farmville iphone app update
The FarmVille iPhone application has received an update addressing some of the issues plaguing the older version.
Continue reading to see a list of the improvements.
The FarmVille iPhone app updates are as follows:
Optimizations to allow large farms to load better.
Fixes for users having issues loading their farm.
Performance improvements for older devices.
Support for multitasking (for iOS 4.0 users).
Better organized gift area.
Bug fixing.
Before the update, the FarmVille iPhone app was slow, choppy, and overall, provided a pretty terrible gaming experience, especially on older devices. As seen in our demo video, FarmVille ran at a snail's pace running on an iPod touch. Fortunately, Zynga is well aware of the performance issues being suffered by players on slower handheld devices. FarmVille players with larger, more extravagant farms had it the worst as the game struggled to load their massive amount of items and land.
We're definitely relieved to see most of these troubling issues were tackled in the FarmVIlle app update. Hopefully now it plays more smoothly than ever. In addition, we're pleased to see the support for multitasking, letting able players take breaks from the grueling farm life without closing the app.
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn farmville. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn farmville. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Thứ Bảy, 11 tháng 2, 2012
Is there anything Zynga can do to reverse FarmVille's downturn?
While things may outwardly appear to be full of happiness and light in the world of Zynga's FarmVille – the game celebrates its (official) first birthday this month, and is, by far, the largest Facebook game on the site, sitting at around 62 million users – when you compare these figures to those found last March, which saw the game peaking at over 83 million players (32 million of which played everyday), that happiness and light turns bleak with sadness. But what is it, exactly, that has caused the game to lose over 21 million players in the span of around four months?
We've speculated about the cause of FarmVille's player loss – the game is, for the lack of a better term, hemorrhaging players, losing 4.4 million players in April, and 7.7 million users in May, as two recent examples – but no one, solid conclusion can be drawn for why players are leaving.
The downturn officially began in March, when Facebook cut-off third party notifications, meaning that, from that point forward, Zynga had to scramble to amass an email distribution list of every player that had ever added the game in order to be able to stay in constant contact with them. Aside from simply annoying players, who may feel that giving out their email address is an attack on their privacy, this meant that Zynga's amount of "spam" messages to players was immediately, and drastically cut. For the most casual FarmVille players, perhaps this lack of constant "Play our game!" reminders was enough for them to forget about the game.
Other arguments could be made as to why players are leaving – FarmVille grew exponentially through the winter months, and dropped when the weather turned, so could the simple fact that people are spending more time outdoors have anything to do with it? Perhaps it was the previous level cap of level 70 that turned long-time players away, as they felt they had nothing left to accomplish in the game. Financially speaking, could it be Zynga's seemingly growing reliance on Farm Cash – more and more limited edition items are being released that can only be purchased through such means – that has made players turn tail and run, rather than be tempted into spending real money on virtual items?
farmville downturn
Whatever the reason, according to the latest AppData figures, the trend doesn't really seem to be slowing, as the last month (from June 13 to July 13) shows the game at a loss of 3.7 million players. Granted, this is a far cry from the 7.7 million lost in May, but each time the app gains in users – FarmVille gained 300,000 users from July 5 to July 6, as an example – it drops just as many, or even more, within a matter of days. To our previous example, by July 8, the app had lost 400,000 players, more than 100,000 more than those that joined just days before.
While we could spend hours speculating as to why players are leaving the game, perhaps the better question to ask is, "What can Zynga do to reverse the trend?" Surely the gaming developer has been thinking the same, but, outside of a promotion with 7-Eleven that put the game's logo all over the convenience stores' shelves (and offered free in-game items to those that purchased said branded products), it doesn't really seem like they're doing anything to stop it.
We don't work for Zynga, but perhaps if they took a look at a few of our ideas – the ideas of folks who actively play the game – they may be able to stop the bleeding.
First, while it may be hard to prove scientifically, it's common knowledge that people love free things. Offer users a free incentive, other than fuel (which can be found in numerous other ways, also for free), and perhaps they'll take a few seconds to load the game to receive said free item. Make it a good freebie, like a free run of the FarmVille Biplane (which instantly makes crops ready to harvest), or even some free Farm Cash, and users will play the game long enough to perhaps fall in love with it all over again.
Speaking of Farm Cash, where other Zynga games (run by separate teams) like PetVille and Cafe World frequently offer sales or discounts on premium currency packages ("Buy Cafe World Cash and receive 20% more for free!"), FarmVille very rarely, if ever, discounts Farm Cash packages. Perhaps if users were able to receive a few more Farm Cash for their purchase, they would be more willing to pull out their real-world wallet to purchase Zynga's virtual items.
farmville downturn
If they chose not to go that route, one major thing Zynga could do would be to lower the cost of Farm Cash items in the first place. While they would end up spending the same amount of money in the long run, why would a player want to spend $10 on a single item, when they could spend $5 on two different items?
Additionally, the many, many features of the game that require a specific amount of neighbors, or to be a specific level need to be changed. A lower level player will find that the game can actually border on the boring side of things, as they haven't leveled up to the point of being able to afford a Tractor, Seeder or Harvester, resulting in their clicking on each crop individually, which can take a substantial amount of time, especially on lower internet speeds. They can't participate in Co-Op Farming, which means they won't have a chance at that feature's exclusive items. They can't expand their farm without a specific amount of neighbors either, which means they can't add enough crops to their farm to quicken their leveling up and thus get them closer to being able to participate in the aforementioned features (of which they are many more). It's a vicious cycle, and it is perhaps the biggest argument a player could have about the game.
farmville downturn
Another argument comes from the speed of leveling up, which is quite slow, compared to other Facebook games. While games like Social City and Restaurant City offer slow leveling cycles as well, they don't have as many features locked to lower level players, so the impact is felt less. While, to Zynga's credit, there has been a leveling tweak that was said to make leveling up an easier process in the game, unless a player has 24 hours of everyday to dedicate to the game, they will still find the process to be a slow one. Why spend the better part of a week trying to level up once in FarmVille, when you can level up three or four times in a competitor's game in the same amount of time?
On a completely different note, the FarmVille for iPhone app has been incredibly successful amongst players who own iPhones and love the idea of being able to farm anywhere they go. But with its limited functionality, the novelty may very quickly wear off. Zynga needs to get people to play the game more, not less, as the less they play, the less desire they will have to play in the future, as they become distracted by other things. To that end, Zynga could (and probably should) add more exclusive, and even free, items to the iPhone app – items that can't be found anywhere else, to give players (who, generally speaking, love to collect things by default) more incentive to keep playing, if only to make sure they have one of every new item available.
Speaking of which, while Zynga has already re-released some previously retired limited edition items as permanent additions to the game's store, they would do well to release more of these items to the public. As the game grows, new players will visit their friends' farms and will probably be quite jealous of the many limited edition (but now retired) items they see there. Once they find out that they can't have them, they might be disappointed to the point of giving up on the game because "I'm being punished for not adding the game sooner." Perhaps Zynga could create a "FarmVille LE Item Re-Release Extravaganza" in the game's store, letting users spend coins on some of these items, like holiday items, and users will flock to the game in the hopes of completing collections they once thought were lost to them.
Just as we could discuss the reasons for FarmVille's downturn for hours without end, so too could we develop ways that Zynga could reverse the trend. Will we see the developer take any of these actions in the future? Only time will tell, but for now, make sure to join in on the discussion in the comments below or in our forums. Whether you're a long-time FarmVille player, a completely new player, or even if you're one who used to play but has now given up – we want to hear from you. What do you think Zynga can do to stop the loss of players in the game? Or, better yet, if you quit the game, why did you do so, and is there anything Zynga can do to win you back?
This post originally appeared on Frisky Mongoose.
We've speculated about the cause of FarmVille's player loss – the game is, for the lack of a better term, hemorrhaging players, losing 4.4 million players in April, and 7.7 million users in May, as two recent examples – but no one, solid conclusion can be drawn for why players are leaving.
The downturn officially began in March, when Facebook cut-off third party notifications, meaning that, from that point forward, Zynga had to scramble to amass an email distribution list of every player that had ever added the game in order to be able to stay in constant contact with them. Aside from simply annoying players, who may feel that giving out their email address is an attack on their privacy, this meant that Zynga's amount of "spam" messages to players was immediately, and drastically cut. For the most casual FarmVille players, perhaps this lack of constant "Play our game!" reminders was enough for them to forget about the game.
Other arguments could be made as to why players are leaving – FarmVille grew exponentially through the winter months, and dropped when the weather turned, so could the simple fact that people are spending more time outdoors have anything to do with it? Perhaps it was the previous level cap of level 70 that turned long-time players away, as they felt they had nothing left to accomplish in the game. Financially speaking, could it be Zynga's seemingly growing reliance on Farm Cash – more and more limited edition items are being released that can only be purchased through such means – that has made players turn tail and run, rather than be tempted into spending real money on virtual items?
farmville downturn
Whatever the reason, according to the latest AppData figures, the trend doesn't really seem to be slowing, as the last month (from June 13 to July 13) shows the game at a loss of 3.7 million players. Granted, this is a far cry from the 7.7 million lost in May, but each time the app gains in users – FarmVille gained 300,000 users from July 5 to July 6, as an example – it drops just as many, or even more, within a matter of days. To our previous example, by July 8, the app had lost 400,000 players, more than 100,000 more than those that joined just days before.
While we could spend hours speculating as to why players are leaving the game, perhaps the better question to ask is, "What can Zynga do to reverse the trend?" Surely the gaming developer has been thinking the same, but, outside of a promotion with 7-Eleven that put the game's logo all over the convenience stores' shelves (and offered free in-game items to those that purchased said branded products), it doesn't really seem like they're doing anything to stop it.
We don't work for Zynga, but perhaps if they took a look at a few of our ideas – the ideas of folks who actively play the game – they may be able to stop the bleeding.
First, while it may be hard to prove scientifically, it's common knowledge that people love free things. Offer users a free incentive, other than fuel (which can be found in numerous other ways, also for free), and perhaps they'll take a few seconds to load the game to receive said free item. Make it a good freebie, like a free run of the FarmVille Biplane (which instantly makes crops ready to harvest), or even some free Farm Cash, and users will play the game long enough to perhaps fall in love with it all over again.
Speaking of Farm Cash, where other Zynga games (run by separate teams) like PetVille and Cafe World frequently offer sales or discounts on premium currency packages ("Buy Cafe World Cash and receive 20% more for free!"), FarmVille very rarely, if ever, discounts Farm Cash packages. Perhaps if users were able to receive a few more Farm Cash for their purchase, they would be more willing to pull out their real-world wallet to purchase Zynga's virtual items.
farmville downturn
If they chose not to go that route, one major thing Zynga could do would be to lower the cost of Farm Cash items in the first place. While they would end up spending the same amount of money in the long run, why would a player want to spend $10 on a single item, when they could spend $5 on two different items?
Additionally, the many, many features of the game that require a specific amount of neighbors, or to be a specific level need to be changed. A lower level player will find that the game can actually border on the boring side of things, as they haven't leveled up to the point of being able to afford a Tractor, Seeder or Harvester, resulting in their clicking on each crop individually, which can take a substantial amount of time, especially on lower internet speeds. They can't participate in Co-Op Farming, which means they won't have a chance at that feature's exclusive items. They can't expand their farm without a specific amount of neighbors either, which means they can't add enough crops to their farm to quicken their leveling up and thus get them closer to being able to participate in the aforementioned features (of which they are many more). It's a vicious cycle, and it is perhaps the biggest argument a player could have about the game.
farmville downturn
Another argument comes from the speed of leveling up, which is quite slow, compared to other Facebook games. While games like Social City and Restaurant City offer slow leveling cycles as well, they don't have as many features locked to lower level players, so the impact is felt less. While, to Zynga's credit, there has been a leveling tweak that was said to make leveling up an easier process in the game, unless a player has 24 hours of everyday to dedicate to the game, they will still find the process to be a slow one. Why spend the better part of a week trying to level up once in FarmVille, when you can level up three or four times in a competitor's game in the same amount of time?
On a completely different note, the FarmVille for iPhone app has been incredibly successful amongst players who own iPhones and love the idea of being able to farm anywhere they go. But with its limited functionality, the novelty may very quickly wear off. Zynga needs to get people to play the game more, not less, as the less they play, the less desire they will have to play in the future, as they become distracted by other things. To that end, Zynga could (and probably should) add more exclusive, and even free, items to the iPhone app – items that can't be found anywhere else, to give players (who, generally speaking, love to collect things by default) more incentive to keep playing, if only to make sure they have one of every new item available.
Speaking of which, while Zynga has already re-released some previously retired limited edition items as permanent additions to the game's store, they would do well to release more of these items to the public. As the game grows, new players will visit their friends' farms and will probably be quite jealous of the many limited edition (but now retired) items they see there. Once they find out that they can't have them, they might be disappointed to the point of giving up on the game because "I'm being punished for not adding the game sooner." Perhaps Zynga could create a "FarmVille LE Item Re-Release Extravaganza" in the game's store, letting users spend coins on some of these items, like holiday items, and users will flock to the game in the hopes of completing collections they once thought were lost to them.
Just as we could discuss the reasons for FarmVille's downturn for hours without end, so too could we develop ways that Zynga could reverse the trend. Will we see the developer take any of these actions in the future? Only time will tell, but for now, make sure to join in on the discussion in the comments below or in our forums. Whether you're a long-time FarmVille player, a completely new player, or even if you're one who used to play but has now given up – we want to hear from you. What do you think Zynga can do to stop the loss of players in the game? Or, better yet, if you quit the game, why did you do so, and is there anything Zynga can do to win you back?
This post originally appeared on Frisky Mongoose.
Thứ Hai, 6 tháng 2, 2012
FarmVille German Themed Decorations: Majestic Fountain, Beech Tree, Market Table Set, & Porcelain Vase
Lots of new Limited Edition Germany themed items including a Majestic Fountain, Beech Tree, Market Table Set, and Porcelain Vase debuted tonight in FarmVille.
You can purchase all of these LE decorations in the FarmVille Market during the next 13 days only.
FarmVille LE Germany Decorations (Released: September 16, 2010):
* Majestic Fountain – 22 FV$
* Beech Tree – 4 FV$
* Market Table Set – 22,000 Coins
* Porcelain Vase – 7,000 Coins
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
FarmVille German Themed Buildings: German Home & Tailor Shop
Continuing with the Limited Edition Germany theme, FarmVille released two new buildings tonight that includes the German Home (Previously Unreleased item) and the Tailor Shop.
You can purchase both of these buildings in the FarmVille Market during the next 13 days.
FarmVille LE Germany Buildings (Released September 16, 2010):
* German Home – 36 FV$
* Tailor Shop – 34 FV$
This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
FarmVille Reitpony trots into the Market for 13 days only
A new pony has trotted into the FarmVille Market -- a limited edition horse called the Reitpony. If this pony looks familiar, you're not seeing things -- this horse has been featured on a new German-themed loading screen this week and was also revealed earlier this week as an unreleased item, listed as the Riding Pony.
The Reitpony will be available for purchase for the next 13 days only (and, yes, there is also a Reitpony foal).
Reitpony
Released: Sept 16, 2010
Cost: 24 Farm Cash
Sell for 84 coins
Harvest time: 3 days
Fun facts about the real-life Reitpony: 'Reitpony' translates into Riding Pony. This breed of pony was created for national and international horse riding competitions for childen and teens. The goal was to create a pony with the 'competitive athleticism of a riding horse.' Source
reitpony in real life
The Reitpony will be available for purchase for the next 13 days only (and, yes, there is also a Reitpony foal).
Reitpony
Released: Sept 16, 2010
Cost: 24 Farm Cash
Sell for 84 coins
Harvest time: 3 days
Fun facts about the real-life Reitpony: 'Reitpony' translates into Riding Pony. This breed of pony was created for national and international horse riding competitions for childen and teens. The goal was to create a pony with the 'competitive athleticism of a riding horse.' Source
reitpony in real life
FarmVille: Re-gifting now applies to building materials and more
Earlier this week, we noticed that we were able to re-gift unwanted FarmVille Mystery Gifts, now it looks like that re-gifting feature has been added to building supplies as well. To get rid of these items, click the purple Re-Gift button, select how many you want to give away, then post them to you Facebook Wall.
farmville regifting
And I was just about to ask everyone what they planned to do with their leftover building materials.
farmville regifting
And I was just about to ask everyone what they planned to do with their leftover building materials.
Thứ Sáu, 3 tháng 2, 2012
FarmVille Halloween Limited Edition Item Showcase [Video]
If you're a FarmVille fan, you know that limited edition Halloween items have been flooding the game's in-game market, many of which cost Farm Cash. Most of these items are also animated (admit it -- they're pretty hard to resist) and you can see them in action in the video above.
Find more stories on our 2010 Halloween Guide for FarmVille, Mafia Wars & more.
Bookmark this site!
Find more stories on our 2010 Halloween Guide for FarmVille, Mafia Wars & more.
Bookmark this site!
Thứ Năm, 2 tháng 2, 2012
FarmVille Sneak Peek: Thanksgiving food items, plus Fruit Cake
It looks like this year's Thanksgiving celebration in FarmVille will be absolutely huge, as we've come across five more images pertaining the holiday, the holiday feast in particular. There's also an image of Fruit Cake, but we're assuming that will wait until closer to Christmas.
At any rate, above you'll see images (from left to right) or the unreleased Leaf Candle (perfect for decorating the dinner table), Stuffing, Casserole dish, Spiced Cider, an "All Food" picture, and the Fruit Cake itself.
While there is no guarantee that these items will actually make it into FarmVille, it is nice to see that Zynga is at least thinking about making this year's theme quite an expansive one.
[Via FarmVille Latest]
Check out the rest of our Thanksgiving 2010 coverage right here.
At any rate, above you'll see images (from left to right) or the unreleased Leaf Candle (perfect for decorating the dinner table), Stuffing, Casserole dish, Spiced Cider, an "All Food" picture, and the Fruit Cake itself.
While there is no guarantee that these items will actually make it into FarmVille, it is nice to see that Zynga is at least thinking about making this year's theme quite an expansive one.
[Via FarmVille Latest]
Check out the rest of our Thanksgiving 2010 coverage right here.
Thứ Tư, 1 tháng 2, 2012
FarmVille Grey Goose now available to purchase in the market
In an interesting move, Zynga has released the Grey Goose formerly given out as a bonus for purchasing FarmVille Farm Cash to the market as a "regular" premium item.
Earlier this week, if you had taken the opportunity to purchase any Farm Cash package, this Grey Goose would've been give to you for free, but as that was a limited time opportunity (that has since expired), if you want to get your hands on this interesting bird, you'll have to pay Farm Cash, to the total of 16 Farm Cash, to be exact.
It's also interesting to see the Grey Goose listed as a limited edition item - part of the new Winter Holiday theme of items. While the Goose doesn't scream either Winter or Holidays for that matter, we'll give Zynga the benefit of the doubt on this one.
You've got 14 days to add this Grey Goose to your animal collection in the game, so make sure to take advantage of its release while you can.
Earlier this week, if you had taken the opportunity to purchase any Farm Cash package, this Grey Goose would've been give to you for free, but as that was a limited time opportunity (that has since expired), if you want to get your hands on this interesting bird, you'll have to pay Farm Cash, to the total of 16 Farm Cash, to be exact.
It's also interesting to see the Grey Goose listed as a limited edition item - part of the new Winter Holiday theme of items. While the Goose doesn't scream either Winter or Holidays for that matter, we'll give Zynga the benefit of the doubt on this one.
You've got 14 days to add this Grey Goose to your animal collection in the game, so make sure to take advantage of its release while you can.
FarmVille Winter Holiday Decorations: Lighted Train, Candy Gate, Arch & Fence
What better way to begin the winter holiday celebration than to purchase some new decorative items in FarmVille? There are four new decorations, to be exact, with most of these items allowing you to create a completely separated, yet themed area on your farm this winter.
First, though, there is the Lighted Train, a individual item that costs 22 Farm Cash. If you have the Lighted Gift Box from last year's celebration, you'll recognize the design of the train (which comes with the engine, one car and a caboose connected), as it is bright blue, with animated flashing lights that make it appear as though the train is moving, just as the Lighted Gift Box flashes lights on its ribbon.
The other items are those I spoke of earlier - those items that will help you truly set your other Winter Holiday items apart, in the form of fences and other dividers. It should be noted, though, that these items will be familiar to those who were playing FarmVille at this time last year, as they were available then as well. The items are the Candy Gate, which costs 7 Farm Cash, the Candy Arch, priced at 2,000 coins, and a single piece of Candy Fencing, which costs just 800 coins.
Take special note of the Candy Fencing price - normally, themed pieces of fencing cost at least 5,000 coins per square, so this is a definite bonus for those who want to create an expansive Winter / Christmas themed area on their farms this winter.
First, though, there is the Lighted Train, a individual item that costs 22 Farm Cash. If you have the Lighted Gift Box from last year's celebration, you'll recognize the design of the train (which comes with the engine, one car and a caboose connected), as it is bright blue, with animated flashing lights that make it appear as though the train is moving, just as the Lighted Gift Box flashes lights on its ribbon.
The other items are those I spoke of earlier - those items that will help you truly set your other Winter Holiday items apart, in the form of fences and other dividers. It should be noted, though, that these items will be familiar to those who were playing FarmVille at this time last year, as they were available then as well. The items are the Candy Gate, which costs 7 Farm Cash, the Candy Arch, priced at 2,000 coins, and a single piece of Candy Fencing, which costs just 800 coins.
Take special note of the Candy Fencing price - normally, themed pieces of fencing cost at least 5,000 coins per square, so this is a definite bonus for those who want to create an expansive Winter / Christmas themed area on their farms this winter.
Thứ Ba, 31 tháng 1, 2012
Earn 2 free FarmVille Farm Cash in GE promotion
At this rate, Zynga might start releasing new free Farm Cash activities in FarmVille before we can even tell you about the last, as just earlier this evening, we brought you news concerning the new Step Up 3 cross-promotion that will allow users to earn 2 Free Farm Cash, and now, not even a day later (as a matter of fact, merely hours later), we see the launch of a new promotion with GE which offers another 2 free Farm Cash for users that take a few minutes to participate.
As usual, this promotion can be found by clicking on the "Sponsored Link" window that now sits at the bottom of the FarmVille game page. Once you click on the link, a new window will appear, where you'll be asked to upload a photo fitting into one of three themes: Light, Wind, and Water.
You'll see a large "Upload" button, which will take you a page where you can "donate" one of your photos. You can voluntarily do this, as donating a photo that GE deems appropriate for the theme will result in an charitable donation on your behalf. However, once you click on the Upload button, you'll see the famous "You've earned for Farm Cash" text in the top right corner of this new window.
Whether or not you choose to actually upload a photo, simply close this new window and your Farm Cash total in-game should automatically go up by two. If not, a quick refresh of the game should do the trick of adding the Farm Cash to your account.
If you like free Farm Cash - and who doesn't - keep checking back with us, as we'll make sure you're the first to know when new opportunities arise.
As usual, this promotion can be found by clicking on the "Sponsored Link" window that now sits at the bottom of the FarmVille game page. Once you click on the link, a new window will appear, where you'll be asked to upload a photo fitting into one of three themes: Light, Wind, and Water.
You'll see a large "Upload" button, which will take you a page where you can "donate" one of your photos. You can voluntarily do this, as donating a photo that GE deems appropriate for the theme will result in an charitable donation on your behalf. However, once you click on the Upload button, you'll see the famous "You've earned for Farm Cash" text in the top right corner of this new window.
Whether or not you choose to actually upload a photo, simply close this new window and your Farm Cash total in-game should automatically go up by two. If not, a quick refresh of the game should do the trick of adding the Farm Cash to your account.
If you like free Farm Cash - and who doesn't - keep checking back with us, as we'll make sure you're the first to know when new opportunities arise.
FarmVille Festive Cow will make its grand appearance ... soon
The official Zynga Inc Facebook fan page just reached 1 million fans, and as promised, the FarmVille Festive Cow will make an appearance on our farm in the not-too-distant future. There's no word yet on when this wreathed cow will appear and how it will appear -- the hint we've heard so far is that "this special present is under your Holiday tree in FarmVille." Stay tuned.
[Via FarmVille Cows Fan Page]
[Via FarmVille Cows Fan Page]
Thứ Hai, 30 tháng 1, 2012
FarmVille New Year Animal: Disco Ball Sheep
If you're like me, and like anything bright, shiny, or animated in FarmVille, you'll be just as thrilled as I am to know that Zynga has launched an item that fits into all three of those categories. The Disco Ball Sheep is now available in the FarmVille marketplace as part of the limited edition New Year item theme.
What makes this item so great isn't just its shiny "wool" that makes the sheep look like it's a disco ball - it's the fact that you can... wait for it... purchase it for coins! Yes, after releasing animal after animal to the game's store that could only be purchased for Farm Cash, Zynga has mercifully priced this item for coins. Sure, its price tag of 140,000 coins isn't necessarily a bargain, but if you're a player that simply refuses to spend premium / real currency in FarmVille, this will definitely allow you to celebrate the New Year in style.
The Disco Ball Sheep can be harvested from every three days, and you'll receive 28 coins each time you do so. You'll receive 1,400 bonus experience points for purchasing the sheep, which will be available in the game for just 10 days.
Find all our New Year's coverage right here.
What do you think of the Disco Ball Sheep? Do you like this animal more than others that have been released in the game?
What makes this item so great isn't just its shiny "wool" that makes the sheep look like it's a disco ball - it's the fact that you can... wait for it... purchase it for coins! Yes, after releasing animal after animal to the game's store that could only be purchased for Farm Cash, Zynga has mercifully priced this item for coins. Sure, its price tag of 140,000 coins isn't necessarily a bargain, but if you're a player that simply refuses to spend premium / real currency in FarmVille, this will definitely allow you to celebrate the New Year in style.
The Disco Ball Sheep can be harvested from every three days, and you'll receive 28 coins each time you do so. You'll receive 1,400 bonus experience points for purchasing the sheep, which will be available in the game for just 10 days.
Find all our New Year's coverage right here.
What do you think of the Disco Ball Sheep? Do you like this animal more than others that have been released in the game?
FarmVille Disco Ball Tree makes an appearance in the market
For quite some time now, we've been investigating the appearance of the mysterious Disco Ball Tree in FarmVille. We had seed reports of the tree showing up randomly as a Mystery Seedling, even before any other New Years themed trees had been released, and we were then put under the assumption that the Disco Ball Tree is the level 2 tree from the Confetti Tree, which was released at the beginning of the week. But what if someone didn't want to wait for their Confetti Tree to spawn a Disco Ball Tree Mystery Seedling?
Luckily, there is now a solid answer for that, as the Disco Ball Tree has finally been released as a standalone item in the FarmVille marketplace. Unfortunately, if you'd like to add this lovely tree to your land, you'll need to be willing to pay 15 Farm Cash. Once purchased, however, you can harvest the tree every two days, and you'll receive 150 coins for doing so. You'll gain just 15 experience points for purchasing the tree, but as any tree-lover in FarmVille can tell you - you don't purchase the trees for the experience point bonuses.
The Disco Ball Tree will be available in the game's store for the next 15 days, but luckily, will be available as Mystery Seedlings long after if you choose to hand onto your Farm Cash for the time being. One final note - the tree can be mastered, with the first star of mastery being available after 75 harvests, if that's something that will sway your decision in purchasing one.
Find all our New Year's coverage right here.
Luckily, there is now a solid answer for that, as the Disco Ball Tree has finally been released as a standalone item in the FarmVille marketplace. Unfortunately, if you'd like to add this lovely tree to your land, you'll need to be willing to pay 15 Farm Cash. Once purchased, however, you can harvest the tree every two days, and you'll receive 150 coins for doing so. You'll gain just 15 experience points for purchasing the tree, but as any tree-lover in FarmVille can tell you - you don't purchase the trees for the experience point bonuses.
The Disco Ball Tree will be available in the game's store for the next 15 days, but luckily, will be available as Mystery Seedlings long after if you choose to hand onto your Farm Cash for the time being. One final note - the tree can be mastered, with the first star of mastery being available after 75 harvests, if that's something that will sway your decision in purchasing one.
Find all our New Year's coverage right here.
FarmVille New Years Items: Fireworks I, II, III, & New Year Gnome
As part of tonight's FarmVille update, we've seen the release of four new decorative items in the game. All four of these items fit into the current New Year theme of limited edition items, but unfortunately for those that like to save their Farm Cash, all of these items are premium.
What's more, three of the four items are Fireworks, meaning that they are one-time use items that will disappear from your farm once launched, after showing you a pretty virtual fireworks show in your game. The Fireworks are labeled as Fireworks I, II, and III, and all three cost 3 Farm Cash each. It seems a bit unreasonable for Zynga to charge Farm Cash for a one-time use item, but luckily, there are ways to receive free Fireworks this year, as friends can post them on their wall as they complete stages in the New Years Party Barn event.
The other new item is the New Year Gnome, which will be a big hit with Gnome collectors. He's a cheerful little fella that's ready to party, as he comes equipped with a noise-maker and confetti, and a price tag of 18 Farm Cash. You'll receive 1,800 bonus experience points for purchasing the Gnome, if that makes you more likely to purchase him.
All four of these items will be available in the game's store for the next 10 days, so if you can't play FarmVille on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day proper, you'll be able to throw a post-holiday Fireworks show within your game to keep the party going.
Find all our New Year's coverage right here.
What do you think of Fireworks in FarmVille? Are they worth the cost, since you can only use them once, or would you rather save your Farm Cash for permanent decorative items or buildings?
What's more, three of the four items are Fireworks, meaning that they are one-time use items that will disappear from your farm once launched, after showing you a pretty virtual fireworks show in your game. The Fireworks are labeled as Fireworks I, II, and III, and all three cost 3 Farm Cash each. It seems a bit unreasonable for Zynga to charge Farm Cash for a one-time use item, but luckily, there are ways to receive free Fireworks this year, as friends can post them on their wall as they complete stages in the New Years Party Barn event.
The other new item is the New Year Gnome, which will be a big hit with Gnome collectors. He's a cheerful little fella that's ready to party, as he comes equipped with a noise-maker and confetti, and a price tag of 18 Farm Cash. You'll receive 1,800 bonus experience points for purchasing the Gnome, if that makes you more likely to purchase him.
All four of these items will be available in the game's store for the next 10 days, so if you can't play FarmVille on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day proper, you'll be able to throw a post-holiday Fireworks show within your game to keep the party going.
Find all our New Year's coverage right here.
What do you think of Fireworks in FarmVille? Are they worth the cost, since you can only use them once, or would you rather save your Farm Cash for permanent decorative items or buildings?
Thứ Hai, 9 tháng 1, 2012
FarmVille Sneak Peek: Alaska Home, Visitor Center, Bear Fishing, Bald Eagle & More
Today has been fantastic for those looking for unreleased items in FarmVille. This latest edition of the FarmVille Sneak Peek not only offers us a look at some Alaskan (or perhaps general Winter-themed) buildings, but also some new animals, decorations, and even a clue as to what the next Mystery Game will contain.
As for the new buildings, we see and "Alaska Home," and a "Log Cabin Visitor Center." The names for both of these items seem a bit shaky, and there are no guarantees that that's what they'll actually be called, or if they'll even ultimately be released officially in the game.
There are a few decorative items to speak of as well, like the Bear Fishing item (a bear standing next to a stream, apparently trying to catch a salmon swimming upstream), a Snowy Bridge, a Snowy Tree, and a Totem Pole 2 (not to be confused with the first Totem Pole which was released just a few days ago).
Two unreleased animals are the Bald Eagle and the Eagle Owl, but we're not sure as to whether or not these will be true animals (that is, capable of being harvested for a profit), or whether they'll be "decorative" animals. Regardless, having a Bald Eagle on your farm would simply be awesome, so I'll take the item either way.
Finally, this week's Mystery Game will apparently contain the Siberian Tiger Cub that we brought you a sneak peek of earlier today, as it is the animal pictured in the Mystery Game icon that will apparently be released this week.
As usual, there aren't any other details concerning these items, like their prices (please, Zynga, make some of them for coins) or when they'll officially be released, so keep checking back with us, as we'll make sure you're the first to know when any of these items launch in the game.
What do you think of this wide variety of unreleased items? Will you participate in this week's Mystery Game if it does indeed contain the Siberian Tiger Cub?
As for the new buildings, we see and "Alaska Home," and a "Log Cabin Visitor Center." The names for both of these items seem a bit shaky, and there are no guarantees that that's what they'll actually be called, or if they'll even ultimately be released officially in the game.
There are a few decorative items to speak of as well, like the Bear Fishing item (a bear standing next to a stream, apparently trying to catch a salmon swimming upstream), a Snowy Bridge, a Snowy Tree, and a Totem Pole 2 (not to be confused with the first Totem Pole which was released just a few days ago).
Two unreleased animals are the Bald Eagle and the Eagle Owl, but we're not sure as to whether or not these will be true animals (that is, capable of being harvested for a profit), or whether they'll be "decorative" animals. Regardless, having a Bald Eagle on your farm would simply be awesome, so I'll take the item either way.
Finally, this week's Mystery Game will apparently contain the Siberian Tiger Cub that we brought you a sneak peek of earlier today, as it is the animal pictured in the Mystery Game icon that will apparently be released this week.
As usual, there aren't any other details concerning these items, like their prices (please, Zynga, make some of them for coins) or when they'll officially be released, so keep checking back with us, as we'll make sure you're the first to know when any of these items launch in the game.
What do you think of this wide variety of unreleased items? Will you participate in this week's Mystery Game if it does indeed contain the Siberian Tiger Cub?
FarmVille Winter Wonderland Theme Showcase 2 [Video]
If you've enjoyed Zynga's past releases of YouTube videos showcasing items that have yet to be released in FarmVille, you're in luck, as the developer has revealed another showcase video this evening. Appropriately, the video is called "Winter Wonderland Theme Showcase 2" (phew, what a mouthful!), and it shows off a handful of new items that are guaranteed to be coming to the game. The kicker is in when they will actually become available (soon, of course, but the exact date is anyone's guess).
In this video, we can see several items that we gave you a sneak peek of earlier today, like the Bear Fishing item, and the new Totem Pole that will be released in the game. Other items look to really play off of the Winter-theme, with glacier-esque mountain, and even a deep icy ravine. There is also a lovely purple and pink flower planter to take a look at, and if you have yet to complete your Duck Pond (which released in the game yesterday evening), you can see one in action, to get a feel for what your finished Duck Pond will look like on your own farm.
We'll be sure to let you know when these items are released in full to the game, so keep checking back with us.
In this video, we can see several items that we gave you a sneak peek of earlier today, like the Bear Fishing item, and the new Totem Pole that will be released in the game. Other items look to really play off of the Winter-theme, with glacier-esque mountain, and even a deep icy ravine. There is also a lovely purple and pink flower planter to take a look at, and if you have yet to complete your Duck Pond (which released in the game yesterday evening), you can see one in action, to get a feel for what your finished Duck Pond will look like on your own farm.
We'll be sure to let you know when these items are released in full to the game, so keep checking back with us.
FarmVille Winter Wonderland Items: Mink, Alaska Home, Bald Eagle, & Much More!
For the biggest part of Wednesday, we brought you a look at quite a few then unreleased items that we believed would be launching in FarmVille in the near future. Who would have thought at the time, that the evening would bring a FarmVille update to the game (the second in as many days), that would see the release of a big portion of these items to the game).
This newest FarmVille update is practically overflowing with new items that you'll be able to purchase either to decorate your farm (animals, buildings, and pure decorations), or decorate your avatar (a series of new clothing and accessory items). We have the complete look at these items behind the break, so meet us there for complete pricing details, and for news on how long these items will be available in the game.
The easiest way to give a run-down of these items is by their type, starting with Animals. We have one new limited edition animal to choose from in the form of the American Mink. This cute little fella will set you back only 12 Farm Cash (we say only as this actually is a fairly cheap animal in the grand scheme of things, where animals can easily cost 25 Farm Cash or more).
Moving on, we have one new building available to purchase, called the Alaska Home. It costs 20 Farm Cash, which, again, isn't that high of a Farm Cash cost, if you compare it to other Farm Cash buildings in the game. The Ski Resort, for instance, has a normal price of 30 Farm Cash, while buildings like the Tea House or Pagoda cost upwards of 30-40 Farm Cash each, as examples.
We start to see the real bulk of tonight's update when looking at new decorations, of which there are five. Three of these are Farm Cash items, and they are the Snowy Bridge, Bald Eagle, and Snowy Tree. The Snowy Bridge costs 25 Farm Cash, the Bald Eagle (purely a decorative animal - not available to be harvested from) costs 18 Farm Cash, and the Snowy Tree is available for the bargain price of 3 Farm Cash (Note: it appears that the Snowy Tree has been improperly labeled as a Winter Holiday item, even though it likely should be a part of the Winter Wonderland set. Whatever the reality may be, this doesn't affect its time limit in the store, so don't panic about it selling out extremely fast).
The other two items are the Snowmobile and the Iced Cat, another in the now long line of ice-themed items in the game, this time in the shape of a cat. The Snowmobile is a fairly pricey item, even if it is available for coins, as it will set you back 200,000 coins. The Iced Cat is 50,000 coins.
Finally, the game's Clothing section has tons of items that are now available to help accessorize your avatar. You can purchase a series of scarves and ski goggles, with these items being accessories on top of the other clothing items that your avatar is already wearing. They cost 1 Farm Cash each, and come in the following colors: Black, Pink, Blue, Red, and Purple. If you want a complete outfit for your avatar, instead of just an accessory item, you can also buy the Eskimo costume that goes with your avatar's gender. Of course, girl avatars will only be able to purchase the "Female Eskimo" outfit and vice versa. These outfits cost 10 Farm Cash each, but are pretty darn cute for the cost.
All of these items, regardless of item type or cost, will only be available in the game for the next 13 days. This is presumably the date when all of the Winter Wonderland items will expire, as even those items released before tonight's update will be gone either in 13 days even, or before then. Shop fast if you want to have time to enjoy these items on your farm before they expire from the store (likely for good).
This newest FarmVille update is practically overflowing with new items that you'll be able to purchase either to decorate your farm (animals, buildings, and pure decorations), or decorate your avatar (a series of new clothing and accessory items). We have the complete look at these items behind the break, so meet us there for complete pricing details, and for news on how long these items will be available in the game.
The easiest way to give a run-down of these items is by their type, starting with Animals. We have one new limited edition animal to choose from in the form of the American Mink. This cute little fella will set you back only 12 Farm Cash (we say only as this actually is a fairly cheap animal in the grand scheme of things, where animals can easily cost 25 Farm Cash or more).
Moving on, we have one new building available to purchase, called the Alaska Home. It costs 20 Farm Cash, which, again, isn't that high of a Farm Cash cost, if you compare it to other Farm Cash buildings in the game. The Ski Resort, for instance, has a normal price of 30 Farm Cash, while buildings like the Tea House or Pagoda cost upwards of 30-40 Farm Cash each, as examples.
We start to see the real bulk of tonight's update when looking at new decorations, of which there are five. Three of these are Farm Cash items, and they are the Snowy Bridge, Bald Eagle, and Snowy Tree. The Snowy Bridge costs 25 Farm Cash, the Bald Eagle (purely a decorative animal - not available to be harvested from) costs 18 Farm Cash, and the Snowy Tree is available for the bargain price of 3 Farm Cash (Note: it appears that the Snowy Tree has been improperly labeled as a Winter Holiday item, even though it likely should be a part of the Winter Wonderland set. Whatever the reality may be, this doesn't affect its time limit in the store, so don't panic about it selling out extremely fast).
The other two items are the Snowmobile and the Iced Cat, another in the now long line of ice-themed items in the game, this time in the shape of a cat. The Snowmobile is a fairly pricey item, even if it is available for coins, as it will set you back 200,000 coins. The Iced Cat is 50,000 coins.
Finally, the game's Clothing section has tons of items that are now available to help accessorize your avatar. You can purchase a series of scarves and ski goggles, with these items being accessories on top of the other clothing items that your avatar is already wearing. They cost 1 Farm Cash each, and come in the following colors: Black, Pink, Blue, Red, and Purple. If you want a complete outfit for your avatar, instead of just an accessory item, you can also buy the Eskimo costume that goes with your avatar's gender. Of course, girl avatars will only be able to purchase the "Female Eskimo" outfit and vice versa. These outfits cost 10 Farm Cash each, but are pretty darn cute for the cost.
All of these items, regardless of item type or cost, will only be available in the game for the next 13 days. This is presumably the date when all of the Winter Wonderland items will expire, as even those items released before tonight's update will be gone either in 13 days even, or before then. Shop fast if you want to have time to enjoy these items on your farm before they expire from the store (likely for good).
FarmVille: Belted Duck available as a free gift / adoptable animal
If you've finished building your Duck Pond in FarmVille, you might be looking for some new ducks to fill it with. Luckily, you now have two ways to come across a new duck that has been released in the game in the form of a Belted Duck.
This Belted Duck is a cute black and white duck that is now available to send to your friends from the Free Gifts page. Likewise, you'll be able to receive the Belted Duck as a free gift from your friends. If that doesn't work for you, however, know that the Belted Duck is also now available to find at random times when playing the game, as a "wandering" animal that appears on your farm.
Of course, this will allow you to share the lost and found Duck with your friends on your wall, and likewise, if any of your friends find a duck on their own farms, they'll be able to share it on their wall for you to claim (that is, if you're fast enough to claim it before the lost duck is gone).
It's possible that this Belted Duck will only be available for a limited time, although Zynga didn't announce an expiration date for how long the Duck will last on the page. Either way, to be safe, it might be smart to ask your friends for ducks now, rather than later, while you know they're still available.
This Belted Duck is a cute black and white duck that is now available to send to your friends from the Free Gifts page. Likewise, you'll be able to receive the Belted Duck as a free gift from your friends. If that doesn't work for you, however, know that the Belted Duck is also now available to find at random times when playing the game, as a "wandering" animal that appears on your farm.
Of course, this will allow you to share the lost and found Duck with your friends on your wall, and likewise, if any of your friends find a duck on their own farms, they'll be able to share it on their wall for you to claim (that is, if you're fast enough to claim it before the lost duck is gone).
It's possible that this Belted Duck will only be available for a limited time, although Zynga didn't announce an expiration date for how long the Duck will last on the page. Either way, to be safe, it might be smart to ask your friends for ducks now, rather than later, while you know they're still available.
CityVille reaches 100 million players, nearly half of all Facebook gamers
Honestly, we all kind of expected this to happen. CityVille has reached 100 million monthly active players, Mashable reports. Though, it is still staggering to see one Facebook game reach nearly half of all social gamers in just about 40 days when it took the previous champion, FarmVille, months to reach a mere 84 million players. (It's crazy to call 84 million players of a single game "mere," but c'est la vie.)
Actually, CityVille hasn't quite reached the 100 million mark yet, but with 99,903,740 players and up to 400 thousand added daily it truly is only a matter of time, according to Mashable. Regardless of whether CityVille has eclipse the rest of the Zynga game lineup, they're not going anywhere. Zynga games hold four of the top five spots in AppData's list of largest Facebook apps. In fact, a game by another developer doesn't appear on the list until 17th place with Digital Chocolate's Millionaire City. However, it's unlikely that CityVille can retain 100 million monthly players for long much less stay on top. Then again, it's more than likely that it'll be yet another Zynga game that eventually topples the gargantuan city builder.
How long do you think CityVille will remain on top? What game or developer do you think can give CityVille and Zynga a challenge?
Actually, CityVille hasn't quite reached the 100 million mark yet, but with 99,903,740 players and up to 400 thousand added daily it truly is only a matter of time, according to Mashable. Regardless of whether CityVille has eclipse the rest of the Zynga game lineup, they're not going anywhere. Zynga games hold four of the top five spots in AppData's list of largest Facebook apps. In fact, a game by another developer doesn't appear on the list until 17th place with Digital Chocolate's Millionaire City. However, it's unlikely that CityVille can retain 100 million monthly players for long much less stay on top. Then again, it's more than likely that it'll be yet another Zynga game that eventually topples the gargantuan city builder.
How long do you think CityVille will remain on top? What game or developer do you think can give CityVille and Zynga a challenge?
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