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| Notification for latest Summer update |
So Halloween seems to be over, more than two weeks before the actual event. That's just plain wrong in my book. Before I embark on a crusade of disappointment and wild speculation, let's do our duties and have a look at the new content.
It comes in the shape of the Firefighter Crate, for 24 gems. The TeamLava Blog has an image showing eight of the prizes up for grabs:
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| Items from Firefighter Crate as shown on TeamLava Blog |
I assume that there are nine items available in total since this is the norm, although this box isn't exactly 'the norm'. I say this because six of the decorations pictured are 1x1 in size. Usually only the fourth prizes are that small, with the size increasing as the prizes get rarer. But if the usual distribution applies then at least one of those small items is a third prize.
I assume it is the first prize which is missing as both of the larger pieces are 3x3 which is typical of second prizes, and the description in the TeamLava Blog states that a 'Fire Truck' is one of the prizes. It's clearly not shown above, but it's certainly unlikely to be a small item. With a lack of evidence, I'm not going to attempt to construct a distribution list right now, but if you do take the leap of faith on this box, do leave a comment below with the results!
As for the items themselves, I'm putting on a glum face. And bear in mind that I'm still not taking into account the greater picture! I just don't think there's enough scope for a Firefighter theme, much like the Cloud update a while back. This is demonstrated by most of the decorations, which try to make a twist on otherwise unremarkable objects related to firefighting.
For example, the Boots and Cats is an attempt to add an interesting dimension to firefighter's boots by having a cat inside. The 'Extinguisher Plant' is a fire extinguisher acting as a vase for a red flower. These are weak efforts at spicing up items which just aren't interesting, no matter how you go about altering them.
At least Firefighter Phoebe actually works as a concept. We've already got Captain Phoebe where the darling of Restaurant Story is kitted out as a sailor, and this figurine continues this idea of dressing up Phoebe. If I were to capture her, Firefighter Phoebe would immediately be sent to oversee the operation of the hazardous Witch's Cauldron!
And the 'Traffic Cone' is a nice addition, if we forget for a moment that it will cost you a minimum of 24 gems for just one. With several of these you could cordon off a section of your diner while doing a serious revamp. It would be a building site of sorts. But alas, the cone is 24 gems a time, and that's assuming you manage to plunder it from the box without discovering any of the other decorations.
The rest of the stuff is sub-par. I mean, who wants a fountain with a fire hydrant in the centre for lots of gems? And what has a standard dalmatian got to do with firefighting?! And, finally, is the tiny bookshelf held together by firefighter's axes the worst item in the history of this illustrious game?!
So it's abundantly clear that this box has gone down like a shed engulfed in flames. But things aren't about to get any better, because I want to know why we've gotten this update the week after the Halloween goals. Now is a time for ghosts, ghouls and graveyards. I've always proclaimed that Halloween is one of three pillars of TeamLava's year, alongside Christmas and Valentine's Day. Yet they've neglected it. Why?
One possibility is that Halloween isn't the big event we all seem to think it is. But this seems unlikely - I reckon there are more players who completely strip down their restaurant and deck out for Halloween (spending gems willy-nilly in the process) than for any other season.
A more plausible option revolves around Restaurant Story 2. I've discussed the likely toning down of updates before as the sequel game looms, but up until now there have been little signs of the gamemakers turning their attention elsewhere. Here though we have a summery theme, a fact which is not up for debate - just look at the spiel for this update on the TeamLava Blog:
Does it feel hot in here? Summer may have come to a close, but there's still time to beat the heat.
They're admitting themselves that this is a summer style update which is out of season! The inclusion of the Hut Bar in a predominantly safari themed update last month set off alarm bells in my mind, and here again we see summer content being chucked out. If TeamLava had plans to still be providing weekly updates come next summer, they'd surely have held onto these items to use then. Their inclusion now at random times indicate to me that there are no such plans, and thus implies that the game will be winding down by that time.
Another lump of evidence for the wind down comes courtesy of the lack of new recipes. We've reached 11 WEEKS since an addition on the Basic appliances, which is extraordinary when we consider the steady introduction of new dishes in the preceding three and a half years. It's definitely another piece in the 'Armageddon jigsaw'.
Yet on the other hand, the rest of the TeamLava family has also been treated to random updates not related to Halloween. I can't explain this, except with one theory - all the Story games are going to get a sequel, and this one just happens to be the one being beta tested at this stage. It's an outlandish claim with little to back it up, but all of the apps have a similar game engine, so if Restaurant Story is in need of an upgrade then surely the rest are too?
Returning to Halloween, we don't know if there'll be more Halloween updates before October is out, but if designing fresh content has taken a back seat in the game as work on RS2 escalates, then it seems unlikely. This consequently doesn't give me much hope for full on Autumn (yes, we're still waiting!) and Christmas themes.
Perhaps the most irritating part of this whole scene is the lack of a re-release. After all there are loads of Halloween themed pieces sitting in a dark room somewhere in TeamLava Towers, having been removed in previous years. They're already designed and programmed, meaning that to add them back in would require little work.
Even if they were included as LTOs, at least it would give some sort of sign that the game's developers are listening to the players' wishes regarding Halloween and the re-introduction of old stuff. And crucially, I'm convinced there would be a serious uptake, with players buying gems to get hold of these vintage items. It's really in TeamLava's interests.
And casting a colossal shadow over all of my emotions right now is Black Friday. I've been thinking about this year's event since the last one passed, and have been meticulously saving up gems for many moons. If TeamLava are finished with keeping a sensible structure to their core updates then a special event like Black Friday could cease to be in Restaurant Story. The fallout to such an act would send shockwaves through the community the like of which has never been seen before.
I've made my point about the lack of logical structure in great detail, but will also add that this is inevitable when a game is going on the back-burner. I've not got a big problem with that to an extent as Restaurant Story is not a new game and technology is forever changing, but do feel that the game's developers could do a better job of seeing out the remaining life of the app with a smooth descent. After all, doing so may keep gem-buyers going about their business, rather than taking a step back amid the disorder and bailing out.
What's for certain is that this update (despite it's apparent simplicity) has sparked one of the most in-depth and analytical posts this blog has yet witnessed!
Well, I’ve now read through this post several times, mulled over it last night, and read other posts on my wall.. I wish to bring forward the optimist in me if I may;
ReplyDeleteLooking at all the facts, I’m not entirely convinced that Restaurant Story 1 is completely on the ‘back-burner’ so to speak. I must admit that evidence is certainly there, and the disappointment I’m feeling says that you do have quite a case, but for me to continue to enjoy this game, I am trying to look for proof that goes the other way – and suggests that we at least have a Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas to look forward to before any nasty RS2 stomps on our restaurants.
Let’s assume for a moment that poor decisions are the main reason for this sub-par update (I won’t talk about how bad the content of this update is, you’ve done justice there); To be fair, this month’s Halloween goals were fantastic; yes a few gripes about a seemingly out of place mailbox, but all in all that was a wonderful update. These goals say something about the effort TL had gone to for Halloween, and I understand that last year there was a whole month of Halloween updates, but what happened in 2012? Was there perhaps an update or two during October 2012 that was not entirely Halloween related? This out of place update seems to be quite consistent with all the updates this year – out of place, in no particular order.
Also, as you mentioned, none of the other TL story games have had a Halloween update this week – this just gives me more reason to believe this was done on purpose (for what reason I would not know – like you I would have assumed more money would be made if they stuck to a spooky theme this month). I note that DragonStory has had a relatively large number of spooky updates recently, namely the ‘goal’ is Halloween themed, but as with both Bakery Story and Restaurant Story, they also got Halloween goals – so everything seems relatively balanced amongst the other games.
Now I look at the poll on the forum – this was a recent poll, and the LTO that followed was for coins! This says a lot to me; that TL were looking for the genuine wants of their players, and they didn’t even try to cash in on it by giving it a gem price tag! I can only speculate that they are dragging out these ideas, perhaps we will see the Koi Pond as an LTO in the near future, perhaps we will see a few old Halloween items as LTOs this month.. and maybe we will see another Halloween or Autumn update this month, but if not I don’t want to assume the worst.
In addition to this TL set up the “Restaurant Holiday Suggestion Thread” in September, encouraging players to post ideas right through to Winter/Christmas and beyond.
I’m not entirely in denial, I do accept that come summer next year, there will likely be a Restaurant Story 2 out and about. In fact I’m expecting (and this is entirely a guess) the release of RS2 for January 2015. I also know I won’t be purchasing gems ever again, but from where I’m sitting, the updates are continuing to come on a regular basis, and we still have some very exciting updates to look forward to throughout the rest of the year, including Black Friday. A lack of any Black Friday sales will be devastating, and undeniable proof of neglect towards RS1, but I for one doubt that’s going to happen.
So I’m going to put this week’s poor box update, lack of more Halloween content, and lack of new dishes down to some poor decisions over at TeamLava, and see what next week brings! Thanks again for a fantastic blog!
Great stuff Black Pepper.
DeleteI admit that I may have been overly negative in this post! But this is inevitable when you've got such a craving for Halloween content. To answer the question you posed - in 2012 we got Halloween stuff throughout October, just as in 2013 and indeed 2011 too. This is an entirely new experience for this seasonal theme, although as you say does continue the general pattern we've had this year.
TeamLava are still putting some effort into Restaurant Story, don't get me wrong. The fact that they've prepared a Halloween theme at all is evidence of this. And it gives me hope that there will be at least one Thanksgiving and Christmas update, as well as a Black Friday sale. I would still put my money on all of these being provided, but it's difficult to judge how quickly the game is going to degenerate into updates made up of random items which have been queuing for release for some time, like this update and the previous two non-goal updates have been.
The saving grace here could be the similar negligence of Halloween across the rest of the TeamLava family. It's difficult to come up with reasons why they'd want to do this, but it at least means that it isn't just Restaurant Story being singled out for rough treatment.
I wouldn't pay too much attention to the threads over on the Forum asking for suggestions. These have been done on numerous occasions previously, and it's very rare to find any of the suggestions actually being implemented. It's little more than a tool to keep the serious players active and involved. The re-release poll was admittedly a nice touch mind!
Apologies for my negativity (and at times 'Forum-esque' views!) but on this occasion I just needed to vent a little! :)
Ha, fair point! And no need for apologies!.. it's good to have a bit of controversy surrounding the game - keeps us all on the edge of our seats!
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