Dogs, horses and cats, oh my. Because life is better with pets, The Sims maker EA has launched an expansion pack today for players that allows pets to take center stage in the game. Helping promote this launch is a free virtual poster offered to fans of The Sims Social.
You can grab The Sims 3 Pets Poster by clicking here, after you become a fan of the game's official Facebook fan page.
Aside from looking cool, the poster takes up two tiles of wall space and adds 100 House Value points to your home. If you don't like it, it can be sold for 150 Simoleons. It also comes with one action, "Learn More", which sends you to the Sims 3 Pets website when you click on it.
Chủ Nhật, 11 tháng 12, 2011
Thứ Sáu, 9 tháng 12, 2011
Facebook gaming's fat cats will only get fatter, unfortunately
Companies like Zynga and EA (with the help of Playfish and PopCap) have long dominated the Facebook game scene. Sadly, it looks like that's not going to change anytime soon, according to a report released by Lazard Capital Markets. Basically, the report comes to the conclusion that, because they've already achieved critical mass, Zynga and EA will continue to rule Facebook games.
The report is based on meetings with six privately-held social game makers, including CrowdStar, Digital Chocolate, Funzio, HeyZap, IGG, and Tapjoy, according to All Facebook. "We acknowledge that toughening competition on Facebook could constrain margins and is generally negative for the space; however," the report reads, "we believe that rising user acquisition costs could be relatively positive for companies like Zynga and Electronic Arts that have already built large user bases on Facebook and disproportionately benefit from network effect and, therefore, may have an advantage over the newer companies in the space."
In other words, Zynga and EA will always competitive advantage over even relatively large companies like CrowdStar simply due to the fact that these companies already have created massive internal networks of players. This is exactly why no other company could release a game that amasses 5 million players in six days like CastleVille. The smaller developers' response?
Look elsewhere, basically. But when the majority of social gamers hang out on Facebook, where else is there to look? It's quite the predicament that the industry faces, especially considering the implications it could have as far as creativity is concerned on the platform. Developers will continue to create games that attempt to emulate Zynga and EA's wild success, and the copycat syndrome will persist. If the indie's time on Facebook is over, then all the hope we have for successful games that test the limits of the genre is for the players to grow tired of 'Ville after 'Ville.
Are you sick of the current stable of popular Facebook games? What new approaches or genres would you like to see on Facebook?
The report is based on meetings with six privately-held social game makers, including CrowdStar, Digital Chocolate, Funzio, HeyZap, IGG, and Tapjoy, according to All Facebook. "We acknowledge that toughening competition on Facebook could constrain margins and is generally negative for the space; however," the report reads, "we believe that rising user acquisition costs could be relatively positive for companies like Zynga and Electronic Arts that have already built large user bases on Facebook and disproportionately benefit from network effect and, therefore, may have an advantage over the newer companies in the space."
In other words, Zynga and EA will always competitive advantage over even relatively large companies like CrowdStar simply due to the fact that these companies already have created massive internal networks of players. This is exactly why no other company could release a game that amasses 5 million players in six days like CastleVille. The smaller developers' response?
Look elsewhere, basically. But when the majority of social gamers hang out on Facebook, where else is there to look? It's quite the predicament that the industry faces, especially considering the implications it could have as far as creativity is concerned on the platform. Developers will continue to create games that attempt to emulate Zynga and EA's wild success, and the copycat syndrome will persist. If the indie's time on Facebook is over, then all the hope we have for successful games that test the limits of the genre is for the players to grow tired of 'Ville after 'Ville.
Are you sick of the current stable of popular Facebook games? What new approaches or genres would you like to see on Facebook?
Pioneer Trail Holiday Hogknocker Timed Goals: Everything you need to know
As another way to lead into the holiday season in Pioneer Trail, you'll be greeted by Pioneer Jack, who is on the hunt for the legendary Hogknocker, a massive pig that will apparently make for a great Christmas ham on the dinner table. Ignoring for a moment that these goals deal with hunting and killing the poor thing, you'll be able to go through three separate timed goals, with there being level requirements along the way. For the first two goals, you'll need to be level 22 or above, while the third goal requires you to be level 90 or higher (quite a jump, wouldn't you say?).
As of this writing, only Part I of this feature is actually available, and is rolling out to users' games. It's called "That's Some Pig," and it must be accepted in your game by December 3. That's tomorrow, if you're keeping track, so make sure to accept it in your game as soon as you can! You'll have five days to finish this first timed goal, and here's how to do just that.
That's Some Pig
Harvest 100 Wheat on your Homestead
Find 25 Fuzzy Peaches
Collect 15 Holiday Slops
You'll need to ask your friends for the Holiday Slop, and can do the same for the Fuzzy Peaches. You can also earn Fuzzy Peaches by harvesting Peach Trees on your Homestead. As for the Wheat, it takes a full day to harvest, giving you plenty of time to wait for your friends to send you those items (since you have five full days to complete the goal, after all). Finishing this first timed goal gives you 500 XP and a Hogknocker Crate.
Again, as of this writing, only Part I is available in the game. Even if you complete it well before the five day time limit has expired, you won't be able to move on to Part II until Zynga decides to launch it in the game. However, we do know what to expect from these two timed goals. Here's a look at them, so you can prepare for when they do launch.
The Trouble with Truffles
Tend 60 Adult Spotted Pigs
Collect 25 Truffles
Collect 30 Hog Calls
Spotted Pigs are unlocked after mastering pigs to Level 1. If you've yet to master Level 1 of the original pig, this gives you plenty of time to do so (and grow some Spotted Pigs to adulthood) before ever being put on a timer for this second goal. Pretty convenient, right? Once you finish this goal, you'll be given 1,000 XP, another Hogknocker Crate and the Hogkocker Pig himself - a cute pig wearing a colorful winter hat.
For this third goal, remember that you must be at least Level 90 to access it. This will all but entirely eliminate the possibility for many users to be able to complete it (as it doesn't appear to be a permanent addition to the game). However, it looks to be quite the challenge, so if you've leveled up this far in the game, you're going to have to work for your rewards.
Bringing Home the Bacon
Harvest 50 Super Corn
Sell 75 Adult Giant Hogs on your Homestead
Collect 50 Holiday Hog Tracks
See? I told you it would be difficult. Super Corn on its own is available to purchase from the store for 1 Horseshoe per square, but you may have some seeds in your inventory from past goals / news feed rewards. If you can finish all three of these tasks in what looks to be another five day time limit, you'll receive a whopping 25,000 XP (yes, that's 25 thousand), a Hogknocker Crate and a Hogknocker Mount - a rideable pig that you can use to replace the Horse your avatar is currently riding.
There's also a new collection to complete with this feature - the Hogknocker Collection that gives you a Hogknocker Piglet and 50 XP for completing it. You can earn the five items necessary to complete this collection by opening Hogknocker Crates or by feeding Hogknocker Pigs.
We'll make sure to update this space when the second and third goals in the Holiday Hogknocker series launch, but for now, why not get started on Part I? You only have a limited amount of time to even accept the goal, so make sure you don't miss out!
What do you think of these Holiday Hogknocker Goals? Are you level 90, or anywhere close? Do you think it's fair that a goal be limited to such a high level / group of users?
As of this writing, only Part I of this feature is actually available, and is rolling out to users' games. It's called "That's Some Pig," and it must be accepted in your game by December 3. That's tomorrow, if you're keeping track, so make sure to accept it in your game as soon as you can! You'll have five days to finish this first timed goal, and here's how to do just that.
That's Some Pig
Harvest 100 Wheat on your Homestead
Find 25 Fuzzy Peaches
Collect 15 Holiday Slops
You'll need to ask your friends for the Holiday Slop, and can do the same for the Fuzzy Peaches. You can also earn Fuzzy Peaches by harvesting Peach Trees on your Homestead. As for the Wheat, it takes a full day to harvest, giving you plenty of time to wait for your friends to send you those items (since you have five full days to complete the goal, after all). Finishing this first timed goal gives you 500 XP and a Hogknocker Crate.
Again, as of this writing, only Part I is available in the game. Even if you complete it well before the five day time limit has expired, you won't be able to move on to Part II until Zynga decides to launch it in the game. However, we do know what to expect from these two timed goals. Here's a look at them, so you can prepare for when they do launch.
The Trouble with Truffles
Tend 60 Adult Spotted Pigs
Collect 25 Truffles
Collect 30 Hog Calls
Spotted Pigs are unlocked after mastering pigs to Level 1. If you've yet to master Level 1 of the original pig, this gives you plenty of time to do so (and grow some Spotted Pigs to adulthood) before ever being put on a timer for this second goal. Pretty convenient, right? Once you finish this goal, you'll be given 1,000 XP, another Hogknocker Crate and the Hogkocker Pig himself - a cute pig wearing a colorful winter hat.
For this third goal, remember that you must be at least Level 90 to access it. This will all but entirely eliminate the possibility for many users to be able to complete it (as it doesn't appear to be a permanent addition to the game). However, it looks to be quite the challenge, so if you've leveled up this far in the game, you're going to have to work for your rewards.
Bringing Home the Bacon
Harvest 50 Super Corn
Sell 75 Adult Giant Hogs on your Homestead
Collect 50 Holiday Hog Tracks
See? I told you it would be difficult. Super Corn on its own is available to purchase from the store for 1 Horseshoe per square, but you may have some seeds in your inventory from past goals / news feed rewards. If you can finish all three of these tasks in what looks to be another five day time limit, you'll receive a whopping 25,000 XP (yes, that's 25 thousand), a Hogknocker Crate and a Hogknocker Mount - a rideable pig that you can use to replace the Horse your avatar is currently riding.
There's also a new collection to complete with this feature - the Hogknocker Collection that gives you a Hogknocker Piglet and 50 XP for completing it. You can earn the five items necessary to complete this collection by opening Hogknocker Crates or by feeding Hogknocker Pigs.
We'll make sure to update this space when the second and third goals in the Holiday Hogknocker series launch, but for now, why not get started on Part I? You only have a limited amount of time to even accept the goal, so make sure you don't miss out!
What do you think of these Holiday Hogknocker Goals? Are you level 90, or anywhere close? Do you think it's fair that a goal be limited to such a high level / group of users?
Adventure World Lunar Mine Expedition: Everything you need to know
As we make our way deeper into the Calendar of the Sun series in Adventure World, we've seen an increase in the difficulty of these Expeditions. After making your way through Jungle Approach and Mystery of the Moon Door, you'll be left with tackling Lunar Mine, where you'll collect bits of strange ore for the Celestial Compass, and learn more about your competition in the process (that competition being other adventurers hoping to strike it rich before you and Indiana Jones). For Lunar Mine, you'll need to have at least 250 Supplies, along with two each of Food, Fuel and Water to begin. You can bring five friends in on this Expedition with you for free energy and will have five days to finish the quests within it. Here's a guide to doing just that.
Strange Ore
Ask for 10 Stone Cogs
Use 5 Seismograph Machines to Find Strange Ore
Collect 15 Strange Ore
First things first, the Stone Cogs are earned by asking your friends to send them to you via a general news item that you place on your wall. Since you're in a mine, there are tons of rocks scattered about, that you can destroy with your pick axe; however, only certain stones will contain Strange Ore, while others will simply waste your energy in clearing them. As you collect the Stone Cogs, you'll be able to activate Seismograph Machines placed around the map that will show you the rocks that contain the ore, so you won't waste energy on those empty rocks.
The Competition
Ask for 10 Ciphers
Use 5 Telegrams to Translate the Ciphers
Use Radios to Intercept Transmissions
To learn more about the other treasure hunters, you'll need to study the items they left behind. In this case, you'll find telegrams scattered around the map, but will need to ask your friends for Ciphers via individual requests in order to actually "use" those telegrams. The Radios are also found at various locations around the map, although they might be guarded by spiders (since you're in a cave), mine train carts that need to moved or traps that need to be disarmed.
Out of Time
Collect the Ancient Marajoara Vase
Collect the Ancient Conquistador Armor
Collect the Pristine Marajoara Vase
Collect the Pristine Conquistador Armor
Apparently, the Calendar of the Sun and Celestial Compass have something to do with the progress of time and space, which could explain why the previous two Expeditions in the series saw you collecting previously extinct birds or plants. While the team is still confused as to what exactly is causing this time warp, you can gather a pair of or armor pieces or vases to try and fill in the blanks. Feel free to click on the "Show Me" button next to a particular item if you're having trouble spotting it on the map on your own. Just keep in mind that these pieces might be located in an out-of-the-way corner of the map that you may not otherwise even need to travel to.
Once you finish this third Calendar of the Sun Expedition, you will have officially reached the halfway point in the series. We'll continue to bring you guides on how to finish the other Expeditions in both the Calendar of the Sun story and in the main game itself, so keep checking back with us!
Check out the rest of our Adventure World Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of this Lunar Mine Expedition? Do you appreciate the increase in difficulty we've seen in these Indiana Jones Expeditions thus far, or would you prefer them all to be as easy as the first?
Strange Ore
Ask for 10 Stone Cogs
Use 5 Seismograph Machines to Find Strange Ore
Collect 15 Strange Ore
First things first, the Stone Cogs are earned by asking your friends to send them to you via a general news item that you place on your wall. Since you're in a mine, there are tons of rocks scattered about, that you can destroy with your pick axe; however, only certain stones will contain Strange Ore, while others will simply waste your energy in clearing them. As you collect the Stone Cogs, you'll be able to activate Seismograph Machines placed around the map that will show you the rocks that contain the ore, so you won't waste energy on those empty rocks.
The Competition
Ask for 10 Ciphers
Use 5 Telegrams to Translate the Ciphers
Use Radios to Intercept Transmissions
To learn more about the other treasure hunters, you'll need to study the items they left behind. In this case, you'll find telegrams scattered around the map, but will need to ask your friends for Ciphers via individual requests in order to actually "use" those telegrams. The Radios are also found at various locations around the map, although they might be guarded by spiders (since you're in a cave), mine train carts that need to moved or traps that need to be disarmed.
Out of Time
Collect the Ancient Marajoara Vase
Collect the Ancient Conquistador Armor
Collect the Pristine Marajoara Vase
Collect the Pristine Conquistador Armor
Apparently, the Calendar of the Sun and Celestial Compass have something to do with the progress of time and space, which could explain why the previous two Expeditions in the series saw you collecting previously extinct birds or plants. While the team is still confused as to what exactly is causing this time warp, you can gather a pair of or armor pieces or vases to try and fill in the blanks. Feel free to click on the "Show Me" button next to a particular item if you're having trouble spotting it on the map on your own. Just keep in mind that these pieces might be located in an out-of-the-way corner of the map that you may not otherwise even need to travel to.
Once you finish this third Calendar of the Sun Expedition, you will have officially reached the halfway point in the series. We'll continue to bring you guides on how to finish the other Expeditions in both the Calendar of the Sun story and in the main game itself, so keep checking back with us!
Check out the rest of our Adventure World Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of this Lunar Mine Expedition? Do you appreciate the increase in difficulty we've seen in these Indiana Jones Expeditions thus far, or would you prefer them all to be as easy as the first?
Cafe World Kid's Night Goals: Everything you need to know
While you still have four days to finish the Fall Feast feature in Cafe World, if you've already moved past all that, you can now move onto a goal series that's perfect for the kiddies. Kid's Night is an eight part goal series that contains the same basic principles of all goal sets: you'll need to cook a lot of dishes (in this case some random dishes) and ask your friends to send you a lot of items, but in this case, they're all themed towards children. Here's a guide to completing these eight goals.
As a reminder, this goal series contains some random dishes, so there's unfortunately no way to predict which dishes each and every user will have to cook. Just keep in mind that if you finish all eight goals, your overall cooking time should be incredibly similar to that of other players.
Kid's Night
Ask for 6 Kid's Menus
Serve Macaroni and Cheese 35 Times
Serve 40 Dishes
Remember, any of these "ask for" tasks have you asking your friends to send you items, while the dishes tasks simply require you to cook those dishes before moving on. You can spice them if you'd like to reduce or even eliminate their cooking times entirely, or you can wait for your dishes to cook the old-fashion way. There doesn't look to be a time limit for when you'll need to complete these goals, so feel free to not rush.
Smash Hit
Ask for 10 Balloons
Ask for 6 Crayon Boxes
Serve 40 Dishes
Your reward for this goal is a new recipe: Hotdog Mac and Cheese. That sounds like something a kid would eat, right? Heck, I think I'd eat it too!
Oldie But Goodie
Ask for 6 Cheese Wheels
Master Hotdog Mac and Cheese through Level 1
Serve 50 Dishes
Dino-Mite
Ask for 6 Dinosaur Shaped Cutters
Serve 45 Dishes
Ask for 10 Chicken Breasts
If the ingredients didn't give it away, you'll receive a fun new recipe for completing this one: the Dino Chicken Nuggets.
Ant Invasion
Ask for 10 Stalks of Celery
Master Dino Chicken Nuggets through Level 1
Master Hotdog Mac and Cheese through Level 2
Your reward for this goal is a healthy snack for the kids: Ants on a Log (don't worry - it's just raisins and peanut butter on top of celery).
Almost Showtime
Ask for 7 Coloring Books
Master Ants on a Log through Level 1
Ask for 12 Kid Plates
Kids Eat Free
Master Dino Chicken Nuggets through Level 2
Ask for 12 Streamers
Master Ants on a Log to Level 2
The Kid's Win!
Ask for 6 Boxes of Macaroni
Ask for 13 Chocolate Bars
Earn 500,000 coins
By this point, you've reached the end of the Kid's Night goal series, and will receive one more recipe for your trouble: Chocolate Pudding. If you're wondering what Macaroni has to do with pudding, we're told in the story that after dessert, the kids will take part in making some macaroni art. How fun!
Again, there doesn't appear to be a time limit on these goals, so feel free to work on other things (perhaps a catering order that you're being timed on).
[Via Zynga]
What do you think of these Kid's Night goals in Cafe World?
As a reminder, this goal series contains some random dishes, so there's unfortunately no way to predict which dishes each and every user will have to cook. Just keep in mind that if you finish all eight goals, your overall cooking time should be incredibly similar to that of other players.
Kid's Night
Ask for 6 Kid's Menus
Serve Macaroni and Cheese 35 Times
Serve 40 Dishes
Remember, any of these "ask for" tasks have you asking your friends to send you items, while the dishes tasks simply require you to cook those dishes before moving on. You can spice them if you'd like to reduce or even eliminate their cooking times entirely, or you can wait for your dishes to cook the old-fashion way. There doesn't look to be a time limit for when you'll need to complete these goals, so feel free to not rush.
Smash Hit
Ask for 10 Balloons
Ask for 6 Crayon Boxes
Serve 40 Dishes
Your reward for this goal is a new recipe: Hotdog Mac and Cheese. That sounds like something a kid would eat, right? Heck, I think I'd eat it too!
Oldie But Goodie
Ask for 6 Cheese Wheels
Master Hotdog Mac and Cheese through Level 1
Serve 50 Dishes
Dino-Mite
Ask for 6 Dinosaur Shaped Cutters
Serve 45 Dishes
Ask for 10 Chicken Breasts
If the ingredients didn't give it away, you'll receive a fun new recipe for completing this one: the Dino Chicken Nuggets.
Ant Invasion
Ask for 10 Stalks of Celery
Master Dino Chicken Nuggets through Level 1
Master Hotdog Mac and Cheese through Level 2
Your reward for this goal is a healthy snack for the kids: Ants on a Log (don't worry - it's just raisins and peanut butter on top of celery).
Almost Showtime
Ask for 7 Coloring Books
Master Ants on a Log through Level 1
Ask for 12 Kid Plates
Kids Eat Free
Master Dino Chicken Nuggets through Level 2
Ask for 12 Streamers
Master Ants on a Log to Level 2
The Kid's Win!
Ask for 6 Boxes of Macaroni
Ask for 13 Chocolate Bars
Earn 500,000 coins
By this point, you've reached the end of the Kid's Night goal series, and will receive one more recipe for your trouble: Chocolate Pudding. If you're wondering what Macaroni has to do with pudding, we're told in the story that after dessert, the kids will take part in making some macaroni art. How fun!
Again, there doesn't appear to be a time limit on these goals, so feel free to work on other things (perhaps a catering order that you're being timed on).
[Via Zynga]
What do you think of these Kid's Night goals in Cafe World?
Thứ Tư, 26 tháng 10, 2011
Throw Grenades With Halo: Anniversary’s Kinect Functionality
You can shout “grenade!” and see Master Chief sling one with the Kinect functionality 343 Industries has added to Halo: Anniversary, the high-definition remake coming on November 15. Other voice commands include “reload!” the studio revealed yesterday at Comic-Con.
Kinect will also support the spoken command “analyse”, which allows players to capture specific items from the environment and store them in the game’s “library”, where they are given a text listing and a 3D model to view up close.
Library is available only for those with Kinect, however. (Reloading and grenade chucking are, of course, available for controller-only gamers.)
Though 343 did not specify further, it sounds as though “reload”, “grenade” and “analyse” are not the only spoken commands Halo: Anniversary will recognise. We’d already heard that Kinect would allow players to switch the game between its high-definition and classic graphics.
Also, ShackNews reported that 343 revealed that “Hang ‘Em High” is the final multiplayer map for Anniversary.
Kinect will also support the spoken command “analyse”, which allows players to capture specific items from the environment and store them in the game’s “library”, where they are given a text listing and a 3D model to view up close.
Library is available only for those with Kinect, however. (Reloading and grenade chucking are, of course, available for controller-only gamers.)
Though 343 did not specify further, it sounds as though “reload”, “grenade” and “analyse” are not the only spoken commands Halo: Anniversary will recognise. We’d already heard that Kinect would allow players to switch the game between its high-definition and classic graphics.
Also, ShackNews reported that 343 revealed that “Hang ‘Em High” is the final multiplayer map for Anniversary.
Burglary Delivers Huge Setback To Indie Game Project Zomboid
The Indie Stone, the UK-based team behind the survival-horror game Project Zomboid might have the worst and hardest luck in independent games development. They’ve battled piracy — the kind that actually does cost a developer money — and had preorders cut off when PayPal suddenly shut down their account for bogus reasons. Still like the undead, they always managed to shamble back from adversity. It will be a lot tougher to rally this time.
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