Several weeks ago, Games.com - The Blog! got a sneak peek at a new casual role-playing game from Playdom called Deep Realms -- and today the game officially launches on Facebook.
"We wanted to make a social game for core players, a game that we, as developers, would want to play," says Deep Realms Executive Producer Alex Ou. "Deep Realms introduces the depth of console RPGs to social gamers with elements of interaction that go beyond those in the current generation of social games."
To start the game, you create an avatar and then take off on a journey that will have you finding hidden treasure and fighting big monsters -- growing your skills as you progress. Even though this game is designed to be "a game for gamers" -- it will still have to be casual enough to appeal to the people more likely to play games on Facebook.
We'll be taking a closer look at this game in the next couple of days to see if it achieves that balance. In the meantime, you can check it out for yourself at http://apps.facebook.com/deeprealms/.
Looking for friends to play Deep Realms with?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
FarmVille English Countryside Cheats and Tips: A Characters Guide
One of the most touted features of English Countryside, the first ever expansion to FarmVille, is its focus on characters and storyline. Sure, it's a feature that's seen liberal use in both FrontierVille and CityVille, but does that fact make it any less exciting? Not really. To finally have one of the biggest improvements in Zynga's game design come full circle is certainly something to be psyched about, especially with the implications for the future. But since the expansion is only one day old, let's focus on the now and take a detailed look at the game's current cast of characters.
Duke
Duke, The Airship Pilot
This is the bloke who started it all. It's Duke who swoops--more like crashes--in to tell you that he and his friends in the English Countryside need your farming expertise to bring their farmland back to its former glory. So, it's your job to fix his airship and follow him back to England and get started on your second farm. It wouldn't be wrong to consider Duke the proverbial Frontier Jack of this game, guiding you along in Goals and introducing you to new characters. Now, does Duke have any single nieces?
Angus
Angus, The Sheep Breeder
This little fellow knows more than you think about running a farm, especially when it comes to livestock. Angus is the local sheep breeder, and is ready to pass his limitless knowledge of the woolly creatures to you. This bugger is the guy who will narrate and guide all of your Sheep Breeding quests until you get the hang of it. He even gives you a few of his own prized ram and ewe to start. But this all gets us thinking, where are his parents?
Agnes
Agnes, The Arborist
This lady sure knows how to grow an apple tree or two. Agnes will reintroduce you to the world of Orchards and will guide you along in building your very own. She also has a stash of supplies, and if you complete the Goals she provides, she'll throw you a couple shovels and watering cans. Aw, isn't she just special?
Olivia
Olivia, The Pub Keeper
This tanned maiden runs the local pub, but is on the brink of leaving it all behind, according to Duke. She has a serious rat problem in her fine establishment that's literally driving the customers away. So, she's asked for your help to keep the rodentia at bay while you provide her with more ingredients to brew her famous beers and wines. Olivia will guide you through the process of using Bushels to create new recipes in this brand new Crafting Building.
Lily
Lily, The Dairy Farmer
While she's yet to make an appearance in the English Countryside for most players, Lily is a cheese master. We first heard word of her from a postcard she sent to us on our old farms, declaring her excitement to finally meet you. We imagine that Lily will introduce us to the Dairy Farm, a new building that will double as a stable for Cows and a Crafting Building in which we'll make--what else?--cheese!
Professor Milton
Professor Milton, The Archaeologist
Don't ask us what a fossil nut is doing on a farm, but Professor Milton is your go-to guy for all things old and underground. We doubt many players have seen him in the game as of yet, but he's around here somewhere. All we can guess is that old Prof will introduce us to a brand new, unique feature.
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
What do you think of Zynga's new focus on character development in FarmVille? Are there any characters that you've met which we have yet to mention?
Duke
Duke, The Airship Pilot
This is the bloke who started it all. It's Duke who swoops--more like crashes--in to tell you that he and his friends in the English Countryside need your farming expertise to bring their farmland back to its former glory. So, it's your job to fix his airship and follow him back to England and get started on your second farm. It wouldn't be wrong to consider Duke the proverbial Frontier Jack of this game, guiding you along in Goals and introducing you to new characters. Now, does Duke have any single nieces?
Angus
Angus, The Sheep Breeder
This little fellow knows more than you think about running a farm, especially when it comes to livestock. Angus is the local sheep breeder, and is ready to pass his limitless knowledge of the woolly creatures to you. This bugger is the guy who will narrate and guide all of your Sheep Breeding quests until you get the hang of it. He even gives you a few of his own prized ram and ewe to start. But this all gets us thinking, where are his parents?
Agnes
Agnes, The Arborist
This lady sure knows how to grow an apple tree or two. Agnes will reintroduce you to the world of Orchards and will guide you along in building your very own. She also has a stash of supplies, and if you complete the Goals she provides, she'll throw you a couple shovels and watering cans. Aw, isn't she just special?
Olivia
Olivia, The Pub Keeper
This tanned maiden runs the local pub, but is on the brink of leaving it all behind, according to Duke. She has a serious rat problem in her fine establishment that's literally driving the customers away. So, she's asked for your help to keep the rodentia at bay while you provide her with more ingredients to brew her famous beers and wines. Olivia will guide you through the process of using Bushels to create new recipes in this brand new Crafting Building.
Lily
Lily, The Dairy Farmer
While she's yet to make an appearance in the English Countryside for most players, Lily is a cheese master. We first heard word of her from a postcard she sent to us on our old farms, declaring her excitement to finally meet you. We imagine that Lily will introduce us to the Dairy Farm, a new building that will double as a stable for Cows and a Crafting Building in which we'll make--what else?--cheese!
Professor Milton
Professor Milton, The Archaeologist
Don't ask us what a fossil nut is doing on a farm, but Professor Milton is your go-to guy for all things old and underground. We doubt many players have seen him in the game as of yet, but he's around here somewhere. All we can guess is that old Prof will introduce us to a brand new, unique feature.
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
What do you think of Zynga's new focus on character development in FarmVille? Are there any characters that you've met which we have yet to mention?
FarmVille Mystery Game receives English animal update
In honor of the launch of the English Countryside in FarmVille, Zynga has updated the Mystery Game with a full set of English animals. This Mystery Game udpated later than usual this week, rather than the Sunday night update that became the norm during the Winter Holiday season. We're not sure if this means that FarmVille is back to its original Tues/Thursday update scheme, but it is something to think about.
As for the Mystery Game itself, it will cost you 20 Farm Cash per dart, which is more than the normal price tag of 16 Farm Cash. For that price, you'll have a chance of receiving one of six animals:
Hedgehog
Jersey Cow
Mole
Red Fox
Short Hair Cat
Thoroughbred Horse
Of course, if you receive either the Jersey Cow or the Thoroughbred Horse, these two do come with the possibility of offspring. Place the Jersey Cow in the Dairy Farm and you'll have a chance at a Jersey Calf, while placing the Thoroughbred Horse in the Horse Stable will give you a chance to breed a Thoroughbred Foal that can be shared with friends.
You'll only have a few more days to win these exclusive items, so play fast to not miss your chance.
Which animal did you win from this week's Mystery Game?
As for the Mystery Game itself, it will cost you 20 Farm Cash per dart, which is more than the normal price tag of 16 Farm Cash. For that price, you'll have a chance of receiving one of six animals:
Hedgehog
Jersey Cow
Mole
Red Fox
Short Hair Cat
Thoroughbred Horse
Of course, if you receive either the Jersey Cow or the Thoroughbred Horse, these two do come with the possibility of offspring. Place the Jersey Cow in the Dairy Farm and you'll have a chance at a Jersey Calf, while placing the Thoroughbred Horse in the Horse Stable will give you a chance to breed a Thoroughbred Foal that can be shared with friends.
You'll only have a few more days to win these exclusive items, so play fast to not miss your chance.
Which animal did you win from this week's Mystery Game?
FarmVille English Countryside Sweepstakes: Head to England in the real world too!
With the launch of the English Countryside in FarmVille comes the launch of the official English Countryside Sweepstakes, being thrown by Zynga. Zynga has been previewing this sweepstakes for a couple of weeks now, alerting players that some very lucky farmers are going to win free, real-world trips to England via the contest.
You'll see that the contest is now available to enter via a new bar that has appeared underneath the FarmVille gameplay window (whether you're playing on your Home Farm or in your new English Farm). You will need to have completed the Bon Voyage Party, or have simply bought your way into England in order to enter this contest.
The rules are simple: Once you've unlocked your second farm, simply travel to that farm to earn an entry into the sweepstakes. You'll be eligible to earn three more entries everyday of the contest by harvesting crops in the English Countryside, up to a maximum of 64 total entries per person during the contest's run, that ends on April 12.
Five Grand Prize winners will receive a 5 night trip for two to England, a mini HD video camera, and $5,000 in spending cash. 25 First Prizes offer 1,000 Farm Cash and a real-world FarmVille hoodie, and finally, 500 Second Prize winners will receive 150 Farm Cash.
What are you waiting for? If you haven't made your way to England make sure to check out our complete guide on how to reach your second farm the fastest, so you can start racking up entries to the contest! Good luck!
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Have you entered the English Countryside sweepstakes yet, or are you still trying to make your way over the pond?
You'll see that the contest is now available to enter via a new bar that has appeared underneath the FarmVille gameplay window (whether you're playing on your Home Farm or in your new English Farm). You will need to have completed the Bon Voyage Party, or have simply bought your way into England in order to enter this contest.
The rules are simple: Once you've unlocked your second farm, simply travel to that farm to earn an entry into the sweepstakes. You'll be eligible to earn three more entries everyday of the contest by harvesting crops in the English Countryside, up to a maximum of 64 total entries per person during the contest's run, that ends on April 12.
Five Grand Prize winners will receive a 5 night trip for two to England, a mini HD video camera, and $5,000 in spending cash. 25 First Prizes offer 1,000 Farm Cash and a real-world FarmVille hoodie, and finally, 500 Second Prize winners will receive 150 Farm Cash.
What are you waiting for? If you haven't made your way to England make sure to check out our complete guide on how to reach your second farm the fastest, so you can start racking up entries to the contest! Good luck!
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Have you entered the English Countryside sweepstakes yet, or are you still trying to make your way over the pond?
Friday, December 30, 2011
Game of the Day: Arctic Quest 2
The Game of the Day has got your word games, right here! In Arctic Quest 2, the the son of the Snow King sets out to turn Earth into an icy prison for all living creatures. To foil his evil plans, you must solve 100 inlay puzzles. New powers are available to help you win, including water elements that can fill in the empty pieces of a puzzle and fire elements that can wipe out all of your hard work!
Click --> Play Arctic Quest 2
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.
Click --> Play Arctic Quest 2
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.
FarmVille English Countryside Dairy Farm Goals: Everything you need to know
FarmVille Lily
Just as the Village Map was revealed yesterday (spoilers!), Zynga released the Dairy Farm for all to see on the English Countryside. Well, at least it released the Goals to unlock and build your own Milk Machines in FarmVille. There is a series of four Goals that will grant you with a Dairy Farm, if you help Lily with her list of problems. There's always got to be problems.
1. How Dairy You
Get a new Cow
Harvest 100 Bluebells
How Dairy You
To get a new Cow, either just click on the button within the Goal window or head to the Market--they go for an easy 300 coins. Then, harvesting 100 Bluebells will cost 12 thousand coins and take at least 12 hours if you can plant them all at once. Complete this Goal to receive your very own Dairy Farm, 100 XP and 2,500 coins.
2. Say Cheese
Get 6 Cheese Cultures
Collect from your Dairy Farm twice
Say Cheese
Another simple Goal, these Cheese Cultures can be requested right from the Goal's menu window for your friends to answer. The second requirement will take some time as the cool down on collecting from buildings is considerable. Regardless, finishing this Goal will reward you with 200 XP, 5,000 coins and a Shorthorn Cow.
3. Showing Off
Achieve one Mastery Tier of Bluebells
Use a Combine 50 times
Expand the farm to 16x16
Showing Off
Now, things begin to get interesting, if a challenge is interesting to you. To achieve Bluebell Mastery, just keep plantin', but remember to use the Combine when you do to kill two birds with one stone. However, Fuel is tough to come by these days, so let's hope Zynga tweaks this second requirement. The 16x16 expansion to a Family Farm costs an insane 50 thousand coins, but the return on mastering Bluebells even just once should help a great deal in raising the money for this. You'll be rewarded with 7,500 coins, 300 XP and five Vehicle Parts.
4. Saving Dr. Fluffy
Visit 6 Neighbors
Get 6 Electric Torches
Harvest 100 Radishes
Saving Dr. Fluffy
In this fourth and final Goal, the requirements are surprisingly simple. First, just plant those 100 Radishes, which will cost you 9,000 coins and take 18 hours at the very least. Then, go off and visit your friends and request for Electronic Torches through the Goal's menu. Finally, this Goal will reward your success with the coveted Sheep Pen for your home farm, 500 XP and a Bunny to bounce around your farm.
[Source and Image Credit: FarmVille Freak]
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Have you tried these Goals yet? What tips do you have for completing them even faster?
Just as the Village Map was revealed yesterday (spoilers!), Zynga released the Dairy Farm for all to see on the English Countryside. Well, at least it released the Goals to unlock and build your own Milk Machines in FarmVille. There is a series of four Goals that will grant you with a Dairy Farm, if you help Lily with her list of problems. There's always got to be problems.
1. How Dairy You
Get a new Cow
Harvest 100 Bluebells
How Dairy You
To get a new Cow, either just click on the button within the Goal window or head to the Market--they go for an easy 300 coins. Then, harvesting 100 Bluebells will cost 12 thousand coins and take at least 12 hours if you can plant them all at once. Complete this Goal to receive your very own Dairy Farm, 100 XP and 2,500 coins.
2. Say Cheese
Get 6 Cheese Cultures
Collect from your Dairy Farm twice
Say Cheese
Another simple Goal, these Cheese Cultures can be requested right from the Goal's menu window for your friends to answer. The second requirement will take some time as the cool down on collecting from buildings is considerable. Regardless, finishing this Goal will reward you with 200 XP, 5,000 coins and a Shorthorn Cow.
3. Showing Off
Achieve one Mastery Tier of Bluebells
Use a Combine 50 times
Expand the farm to 16x16
Showing Off
Now, things begin to get interesting, if a challenge is interesting to you. To achieve Bluebell Mastery, just keep plantin', but remember to use the Combine when you do to kill two birds with one stone. However, Fuel is tough to come by these days, so let's hope Zynga tweaks this second requirement. The 16x16 expansion to a Family Farm costs an insane 50 thousand coins, but the return on mastering Bluebells even just once should help a great deal in raising the money for this. You'll be rewarded with 7,500 coins, 300 XP and five Vehicle Parts.
4. Saving Dr. Fluffy
Visit 6 Neighbors
Get 6 Electric Torches
Harvest 100 Radishes
Saving Dr. Fluffy
In this fourth and final Goal, the requirements are surprisingly simple. First, just plant those 100 Radishes, which will cost you 9,000 coins and take 18 hours at the very least. Then, go off and visit your friends and request for Electronic Torches through the Goal's menu. Finally, this Goal will reward your success with the coveted Sheep Pen for your home farm, 500 XP and a Bunny to bounce around your farm.
[Source and Image Credit: FarmVille Freak]
Check out the rest of our English Countryside coverage right here.
Have you tried these Goals yet? What tips do you have for completing them even faster?
CityVille Cruise Ship Goals: Everything you need to know
The next major CityVille update has arrived in the form of luxury and adventure: Cruise Ships. This brand new feature will appear in a series of Goals, but will ultimately bring more tourists to your cities and speed up your Businesses. (With fireworks and everything!) Tourism Director Dan will guide you in creating your CityVille City Port and later sending off Cruise Ships. Join us behind the break to find out how. (Warning: You must be Level 20 or above to start these Goals.)
This new feature spans across four Goals, and as the City Port is brand new, this information is extremely early and subject to change. Let's start with the Goals:
City Port1. Unlock Cruise Ships
Place a City Port
Place four Decorations near the City Port
Place three Businesses near the City Port
Upon accepting the first Goal, the City Port will appear in your inventory. Take it from there and place it near water, otherwise you will not be able to build it. After putting that down, either purchase or move four Decorations and three Businesses to surround the City Port. For completing this simple Goal, you'll receive Sunglasses, one of the items required to finish the City Port.
2. Tourists in Sight
Get 5 Tourism Pamphlets
Send 5 Tour Buses
The Tourism Pamphlets will come from your friends after requesting them through the Goal's menu. All the while, just visit one friend and use all five Helps to send Tour Buses to their Businesses. This Goal will be done in no time, and you'll win a nifty Robot Street Performer for doing it.
Waterfront Condo3. Port Time
Grow your Population by 250
Finish the City Port
Growing your population is as easy as throwing together another Community Building like a Bank or one of the newer additions. (Unless you want to drop 2 million in coins on a fancy Landmark.) To finish the City Port, check out the details later on in this guide. Finishing this Goal will reward you with a measly 50 Goods.
4. Ready to Dock
Have 1,000 Goods
Unload three Cruise Ships
Now that you've already built the City Port, which we'll cover in detail below, it's time to finish this series. Conserve your Goods and make sure you have 1,000 before completing this second requirement, which requires you to unload your ship three times. Do this and a Beachfront Condo, a home with 150 population and 230 coins as rent per day, is yours.
Finish Your City Port
Building and Using the City Port
As you likely already figured out (we hope), these Goals revolve around the City Port. This new item will appear in your inventory after starting the first Goal. Take it out from there and place it near water. Then, click it seven times to finish the foundation of the building. Then, a menu window will open just like any other Community Building, requiring five items to finish the City Port:
2 2x4
8 Sunglasses
8 Dec Chairs
2 Whistles
8 Visors
Cruise Ship Passenger ArrivalOnce you acquire all 28 items in total, the City Port will finally be operational. Collect from the City Port like any other Community Building every 12 hours. Not only coins and XP will appear, but legions of tourists ready to spend money. When more tourists arrive, a fireworks show will play upon arrival. Every time you want to send for tourists, it will cost 300 Goods, but the City Port will pay out 1,350 coins every time new tourists arrive.
Unfortunately, you must stick around the city while tourists shop, as they might disappear if you close the game or visit a friend immediately after accepting the folks into your city. The idea is to use the tourists to speed up the production of your Businesses, resulting in more coins and XP in the end. Tip: Make sure your Businesses are all fully stocked before unloading tourists to maximize the benefits.
[Source and Image Credits: CityVille Goals and Zynga]
Check out the rest of our CityVille Cheats & Tips right here.
Have you seen these Goals in your game yet? What tips do you have for completing them even faster?
This new feature spans across four Goals, and as the City Port is brand new, this information is extremely early and subject to change. Let's start with the Goals:
City Port1. Unlock Cruise Ships
Place a City Port
Place four Decorations near the City Port
Place three Businesses near the City Port
Upon accepting the first Goal, the City Port will appear in your inventory. Take it from there and place it near water, otherwise you will not be able to build it. After putting that down, either purchase or move four Decorations and three Businesses to surround the City Port. For completing this simple Goal, you'll receive Sunglasses, one of the items required to finish the City Port.
2. Tourists in Sight
Get 5 Tourism Pamphlets
Send 5 Tour Buses
The Tourism Pamphlets will come from your friends after requesting them through the Goal's menu. All the while, just visit one friend and use all five Helps to send Tour Buses to their Businesses. This Goal will be done in no time, and you'll win a nifty Robot Street Performer for doing it.
Waterfront Condo3. Port Time
Grow your Population by 250
Finish the City Port
Growing your population is as easy as throwing together another Community Building like a Bank or one of the newer additions. (Unless you want to drop 2 million in coins on a fancy Landmark.) To finish the City Port, check out the details later on in this guide. Finishing this Goal will reward you with a measly 50 Goods.
4. Ready to Dock
Have 1,000 Goods
Unload three Cruise Ships
Now that you've already built the City Port, which we'll cover in detail below, it's time to finish this series. Conserve your Goods and make sure you have 1,000 before completing this second requirement, which requires you to unload your ship three times. Do this and a Beachfront Condo, a home with 150 population and 230 coins as rent per day, is yours.
Finish Your City Port
Building and Using the City Port
As you likely already figured out (we hope), these Goals revolve around the City Port. This new item will appear in your inventory after starting the first Goal. Take it out from there and place it near water. Then, click it seven times to finish the foundation of the building. Then, a menu window will open just like any other Community Building, requiring five items to finish the City Port:
2 2x4
8 Sunglasses
8 Dec Chairs
2 Whistles
8 Visors
Cruise Ship Passenger ArrivalOnce you acquire all 28 items in total, the City Port will finally be operational. Collect from the City Port like any other Community Building every 12 hours. Not only coins and XP will appear, but legions of tourists ready to spend money. When more tourists arrive, a fireworks show will play upon arrival. Every time you want to send for tourists, it will cost 300 Goods, but the City Port will pay out 1,350 coins every time new tourists arrive.
Unfortunately, you must stick around the city while tourists shop, as they might disappear if you close the game or visit a friend immediately after accepting the folks into your city. The idea is to use the tourists to speed up the production of your Businesses, resulting in more coins and XP in the end. Tip: Make sure your Businesses are all fully stocked before unloading tourists to maximize the benefits.
[Source and Image Credits: CityVille Goals and Zynga]
Check out the rest of our CityVille Cheats & Tips right here.
Have you seen these Goals in your game yet? What tips do you have for completing them even faster?
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