Thanks a million!

It is with great pleasure that I can reveal that at 6.23am this morning, the Restaurant Story Adventures blog enjoyed its one millionth page view.

Total page view count

It's a rare occasion when words fail me. I've been eyeing this particular milestone for some time, but it still feels surreal to have reached it. I'm under no illusions, in the greater context of the internet as a whole it's not all that remarkable, but that doesn't stop me from being proud of my contribution to what is a fairly niche mobile game.

It's now been a little under four-and-a-half years since I made the decision to start this blog, with enough ideas floating around to keep me going for a few months. Never did I anticipate that I'd still be churning out posts years later, even after the game has started to experience a significant slowdown.

Winter in July goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Tuesday 8th August 2017.

I know, I know. Winter in July is just not right (sorry Southern Hemisphere dwellers!) But it's what the mysterious folks at Storm8 have dealt us for the most recent update, and it comes with goals so we should embrace the cold and forge ahead!

This quest is around for 15 days from the kick-off, which means it is due to expire on Tuesday 8th August 2017. So you've only got until then to unlock the three floor decorations which are accessed via these goals, as well as two appliances and six recipes.

Here is the complete list of steps:

• Step 1: Big Summer Blowout
• Step 2: Do You Wanna Build A Snow Machine?
• Step 3: Strawberry Snowfall
• Step 4: Ice is My Life
• Step 5: Blueberry Blizzard
• Step 6: Investigate The Ice Cream Case
• Step 7: Pineapple Ice Bear
• Sidestep A: A Snow Flurry of Activity
• Sidestep B: Frigid Furniture

Game update: 25/07/17

Winter has come.

Introduction to Winter in July goals

You better believe it! Twenty days on from our last update which celebrated the glorious summer, the seasons have been turned upside down, with a set of winter themed goals accompanying a selection of new content. Here's the complete list of additions:

Tables:

• Frozen Table - 19,000 coins

Suggestions Box (Jul 2017)

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...

Mexican summer goals content report

It's goals content report time, and I'm starting out with an apology. Yes, for the past nine days I have been operating with the belief that we were in the midst of a Spanish themed quest. We quite simply have not! Fat Bear has informed me that this is a Mexican themed update, and naturally this is correct.

I am left red in the face, with my assumption that the use of the Spanish language meant we had a Spanish themed update on our hands clearly misguided. I also genuinely thought that enchiladas were of Spanish origin, and so my cultural incompetence has well and truly been outed! However I will defend myself on one front - the Spanish Knob is used to construct the second goal appliance, which does tend to give the impression that we are dealing with Spain. Never mind!

So with my head bowed in shame, I look back upon an update which initially did not excite me. There wasn't enough content that really stood out, but will that view change when we consider the stuff strapped down by goal padlocks?

RS2 News (Jul 2017)

It's been a month since my last Restaurant Story 2 round-up, and there's been a number of events which require some commentary during that time-frame.

First on the agenda is Lani's 14th set of goals.

Three silver stamp goal from Lani's 14th set of goals

The long run without Lani making an appearance is undoubtedly behind us now. After returning from a three month absence in late May we only had to wait a fortnight for another trio of goals. That last batch took a while for me to get used to having present, and consequently I didn't complete them within the time limit. No such carelessness this time. Progress was swift, with one gold and five silver stamps eventually headed my way.

Mexican summer goals (in full)

Please note that this set of goals expired on Thursday 15th July 2017.

The most recent update was of the Mexican variety, with a trip to the coast to enjoy the sunny weather. But there is work to be done - with three floor decorations, two appliances and six recipes up for grabs in a set of goals.

There were 15 days available at the outset to complete the quest, which means that you can expect it to expire on or around Thursday 20th July So make sure to bag all of the unlockables before then!

Here is the complete list of steps:

• Step 1: By The Sea
• Step 2: Bajo El Mar
• Step 3: Gelatinous Gills
• Step 4: Pulling Taffy
• Step 5: Casi El Paraiso
• Step 6: Cool Treats, Hot Enchiladas
• Step 7: Cocina de Camaron
• Sidestep A: Crab Walking
• Sidestep B: Catch of the Day

Game update: 06/07/17

Update: Thanks to Fat Bear for picking up on my atrocious geography - this update is of course Mexican themed, not Spanish!

We're into July and that means long days and hot weather! To mark this we are headed for a holiday at the sea in Spain, and there are goals waiting for us there!

Introduction to Spanish summer themed goals

A summery themed quest is nothing new in Restaurant Story, but rarely do they seem to embrace a non-English speaking nation quite like this. To demonstrate what I mean, let's have a look at the complete list of goodies added with this update:

Annual revamp at The Garlic Tree

It has become something of an annual event, as The Garlic Tree is stripped down and reassembled for another 12 months. Back in June 2016 I welcomed in a new layout in the grand manner with the finale to The Chemist, the Cat and the Time Machine adventure, following a 10 week odyssey.

I can't offer anything as impressive this time around, but I have done my best to take my restaurant to the next level. So here is the latest carnation of The Garlic Tree, following an expansion to 26x29:

The Garlic Tree after expansion and refurbishment

July 2017 showcase

As we enter July I'm pleased to present another showcase, where some of my fine neighbours take to the stage and show off their wonderful restaurants.

 Recent showcases

 30/04/17 April 2017
 14/02/17 Valentine's Day 2017
 25/12/16 Christmas 2016
 31/10/16 Halloween 2016
 27/08/16 August 2016
 02/07/16 July 2016

Sadly this particular edition only includes two players. The drip feed of updates over the last few months has undoubtedly taken its toll, with many players either dropping out of the game or scaling back their commitment significantly. I can't blame anyone for this, especially since some of the folks I'm referring to here have been brilliant neighbours down the years. As time passes people move on and unfortunately that has been observed in Restaurant Story.