Game update: 27/05/15

Can you feel that heat? We need to get ourselves down to the beach!

Notification for Summer update

I've been pumped for proper Summer updates for ages, so am delighted to say that this is a beach themed update, with some fishing on the side!

It looks like Androiders are set to get a new version with the fresh content in the coming days, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Update: 'Restaurant Story: Summer Camp' is now available on Google Play!

The additions, all of which can be accessed by level 7, are as follows:

Floor decorations:

• Lake Dog - 4 gem
• Potluck Dinner - 20 gems
• S'mores Campfire - 10 gems
• Tubers - 8 gem
• Deck Reader - 43,000 coins
• Down At The Dock - 50,000 coins
• Lake Fisher - 10,000 coins
• Recreation Rack - 30,000 coins
• Joyful Dinner - 55 gems (LTO)

For a preview of all of these items, take a peek at the following image from the Storm8 Blog:

Items from update as shown on Storm8 Blog

Hands up, based on the teaser alone who thought this was a box update?! It seemed almost certain that these goodies would come in a crate, or at the very least a bundle. As it is they are all freely available in the market, and all the gem buys cost less than a single dip in a box. Before we even get to the details this update is on to a winner!

Both the Potluck Dinner and S'mores Campfire are 4x4 in size, and feature some bots sitting around. The former doesn't really set my pulse racing, mainly because we've had a good few similar decorations, most recently the Tulip Party from the Tulip Crate. These mealtime themed pieces are beginning to get tiresome, which is a shame since there are some redeeming features to the Potluck Dinner. There's lots of colour for a start, and the lanterns on the corners look really good. Overall it's not a bad item, but I'm not going to go spending 20 gems on it when I already own the Tea Party, Dinner Party and Thanksgiving Feast which each have a similar form.

On the other hand the S'mores Campfire does light my fire! Although we've got more bots crowded around in seats, the fact they're arranged all around an open fire makes it feel more unique. From the s'mores on sticks and frothy drinks to the rickety chairs, I really like this decoration. And although the beach is obviously the prime location for it, you could squeeze it into many different settings, so it has that flexibility too.

Meanwhile the Tubers can only belong to a beach scene! All three of the folks featured are kitted out wonderfully. Again there's lots of bright colour on show which is just what you want for a summery item, and at 8 gems I think this is an absolute steal. There's marvellous attention to detail here, whether you're looking at the patterns on the rubber rings or the fact that the kids' eyes can just be seen over their sunglasses. Yes, I've looked at it very closely!

 Summer 2015

 29/04/15 Hawaii

The last of the gem purchases is the Lake Dog. This pooch has been busy and has managed to catch a fish, which it has clasped in its mouth. Ordinarily I'd probably brush over this decoration as being lacklustre, but for 4 gems I think it's actually pretty attractive. You're never going to make or break a scene with this 1x1 piece, but it's cute and can really aid you in padding a theme out. The only nag I have is that the dog doesn't really look wet! Maybe it's a difficult look to pull off with a black dog due to the inability to convey as much texture.

There's plenty of décor you can place alongside the Lake Dog, not least the Lake Fisher. All decked out with gear, here we have a fisherman who means business! He looks the part and the Lake Dog makes for the perfect companion. I reckon I'll be seeing the two side-by-side in lots of restaurants in the coming days!

Staying with the fishing theme, and the Recreation Rack contains all the goods and chattels you could possibly need for a fishing trip. The rack of rods itself would have been sufficient, but Storm8 have gone further and thrown some other stuff in there too, including what appears to be a game of horseshoes! Any keen fishers care to explain what that's doing there?!

Fishing is also a component of the Down At The Dock. Among the elements crammed into this 3x3 item is a young boy cheering from his pink seat. What I want to know is why! The bot in the boat doesn't appear to have a fish in hand and the chap fishing is looking rather serene so doesn't have a catch. Maybe he's just delighted to be down at the water! Speaking of the water, I have a rare complaint (at least in this update!) I'd much rather the game's developers hadn't included the water but instead left the floor blank because the given water doesn't match an existing tile. The shade is close to the Tranquil Waters, but as the teaser demonstrates they don't have the same pattern. Sometimes less is more Storm8!

Finally there's much less action in the Deck Reader, but it still has a charm. Here we have a girl enjoying a drink and a good read, with her dog sleeping quietly beside her. I like the relative simplicity of this decoration, and how it really exudes calmness and tranquillity.

It's only been a couple of hours since the update's release, but I've already installed a couple of the additions in my place!

Outdoor section of The Garlic Tree including
Lake Fisher and Recreation Rack

I attained the Pier Fishing and Riverboat Ride in the Riverboat goals last July, and they've been out for a short time in my late Spring outdoor setting. The Lake Fisher and Recreation Rack complement these beauties superbly, so they've both been added in straightaway.

To top off this update, the gamemakers have presented a limited time offer.

Joyful Dinner limited time offer

You'll have to tap quite far into the floor decorations tab of the market to find the Joyful Dinner which costs 55 gems and is available to buy for five days. It is the first prize in the May Basket, and is a better deal than the Spring Garden was last week when you needed 70 gems to get hold of it (even if 15 were then refunded).

I've never seen a close-up of the Joyful Dinner, but from what I've seen it does have some merit. I won't personally be investing, but I can imagine plenty of players getting straight in there.

Following the Spring Garden last week, I have to wonder if LTOs of box prizes is going to become a regular thing once again. We had a good run of them late last year, and it's always nice to get the option to purchase an otherwise difficult to get box item, even if the price tag is usually hefty.

So Summer seems to have landed in Restaurant Story! This update is right up my street and I'm definitely going to be making further buys from it when the beach theme arrives in The Garlic Tree. The lack of anything other than floor décor doesn't bother me simply because of the quality of what we do have. There's a good spread of coin and gem content, and even the gem stuff is reasonably affordable. A top update Storm8 - well done!