Game update: 13/05/15

It's derby day so the jockeys are lining up for the race!

This update takes us to the races, and comes complete with goals. Here is the list of all the additions, unlocked at level 12:

Tables:

• Belle Table - 2,500 coins

Chairs:

• Belle Chair - 2,000 coins

Wall decorations:

• Champion Plates - 5,000 coins

Floor decorations:

• Derby Display - 20,000 coins
• Derby Hats - 15,000 coins
• Jolly Jockey - locked by goal
• My Fair Gran-Gran - locked by goal
• Winner's Circle - locked by goal

Wallpapers:

• Twin Spires - 1,250 coins

Floor tiles:

• Whitewash - 750 coins

Appliances:

• Kentucky Stove - locked by goal
• Barbaro Oven - locked by goal

Counters:

• Rose Drape Counter - 4,000 coins

Obviously the goals are at the centre of things, so you'll need to battle through them to get hold of some of the stuff on offer.

Introduction to derby day goals

For more details on the steps to success, see my dedicated post here. And as far as analysis of the goal items go, expect a goals content report either over the weekend or into next week (basically once I manage to polish off the goals!)

So then, the goals finally arrive after some not so patient waiting by the community. As I mentioned last week, we have had to wait as late as the 12th of the month for goals before, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating for so many. We'll have to see if this is going to be a permanent move - will the goals now enjoy a mid-month release, or is this just a one-off?

My general feeling is that it is a one-off, mainly because of the theme presented to us. The Kentucky Derby traditionally takes place on the first Saturday of May, so there is a sense of lateness to this update from that alone. However the Kentucky Derby is the first of three races making up the 'Tripe Crown' so I guess it stills works out quite well.

To the content, and you can get a glimpse of some of the new stuff via the Storm8 Blog:

Items from update as shown on Storm8 Blog

Although she's a goal prize, I still have to comment on My Fair Gran-Gran. We had an expensive gem Gran-Gran decoration last month, so it's great to at last get an affordable version of the wise one. I've made my desire for a Gran-Gran well-known on here, so it's fantastic to finally see her taking on a physical presence, hopefully on a regular basis. Alongside Phoebe and Action Chef Lee I reckon Restaurant Story has completed its very own Tripe Crown!

Of the additions which are freely available on the market, it's the new table and chair which actually grab my attention most. The Belle Table and Belle Chair are both rather dainty and look ideal for use in any high spirited outdoor area. They're certainly not attached to a horsey theme, which is probably for the best. A table shaped like a horse would undoubtedly not have gone down well with anyone, not least the easily aggravated bots.

The Rose Draped Counter follows the table and chair in being a graceful piece. There are roses arranged around the sides, giving for an elegant finish. I can really see this counter looking fabulous in a wedding setting.

In a change of direction the Twin Spires wallpaper features two racehorses going at full pelt past a building with two pointy spires. The way this wallpaper is designed allows for multiple copies to be placed side-by-side, although beyond setting up a racetrack you'll struggle to find a way to incorporate it.

In contrast the Whitewash floor tile is a very generalised one. It involves floorboards given a white lick of paint, and is probably applicable to infinitely many surroundings. Tiles like this never grab the attention but yet tend to turn out very useful in the long run.

Less useful (at least in my opinion) is the Champion Plates. A wall decoration, it is about as underwhelming as they come. The plates are very small which means that the designs on them are even smaller, and overall you just get the sense that this item was cobbled together last minute when the gamemakers realised they didn't have any new wall décor for a goals update.

I'm more enthused by the two floor decorations which come without padlock. The Derby Hats is the latest hat stand to find it's way into the game, and features some very extravagant headgear, one of which even includes a small chick. Some excellent detail there! Then there's the Derby Display which is quite flexible. It contains a framed picture of a horse, but otherwise doesn't really have anything to tie it down to a particular theme. The pink tablecloth and rose bouquet might make it a popular choice come Valentine's Day, but hopefully some will find use for it well before then!

There are a few other fresh items including two appliances which can only be unlocked through the goals, and I'll cover them in full in the aforementioned goals content report. The same goes for the six new recipes those appliances will house.

Before I head off to concentrate on the goals I should quickly mention a sale that was on the go until this morning.

Picnic Surprise sale notification

From Friday night the Picnic Surprise box was available for 18 gems, a saving of 25%. It's certainly a crate which is suitable for this time of year and for my money is one of the best in terms of the overall quality of prizes.

The only negative about this sale is that the contents of the box are already on the market! Back in April 2013 when this box was released the items were made available out of the box at the same time. Most players understandably assumed that this was probably an error and consequently raided the market ASAP. But Storm8 have never done anything about it, so all the prizes remain active in the market, with the exception of the Picnic Prep which was one of the victims of the random removals late last year.

So of all the boxes to put on sale the Picnic Surprise maybe wasn't the best choice. But with Friday sales appearing to be a regular thing now there's always a chance that the May Basket and Gardener's Chest could go on sale in the coming weeks as Spring approaches its end.

And that's the end of this update post. I'm not too sure what to make of this derby day update but will fight my way through the goals all the same and see if the prizes sway me one way or the other!