Every episode we'll take a look at a different village sim. And in the first episode we look at The Simpsons Tapped Out, as well as tycoon building game Jurassic Park Builder.
Other stuff reviewed includes Order Up To Go, Batman Arkham City Lockdown and the Comixology app.
New episodes coming soon, stay tuned!
Showing posts with label village. Show all posts
Showing posts with label village. Show all posts
Monday, September 2, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Village Update : My Little Pony
This morning (June 18th) Rainbow Dash finally turned into Fluttershy, meaning the newest update was available, which promptly loaded coming in at over 100mb... then it promptly crashed loading. Not a severe Paradise Cove crash, and maybe it was because I had just finished a sit down with Mystery Manor and its repeating music was still cluttering one of the audio channels (there is a report on that and other glitches of the Week over at the Game On Max blog, click the link to the right to check it out.
Ok, once I get past that new updates to come (New ponies, and the theater for earning gems watching ads).
Update - Ok, the game is now loading slowly and you have to wait a few minutes for it to start. Hopefully that is fixed quickly.
Octavia is in your inventory in Canterlot, complete with a new house (you'llyou're see why shortly). Set it up and Octavia arrives... of course this assumes you already bought her in Ponyvilleat, which I did, otherwise she's a new pony to buy in Canterlot.
Now buy Beauty Brass and Frederich... and realize this is an incomplete gathering of Octavia' s ensemble (seen in The Best Night Ever, but not seen in Sweet and Elite as Octavia is playing with a different ensemble... they also appear in the Midnight Magic audio drama The Vinyl Scratch Tapes episode 4) moving into Octavia' s, only missing pony being Harpo.
The only ponies with new houses is the priest pony for the Royal wedding and Sunset Shimmer... weird, this is supposed to be a Equestria Girls update but most of the update seems to link to the Royal Wedding... Oh, then there is the theater.
Considering this isn't GameLoft's first go with an ad playing theater (Ice Age Village, Epic) you'd think this would be at least as effective as the ad player in Order Up To Go, but it isn't.
Next Update - The Ad Theater and its one failing that must be fixed.
Ok, once I get past that new updates to come (New ponies, and the theater for earning gems watching ads).
Update - Ok, the game is now loading slowly and you have to wait a few minutes for it to start. Hopefully that is fixed quickly.
Octavia is in your inventory in Canterlot, complete with a new house (you'llyou're see why shortly). Set it up and Octavia arrives... of course this assumes you already bought her in Ponyvilleat, which I did, otherwise she's a new pony to buy in Canterlot.
Now buy Beauty Brass and Frederich... and realize this is an incomplete gathering of Octavia' s ensemble (seen in The Best Night Ever, but not seen in Sweet and Elite as Octavia is playing with a different ensemble... they also appear in the Midnight Magic audio drama The Vinyl Scratch Tapes episode 4) moving into Octavia' s, only missing pony being Harpo.
The only ponies with new houses is the priest pony for the Royal wedding and Sunset Shimmer... weird, this is supposed to be a Equestria Girls update but most of the update seems to link to the Royal Wedding... Oh, then there is the theater.
Considering this isn't GameLoft's first go with an ad playing theater (Ice Age Village, Epic) you'd think this would be at least as effective as the ad player in Order Up To Go, but it isn't.
Next Update - The Ad Theater and its one failing that must be fixed.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Level Grinder update June 15th
I don't have many on my play list right now, but here is what village Sims I am reviewing now.
GameLoft/Learning Center' Oregon Trail American Settler
The longest village SIM I have been grinding, now reaching towards Level 80, I kinda wish I reviewed it prior to the last update, especially since it added elements that disappointed me greatly. Still play it, still recommend it, but now with warnings and lower final score included.
GameLoft' Cosmic Colony
A bit innovative, but also a so so grind. Not Paradise Cove level slow but at times you will be grinding for coins, resources and levels fairly hard. Should score rather well... speaking of Paradise Cove...
Pocket Gems Paradise Cove
Yes, reviewing now. Somewhat interesting, a slow long term grind all about... and presently featuring a bizarre pirate Batman character fighting the Joker... review coming soon.
Game Insight' Tribez
Pretty animation, solid gameplay and just the right amount of difficulty. As long as it doesn't go the way of Oregon Trail American Settler it should review well.
GameLoft/Hasbro' My Little Pony
Even with the new Equestria Girls inspired update, whenever GameLoft finally launches it, I will tell you why only Pony fans should apply for this one.
Handy-Games' Townsmen
Just started reviewing it, but I have a good feeling about this one.
Full reviews coming soon, stay tuned.
GameLoft/Learning Center' Oregon Trail American Settler
The longest village SIM I have been grinding, now reaching towards Level 80, I kinda wish I reviewed it prior to the last update, especially since it added elements that disappointed me greatly. Still play it, still recommend it, but now with warnings and lower final score included.
GameLoft' Cosmic Colony
A bit innovative, but also a so so grind. Not Paradise Cove level slow but at times you will be grinding for coins, resources and levels fairly hard. Should score rather well... speaking of Paradise Cove...
Pocket Gems Paradise Cove
Yes, reviewing now. Somewhat interesting, a slow long term grind all about... and presently featuring a bizarre pirate Batman character fighting the Joker... review coming soon.
Game Insight' Tribez
Pretty animation, solid gameplay and just the right amount of difficulty. As long as it doesn't go the way of Oregon Trail American Settler it should review well.
GameLoft/Hasbro' My Little Pony
Even with the new Equestria Girls inspired update, whenever GameLoft finally launches it, I will tell you why only Pony fans should apply for this one.
Handy-Games' Townsmen
Just started reviewing it, but I have a good feeling about this one.
Full reviews coming soon, stay tuned.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Summer 2013 Day 20 - Raise This Pageview Count...
One of the goals of working continuously on these blogs is as an active reference source to send Editors to showing off my work. To that end I need to push up page views, and presently this blog has the lowest view count so I am working on this first to bring its count up. So working on making sure to post at least once daily to hopefully build up page views, and hopefully followers. Stay tuned, next review is middle ages level slash coin grinder Lords and Castles so check it out coming shortly!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Tablet Reviews : GameLoft's Fantasy Town
While there are some ideas in this village dim that work, there are alot more that fail. Apparently the story is humans used to live alongside elves, dwarves, fairies and so forth until some great evil attacked and scattered everyone. So your rebuilding a world... or village in any case... where everyone lives together. Unlock land, build and stuff... and almost from the word go we already run into trouble.
A lot of this game's tasks all revolve around building. Building houses, building shops and specialty buildings, building decorations, building building building. Subsequently you will quickly run out of space and have to expand... only expansion quickly becomes expensive, and that would be OK if not for the fact your buildings only rarely yield anything above mediocre returns. So you end up grinding alot just to expand, then grinding alot to buy specific buildings to complete specific tasks. Yes, that compels you to buy Premium currency with real money, lest you have to patiently spend hours grinding to make any progress.
Speaking of tasks this is one of those games that insists NPC characters walk around with voice bubbles detailing a quest on your task list. Usually I find that annoying but mostly harmless, except in this game practically all your villagers are walking about with task voice bubbles, and due to the limited space they prove to be an annoying blockade to gathering funds and experience from your buildings. Annoying as all heck, even moreso than in most games that use this gimmick, I wish game developers just stick to leaving tasks in their individual button or assign one NPC apiece per task. One. NPC. Per. Task.
There are a few unique tasks, like raising baby creatures and a few interesting mini games, but even this becomes time grinding tasks that compels you to spend real cash to speed things up. Also while the idea of using specialty species for tasks (fairies for farming for instance) that means you must buy enough of a species for the job, which again runs afoul of the whole lack of building space problem.
Ultimately this game is a long, slow grinding slough that tries to innovate but ultimately becomes a shallow lackluster dull grind. There are better village makers from GameLoft, Cosmic Colony and Oregon Trail American Settler on my recommend list, go try those. Fantasy Town, however, gets a meager 2 day laborer fairies out of 5.
A lot of this game's tasks all revolve around building. Building houses, building shops and specialty buildings, building decorations, building building building. Subsequently you will quickly run out of space and have to expand... only expansion quickly becomes expensive, and that would be OK if not for the fact your buildings only rarely yield anything above mediocre returns. So you end up grinding alot just to expand, then grinding alot to buy specific buildings to complete specific tasks. Yes, that compels you to buy Premium currency with real money, lest you have to patiently spend hours grinding to make any progress.
Speaking of tasks this is one of those games that insists NPC characters walk around with voice bubbles detailing a quest on your task list. Usually I find that annoying but mostly harmless, except in this game practically all your villagers are walking about with task voice bubbles, and due to the limited space they prove to be an annoying blockade to gathering funds and experience from your buildings. Annoying as all heck, even moreso than in most games that use this gimmick, I wish game developers just stick to leaving tasks in their individual button or assign one NPC apiece per task. One. NPC. Per. Task.
There are a few unique tasks, like raising baby creatures and a few interesting mini games, but even this becomes time grinding tasks that compels you to spend real cash to speed things up. Also while the idea of using specialty species for tasks (fairies for farming for instance) that means you must buy enough of a species for the job, which again runs afoul of the whole lack of building space problem.
Ultimately this game is a long, slow grinding slough that tries to innovate but ultimately becomes a shallow lackluster dull grind. There are better village makers from GameLoft, Cosmic Colony and Oregon Trail American Settler on my recommend list, go try those. Fantasy Town, however, gets a meager 2 day laborer fairies out of 5.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Upcoming Reviews : What villages am I raising (GameLoft edition)?
Much like how Zynga seems to dominate Facebook social gaming, GameLoft (aka that cloner company) dominates the Android app store.
Oregon Trail : American Settler
When I first started reviewing this I thought Gameloft actually did something right for a change... but they soon updated it and down the slippery slope of wrong it went.
Cosmic Colony
The newest thing I am reviewing. Presently has potential but kinda lacks the personality and charm of Oregon Trail American Settler... also lacks the new pitfalls too so I am still hyped about this review.
FOX/Blue Sky' Epic
Another game slapped together to shill another movie. I didn't come into this review with much expectations, so I wasn't too disappointed with the results.
Fantasy Town
Short stack of repetative grinding for coins and levels with little payoff... joy.
Jurassic Park Builder
Jurassic Park 4 may presently be getting no love, but I am going to tell you why Jurassic Park Builder is worth your time and effort. It's not perfect, but it is good.
My Little Pony
To be honest? I am most conflicted on this one. I like me my pony, but honestly it's the Brony in me talking so... how will you like the game if ponies ain't your thing? Let's find out.
And that is my present GameLoft village SIM checklist. Though it's shorter next time we'll look st upcoming Pocket Gems reviews.
Oregon Trail : American Settler
When I first started reviewing this I thought Gameloft actually did something right for a change... but they soon updated it and down the slippery slope of wrong it went.
Cosmic Colony
The newest thing I am reviewing. Presently has potential but kinda lacks the personality and charm of Oregon Trail American Settler... also lacks the new pitfalls too so I am still hyped about this review.
FOX/Blue Sky' Epic
Another game slapped together to shill another movie. I didn't come into this review with much expectations, so I wasn't too disappointed with the results.
Fantasy Town
Short stack of repetative grinding for coins and levels with little payoff... joy.
Jurassic Park Builder
Jurassic Park 4 may presently be getting no love, but I am going to tell you why Jurassic Park Builder is worth your time and effort. It's not perfect, but it is good.
My Little Pony
To be honest? I am most conflicted on this one. I like me my pony, but honestly it's the Brony in me talking so... how will you like the game if ponies ain't your thing? Let's find out.
And that is my present GameLoft village SIM checklist. Though it's shorter next time we'll look st upcoming Pocket Gems reviews.
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