From fancy high end dining updates and the ultimate Christmas sale to mysterious pop art crates and combining together chimps and pizza, 2016 has been another stellar year in the life of Restaurant Story. In this gargantuan post I'm going to take us on a nice little cruise through the last 12 months of the game.
According to my doom-mongering at the end of 2015, this was to be the year that Restaurant Story came to a end, fading into obscurity in favour of the sequel title, Restaurant Story 2. How wrong I was. Instead RS2 has endured a substantial slowdown while the original has chugged on, belching out more steam than ever before as it travelled from update to update.
The journey started with several seasonal updates in January revolving around New Year (both Gregorian and Chinese) and winter, with the latter providing wedding based goals. It was the winter themed update which offered the most notable addition, with the Laurel Leaves breaking new ground in the game.
Saturday, 31 December 2016
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
Game update: 28/12/16
The bells will shortly be chiming in the New Year, and so it is only appropriate that throughout the Restaurant Story community the customers party like it's 2016.
Yes, the final update of the year provides a collection of content to help get your place set for a raucous New Year party. There are 11 additions in all, and they are unlocked at level 31. Here is a complete list of all the glittering goodies:
Tables:
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| Notification for New Year themed update |
Yes, the final update of the year provides a collection of content to help get your place set for a raucous New Year party. There are 11 additions in all, and they are unlocked at level 31. Here is a complete list of all the glittering goodies:
Tables:
- Banquet Table - 2 gems
Sunday, 25 December 2016
Christmas 2016 showcase
Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas one and all! I hope you are all having a fine old time on this chilly Christmas Day, with stomachs fit to burst and glasses routinely topped up! My gift to you this year is a five star showcase, with a quintet of my inspiring neighbours given a place in the limelight at this most wonderful time of the year.
We begin with a trip to a restaurant making a third showcase appearance, bittersweet.
We begin with a trip to a restaurant making a third showcase appearance, bittersweet.
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| bittersweet |
Saturday, 24 December 2016
Christmas makeover at The Garlic Tree
It's Christmas Eve, and that means restaurants all over the community are preparing a special dinner which is sure to make the customers very happy. My diner, The Garlic Tree, is no exception, with the fuse lit on the party several weeks ago. The staff are still hanging on in there though, and I'd like to offer a tour of the festive shenanigans going down at TGT this Christmas.
When we first enter the restaurant we're greeted by a pair of towering Nutcracker guards and a right merry tune from the Carolers.
When we first enter the restaurant we're greeted by a pair of towering Nutcracker guards and a right merry tune from the Carolers.
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| Foyer at The Garlic Tree |
Thursday, 22 December 2016
Christmas 2016 goals content report
It's a little later than originally billed, but here is the goals content report for the Christmas quest which was released just over a week ago.
The reason for the delay in getting this out is my slowness in completing the goals. This is partly down to my reluctance to spend unnecessary coins on additional appliances, but mostly down to the higher recipe durations involved. I'm not really complaining though - it was good to see a change with the 14 hour Rudolph's Ravioli added a fortnight back added to by another couple of efforts reaching into the double figures for length.
I firmly believe that variety is a positive thing for the game, and although some players frustrate at the time taken to complete the goals when there are longer dishes required to be prepared, there are equally many who groan at the sight of short foods which can easily spoil if you are inattentive. So other than holding up my blog posts, I can't really complain!
In truth I still haven't completed the goals. I've bought five of each appliance which in most cases is a nice round number for this quest's tasks, but that does mean I'm not progressing as quickly as I used to under the previous goal structure. Nevertheless I've on the final step so do have access to all the recipes and only have the final prize to unlock.
The reason for the delay in getting this out is my slowness in completing the goals. This is partly down to my reluctance to spend unnecessary coins on additional appliances, but mostly down to the higher recipe durations involved. I'm not really complaining though - it was good to see a change with the 14 hour Rudolph's Ravioli added a fortnight back added to by another couple of efforts reaching into the double figures for length.
I firmly believe that variety is a positive thing for the game, and although some players frustrate at the time taken to complete the goals when there are longer dishes required to be prepared, there are equally many who groan at the sight of short foods which can easily spoil if you are inattentive. So other than holding up my blog posts, I can't really complain!
In truth I still haven't completed the goals. I've bought five of each appliance which in most cases is a nice round number for this quest's tasks, but that does mean I'm not progressing as quickly as I used to under the previous goal structure. Nevertheless I've on the final step so do have access to all the recipes and only have the final prize to unlock.
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Game update: 21/12/16
It's the final update before Christmas, and Storm8 are delivering their gifts via a box.
The Frosty Crate is the only addition this week, but contains eight floor decorations not obtainable anywhere else. For 24 gems you get a dip in this chest and will pick up one of these items.
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| Notification for Frosty Crate |
The Frosty Crate is the only addition this week, but contains eight floor decorations not obtainable anywhere else. For 24 gems you get a dip in this chest and will pick up one of these items.
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Christmas 2016 goals (in full)
Please note that this set of goals expired on Thursday 5th January 2017.
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Along with the most recent update come the Christmas goals, and with 23 days on the clock you've got ample time to complete it. However there's only 11 sleeps until Christmas (at the time of writing) so you'll need to get moving if you want to get your restaurant decked out before the big day!
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Along with the most recent update come the Christmas goals, and with 23 days on the clock you've got ample time to complete it. However there's only 11 sleeps until Christmas (at the time of writing) so you'll need to get moving if you want to get your restaurant decked out before the big day!
There are three floor decorations, an appliance and five recipes exclusively available via the quest, so I suggest diving in in the same manner with which you'll be diving into the present opening on Christmas morning!
Here is the complete list of steps for 'Home for the Holidays':
Game update: 14/12/16
Who's up for a cosy and relaxed Christmas?
This week's update sees the arrival of festive goals, with a range of new content, some of which can be purchased straightaway, while others need to be unlocked in the quest. For details on the goals, head on over to my dedicated post here.
For now let's peruse a list of the additions:
Tables:
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| Introduction to Christmas 2016 goals |
This week's update sees the arrival of festive goals, with a range of new content, some of which can be purchased straightaway, while others need to be unlocked in the quest. For details on the goals, head on over to my dedicated post here.
For now let's peruse a list of the additions:
Tables:
- Holiday Home Table - 2 gems
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Suggestions Box successes
On Saturday my monthly Suggestions Box posts reached a notable milestone with the 200th entry. It's now been over three years since the feature debuted, and so I thought it was about time that we sorted through the ideas spawned over the three years to deduce whether Storm8 actually pay any attention to them.
Of course any concepts I aired on here which were then addressed in-game may be a pure coincidence, but there is a small chance that the game's developers have taken on board my ramblings in these cases.
Let's start with some content suggestions. In 200 entries there have been a fair few focused on decor proposals, but interestingly the majority of those which can be linked to later additions to the app are from the earlier days. I read this as Storm8 needing time to go through the design process for new content, and hence my more recent notions have yet to be unveiled. At least that's my far from neutral perspective!
Of course any concepts I aired on here which were then addressed in-game may be a pure coincidence, but there is a small chance that the game's developers have taken on board my ramblings in these cases.
Let's start with some content suggestions. In 200 entries there have been a fair few focused on decor proposals, but interestingly the majority of those which can be linked to later additions to the app are from the earlier days. I read this as Storm8 needing time to go through the design process for new content, and hence my more recent notions have yet to be unveiled. At least that's my far from neutral perspective!
Saturday, 10 December 2016
Suggestions Box (Dec 2016)
Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
Game update: 07/12/16
With just 18 more sleeps before the big man squeezes down the chimney, Christmas has arrived in Restaurant Story, and in style.
We're paying tribute to the elves who make it all possible with their hard work throughout the year, and there's a very special sale has gone live too. More on that in a bit, but first let's take a look at all the new content in a smart list, with it all available from level 30:
Tables:
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| Notification for Christmas themed update |
We're paying tribute to the elves who make it all possible with their hard work throughout the year, and there's a very special sale has gone live too. More on that in a bit, but first let's take a look at all the new content in a smart list, with it all available from level 30:
Tables:
- Workshop Table - 2 gems
Saturday, 3 December 2016
RS2 News (Dec 2016)
It's four weeks since my last Restaurant Story 2 round-up, and since then we've seen more stamp goals provided by Lani, a Thanksgiving cruise event, a Black Friday sale, and the start of a Christmas quest. But there's something all too familiar with the challenges...
However we commence proceedings with a brief thought or two on the Australian cruise event which was in progress at the time of my last news post. As I anticipated, the decorations which could be obtained from navigating the various days of the event were of fine quality - Joey Roo and the Koala Climber are both immensely cute while the Watering Hole is a slightly more sinister version of the Oasis.
And the final prize was the permanent guest appearances of Crocodile Jack.
However we commence proceedings with a brief thought or two on the Australian cruise event which was in progress at the time of my last news post. As I anticipated, the decorations which could be obtained from navigating the various days of the event were of fine quality - Joey Roo and the Koala Climber are both immensely cute while the Watering Hole is a slightly more sinister version of the Oasis.
And the final prize was the permanent guest appearances of Crocodile Jack.
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| Unlocking of Crocodile Jack |
Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Game update: 30/11/16
Hats, scarves and gloves at the ready! There's a serious chill coming...
We've got our first winter themed update of the season, with plenty of snow on display across a selection of new content. It's all unlocked at level 29 and can be seen in the following list:
Tables:
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| Notification for winter themed update |
We've got our first winter themed update of the season, with plenty of snow on display across a selection of new content. It's all unlocked at level 29 and can be seen in the following list:
Tables:
- Snowy Table - 2 gems
Saturday, 26 November 2016
Black Friday 2016 analysis
Black Friday landed in Restaurant Story yesterday, with a throng of hungry players impatiently awaiting the mystery sale's entrance. It proved to be a long wait, with the sale not commencing until the regular update time (18:30 GMT). But was it twiddling out thumbs for? That is to be decided...
The big headline with this year's showpiece is that with the exception of the last three to be introduced, every box the game has ever seen is available at 50% off. So that's 12 gems for a dip in the crate of your choosing. In addition to this there are a small number of floor decorations freely available to purchase in the market and another five new expansions.
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| Notification for Black Friday 2016 |
The big headline with this year's showpiece is that with the exception of the last three to be introduced, every box the game has ever seen is available at 50% off. So that's 12 gems for a dip in the crate of your choosing. In addition to this there are a small number of floor decorations freely available to purchase in the market and another five new expansions.
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Game update: 23/11/16
Black Friday is now less than 48 hours away, and we're gearing up by recreating some of the shenanigans!
A shopping theme is certainly unorthodox, but at least you can't fault the originality of it. All of the content is unlocked at level 28, and can be found in the following neat list:
Tables:
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| Notification for shopping themed update |
A shopping theme is certainly unorthodox, but at least you can't fault the originality of it. All of the content is unlocked at level 28, and can be found in the following neat list:
Tables:
- Barcode Table - 2 gems
Saturday, 19 November 2016
Suggestions Box (Nov 2016)
Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Game update: 16/11/16
We're deep into Autumn now, and the market is thriving!
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.
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| 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.
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Thanksgiving 2016 goals content report
At the time of writing it is now six days since the Thanksgiving 2016 goals were dropped into Restaurant Story. Since then players have been working hard to progress through all of the various tasks in order to unlock content only available via the goals. Here is where I discuss these exclusive unlockables.
But before we get to that some brief thoughts on the goals structure. This is the fourth month of the 'new age' format where some recipes need to be cooked in more than one step and there's also the possibility of preparing food in readiness for the next goal. The steps are pretty much identical each time, which makes for a repetitive experience. I'd like to see Storm8 be a little more innovative with their quests, but I've asked for that so many times down the years without success that I've given up all hope.
Instead let's just focus on the goodies which can be harvested in this goal set. And we start with the first of the appliances, the Thankful Stove, which requires no construction. It holds three recipes waiting for your tapping pleasure.
But before we get to that some brief thoughts on the goals structure. This is the fourth month of the 'new age' format where some recipes need to be cooked in more than one step and there's also the possibility of preparing food in readiness for the next goal. The steps are pretty much identical each time, which makes for a repetitive experience. I'd like to see Storm8 be a little more innovative with their quests, but I've asked for that so many times down the years without success that I've given up all hope.
Instead let's just focus on the goodies which can be harvested in this goal set. And we start with the first of the appliances, the Thankful Stove, which requires no construction. It holds three recipes waiting for your tapping pleasure.
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
Thanksgiving 2016 goals (in full)
Please note that this set of goals expired on Thursday 1st December 2016.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching in the US, the most recent update in Restaurant Story brought with it a fresh set of goals to give us a head start in decorating for the occasion.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching in the US, the most recent update in Restaurant Story brought with it a fresh set of goals to give us a head start in decorating for the occasion.
But three floor decorations, an appliance and five recipes can only be obtained by completing the goals. With 23 days available to get through all of the various steps, you have until Thursday 1st December to reach the end before the chance to unlock this content is lost.
Here is the complete list of steps for 'Stuffed with Gratitude':
Game update: 09/11/16
Autumn continues to thrive in Restaurant Story, but now we're paying special attention to Thanksgiving.
This week's update comes with a new set of goals, and a chunk of the added content is only accessible via the quest. For all the details regarding the goals, see my dedicated post here. Meanwhile here's my ever so traditional list of all the new stuff:
Tables:
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| Introduction to Thanksgiving 2016 goals |
This week's update comes with a new set of goals, and a chunk of the added content is only accessible via the quest. For all the details regarding the goals, see my dedicated post here. Meanwhile here's my ever so traditional list of all the new stuff:
Tables:
- Thankful Table - 2 gems
Monday, 7 November 2016
Braced for Black Friday
On Friday 24th November, the retail sector is going to be bracing itself for the busiest shopping day of the year. It's the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend, and the day when the Christmas spending spree traditionally commences. And to help pull eager customers in, many retailers offer enticing deals.
Storm8 are no different, and on this day they do something a little different from your regular Friday in Restaurant Story. The sales they offer vary from year to year, as does the quality of the overall 'experience' for us players. So to get you into the Black Friday mindset, I've done two things. Firstly, I've put in place a timer counting down the seconds to the big day (because who doesn't like to be tormented with a countdown that just won't go fast enough!) And secondly, I've put together a brief overview of the treats which have been provided in recent years, just to get you in the zone...
Storm8 are no different, and on this day they do something a little different from your regular Friday in Restaurant Story. The sales they offer vary from year to year, as does the quality of the overall 'experience' for us players. So to get you into the Black Friday mindset, I've done two things. Firstly, I've put in place a timer counting down the seconds to the big day (because who doesn't like to be tormented with a countdown that just won't go fast enough!) And secondly, I've put together a brief overview of the treats which have been provided in recent years, just to get you in the zone...
Saturday, 5 November 2016
RS2 News (Nov 2016)
This is your latest Restaurant Story 2 bulletin. The headlines over the past month include a pair of cruises - one themed on Halloween and the other on Australia - and another two batches of stamp goals starring the dependable Lani.
It's with the Halloween cruise event that we kick-off.
This challenge docked in the game halfway through October and provided a slightly different take on Halloween. As far as Storm8 games are concerned we tend to associate Halloween updates with one of two sub-themes - trick or treating or monsters. Typically everything can be associated with one of these categories, yet this cruise diverged from the norm.
It's with the Halloween cruise event that we kick-off.
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| Notification for Masquerade Ball cruise event |
This challenge docked in the game halfway through October and provided a slightly different take on Halloween. As far as Storm8 games are concerned we tend to associate Halloween updates with one of two sub-themes - trick or treating or monsters. Typically everything can be associated with one of these categories, yet this cruise diverged from the norm.
Wednesday, 2 November 2016
Game update: 02/11/16
November has crept up on us, and luckily Restaurant Story is keeping up with the season.
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| Notification for latest Autumn themed update |
Autumn content is abound in this week's update, with a harvest theme full of those lovely rich colours that are associated with Autumn.
You need to be at level 27 to access the new content. Here's the complete list of additions:
Tables:
- Haystack Table - 17,000 coins
Monday, 31 October 2016
Halloween 2016 showcase
It's time for another showcase, and this time blood will be spilt! Darkness has undoubtedly descended on Restaurant Story as players all around the world celebrate Halloween with style. This is one of those events that really brings the best out of the players on the creativity front, and today I'm proud to present a tour of some of the extraordinary feats of design my neighbours have conjured up for the occasion.
We have five seasoned participants who have each pulled out all the stops to make this the scariest Halloween ever, and after you see their amazing efforts I think you'll agree...
This odyssey begins with a trip to the Ali Cat Cafe for the fourth time in a showcase.
We have five seasoned participants who have each pulled out all the stops to make this the scariest Halloween ever, and after you see their amazing efforts I think you'll agree...
This odyssey begins with a trip to the Ali Cat Cafe for the fourth time in a showcase.
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| Ali Cat Cafe |
Saturday, 29 October 2016
Halloween makeover at The Garlic Tree
It;s Halloween weekend and around the Restaurant Story community there are interiors ravaged by thick spider webs and exteriors infested with rotting pumpkins. My diner, The Garlic Tree, is no different. However there's more to worry about at my place than just a few crumbling graves...
Usually these tours of my place start in the foyer and work their way around serenely, but on this occasion we have been asked by the staff to congregate in the drawing room.
The plan was for Action Chef Lee and Manager Phoebe to spend a quality evening hosting a dinner party with a murder mystery theme. The decor suggests a fancy night was in the works, with the Steampunk Couch, Steampunk Globe and Bronze Telescope all oozing class.
Usually these tours of my place start in the foyer and work their way around serenely, but on this occasion we have been asked by the staff to congregate in the drawing room.
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| Drawing room at The Garlic Tree |
The plan was for Action Chef Lee and Manager Phoebe to spend a quality evening hosting a dinner party with a murder mystery theme. The decor suggests a fancy night was in the works, with the Steampunk Couch, Steampunk Globe and Bronze Telescope all oozing class.
Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Game update: 26/10/16
Halloween is just five days away now, so it's time to put the finishing touches to your spooky decor.
Given that it was four weeks since our last box, it was no surprise to find a notification for the Classy Halloween crate upon opening the game this evening. Coming with a 24 gem asking price, tapping this box will result in one of eight possible prizes being awarded, with several tiers of rarity and variety in the quality of content.
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| Notification for Classy Halloween box |
Given that it was four weeks since our last box, it was no surprise to find a notification for the Classy Halloween crate upon opening the game this evening. Coming with a 24 gem asking price, tapping this box will result in one of eight possible prizes being awarded, with several tiers of rarity and variety in the quality of content.
Monday, 24 October 2016
Halloween 2016 goals content report
Last Wednesday saw a significant day in the Restaurant Story year, with Halloween goals being released. There's no doubt that alongside Christmas, Halloween is the most popular theme on the calendar, so naturally there were high expectations around the community.
The structure of the goals matched that which we saw for September's Autumn themed set and August's laboratory themed set. I thought I'd be saying that was a good thing given that I was originally pleased to see the change, but in truth I'm already growing tired of this reworked format.
That's because the format is very much set in stone. The requirements in each goal are generally the same each time, and the order of proceedings remains unchanged with each quest too. For instance, the opening goal of all three new style goal sets has called for the purchase of a 30,000 coin appliance which doesn't require construction, the preparation of a 1 hour recipe on said appliance, and the purchase of five wallpapers. The same pattern persists throughout the various steps.
The structure of the goals matched that which we saw for September's Autumn themed set and August's laboratory themed set. I thought I'd be saying that was a good thing given that I was originally pleased to see the change, but in truth I'm already growing tired of this reworked format.
That's because the format is very much set in stone. The requirements in each goal are generally the same each time, and the order of proceedings remains unchanged with each quest too. For instance, the opening goal of all three new style goal sets has called for the purchase of a 30,000 coin appliance which doesn't require construction, the preparation of a 1 hour recipe on said appliance, and the purchase of five wallpapers. The same pattern persists throughout the various steps.
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Halloween 2016 goals (in full)
Please note that this set of goals expired on Thursday 17th November 2016.
Halloween has hit Restaurant Story! We're dusting on the cobwebs with a new set of goals which came with the most recent update.
There are three floor decorations which are only available by completing the numerous steps of the quest, as well as an appliance and five recipes. Not to worry though - you've got 30 days to complete the lot, meaning that the expected end date is Thursday 17th November.
Here is the complete list of steps for 'Wicked Halloween':
Halloween has hit Restaurant Story! We're dusting on the cobwebs with a new set of goals which came with the most recent update.
There are three floor decorations which are only available by completing the numerous steps of the quest, as well as an appliance and five recipes. Not to worry though - you've got 30 days to complete the lot, meaning that the expected end date is Thursday 17th November.
Here is the complete list of steps for 'Wicked Halloween':
Game update: 19/10/16
The October goals week has rolled around, and that can mean only one thing...
Technically Halloween landed in Restaurant Story a fortnight ago with that incredible sale, but there's a more formal and official feel to it all when the quest finally drops, and today's the day!
As usual most of the content in the update can be purchased right away (from level 12 in this case), but to access the three floor decorations you'll need to work through the goals - details specific to those can be found in a dedicated post here. In the mean time, here's the lowdown on the Halloween additions:
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| Introduction to 'Wicked Halloween' goals |
Technically Halloween landed in Restaurant Story a fortnight ago with that incredible sale, but there's a more formal and official feel to it all when the quest finally drops, and today's the day!
As usual most of the content in the update can be purchased right away (from level 12 in this case), but to access the three floor decorations you'll need to work through the goals - details specific to those can be found in a dedicated post here. In the mean time, here's the lowdown on the Halloween additions:
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
The art of parts
I'm overdue a breakdown of the appliance parts which are in and out of fashion, so here's a bonus post addressing that!
First up a brief summary of the findings when I last poured over the numbers in February. That occasion was the first in which a new part with every cooker was the norm, and it meant only a small pool of parts featured more than once. However they did so heavily, with the Mallet popping up on more than half of all new appliances. The Iron Press and Brass Diverter were also in high demand, making these three the unofficially most useful part to gift.
But that was then, and this is now. The following analysis takes in every new appliance introduced since the start of March this year, and so accounts for over seven months of data. Note that any re-released appliances (such as those included as part of the Halloween goals re-release recently) are not included - we're looking purely at completely new appliances.
First up a brief summary of the findings when I last poured over the numbers in February. That occasion was the first in which a new part with every cooker was the norm, and it meant only a small pool of parts featured more than once. However they did so heavily, with the Mallet popping up on more than half of all new appliances. The Iron Press and Brass Diverter were also in high demand, making these three the unofficially most useful part to gift.
But that was then, and this is now. The following analysis takes in every new appliance introduced since the start of March this year, and so accounts for over seven months of data. Note that any re-released appliances (such as those included as part of the Halloween goals re-release recently) are not included - we're looking purely at completely new appliances.
Saturday, 15 October 2016
Suggestions Box (Oct 2016)
Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Game update: 12/10/16
Question: what is the most important meal of the day?
Answer: breakfast, especially when it come with pancakes!
This week's theme is indeed breakfast themed, with some particular focus on pancakes. There's a range of new content to celebrate what many would describe as the best meal of the day (not me, I'm more of a stay in bed until lunchtime kind of guy!) Everything is unlocked at level 26, so without any further ado here's the complete list of additions:
Tables:
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| Notification for breakfast themed update |
Answer: breakfast, especially when it come with pancakes!
This week's theme is indeed breakfast themed, with some particular focus on pancakes. There's a range of new content to celebrate what many would describe as the best meal of the day (not me, I'm more of a stay in bed until lunchtime kind of guy!) Everything is unlocked at level 26, so without any further ado here's the complete list of additions:
Tables:
- Pancake House Table - 6 gems
Saturday, 8 October 2016
RS2 News (Oct 2016)
Now that we're into October, another Restaurant Story 2 round-up is due. Since my last update, there's not been the variety of events we'd all like, but with a cruise and some stamp collecting opportunities, it hasn't been all quiet in the sequel game.
It's with the wedding cruise event we begin.
It's with the wedding cruise event we begin.
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| Main page of wedding cruise event |
Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Game update: 05/10/16
Up, up and away! The sky is awash with hot air balloons this week, and there's a hint of something sinister in the air too...
Colour is the order of the day with these hot air balloons, but before we climb in over the basket a list of all the brand new additions is a must. So here it is, with everything unlocked at level 25:
Tables:
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| Notification for hot air balloon themed update |
Colour is the order of the day with these hot air balloons, but before we climb in over the basket a list of all the brand new additions is a must. So here it is, with everything unlocked at level 25:
Tables:
- Hot Air Balloon Table - 5 gems
Monday, 3 October 2016
Harvest time and school time
After a couple of weeks of silence, I've returned! While I was away sunning myself there were two weekly updates, with the first bringing a goal set and the second a box. It may be a little late in the day, but I have put together a goals post for the quest, with that providing a step-by-step guide to completing the challenge. Meanwhile this post provides a summary of both updates, including recipe analysis and a box distribution list. Strap in!
So on Wednesday 21st September we received those goals, with Autumn getting it's first coverage in the game in 2016.
So on Wednesday 21st September we received those goals, with Autumn getting it's first coverage in the game in 2016.
 |
| Introduction to Autumn 2016 goals |
Autumn 2016 goals (in full)
Please note that this set of goals expired on Thursday 30th October 2016.
Back on Wednesday 21st September a new set of goals came our way with an Autumn themed update.
From that update there were three floor decorations, an appliance and five recipes which could only be unlocked by working through the many steps of the quest. With 30 days on the clock, these goals are expected to vanish for good on Thursday 30th October 2016.
Here is the complete list of steps for 'A Healthy Harvest':
Back on Wednesday 21st September a new set of goals came our way with an Autumn themed update.
From that update there were three floor decorations, an appliance and five recipes which could only be unlocked by working through the many steps of the quest. With 30 days on the clock, these goals are expected to vanish for good on Thursday 30th October 2016.
Here is the complete list of steps for 'A Healthy Harvest':
Saturday, 17 September 2016
TGT Presents... The Team Take a Beach Break
I'm off on holiday today, with a two-week break on sunnier shores. This means that you're going to experience total silence here on the Restaurant Story Adventures Blog over the course of the next fortnight. But it's not all bad news...
Usually when I head on vacation I leave the staff at my diner working away as hard as ever. That's not really fair, so this year I've decided that Action Chef Lee, Gran-Gran and co are coming with me! And they've already flown out to Busy Beach...
Usually when I head on vacation I leave the staff at my diner working away as hard as ever. That's not really fair, so this year I've decided that Action Chef Lee, Gran-Gran and co are coming with me! And they've already flown out to Busy Beach...
 |
| Overview of Busy Beach |
Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Game update: 14/09/16
Just over a year ago we visited New York for a weekly update, and now we're heading from one coast to another.
The San Francisco update sees a range of new items themed on the Californian city. But not only that, there's also a wide selection of Autumn content from yesteryear has made a limited time comeback. More on that in a bit - for now let's focus on San Francisco stuff which unlocks at level 24. Here's a handy list:
Tables:
 |
| Notification for San Francisco themed update |
The San Francisco update sees a range of new items themed on the Californian city. But not only that, there's also a wide selection of Autumn content from yesteryear has made a limited time comeback. More on that in a bit - for now let's focus on San Francisco stuff which unlocks at level 24. Here's a handy list:
Tables:
- Strolling City Table - 4 gems
Saturday, 10 September 2016
Suggestions Box (Sep 2016)
Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
Wednesday, 7 September 2016
Game update: 07/09/16
Kids will be kids.
This week's offering sees a selection of items which are designed to keep the younger visitors to your restaurant occupied. Or, looking at it another way, designed to keep the younger visitors out of the way!
There are 10 new decorations have been released, and they're all unlocked at level 23. Here's the usual list:
Tables:
 |
| Notification for kids themed update |
This week's offering sees a selection of items which are designed to keep the younger visitors to your restaurant occupied. Or, looking at it another way, designed to keep the younger visitors out of the way!
There are 10 new decorations have been released, and they're all unlocked at level 23. Here's the usual list:
Tables:
- Polka-Fun - 2 gems
Saturday, 3 September 2016
RS2 News (Sep 2016)
When we last met to discuss the highs and lows of Restaurant Story 2 there was grave concern at an update famine. Since then we've had another cruise event plus a fresh batch of stamp recipes along with some nice ways to earn those precious stamps that allow these high yielding dishes to be capitalised upon.
So following the under the sea themed cruise launched in mid-July, there was no further new content for four weeks. In some ways this wasn't as horrendous as it may sound, partly because the cruise does typically get a two week slot anyway to allow players the opportunity to start at a later date if they so wish.
And to be honest the drought suited me just fine. As much as I do enjoy the challenge the quests bring, it can get stressful and very time consuming. So following completion of the under the sea cruise I found myself relishing the opportunity to focus on mastering the many permanent dishes and learning more of the stamp recipes.
So following the under the sea themed cruise launched in mid-July, there was no further new content for four weeks. In some ways this wasn't as horrendous as it may sound, partly because the cruise does typically get a two week slot anyway to allow players the opportunity to start at a later date if they so wish.
And to be honest the drought suited me just fine. As much as I do enjoy the challenge the quests bring, it can get stressful and very time consuming. So following completion of the under the sea cruise I found myself relishing the opportunity to focus on mastering the many permanent dishes and learning more of the stamp recipes.
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Game update: 31/08/16
It's the final day of August, and we've got an unusual selection of items this week.
Gold seems to be the theme colour, with a real variety of such stuff. From statues and a telescope to royalty and a treasure map, there's no doubt that this is one of the more random updates. Here's the complete list of additions, with everything unlocked at level 22:
Tables:
 |
| Notification for treasure themed update |
Gold seems to be the theme colour, with a real variety of such stuff. From statues and a telescope to royalty and a treasure map, there's no doubt that this is one of the more random updates. Here's the complete list of additions, with everything unlocked at level 22:
Tables:
- Compass Table - 3 gems
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Aug 2016 showcase
It's showtime! Prepare to be amazed as we march around the restaurants of some of my lovely neighbours and feast our eyes on the glorious designs which have been conjured up.
This particular showcase has five participants, with two first timers joined by three old hands. There's a nice spread of diners coming up here as we approach the end of the summer, so let's hit the road and get rolling!
And after a lazy lie-in, all roads lead to the beach at A Quilted Café.
This particular showcase has five participants, with two first timers joined by three old hands. There's a nice spread of diners coming up here as we approach the end of the summer, so let's hit the road and get rolling!
And after a lazy lie-in, all roads lead to the beach at A Quilted Café.
 |
| A Quilted Café |
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Game update: 24/08/16
It's a box week in Restaurant Story which might mean no content for coins, but it does mean eight new floor decorations!
The Nursery Crate is a 24 gem investment, and for every purchase you'll receive one of the eight prizes at random. As per usual, your odds of getting the bigger and better items are long, so be wary of taking the gamble!
 |
| Notification for Nursery Crate |
The Nursery Crate is a 24 gem investment, and for every purchase you'll receive one of the eight prizes at random. As per usual, your odds of getting the bigger and better items are long, so be wary of taking the gamble!
Tuesday, 23 August 2016
Laboratory goals content report
It's goals content report time, with many players now finished with the new goal set released alongside last week's laboratory themed update.
Usually I power straight into the prizes provided by the quest, but in this case we have to discuss the structure of the goals themselves. For a start the first of the fresh appliances was available to purchase prior to completing any of the goal steps. This is not unheard of, although it does usually mean within a few hours that Storm8 hastily attach a padlock and apologise for making an uncharacteristic error.
On this occasion there was no such admittance of guilt, with the game's developers seeing a chemistry theme as the ideal excuse to mix things up. And that they most certainly did. In addition to the Food Lab Oven being available from the off, it didn't require any construction. This all set off my Storm8 cock-up sirens, but it turned out that both of the new parts were reserved for the second cooker, the Food Lab Stove.
More on that later, but what of the little circles indicating progression through the main strand of the goals?
Usually I power straight into the prizes provided by the quest, but in this case we have to discuss the structure of the goals themselves. For a start the first of the fresh appliances was available to purchase prior to completing any of the goal steps. This is not unheard of, although it does usually mean within a few hours that Storm8 hastily attach a padlock and apologise for making an uncharacteristic error.
On this occasion there was no such admittance of guilt, with the game's developers seeing a chemistry theme as the ideal excuse to mix things up. And that they most certainly did. In addition to the Food Lab Oven being available from the off, it didn't require any construction. This all set off my Storm8 cock-up sirens, but it turned out that both of the new parts were reserved for the second cooker, the Food Lab Stove.
More on that later, but what of the little circles indicating progression through the main strand of the goals?
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Laboratory goals (in full)
Please note that these goals expired on Thursday 15th September 2016.
This week there was a second successive lab themed update, with an array of new content. But this second batch also came with goals, meaning that work needs to be done in order to unlock some of the decor.
In all there are three floor decorations, one appliance (at the time of writing!) and five recipes (again, at the time of writing!) which are padlocked until progress is made through the quest. There are 30 days available to complete all the stages, meaning that Thursday 15th September is the likely deadline for finishing it all off.
Let's get to it. The goals are entitled 'Phoebe's Science Project', with the complete list of goal steps outlined below:
This week there was a second successive lab themed update, with an array of new content. But this second batch also came with goals, meaning that work needs to be done in order to unlock some of the decor.
In all there are three floor decorations, one appliance (at the time of writing!) and five recipes (again, at the time of writing!) which are padlocked until progress is made through the quest. There are 30 days available to complete all the stages, meaning that Thursday 15th September is the likely deadline for finishing it all off.
Let's get to it. The goals are entitled 'Phoebe's Science Project', with the complete list of goal steps outlined below:
Game update: 17/08/16
Following on from last week's laboratory themed update, we've got part two!
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.
 |
| 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.
Tuesday, 16 August 2016
The Garlic Tree celebrates the Olympics
The second week of the Rio 2016 Olympics are ongoing and my restaurant, The Garlic Tree, is putting forward its bid to host a future Games. We're holding something of a test event at the moment, with various sports providing some excellent viewing for unsuspecting diners.
At the core of it all is of course the Olympic Cauldron, which is housed in the four-pillar centrepiece of the main eating area.
At the core of it all is of course the Olympic Cauldron, which is housed in the four-pillar centrepiece of the main eating area.
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| Olympic cauldron in main section of The Garlic Tree |
Saturday, 13 August 2016
Suggestions Box (Aug 2016)
Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
Wednesday, 10 August 2016
Game update: 10/08/16
We're not so much cooking this week as concocting...
The theme is the laboratory, with a selection of content as science takes centre stage in Restaurant Story. Before I set something on fire or poison myself, let's peruse a list of all the additions, each of which are unlocked at level 21:
Tables:
 |
| Notification for laboratory themed update |
The theme is the laboratory, with a selection of content as science takes centre stage in Restaurant Story. Before I set something on fire or poison myself, let's peruse a list of all the additions, each of which are unlocked at level 21:
Tables:
- Lab Table X - 2 gems
Saturday, 6 August 2016
RS2 News (Aug 2016)
It's once again time to check in on the sequel title, Restaurant Story 2. Surprisingly it's been a quieter few weeks since my last update, with Storm8 taking a couple of week off. More on that later, but first we have the conclusion of a quest and a cruise event to discuss.
The quest in question is the Wild West goals. It seems like a lifetime ago now that we were all frantically collecting Ten Gallon Hats in a bid to stash enough to polish off the challenge. Those hats came with just about every recipe cooked, and were soon racking up. However with 22,000 required to complete the final goal this was a tough quest.
There were some hat boosts available for cooking certain recipes and from certain appliances, and at the time of my previous review I was struggling with the last of them - the Cowboy Coffee. Well, in the end I just couldn't gather sufficient Sugar to produce enough of the coffee, thus meaning I missed out on 1,000 precious hats. But would this prevent me getting over the finish line in the goals as a whole?
The quest in question is the Wild West goals. It seems like a lifetime ago now that we were all frantically collecting Ten Gallon Hats in a bid to stash enough to polish off the challenge. Those hats came with just about every recipe cooked, and were soon racking up. However with 22,000 required to complete the final goal this was a tough quest.
There were some hat boosts available for cooking certain recipes and from certain appliances, and at the time of my previous review I was struggling with the last of them - the Cowboy Coffee. Well, in the end I just couldn't gather sufficient Sugar to produce enough of the coffee, thus meaning I missed out on 1,000 precious hats. But would this prevent me getting over the finish line in the goals as a whole?
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Game update: 03/08/16
Get your sea legs ready because we're heading out into the big blue with this week's update!
We've got a selection of sea based items to discover, with all the content unlocked at level 20. With visibility good and the sea calm, let's dive straight into the traditional list of additions:
Tables:
 |
| Notification for sea themed update |
We've got a selection of sea based items to discover, with all the content unlocked at level 20. With visibility good and the sea calm, let's dive straight into the traditional list of additions:
Tables:
- Ship in a Bottle Table - 21,000 coins
Saturday, 30 July 2016
The changing artistry of Restaurant Story
It has now been nearly six years since Restaurant Story was first released into the competitive world of gaming. In the time since the industry has evolved massively, and consequently some aspects of the game have become outdated and tired looking in appearance, including the menu interface. But with a weekly update introducing new content regularly, the game's developers have certainly had ample opportunity to demonstrate the advancement of technology and their ability to keep up with it.
Inspired by a terrific idea from regular reader and contributor to the blog, Ali Cat Cafe, I've compiled a number of decorations which will hopefully show that Storm8 have indeed improved the general quality of decor over the years. Of course there will always be the odd addition which fails to meet present day expectations, but this snapshot should provide an insight into the changes.
I should also point out at this stage that Ali also had a part to play in picking out some of the following comparisons, and triggered some of my own ideas. So a big thank you to Ali for making this post possible!
Inspired by a terrific idea from regular reader and contributor to the blog, Ali Cat Cafe, I've compiled a number of decorations which will hopefully show that Storm8 have indeed improved the general quality of decor over the years. Of course there will always be the odd addition which fails to meet present day expectations, but this snapshot should provide an insight into the changes.
I should also point out at this stage that Ali also had a part to play in picking out some of the following comparisons, and triggered some of my own ideas. So a big thank you to Ali for making this post possible!
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
Game update: 27/07/16
After some energetic updates of late which have seen us out camping, strutting down the boardwalk, and binging on snow cones, we have a much more serene collection of new content this week.
The Curio Crate is the only addition, with this box costing 24 gems a pop. Within are eight prizes of varying quality, with only your luck defining whether you get something you love or something you hate.
This is an unusual crate in that it really isn't all that eye-catching. I've never seen a box that has such a uniform set of designs within, and with everything having a dark wooden chassis, this is a selection of stuff that oozes class.
 |
| Notification for Curio Crate |
The Curio Crate is the only addition, with this box costing 24 gems a pop. Within are eight prizes of varying quality, with only your luck defining whether you get something you love or something you hate.
This is an unusual crate in that it really isn't all that eye-catching. I've never seen a box that has such a uniform set of designs within, and with everything having a dark wooden chassis, this is a selection of stuff that oozes class.
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Camping goals content report
Everyone find a log to perch upon - it's time to cosy up around the crackling open fire and discuss the rewards for our efforts in the recently added camping themed goals. There were six items introduced with the related update, while a further five additions could only be unlocked by working through the quest.
The first such content to lose its padlock is the Campy Cooker. This is the first of two appliances new with the goals, and requires 6 Sturdy Wood, 6 Steel and 4 Fiery Fuses to put together.
The Fiery Fuse is one of two new parts added for this challenge, while the Sturdy Wood makes a comeback. You have to go way back to the Kids Kitchen Set from January 2015 for the last time this particular part was called for. It will be interesting to monitor whether this may be the start of something of a resurgence for the Sturdy Wood - stock up people!
Once you've got the Campy Cooker built, three recipes are waiting to be unlocked.
Before we go any further, the absence of a mastery meter for the Scorched S'mores clearly needs addressing. I cannot recall something like this happening before (except when starting a new game), but it certainly caused some confusion and consternation. Since taking the snap above this error has been fixed, and indeed was dealt with fairly promptly (by Storm8 standards).
Supposedly it wasn't possible to earn mastery gems whilst this bug was flourishing, and that adds up considering that after the mastery meter was added everyone was at the starting point. Given that the s'mores are just 1 hour in length this wasn't too much of an issue. Imagine if we'd been slaving over a 1 or 2 day dish only to discover that the mastery meter was going nowhere - there'd have been riots!
As far as the food itself goes, I'm a little lost (but getting lost is all part of camping, right?) Admittedly I'm not one for pitching a tent and spending the night under the stars, but surely chilli and crullers (which I have just discovered is a pastry!) are not standard camping foods?! The s'mores are completely understandable, but the other two appear to be there just because of the alliterative name which provides a strained link to camping.
Maybe the recipe ratings will rescue us...
By and large this doesn't make for pretty reading. But there are a couple of plus points we should peruse. Firstly the Scorched S'mores net a green score for profit which is good to see. However any excitement is punctured, not by it's other numbers, but by the fact that it has identical statistics to the Veggie Kabobs on the Grill, which was added just last month with the Father's Day goals!
The Chilling Chili also achieves green, this time in the XP category, with only eight dishes of 3 hour duration earn more XP. Unfortunately this is not a strong all-rounder though, with the profit and portion figures pulling down the overall score. It's worth noting that the chili also has an identical twin - the Vanilla Cider Float (at least it is a little older!)
Finally there's the Creepy Crullers which fail to light up any of the major factors. It's low point is probably the XP gain, since despite actually rating higher in this variable than for profit or portions, notice that it earns less XP than the Chilling Chili, despite taking two hours longer to prepare! That's illogical and provides the latest example of the gamemakers really not putting any deep thought into how they tune their recipes.
After finishing off the goal steps involving these dishes you'll open up the side goals which are the source of two new floor decorations. The Lightbug Lantern unlocks first, and for my money is a good solid item. It's rather stylish with the coiling metal wrapped around the lantern, and although the lightbugs themselves are haphazardly designed, from a distance this piece looks nice. The decision to use a sleek black for the lamp was a good call, since it allows it to blend in nicely with a wide variety of other content. This includes the Father's Day stuff from last month - I think next to the Hightop Seating Area which itself has a small black lamp it will look fab.
The next stage of the quest opens up the Camp Sign. This is another 1x1 decoration, and isn't the most eye-catching. It's essentially a series of wooden planks nailed together with 'CAMP' scrawled across the front. I could be wrong here, but I believe there's a pair of knives depicted below, which is somewhat confusing - is this a sign for a cooking camp? Regardless it's not the most appealing of items.
And before we move on, a quick comment on the goal which unlocks the Camp Sign. It's the usual tables and chairs step, but what makes this one excruciating is that 10 of each need to be purchased. With the Camp Table costing 14,000 coins each and the Camp Stools 10,000 coins a time, that adds up to a total of 240,000 coins spent on this goal alone. That's excessive, and certainly not something we want to see happening regularly.
Also unlocked alongside the side goals is the next stage of the main strand, which involves buying, building and using the Butcher Block. The second appliance in this quest, I now see the knives connection (sort of). The block takes 6 Screws, 6 Sturdy Wood and 4 Wood Glue to construct, with the Wood Glue being the other new part introduced. That's the Screw featured in successive goal sets, which perhaps indicates a comeback for what was once the most overused part in the game.
Let's now have a glance at the ratings for the three dishes on the Butcher Block:
Beyond the profit per plate scores, this trio are sticking to the warm colours, Perhaps that's justified given the time of year, but in this context it can only mean bad news. Indeed, I'm not going to waste any time pondering the merits of what are essentially three poor recipes.
Instead I'll have a mild chuckle at the pun-tastic title of the Spaghetti Cabinara. Indeed I'm thankful for it otherwise I'd be seriously questioning the presence of a spaghetti dish in a camping themed update!
All that remains is the final goal prize. The Camp Tent is 3x3 in size and looks really impressive. In the original teaser for the update the tent was only 2x2 and did look too small. That's one concern which has most certainly been appeased, with this tent looking swell. The rendering of the green sheets is of high quality, and Storm8 again have demonstrated their ever improving ability to render wood.
The only drawback with the Camp Tent is that it costs 60 gems to buy another. Generally with final goal prizes one will do as they tend to be big and imposing items that dominate a scene. This one is less like that, and actually may look better if part of a wider camping area. But at that price I doubt many players will be picking up further copies. That's a real shame since without the steep price I could envisage plenty of creative folks coming up with brilliant group camping scenes.
You now have to go back to the Valentine's Day goals in February for the last time extras of a final goal prize could be bought for coins. That's not good and may even deserve further dissection in the next Suggestions Box...
For now though we're done. I'm not all that enamoured by this month's goal offerings - it's a clever choice of theme, but not all that well executed. The likes of a campfire, bots chopping wood and a wild and knarled tree would all have been ideal here, and instead I feel the theme has been left half-baked. Nevertheless there's a wide range of existing decor which it can be merged with to hopefully create something special. For now I'm getting chilly so will pull down my tent's zip and climb into my sleeping bag. Sleep well friends!
The first such content to lose its padlock is the Campy Cooker. This is the first of two appliances new with the goals, and requires 6 Sturdy Wood, 6 Steel and 4 Fiery Fuses to put together.
 |
| Fiery Fuse and Wood Glue |
The Fiery Fuse is one of two new parts added for this challenge, while the Sturdy Wood makes a comeback. You have to go way back to the Kids Kitchen Set from January 2015 for the last time this particular part was called for. It will be interesting to monitor whether this may be the start of something of a resurgence for the Sturdy Wood - stock up people!
Once you've got the Campy Cooker built, three recipes are waiting to be unlocked.
 |
| Campy Cooker recipes |
Before we go any further, the absence of a mastery meter for the Scorched S'mores clearly needs addressing. I cannot recall something like this happening before (except when starting a new game), but it certainly caused some confusion and consternation. Since taking the snap above this error has been fixed, and indeed was dealt with fairly promptly (by Storm8 standards).
Supposedly it wasn't possible to earn mastery gems whilst this bug was flourishing, and that adds up considering that after the mastery meter was added everyone was at the starting point. Given that the s'mores are just 1 hour in length this wasn't too much of an issue. Imagine if we'd been slaving over a 1 or 2 day dish only to discover that the mastery meter was going nowhere - there'd have been riots!
As far as the food itself goes, I'm a little lost (but getting lost is all part of camping, right?) Admittedly I'm not one for pitching a tent and spending the night under the stars, but surely chilli and crullers (which I have just discovered is a pastry!) are not standard camping foods?! The s'mores are completely understandable, but the other two appear to be there just because of the alliterative name which provides a strained link to camping.
Maybe the recipe ratings will rescue us...
| Scorched S'mores | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 6 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 4.4 |
| Chilling Chili | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 1 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3.7 |
| Creepy Crullers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 3.6 |
By and large this doesn't make for pretty reading. But there are a couple of plus points we should peruse. Firstly the Scorched S'mores net a green score for profit which is good to see. However any excitement is punctured, not by it's other numbers, but by the fact that it has identical statistics to the Veggie Kabobs on the Grill, which was added just last month with the Father's Day goals!
The Chilling Chili also achieves green, this time in the XP category, with only eight dishes of 3 hour duration earn more XP. Unfortunately this is not a strong all-rounder though, with the profit and portion figures pulling down the overall score. It's worth noting that the chili also has an identical twin - the Vanilla Cider Float (at least it is a little older!)
Finally there's the Creepy Crullers which fail to light up any of the major factors. It's low point is probably the XP gain, since despite actually rating higher in this variable than for profit or portions, notice that it earns less XP than the Chilling Chili, despite taking two hours longer to prepare! That's illogical and provides the latest example of the gamemakers really not putting any deep thought into how they tune their recipes.
After finishing off the goal steps involving these dishes you'll open up the side goals which are the source of two new floor decorations. The Lightbug Lantern unlocks first, and for my money is a good solid item. It's rather stylish with the coiling metal wrapped around the lantern, and although the lightbugs themselves are haphazardly designed, from a distance this piece looks nice. The decision to use a sleek black for the lamp was a good call, since it allows it to blend in nicely with a wide variety of other content. This includes the Father's Day stuff from last month - I think next to the Hightop Seating Area which itself has a small black lamp it will look fab.
Summer 2016
20/07/16 Camping goals
20/07/16 Camping update
13/07/16 Boardwalk
06/07/16 Snow cones
29/06/16 Lemons
20/07/16 Camping update
13/07/16 Boardwalk
06/07/16 Snow cones
29/06/16 Lemons
The next stage of the quest opens up the Camp Sign. This is another 1x1 decoration, and isn't the most eye-catching. It's essentially a series of wooden planks nailed together with 'CAMP' scrawled across the front. I could be wrong here, but I believe there's a pair of knives depicted below, which is somewhat confusing - is this a sign for a cooking camp? Regardless it's not the most appealing of items.
And before we move on, a quick comment on the goal which unlocks the Camp Sign. It's the usual tables and chairs step, but what makes this one excruciating is that 10 of each need to be purchased. With the Camp Table costing 14,000 coins each and the Camp Stools 10,000 coins a time, that adds up to a total of 240,000 coins spent on this goal alone. That's excessive, and certainly not something we want to see happening regularly.
Also unlocked alongside the side goals is the next stage of the main strand, which involves buying, building and using the Butcher Block. The second appliance in this quest, I now see the knives connection (sort of). The block takes 6 Screws, 6 Sturdy Wood and 4 Wood Glue to construct, with the Wood Glue being the other new part introduced. That's the Screw featured in successive goal sets, which perhaps indicates a comeback for what was once the most overused part in the game.
Let's now have a glance at the ratings for the three dishes on the Butcher Block:
| Chopped Salad | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 3.3 |
| Killer Cutlets | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 3.3 |
| Spaghetti Cabinara | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit | XP gain | Portions | Profit per plate | Availability | Rating |
| 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 4.2 |
Beyond the profit per plate scores, this trio are sticking to the warm colours, Perhaps that's justified given the time of year, but in this context it can only mean bad news. Indeed, I'm not going to waste any time pondering the merits of what are essentially three poor recipes.
Instead I'll have a mild chuckle at the pun-tastic title of the Spaghetti Cabinara. Indeed I'm thankful for it otherwise I'd be seriously questioning the presence of a spaghetti dish in a camping themed update!
All that remains is the final goal prize. The Camp Tent is 3x3 in size and looks really impressive. In the original teaser for the update the tent was only 2x2 and did look too small. That's one concern which has most certainly been appeased, with this tent looking swell. The rendering of the green sheets is of high quality, and Storm8 again have demonstrated their ever improving ability to render wood.
The only drawback with the Camp Tent is that it costs 60 gems to buy another. Generally with final goal prizes one will do as they tend to be big and imposing items that dominate a scene. This one is less like that, and actually may look better if part of a wider camping area. But at that price I doubt many players will be picking up further copies. That's a real shame since without the steep price I could envisage plenty of creative folks coming up with brilliant group camping scenes.
You now have to go back to the Valentine's Day goals in February for the last time extras of a final goal prize could be bought for coins. That's not good and may even deserve further dissection in the next Suggestions Box...
For now though we're done. I'm not all that enamoured by this month's goal offerings - it's a clever choice of theme, but not all that well executed. The likes of a campfire, bots chopping wood and a wild and knarled tree would all have been ideal here, and instead I feel the theme has been left half-baked. Nevertheless there's a wide range of existing decor which it can be merged with to hopefully create something special. For now I'm getting chilly so will pull down my tent's zip and climb into my sleeping bag. Sleep well friends!
Wednesday, 20 July 2016
Camping goals (in full)
Please note that this set of goals expired on Thursday 18th August 2016.
We're off on a camping trip in the latest Restaurant Story update, and there's plenty to do while we're there thanks to a new set of goals.
There are three floor decorations, two appliances and six recipes to be hunted down in this quest. You've got just over four weeks to finish the goals, with 30 days on the clock. Therefore if you've not completed every step by Thursday 18th August, prepare to miss out on some of the unlockables!
Here's the complete list of goal steps:
We're off on a camping trip in the latest Restaurant Story update, and there's plenty to do while we're there thanks to a new set of goals.
There are three floor decorations, two appliances and six recipes to be hunted down in this quest. You've got just over four weeks to finish the goals, with 30 days on the clock. Therefore if you've not completed every step by Thursday 18th August, prepare to miss out on some of the unlockables!
Here's the complete list of goal steps:
Game update: 20/07/16
We're bang in the middle of Summer now, so let's make the most of the fine weather and go on a camping trip!
That's right, July's goals week have finally arrived, and it all revolves around a camping theme. So let's get the pegs out and pitch the tent! Here's a list of all the new additions, with everything (including the goal set itself) available from level 12:
 |
| Introduction to camping goals |
That's right, July's goals week have finally arrived, and it all revolves around a camping theme. So let's get the pegs out and pitch the tent! Here's a list of all the new additions, with everything (including the goal set itself) available from level 12:
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Suggestions Box (Jul 2016)
Every month I list five things I'd like to see added, altered or abolished from the game. Because even though my long time of playing Restaurant Story clearly shows I love it, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Some of the ideas I'll air will be significant game changers while others will be low-key and irrelevant in the eyes of many of you readers.
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
You can share your own suggestions too via the comments. If I like them, I may even include them in the next instalment!
In no particular order, here are this month's entries...
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Game update: 13/07/16
The carnival is in town! There's no better way to enjoy a hot Summer's day than with a trip to the seaside, and now you can bring the seaside to your restaurant!
This is a proper Summer update, and continues a long history of Summery themes which revolve around the beach. All available from level 19, let's have a glance at the new content with a lovely little list:
 |
| Notification for carnival update |
This is a proper Summer update, and continues a long history of Summery themes which revolve around the beach. All available from level 19, let's have a glance at the new content with a lovely little list:
Saturday, 9 July 2016
RS2 News (Jul 2016)
Having ushered in the month of July, let's take the opportunity to reflect on what's been happening over in the sequel title, Restaurant Story 2, in recent weeks. The game's been as busy as ever, with a cruise, a goal set and a completely new feature all appearing since my last round-up.
We start with the Pride Cruise Catering Event which debuted in the middle of last month. Celebrating LGBT Pride Month which is in June every year, this cruise provided a nod to all persuasions.
We start with the Pride Cruise Catering Event which debuted in the middle of last month. Celebrating LGBT Pride Month which is in June every year, this cruise provided a nod to all persuasions.
 |
| Main page of Pride Cruise Catering Event |
Wednesday, 6 July 2016
Game update: 06/07/16
You know Summer has truly arrived in Restaurant Story when we get the traditional ice cream themed update!
There's a snow cone theme to this particular edition, with a range of content available from level 18. Without any further ado, let's peruse the additions in a neat little list:
Tables:
 |
| Notification for sno cone themed update |
There's a snow cone theme to this particular edition, with a range of content available from level 18. Without any further ado, let's peruse the additions in a neat little list:
Tables:
- Cone Table - 18,000 coins
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