If you're looking for a way to earn extra coins, XP and Zoning Permits in CityVille, and you have a lot of friends that are always willing to help you out, you might be interested in the new "Campaign Committee" goal that was launched this week in the game. This feature is open to users that are at least level 15 and have at least one City Hall building in their town. As of right now, this is a one-time only feature, and instead of showing up on the left-hand side of your screen as other goals appear, this one must be activated by you by collecting from your City Hall when it's ready.
The next time you collect your profits from your City Hall, you'll see a new menu, asking you whether or not you'd like to start this new goal. You'll have just 24 hours to collect as much help from your City Hall staff members as you plan your campaign for your run for Governor. There are three levels of prizes associated with this goal, with more upgraded City Halls unlocking better prizes, and the amount of friends that ultimately help you also affecting your rewards. For a Level 2 City Hall, the three level of rewards are 10,000 coins, 40 XP and 3 Zoning Permits.
Once you start the goal (remember, it's a manual start - you can choose to do so whenever you're ready), you'll be able to post wall posts to your friends' walls asking them to come help you out. If you happen to have many spaces filled by Samantha or just blank staff positions, you can fill those by asking friends as well. When a friend responds to your call for help, you'll see a green check mark appear next to their name on the list. After the 24 hour period has passed, you'll receive whatever prizes you've received for your current level (note: you can track your current status on prizes by looking inside the goal's menu, as seen below).
Again, this Campaign Committee goal is a one-time-only activity for your town. Perhaps if it goes over well enough with users, we'll see another opportunity to ask our friends for help with campaign "donations," but for now, just focus all of your efforts on earning the most rewards from this feature while you can.
What do you think of the Campaign Committee feature in CityVille? Would you like to see this be an ongoing feature in your town?
Monday, December 12, 2011
Clarins looks to beautify Facebook with Spa Life, its first social game
Is it only a matter time now before mom pants get their own Facebook game? Clarins, a well-known French brand of beauty products, recently released its own Facebook game, Spa Life. The game doesn't stray far away from games like Cafe World or Restaurant City, but applies the same principles to managing a spa rather than an eatery. Developed by Freshplanet, Spa Life has players managing an influx of customers looking for everything from a "mani-pedi" to facials and more.
Of course, just like its inspirations, players can decorate, upgrade and add new services to their spa. But players can only do this if they serve their terribly impatient customers in time to make the most cash from them. And in true Facebook game fashion, players can always buy their way out of waiting for the next upgrade with Facebook Credits.
According to Mashable, Clarins's North American CEO Jonathan Zrihen saw Facebook as a golden opportunity to reach its audience. And considering we all know by now that the average Facebook gamer is a middle-aged mother, he's probably right on the money. "I knew about the craziness of Zynga games, but I didn't realize the demographic was so much in line with the demographics of our products," Zrihen told Mashable. "I was also impressed by the level of engagement these games create."
Yes, this is yet another branded game, though it's odd that players aren't inundated with the brand until much later in the game. Another interesting nod is that Spa Life attempts to use your friends' names as customers to add more social awareness to the game. Building off of that, you'll need plenty more friends to run your various services, just like you need them to staff buildings in CityVille.
Spa Life in action
Branded games are exploding on Facebook. In fact, studios like Ecko|Code are focusing all of their efforts on creating games for brands such as Showtime shows like Weeds and Dexter. Facebook game developers like Zynga and Playdom have integrated brands into their games for awhile through promotions, it's only recently that they've begun to build games around a single brand.
For instance, it looks as if Adventure World will become Zynga's first game to completely embrace a brand. In October, the game will become "Adventure World: An Indiana Jones Game" with the help of Lucasfilm. Sure, original games will continue to release, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see less of them moving forward.
Click here to Play Spa Life on Facebook Now >
Are you a Clarins fan--enough to check out this Facebook game? What do you think of branded games on Facebook and the fact that they're growing?
Of course, just like its inspirations, players can decorate, upgrade and add new services to their spa. But players can only do this if they serve their terribly impatient customers in time to make the most cash from them. And in true Facebook game fashion, players can always buy their way out of waiting for the next upgrade with Facebook Credits.
According to Mashable, Clarins's North American CEO Jonathan Zrihen saw Facebook as a golden opportunity to reach its audience. And considering we all know by now that the average Facebook gamer is a middle-aged mother, he's probably right on the money. "I knew about the craziness of Zynga games, but I didn't realize the demographic was so much in line with the demographics of our products," Zrihen told Mashable. "I was also impressed by the level of engagement these games create."
Yes, this is yet another branded game, though it's odd that players aren't inundated with the brand until much later in the game. Another interesting nod is that Spa Life attempts to use your friends' names as customers to add more social awareness to the game. Building off of that, you'll need plenty more friends to run your various services, just like you need them to staff buildings in CityVille.
Spa Life in action
Branded games are exploding on Facebook. In fact, studios like Ecko|Code are focusing all of their efforts on creating games for brands such as Showtime shows like Weeds and Dexter. Facebook game developers like Zynga and Playdom have integrated brands into their games for awhile through promotions, it's only recently that they've begun to build games around a single brand.
For instance, it looks as if Adventure World will become Zynga's first game to completely embrace a brand. In October, the game will become "Adventure World: An Indiana Jones Game" with the help of Lucasfilm. Sure, original games will continue to release, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see less of them moving forward.
Click here to Play Spa Life on Facebook Now >
Are you a Clarins fan--enough to check out this Facebook game? What do you think of branded games on Facebook and the fact that they're growing?
Saturday, December 10, 2011
FarmVille Lighthouse Cove: Oceanside Farm land expansion now available for coins
Looking to add more room to your third FarmVille farm, the Lighthouse Cove, but don't want to spend Farm Cash to do it? If that's the case, you'll be happy to know that yet another land expansion has been given the coin treatment. Specifically, we're talking about the Oceanside Farm expansion, which brings your farm to the 20x20 size.
Of course, in order to unlock this Oceanside Farm, you'll have to do a few things in advance. First and foremost, you'll need to unlock all of the previous expansions, which have been released for coins over the past few weeks as well. Once you've unlocked the 18x18 Harbor Homestead, you'll then likely need to add an arbitrary amount of new neighbors to your game to unlock the coin option for the Oceanside, 20x20 farm. I say arbitrary as there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how many neighbors each user has to add, if they have to add any at all.
In my case, for instance, I'll have to add 11 neighbors, bringing my total to 128. That's not a nice, round number, so why was it chosen? Why would "11" be the magic number for me to unlock this new expansion? Like I said, it doesn't make much sense, but it's unfortunately what we're stuck dealing with as of this writing. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones that only has to add one or two neighbors, or even none at all. For your sake, I genuinely hope that's the case. Regardless, once you finally reach your required neighbor total, the expansion can then be purchased for 1.5 million coins. You'll gain access to planting more individual crop squares on your farm after that point, but whether or not that will make any of the upcoming Lighthouse Cove goals any easier (or just continue in the same difficulty) remains to be seen.
Have you already reached the 18x18 expansion, and are ready to move on to 20x20? Do you actively farm on all of the squares allotted to your in your Lighthouse Cove farm?
Of course, in order to unlock this Oceanside Farm, you'll have to do a few things in advance. First and foremost, you'll need to unlock all of the previous expansions, which have been released for coins over the past few weeks as well. Once you've unlocked the 18x18 Harbor Homestead, you'll then likely need to add an arbitrary amount of new neighbors to your game to unlock the coin option for the Oceanside, 20x20 farm. I say arbitrary as there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how many neighbors each user has to add, if they have to add any at all.
In my case, for instance, I'll have to add 11 neighbors, bringing my total to 128. That's not a nice, round number, so why was it chosen? Why would "11" be the magic number for me to unlock this new expansion? Like I said, it doesn't make much sense, but it's unfortunately what we're stuck dealing with as of this writing. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones that only has to add one or two neighbors, or even none at all. For your sake, I genuinely hope that's the case. Regardless, once you finally reach your required neighbor total, the expansion can then be purchased for 1.5 million coins. You'll gain access to planting more individual crop squares on your farm after that point, but whether or not that will make any of the upcoming Lighthouse Cove goals any easier (or just continue in the same difficulty) remains to be seen.
Have you already reached the 18x18 expansion, and are ready to move on to 20x20? Do you actively farm on all of the squares allotted to your in your Lighthouse Cove farm?
Empires & Allies launches second campaign, Molten Terror
If you're level 25 or above in Empires & Allies, and have already completed most everything given to you from the start of the game, you'll be happy to know that an entire second campaign has been launched in the game! This second campaign is called Molten Terror, and it comes complete with plenty of new features. But first, the story!
In Molten Terror, the Molten Reef Islands have been almost entirely ruined by the eruption of a massive mega-volcano, and you're out to save the survivors. You'll face new enemies along the way, in terms of both units that you'll face in battle, and the "bosses" that are controlling them. For instance, you'll face a man named Lt. Basil Fletcher, who originally trained with Sergeant Cross. He's a weapons salesman, so you know he'll likely pack a punch! Of course, you'll also have new quests to complete to go along with these new enemies, and to introduce you to the second campaign overall.
In addition to this, these new islands will be themed appropriately, with islands that are on fire or covered in lava, and new, sometimes tropical themed troops to defeat. If you've yet to complete the game's first campaign, Wrath of the Raven, you can easily switch between the two campaigns using an icon in the bottom right corner of the game screen. Again, you must be level 25 to access this second campaign, regardless of your progress in the first. Now, if you are level 25 and you still haven't received it, you'll need to be a bit more patient, as this will roll out to users everywhere in due time.
[Source and image credit: Zynga]
Are you excited to try out the quests and battles in Molten Terror, or are you still working your way through Wrath of the Raven?
In Molten Terror, the Molten Reef Islands have been almost entirely ruined by the eruption of a massive mega-volcano, and you're out to save the survivors. You'll face new enemies along the way, in terms of both units that you'll face in battle, and the "bosses" that are controlling them. For instance, you'll face a man named Lt. Basil Fletcher, who originally trained with Sergeant Cross. He's a weapons salesman, so you know he'll likely pack a punch! Of course, you'll also have new quests to complete to go along with these new enemies, and to introduce you to the second campaign overall.
In addition to this, these new islands will be themed appropriately, with islands that are on fire or covered in lava, and new, sometimes tropical themed troops to defeat. If you've yet to complete the game's first campaign, Wrath of the Raven, you can easily switch between the two campaigns using an icon in the bottom right corner of the game screen. Again, you must be level 25 to access this second campaign, regardless of your progress in the first. Now, if you are level 25 and you still haven't received it, you'll need to be a bit more patient, as this will roll out to users everywhere in due time.
[Source and image credit: Zynga]
Are you excited to try out the quests and battles in Molten Terror, or are you still working your way through Wrath of the Raven?
CityVille Plagued Playground Community Building: Everything you need to know
If you're working on one final push to reach 8,000 Monsters in CityVille's Halloween Monsters event, here's one final community building, that's available for coins, that will help you along. The Plagued Playground costs 50,000 coins to purchase from the store, making it one of the more expensive coin options (see also the Demented Dentist and Haunted Library, as examples), but it comes with a fairly easy building process.
Once you place the base in your town, you'll need to whack it (that is, use energy) to build up the frame six times. With this completed, you thankfully won't have to collect any building materials; rather, this is a community building that uses your friends as staff to get things done. In this case, you'll need ten friends to come help out. It should be noted that you can use any extra "Bonus Crew" - the pictures of Samantha - to staff this building for free, if you have some on hand. Otherwise, you'll need to send out individual requests to those CityVille neighbors that you think would be most willing to help you.
When this one is complete (you'll know because you'll either get an email telling you the staffing is complete, will see the hammer on top of the building, or both), you'll have a fun outdoor playground (that's of course themed to Monsters / Halloween) that allows for 1,500 extra Monsters to live in your town. Granted, this item won't help you actually add those 1,500 Monsters, but at least you'll have the room for any you want to add in your mad dash to the finish! Good luck!
Will you add the Plagued Playground to your town just for the look of this limited edition building, or are you actively trying to reach the 8,000 Monster mark?
Once you place the base in your town, you'll need to whack it (that is, use energy) to build up the frame six times. With this completed, you thankfully won't have to collect any building materials; rather, this is a community building that uses your friends as staff to get things done. In this case, you'll need ten friends to come help out. It should be noted that you can use any extra "Bonus Crew" - the pictures of Samantha - to staff this building for free, if you have some on hand. Otherwise, you'll need to send out individual requests to those CityVille neighbors that you think would be most willing to help you.
When this one is complete (you'll know because you'll either get an email telling you the staffing is complete, will see the hammer on top of the building, or both), you'll have a fun outdoor playground (that's of course themed to Monsters / Halloween) that allows for 1,500 extra Monsters to live in your town. Granted, this item won't help you actually add those 1,500 Monsters, but at least you'll have the room for any you want to add in your mad dash to the finish! Good luck!
Will you add the Plagued Playground to your town just for the look of this limited edition building, or are you actively trying to reach the 8,000 Monster mark?
FarmVille Raffle Booth (10/30/11): Black Corgi and Gazebo come back around
By this point, the FarmVille Raffle Booth has become a hit or miss prospect when it comes to receiving free items. Not only are the items simply hard to earn (that is, relying solely on luck), but the amount of duplicate items released in the feature might event take away from some of the excitement users feel towards the feature. As it stands, this week's Raffle Booth is another set of re-released items, so if you've had bad luck in the past, maybe it will turn around now.
As usual, the FarmVille Raffle Booth is absolutely free to play, and you'll have the chance of winning the following items (we'll also list their odds here for your reference).
10 Special Delivery Boxes - 1:5
3 Farmhands - 1:20
5 Love Potions - 1:50
Gazebo - 1:200
Black Corgi - 1:500
As you might have expected, you'll receive a free Raffle Ticket at the beginning of this week, giving you at least one chance at one of these items. You can earn others by asking your friends to send them to you, or you can purchase them outright for Farm Cash. Just remember, though: even though you have tons of Raffle Tickets doesn't mean you're guaranteed to win all five of these items, or even one of them. There's no real reason to spend Farm Cash on these Raffle Tickets. Good luck!
Have you ever won the big two prizes from the FarmVille Raffle Booth? Do you already have this Black Corgi or Gazebo? Which item are you most hoping to win?
As usual, the FarmVille Raffle Booth is absolutely free to play, and you'll have the chance of winning the following items (we'll also list their odds here for your reference).
10 Special Delivery Boxes - 1:5
3 Farmhands - 1:20
5 Love Potions - 1:50
Gazebo - 1:200
Black Corgi - 1:500
As you might have expected, you'll receive a free Raffle Ticket at the beginning of this week, giving you at least one chance at one of these items. You can earn others by asking your friends to send them to you, or you can purchase them outright for Farm Cash. Just remember, though: even though you have tons of Raffle Tickets doesn't mean you're guaranteed to win all five of these items, or even one of them. There's no real reason to spend Farm Cash on these Raffle Tickets. Good luck!
Have you ever won the big two prizes from the FarmVille Raffle Booth? Do you already have this Black Corgi or Gazebo? Which item are you most hoping to win?
FarmVille Fairy Hollow Items: Butterfly Dog, Fall Ribbon Flower Tree and more
It's unusual for Zynga to launch a new theme in FarmVille right before a major holiday, but apparently, with Halloween being tomorrow, the developer has decided to launch a new theme now, so that it will be available in the time after, between Halloween and Thanksgiving. That theme is Fairy Hollow, and the first batch of items in the theme has launched in the store this evening. There are trees, animals, decorations and even avatar costumes available in this theme - here's a look at what's available.
Trees
Fall Ribbon Flower Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Big Fall Ribbon Flower Tree - 14 Farm Cash
Golden Fairy Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Giant Golden Fairy Tree - 14 Farm Cash
While these pairs of trees are brand new, if they look a bit familiar, it's because they're re-colorings of trees we've seen in the game before. Keep that in mind, the rehashing technique is used throughout this entire theme. As usual, you'll only need to purchase the normal version of each of these two trees, as the Big Fall Ribbon Flower Tree and Giant Golden Fairy Tree can be earned for free from Mystery Seedlings.
Animals
Butterfly Horse - 26 Farm Cash
Butterfly Dog - 12 Farm Cash
Butterfly Rabbit - 12 Farm Cash
Butterfly Sheep - 20 Farm Cash
Yellow-Eyed Penguin - 1 million coins
Butterfly Pig - 18 Farm Cash
Here, many of these animals are, without the wings, just basic versions of animals you likely already have on your farm(s). Add the wings and you have these new animals, so ultimately, whether or not you purchase them will depend on how much you like their wings. As for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin, this one looks almost identical to the regular Penguin in the game, so you'll need to look closely at its yellow eye to really tell the difference.
Buildings
Fairy Mill - 20 Farm Cash
Other than the pastel colors, which go along with many of this theme's items, there's nothing really here that scream "fairy" to me, but I won't argue. If you're a building collector, you'll have to make the splurge either way.
Decorations
Wooden Gate - 10,000 coins
Fairy Godmother Gnome - 12 Farm Cash
Wooden Fence - 5,000 coins
The Wooden Gate and Wooden Fence were first sold back in the Fairy Garden event in August, and the Fairy Godmother Gnome was given away for free as a goal reward during that time. If you finished that goal then, you can save the 12 Farm Cash and just pull your old gnome out of storage to decorate for this theme.
Avatar Costumes
Butterfly I - 8 Farm Cash
Butterfly II - 8 Farm Cash
These costumes will allow even your avatar to join in on the butterfly / fairy fun, and could even work as a Halloween costume, if you've yet to choose one, but are willing to do so fast (that is, before Halloween proper passes). Just remember that you can try on these costumes to see if you really like the way your avatar looks with wings before you purchase them.
All of these items will be available in the game's store for the next two weeks. It will be interesting to see if this is a single-release theme or if more items are released in the future. If more items are launched, we'll make sure to let you know.
What do you think of these Fairy Hollow items? Were you hoping the end of October would see even more Halloween items released, or are you ready to move on?
Trees
Fall Ribbon Flower Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Big Fall Ribbon Flower Tree - 14 Farm Cash
Golden Fairy Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Giant Golden Fairy Tree - 14 Farm Cash
While these pairs of trees are brand new, if they look a bit familiar, it's because they're re-colorings of trees we've seen in the game before. Keep that in mind, the rehashing technique is used throughout this entire theme. As usual, you'll only need to purchase the normal version of each of these two trees, as the Big Fall Ribbon Flower Tree and Giant Golden Fairy Tree can be earned for free from Mystery Seedlings.
Animals
Butterfly Horse - 26 Farm Cash
Butterfly Dog - 12 Farm Cash
Butterfly Rabbit - 12 Farm Cash
Butterfly Sheep - 20 Farm Cash
Yellow-Eyed Penguin - 1 million coins
Butterfly Pig - 18 Farm Cash
Here, many of these animals are, without the wings, just basic versions of animals you likely already have on your farm(s). Add the wings and you have these new animals, so ultimately, whether or not you purchase them will depend on how much you like their wings. As for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin, this one looks almost identical to the regular Penguin in the game, so you'll need to look closely at its yellow eye to really tell the difference.
Buildings
Fairy Mill - 20 Farm Cash
Other than the pastel colors, which go along with many of this theme's items, there's nothing really here that scream "fairy" to me, but I won't argue. If you're a building collector, you'll have to make the splurge either way.
Decorations
Wooden Gate - 10,000 coins
Fairy Godmother Gnome - 12 Farm Cash
Wooden Fence - 5,000 coins
The Wooden Gate and Wooden Fence were first sold back in the Fairy Garden event in August, and the Fairy Godmother Gnome was given away for free as a goal reward during that time. If you finished that goal then, you can save the 12 Farm Cash and just pull your old gnome out of storage to decorate for this theme.
Avatar Costumes
Butterfly I - 8 Farm Cash
Butterfly II - 8 Farm Cash
These costumes will allow even your avatar to join in on the butterfly / fairy fun, and could even work as a Halloween costume, if you've yet to choose one, but are willing to do so fast (that is, before Halloween proper passes). Just remember that you can try on these costumes to see if you really like the way your avatar looks with wings before you purchase them.
All of these items will be available in the game's store for the next two weeks. It will be interesting to see if this is a single-release theme or if more items are released in the future. If more items are launched, we'll make sure to let you know.
What do you think of these Fairy Hollow items? Were you hoping the end of October would see even more Halloween items released, or are you ready to move on?
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