Game update: 16/11/16

We're deep into Autumn now, and the market is thriving!

Notification for Harvest Crate

This is a box update, which means the new additions are all contained within a crate. In this case it's the Harvest Crate, which contains a number of floor decorations. For a 24 gem gamble, you will receive one of these items, with the stature of your prize decided by your luck alone.

It's only three weeks ago that the Classy Halloween box was released, which means we've had a shorter than normal gap between crate updates. I'm not too alarmed by this - the gap is not always the same, as demonstrated by the five week period between the Nursery Crate and School Crate a couple of months back.

So let's get down to business. I have to ask the question: has the harvest theme been exhausted? It's a legitimate question given that this has been the theme covered throughout this year's Autumn based updates, and has been given the treatment in previous years too. It's a delicate situation because Storm8 generally do a fine job with Autumn decor and the harvest stuff has always been really well received.

But I feel like we're at the saturation point, with much of the new harvest content now just repeating pieces we've seen previously. If you wish to go the whole hog and produce a comprehensive market layout then there's certainly scope for as much harvest decor as possible, but otherwise I struggle to believe the existing items aren't sufficient in volume.

Well, I'm prepared to be swayed, so let's take a look at the Storm8 Blog's Tuesday teaser:

Items from update as shown on Storm8 Blog

As we've come to expect from the game's developers when Autumn is on the agenda, there's a rich array of colour on display. Here's my take on the distribution of the prizes:

First Prize

• Harvest Scene

Second Prize

• Pumpkin Harvest
• Sparkling Fruit Stand

Third Prize

• Harvest Wagon
• 'Harvest Fireplace'

Fourth Prize

• 'Harvest Owl'
• 'Harvest Plant'
• 'Harvest Lamp'

As always this is only a provisional list - if you can confirm the positions of any of the prizes or the official names do please help out by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post.

The first point that needs to made is that the table cut off on the right of the teaser image above is part of the Sparkling Fruit Stand (rotated!) which is seen in full on the left. Maybe this is obvious but it took me a while to realise this - I was thinking we were returning to a nine-item box!

The first prize Harvest Scene is a quality decoration worthy of the title. The bots are nicely captured mid-action and there's a real lushness about the colour scheme. The trees look thick with leaves and the apples all have a clever reflection. This item could be complimented with a number of existing decorations such as the Bobbing for Apples and Barrel of Apples, making for a truly beautiful scene.

And following my Suggestions Box complaints last month I'm more than pleased to see some substantial second prizes to accompany a major first prize. The Pumpkin Harvest is really distinctive with its bright blue truck surrounded by pumpkins, and it comes with some comedic value too thanks to the scarecrow at the wheel. I worried about Storm8 becoming stale with the harvest theme, but this prize is undoubtedly original in design.

The Sparking Fruit Stand is the other second prize and is your typical market stand complete with produce sellers and canopy. In contrast to the Pumpkin Harvest this is the kind of item we've seen before, and I feel that this one is a little lacking in depth. Compared to the likes of the Organic Stand goal prize this isn't anywhere near as jammed with detail - I guess the couple depicted may still be unpacking!

 Autumn 2016

 15/11/16 Thanksgiving goals content report
 09/11/16 Thanksgiving goals
 09/11/16 Thanksgiving goals update
 02/11/16 Second harvest themed update
 03/10/16 Autumn 2016 goals
 03/10/16 First harvest themed update

Moving down another tier, the 'Harvest Fireplace' is the last prize that I would suggest is remotely close to being worthy of your 24 precious gems. To be honest I'm not even sure it's actually a fireplace, since it's so well covered in Autumn topiary. There's pumpkins in the hearth and clustered on the mantelpiece, while sunflowers are dotted around too. Thanks to all those cosy colours this is a really warming item.

The remaining four decorations are each 1x1 in size and represent the downside of the boxes. And the worst thing is that one of them has to be a third prize. My money's on the 'Harvest Wagon' which is at least quite cute with its sturdy white wooden sides. However parting with 24 gems for this or indeed any of the other small items just wouldn't happen out of the box.

All in all I like the Harvest Crate. It does cover some old ground, but the gamemakers have managed to employ some innovation, particularly with the Pumpkin Harvest's truck. Whether it's a good value buy is less clear cut for me, and the timing is of course unfortunate. At the time of writing there are just eight days to go until the Black Friday curtain rises, so you really shouldn't be risking any gems at this time.

However there is a limited time offer which needs to be bought before this week is out if you want to make the most of it.

Notification for sale on Autumn Party

With five days on the clock until the deal expires, the Autumn Party is available for 32 gems. This is one of the second prizes in the much lauded Autumn Gift Box, and I'd say is one of the greatest second prizes the game has ever seen. I think 32 gems is a pretty fair price, but again the looming Black Friday sales mean that unless this is an item you've craved for a long time, it's not really worth losing some of your gem budget for. Nevertheless it's a good choice of piece to offer.

We're sort of done, except for one abnormality that I have spotted in the market this evening. Just as is the case with the Autumn Party, the prizes from the Picnic Surprise have been marked with a five day banner (without a sale). But these decorations have been in the market since their introduction three-and-a-half years ago!

Picnic Surprise items listed as limited time in market

It came as a real shock when the Picnic Surprise's contents were made available in the market upon release, and it was even more shocking that they stayed there. But it now appears that Storm8 have had enough fun and are packing the prizes away. The traditional box remains untouched, but it seems that the out of box option is being removed.

I've no idea what has prompted this development, nor why there has not been any in-game notification regarding the removal, but it does seem as if they're going. I wouldn't put it past the game's developers to re-introduce them as LTOs on Black Friday, but otherwise this might be the last clear shot you have at purchasing them.

So with that mystery awaiting a resolution, I take my leave. It's standard that at this time of year the appetite for boxes is especially low due to the sales season, but I think the Harvest Crate does as good a job as it could have in appealing to those players who like a risk. The Autumn Party LTO goes a step further in pulling the punters in, and the Picnic Surprise prizes removal could empty out a few gem wallets in the coming days. Not mine though - I'm standing strong!