Game update: 11/11/15

It's not just leaves falling from the trees at this time of year - there are apples dropping to the earth too!

Introduction to Autumn 2015 goals

This is your November goals update, which naturally means a greater range of content than we sometimes get. It should also mean an absence of gem items, but that's not the case this time. There are a handful of floor decorations for gems, but I think they're designed to compliment the coin goodies involved in the quest.

You need to be at level 12 to unlock these additions and activate the goal set. Here's a handy list of all the new stuff:

Tables:

• Juicy Apple - locked by goal

Chairs:

• Rustic Apple - locked by goal

Wall decorations:

• Apple Hangers - 19,000 coins

Floor decorations:

• Apple Slicer - 44 gems
• Apple Vendor - 26 gems
• Barrel of Apples - 12 gems
• Apple Apron - 33,000 coins
• Rustic Apples - 56,000 coins
• Potted Apple Tree - 17,200 coins
• Bobbing for Apples - 22,000 coins
• Apple Festival - locked by goal

Wallpapers:

• Orchard - 6,000 coins

Floor tiles:

• Apple Print - 400 coins

Appliances:

• Granny's Stove - locked by goal
• Granny's Oven - locked by goal

Counters:

• Caramel Apple - 12,000 coins

It's a pretty rich list, which is all the more pleasing after the reduced offerings in the last two updates. It's in the floor decorations tab that you'll find the most wide ranging selection, with eight items included. For a glimpse of some of the fresh content take a look at this snap from the Storm8 Blog:

Items from update as shown on Storm8 Blog

So, where to start? I guess we should begin with the Apple Slicer and Apple Vendor since they're not in the above image. Why that is is difficult to deduce, but it may be that the gamemakers didn't originally plan to include this pair of items with this update. Regardless, they're both winners when it comes to the design. The Apple Slicer features a girl cutting up apples on an apple-shaped chopping board, all at a 3x3 counter which includes some juicy apples on display. It looks good, and could fit snugly in a kitchen area. But at 44 gems I'm throwing the apples right back at you! It's the latest in a long line of overinflated prices, and makes the slicer a non-starter for me.

The Apple Vendor contains two busy bots flogging apples in bulk under a large canopy which is collecting Autumn leaves. There's definitely enough relevant items now to consider making a large market theme, with the likes of the Yard Sale, Farmers Market Stand and Phoebe's Stand all plausible candidates. However, a little like the Apple Slicer, there's a gem price tag to contend with. But at 26 gems I reckon this decoration does offer decent value - it's a tall and packed 4x4 piece, and is so vibrant with colour that I'm tempted!

To round off the gem additions we have the Barrel of Apples. It's the cheapest at 12 gems, and consists of a barrel full of apples which has toppled over. It's another item I'm really taken by, mostly thanks to the idea of having the barrel tipped over rather than standing upright and rigid. By scattering the apples around we get a more rugged and rustic finish, which is perhaps pertinent for the time of year. With some Autumn leaves thrown into this one as well, I feel that Storm8 have taken plenty of time to make this as detailed as possible.

Now for the floor decorations which can be bought for coins. The Apple Apron can be spotted on the extreme left of the earlier preview image, and offers up a mannequin which has been dressed with a rather loud apron. The concept itself is sound enough, but I struggle to think of where I would use it. Perhaps there are more fashion displays coming and we could do a fashion show theme?!

The Rustic Apples are a touch pricey at 56,000 coins each, but I love them! it's one of those small pieces which alone won't make much of an impression but placed effectively could really add to your chosen atmosphere. Indeed I think they'll be perfect for the Thanksgiving area I've got going on right now, and there's a space just right for them!

The Potted Apple Tree is another 1x1 addition, although I'm not quite so enthused about it. The detail of having a fallen apple at the base is clever, but overall the tree looks a bit withered, as if it's struggling to stay standing under the weight of the fruit. I'd definitely have preferred a full on apple tree the size of the Fallen Tree. Then I could fill my Autumn forest with delicious fruit! In fact that gives me an idea for the Suggestions Box...

Lastly on the floor décor front we have the Bobbing for Apples. This is a cute item, and as a 3x3 sized decoration we should be appreciative that it's available for coins. There's a charm to this one, and that starts with my first glance at it - to start with I thought the boy was sticking his tongue out! Then there's the fact that the girl appears to be using her hands to hold the apple in place!

 Autumn 2015

 04/11/15 Leafy update
 16/09/15 Fall Harvest box

Overall this is probably my favourite of the new stuff. I've no space for it right now, but I absolutely intend to use it in the future. And because the ground has not been given a properly Autumn makeover, it would look right at home at a carnival - I've got plenty of items now for doing that, and the Bobbing for Apples just adds even more strength in depth.

The apple theme continues with the new wallpaper, which is the Orchard. Yet again the game's developers have done an excellent job of rendering the image in such a way that when you place two of the wallpapers side by side they blend together seamlessly. This is something that they don't receive enough praise for - it's not something they used to do, and it makes for a much nicer outcome! With this particular design, it looks good. Actually, I'd go as far as to say it's the best Autumn wallpaper around! And that's saying something since there have been quite a few over the years.

The floor tile doesn't get anywhere near as much praise. The Apple Print is a very pale green in colour and has an 'apples on the vine' pattern around the edges. Sadly this flooring just isn't for me. The pale tone is too bright to make it work with anything - floor tiles need to be subtle otherwise they can really take over your restaurant. Maybe there will be an occasion somewhere down the line where I need a lurid green tile, but otherwise it's a thumbs down here.

The 'apples on the vine' style continues with the Apple Hangers. A wall decoration, this item brings us a set of four wall hangers attached to a bunch of apples. I'm afraid I'm not digging this either, mostly because the apples are so small they look more like tomatoes or cherries! For me this is a case of an intriguing idea not transferring to reality at all well.

We finish with the Caramel Apple counter. Without looking back I think this is the first counter we've had that features a glass box in a fair while. I've discussed by lack of love for them before, and it applies for this counter too. This is just a silly sort of design which lacks creativity in my book. The only use I could find for this counter is as an exhibit in a museum displaying the world's largest fruits!

The remaining additions are 'locked by goal', meaning that to gain access to them you'll need to work through the new goals. For all the details on them head on over to my dedicated post here. I'll provide some insight into the padlocked stuff in a later goals content report.

I have to say that this is a quality update. On reflection I'm glad that Storm8 opted against doing the goals update around Thanksgiving. The fact I'm not from the US probably feeds into that opinion, but I do think Thanksgiving has been covered a lot in past years, and as a result there are few fresh ideas can realistically be developed. Choosing to focus on the apple harvest is inspired, even if it is a little late in the season!

Before I head off to the orchard there's an iOS special from last Friday to summarise. There was a big breaking story in Storm8 Studios last week with Bakery Story 2 getting it's iOS launch across the major territories. Inevitably a download goal soon appeared on our Storm8 games prompting us to install BS2 for the usual free gems. But there was a second treat included for selected players.

Chef's Station goal

Much like with Frozen Frenzy Mania a couple of weeks ago, there was a special goal to celebrate the release, with the reward being a sizeable floor decoration. And this time it was the Chef's Station! The first prize in the Classic Kitchen box, I coveted this item for a very long time after the box was introduced. And yet when it was offered as an LTO for 55 gems earlier this year I turned it down! That looks like a tremendous business decision in hindsight! I grabbed my free Chef's Station, even if it isn't as glorious a decoration as I once felt. And there's no space for it in my kitchen section right now anyway!

Just to clarify, if you downloaded BS2 before the Chef's Station goal popped up (it didn't arrive until Friday evening) then the Chef's Station goal only required the cooking of French Toast. Those like me who were slow off the mark with BS2 had to download the game prior to getting the French Toast goal. And - of course - this special offer was only available for selected players. Why it's not live for all iOS users is beyond me, and just leaves a sour taste in the mouth. And that's before we get to the complete lack of an invitation to the party for Androiders.

We're done. There are now only two regular updates left before we reach the drama of Black Friday in Restaurant Story (tick tock!). Expect one to be a box, while the other could be anything. Whatever we get it will take something exceptional for me to part with any gems between now and the 27th!