Game update: 08/01/14

The partying never stops!

Chinese New Year update notification

Don't let the notification fool you. There is a new Winter themed box, but the main theme of this update is Chinese New Year! That's right - right on the heels of celebrating the start of 2014, we're now ready for Chinese New Year in Restaurant Story, complete with a new set of goals. Here's a list of everything added to the game:

Tables:

• Chinese - locked by goal

Chairs:

• Chinese - 4,200 coins

Wall decorations:

• Chinese Wall Fan - 7,200 coins
• Chinese Lanterns - 6,000 coins

Floor decorations:

• Chinese Archway - locked by goal
• Dragon Dance - locked by goal

Wallpapers:

• Fireworks Celebration - 2,800 coins

Floor tiles:

• Good Fortune Floor Tile - 750 coins

Appliances:

• Dim Sum Stove - locked by goal
• Chinese Dessert Oven - locked by goal

Counters:

• Tanggu Drum - locked by goal

Boxes:

• Winter Wonderland - 24 gems

It's great (if a little unexpected) to get a Chinese New Year theme There was one a couple of years back I believe, but last year the event was skirted over in favour of Winter and Valentine's Day themes.

I assume we'll still get a Valentine's period as it is a mainstay of TeamLava games, but with Chinese New Year itself not until January 31st, we could be in for several updates to celebrate the start of a new Chinese calendar.

The elephant in the room (or should that be the horse in the room!) is the new box, Winter Wonderland. Not for the first time, this appears to be an item that the game's developers opted not to release over recent weeks, so they've lumped it in now. After all it has little to do with Chinese New Year, and fits in the Christmas updates much better. The fact that it has been released the day after a Winter holiday content removal adds to the confusion.

Here's an estimate of the distribution of the prizes with thanks to Fat Bear for providing it:

First Prize (1% chance)

• Snowball Fight

Second Prize (10% chance)

• Winter Clydesdales
• Dogsled Team

Third Prize (35% chance)

• Snowy Fountain
• Ice Sculpting

Fourth Prize (54% chance)

• Sled Dog
• Abominable Snowman
• Woodburning Stove
• Snowman Cook

Otherwise, every item this week costs coins. Get in! And most of them are quite cheap too, mainly because you'll need to buy most of them as part of the goals. So I recommend not spending like crazy straight away but waiting to see what the goals require.

The two floor decorations are both goal prizes, and look superb from the tiny thumbnails in the market. Both look massive with the Dragon Dance in particular looking a fantasic item. Well worth earning. My only issue is that the Chinese Archway will probably follow the trend for archways in the game - the customers won't be able to walk under it. If they could it would really make my day.

The Chinese table is also locked by goal, but looks the business with the use of red and yellow in the traditional colours of China. The red symbolises luck and supposedly holds off evil. I'll have some of those then! The Chinese chair matches perfectly with the table, while the Good Fortune Floor Tile also uses red and yellow very well.

Then you can add some Chinese Lanterns to the mix too. These are nice without making me jump up and down with glee. Personally I prefer the Paper Lanterns released last year in the Asian updates. I may mix and match. The Chinese Wall Fan for 7,200 coins gives a great alternative to the Paper Fan which costs 3 gems.

And the new counter, the Tanggu Drum, is also a cracker. The red and yellow prevail again, with a dragon on the side for good measure. I'm loving how all the new content matches so well!

Lastly there's the Fireworks Celebration. It doesn't go with the rest quite the same, but could pass off as a window if you attach a Red Curtain on the side. If you've got access to the Red Pattern wallpaper (removed January 2013) then it may be a good choice to flow in a Chinese New Year theme. At least the fireworks wallpaper is useable for the Gregorian calendar New Year too. I'll have it out to see in 2015!

As mentioned earlier on, there's a new set of goals.

Introduction to Chinese New Year goals

You can find out all the details of those here.

Now what about the recipes on the two appliances? Since there will be six in total, I'll post a report on those seperately, hopefully by Monday.

Update: See here for my recipe report!

That's all for this week. A really good theme to get the ball rolling in 2014. Here's to many more!