Along with today's release of the Spook Shack in Pioneer Trail comes the ability to visit your neighbors' Homestead and then go "trick-or-treating" while you're there. You'll earn a variety of goodies by doing so that can be used in your new Spook Shack building on your Homestead proper, but you'll also need to go trick-or-treating to complete a series of three goals to truly round out this event. Here's a guide to completing all three!
The Spookiest Homestead on the Frontier
Place the Spook Shack
Visit 5 Neighbors' Homestead to Trick or Treat
Collect 10 Issues of Frontier Living Magazine
The Magazines are earned through a general news item you'll post to your wall. As for Trick or Treating, this is done by simply visiting your friends as normal, and then waiting for a pop-up to appear, showing you a door and welcome mat with two buttons: "Trick" or "Treat." Depending on the choice you choose, you'll be given the opportunity to share your rewards with friends by posting another wall post. For finishing this first goal, you'll receive 500 XP, a Candy Bag and 500 coins.
Turning Tricks and Treats
Craft 5 of Any Spook Shack Decorations
Collect 15 Halloween Kits
Tend 80 Pumpkins or Ghost Pumpkins on your Homestead or a Neighbors
Halloween Kits are earned through individual gift requests sent to individual friends. Meanwhile, for a complete rundown of the different items you can craft inside the Spook Shack, and the requirements for each, be sure to check out our guide. For finishing this second goal, you'll receive a Candy Bag, 1000 XP and an Unripe Pumpkins item.
Get Witchy
Craft & Mount Any Wicked Broom in the Spook Shack
Tend any Paper Lanterns 10 Times on your Homestead or a Neighbors'
Have 10 Crafted Spook Shack Decorations
Paper Lanterns are crafted using Treats and Paper Bags, and can be "tended" once every three hours. The Brooms are also crafted inside the Spook Shack, with there being multiple options for you to choose from. Finishing this final goal gives you five Candy Bags, 1000 XP and a Witch Outfit for your avatar.
With this event, we now see four separate things to do in Pioneer Trail for Halloween, but luckily this particular activity will be around until the middle of November - November 18, to be exact - if you'd like to put it off in favor of finishing other things. If any additional Halloween content launches in Pioneer Trail between now and then, we'll make sure to let you know.
Check out the rest of our Halloween 2011 coverage right here.
What do you think of this Trick or Treat series of Goals in Pioneer Trail? Do you like the Spook Shack feature as a whole, or do you think there was already plenty to do this year in terms of Halloween content?
Monday, December 12, 2011
Pioneer Trail Lost Stallion Timed Goal: Everything you need to know
Ok, this is just getting a bit overwhelming. Don't get me wrong - I love Halloween. It's easily one of my favorites throughout the entire year, but the amount of Halloween content Pioneer Trail has seen released in the past few weeks is enough to overwhelm any player! Adding to that pile is a timed goal by the name of Lost Stallion. This one sees a ghost cowgirl named Hattie (don't worry - she's friendly - asking for help in searching for her lost ghost horse, Kelpie. You'll have five days to complete this timed goal once you manually start it, and here's what's expected of you:
Tend 30 Neighbor Non-Rideable Horses
Collect 15 Dark Compasses
Collect 15 Ghost Town Maps
If I were you, I'd wait on starting this one. The goal will be available to begin up until November 7, so why not wait a few days for your friends to send you the Dark Compasses and Ghost Town Maps by default (in the "send-one-get-one" situations) and then start the goal when you know you won't be so rushed?
If you can complete this goal within the first five days of starting it, you'll receive a Ghostly Buzzard Tree decoration, 300 XP and 300 coins. While this particular feature isn't incredibly difficult, it does make me wonder exactly when the cutoff will be for new Halloween content within the game. Zynga does realize October is only so long, right? They'll have to stop eventually... right?!
Check out the rest of our Halloween 2011 coverage right here.
What do you think of this Lost Stallion timed goal? Are you looking forward to seeing even more Halloween content released in Pioneer Trail this month, or is it "enough already?!"
Tend 30 Neighbor Non-Rideable Horses
Collect 15 Dark Compasses
Collect 15 Ghost Town Maps
If I were you, I'd wait on starting this one. The goal will be available to begin up until November 7, so why not wait a few days for your friends to send you the Dark Compasses and Ghost Town Maps by default (in the "send-one-get-one" situations) and then start the goal when you know you won't be so rushed?
If you can complete this goal within the first five days of starting it, you'll receive a Ghostly Buzzard Tree decoration, 300 XP and 300 coins. While this particular feature isn't incredibly difficult, it does make me wonder exactly when the cutoff will be for new Halloween content within the game. Zynga does realize October is only so long, right? They'll have to stop eventually... right?!
Check out the rest of our Halloween 2011 coverage right here.
What do you think of this Lost Stallion timed goal? Are you looking forward to seeing even more Halloween content released in Pioneer Trail this month, or is it "enough already?!"
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Lunchtime Poll: Would you toss $1000 at a Facebook game item?
There's no need for a clever lede on this story: 2,000 people spent over $1,000 on a single item within a video game. (It pretty much speaks for itself, no?) VentureBeat reports that 2,000 players of Bigpoint Games's browser-based sci-fi MMO (massively multiplayer online game) Dark Orbit spent €1000, or $1365, on a rare space drone to use in combat against other players.
The special drone, known as the Zeus Drone, was available for the immensely premium price for just four days, which netted Bigpoint about $2.67 million in extra sales revenue. Tell us of another free-to-play game that's made that much cash in less than a work week, because this writer certainly hasn't heard of it. But here's the clincher: The Zeus Drone, while unbearably difficult to attain, is available for absolutely free to all Dark Orbit players.
That means 2,000 people were both A.) with an extra G to throw around on a digital item within a game and B.) impatient enough to spend said thousand clams on a digital item within a game. That's a down payment on a car, a month's rent (with utilities, mind you) or even a brand new laptop to play video games on. This news reminds us--though, on a far larger scale--of expensive Facebook game items like, say, the infamous Unwither Ring. Because it's only a matter of time before a Facebook game developer takes a crack at this, we ask you:
Would you spend $1K on a Facebook game item?
You have to be kidding. Who in their right mind would do that?Well, maybe if the item was cool/useful enough...I don't pay for Facebook games. Period.Not on a single item, but I may have spent $1K total so far.
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The special drone, known as the Zeus Drone, was available for the immensely premium price for just four days, which netted Bigpoint about $2.67 million in extra sales revenue. Tell us of another free-to-play game that's made that much cash in less than a work week, because this writer certainly hasn't heard of it. But here's the clincher: The Zeus Drone, while unbearably difficult to attain, is available for absolutely free to all Dark Orbit players.
That means 2,000 people were both A.) with an extra G to throw around on a digital item within a game and B.) impatient enough to spend said thousand clams on a digital item within a game. That's a down payment on a car, a month's rent (with utilities, mind you) or even a brand new laptop to play video games on. This news reminds us--though, on a far larger scale--of expensive Facebook game items like, say, the infamous Unwither Ring. Because it's only a matter of time before a Facebook game developer takes a crack at this, we ask you:
Would you spend $1K on a Facebook game item?
You have to be kidding. Who in their right mind would do that?Well, maybe if the item was cool/useful enough...I don't pay for Facebook games. Period.Not on a single item, but I may have spent $1K total so far.
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Have something unique to add to the discussion?
The Sims Social It's a Date Quest: Everything you need to know
The Sims Social has become a lot more ... rosy. It's Pink Paradise Week in Playfish's hit Facebook game, and this week's theme comes with a new timed quest, "It's a Date." It's up to you to help Scarlett run her new business, which helps anyone and everyone score the perfect date.
In this seven-part quest, you'll have to do quite a lot of weird tasks to make sure her business gets off the ground. For starters, you'll need at least five friends and 400 Simoleons to ensure this quests goes on without too many hitches, at least. With that, here's everything you need to know to complete "It's a Date":
It's a Date 1
Become Inspired
Ask 3 Sims what Grodie means
Have 3 Muse
To become inspired, make sure all of your stats are in the bright green, and you'll see the notification appear above your Sim's head. Then, visit three friends to see the conversation option "What does Grodie mean?" Finally, you can get Muses by playing instruments.
It's A Date
It's a Date 2
Have 4 Plans
Trademark the name Perfect Date Company
Design Company Logo 5 times
To find four Plans, just try writing and cooking repetitively for them to appear, using own computer or oven. You can also use your own computer to trademark the name "Perfect Date Company," as the option should automatically be there. Luckily, you can use your friends' easels to design the company logo, saving you energy.
It's a Date 3
Dance with 4 Sims
Place 2 decorations from Pink Paradise collection
Play any type of piece on grand piano
Dancing with four Sims is as easy as visiting four friends and using their stereo. The two least expensive items that will complete that second requirement are the NeoN Pink and the InThePink Jo, which are 175 and 200 Simoleons, respectively. As for that grand piano, Bella happens to have one in her house that you can play.
Wedding Cake Plush Kitty Queen Bed
It's a Date 4
Have 4 Delicious Morsels
Have 6 Mixing Bowls
Prepare Meal 4 times
The four Delicious Morsels come from eating food, while the Mixing Bowls come from preparing certain dishes using the Cooking Skill menu through "Cater". Using the Cater option through, say, the Microwave will satisfy the final requirement.
It's a Date 5
Ask 5 Sims to Prom
Wash 5 times
Compose Music 5 times
The "Ask to Prom" should now appear when conversing with friends that you visit. After showering five times in your house, just select the Compose Music option on your guitar or other instrument five times.
Grand Piano Bird Cage Snow Globe
It's a Date 6
Add 1 friend
Check appearance 5 times on Fancy Dresser
Have 10 Bling
You can either find new friends the hard way, or just check out our The Sims Social Add-Me page right here. Since you won't have your own Fancy Dresser at this point, just use Bella's. The Bling comes from either requesting it from friends directly or finding it in the treasure chests that appear in your backyard.
It's a Date 7
Ask friends to Toast Your Way Business Genius
Gush to 5 Sims about Good News
Have 10 Dreams
The first requirement is a general News Feed option likely given in the quest's menu. To gush to five Sims, just visit your friends and the dialog option should be available. Dreams come from simply sleeping in your bed. Your final reward for completing this series of quests is the clockwork bird that your Sims can wind up
[Source: Aude06]
Are you enjoying Pink Paradise Week in The Sims Social? What do you think of the game so far?
In this seven-part quest, you'll have to do quite a lot of weird tasks to make sure her business gets off the ground. For starters, you'll need at least five friends and 400 Simoleons to ensure this quests goes on without too many hitches, at least. With that, here's everything you need to know to complete "It's a Date":
It's a Date 1
Become Inspired
Ask 3 Sims what Grodie means
Have 3 Muse
To become inspired, make sure all of your stats are in the bright green, and you'll see the notification appear above your Sim's head. Then, visit three friends to see the conversation option "What does Grodie mean?" Finally, you can get Muses by playing instruments.
It's A Date
It's a Date 2
Have 4 Plans
Trademark the name Perfect Date Company
Design Company Logo 5 times
To find four Plans, just try writing and cooking repetitively for them to appear, using own computer or oven. You can also use your own computer to trademark the name "Perfect Date Company," as the option should automatically be there. Luckily, you can use your friends' easels to design the company logo, saving you energy.
It's a Date 3
Dance with 4 Sims
Place 2 decorations from Pink Paradise collection
Play any type of piece on grand piano
Dancing with four Sims is as easy as visiting four friends and using their stereo. The two least expensive items that will complete that second requirement are the NeoN Pink and the InThePink Jo, which are 175 and 200 Simoleons, respectively. As for that grand piano, Bella happens to have one in her house that you can play.
Wedding Cake Plush Kitty Queen Bed
It's a Date 4
Have 4 Delicious Morsels
Have 6 Mixing Bowls
Prepare Meal 4 times
The four Delicious Morsels come from eating food, while the Mixing Bowls come from preparing certain dishes using the Cooking Skill menu through "Cater". Using the Cater option through, say, the Microwave will satisfy the final requirement.
It's a Date 5
Ask 5 Sims to Prom
Wash 5 times
Compose Music 5 times
The "Ask to Prom" should now appear when conversing with friends that you visit. After showering five times in your house, just select the Compose Music option on your guitar or other instrument five times.
Grand Piano Bird Cage Snow Globe
It's a Date 6
Add 1 friend
Check appearance 5 times on Fancy Dresser
Have 10 Bling
You can either find new friends the hard way, or just check out our The Sims Social Add-Me page right here. Since you won't have your own Fancy Dresser at this point, just use Bella's. The Bling comes from either requesting it from friends directly or finding it in the treasure chests that appear in your backyard.
It's a Date 7
Ask friends to Toast Your Way Business Genius
Gush to 5 Sims about Good News
Have 10 Dreams
The first requirement is a general News Feed option likely given in the quest's menu. To gush to five Sims, just visit your friends and the dialog option should be available. Dreams come from simply sleeping in your bed. Your final reward for completing this series of quests is the clockwork bird that your Sims can wind up
[Source: Aude06]
Are you enjoying Pink Paradise Week in The Sims Social? What do you think of the game so far?
Facebook to host social games hack-a-thon, hopefully to inspire variety
Let's face it, people: Things are getting a tad stale around here. (At least when it comes to popular Facebook games.) Facebook has said it, the developers have said it and we know you readers have, too. Finally, Facebook has decided to take the problem by the reins, and has announced a social game hack event in its headquarters in Palo Alot, Calif. Facebook wanted a social smörgåsbord, so it decided to try and make one itself.
The all-day event, held on Dec. 8 at Facebook HQ, will let developers get hands-on experience with developing Facebook games with the Facebook team, who will share best practices with the developers. Facebook specifically mentions the Open Graph, which developers like Zynga have already taken part in with games like CastleVille. But hopefully some of the company's desire for variety in Facebook games will rub off on the bigger folks. (So, more games like this?)
At the end of the event, developers with the most impressive games will be rewarded with prizes, and the announcement specifically mentions that the games do not have to be made from scratch at the event. Those interested can register for the event right here, but Facebook asks for developers only. What we're more interested in is the potential long term results, anyway.
[Image Credit: Eva Meszaros]
Do you agree that the Facebook game space needs more visible variety? What other types of games would you like to see on Facebook?
The all-day event, held on Dec. 8 at Facebook HQ, will let developers get hands-on experience with developing Facebook games with the Facebook team, who will share best practices with the developers. Facebook specifically mentions the Open Graph, which developers like Zynga have already taken part in with games like CastleVille. But hopefully some of the company's desire for variety in Facebook games will rub off on the bigger folks. (So, more games like this?)
At the end of the event, developers with the most impressive games will be rewarded with prizes, and the announcement specifically mentions that the games do not have to be made from scratch at the event. Those interested can register for the event right here, but Facebook asks for developers only. What we're more interested in is the potential long term results, anyway.
[Image Credit: Eva Meszaros]
Do you agree that the Facebook game space needs more visible variety? What other types of games would you like to see on Facebook?
Xbox 360 cures gamers' loneliness, goes social in Dashboard update
Alright, so maybe they weren't lonely, but we'll bet that, after this Xbox 360 Dashboard update, players friends list will magically grow. Microsoft's Major Nelson, or Larry Hryb, made the announcement earlier this week that the next major Xbox update will hit Dec. 6 on his blog. Come the week after next, players will be able to share to Facebook straight from the Dashboard.
But the updates go a bit deeper with the addition of Beacons, which allow players to broadcast status updates to their friends that share what games they would like to play with anyone interested. These open call-outs for in-game teammates can be pushed to players' Facebook Walls too. Other changes include cloud storage for games, meaning more space on players' hard drives and access to games from any Xbox 360.
In a way, you could say that makes games more "social" as well, lowering the barrier to playing games with friends in person (IRL, if you will) ever so slightly. But we can't help but notice Microsoft's growing focus on social, and wonder if it's a response at all to the arrival potential game changers like these to Facebook. It may only a matter of time before that competition heats up.
[Via Inside Social Games]
Are you excited at all by these changes to Xbox gaming? Do you think Xbox-like games could ever be popular/successful on Facebook?
But the updates go a bit deeper with the addition of Beacons, which allow players to broadcast status updates to their friends that share what games they would like to play with anyone interested. These open call-outs for in-game teammates can be pushed to players' Facebook Walls too. Other changes include cloud storage for games, meaning more space on players' hard drives and access to games from any Xbox 360.
In a way, you could say that makes games more "social" as well, lowering the barrier to playing games with friends in person (IRL, if you will) ever so slightly. But we can't help but notice Microsoft's growing focus on social, and wonder if it's a response at all to the arrival potential game changers like these to Facebook. It may only a matter of time before that competition heats up.
[Via Inside Social Games]
Are you excited at all by these changes to Xbox gaming? Do you think Xbox-like games could ever be popular/successful on Facebook?
Adventure World Radio Tower Expedition: Everything you need to know
Continuing in Adventure World's "Plane Crash" sub-story is another new Expedition that's now available in the game: Radio Tower. This Expedition sees a character named Ken giving you a tip that an old Radio Tower might be a good place to "scavenge some cargo." You'll be out to repair the Radio Tower, so that hopefully it can be used to prevent further plane crashes in the jungle in the future. You'll need 700 Supplies to access this Expedition, along with two each of Food, Fuel and Water. You'll have five days to finish this Expedition once you begin, so let's get started.
Gorilla Radio
Collect 6 Girders
Ask friends for 12 Vacuum Tubes
Repair the Radio Tower
All things considered, this map is a fairly small one, but there are ground-pounding Monkeys and Rams to worry about here. There's also a set of traps and plenty of debris blocking your path towards the Radio Tower in the center of the map, or to finding the Girders, which are scattered around the map. As for the Vacuum Tubes, you'll need to ask your friends to send them to you via individual requests.
Take the Tower Back
Place Relay Echo Foxtrot
Place Relay Kilo Bravo
Place Relay Oscar Zulu
This second goal is activated once you reach the center of the island and approach the actual Radio Tower. You're out to amplify it's power, so you'll need to go to three ends of the map (north, west and south) to place Relay Towers at the end of the rocky cliffs. There are Rams, traps and debris all along the way, so make sure you have plenty of energy before going in.
Rams on Parade
Place 3 Ram Baits
Defeat 3 Rams
Since Rams here have 12 hit points, you can easily spend three or four energy (or more) in simply defeating a single one. Ram Bait can be crafted inside Zoey's Tent back in Base Camp, so if you've yet to complete its construction, check out our guide to doing so.
Once you finish this straightforward Expedition, you'll apparently have secured a better means of communication between incoming aircraft and your Base Camp, so hopefully this will be the last plane crash we see in the game.
Check out the rest of our Adventure World Cheats & Tips right here.
Do you think this Radio Tower expedition will be challenging? Did you already complete the three other Expeditions in the Plane Crash storyline?
Gorilla Radio
Collect 6 Girders
Ask friends for 12 Vacuum Tubes
Repair the Radio Tower
All things considered, this map is a fairly small one, but there are ground-pounding Monkeys and Rams to worry about here. There's also a set of traps and plenty of debris blocking your path towards the Radio Tower in the center of the map, or to finding the Girders, which are scattered around the map. As for the Vacuum Tubes, you'll need to ask your friends to send them to you via individual requests.
Take the Tower Back
Place Relay Echo Foxtrot
Place Relay Kilo Bravo
Place Relay Oscar Zulu
This second goal is activated once you reach the center of the island and approach the actual Radio Tower. You're out to amplify it's power, so you'll need to go to three ends of the map (north, west and south) to place Relay Towers at the end of the rocky cliffs. There are Rams, traps and debris all along the way, so make sure you have plenty of energy before going in.
Rams on Parade
Place 3 Ram Baits
Defeat 3 Rams
Since Rams here have 12 hit points, you can easily spend three or four energy (or more) in simply defeating a single one. Ram Bait can be crafted inside Zoey's Tent back in Base Camp, so if you've yet to complete its construction, check out our guide to doing so.
Once you finish this straightforward Expedition, you'll apparently have secured a better means of communication between incoming aircraft and your Base Camp, so hopefully this will be the last plane crash we see in the game.
Check out the rest of our Adventure World Cheats & Tips right here.
Do you think this Radio Tower expedition will be challenging? Did you already complete the three other Expeditions in the Plane Crash storyline?
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