Thứ Năm, 15 tháng 9, 2011

MapleStory maker Nexon sets sail on Facebook with Wonder Cruise

Clicking cute creatures in MapleStory Adventures sure was fun, but Korean MMO (massively multiplayer online game) developer Nexon is ready to tread new water on Facebook. (Well, at least new water for Nexon.) The global studio based in South Korea has released Wonder Cruise, its second Facebook game tasking players with creating a world-class cruise ship.

While Gamasutra reports that the game will launch after testing with a small audience later this month, it appears that Wonder Cruise is live now for all. So, consider this the open beta for Wonder Cruise, or as we see it: The game is live. The game comes hot off of the heels of MapleStory Adventures, a Facebook rendition of the hugely successful free-to-play MMO that has already amassed over 2.8 million monthly players.

Wonder Cruise looks an awful lot like Perfect World Entertainment's recent Perfect Getaway, but plays a bit differently. Yes, you're still stuck on the same old cruise ship while your customers see the best of what the world has to offer. But this time around, the cruises, well, actually mean something. Each cruise is timed, and once you leave port after customizing and upgrading your ship with decorations and whatnot from the money that guests throw your way, you must help as many patrons have a good time before your ETA by clicking on them.

Wonder Cruise gameplay
Then, you'll be graded on how many guests you satisfied in the time limit, which matches up with a leaderboard spanning your friends. However, each time you help a guest, it consumes Energy that refills at a slow rate, like all Facebook games. This would be fine if you weren't graded on how many guests you help on a given timed cruise. Unfortunately, if you want those coveted S ranks for each trip, you'll have to either buy Energy or bug your friends.

Wonder Cruise is expected to "officially" launch on Sept. 12, Gamasutra reports. When the game releases from an open beta to most likely yet another open beta, Nexon will introduce more content (and hopefully a fix to this Energy system). As the game is testing, Nexon urges players to take a survey. Until then, keep clicking away on those guests ... at least for a minute or two.

Click here to play Wonder Cruise on Facebook Now >

Have you tried Wonder Cruise out yet on Facebook? What do you think of Nexon's approach to Facebook gaming thus far? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment

Troy Aikman + Facebook = A fantasy football game all about the QBs

Fantasy football, or as I like to call it: The Jock's Dungeons and Dragons, doesn't exactly make for a fun Facebook game. Even the mighty Sports Illustrated couldn't make fantasy football fun on Facebook, regardless of how robust its features are. Troy Aikman (you know, the famous former Dallas Cowboys quarterback?) and Boulder, Co.-based Prediculous--which runs a social game of sorts that challenges players to accurately predict real world events--hope to change that with Aikman 2011 Fantasy QB.

"The quarterback is one of the most important and exciting positions on a football team," Aikman said in a release. "Knowing a little something about that position, I wanted to create a fun fantasy game centered around QBs that anyone can play. From casual fans to long-time fantasy players, this game gives everyone a shot to play and win."

The game simplifies the classic fantasy football gameplay of drafting an entire team down to one of the only positions that matters most exciting positions in all of football: the quarterback. Each week, players will pick their top four QBs for the week that will earn them points based on how they perform in the real NFL games. Then, those choices will be sized up against Aikman's own picks each week found in a video feature uploaded every week.

Aikman 2011 Fantasy QB gameplay
While this will serve as a guide for the casual football fan, it should also serve as a source of competition beyond the stat crunching mega fans and their friends. However, each QB can only be chosen once every three weeks, unless you want to pay up with QB Chips using Facebook Credits. You'll earn QB Chips based on your participation each week as well. And unlike most traditional fantasy football leagues with their rigid times and rules, players can join Aikman 2011 Fantasy QB at any time during the NFL season.

Every Tuesday morning, the game will tally whose QB picks earned the most points per game based on several factors, and declare the winner within your league, which can be comprised of as many as 100 players. Of course, you can brag about your winning predictions using the News Feed, and find friends via requests. Sure, it's a simplistic fantasy football game for Facebook, but maybe that's the key to getting Facebook gamers into fantasy football. We'll see once the season starts on Sept. 8.

Click here to play Aikman 2011 Fantasy QB on Facebook Now >

Are you a fan of fantasy football or have a fan in the home? Do you think Troy Aikman's approach to fantasy football on Facebook could popularize the game on a new platform? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment

FarmVille Aviary Goals: Everything you need to know

Attention all farmers! The FarmVille Aviary has started rolling out to some users this afternoon, and as we told you earlier this week, the new building comes with a full set of goals. We've got a guide to completing these goals right here, so even if you haven't been able to start building your own Aviary, you'll at least know what to expect.

For the Birds!

    * Get 6 Bunches of Bird Seed
    * Place 1 Aviary
    * Harvest 3 Aviary Birds


Of course, this new building deals with with birds, and as such, you'll need to start harvesting birds (Ducks will probably be the easiest for most farmers) to complete this third task. As for the Aviary, you'll receive a base once the update has rolled around to your game, so just clear out some land on your farm and place it to finish that. For the Bird Seed, you'll need to ask your friends to send you some bunches by posting a general news item to your wall. The rewards for completing this first goal are 50 XP, one Red Bill Duck and 2,500 coins.


Bird Watching

    * Get 6 Binoculars
    * Buy 1 Bird House
    * Harvest 100 Vegetable Crops


As usual, it doesn't matter which kind of vegetable crop you grow, so feel free to plant some of the shortest-growth-time vegetables available to you to quickly finish this off. As for this Binocular collection task, you'll be able to send out requests directly to your friends, asking them for help. For finishing this goal, you'll receive 50 XP, 5 Animal Feed and 2,500 coins.

No Birds in Last Year's Nest

    * Get 6 Bird Nests
    * Complete the Aviary
    * Plant 3 Basic Apple Trees


This goal takes us back to general news feed requests to collect these Bird Nests. While you're waiting for them to arrive, you can plant the Apple Trees, which cost just 325 coins each to purchase from the store. To build the Aviary, you'll need to collect ingredients, and you can find our complete guide to building the habitat right here. Finish this goal and you'll receive 50 XP, 5 Animal Feed and 2,500 coins.

Free as a Bird!

    * Get 9 Bird Toys
    * Harvest the Aviary
    * Harvest 3 Basic Apple Tress


Here's something different: instead of being able to immediately delete those trees you previously purchased, you'll need to wait for them to be ready to harvest. You'll want to make sure that these trees are not in an Orchard before you harvest them though, as harvesting trees that are in an Orchard will not count for this goal. For these Bird Toys, you'll need to ask your friends through individual gift requests to earn them. For finishing this goal, you'll receive 50 XP, 4 Swan Geese and another 2,500 coins.

Whistle While You Work

    * Get 9 Bird Whistles
    * Raise a Baby Bird
    * Harvest 30 Basic Cranberries


Cranberries take 10 hours to grow, so you'll want to plant them pretty quickly to not be too delayed by this goal. While you're waiting for them to grow, you can post a general news item requesting the Bird Whistles. As for the Baby Bird, you can either claim one from your friends' wall posts, or wait until your Aviary is ready to collect from with the chance of receiving a Baby Bird in the process.

The Swing of Things

    * Get 9 Bird Swings
    * Master Swan Goose to Level 1
    * Harvest 50 Fruit Crops


Again, it doesn't matter which kind of fruit you harvest. You'll collect the Bird Swings via individual requests to friends. For finishing this goal, you'll not only finish this Aviary goal series, but you'll also receive 50 XP, one Lady Amherst Pheasant and 2,500 coins.

With this new Aviary building, we've passed the halfway point in the game's new breeding building feature, and we'll make sure to let you know when additional animal breeding buildings launch in the game.

Check out the rest of our FarmVille Cheats & Tips right here.

Have you received the new Aviary or this set of Aviary goals? What do you think of them? Sound off in the comments.

FarmVille Lighthouse Cove Sneak Peek: Chandler Blueberry crops in the wild

Here we go again, farmers. More news about FarmVille's upcoming Lighthouse Cove has been released today by Zynga itself. This new "news" comes in the form of a single screenshot, containing two animals and an area of nine crops. To go along with this screenshot, we're given the following text:

    Not only Lighthouse Cove will have exclusive animals, but there will also be new crops like the Lady Slipper and the Chandler Blueberry. Will you be ready to master more crops?


While we already knew that Chandler Blueberries existed, based on Mastery Signs we've previously seen, the Lady Slippers do look to be new. We can also spot two animals in this picture, with one looking to be a new kind of Rooster, and a fluffy gray sheep.

What we still haven't been able to determine is where exactly our farm will "end," and where the Cove landscaping will begin. In this new picture, the crops and sheep are placed incredibly close to the water, without a dark line separating interactive farmland from background picture. If this is deliberate, it opens up a whole world of possibilities for new game features out on the water, which would further explain why so much is going on out there in the Lighthouse Cove loading screen we discovered just days ago.

Whether this screenshot really sheds light on big features or not (I suppose it doesn't, depending on your viewpoint), it does continue to raise at least this farmer's hopes for something fantastic. We'll make sure to bring you all of the continued news about Lighthouse Cove as we know more, so keep checking back.

Are you excited about Lighthouse Cove? What sorts of themed items or activities are you looking forward to seeing in this new farm? Sound off in the comments!

FarmVille Animal Sanctuary Items: Acacia Tree, Red Kangaroo, Safari Tent and more

With tonight's FarmVille update, we see a continuation of the Animal Sanctuary theme containing a pair of new trees, some animals, decorations (Gnome-collectors watch out!) and more! As usual, we'll take a thorough look at these new items before we send you off to do some shopping of your own so you'll know exactly which items you want once you get there.

Trees

Acacia Tree - 7 Farm Cash
Candelabra Tree - 15 Farm Cash

First things first, Zynga has added level markers to all of the trees in the store, which is a welcome addition, even if a bit unnecessary. After all, I think we're all accustomed to Level 2 trees costing more in the store (in fact, this Candelabra Tree is the Level 2 tree of the pair), but a quick reminder before you spend Farm Cash is always nice. Just don't think that you have to purchase this Candelabra Tree, as you can use some patience and wait to receive one or more for free as Mystery Seedlings.

Animals

Red Kangaroo - 8 Farm Cash
Cassowary - 10 Farm Cash
Black Friesian - 35 Farm Cash

I don't know if Zynga is feeling generous, or if I happened to have stumbled upon a "low" period in their price testing routine, but the Kangaroo and Cassowary prices are far lower than those for most other animals released in the store. If you've wanted some exclusive animals, but didn't want to pay 20+ Farm Cash per animal, here's your chance. Again, if the prices are higher when you look in your own store, that's probably due to price testing and it can't be changed.

Buildings

Safari Tent - 20 Farm Cash

Again, for a building, this isn't a horrible price, as we've routinely seen items priced at 35 Farm Cash or more. Is this Safari Tent a bargain? Definitely not, but it's also not something that will entirely break the bank.

Decorations

Safari Gnome - 15 Farm Cash
Sunset Flower - 4,000 coins
Safari Rock - 3 Farm Cash


With these items, Gnome collectors obviously have something to be excited about, but those shopping on a coins-only budget will likely walk away disappointed (yet again). It's not that the Sunset Flower isn't pretty, but with that being the only new coin item, frustration will (understandably) be high. Hopefully, with enough public outcry, we'll see a return of more coin-only items, but for now, we'll just have to accept Zynga's arguably greedy ways.

Avatar Clothing

Safari Outfit - 10 Farm Cash

All of these items will be in the game's store for the next two weeks. Shop now while you can, as there's no guarantee that any will return after they've been retired.

What do you think of these Animal Sanctuary items? Are you becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of coin items in these FarmVille updates, or are you used to Zynga's business practices? Sound off in the comments.

FarmVille birds take flight back into the store for a limited time

To go along with tonight's release of the Aviary Habitat in FarmVille comes the re-release of several birds to the game's store. You can purchase one or all of these birds for Farm Cash, but they'll only be available for a limited time. Here's a look at what's available. Note: while these animals have been released with the likely purpose of placing them inside your Aviary, that isn't mandatory. If you'd like to keep your feathered friends out to show off to your neighbors, feel free to do just that.


    * Eider Duck - 20 Farm Cash
    * Snow Goose - 16 Farm Cash
    * Royal Guard Duck - 16 Farm Cash
    * Modern Game Hen - 20 Farm Cash
    * Campbell Duck - 16 Farm Cash
    * Crested Duck - 16 Farm Cash
    * Marans Chicken - 20 Farm Cash
    * Pelican - 18 Farm Cash



As you can see, none of these animals are exactly cheap, but if you're going for those exclusive animal mastery signs, this is an opportunity you'll really want to consider. Just remember, these animals will only be around for another week, so shop now while you have a chance.

Will you purchase any of these re-released birds, or do you already have them on your land? Sound off in the comments.

FarmVille Aviary Mystery Box offers re-released birds for your new habitat

If the re-released birds that have hit the FarmVille marketplace tonight aren't enough to stock your new Aviary habitat to capacity, why not take a look at the new Aviary Mystery Box that's also launched in the game? The Aviary Mystery Box contains re-released birds, with some of these birds having originally launched in the game back in March and April of this year. Needless to say, we haven't seen some of them for quite a while, so you'll want to keep them in mind when deciding whether or not to purchase a box.

Each Aviary Mystery Box costs 16 Farm Cash. You unfortunately have no guarantee that you won't end up with duplicates as you go for the complete set of six, but you can thankfully stop at any time should you decide the risk is too great. Here's a list of the six available birds:

    * Chrome Duck
    * White Stork
    * Gray Heron
    * Golfer Duck
    * Gallic Rooster
    * Tufted Duck


Again, these animals can all be stored inside your new Aviary habitat, but if you'd rather leave them outside to show off to your visiting neighbors, feel free to do that as well. Just make sure to purchase this box fast if you want any of the birds inside, as it will only be available for a week.

Will you purchase any of these Aviary Mystery Boxes? If you go for the full set of six, how many duplicates did you receive first? Which of these birds is your favorite? Sound off in the comments.