Earlier today, we brought you a sneak peek of some unreleased Chinese New Year items that we believe will be coming to FarmVille in the near future. This afternoon, we've received confirmation that at least two of those items will in fact be released officially, as they have - get this - already appeared in many users' games.
That's right, two particular items - the Red Pagoda, and the New Year Rabbit - have been spotted on many users' farms, at the very back of the Building and Animal tabs of the store. I personally have the Red Pagoda in my own store, and have purchased one of these buildings for myself, confirming that it works. It is available to purchase for 40,000 coins. While you can purchase the building early if you'd like - one word of warning. The building is... well, it's rather blurry, as if Zynga hasn't put all of the finishing touches on it quite yet. This makes sense, as we didn't expect these items to be released until at least next month as part of an eventual Chinese New Year theme in the game. I've added a full-size screenshot of the item on my farm to show you just how big this item is, and its current state.
As for the New Year Rabbit, it is a much more costly item, priced at 250,000 coins. It also further explains the unintentional nature of this weird update, as it is invisible. It's position is found in the store, and the animal itself can be purchased, but it will show up as an invisible spot on your farm, that is, if you can find the item in the store before Zynga catches to their accident and removes both it and the Pagoda.
Whether or not you want to take a risk on purchasing either of these items will be up to you. Either way, though, it is nice to get a heads-up on what these items will eventually cost, so it might be worth looking into.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Lunchtime Poll: FarmVille News Feeds: 'Like' 'em or leave 'em?
Like Button
The FarmVille forums have been buzzing for some time about News Feed posts and the infamous "Like" button. Apparently, players hold several different codes of ethics when it comes to the "Like" button and taking something from the News Feed. So much so that the thread is 21 pages long. Some interpret it as an abstract aspect of Facebook, "Liking" things because, hey, they genuinely like them. Others use it to notify others when an item is already taken, while some hate the button altogether as it muddles up their Feed and confuses them. The problem stems from the fact that "Like" is not a Zynga feature, but a Facebook one, meaning it truly is an interpretive practice when it comes to social games. So, we ask you, fine digital farmers:
FarmVille News Feeds: "Like" 'em or leave 'em?
Like 'em, because I generally "Like" things I... like.Leave 'em! I'm so sick of them messing up my feed.They're a good way to avoid defunct News Feeds. Like 'em!Who cares? I use a bonus collector anyway. Doesn't everyone?
VoteView ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com
The FarmVille forums have been buzzing for some time about News Feed posts and the infamous "Like" button. Apparently, players hold several different codes of ethics when it comes to the "Like" button and taking something from the News Feed. So much so that the thread is 21 pages long. Some interpret it as an abstract aspect of Facebook, "Liking" things because, hey, they genuinely like them. Others use it to notify others when an item is already taken, while some hate the button altogether as it muddles up their Feed and confuses them. The problem stems from the fact that "Like" is not a Zynga feature, but a Facebook one, meaning it truly is an interpretive practice when it comes to social games. So, we ask you, fine digital farmers:
FarmVille News Feeds: "Like" 'em or leave 'em?
Like 'em, because I generally "Like" things I... like.Leave 'em! I'm so sick of them messing up my feed.They're a good way to avoid defunct News Feeds. Like 'em!Who cares? I use a bonus collector anyway. Doesn't everyone?
VoteView ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com
CityVille and Leveling Up: What's the point?
Simply put, who knows. A large number of CityVille's players have reached the maximum level of 100 in Zynga's city-builder. What's worse is since Level 63, there has been nothing waiting for them but new titles. Energy doesn't even increase after Level 28 and Community Buildings have stopped coming in for the veterans since Level 60. CityVille forum user SirDadHellfire questions, "What is the purpose of leveling?"
Sure, millions play the game out of simple enjoyment, but as forum user PanALF says, "I like to be on top, so I'm pushing my level up. [The] only benefit I think is unlocking some buildings, but there is no other point to level up over 63." There you have it, folks. It's an issue that a litany of players is suffering: What's the point of leveling up anymore?
Levels for everyone!Honestly, there doesn't seem to be one yet. Leveling up in any videogame should mean something, especially those with a persistent element like social games. Achieving a level should feel like reaching a new height in the game with added features and powers. At the moment, leveling up in CityVille is just another number. Thankfully, Zynga realizes this and is likely working to fix it, but it will take time to make 37 levels of content worthwhile.
An ideal temporary fix would be to add small rewards (in addition to the Energy refill) to each level beyond 63. For instance, Level 64 rewards players with a free Tower Eats. Reach Level 65 and you're rewarded with an Expansion. (Side note: Expansions shouldn't have been tied to cash reserves at all. Wouldn't it feel that much better to receive an even bigger city each time you grew as a mayor? [Logistically speaking, maybe every other level?])
However, this doesn't solve the problem of leveling up too quickly. Frankly, too many tasks reward XP. Everything from harvesting crops to collecting from Residencies to collecting from Businesses rewards XP. One of two things needs to happen to slow this process down: Either fewer things reward XP or the XP required to level increases. The best route to solve the issue while maintaining that feeling of accomplishment? Replace XP in some places with more tangible rewards. How about allowing Businesses to randomly provide new decorations relevant to that type of business rather than XP when collected?
Either way, something must be done to improve the endgame experience past Level 63. If not, Zynga could soon lose a major portion of its 20 million plus daily players. It won't be much longer before these folks head elsewhere, and there's no guarantee that it will be the English Countryside.
Sure, millions play the game out of simple enjoyment, but as forum user PanALF says, "I like to be on top, so I'm pushing my level up. [The] only benefit I think is unlocking some buildings, but there is no other point to level up over 63." There you have it, folks. It's an issue that a litany of players is suffering: What's the point of leveling up anymore?
Levels for everyone!Honestly, there doesn't seem to be one yet. Leveling up in any videogame should mean something, especially those with a persistent element like social games. Achieving a level should feel like reaching a new height in the game with added features and powers. At the moment, leveling up in CityVille is just another number. Thankfully, Zynga realizes this and is likely working to fix it, but it will take time to make 37 levels of content worthwhile.
An ideal temporary fix would be to add small rewards (in addition to the Energy refill) to each level beyond 63. For instance, Level 64 rewards players with a free Tower Eats. Reach Level 65 and you're rewarded with an Expansion. (Side note: Expansions shouldn't have been tied to cash reserves at all. Wouldn't it feel that much better to receive an even bigger city each time you grew as a mayor? [Logistically speaking, maybe every other level?])
However, this doesn't solve the problem of leveling up too quickly. Frankly, too many tasks reward XP. Everything from harvesting crops to collecting from Residencies to collecting from Businesses rewards XP. One of two things needs to happen to slow this process down: Either fewer things reward XP or the XP required to level increases. The best route to solve the issue while maintaining that feeling of accomplishment? Replace XP in some places with more tangible rewards. How about allowing Businesses to randomly provide new decorations relevant to that type of business rather than XP when collected?
Either way, something must be done to improve the endgame experience past Level 63. If not, Zynga could soon lose a major portion of its 20 million plus daily players. It won't be much longer before these folks head elsewhere, and there's no guarantee that it will be the English Countryside.
Facebook games will access your address and number (again)
That wasn't long, was it? Facebook games will once again have access to more of your personal information, Mashable reports. Just over a month ago, Facebook retracted its change to third-party applications (i.e. games) that would allow them to access your home address and mobile number due to feedback. Then, members of Congress brought the change into question, leading to a lengthy exchange between Facebook and US representatives Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Joe Barton (R-Texas).
Facebook responded to the questioning with, "We have not yet decided when or in what manner we will re-deploy the permission for mobile numbers and addresses," Facebook Vice President of Global Public Policy Marne Levine said. "As noted above, we are evaluating whether and how we can increase the visibility of applications' requests for permission to access user contact information. We are also considering whether additional user education would be helpful."
New Permissions window
In other words, Facebook has every intention of bringing the change back. However, how clear the website will make it within that initial "Request for Permission" window is up in the air. According to Mashable, the above image wasn't enough for the disgruntled users. Later in its response to the representatives, Facebook noted adding another pop-up notifying users of this increased access could reduce click-through rates by as much as 3 percent, Mashable reports. Well, duh.
Mass. representative Markey reports that he will continue to watch Facebook, all the while the website recently released a new draft of its privacy policy that's far more legible than before. Yet this doesn't change the fact that games are about to get a lot more personal with your data.
[Image Credits: Masalai and Mashable]
What do you think of this change coming back to Facebook games? Will this cause you to stop playing them or play them differently?
Facebook responded to the questioning with, "We have not yet decided when or in what manner we will re-deploy the permission for mobile numbers and addresses," Facebook Vice President of Global Public Policy Marne Levine said. "As noted above, we are evaluating whether and how we can increase the visibility of applications' requests for permission to access user contact information. We are also considering whether additional user education would be helpful."
New Permissions window
In other words, Facebook has every intention of bringing the change back. However, how clear the website will make it within that initial "Request for Permission" window is up in the air. According to Mashable, the above image wasn't enough for the disgruntled users. Later in its response to the representatives, Facebook noted adding another pop-up notifying users of this increased access could reduce click-through rates by as much as 3 percent, Mashable reports. Well, duh.
Mass. representative Markey reports that he will continue to watch Facebook, all the while the website recently released a new draft of its privacy policy that's far more legible than before. Yet this doesn't change the fact that games are about to get a lot more personal with your data.
[Image Credits: Masalai and Mashable]
What do you think of this change coming back to Facebook games? Will this cause you to stop playing them or play them differently?
EA offers indie Facebook game creators helping hand with EA Partners
Indie game developers always have great ideas, right? So, why not throw a bunch of them at Zynga the market and see what happens? EA announced that its EA Partners group will now provide funding and its resources to independent Facebook and mobile game developers, Social Times reports. Of course, EA will take a cut of said developers' profits for using the company's publishing prowess.
Developers who take EA on will have access to both Playfish and Chillingo, the publisher of Angry Birds stateside, for assistance. No one knows how big of a cut EA is talking, but surely developers will consider it plenty worthwhile to have a massive publishers vouch for them. Here's what CJ Prober, VP of Publishing and Product Management for Playfish, had to say of the news:
As a social gaming pioneer, Playfish helped shape the face of the Facebook platform through original titles and classic EA franchises such as Pet Society, FIFA Superstars and MONOPOLY Millionaires. Playfish is looking forward to continuing a tradition of innovation and quality by extending our publishing framework to a select group of independent game developers. Partners will be able to leverage Playfish's deep experience and expertise – as well as EA's vast third-party publishing resources – to enable them to achieve unprecedented success for their games on Facebook.
However, this move can't help but be seen as a last ditch attempt to put a dent in Zynga. (In their defense, who wouldn't at this point?) By odds alone, one of these indie social games has to catch on, right? Right? We'll see just that in a few months.
[Image Credit: John Lund]
What do you think of this move by EA? Do you think the company can finally compete with Zynga this way?
Developers who take EA on will have access to both Playfish and Chillingo, the publisher of Angry Birds stateside, for assistance. No one knows how big of a cut EA is talking, but surely developers will consider it plenty worthwhile to have a massive publishers vouch for them. Here's what CJ Prober, VP of Publishing and Product Management for Playfish, had to say of the news:
As a social gaming pioneer, Playfish helped shape the face of the Facebook platform through original titles and classic EA franchises such as Pet Society, FIFA Superstars and MONOPOLY Millionaires. Playfish is looking forward to continuing a tradition of innovation and quality by extending our publishing framework to a select group of independent game developers. Partners will be able to leverage Playfish's deep experience and expertise – as well as EA's vast third-party publishing resources – to enable them to achieve unprecedented success for their games on Facebook.
However, this move can't help but be seen as a last ditch attempt to put a dent in Zynga. (In their defense, who wouldn't at this point?) By odds alone, one of these indie social games has to catch on, right? Right? We'll see just that in a few months.
[Image Credit: John Lund]
What do you think of this move by EA? Do you think the company can finally compete with Zynga this way?
Bejeweled Blitz OK'ed by Australian politician for his employees
Caroline Beinke, an employee for liberal, Australian politician Victor Dominello has been given permission by her boss to play Bejeweled Blitz while on the job. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Beinke needs a distraction to pass the time while taking long phone calls. How much do you want him for a boss?
"When I have long conversations on the phone to constituents it is my version of doodling, a mental chewing gum of sorts," Beinke said. That's odd, because PopCap's gem-buster gets pretty intense in my sessions. Regardless, Dominello said that it is alright with him if it's alright with the Speaker. "My staff work very very hard," Dominello said. "If they are sitting at their desk on hold to a department for 15 minutes, I do not have a problem with it."
Unfortunately, Legislative Assembly Speaker Richard Torbay said he would deny the approval, though he has yet to see it, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "I put filters in place to stop staff accessing inappropriate websites in the Parliament and I do not think we should be paying people to play games, " Torbay said. Oh, lighten up, guy. We all need a break once in a while, right?
Not to mention this isn't the first time social games have crept their way into the political world, either. Bulgarian politician Dimitar Kerin was removed from his party last year for playing too much FarmVille. His defense? "He said he had reached only Level 40, whereas Daniela Zhelyazkova, a councilor from the rightist Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party, was already at Level 46."
[Via Kill Screen Magazine Twitter]
[Image Credit: We Interrupt]
Do you play social games at work or have you ever asked permission? How do you feel about social games in the workplace?
"When I have long conversations on the phone to constituents it is my version of doodling, a mental chewing gum of sorts," Beinke said. That's odd, because PopCap's gem-buster gets pretty intense in my sessions. Regardless, Dominello said that it is alright with him if it's alright with the Speaker. "My staff work very very hard," Dominello said. "If they are sitting at their desk on hold to a department for 15 minutes, I do not have a problem with it."
Unfortunately, Legislative Assembly Speaker Richard Torbay said he would deny the approval, though he has yet to see it, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "I put filters in place to stop staff accessing inappropriate websites in the Parliament and I do not think we should be paying people to play games, " Torbay said. Oh, lighten up, guy. We all need a break once in a while, right?
Not to mention this isn't the first time social games have crept their way into the political world, either. Bulgarian politician Dimitar Kerin was removed from his party last year for playing too much FarmVille. His defense? "He said he had reached only Level 40, whereas Daniela Zhelyazkova, a councilor from the rightist Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party, was already at Level 46."
[Via Kill Screen Magazine Twitter]
[Image Credit: We Interrupt]
Do you play social games at work or have you ever asked permission? How do you feel about social games in the workplace?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Cafe World gets new Cookbook in scrumptious update
Finally, Zynga has taken it upon itself to update the unnavigable horror that once was the Cafe World Cookbook. It seems the company has applied many of the same principles in its Catering redesign to the new menu. At last, you can sort the list of recipes by cuisine, name, level requirement and more. Mousing over recipes will reveal cooking statistics like Cafe Points yielded and servings created. It's unsure when the update will be released or whether it's slowly rolling out to players now, but keep your eyes peeled as you work on that 7th Inning Snacks Order. Hopefully this is just a taste of future interface updates across Zynga games. (If only Flash had a spell checker--take a close look five seconds in.)
Have you seen the new Cookbook make way into your game? What do you think of the redesign and what else do you think could use a second look?
Have you seen the new Cookbook make way into your game? What do you think of the redesign and what else do you think could use a second look?
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