted the guy ... jeez. Zuckerberg went on to elaborate that Facebook is better off focusing its resources on creating a single ecosystem for smaller products, like games, music streaming services and more.
The guy kind of has a point. For Facebook to start its own game studio, it would draw focus away from the company's core product: a social network and platform. Here's a piece of the transcribed interview in which Rose appears to interrupt Zuckerberg, like, a lot:
Mark Zuckerberg: One thing that we haven't talked about at all here are games, right. I mean, games is probably the biggest industry today that has gone really social, right. I mean, the incumbent game companies are really being disrupted and are quickly trying to become social. And you have companies like Zynga.
Charlie Rose: Yeah, well –
Mark Zuckerberg: – which are going public soon and will be valued at most likely at multibillion dollar valuations. And basically all of their games are built on top of Facebook for the most part.
Charlie Rose: Exactly.
Mark Zuckerberg: And a huge number of other companies as well. So I mean, does Facebook build any games? No. We build no games.
Charlie Rose: You say that today –
Mark Zuckerberg: No, we –
Charlie Rose: You say that today.
Mark Zuckerberg: Actually –
Sheryl Sandberg: I'm pretty sure we're not going to –
Mark Zuckerberg: No, I'm pretty sure we're not going to build any games.
Sheryl Sandberg: [unintelligible] we're not going to build games.
Mark Zuckerberg: We build –
Charlie Rose: Well, why are you so sure?
Mark Zuckerberg: Here's why. Here's why.
Charlie Rose: I'm only saying this because people thought that Steve Jobs –
Mark Zuckerberg: I'll tell you why.
Charlie Rose: – would never go into retail, and he did.
Mark Zuckerberg: I'll tell you why.
Charlie Rose: All right.
Mark Zuckerberg: Because building games is really hard. And so that's –
Charlie Rose: So that's the only reason.
Mark Zuckerberg: And we're doing - what we're doing is really hard. And we think that we're better off focusing on this piece. I think that building a great game service is really hard. Building a great music service is really hard. Building a great movie service is really hard. And we just believe that an independent entrepreneur will always beat a division of a big company which is why we think that the strategy of these other companies trying to do everything themselves will inevitably be less successful than an ecosystem where you have someone like Facebook trying to build the core product to help people connect and then independent great companies that are only focused on one or two things doing those things really well.
Sheryl Sandberg: And those companies can't - don't have the discipline to do it, right. They get big, and everyone wants to do everything, and they just say yes. And then they don't do everything well.
[Image Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu]
Do you think Facebook is smart for avoiding the social games space itself, and simply creating a platform for them? How has Facebook done in that regard so far?
"One thing that we haven't talked about at all here are games, right," Zuckerberg told Rose. "I mean, games is probably the biggest industry today that has gone really social, right. I mean, the incumbent game companies are really being disrupted and are quickly trying to become social. And you have companies like Zynga."
Despite his deep enthusiasm for social games, the Facebook chief said, "No, I'm pretty sure we're not going to build any games." That is, after Rose repeatedly interrupted the guy ... jeez. Zuckerberg went on to elaborate that Facebook is better off focusing its resources on creating a single ecosystem for smaller products, like games, music streaming services and more.
The guy kind of has a point. For Facebook to start its own game studio, it would draw focus away from the company's core product: a social network and platform. Here's a piece of the transcribed interview in which Rose appears to interrupt Zuckerberg, like, a lot:
Mark Zuckerberg: One thing that we haven't talked about at all here are games, right. I mean, games is probably the biggest industry today that has gone really social, right. I mean, the incumbent game companies are really being disrupted and are quickly trying to become social. And you have companies like Zynga.
Charlie Rose: Yeah, well –
Mark Zuckerberg: – which are going public soon and will be valued at most likely at multibillion dollar valuations. And basically all of their games are built on top of Facebook for the most part.
Charlie Rose: Exactly.
Mark Zuckerberg: And a huge number of other companies as well. So I mean, does Facebook build any games? No. We build no games.
Charlie Rose: You say that today –
Mark Zuckerberg: No, we –
Charlie Rose: You say that today.
Mark Zuckerberg: Actually –
Sheryl Sandberg: I'm pretty sure we're not going to –
Mark Zuckerberg: No, I'm pretty sure we're not going to build any games.
Sheryl Sandberg: [unintelligible] we're not going to build games.
Mark Zuckerberg: We build –
Charlie Rose: Well, why are you so sure?
Mark Zuckerberg: Here's why. Here's why.
Charlie Rose: I'm only saying this because people thought that Steve Jobs –
Mark Zuckerberg: I'll tell you why.
Charlie Rose: – would never go into retail, and he did.
Mark Zuckerberg: I'll tell you why.
Charlie Rose: All right.
Mark Zuckerberg: Because building games is really hard. And so that's –
Charlie Rose: So that's the only reason.
Mark Zuckerberg: And we're doing - what we're doing is really hard. And we think that we're better off focusing on this piece. I think that building a great game service is really hard. Building a great music service is really hard. Building a great movie service is really hard. And we just believe that an independent entrepreneur will always beat a division of a big company which is why we think that the strategy of these other companies trying to do everything themselves will inevitably be less successful than an ecosystem where you have someone like Facebook trying to build the core product to help people connect and then independent great companies that are only focused on one or two things doing those things really well.
Sheryl Sandberg: And those companies can't - don't have the discipline to do it, right. They get big, and everyone wants to do everything, and they just say yes. And then they don't do everything well.
[Image Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu]
Do you think Facebook is smart for avoiding the social games space itself, and simply creating a platform for them? How has Facebook done in that regard so far?
Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo cutes up Nintendo DS starting now
But something tells us Lady Goo Goo won't be performing in this particular game. Mind Candy has announced that Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo is now available on the Nintendo DS for $29.99. This handheld take on the UK-based franchise with 50 million fans focused primarily on the Moshlings, or the 52 varieties of pets that your pet Moshi Monsters take care of.
Yes, the Moshlings are pets for your pets. At any rate, Mind Candy says that common, rare and "ultra-rare" Moshlings to collect, play mini games and win trophies with. According to a release, many of the games are educational puzzles, which should perk the ears of parents everywhere. The game was developed and published by Santa Monica, Calif.-based Activision Publishing, and appears to take players across various locations like open jungles, in tropical waters and to the skies.
Gallery: Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo
The educational mini games in Moshling Zoo look like they amount to races and fashion shows, though we're sure the educational value is in there ... somewhere. While supplies last, limited edition copies of the DS game are available at Toys 'R'Us locations with 1,000 free Rox, the web game's currency, and Moshi Monsters trading card pack from Topps. If your little ones are Moshi maniacs, you might want to hope they don't hear word of this before the holidays.
Are you or your kids Moshi Monster fans? Do you plan on picking up the game before the holidays hit?
Yes, the Moshlings are pets for your pets. At any rate, Mind Candy says that common, rare and "ultra-rare" Moshlings to collect, play mini games and win trophies with. According to a release, many of the games are educational puzzles, which should perk the ears of parents everywhere. The game was developed and published by Santa Monica, Calif.-based Activision Publishing, and appears to take players across various locations like open jungles, in tropical waters and to the skies.
Gallery: Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo
The educational mini games in Moshling Zoo look like they amount to races and fashion shows, though we're sure the educational value is in there ... somewhere. While supplies last, limited edition copies of the DS game are available at Toys 'R'Us locations with 1,000 free Rox, the web game's currency, and Moshi Monsters trading card pack from Topps. If your little ones are Moshi maniacs, you might want to hope they don't hear word of this before the holidays.
Are you or your kids Moshi Monster fans? Do you plan on picking up the game before the holidays hit?
Like the Risk: Factions Facebook fan page to unlock rewards
Hey, if it worked once, why can't it work again? Playfish is copying a page in its own playbook, offering fans of the upcoming Facebook game RISK: Factions a chance at some free goodies once the game finally launches (it's now in closed beta). This new "Operation Like" feature asks users to simply Like the game's fan page, and (just as it was in the Sims Social), the more fans that Like the page before the game's launch, the more prizes we'll unlock.
Of course, the game hasn't received much traction just yet, so we've only unlocked one of the six prizes currently listed. Here's a complete rundown of what we're eligible to receive, if you'd like to help out the cause:
5,000 Likes - Pig on a Spit
10,000 Likes - Guard Tower
25,000 Likes - Security Gate
50,000 Likes - Coins
100,000 Likes - Troops
200,000 Likes - Donkey Cannon
If you're keeping track, this top prize - the Donkey Cannon - is the same one seen in the trailer of the game from E3 of this year. Also, the Coins and Troops are basic prizes, but we're not sure exactly how many coins, or what types of troops we'll receive if the fan page eventually reaches that many Likes.
As of this writing, the fan page has almost 10,000 Likes, so we'll definitely unlock the Guard Tower. It's whether or not we'll receive the infamous Donkey Cannon before the game launches that's the real question. Want to do your part? Head over to the game's Facebook fan page and click on the "Like" button as soon as you can! Your fellow Facebook gamers will thank you!
What do you think of the Operation Like feature in RISK: Factions?
Of course, the game hasn't received much traction just yet, so we've only unlocked one of the six prizes currently listed. Here's a complete rundown of what we're eligible to receive, if you'd like to help out the cause:
5,000 Likes - Pig on a Spit
10,000 Likes - Guard Tower
25,000 Likes - Security Gate
50,000 Likes - Coins
100,000 Likes - Troops
200,000 Likes - Donkey Cannon
If you're keeping track, this top prize - the Donkey Cannon - is the same one seen in the trailer of the game from E3 of this year. Also, the Coins and Troops are basic prizes, but we're not sure exactly how many coins, or what types of troops we'll receive if the fan page eventually reaches that many Likes.
As of this writing, the fan page has almost 10,000 Likes, so we'll definitely unlock the Guard Tower. It's whether or not we'll receive the infamous Donkey Cannon before the game launches that's the real question. Want to do your part? Head over to the game's Facebook fan page and click on the "Like" button as soon as you can! Your fellow Facebook gamers will thank you!
What do you think of the Operation Like feature in RISK: Factions?
Yazino hopes to 'reinvent gambling' with in-sync social casino games
We'll be the first to admit it: Casino games have become a dime a dozen on Facebook recently. From Zynga's own Zynga Poker to Poker Rivals by Playfish and DoubleDown Casino, the sub genre is quickly becoming crowded. (Even PopCap appears keen on the genre.) That said, it's going to take a unique approach for a chance to attract a healthy chunk of that player base.
Yazino, a UK-based social gaming start-up founded in 2008, looks to bring exactly that with what CEO Hussein Chahine calls "in-sync" gaming. Chahine's vision is to have players compete and chat in real time across the web, iOS and Android devices--and Yazino is already doing just that. The seven games Yazino has today all started with a simple idea.
"The idea that we came by is, 'How do we take poker--a very engaging, a lot of emotions, there's a bit of skill when you play--and build an engine that builds completely synchronous games,'" Chahine tells us. "It's dedicated to games that are multiplayer by nature, and people want to play together. In all of the gambling industry, poker was the most powerful."
With that, Chahine and crew opted to create several classic casino games with the real-time competition that poker provides. And it's because of this direct competition that the Yazino chief believes his team works toward games that are truly social. "We have games on social networks, rather than social games," Chahine says. "If we put Solitaire on Facebook, would Solitaire be a social game?"
Blackjack by Yazino
While only two of Yazino's games--Blackjack and Slots Wheel Deal--are available on iOS, all of its games are on Facebook. Well, sort of. The company's seven games appear to be Facebook applications, but when launched redirect to Yazino's own website, which hosts the games complete with your list of Facebook friends and even random matchmaking. So, why take this route? According to Chahine, Facebook simply can't handle synchronous, multiplatform gaming at the moment.
"Synchronous play has a much deeper and more competitive advantage over asynchronous games. Because of the immersive nature of synchronous games, [the Facebook Ticker] is really a distraction, and actually quite annoying," Chahine admits. "It's like you're [watching] a horse race--you only want to know about what the horse is doing. Do I really care about 'Fred is listening to music?' The synchronous nature and intensity of these games require a different ambiance and a different environment."
Hussein ChahineYazino also looks to give players the option to create personal communities within the larger player base. Chahine (pictured right) uses the English football club Manchester United as an example: A group of friends who play in Manchester United together will soon have the option to create their own sub group, complete with its own leader boards. Because of this, along with the prospects of live chat and real-time gameplay across platforms, Chahine tells us that using Facebook directly isn't an option. (However, it's important to take note that this strategy appears to leave Yazino free from the grips of Facebook Credits too.)
Of course (well, at least in the U.S.), players can't cash in on their virtual winnings, as online gambling was effectively outlawed years ago. And apparently, players are actually happy to accept this reality, according to Chahine. The Yazino head also chalks that up to the fact that players can enjoy its games for free through offers and chips provided daily. Giving players the opportunity to play for free is "a big area of focus" for Yazino, Chahine tells us. And according to him, the entire social gaming scene would be different if online gambling hadn't suffered its run-ins with the law before the turn of the decade. Zynga Poker was one of Zynga's first games, after all.
"Zynga is the only player that's not a gambling site that could throw that game. Poker Stars didn't have the opportunity," Chahine tells us. "They were banned from Facebook, so if PokerStars and the other big sites were allowed even from a virtual perspective. So, if they were allowed to enter that market, there's no way Zynga would have had that success with Zynga Poker."
Slots Wheel Deal by Yazin0
In other words, Facebook could have very well been dominated by casino and gambling games if not for Internet gambling's dashed history with the law before and during Facebook's rise. But Yazino isn't interested in real money gambling. Period. (But is it any less real when players can pay for chips, but not see a return?) Regardless, what Chahine says is that Yazino is interested in is to "reinvent gambling in a much more sophisticated way."
"When you play together, our emotions are heightened," Chahine gushes. "It's more amplified, it's more real and we become more competitive. We do believe at Yazino, what we're trying to become is the pioneer of friendly competition."
Have you tried any of Yazino's games on Facebook (sort of) or mobile yet? What are your thoughts on the rise of casino games on Facebook and elsewhere?
Yazino, a UK-based social gaming start-up founded in 2008, looks to bring exactly that with what CEO Hussein Chahine calls "in-sync" gaming. Chahine's vision is to have players compete and chat in real time across the web, iOS and Android devices--and Yazino is already doing just that. The seven games Yazino has today all started with a simple idea.
"The idea that we came by is, 'How do we take poker--a very engaging, a lot of emotions, there's a bit of skill when you play--and build an engine that builds completely synchronous games,'" Chahine tells us. "It's dedicated to games that are multiplayer by nature, and people want to play together. In all of the gambling industry, poker was the most powerful."
With that, Chahine and crew opted to create several classic casino games with the real-time competition that poker provides. And it's because of this direct competition that the Yazino chief believes his team works toward games that are truly social. "We have games on social networks, rather than social games," Chahine says. "If we put Solitaire on Facebook, would Solitaire be a social game?"
Blackjack by Yazino
While only two of Yazino's games--Blackjack and Slots Wheel Deal--are available on iOS, all of its games are on Facebook. Well, sort of. The company's seven games appear to be Facebook applications, but when launched redirect to Yazino's own website, which hosts the games complete with your list of Facebook friends and even random matchmaking. So, why take this route? According to Chahine, Facebook simply can't handle synchronous, multiplatform gaming at the moment.
"Synchronous play has a much deeper and more competitive advantage over asynchronous games. Because of the immersive nature of synchronous games, [the Facebook Ticker] is really a distraction, and actually quite annoying," Chahine admits. "It's like you're [watching] a horse race--you only want to know about what the horse is doing. Do I really care about 'Fred is listening to music?' The synchronous nature and intensity of these games require a different ambiance and a different environment."
Hussein ChahineYazino also looks to give players the option to create personal communities within the larger player base. Chahine (pictured right) uses the English football club Manchester United as an example: A group of friends who play in Manchester United together will soon have the option to create their own sub group, complete with its own leader boards. Because of this, along with the prospects of live chat and real-time gameplay across platforms, Chahine tells us that using Facebook directly isn't an option. (However, it's important to take note that this strategy appears to leave Yazino free from the grips of Facebook Credits too.)
Of course (well, at least in the U.S.), players can't cash in on their virtual winnings, as online gambling was effectively outlawed years ago. And apparently, players are actually happy to accept this reality, according to Chahine. The Yazino head also chalks that up to the fact that players can enjoy its games for free through offers and chips provided daily. Giving players the opportunity to play for free is "a big area of focus" for Yazino, Chahine tells us. And according to him, the entire social gaming scene would be different if online gambling hadn't suffered its run-ins with the law before the turn of the decade. Zynga Poker was one of Zynga's first games, after all.
"Zynga is the only player that's not a gambling site that could throw that game. Poker Stars didn't have the opportunity," Chahine tells us. "They were banned from Facebook, so if PokerStars and the other big sites were allowed even from a virtual perspective. So, if they were allowed to enter that market, there's no way Zynga would have had that success with Zynga Poker."
Slots Wheel Deal by Yazin0
In other words, Facebook could have very well been dominated by casino and gambling games if not for Internet gambling's dashed history with the law before and during Facebook's rise. But Yazino isn't interested in real money gambling. Period. (But is it any less real when players can pay for chips, but not see a return?) Regardless, what Chahine says is that Yazino is interested in is to "reinvent gambling in a much more sophisticated way."
"When you play together, our emotions are heightened," Chahine gushes. "It's more amplified, it's more real and we become more competitive. We do believe at Yazino, what we're trying to become is the pioneer of friendly competition."
Have you tried any of Yazino's games on Facebook (sort of) or mobile yet? What are your thoughts on the rise of casino games on Facebook and elsewhere?
Monday, December 12, 2011
Pioneer Trail Ghost Town will be one giant map, a lot like Pioneer Trail
The Ghost Town update for Pioneer Trail will certainly be unprecedented when it comes to seasonal Facebook game updates. But, based on details Zynga just unveiled about the feature, it won't be a far cry from what you've already experience in stock Pioneer Trail. Well, aside from the gruesome-looking palette swap, and considering this is Halloween, that's not really a bad thing.
Ghost Town Mad Scientist
Ghost Town will operate much like Pioneer Trail in that you will have to hire three friends to make up your crew, only this time those roles are much ... darker in their intentions. In replace of the Doctor, Hunter and Carpenter you must find a Mad Scientist, a Sharpshooter and a Shaman to interact with various items on the Ghost Town map to accomplish a lengthy series of Goals.
Ghost Town Shaman
Zynga also revealed that the Ghost Town feature will take place on a single map, but boy does that map look massive. Players will use a new Energy resource known as Gumptions, and will start off with much more than they did Rations in Pioneer Trail. But a much welcome change comes in that, no matter what item you click on, the relevant crew member will tend to it--no more choosing the crew member and then the item.
Ghost Town Sharpshooter
As for the Charms you've been collecting in preparation for the event, they'll simply be used to purchase new Halloween-themed decoration for your Homestead. Zynga's keeping tight-lipped on when Ghost Town will be released. Honestly, we'd be surprised if you weren't able to hit Ghost Town from the handy World Map within the next week--Hallow's Eve approaches, after all.
[Image Credit: Zynga]
Are you excited to hit Ghost Town when it finally releases? What do you think of the developer's approach to Halloween this year in Pioneer Trail?
Ghost Town Mad Scientist
Ghost Town will operate much like Pioneer Trail in that you will have to hire three friends to make up your crew, only this time those roles are much ... darker in their intentions. In replace of the Doctor, Hunter and Carpenter you must find a Mad Scientist, a Sharpshooter and a Shaman to interact with various items on the Ghost Town map to accomplish a lengthy series of Goals.
Ghost Town Shaman
Zynga also revealed that the Ghost Town feature will take place on a single map, but boy does that map look massive. Players will use a new Energy resource known as Gumptions, and will start off with much more than they did Rations in Pioneer Trail. But a much welcome change comes in that, no matter what item you click on, the relevant crew member will tend to it--no more choosing the crew member and then the item.
Ghost Town Sharpshooter
As for the Charms you've been collecting in preparation for the event, they'll simply be used to purchase new Halloween-themed decoration for your Homestead. Zynga's keeping tight-lipped on when Ghost Town will be released. Honestly, we'd be surprised if you weren't able to hit Ghost Town from the handy World Map within the next week--Hallow's Eve approaches, after all.
[Image Credit: Zynga]
Are you excited to hit Ghost Town when it finally releases? What do you think of the developer's approach to Halloween this year in Pioneer Trail?
Masters of Mystery hits Facebook as, yes, another hidden-object game
Masters of Mystery Online
At this point, we're surprised I Spy hasn't hit Facebook yet. Canadian developer Big Blue Bubble announced that its Masters of Mystery series has hit Facebook in a brand new, aptly-named game, Masters of Mystery: Online. The game takes a look at the stereotypical gritty world of a beat cop-turned-private investigator as he attempts to uncover the truth behind a murder case.
More specifically, a model is found killed in the apartment of a prominent fashion designer, and it's up to you to figure out, well, whodunnit' through--what else?--hidden object gameplay. According to a release, the plot will only unfurl as you add more friends to your list of helpers, and for fans of the franchise, some familiar characters will return to help you.
Masters of Mystery Online Gameplay
Players are scored for how quickly they find the objects listed across four chapters and 24 levels. From the currency you'll earn by performing well in the game's several stages, you can outfit your office with decorations for friends to check out. Of course, there will be daily rewards to collect and weekly content updates of new quests, as well as achievements for special milestones.
Sure, it's another hidden-object game, but that genre is arguably new on Facebook, surprisingly enough. If you've had your fill of the ornate, historic scenery of Facebook's top hidden-object game, Gardens of Time, then maybe it's time to put your police cap on. The game currently welcomes a whopping 47 players, but give it a break--it's 100 percent fresh.
Click here to play Masters of Mystery: Online on Facebook Now >
Are you psyched to hop into a new hidden-object game on Facebook? Are you a fan of the genre, and what's your favorite hidden-object game?
At this point, we're surprised I Spy hasn't hit Facebook yet. Canadian developer Big Blue Bubble announced that its Masters of Mystery series has hit Facebook in a brand new, aptly-named game, Masters of Mystery: Online. The game takes a look at the stereotypical gritty world of a beat cop-turned-private investigator as he attempts to uncover the truth behind a murder case.
More specifically, a model is found killed in the apartment of a prominent fashion designer, and it's up to you to figure out, well, whodunnit' through--what else?--hidden object gameplay. According to a release, the plot will only unfurl as you add more friends to your list of helpers, and for fans of the franchise, some familiar characters will return to help you.
Masters of Mystery Online Gameplay
Players are scored for how quickly they find the objects listed across four chapters and 24 levels. From the currency you'll earn by performing well in the game's several stages, you can outfit your office with decorations for friends to check out. Of course, there will be daily rewards to collect and weekly content updates of new quests, as well as achievements for special milestones.
Sure, it's another hidden-object game, but that genre is arguably new on Facebook, surprisingly enough. If you've had your fill of the ornate, historic scenery of Facebook's top hidden-object game, Gardens of Time, then maybe it's time to put your police cap on. The game currently welcomes a whopping 47 players, but give it a break--it's 100 percent fresh.
Click here to play Masters of Mystery: Online on Facebook Now >
Are you psyched to hop into a new hidden-object game on Facebook? Are you a fan of the genre, and what's your favorite hidden-object game?
Video Game Roundup: Forza 4, NBA Jam, Kirby's Mass Attack
No one likes to get a ticket. That's why we love it when a game like Forza Motorsport 4 comes out and allows us to be the speed demons we were always meant to be! We take a look at what could be the greatest racer to ever come out on Xbox, as well as a look at the latest NBA Jam: On Fire Edition and one of Nintendo's biggest mascots and his new adventure on the Nintendo DS with Kirby's Mass Attack.
Forza Motorsport 4
In the spirit of the best racers, let's cut to the chase: Forza Motorsport 4 is the best racing game we've played in this generation of consoles.
The Turn 10-developed series was established to provide Xbox with an answer to Sony's vaunted Gran Turismo games, but Forza 4 pushes Microsoft into the lead with a racer that is near perfect and, more importantly, a lot more fun.
Forza 4 has a great career mode with the same leveling up structure that made Forza 3 so addictive, but there are additions that make it a true improvement over last year's model. The online options are fantastic, and the Forza community is alive and well in Forza 4, allowing you to download (for free or with in-game credits) beautiful custom skins, cars or tuning kits. Another new feature is Rivals, a mode that has you battling the the most elite racers in the world as ghosts, always challenging you as the global community posts their best ever lap times.
If you're a Kinect owner, there are some cool little gameplay additions that take advantage of head tracking so that, as you move your head and body, the game will move its camera to give you a better view of the action. You can even use the Kinect for a steering-only mode (acceleration and braking is done automatically) to get some of the more casual gamers behind the wheel in a user-friendly way.
Finally, Autovista puts you in a garage with a number of the world's best cars, allowing you to pop the hood, check out the interior and the engine, and even start up the car to hear each vehicle's distinctive purr. The critically-acclaimed TV series Top Gear is beautifully integrated in the game, with each Autovista car featuring an informative and usually humorous summary by host Jeremy Clarkson.
Forza Motorsport 4 is the most fun we've had behind the wheel yet in this generation of consoles. Whereas Xbox has used the Forza series to catch up to Gran Turismo, Forza 4 hits the gas and blasts right past PlayStation's latest driver. Pick it up.
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
Boomshakalaka! (Again!) NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is a follow-up to last year's retail release of NBA Jam, the high-flying baller that has a place in many hearts thanks to its classic arcade origins. While the differences between last year's edition and this version may not be world-changing, On Fire Edition is a solid improvement in both gameplay and, at $15, price.
If you're unfamiliar with NBA Jam, the gameplay centers around a superhuman two-on-two basketball game where threes are plentiful and dunks defy the laws of physics. If you've ever wanted to see Blake Griffin pull off a 1080 helicopter dunk, NBA Jam is the only place you'll ever see that (he's good, but not that good).
The main differences between this game and last year's edition is that now there's a very innovative online component that really entices you to take part in online games with the rest of the NBA Jam community. The more you do that, the more Jam Points you earn and the higher you level up, thereby unlocking new players and teams, many of which weren't in the first NBA Jam.
The game also challenges you to reach "diamond" status within a given period of time, giving you extra incentive to check-in and play a few games in the hopes of unlocking more bonuses. NBA Jam: On Fire Edition keeps it interesting against your friends too, as you can play with other people on the same console cooperatively or competitively, and the new Jam keeps track of a variety of leaderboards so you and your friends are always competing for bragging rights.
If you're looking for a fun time and you have even the most basic understanding of basketball (ball goes through hoop, rinse, repeat), NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is well worth the $15 price tag and is available now on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.
Kirby Mass Attack
Kirby Mass Attack is Nintendo's swan song for the DS, not the final game for the dual screen system, but a wonderful title that will help cap one of the most impressive software libraries in history. This review was originally published on Modojo by Chris Buffa.
The entire experience revolves around finding ways to clear levels and complete puzzles with multiple Kirbys in tow. In fact, some objects are immovable without a certain number of characters hanging on it, while enemies take forever to beat with a single Kirby, but fall within seconds to ten, the max number of Kirbys you can have at one time; eating fruit adds another to the group.
The controls, meanwhile, are not what we expected, but work marvelously. Rather than use the d-pad to control the mob, you simply tap the screen and the Kirbys move to that location. Flicking the adorable heroes towards an enemy or object, on the other hand, instructs them to attack.
The result is both humorous and slightly horrifying, as ten Kirbys essentially gang up on their foes and take them down without mercy, sort of like Fire Ants devouring prey. There's definitely strength in numbers, and Nintendo carries this theme the entire way.
Nintendo also deserves kudos for packing the cart full of stuff. It'll take you in excess of ten hours to beat Kirby's latest adventure, largely because of the secret achievements and replaying levels to find all the gold coins. You'll even unlock addictive mini-games, two of which, Field Frenzy and Kirby Brawl Ball, are great takes on Whack-A-Mole and Pinball, respectively.
All of this makes Kirby Mass Attack a sublime adventure no fan should be without. The unique team-up mechanic, vibrant graphics and cheery soundtrack make this one of Nintendo's finest portable efforts. It's everything we love about Kirby, by the power of ten.
Forza Motorsport 4
In the spirit of the best racers, let's cut to the chase: Forza Motorsport 4 is the best racing game we've played in this generation of consoles.
The Turn 10-developed series was established to provide Xbox with an answer to Sony's vaunted Gran Turismo games, but Forza 4 pushes Microsoft into the lead with a racer that is near perfect and, more importantly, a lot more fun.
Forza 4 has a great career mode with the same leveling up structure that made Forza 3 so addictive, but there are additions that make it a true improvement over last year's model. The online options are fantastic, and the Forza community is alive and well in Forza 4, allowing you to download (for free or with in-game credits) beautiful custom skins, cars or tuning kits. Another new feature is Rivals, a mode that has you battling the the most elite racers in the world as ghosts, always challenging you as the global community posts their best ever lap times.
If you're a Kinect owner, there are some cool little gameplay additions that take advantage of head tracking so that, as you move your head and body, the game will move its camera to give you a better view of the action. You can even use the Kinect for a steering-only mode (acceleration and braking is done automatically) to get some of the more casual gamers behind the wheel in a user-friendly way.
Finally, Autovista puts you in a garage with a number of the world's best cars, allowing you to pop the hood, check out the interior and the engine, and even start up the car to hear each vehicle's distinctive purr. The critically-acclaimed TV series Top Gear is beautifully integrated in the game, with each Autovista car featuring an informative and usually humorous summary by host Jeremy Clarkson.
Forza Motorsport 4 is the most fun we've had behind the wheel yet in this generation of consoles. Whereas Xbox has used the Forza series to catch up to Gran Turismo, Forza 4 hits the gas and blasts right past PlayStation's latest driver. Pick it up.
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
Boomshakalaka! (Again!) NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is a follow-up to last year's retail release of NBA Jam, the high-flying baller that has a place in many hearts thanks to its classic arcade origins. While the differences between last year's edition and this version may not be world-changing, On Fire Edition is a solid improvement in both gameplay and, at $15, price.
If you're unfamiliar with NBA Jam, the gameplay centers around a superhuman two-on-two basketball game where threes are plentiful and dunks defy the laws of physics. If you've ever wanted to see Blake Griffin pull off a 1080 helicopter dunk, NBA Jam is the only place you'll ever see that (he's good, but not that good).
The main differences between this game and last year's edition is that now there's a very innovative online component that really entices you to take part in online games with the rest of the NBA Jam community. The more you do that, the more Jam Points you earn and the higher you level up, thereby unlocking new players and teams, many of which weren't in the first NBA Jam.
The game also challenges you to reach "diamond" status within a given period of time, giving you extra incentive to check-in and play a few games in the hopes of unlocking more bonuses. NBA Jam: On Fire Edition keeps it interesting against your friends too, as you can play with other people on the same console cooperatively or competitively, and the new Jam keeps track of a variety of leaderboards so you and your friends are always competing for bragging rights.
If you're looking for a fun time and you have even the most basic understanding of basketball (ball goes through hoop, rinse, repeat), NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is well worth the $15 price tag and is available now on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.
Kirby Mass Attack
Kirby Mass Attack is Nintendo's swan song for the DS, not the final game for the dual screen system, but a wonderful title that will help cap one of the most impressive software libraries in history. This review was originally published on Modojo by Chris Buffa.
The entire experience revolves around finding ways to clear levels and complete puzzles with multiple Kirbys in tow. In fact, some objects are immovable without a certain number of characters hanging on it, while enemies take forever to beat with a single Kirby, but fall within seconds to ten, the max number of Kirbys you can have at one time; eating fruit adds another to the group.
The controls, meanwhile, are not what we expected, but work marvelously. Rather than use the d-pad to control the mob, you simply tap the screen and the Kirbys move to that location. Flicking the adorable heroes towards an enemy or object, on the other hand, instructs them to attack.
The result is both humorous and slightly horrifying, as ten Kirbys essentially gang up on their foes and take them down without mercy, sort of like Fire Ants devouring prey. There's definitely strength in numbers, and Nintendo carries this theme the entire way.
Nintendo also deserves kudos for packing the cart full of stuff. It'll take you in excess of ten hours to beat Kirby's latest adventure, largely because of the secret achievements and replaying levels to find all the gold coins. You'll even unlock addictive mini-games, two of which, Field Frenzy and Kirby Brawl Ball, are great takes on Whack-A-Mole and Pinball, respectively.
All of this makes Kirby Mass Attack a sublime adventure no fan should be without. The unique team-up mechanic, vibrant graphics and cheery soundtrack make this one of Nintendo's finest portable efforts. It's everything we love about Kirby, by the power of ten.
Crysis maker Crytek looks to support Flash (and Facebook gaming?)
No matter what way you slice it, Facebook games are about to get intense. Crytek, German creator of technologically-demanding and critically-acclaimed PC games like Crysis (pictured), revealed that it's looking into Flash support for its CryEngine game creation tech.
Edge reports that the developer will announce a "truly cross-platform solution" in the near future. More importantly, it will include support for Adobe's upcoming Flash Player 11, the next version of the technology found running beneath almost all Facebook games.
Referring to Gears of War creator Epic Games's recent announcement that its Unreal Engine 3 now supports Flash Player 11, Crytek director of global business development Carl Jones told Edge, "It is an interesting approach we've been investigating as well. We're developing a unifying technology to create high quality social and gaming experiences on all platforms including browser, smartphones, tablets, etc." In other words, it might not be long before social gamers see near-Crysis-level graphics in their Facebook Canvas.
Given this new found competition on the high-end Flash games front, it's all but certain that these type of games will hit Facebook. Facebook is one of the most popular destinations for Flash-based games. More importantly, if you're to believe recent studies, the number of hardcore gamers on Facebook is steadily increasing. Prepare for far more explosions in your Facebook games.
[Via Kotaku]
Do you think games with Crysis-level graphics could succeed on Facebook? How do you think this competition between Unreal Engine 3 and CryEngine on Flash platforms will affect the social games industry?
Edge reports that the developer will announce a "truly cross-platform solution" in the near future. More importantly, it will include support for Adobe's upcoming Flash Player 11, the next version of the technology found running beneath almost all Facebook games.
Referring to Gears of War creator Epic Games's recent announcement that its Unreal Engine 3 now supports Flash Player 11, Crytek director of global business development Carl Jones told Edge, "It is an interesting approach we've been investigating as well. We're developing a unifying technology to create high quality social and gaming experiences on all platforms including browser, smartphones, tablets, etc." In other words, it might not be long before social gamers see near-Crysis-level graphics in their Facebook Canvas.
Given this new found competition on the high-end Flash games front, it's all but certain that these type of games will hit Facebook. Facebook is one of the most popular destinations for Flash-based games. More importantly, if you're to believe recent studies, the number of hardcore gamers on Facebook is steadily increasing. Prepare for far more explosions in your Facebook games.
[Via Kotaku]
Do you think games with Crysis-level graphics could succeed on Facebook? How do you think this competition between Unreal Engine 3 and CryEngine on Flash platforms will affect the social games industry?
Game of the Day: Papa's Freezeria
You just landed an amazing job at Papa's Freezeria, an ocean-front ice cream shop that will surely be a relaxing way to spend the summer. That is until Papa Louie takes off, leaving you in charge during the peak of tourist season! Boat loads of customers are coming to Calypso Island in search of the best ice cream treats around, and it's up to you to serve them!
Holy mole! Folks, trust me, this game is awesome. If you're a fan of Papa's Burgeria, Pizzeria, Taco Mia, or any of Papa Louie's other games, you're going to dig Papa's Freezeria. It's all the exciting restaurant management action you're used to, with an icy-cold twist! If you thought making tacos and burgers was difficult, you're in for a real challenge with Papa's Freezeria. You'll need expert timing, precise multitasking skills, and a little bit of luck to please Calypso Island's tourists. But I know you guys are up for the challenge. So get behind that counter and start serving up those frozen treats!
Click here to play Papa's Freezeria!
papas freezeria game of the day papas freezeria game of the day
Pro Tips:
Don't forget you can do other things while the ice cream is blending! Talk to customers or add toppings while an ice cream is mixing to efficiently use your time. Tip submitted by sk8rbabi07.
Instead of spending your money on decorations and furniture, the best things to buy first are alarms and the doorbell. Then get a booster to speed things up. In Papa's Freezeria it's function over form.
When it comes to applying toppings and whipped cream, the best technique is to start on one side of the cup and move gracefully from one side to another, evenly distributing the goods.
Click here to play Papa's Freezeria!
What do you think of Papa's Freezeria? Which is your favorite Papa Louie game?
Holy mole! Folks, trust me, this game is awesome. If you're a fan of Papa's Burgeria, Pizzeria, Taco Mia, or any of Papa Louie's other games, you're going to dig Papa's Freezeria. It's all the exciting restaurant management action you're used to, with an icy-cold twist! If you thought making tacos and burgers was difficult, you're in for a real challenge with Papa's Freezeria. You'll need expert timing, precise multitasking skills, and a little bit of luck to please Calypso Island's tourists. But I know you guys are up for the challenge. So get behind that counter and start serving up those frozen treats!
Click here to play Papa's Freezeria!
papas freezeria game of the day papas freezeria game of the day
Pro Tips:
Don't forget you can do other things while the ice cream is blending! Talk to customers or add toppings while an ice cream is mixing to efficiently use your time. Tip submitted by sk8rbabi07.
Instead of spending your money on decorations and furniture, the best things to buy first are alarms and the doorbell. Then get a booster to speed things up. In Papa's Freezeria it's function over form.
When it comes to applying toppings and whipped cream, the best technique is to start on one side of the cup and move gracefully from one side to another, evenly distributing the goods.
Click here to play Papa's Freezeria!
What do you think of Papa's Freezeria? Which is your favorite Papa Louie game?
FarmVille Pic of the Day: Take a day trip to Becky99's zoo
Somewhat accidentally, our FarmVille Pic of the Day posts have become a bit of a zoo farm showdown over the last few weeks. We had both Hemi 426 and AlexisSkrull's FarmVille zoo designs competing for supremacy. But folks, if you've checked out those two farms, you have to agree that Becky99's zoo farm reigns supreme.
Becky99's farm is the complete package. Beautiful trees line the outside of the park, and neatly organized animal exhibits populate the interior. Becky99 clearly designed this park paying attention to the all the minute details. In addition, the animal exhibits are all themed, featuring carefully selected animals. Of particular interest is the winter animal exhibit clearly visible in the center of the zoo. Picnic benches, ponds, decorations, buildings, and a park entrance are all present and add tremendously to the overall design.
Congratulations Becky99, your design is clearly the one zoo farm to rule them all.
What do you think of Becky99's awesome FarmVille zoo?
If you have an AWESOME FarmVille farm that you want to see featured on Games.com, please email a picture to editors@games.com, Include a few words about the inspiration for your design and maybe a few tips for people who need an assist!
Becky99's farm is the complete package. Beautiful trees line the outside of the park, and neatly organized animal exhibits populate the interior. Becky99 clearly designed this park paying attention to the all the minute details. In addition, the animal exhibits are all themed, featuring carefully selected animals. Of particular interest is the winter animal exhibit clearly visible in the center of the zoo. Picnic benches, ponds, decorations, buildings, and a park entrance are all present and add tremendously to the overall design.
Congratulations Becky99, your design is clearly the one zoo farm to rule them all.
What do you think of Becky99's awesome FarmVille zoo?
If you have an AWESOME FarmVille farm that you want to see featured on Games.com, please email a picture to editors@games.com, Include a few words about the inspiration for your design and maybe a few tips for people who need an assist!
6waves Lolapps takes to the skies in Ravenskye City on Facebook
Ravenwood Fair has officially made it to the deluxe apartment in the sky, so to speak. The game's new duo of creators, 6waves Lolapps, announced the launch of the next episode in the Raven series of Facebook games today as a standalone app, Ravenskye City. In that regard, the game is quite similar to Zynga's recent Pioneer Trail, except for the fact that Ravenwood Fair still exists.
Jokes aside, 6waves Lolapps is employing a similar strategy to its top competitor, releasing a full-blown sequel to its mega hit Facebook game. The company's previous release was an expansion upon Ravenwood Fair with Ravenstone Mine. Unsurprisingly, the prefix "Raven" has become a brand for 6waves Lolapps, 6waves Lolapps co-founder Kavin Stewart told VentureBeat. Another game is in the works for the series, Ravenshire Castle, according to VentureBeat.
While Ravenskye City looks quite a lot like previous games in the series, 6waves Lolapps is looking to improve the series in more ways than just content. We punched up the storytelling," Lolapps VP of content Constantine Hantzopoulos told VentureBeat. "That's one of the things we learned from Ravenwood Fair."
Ravenskye City gameplay
The game, which throws players into the familiar situation of having to restore a ramshackle property (only this time ... it's in the sky), makes liberal use of the recently-acquired Fliso Engine. It's thanks to this technology that the game is reportedly smoother and features complex weather effects like rain and tornadoes. The city is comprised of bird-like creatures, a departure from the moles of Ravenstone Mine and the bears and woodland creatures of Ravenwood Fair.
Ravenskye City is said to launch today, though our attempts to get into the game have been unsuccessful thus far. During your exploits in Ravenskye, you'll restore an abandoned city to its former glory, customizing it along the way with several decorations. Of course, you're governed by an Energy system. To get a better idea of the game, check out the trailer below.
[Update: A 6waves Lolapps representative tells us that the game is scheduled to launch today at 4 p.m. PST.]
Click here to play Ravenskye City on Facebook Now >
Have you been able to try the next game in the Raven series yet? What do you think of 6waves Lolapps approach to capitalizing on Ravenwood Fair's success?
Jokes aside, 6waves Lolapps is employing a similar strategy to its top competitor, releasing a full-blown sequel to its mega hit Facebook game. The company's previous release was an expansion upon Ravenwood Fair with Ravenstone Mine. Unsurprisingly, the prefix "Raven" has become a brand for 6waves Lolapps, 6waves Lolapps co-founder Kavin Stewart told VentureBeat. Another game is in the works for the series, Ravenshire Castle, according to VentureBeat.
While Ravenskye City looks quite a lot like previous games in the series, 6waves Lolapps is looking to improve the series in more ways than just content. We punched up the storytelling," Lolapps VP of content Constantine Hantzopoulos told VentureBeat. "That's one of the things we learned from Ravenwood Fair."
Ravenskye City gameplay
The game, which throws players into the familiar situation of having to restore a ramshackle property (only this time ... it's in the sky), makes liberal use of the recently-acquired Fliso Engine. It's thanks to this technology that the game is reportedly smoother and features complex weather effects like rain and tornadoes. The city is comprised of bird-like creatures, a departure from the moles of Ravenstone Mine and the bears and woodland creatures of Ravenwood Fair.
Ravenskye City is said to launch today, though our attempts to get into the game have been unsuccessful thus far. During your exploits in Ravenskye, you'll restore an abandoned city to its former glory, customizing it along the way with several decorations. Of course, you're governed by an Energy system. To get a better idea of the game, check out the trailer below.
[Update: A 6waves Lolapps representative tells us that the game is scheduled to launch today at 4 p.m. PST.]
Click here to play Ravenskye City on Facebook Now >
Have you been able to try the next game in the Raven series yet? What do you think of 6waves Lolapps approach to capitalizing on Ravenwood Fair's success?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)