|  |  |  | | | | | Games.com News. CityVille, FarmVille, CastleVille games news | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Kixeye's best known to Facebook gamers for Backyard Monsters, but they first hit it big with Desktop Tower Defense, a web game created under their original name, The Casual Collective. So it's a great honor to welcome today's Game of the Day, Desktop Tower Defense Pro, the final version of a game first launched in March 2007. Folks that have never tried a tower defense game might be put off by the crazy amount of options, especially in the Pro version, but let me tell you this -- if you loved PopCap's Plants vs Zombies, then you already know how to play a tower defense game.
Winning in a tower defense game involves fending off waves of attackers by building weapon stations and upgrading them accordingly. In PopCap's game, your enemies are zombies and the plants are your weapons. In DTD, your enemies are little blobs marching on your desk and your weapons are various types of gun turrets. I recommend that beginners play through the first 5 levels in Scenario mode to get up to speed. Plus, there's plenty of other modes for experienced players to tinker with, such as Sandbox (design your own level), Sprint (race-against-the-clock), and Multiplayer.
Play Desktop Tower Defense Pro!
What's your favorite mode to play in Desktop Tower Defense Pro? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  The Japanese mobile social game network with hopes to take over the world, GREE, has made every effort to be noticed at this year's E3 in Los Angeles. While it may get buried underneath the machismo of shooters and giant statues of aliens, mobile and social gaming is more present than ever at the conference, and GREE is leading the charge with over 20 games.
The network looks to take the Western world of gaming by storm with numerous partnerships across several genres from fashion simulators to shooting frenzies and racing romps. But that's not to say GREE isn't pulling some of its own weight with both its San Francisco and Japan studios. With so many games on display, let's just focus on the highlights, shall we?
GREE's legacy in the Far East began with what are known as card battle games, which are by and large the most popular type of mobile game in Japan. With hits like Rage of Bahamut and Zombie Jombie--from DeNA and GREE, respectively--going like gangbusters in the U.S, GREE looks to strike gold with a Japanese treasure, Driland (available now).
Driland is arguably one of the most popular card battlers in Japan, a fantasy-themed role-playing game that sees players going head-to-head in turn-based battles with various digital cards. Like any good card battler, players find new cards by killing monsters and seek to build the most powerful deck. If anything moves like these are indicative of the fact that larger companies like GREE are willing to take risks on mobile.
This developer slash publisher is taking leaps of faith in all directions, especially where lady gamers are concerned. Be My Princess, a romance simulator, is the type of game that Japanese women and girls go nuts for. But what about females in the U.S? That's what GREE looks to find out with this game that's light on action and heavy on dialog and drama. Anime-loving ladies can get their hands on Be My Princess later this month.
Saving the best for last, GREE has a kart racer in the works. Early on in development at GREE's Japanese studio, Wacky Motors is the company's retort to Kart Rider Rush by Nexon. Wacky Motors is like getting behind the wheel of a Saturday morning anime cartoon--literally. Players control their kart using the tilt function of their iOS device, tapping the screen to use items as they cut corners and drive over boost pads. There's nothing particularly social about this racer just yet, but we expect that to change as the game inches closer to release ... whenever that may be.
When Games.com editor in chief Libe Goad dubbed social and mobile games the silent giant of E3 2012, she wasn't kidding. The GREE booth is as large as almost any other publisher, but it stands to go largely unnoticed by the Xbox, Wii U and PS3 lovers attending the show. It's a shame, really, but such is the modus operandi of the scene: Hide from the competition in plain sight, slowly encroaching upon of all things "hardcore" from our own pockets.
Are you interested in seeing what GREE can do for mobile games? Who will win the mobile social game wars? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
While Zynga hasn't officially confirmed that the daily countdown feature in FarmVille is a permanent one, with the recent launch of so many two-week countdowns giving away so many prizes to farmers, it would be easy to make that assumption. The newest countdown in the game takes advantage of the impending arrival of summer and is called (appropriately enough) the Summer Countdown.
For the 12 days, you'll be given the chance to ask your friends for collectible items, and can expect to win the following items for your efforts, according to FVNation:
Day 1 - Sleeping Bear
Day 2 - Barbecue Gnome
Day 3 - Watermelon Sheep
Day 4 - Jump Rope Squirrel
Day 5 - Tanning Pig
Day 6 - Climbing Tree
Day 7 - Hula Hoop Cat
Day 8 - Hopscotch Rabbit
Day 9 - Hiking Chicken
Day 10 - Animals Roasting Marshmallows
Day 11 - Tubing Duck
Day 12 - Summer Cherry Tree
As usual, if you can walk away with one of each of these 12 prizes, you'll receive another special prize at the end as your ultimate reward: the Summer Stallion. Remember, this feature will only be available for a limited time, so you'll need to stay on top of things and send out those requests for items every chance you get. Good luck earning all of the prizes in this event!
What do you think of the prizes in this Summer Countdown in FarmvVille? Sound off in the comments!
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Rounding out the casual mobile lineup at Square Enix's E3 2012 booth was Koozac, a number puzzle game on iOS and Android that asks you to do just a bit of math as you play. Blocks will fall from the top of the screen, with each containing a number (in early rounds, this is something like 1-5). You'll see a number cue in the top left corner of the screen, asking you to create groups of two or more blocks that add up to that number. You'll then simply drag and drop numbers in one of the game's columns to create those groups of blocks (say, placing a three on top of a two if you need to create the number five), which will in turn disappear from the screen.
Koozac offers three gameplay modes. Puzzle offers 60 levels of increasingly difficulty play, with number blocks that fall faster or come with target scores to achieve before you move on, while Endless mode simply tests your endurance and ends when you manually quit or run out of places to put additional number blocks. Finally, the Blitz mode requires a Facebook account, and it gives you 60 seconds to earn the highest score possible in one minute.
In Koozac's Blitz mode, you'll be able to track your scores on leaderboards against your friends, with these leaderboards resetting weekly as has become the standard for such competitive games. While it wasn't confirmed to us in the booth, it appears as though Koozac has all of the makings of a freemium title, as you can purchase boosts in the store with real money, with boosts giving you points multipliers, the ability to slow down the game's speed and so on.
We'll have more on Koozac as the game gets closer to launch this summer, so stay tuned!
Are you excited to give your mind a bit of a math challenge this summer? Sound off in the comments!
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
... Except without all of the counting. Square Enix's mobile lineup at this year's E3 is something to behold, with one of the most enjoyable titles in the group being Motley Blocks, a hectic 3D puzzle game that tests your reflexes as you try to assemble pixelated objects in the shortest amount of time possible.
At the beginning of each stage (which are separated by difficulty and the complexity of the final image), you'll be able to tap on the screen to send dozens of blocks flying towards the edges of the screen, where they'll start to slowly rotate in a circle. Blocks are colored, and by tapping and dragging your finger from one like-colored block to the next, you'll create explosions, sending those blocks into the center of the screen where they'll start to assemble into your final product. You'll only have three rotations of the entire circular setup to complete said task, so it's easier said than done.
There are power-up squares that allow you to stop or slow the blocks' movement, remove whole sections of the circular area at once (regardless of color) and more, and you can replay each game for a higher score. While the gameplay is simple in both design and execution, it seems like Motley Blocks could really offer mobile gamers a good time when it launches later this year. We'll have more on the game for you when it launches.
Will you download Motley Blocks when it launches later this year? Do you like "puzzle" games that are more slow and deliberate or fast-paced? Sound off in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
Depending on how many active neighbors you have in CityVille, gathering Zoning Permits can be a breeze, or incredibly difficult. In comes a new Bubble Safari promotion to help you out. For a limited time, if you play Bubble Safari on Facebook and reach Region 3 (which will admittedly take some time, if you're unlucky), you'll receive 15 free Zoning Permits for your game back in CityVille.
While 15 Zoning Permits may not be enough to unlock a complete land expansion in your town, it will at least save you (and therefore your friends) from having to send out extra Zoning Permit requests (and then waiting for them to arrive) the old fashioned way.
Will you play Bubble Safari to earn free Zoning Permits in CityVille? Let us know in the comments!
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
Board game veterans likely know the name Qwirkle, as this color and symbol centric board game has won plenty of awards in the US and beyond (specifically Germany). If you're new to Qwirkle, or just wish there was a way to take the game with you without having to lug around all of its pieces, you'll be happy to know that the folks at MindWare and Square Enix have created Qwirkle for mobile devices (Android and iOS) and even Facebook, and are ready to launch the game later this summer (and yes, it will be cross-platform).
In Qwirkle, you'll play head to head against other players or the computer in an effort to place your colored tiles onto the board while following the game's complex rule system. There are six different colors of tiles, with each color having six different shapes. There are three of each individual tile available in rotation, meaning that you will come across duplicates, but the variety is still quite high.
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On each turn, you'll want to place as many of your tiles as the game's rules allow, by placing either like colored tiles in a line (horizontally or vertically) or tiles with like-symbols in a line. You'll earn points for each tile you play, with tiles being allowed to be placed in squares, so long as they fit the matching color and symbol rule. For instance, you can place a green circle tile next to a green square tile and a yellow circle tile, since the tile has both the color green and the circle shape in common.
Unfortunately, Qwirkle is one of those games that is much easier to understand in action than in writing, but feel free to check out our images of the game on the E3 show floor for more.
Are you looking forward to trying out Qwirkle when it launches later this summer? Sound off in the comments!
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Nintendo ended its E3 2012 briefing on a flat note, unveiling a suite of mini games taking the company's iconic franchises and creating multiplayer and single-player romps out of them. While it's not exactly the Legend of Zelda or Metroid that hardcore Nintendo fans were looking for, Nintendo Land serves its purpose incredibly well: showing what this baby can do.
To that end, Nintendo Land is for Wii U what Wii Sports and Wii Play were for the original Wii console. In other words, most of the games we saw under the Nintendo Land moniker today were a downright blast. And that's for one reason: They showcase the console's most compelling feature (that we've been able to experience): asymmetric multiplayer. We're talking games that pit three or four players against one, something Mario Party fans are all too familiar with.
Of the five Nintendo Land games showcased today, the most interesting were those that focused in on this feature. Take Animal Crossing: Sweet Day, for instance. This mini game sees four players romp around an adorable riff on Candy Land, shaking down trees for sweets and holding on to them for as long as possible. The fellow that they're trying to keep away from is the guy with the Wii U game pad, who has a unique advantage.
The dude with the tablet can control two characters at once, sending them in all sorts of directions wielding a fork and knife with which to lunge at the four Wii remote users, shaking them free of their candy. This dynamic makes for one fun play experience with a couple of buddies, just like Wii Sports in its prime.
Similar to this is Luigi's Ghost Mansion, the subject of a rather lengthy demo during Nintendo's E3 2012 briefing. Long story short: This mini game essentially takes the same concept that much farther. While the ghost (the Wii U game pad holder) sneaks around, invisible to his four friends, those folks try to find him using the Wii remote's rumble feature. When they're close, the ghost has the chance to knock them out, but the other players have a shot at shining some damaging light on him.
Mini games like The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest don't focus on asymmetric competitive multiplayer, but rather cooperative sessions that give the Wii U game pad user and the Wii remote users unique tasks that contribute to the group in unique ways. For instance, this game in particular sees the player with the Wii U game pad firing arrows at enemies, while the other players slash at baddies with the Wii remote. If anything, it's most interesting to see Nintendo distills concepts from a more "hardcore" Wii game into a more casual affair that all players can get behind.
For all the praise Nintendo Land deserves, the suite falters in its single player offerings like Takamaru's Ninja Castle and Donkey Kong's Crash Course. These mini games don't fail in how they showcase what the Wii U tablet is capable of--they just don't show off what's most interesting about the thing: the multiplayer. Of course, this is only five of the 12 games that will be available with Nintendo Land when it launches alongside the Wii U this fall.
Ultimately, it's this type of simple yet fun play with friends that put Wii on the map years ago through Wii Sports, and Nintendo stands to emulate that with the Wii U and Nintendo Land. Of course, that all depends on that elusive price tag.
Are you psyched about Nintendo Land on Wii U? Will this be the killer app for Nintendo's new console? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Who knew that it would take media monument Conde Nast to create a mobile fashion game that isn't a snore fest? The famed publisher of Vogue has assembled a crack team of mobile game makers to create Fashion Hazard, the company's first game for iPhone and iPad that's set to launch this July for a cool $.99. Fashion Hazard sends players across the runway as one of two models, throwing numerous obstacles, bonuses and challenges in their path.
The Unity-developed, (almost) endless runner takes some smart cues from hits like Temple Run and Subway Surfers, but tailors the entire experience toward lady gamers. (You know, the same audience that CrowdStar seems to have struck gold with?) You might be in doubt that a print-turned-hybrid media company can make a decent digital diversion, but here we are, and for one simple reason.
Unlike the lot of games geared toward women on mobile devices, Fashion Hazard actually challenges the player's skill in more ways than one. For one, players send a model out on one of four runways across New York, London, Paris and Milan, tilting the device to guide her. The model strolls automatically across the catwalk, leaving the player to swipe up or down at the touch screen to either duck to avoid oncoming trash or hurdle over obstacles.
Along the way, it's the player's job to collect as much "bling" as possible and to jump to catch stars, which unlock special, brief challenge sequences that further test players' reflexes. More specifically, sequences that task players with tapping photographers in order to ensure a successful photo op or tracking an inexplicable circle along a track.
If players successfully reach the end of the runway, they'll earn up to six stars, and this is right where Fashion Hazard falls a bit flat. There's no way for players to brag about their scores or see how they stack up against the competition, a staple in any addictive casual game for iPhone and iPad. While we're told by Conde Nast project lead Juliana Stock that the team didn't want to clutter up Fashion Hazard with social features, that could very well be what it needs to reach Jetpack Joyride-like success.
At any rate, Fashion Hazard succeeds where other fashion games for iPhone and iPad don't in that it respects the fact that some--if not not quite a bit of--women want to be challenged at least a tiny when they steal away precious minutes for game time. Fashion Hazard is due out this July on the App Store, and interested faux fashionistas can learn more here.
Are you excited about Conde Nast's Fashion Hazard? Do you like a challenge in your iPhone games? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Otherwise, it's just another Super Mario game. That's not necessarily a bad thing for fans of the man in red, but those hoping for a mind-blowing Mario experience with the launch of Wii U will probably be disappointed. New Super Mario Bros. U, touted here on the E3 2012 show floor, is much of the same that players gobbled up on the original Wii.
That said, its charms settle in as soon as a friend picks up the Wii U game pad, the tablet-style controller that comes with the machine. While four folks play as Mario, Luigi or one of two Toads simply romp around the world using the standard Wii remote, a fifth player can join in using the new game pad. Focusing on its six-inch screen, the fifth wheel taps the screen to cause floating blocks to appear in his friends' world. With the ability to place four blocks at once nearly anywhere, any time, the game pad player holds quite a bit of power in his hands--the power to either help or hinder his friends' progress. Want to help your friends reach a giant golden coin way up high? Then build a floating stairway for your buddies. Want to be a little nuisance? Place a block above a player just as he jumps to reach that platform, sending her plummeting to her adorable death.
It's blast to wield that kind of power, but that's about the extent of your abilities: tapping the screen to create blocks. (Though, it's possible to create blocks in quick succession, creating a bridge of sorts for players to stroll across each world completely devoid of danger. But what's the fun in that?) Without much else to do as the fifth wheel, this charm fades quickly. Maybe a visible character for the fifth player to control would help with that. Regardless, the charm of Mario's world is ever-present, even more so this time around with lush backgrounds and foregrounds, and two new tricks up the plumbers' sleeve: a flying squirrel suit. (Does it official name really matter?) With this, players can glide across levels and shake the Wii remote to soar up high with a burst of speed. The second is a baby Yoshi that can inflate itself to lift players up high in the sky, much like the propeller suit in the game previous.
There's no doubt that running and leaping around the Mushroom Kingdom will be a blast (and sell like hotcakes) as always when New Super Mario Bros. U launches this fall. And tapping around on the Wii U game pad--interacting with the same world your friends are in--is impressive. Unfortunately, the method isn't the game-changing experience you'd expect from Nintendo's flagship Mario game on its brand new platform. Perhaps that lies in the nifty social layer shown off this morning. Now wouldn't that be something.
Are you interested in New Super Mario Bros. U? Are you more excited about its multiplayer or social features? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  How do you make Disney's most popular mobile game even more popular? Disney looks to be on a tear this year in the mobile and social space, now slapping its Phineas and Ferb onto its mobile hit, Where's My Water. Charmingly titled Where's My Perry, this essentially sounds like a palette swap, slapping a Phineas and Ferb likeness onto the puzzling play hook of Where's My Water.
Of course, this release stars Perry the Platypus as he guides flowing pipes of water to help him escape from a predicament of subterranean proportions. To mix things up, this version of Where's My Water--let's just call it what it is, people--introduces new power-ups known as "Crazy-inators" that can turn water into steam, ice or back to liquid again.
We look to have more on Where's My Perry along with all the rest of Disney's E3 catalog (like these recently-announced games) later this week as we scramble across the show floor. Where's My Perry is slated to launch on the App Store and Google Play later this month.
Are you psyched for a new take on Where's My Water? Is this not original enough for Phineas and Ferb? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Although it's got a name that sounds like it was born in a Midwestern bar, today's Game of the Day, Oklahoma Gin, can be traced way back to a father and son living in Brooklyn, New York in 1909. Elwood T. Baker and his son C. Graham Baker were responsible for creating a card-matching game known as Gin Rummy, from which variations such as Oklahoma Gin was spawned.
The most basic thing about Gin Rummy is that players take turns drawing and/or discarding cards with the goal of getting certain "melds" and chucking "deadwood". Melds are sets of 3 to 4 cards with the same rank, such as 8♥-8♣-8♠ or are a consecutive set, such as 4♥-5♥-6♥-7♥. Deadwood are cards you couldn't get any melds for and will count against you in the scoring. If you're interested in playing Gin Rummy, Oklahoma Gin is a great place to start. There's public and private tables for singular and group play. Plus, you can design your own character. And if you play enough games, you'll get new themed packs and backgrounds for your table.
Play Oklahoma Gin!
What's your favorite thing about Oklahoma Gin? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  The Mario maker has gone Mario mad. Nintendo showed off three new Mario games for its 3DS handheld game console. New Super Mario Bros. 2 is due out this August, and places a major focus on a gaming trope that Mario helped create: gold coins. Nearly every action in the game generates the goodies--talk about a strong feedback loop.
Next up is Paper Mario: Sticker Star, another entry in the famed sub franchise that focuses on 3D visuals and special stickers that players can use to advance in each stage. Finally, Nintendo touted a bit more of Luigi's Mansion for 3DS and tacked on a subtitle: Dark Moon. According to Nintendo, players will explore multiple mansions with a heavier focus on ghost catching, boss fighting and mission-based play hooks.
It looks like Mario (and his bro) will be all over the Nintendo map this year, with a new Super Mario Bros. game in the works for the Wii U console as well. Of course, more details to come from the show floor this week.
Are you hyped about new Mario jams on the 3DS? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Disney's social gaming arm, Playdom, has been busy behind the scenes building, well, games that don't necessarily involve hidden objects, but (two of which) are takeoffs of some of the company's older social games. Today, the Mouse House announced three new games that will be out in the next few months, Disney's City Girl, Disney's Ghosts of Mistwood and Mobsters Criminal Empire.
Disney's City Girl riffs off Playdom's Sorority Life, where you play a girl who moves from a small town to the big city and makes her way to the big time. The description of the game mentions that fashion will be a part of the game, so we can only imagine what big fashion brands will make an appearance in this game over its lifespan.
Disney's Ghosts of Mistwood is decribed as a 'crafting game' where players make potions and enchantments to find a lost aunt and learn more about the events surrounding her kidnapping. Sounds like a Harry Potter game for the social gaming set. This one certainly sounds different than the average Facebook social game; we'll see if it puts us under its spell when it arrives this month.
The third game, Mobsters: Criminal Empire, is another new climb-the-crime-ladder game that's designed to give a more in-depth game experience, and better looking graphics, than the original Mobsters. It's amazing that people are still interested in playing these crime sim games at this point -- Zynga's Mafia Wars 2 has less than impressive player stats -- but we'll see when the game arrives on Facebook this month.
Of the three, Ghosts of Mistwood seems like the most interesting. Of course, we're still wondering, when is Mickey going to go social? Look for more info on these games this week. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Disney's social gaming arm, Playdom, has been busy behind the scenes building, well, games that don't necessarily involve hidden objects, but (two of which) are takeoffs of some of the company's older social games. Today, the Mouse House announced three new games that will be out in the next few months, Disney's City Girl, Disney's Ghosts of Mistwood and Mobsters Criminal Empire.
Disney's City Girl riffs off Playdom's Sorority Life, where you play a girl who moves from a small town to the big city and makes her way to the big time. The description of the game mentions that fashion will be a part of the game, so we can only imagine what big fashion brands will make an appearance in this game over its lifespan.
Disney's Ghosts of Mistwood is decribed as a 'crafting game' where players make potions and enchantments to find a lost aunt and learn more about the events surrounding her kidnapping. Sounds like a Harry Potter game for the social gaming set. This one certainly sounds different than the average Facebook social game; we'll see if it puts us under its spell when it arrives this month.
The third game, Mobsters: Criminal Empire, is another new climb-the-crime-ladder game that's designed to give a more in-depth game experience, and better looking graphics, than the original Mobsters. It's amazing that people are still interested in playing these crime sim games at this point -- Zynga's Mafia Wars 2 has less than impressive player stats -- but we'll see when the game arrives on Facebook this month.
Of the three, Ghosts of Mistwood seems like the most interesting. Of course, we're still wondering, when is Mickey going to go social? Look for more info on these games this week. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  The new hotness in the Mushroom Kingdom is New Super Mario Bros. U. Nintendo announced the flagship Mario release for Wii U during its E3 2012 briefing, and revealed a few details for what will make this take on the Wii classic unique. Namely, it's all about the social. In fact, this version of Super Mario Bros. takes a hint or two from the Facebook gaming world.
More specifically, the game's over world feature real-time social updates from players' friends that we're sure Nintendo hopes will spur competition in special speed runs. Players can help one another achieve better times in each level and brag about their achievements immediately. Aside from the new release looking sharp on-screen, that's about all we'll know about New Super Mario Bros. U until we get some time with it on the show floor.
Are you psyched for Mario's next adventure on Wii U? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  It looks like the (supposed) power of GREE works both ways. PopCap Games announced that Bejeweled Legend, a Japanese-localized version of the mega popular match-three game, is available on GREE for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. This is just another step in PopCap's mission to shower the world in exploding gems--err, successfully enter the Asian gaming scene.
"PopCap is already enjoying considerable success in Japan, and Bejeweled Legend is an opportunity to take our biggest franchise to the next level in this market," PopCap sales and marketing manager for Japan Yohei Ogura said in a release. "We are excited to bring the most regionally-customized adaptations of our hit franchise to Japanese audiences."
The first project developed by PopCap's Tokyo studio, Bejeweled Legend is immediately available on the App Store and Google's Japanese app marketplace, which we imagine is Google Play. However, what could possibly be tweaked in Bejeweled for Japanese audiences? (Aside from the pirate theme and scantily clad women, of course.) We always thought Bejeweled was kind of like mathematics, a universal language. You know, with more fun and less ... derivatives.
[Image Credit: Google]
Are you still digging Bejeweled after all this time? Will PopCap find success in the East like it enjoys in the West? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Revealed at EA's 2012 press conference at E3, SimCity Social is already gunning for your loyalty on Facebook by offering free prizes in the final version of the game if you like its official Facebook fan page.
Unlike other promotions, that see items being given out at certain Like thresholds (say, a free item being given away at 1 million total Likes on the fan page), this one asks you to Like the game's fan page and then share that with your friends to receive three items in the process.
The first item is a Neighborhood Sign that is awarded for simply clicking on the page's Like button. The second prize is awarded for sharing a news post to your wall, and it comes in the form of a Sims Billboard. Finally, if you agree to sign up for the game's newsletter, you'll receive a lovely Tree Grove decoration. it's likely that the game's fan page will end up giving away more items over time, so make sure to Like it now if you're at all interested in these exclusive items.
What do you think of SimCity Social based on what we've seen so far? Sound off in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  If you're not lucky enough to have been given the ability to purchase early access to Jade Falls in FarmVille, you can now at least purchase some limited edition items in the Jade Falls theme, to start celebrating the game's jump into an Asian theme in the proper style! We're here with a look at the new items, which are available to purchase across your farms, and not just in Jade Falls.
Crops
Chrysanthemum - 5 Farm Cash
A single square gives you three XP, and can be harvested in 14 hours for 300 coins.
Trees
Chinese Chestnut Tree - 6 Farm Cash
Sweet Osmanthus Tree - 6 Farm Cash
Dragon Boat Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Yoshino Cherry Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Chinese Rain Tree - 12 Farm Cash
Tung Oil Tree - 12 Farm Cash
Giant Dragon Boat Tree - 14 Farm Cash
Kwanzan Cherry Tree - 14 Farm Cash
Animals
Chinese Duck - 16 Farm Cash
Java Pony - 24 Farm Cash
Dragon Cow - 20 Farm Cash
Lantern Pig - 16 Farm Cash
Asian War Horse - 26 Farm Cash
Golden Dragon - 20 Farm Cash
Chinese Alligator - 2.5 million coins or 14 Farm Cash
Red Arowana (Water Only) - 7 Farm Cash
Buildings
Summer Manor - 30 Farm Cash
Lantern Shop - 15 Farm Cash
Decorations
Garden Wall - 1 Farm Cash
Soldier Gnome - 12 Farm Cash
Garden Bridge - 10 Farm Cash
Dragon Waterfall - 16 Farm Cash
Garden Table Set - 50,000 coins
Garden Gate - 2 Farm Cash
Duck Dragon Team - 6 Farm Cash
Avatar Clothing
Asia Male Outfit - 5 Farm Cash
Asia Female Outfit - 7 Farm Cash
Even though Jade Falls may not be available for all farmers yet, these items are still on a time limit, so you'll need to decide whether or not to wait for Jade Falls or purchase these items on other farms just so you won't forget. You'll have two weeks to purchase most of these items, while the new limited edition crop will be available for two weeks.
What do you think of these Jade Falls items? Have you been able to make it into this new farm in FarmVille yet? Sound off in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  EA made some edits to its social playbook, and it wants to make Madden work on Facebook. The publisher announced Madden NFL Social for Facebook, set to launch this fall along with the 2012-2013 NFL season. The game seems to take a different approach to sports gaming on the social network, as it focuses more on asynchronous play between friends and connectivity with Madden Social on iOS devices.
For instance, players go head-to-head in Madden Crossfire, a 3D, all-offense mode in which players trade off plays against one another regardless of whether they play on their iOS device or Facebook. Of course, players will get to manage their teams using a card-based system, just like in EA's first crack at Madden on Facebook. Check out all of the details over at the official Madden NFL Social page, and we'll likely have more come later this week when the E3 show floor opens up.
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Are you excited for the revival of Madden on Facebook? Will EA get it right this time? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  EA, Maxis and Playfish look to come out swinging this year on Facebook. The trio just announced the arrival of SimCity Social on Facebook in "just a few weeks." The city-builder looks to add depth where other games in the genre have not, with enhanced social features and interactions as well as connectivity with the upcoming SimCity retail release for PCs,
Admittedly, SimCity Social looks quite a bit like the big kid on the block, CityVille from Zynga. But that's kind of the point, isn't it? EA looks to make good on its mission to finally beat the king of social gaming, and you could say this is the publisher's wild card. But don't take our word for it--check the purrty screens below.
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Are you psyched for SimCity Social on Facebook? Will it finally give CityVille the boot? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
The Ascend: New Gods trailer below looks nothing like a Facebook game, but one of the more compelling things about this third-person action role-playing game -- not that fact that it looks like God of War for the Xbox -- but that there an asynchronous multiplayer component. That means you can play games with your friends, but it doesn't have to be at the same time. Play when you want, a la Words with Friends or, dare I say, FarmVille.
This unique "parallel online action" wasn't detailed during the game's announcement at today's Xbox Press Conference at E3 2012, but the game's official website says that you will be able to play "with AND against other gamers over Xbox LIVE as you each journey through your own private yet parallel paths to Ascension. As you advance through your own single-player game, you'll see other players adventuring in their own identical worlds."
Ascend: New Gods also contains a connected mobile component where you can build up your stats on the go, similar to how you were able to build up your Galactic Readiness score by playing Mass Effect Infiltrator or Mass Effect Datapad when forced to spend time away from your gaming console of choice.
There wasn't much very casual or very social about Xbox's big announcements this year, but this game in particular seemed to be giving a (bloody, violent) nod to the exploding mobile and social gaming scene. Ascend: New Gods will be available on Xbox Live later this year. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
It's almost ironic that mobile and free-to-play games have sent the entire gaming world into a tailspin, but that's not likely what you'll see at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, which takes place in Los Angeles this week. While everyone will be buzzing about Nintendo's new WiiU console, Halo 4 and the just-announced Star Wars 1313, it'll be easy for games like Insomniac's Outernauts, Resident Evil VS for mobile and some other potentially interesting games to get lost in the commotion.
That could spark a debate as to whether social games and mobile games even belong at a conference like E3, but that merits a separate discussion. Here is a list of a few games and companies that we're looking forward to seeing at this year's big event.
GREE
The popular Japanese social gaming network GREE has just arrived Stateside and is a serious contender for becoming the Facebook of mobile, as far a creating an easy plug-in social solution for mobile games, which seems to be the last big barrier for the Zyngas of the world.
GREE, much like Apple's GameCenter, et al allows users to sign up for an account, track your games and follow friends who also use the app. The big difference is that GREE works across both Apple and Android (much like Open Feint did, which GREE acquired earlier this year). The US version of GREE is still in its early stages, but the company is showing six new games at E3 this year, including a new Resident Evil game with a social twist, called Resident Evil VS, plus a brand new game from Crowdstar.
Electronic Arts
EA recently brought the axe down on a handful of its social games, including, oddly, Bejeweled Blitz on Google Plus.v The subsequent rumors about EA's The Sims Social being sent off to die seem to have quelled momentarily as the Facebook version of the bestselling PC game just rolled out a new feature that lets your virtual people travel via car.
So with all of the cutting, we can only hope that means that the gaming giant is prepping to unleash the rumored SimCity Social game on Facebook, that will maybe, possibly put Zynga's CityVille in its place (if it's lucky). Electronic Arts is still a big player in the social games space, thanks to The Sims and the company's acquisition of PopCap, responsible for Bejeweled Blitz, Zuma Blitz and Solitaire Blitz on Facebook, but since it has been beaten out recently by both King.com and Wooga, it'll be interesting to see how (and if) EA plans to level the competition.
Disney
Disney's social arm Playdom struck social gaming gold when it released Gardens of Time on Facebook. Not only was this the first hidden object game of note, but it was the start of a new trend we're seeing on the social network - taking tried and true casual games and giving them a social spin. In this case, the hidden object game meets ville game struck a chord and boasted some pretty impressive audience numbers.
Since then, Disney has released two more hidden object games, Blackwood & Bell and Disney Kingdom Animal Explorers, which have not fared as well, along with the new Armies of Magic, an interesting strategic role-player which seems off to a slow start. There's talk that Disney will be showing off social games that incorporate more of its famous characters, and with news of a new Mickey game in the works, we can't help but ponder how the famous mouse and pals would fare in a Facebook game of their own.
WiiU
Even though this is a quote-unquote traditional gaming console, Nintendo has managed to tap into the casual game market betrer than its rivals, Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation 3. And while some might be dubious about how the current Wii audience will take to the new console, replacing the motion controlled wand with a tablet and an Xbox style controller called the Wii U Pro, Nintendo has a history as being the console for the people. Nintendo's mascot Mario, whose appeal now spans generations, can alone guarantee that gamers of all stripes will gather around the WiiU when it's released.
We're very curious to see, in person, how this new Nintendo contraption works and get a chance to try the new online chat system and social Wii-verse that Nintendo teased in this video over the weekend.
Outernauts by Insomniac
The creator of Ratchet and Clank for PlayStation has decided to take an unexpected turn, creating Outernauts, a new game for Facebook, which is best described as Pokemon in Space. CEO Ted Price says his studio is looking to turn Facebook games on their heads and offer "a deep story with real RPG strategy, coupled with Insomniac's signature sense of humor." So far, traditional video game makers have not made a splash on the social network, e.g. Sid Meier's CivWorld , but after 20 years of fostering hit game franchises, it'll be interesting to see if Price & Co. can make the magic happen once again.
What we're not going to see: Anything from Zynga
The big dog of social gaming, Zynga, will not have a large presence at this show ("Just a meeting room," a company representative tells me) and neither will the new number 2 most popular Facebook game maker, King.com.
Back to that argument that social and mobile games don't have a place at E3, which is dominated by Hollywood blockbuster-style shoot-em-ups: I'd argue this could be indicative of the larger game industry's inability to accept these games are not just providing short-term disruption, but like a precocious younger sibling, are here for the long run. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Summer has arrived in full force in FarmVille, and with that comes a series of new items to purchase in the game's store! There are new trees, animals and more to purchase, and we're here with a complete look at these items to give you an idea of what to expect when you head into the store.
Trees
Dandelion Tree - 6 Farm Cash
Giant Dandelion Tree - 12 Farm Cash
Red Watermelon Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Yellow Watermelon Tree - 14 Farm Cash
Animals
Ice Cream Sheep - 16 Farm Cash
Ice Cream Horse - 26 Farm Cash
Banana Split Dog - 12 Farm Cash
Decorations
Ice Cream Fountain - 10 Farm Cash
Watermelon Gnome - 12 Farm Cash
Popsicle Fence - 7,000 coins
All of these items will be available in the game's store for the next two weeks, and while that may seem like a long time, they'll disappear before you know it, so make sure to purchase any items that you're interested in before they expire!
Will you purchase any of these Summer-themed items in FarmVille? Sound off in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  The items in the FarmVille Mystery Game have been cycled out this evening, bringing new prizes to the game for you to win for your many farms. This week's theme is "wedding," with appropriately themed animals and decorations now being available to win!
There are six items to win in this week's game, so here's the lineup of what you can expect to walk away with, according to the folks at FVNation.
Bride Cow
Camellia Unicorn
Flower Girl Duck
Groom Bull
Wedding Cake Fountain
Wedding Carriage
If you win all six of these items, you'll receive one extra prize at no additional charge: the Ring Bearer Gnome. Just remember, actually winning all six of these items will likely be a costly endeavor, so you'll want to reevaluate your Farm Cash supplies before trying for the clean sweep.
As usual, the items in this week's Mystery Game will only be available until next Sunday, when they'll be replaced by a new selection of items. Play now if you want your chance at these! Good luck!
Will you throw any darts at this week's Mystery Game board in FarmVille? Which prize did you want to win? Which prize did you actually end up winning? Sound off in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
The final free scene in Chapter 7 of Blackwood & Bell Mysteries on Facebook takes us down to the water's line as we'll investigate a cluttered boat at the "Boat Port." We're here with a guide to help you find this scene's many items, so let's get started!
Note: The items you'll receive will just be a selection of all of those pictured below. If you're looking to find a particular item: Hit Ctrl +F (or Command + F if on a Mac) and type in the name of the object you're looking for. This will take you directly to its image.
Set 1: - Anchor
- Starfish
- Genie Lamp
- Lobster
- Pie
- Fish
Set 2: - Triplane
- Shell
- Lizard
- Crab
- Cat
- Bucket of Fish
Set 3: - Seagull
- Octopus
- Paper Airplane
- Sign
- Rugs
- Boots
Set 4: - Lamp
- Dice
- Dolphin
- Padlock
- Barrel
Set 5: - Dagger
- Balloons
- Fishing Hat
Set 6: - Fan
- Lure
- Sword
- Barnacles
- Wagon
Set 7: - Diving Helmet
- Stamp
- Bowling Pin
- Poster
Set 8: - Shadow Puppet
- Harmonica
- Oud
Set 9: - Rubber ducky
- Moroccan Flag
- Dishes
- Bandage
- Golden Mask
There are still items to find in this Boat Port scene, as the game generates each set randomly and there's no way for us to force specific items to appear. We'll keep playing this scene and will update this space as we find more items to help you out.
Check out the rest of our Blackwood & Bell Mysteries cheats and tips right here.
What do you think of this Boat Port scene? Have you already mastered it to the full amount? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
Our trip through Chapter 7 in Blackwood & Bell Mysteries continues as we head into one of the tiny shops in the marketplace and take a look at the wares of a Spice Vendor. This scene comes with all of the bright colors and clutter that you'd expect from such a scene, and we're here with a guide on how to find its many items. Let's get started!
Note: The items you'll receive will just be a selection of all of those pictured below. If you're looking to find a particular item: Hit Ctrl +F (or Command + F if on a Mac) and type in the name of the object you're looking for. This will take you directly to its image.
Set 1: - Lobster
- Hammock
- Watermelon Slice
- Lettuce
- Carrots
- Rice Sign
Set 2: - Scarf
- Cat
- Green Apples
- Geese
- Tangerines
- Bananas
Set 3: - Red Feather
- Turkey Roast
- Sea Star
- Horse
- Ladles
- Coins
Set 4: - Pillow
- Snake
- Garlic
- Bird House
- Broom
- Scale
Set 5: - Pumpkin
- Model Boat
- Wheat
- Pineapple
Set 6: - Books
- Earthworm
- Mortar and Pestle
Set 7: - Eggs
- Balloon
- Purple Herb
- Map
- Oil Can
- Radio
Set 8:
There are still some items left to find in this scene, as the game generates each set of 12 items randomly and there's no way for us to force which items come into rotation next. Still, we'll make sure to keep playing this scene, and will update this guide as we find more items to help you out.
Check out the rest of our Blackwood & Bell Mysteries cheats and tips right here.
What do you think of this Spice Vendor scene? Are the items too easy to find? Which scene in the entire game is your favorite? Sound off in the comments! Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
While farming, city-building and other simulation games have already found strong footing on Facebook (mostly thanks to Zynga), Checkpoint Studios wants to make these games more enjoyable, with depth and complexity not often seen on the platform. To do that, the company has developed AviNation, a game that offers players a history of modern aeronautics as they are challenged to build and grow an airline starting in the 1930's.
Launching to the public sometime this summer, AviNation has already released in closed beta, allowing us to learn more about the game. Its 3D graphics use the Unity engine (which you'll need to download and install if you've yet to play a game that also utilizes it), making this environment more detailed, and also giving you more options to interact with your growing airport. You can zoom into ground level, rotate the camera in four directions and so on, as you watch individual passengers depart planes, luggage being loaded or deplaned and so on.
A quest system will keep progress moving ever forward, as you'll be able to access dozens of planes, airport buildings and more, using either free or premium currency as is the standard setup for such games. All told, this doesn't appear to be too much of a departure from other simulation Facebook games, except when it comes to the game's use of the 3D graphics engine, a day and night cycle and apparent focus on a storyline. The gameplay appears to be pretty standard for the genre, but of course, that could all change come the game's official launch.
"We've seen a lot of games that were flat and linear, " said Brian Wiklem, co-founder of Checkpoint Studios, in an interview with GamesBeat. "We were bored with point-and-click gameplay and virtual chores. They're glorified activities, not games. You are led from one activity to the next, with no sense of discovery."
If you're interested in trying out AviNation for yourself, you can jump into the closed beta by logging onto the game's official website, connecting with your Facebook account and then entering code "REDEYE." We'll make sure to give you an in-depth look at everything that makes AviNation tick as the game launches in full.
Have you tried out the beta of AviNation? Do you think this flight-themed Facebook sim has what it takes to take on the largest games on the service? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
As we continue our journey through Blackwood & Bell Mysteries, we've come upon what is arguably the most cluttered or at least complex scene in the entire game (thus far): the Marketplace. This Chapter 7 scene has dull lighting and plenty of matching colors, making picking out the scene's tiny items rather difficult. Worry not though, as we're here with a guide to help you get started on finding this scene's many items in your own game!
Set 1: - Turtle Shell
- Hat
- Waste Basket
- Helmet
- Lamp
- Box Stack
Set 2: - Soccer Ball
- Goggles
- Mandolin
- Toucan
- Elephant
- Cat
Set 3: - Orchid
- Mouse
- Bronze Sun
- Toy Train
- Wheel
- Boomerang
Set 4: - Drums
- Gong
- Tambourine
- Wind Chime
- Nest
- Camel
Set 5: - Plate
- Boat Wheel
- Phonograph
- Book
- Map
Set 6: Set 7: - Yarn
- Bat
- Oar
- Beehive
- Bird
Set 8: - Perfume
- Feather Pen
- Jug
- Teapot
There are still some items left to find in this scene, as the game generates each set randomly and we have no control over which items actually appear next. We'll make sure to keep playing this scene and will update this space when we've found more items to help you out.
Check out the rest of our Blackwood & Bell Mysteries cheats and tips right here.
What do you think of this Marketplace scene? Have you already earned all of the mastery stars in it, or have you yet to unlock it? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  It's time to head out to the edge of our farmland in FarmVille again this weekend, as a new Lonely Animal has appeared for a limited time. In the past, these Lonely Animals have been disappointing duplicates of many animals we already had plenty of, but this newest animal is definitely worth the effort. For the next two days (and nine hours), you'll have a chance to lure a cute Mini Longhorn Cow into your game.
Even though the cow is smaller than other animals, you'll still need the same amount of help to actually get the cow to come into your farm. You'll need to ask five friends to come help you out, or you can purchase the cow outright with Farm Cash. Either way, remember to make a move fast, as once the next two days are up, this Mini Longhorn Cow will disappear from the edges of our farms, and will likely be unavailable in the game for quite some time, if it ever comes back at all.
Good luck earning the required amount of help in time to earn a free Mini Longhorn Cow!
Have you already started working on luring the Mini Longhorn Cow into your farm? What do you think of its over-sized head and small body? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  In the endless journey to earn more Mastery Trophies in Hidden Chronicles, we all too quickly run out of energy. While energy boosts sent to and from friends can help extend our time with the game, the only surefire way to keep playing longer is to purchase energy with Estate Cash. Luckily, the amount of time we have to wait for energy to recharge will (in theory) be decreased by a new item that's now available to build on our Estates: Zeus' Statue.
Zeus' Statue is available to purchase from the game's store for just 100 coins. For the record, when it's complete, you'll receive 700 Estate Points that will help you unlock additional scenes, but we all know that's not the big draw here. To actually complete the Zeus Statue, you'll need to collect a variety of building materials with the help of friends.
- 7 3-Wheeled Pullies
- 7 Lightning Batteries
- 7 Lightning Bolts
- 7 Marble Chisels
- 7 Sculptor's Hammers
- 7 Thunder Rods
As usual, these items can be earned in a variety of ways, with the 3-Wheeled Pulleys, Lightning Batteries and Lightning Bolts coming from general news items you can post on your wall (especially helpful when playing on Zynga.com), and the other three items coming from individual requests sent to your neighbors. You can also purchase these items with Estate Cash, although that's an incredibly costly option.
Either way, as you build the Zeus Statue, you'll be able to work on an accompanying quest that asks you to place the Statue, assemble a crew of five friends (simply ask your friends to come work on the statue with you) and hide four packages on friends' Estates. You'll receive a Thunder Rod in exchange, so it (of course) would be more helpful to complete this quest before actually completing the Zeus Statue so that the Thunder Rod can be put to use.
Once all of this is said and done, you'll be able to use the Zeus Statue once every 24 hours to receive free energy bolts. It appears as though the amount of energy offered each day might be random, but if not, we'll make sure to update this space when we determine what the standard energy prize really is. Stay tuned!
Will you build a Zeus Statue on your Estate's land, or do you think the energy return won't be worth the time required to actually build it? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  If you're a fan of the Guardian Challenge feature in Hidden Chronicles, that allows you to repeatedly play those scenes that are otherwise only available when playing games of FastFind on your neighbors' Estates, you can now unlock an additional scene called the British Kitchen.
This item is full of clutter, with food and kitchen utensils scattered everywhere. To unlock it, you'll need to collect a slew of themed building materials, as seen below:
- 5 Carving Knives
- 5 Cast Iron Kettles
- 5 Garlic Strings
- 5 Mincemeat Pies
- 5 Plump Pigs
- 5 Stoneware
The Carving Knives, Cast Iron Kettles and Stoneware items can be earned by asking your friends to send them to you via individual requests, while the other three items can be earned by simply posting a general news item on your wall. If you're a fan of Zynga.com, you can ask for these news feed items while playing there and will likely have them all in a matter of minutes. Of course, you can always skip the item collection entirely by paying Estate Cash for these ingredients, although buying them all outright will set you back a whopping 150 Estate Cash.
Once you've unlocked this scene, you'll be able to play it as often as you'd like, hopefully really preparing you for the next time you see it out in the wild. If nothing else, it will give you a scene to play while you may be working on unlocking other scenes through the general story. Good luck!
What do you think of this British Kitchen scene or the entire Guardian Challenge feature? Do you practice by playing those scenes? Sound off in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  The Roaring 20's theme of limited edition items in FarmVille has grown this week, with new trees, animals and more being available to purchase for your many farms. We're here with a complete look at these new items, so let's get started!
Trees
Feather Palm Tree - 6 Farm Cash
Giant Feather Palm Tree - 12 Farm Cash
Piano Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Saxophone Tree - 14 Farm Cash
Animals
Jazz Chicken - 18 Farm Cash
Big Jazz Chicken - 20 Farm Cash
Racer Horse - 26 Farm Cash
Baseball Pig - 16 Farm Cash
Frill-necked Lizard - 2 million coins or 10 Farm Cash
Decorations
Gangster Gnome - 12 Farm Cash
Jazz Band - 14 Farm Cash
Vintage Car - 200,000 coins
Avatar Clothing
Gangster Costume - 5 Farm Cash
Remember, if you have a female avatar that's feeling left out of the "dress up session," a Flapper Dress is also available to purchase in the game's store for 7 Farm Cash. That particular item will only be in the store for a little more than a week (as of this writing), but the rest of these items will be available to purchase for the next 11 days. That may sound like a lot of time, but it will pass quickly, so make sure to purchase any items you're interested in before they expire!
What do you think of this new set of Roaring 20's items in FarmVille? Let us know in the comments! Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  FarmVille's limited edition Castle item theme continues this week with the launch of new trees, animals and more that will help you makeover your many farms with a medieval vibe. We're here with a look at the newest set of items released in this Castle theme, so let's get started (hint: I hope you have your Farm Cash ready).
Trees
Crown Tree - 6 Farm Cash
Giant Crown Tree - 12 Farm Cash
Sword Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Giant Sword Tree - 14 Farm Cash
Animals
Queen Pony - 24 Farm Cash
Knight Sheep - 16 Farm Cash
Armored Hippo - 16 Farm Cash
Orc - 14 Farm Cash
Buildings
Wizard Tower - 18 Farm Cash
Decorations
Draw Bridge - 12 Farm Cash
Rubble Tower - 3 Farm Cash
Gargoyle Fountain - 10 Farm Cash
Unfortunately, no new clothing items came out in this update, although the Knight and Maiden costumes are still available to purchase for 7 Farm Cash each from a previous update. These newest items will be available in the store for the next 12 days, and we'll make sure to let you know if other items launch within that time frame as well. Stay tuned!
What do you think of this new set of Castle-themed items in FarmVille? How many will you purchase for your various farms? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
While it's easy to compare most every bubble-popping game on Facebook to standout hits like Bubble Witch Saga, cookapp's Buggle on Facebook is more identical to Zynga's Bubble Safari, with both experiencing amazing growth over the last month. While different in theme, Buggle and Bubble Safari are so much alike, and have become popular at so identical a time that it might be hard to determine which one actually came first.
Sitting at 3.8 million monthly users according to AppData (a growth of almost three million players in a single month), Buggle asks you to complete levels with one simple goal: free bees that are trapped in bubbles, allowing them to fall to the bottom of the screen. You'll need to destroy all of the bubbles keeping the bees suspended in the air by creating matches of like-colored bubbles with your bubble cannon, and any bubbles that fall freely away from the equation will fall into one of five honey jars at the bottom of the screen (similar to the fruit barrels in Bubble Safari).
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There are power-ups to purchase with the coins you earn, and each stage comes with a star rating based on your own performance. You can climb each level's leaderboards, comparing your stats to friends, and the game's difficulty ramps up accordingly as you progress, with more difficult original bubble templates and bubbles that contain Worker Bees that you must avoid hitting.
All told, Buggle's rapid growth helps further prove the popularity and recent dominance of the bubble-popping genre on Facebook, so if you have it in you to try yet another bubble-popping game, why not give this one a try?
Click here to play Buggle on Facebook --->
Have you tried Buggle on Facebook? Which bubble-popping game on Facebook is your favorite? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
The City of Warfare / City of Might saga has been ongoing since E3 2011, so imagine our surprise when a final version of Playdom's City of Warfare launched on the iTunes App Store as a free download on both iPhone and iPad. While there's no confirmation as to whether or not City of Warfare is actually a retooled version of City of Might, the game that looked to be heavily inspired by Zynga's Empires & Allies, we're still left to assume as much.
What we do know for a fact is that City of Warfare focuses on building a dominant military base, using the appropriate military-themed buildings (barracks, mess halls, brigs and the like), while also providing enough common base housing to raise your "city's" population. When you first start the game, you'll be given immunity for the first 48 hours; after that, it's all out war, so you'll need to build up as many defenses and upgrades as possible within the time frame.
If you're familiar with City of Wonder on Facebook, you'll immediately recognize the gameplay setup of City of Warfare. You'll construct buildings, with some offering population units, while others create profits for you to build more items in a never-ending cycle. The sound effects have been ripped straight out of the former game, as has much of the user interface and artwork. With a focus on military might, the games do differ in this regard, as City of Warfare allows you to focus on upgrading your troops and munitions, making them both stronger in terms of offense and defense.
The Battle Map unlocks at Level 3, and gives you access to invading other players' cities. You'll choose how many of your troops you'd like to bring into battle, with each troop having its own attack and defense stats. Instead of actually allowing you to witness battles, you'll simply hit the "attack" button and will then be presented with a results screen, displaying the individual match ups of troops that did battle, while also being allowed to choose to battle them again before eventually invading their city. If you can successfully invade a city, you'll be able to collect taxes from that city as a way to show off your military prowess to other players and earn more coins for yourself in the process.
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For everything good that can be said about City of Warfare, the game is incredibly slow moving due to the fact that you can only construct one building at a time. What could have been an incredibly fun experience turns into an equally limited one, as you'll be forced to complete missions ridiculously slowly, since you can only work on one building and therefore one quest at a time, rather than setting a whole slew of items to construct at once while you go off and do other things (rather than being constantly tied to your iPhone or iPad). Of course, you can purchase Gold with real cash to solve this problem and instantly complete the construction of all buildings, but that shouldn't have to be the only way to quickly get ahead.
For all of the good that can be said about City of Warfare, it's definitely not a game packed with originality. While somewhat original in its "military might" theme, Playdom's repeated use of the same "Legends" system, the same sound effects, interface, menus and more make this feel like a bland experience right out of the gate. Hopefully in time we'll actually see something fresh out of this developer, that used to be at the top of its game.
Click here to download City of Warfare on iOS --->
Have you tried City of Warfare on Facebook? What do you think of the game's focus on military power, rather than standard city-building? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  After the launch of the Fishing Hole in FarmVille, a structure that offers users a chance to collect Special Delivery Boxes once per day (something many farmers probably aren't at a lack of), we've seen yet another functional building released for our farms, with just as questionable a purpose. The Hot Spring can be now be constructed and upgraded on our farms, with each one giving you a chance to collect Fertilizers everyday.
To be especially clear, these don't appear to be Fertilize All bags, bur rather individual Fertilizers. If you have a need for these items, which give you extra experience points when actually tending crops, you can now construct a single Hot Spring on a single farm using a new supply of building materials:
- 32 Bed Rock
- 32 Mineral Infusion
- 32 Steam
You can earn these items by asking your friends to send them to you, but you'll need to earn all of these items each time you wish to construct a new Hot Spring, with one being available to build on each of your farms. Once you collect these parts, you can collect even more to upgrade the Hot Spring and chance its appearance in the process.
Again, once you construct the Hot Spring, you'll be able to collect bags of Fertilizer from it, but I'm left to wonder just how many players actually need Fertilizer and don't already have a supply on hand in their Gift Boxes. Perhaps this Hot Spring will receive an additional purpose at a later date, and if that happens, we'll make sure to let you know.
What do you think of this Hot Spring? Will you use it everyday to collect Fertilizer, or do you think this particular structure isn't worth the space it takes up on your farm(s)? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Alpacas may not be the most common of barnyard animals, but they're taking the spotlight in FarmVille this week with the launch of nine limited edition Alpaca goals in FarmVille. These will of course reward you with some Alpacas and some farming boosts, along with the expected coins and experience points, so follow along with our guide as we go through how to finish off all nine goals!
Stalking the Wild Alpaca - Get 4 Alpaca Calls
- Harvest 50 Soybeans
- Harvest Livestock Pen Twice
For this "Get 4 Alpaca Calls" task and all other tasks that ask you to "get" a specific number of a collectible item, you'll need to ask your friends to send them to you either via general news posts on your wall or individual friend requests (depending on the item). For this first goal, completing all three tasks will reward you with 125 XP, 2,500 coins and a Long Haired Alpaca.
Lead an Alpaca to Water... - Get 6 Alpaca Leads
- Harvest 75 Cotton
- Harvest Long Haired Alpaca Twice
Rewards: 150 XP, 3,000 coins and one Turbo Charger
Trial and Error - Get 8 Alpaca Feed
- Harvest 100 Bell Peppers
- Harvest 2 Wildlife Habitats
Rewards: 175 XP, 3,500 coins, Aromite Tree
Laying It Out - Get 8 Feed Troughs
- Harvest 125 Peanuts
- Make the Farmhand Recipe 1 Time
Rewards: 200 XP, 4,000 coins and a Huarizo (another kind of Alpaca)
All the Trimmings - Get 8 Toenail Clippers
- Harvest 150 Peppers
- Master Long Haired Alpaca to 1 Star
Rewards: 225 XP, 4,500 coins, Mystery Game Dart
Brushing Up - Get 8 Wool Brushes
- Harvest 150 Morning Glories
- Harvest Huarizo 2 Times
Rewards: 250 XP, 5,000 coins, Brazil Nut Tree
Spoolin' Around - Get 9 Wool Spools
- Harvest 150 Golden Poppies
- Harvest Brazil Nut Tree Twice
Rewards: 275 XP, 5,500 coins, Loafing Shed
Dyeing for Color - Get 10 Wool Dyes
- Harvest 150 Eggplant
- Make a Dainty Fence in the Craftshop
Rewards: 300 XP, 6,000 coins, Book of XP
Success is Looming - Get 12 Looms
- Harvest 200 Wheat
- Master Huarizo to 1 Star
Rewards: 325 XP, 6,500 coins, Vicuna (another animal)
Remember, these goals will only be available to complete for a limited amount of time, so make sure to use your many farms to your advantage when trying to harvest all of these crops to finish them off. Good luck!
[Via Zynga]
What do you think of these Alpaca goals and their prizes? Do you think you'll have time to finish them all before they expire? Sound off in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  With the arrival of Broadway Musicals in CityVille, our towns had already taken a step towards becoming the virtual entertainment capitals of all of Facebook, but with the release of the new concert Amphitheater, that has officially all gone over the edge. We already know that Train is the first band to appear as part of this addition to the game, but you'll need to build the Amphitheater before you can actually use it.
The Amphitheater is available for users that have reached at least level 20 in the game, and is a glorified businesses that adds 500 Downtown Value points to your downtown expansion. Once it's built, you can upgrade it to actually hold concerts, with the first upgrade requiring you to collect 25 building materials with the help of friends and then collect 5 VIP Passes. These Passes drop when tending "Encore Amphitheater" businesses, which include the Ticket Booth, Souvenir Stand, Concession Stand and Outdoor Lounge. These businesses can be purchased either City Cash or coins in the game's store.
Altogether, there are five new musical acts that will be available to book in this concert Amphitheater, with Train just being the first. Holding a Train concert costs 150 Goods and will earn you 750 coins and 20 shoppers, that will then go out and spend money twice as fast at businesses as normal. This all happens within a five minute period, and other concerts are likely to function in the same way.
There's no guarantee that the other musical acts in this concert feature will be real world musicians or imaginary bands created by Zynga, but make sure to keep checking out your Amphitheater to find out more.
[Via and image credit: Zynga]
Are you excited to see the band Train come to CityVille? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Don't get "swipe" confused with "step"--the former implies reaching, not movement. Zombie Swipeout, or Zynga's answer to games like Fruit Ninja, is one fine iPhone and iPad game that makes some interesting moves in separating itself from its inspirations. But it also, like most Zynga games, hits a bit too close home. Home in this case being Halfbrick's mobile masterpiece.
But here's the thing: While we don't necessarily want to like Zombie Swipeout, it simply can't be helped. Sure, swap out pineapples and pomegranates for puss-filled zombies, have players slash them into bloody stumps with their index fingers and you have Zombie Swipeout. However, it's the execution--the music, the sounds, the controls and physics--that leaves us waiting for our energy to refill.
%Gallery-155665% Well, it would leave us waiting if that were even something we had to do. Taking a cue from recent Zynga releases like Bubble Safari, players can enjoy Zombie Swipeout indefinitely without paying up. Once player's seven game sessions are burned through, they can either wait about an hour for all of those to refill or fork up a few thousand coins to refill them all instantly. Not real money or Facebook Credits, no--coins, the shiny things that you're encouraged to chop up in each game session.
Speaking of which, let's talk about the guy you aren't encouraged to swipe at in Zombie Swipeout: Joey. The orange vest-loving protagonist of Zynga Mobile Germany's game, who appears with a green trail of sparkles, serves only to end your game prematurely. Accidentally slash him and the game is over ... unless you decide to save him and keep going using a life token.
Players are given a few life tokens to start with, but extras will cost them real cash through in-app purchases. It's an interesting proposal, giving players the option to the decide the fate of poor Joey. Unfortunately, there aren't many reasons compelling enough to fork up the cash for more life tokens. Sure, you may have lost while on a serious combo streak, but there will be others.
As you level up in Zombie Swipeout, Joey seems to be placed in increasingly more dangerous if tempting situations. For instance, as soon as you unlock the grenade power-up at Level 3, Joey will be thrown your way surrounded with shiny coins save for a single grenade. Of course, this writer fell for this trick several times, killing Joey and a double-digit score multiplier.
Still, pitfalls like that likely won't be enough to drive players to pay up. Perhaps Zombie Swipeout's leaderboards and weekly tournaments between Facebook friends will, especially when a high score is at stake. All in all, the ways in which Zombie Swipeout attempts to get players to pay up aren't terribly compelling. (Which must explain the rampant ads in the game's free version.)
It's what happens within each game session that keeps us coming back for more zombie blood. The splashes of coins, the sounds the zombies make when diced up into bits, the feeling of trepidation as soon as Joey appears and the satisfaction of seeing three stars at the end of each session have us hooked already. But will that grip decay over time? See for yourself.
Click here to download Zombie Swipeout on iPhone for Free Now >
Are you digging Zombie Swipeout so far? What do you think of Zynga's more recent Facebook and mobile games? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Social games might not be a huge deal at next week's annual E3 in Los Angeles, but mobile social game network GREE will be damned if they're not noticed. Forget about the huge party (featuring tunes courtesy of Girl Talk)--GREE is there to show some games. In fact, the developer slash publisher has six games to show along with how they'll look on its network. Here are all six games, straight from the horse's mouth:
Driland (GREE) -- Coming Soon
Driland is a popular card battle game from Japan. Explore dungeons and fight monsters to collect treasure and hunter cards. Collaborate with friends to defeat the strongest beasts and gather rare valuables to strengthen your deck as you progress through the game and participate in a variety of quests.
Wacky Motors (GREE) -- Coming Soon
Utilize super weapons and flashy tricks to beat your rivals to the checkered flag in this fast-paced, user-friendly car racing game. Collect custom parts to improve your cart's performance or just aim to have the best looking set of wheels on the track!
Closet Wars (CrowdStar) -- July 2012
For the first time ever, attendees are invited to check out CrowdStar's newest game - Closet Wars. This game asks players to become fashions hottest new designer and woo A-list clients as they design fabulous outfits and travel to the fashion capitals of the world for style inspiration. Trade garments, upgrade your favorite looks, create unforgettable fashion moments, and rule the fashion world!
Shaking Vegas (Vostu) -- July 2012
Check out Vostu's newest mobile game where users can play the hottest casino game machine and become a legend! Shaking Vegas is a fun, fast and addictive match-3 collapse game where groups of three or more blocks of the same color need to be cleared in order to achieve the best score, level up, and to unlock amazing new upgrades. Users will also be able to play in weekly tournaments competing with their social platform friends.
Resident Evil VS. (tentative title) (Capcom) -- Coming Soon
Resident Evil arrives on the GREE platform with an added social feature! Fight together with your buddies in multi-play, and survive the never ending battle in team play!
Gang Domination (Gameloft) -- June 2012
Gang Domination is a social card game in a world of powerful gangs. Each gangster is an artfully-designed card. As the boss, lead your gang to clear quests and defeat bosses alone or with friends. Users can also challenge rivals in player versus player mode.
It's interesting for GREE to place such a focus on E3, especially considering the event's deep "hardcore" roots. If anything, it speaks to the encroachment of mobile and social gaming on the core gaming scene. Of course, we'll have more information on what GREE has to show off at this year's E3 next week.
Are you excited to learn more about what GREE has to show at E3? What about other companies? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Train has sailed across the sun and into CityVille. Terrible puns aside, the Grammy-winning pop-rock band is the next act to find a way into Zynga's most popular game on Facebook. Train joins the ranks of Enrique Iglesias, Michael Buble and even the King of Pop himself to be featured in CityVille, and you know what they say: Three's a trend.
Players will soon get to build their very own amphitheater for music acts to come perform on in their cities, and Train is first in line. One players' citizens leave the amphitheater when a concert it through, they will spend twice as much at surrounding businesses--thanks to the energy of a live performance, we guess.
Along with the benefit of having Train play in your city, there will be three Train-themed quests to complete in CityVille once the band lands in the game, each of which will unlock a Train music video for you to watch and a special in-game item. Now, how long is it going to take for Skrillex to find his way into a Zynga game. Oh, don't give us that look--he'd fit right in at Bubble Safari!
Are you psyched to hear that Train is headed to CityVille? What do you think of the artists that have been in the game so far? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Face it: Turn-based gaming is where its at on iPhone and Android. We've seen everything from Scrabble to Pictionary and Boggle get its own turn-based treatment for our pockets, but there's one classic game we've yet to see ... until now. It's called Domino!, a free-to-play, asynchronous version of the board game of the same name for iPhone and iPad.
Crafted by Philadelphia-based Flyclops, Domino! isn't much more than a glossy, polished take on a points-centric board game, but so was Words With Friends and look where that gem is on the charts. Plus, there's something to be said of that gloss. Since the game was essentially already there, you can imagine much of the time spent on the game was to make it look and play as slick as possible.
Like any good turn-based game on iPhone, Domino! lets players link their Facebook account as well as rope in friends to play with via Twitter, email and user name. And if you want to meet new people via Domino!, a random game option is there too. (If you're a total loner, you can even play against a computer opponent.) Domino! already has a lot going for it in terms of mass appeal, but let's save those thoughts for a review. Until then, why not give the game shot--it is free, after all.
Click here to download Domino! on iPhone for Free Now >
Are you intrigued by a multiplayer domino game on iPhone? Will this become the next Words With Friends? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Today's Game of the Day is classic free online Chess. Games.com's free online Chess is a rich, deep experience. You can play against the computer or against real people online. The outcome of each game will raise or decrease your player score. Players with higher scores will have access to more challenging rooms and opponents. Can you rise up through the Chess ranks and reign over the online Chess world?
Although Games.com's Chess can be competitive, it is also home to an extremely friendly bunch of people. Make sure to chat with opponents and the other folks in the room. And even if you lose, make sure to say "gg" or good game. So join the ranks of awesome Chess players here on games.com. Check out free online Chess below.
Play Chess!
Were you able to win a game or two of Chess? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  Now, two words you never thought you'd ever see in the same sentence. According to Pocket Gamer, social game giant Zynga looks to create games focused more on the fabled "mid-core" audience of social gamers, using the popular Unreal engine. Now that Unreal has made its way to Flash, all bets are off--at least in theory--for far more handsome games on Facebook.
Pocket Gamer cites several sources in its report, namely comments from an industry analyst made to Gamasutra. The news site also reports that Zynga is expected to launch at least two new games this summer, along with a sequel to FarmVille. But back to this Unreal Engine business for a moment.
It strikes us as odd that Zynga would, in a way, about face from its casual audience and opt to make games better suited for "core" gamers. However, it has been Zynga's mission for a long time to enter a category and dominate--any category. This could very well be the next area of gaming that the social gaming company looks to conquer. That all depends upon whether the "core" gamers buy it, of course.
[Via CVG]
Would you play core-focused games made by Zynga? Do you believe Zynga intends to enter this category? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  After the Dogs theater opened in CityVille's "Best of Broadway" event, we were promised two additional theaters to build and operate in our towns, with the first of those two theaters now being available. This one is called the "Fantasm Theater," and it's now available to build in your city.
You'll need to collect 30 building materials to complete the construction of the Fantasm Theater, which can be thought of as a hotel, rather than an actual theater. You'll need the following items, which can be earned via general news posts or individual requests sent to your neighbors:
- 10 Push Brooms
- 10 Scripts
- 5 Sheet Music
- 5 Toolboxes
To finish off the Fantasm Theater, you'll need to earn 150 building points and even ask nine Staff Members to come and work in the building, making this another multi-step building process as was the case with the Dogs Theater. When you finish this Fantasm Theater, your friends will be able to check-in to the building as guests (like they would a hotel) when visiting your town. You'll need to supply the Fantasm Theater with 500 Goods to set it into operation, and will receive at least 3,150 coins each time you collect your profits.
If you're into this Broadway feature in CityVille, make sure to complete this second theater before the third launches sometime in the future, as it will place even more work on your plate. Good luck!
[Via CityVille Wiki]
What do you think of this Fantasm Theater? Have you had a chance to complete the construction on the Dogs Theater yet? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  June marks the two-year anniversary of Pioneer Trail (originally FrontierVille) on Facebook, and to celebrate, Zynga is throwing a party of epic proportions on the Homestead. This comes via the launch of a large float that can be built and upgraded, goals that can be completed and rewards that can be earned along the way. Here's a look at this new feature, and how to complete the goals that come with it!
Runnin' Amok - Buy 1 Huge Silver Font
- Harvest 10 Sparklers
- Collect 10 Sweetsap Syrup
You'll buy the Huge Silver Font (which is actually a fountain) in the special 2-Year Anniversary market. Meanwhile, Sparklers can be planted and harvested after four hours, while the Sweetsap Syrup drops at random when tending Pine Trees. You'll receive Jack's Float, two Party Popper Trees and Country Cider (a decoration) for completing this goal.
Rodeo on Wheels - Craft 2 Frontier Fire Fountain
- Collect 8 Leather Feed Bags
- Complete Bess' Float
The Frontier Fire Fountains can be crafted using Small Fuses and Harnessed Flames, both of which can be earned by asking your friends to send them to you. The Leather Feed Bags are earned by tending horses that can't be ridden. You'll receive two more Party Popper Trees and the Sunbeam Filly for finishing this second goal.
Twins on Parade - Place 2 Confetti Trees
- Collect 20 Corn Husks
- Complete Hank & Fanny's Float
The Corn Husks can be earned by tending corn, while you can ask your friends to send you the Confetti Trees. Finish this goal and you'll walk away with an Anniversary Crate and a new expansion for your Orchard, adding 250 more storage slots for trees on your Homestead.
Jail Cell-ebration - Craft 3 Frontier Fire Fountains
- Collect 12 Delicate Flowers
- Complete Sheriff Mae's Float
The Delicate Flowers drop at random when tending Wildflowers on your Homestead. For completing this goal, you'll receive three Crazier Cakes and a Book of XP that will automatically launch you to the next in-game level.
Along with all of these goals and prizes, remember that you can purchase new two-year anniversary themed items in the game's store, and can even send your friends free "Festive Balloons" items from the game's free gifts page (hopefully to receive some back for yourself in exchange). Good luck completing this birthday event in Pioneer Trail!
[Via and image credit: Zynga]
Have you been playing Pioneer Trail / FrontierVille since the beginning of its life on Facebook? What do you think of the current state of the game? Let us know in the comments! Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  While the controversy surrounding the cloning of Triple Town on iOS may have left the public eye, the gameplay setup of matching three individual items to create something more complex has come back to mobile devices yet again with the launch of flaregames' BraveSmart on iOS (as well as Android). Set in the Scottish Highlands, BraveSmart's twist on the Triple Town formula comes with pieces that are automatically placed in the environment, eliminating the more in-depth control you were given in Triple Town.
BraveSmart is also setup in a level-based format, with each level being a sort of puzzle, asking you to construct a certain number of complex town buildings using wood planks, pieces of coal and even mine carts. Pieces are placed by villagers, with one villager being assigned to each kind of material. When three or more like materials are touching on the level's hexagonal grid, you can drag your finger over them to create a new item, with the item sitting on last square you ultimately touched. When you finish a level, you'll earn a star rating (with a maximum of three stars being available on each level), and can then move on to complete the same process all over again, but with a different initial layout of items or different obstacles in the way.
You'll be limited in the number of times you can "Undo" an action, and will also be given a limited amount of weights that can be dropped on items to clear a space entirely, but even these power-ups don't stop BraveSmart from becoming incredibly challenging incredibly fast. This is a situation where deliberate strategy is required in order to not back yourself into a corner, where the level eventually becomes impossible to complete (as you'll run out of destruction weights).
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BraveSmart offers a clever twist on the Triple Town formula, but the game's quick increase in difficulty is rather daunting to say the least. Still, the game is now available to download on both iOS and Android devices, so feel free to give it a try.
Click here to download BraveSmart on iTunes --->
Click here to download BraveSmart on Android --->
Have you tried BraveSmart or any other game like it? Do you think you could like this gameplay better than Triple Town's? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
While mobile gaming can provide some incredibly fun experiences, regardless of the genre, many games rely on a constant internet connection to play, limiting the amount of time you can get your game on when playing on a wifi-only device like some versions of the iPad. If MargaritaVille Online is one of the major games in your iPad gaming catalog, you can now kiss the internet requirement goodbye, as an offline mode is now available to access via a new update on iTunes.
Unfortunately, if you're already made progress in the game on Facebook, playing in the offline mode will require that you start from scratch (since you won't connect to Facebook and therefore can't pull in your Facebook/online iPad game progress), but you will be able to earn achievements via Game Center and climb the game's leaderboards as well. Likewise, you won't be able to take your offline progress onto Facebook if you eventually decide to go online with the game, so you'll need to make sure that ditching the internet connection is what you want in the long run.
Still, this update offers players a chance to experience MargaritaVille Online on the go, even if they only wish to play the game's many mini-games on a secondary account when they're on a road trip, at a friends' house, etc. before heading back online once they regain access to the internet. The offline mode update for MargaritaVille Online can now be downloaded for free on iTunes.
Are you excited to see MargaritaVille Online now available to play even when not connected to the internet? Would you play other mobile games if they didn't rely on a constant internet connection? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
6Waves' latest free-to-play mobile game, Cowboy Cat, throws us on the side of the cat in the never-ending rivalry between cats and mice, as we'll be placed in charge of a single feline soldier, armed with two pistols, unlimited ammo and a desire to kill. Inspired by whack-a-mole, Cowboy Cat requires that you hold your device horizontally with both hands, and sees bomb-wielding mice appearing at either side of the screen that must be shot by simply tapping on each mouse before their bombs can detonate.
Cowboy Cat comes with three different game modes that differ in difficulty and the speed at which mice appear, but only the Classic Mode is available at the start. Each time you play the game, you'll have three lives or strikes to "waste" before eventually failing. You'll lose a life if you tap on the screen when a mouse isn't present, or if a bomb is allowed to explode, and you'll gain a single coin for each 50 kills you earn. You can then take these coins into the store and purchase the remaining two gameplay modes. Easy Play sees the mice appearing at a slower rate, while Ultimate Play is for experts only, allowing mice to appear at random locations on the screen. Unfortunately, these modes require thousands of coins to unlock, which encourages purchasing them with real world cash just to save time.
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Regardless of the mode, the game is more comfortable to play while actually holding your device, rather than having it sitting flat on a table, but if your hands are physically small (in the case of the iPad version), you might have a hard time stretching your thumb to reach the mice at the top or bottom of the screen as they start to appear so rapidly. Obviously, if you play on the iPhone, this won't be an issue.
All told, Cowboy Cat is an incredibly basic and often hectic take on whack-a-mole that comes with deliberately bland graphics and some difficult missions to complete as long-term goals. It's a free experience, and therefore worth downloading to at least try, but it might not have the staying power 6Waves probably hopes for.
Click here to download Cowboy Cat on iTunes --->
Have you tried Cowboy Cat on iPhone or iPad? How do you think the game plays on iPad in terms of stretching your fingers / thumbs to play? Sound off in the comments. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
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