Game update: 17/08/16

Following on from last week's laboratory themed update, we've got part two!

Introduction to 'Phoebe's Science Project' goals

The difference this time is that science exams must be taken in order to get hold of all the content. Although when I say exams what I really mean are goals - no prior studying required!

For now this update (including the goals) are only available to iOS players and selected Android players - I'd expect it to be pushed out to everyone soon, with Androiders who have yet to receive it recommended to look out for a new version of the app to download.

Here's a round-up of all the new decor in a tidy list, with all the non-goals stuff available from level 12:

Tables:

• Lab Table Y - 2 gems

Chairs:

• Lab Chair Y - 7,000 coins

Wall decorations:

• Cooking Makes Us Human - 10,000 coins

Floor decorations:

• Rainbow Veggie Garden - locked by goal
• Drink Lab - locked by goal
• Lab Coat Hanger - locked by goal

Wallpapers:

• Atomic Paper - 5,000 coins

Floor tiles:

• Black Hex Lab Tile - 4,000 coins

Appliances:

• Sonic Food Lab Oven - 25 gems
• Sonic Food Lab Stove - 25 gems
• Food Lab Oven - 30,000 coins
• Food Lab Stove - locked by goal

Counters:

• Lab Counter Y - 10,000 coins

All the categories are covered, with some of the additions mirroring those from the previous lab based update. Before we get deeper on some of the items, here's the teaser that was posted on the Storm8 Blog yesterday, which includes all of the new decorations:

Items from update as shown on Storm8 Blog

I'll leave the analysis of the content hidden behind padlocks for the goals content report which should be available early next week. For full details on the various steps of the goal set, take a look at my dedicated post here.

As for the items which can be bought outside of the quest, I have to start - unexpectedly - with the appliances. First of all, at the time of writing the Food Lab Oven is available right from the outset and does not need construction using parts. Both of these facts are highly unusual, and almost certainly a mistake on the part of the gamemakers which will be rectified in due course. Indeed the opening goal does ask players to 'build' the oven so it really should require construction - buy them up part free while you can!

So the Food Lab Oven is the first of the cookers involved in the goals, and accompanying it is the Sonic Food Lab Oven. There's also the Sonic Food Lab Stove to go with the locked Food Lab Stove. These 25 gem appliances are obviously massively expensive, but that's because they come with a special power.

Information on sonic appliances

As with the Sonic Stove, Sonic Oven and Sonic Grill, these cookers reduce the cooking time by 20%. So a 1 hour recipe will take just 48 minutes to prepare.

I've always felt that the benefit of the sonic appliances is limited. A shorter cooking time may sound enticing but a 20% gain doesn't really make a huge amount of difference in my opinion. However it could be handy for players wishing to get through the goals quickly.

This potential benefit is quickly overshadowed by the price. At 25 gems these sonic specials are absolutely not cost effective. With only three recipes on board each cooker, you're much better off saving the 42 gems to take the sonic edition of one of the basic appliances - at least with them there are many more dishes with which you can feel the benefit of the reduced cooking time. Or alternatively, spend those gems on a forever appliance instead (that's what I'd do if I was parting with gems for a special cooker!)

Away from the appliances, the Lab Table Y and Lab Chair Y are the same design as their 'X type' counterparts from last week. The difference is a change in colour scheme, and I have to say I prefer the white versions. They have a clean and streamlined feel which fits in well with a lab, whereas these two with their slate grey tone are less eloquent.

 Laboratory theme

 10/08/16 First update

The Lab Counter Y also has a similar relative from last Wednesday. However these two compliment each other rather than contrast, with this effort featuring two beakers along with a rack of test tubes contained in the glass box. As with the Lab Counter X, this is a quality floor decoration more than a counter, and will definitely feature if I ever do a laboratory theme again (maybe Halloween!)

To the wall, and the Atomic Paper consists of prints of the atom, with the electrons whizzing around the dense nucleus. It's not a particularly appealing wallpaper for me - it lacks spark and won't be easy to fit into any particular theme.

I'm more positive about the Black Hex Tile, mostly because it provides a complement for the White Hex Tile. They can be mixed and matched for a chequered pattern if you so fancy, and those hexagon shapes are certainly something original.

Last up is the Cooking Makes Us Humans decoration. As far as I can tell the title of this piece comes from a book by the British primatologist Richard Wrangham, where the writer argues that the art of cooking was a vital aspect in the evolution of the human race. This item does its best to capture this with the classic evolution of humans from apes into the homo sapiens form, except the latter wears a chef's hat. Not sure it's that effective if I'm honest, but I may consider hanging it up in my kitchen area.

Beyond the brand new decorations, there is also a sale has commenced on the 50's Diner Box.

Notification for 50's Diner Box sale

For a limited time this crate is 50% off, so that's just 12 gems per opening. This is one of my favourite boxes in the game, so I should be excited by this deal. However having already bagged the Bowling Alley top prize in a previous out of box sale as well as two of the fourth prizes in the traditional manner, I've not got the desire. I bet plenty of others will take the opportunity though.

All in all I'm pleased to see a theme realised over multiple weeks. It's been a very long time since that happened, and I do recall the glory days of themes being explored over a whole month with fondness. Admittedly I'm still not totally convinced by the laboratory theme, although there have certainly been worse.

I'm off to take on the goals, with the upcoming goals content report to provide all the details of the various prizes and recipes unearthed along the way. Happy experimenting folks!