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

Chairs:

• Frozen Stool - 15,000 coins

Wall decorations:

• Popsicle Art - 6,000 coins

Floor decorations:

• Ice Cream Case - locked by goal
• Chill Barrista - locked by goal
• Ice Bear - locked by goal

Wallpapers:

• Ice Cream Wall - 8,000 coins

Floor tiles:

• Frozen Tile - 8,000 coins

Appliances:

• Snow Machine - locked by goal
• Slushy Machine - locked by goal

Counters:

• Frigid Counter - 21,000 coins

Update: A sale of (mostly) winter themed items went live a few hours after the main update was released. Details can be found towards the bottom of this post.

Now, before proceeding any further, I should make a quick disclaimer that I am well aware that it is winter in some parts of the world. There may be some locations where this collection is very appropriate for the current season, but it's important to remember that the US, Canada and UK make up three of the largest territories with regards to Restaurant Story players, and it is very much summer right now in all of these countries.

With that out of the way, it's time to let rip. What on earth is going on here?! At a time when updates are few and far between it is so disappointing to see something so random and out of season. I could accept a flash sale of winter themed decor and could perhaps even allow a 'Christmas in July' theme, but this just appears to be a bog standard winter update.

In truth I saw it coming, and I'm sure any Bakery Story players did too. Last week in the sister game we got a summery outlook, but with Christmas based decorations as the goal prizes. A perplexing blend, and I can't quite decide if that was better or worse than what we have here. At least in Bakery Story there were some items ideal for hot weather, whereas in Restaurant Story we're going full Game of Thrones in welcoming the winds of winter.

The true common denominator across the two games is the sharing of content. For the Frozen Table see the Ice Table. For the Frozen Stool see the Snowball Stool. For the Popsicle Art see the, well, Popsicle Art. You get the message. I reckon that the three floor decorations hidden behind padlocks are the only additions which haven't migrated over from Bakery Story.

It has to be said that I have been fairly vocal in saying that I'd be quite happy for some crossover between the two games. After all there are numerous items which are applicable to both and clearly not having to design as many new pieces is to the benefit of the gamemakers. However to see so many decorations make the crossing in one update is very discouraging. Bolster the stuff you've prepared specifically for Restaurant Story with one or two chattels from Bakery Story, but don't just pull across a complete update Storm8!

It's sad because when you objectively look at each of the new items in turn some of them are actually quite good. The rendering of the Frozen Table offers a coldness that is subtle yet effective. The Frozen Stool makes for a great piece of decor all on its own. And the Frozen Tile may not be a realistic depiction of the frozen ground, but it does provide something clean and flexible.

Okay, there are some characteristic duds in there too, such as the Popsicle Art which doesn't fit in with anything and the Ice Cream Wall which sounds delicious but looks somewhat corny. Then there's the Frigid Counter whose snowball within results in it joining the ranks of the glass box style counters I've so often criticised.

The one new decoration which can be viewed in a positive light even after considering the timing is the Snow Cone Machine. A 2x2 item, this is actually a box second prize in Bakery Story. It can quite comfortably pass for a summer item, with cold treats available for anyone who requires refreshing in the summer heat. Indeed this could be used as justification for the Ice Cream Wall and Popsicle Art too, although we as players shouldn't have to make that kind of stretch to justify content.

I don't think I've been less thrilled by a goals update. It smacks of a lack of effort, with the game's developers just grabbing whatever ready-made stuff they could find in the back of the cupboard. Of course given the circumstances that have been thrust upon everyone involved in this game this year it is perhaps not all that surprising. And maybe I should be grateful for an update at all.

It's also worth mentioning that the quality of the few updates we have had in 2017 has been very high. I've been really happy with just about every theme that has been covered, so there's no doubt that I can let this one go. But the Bakery Story crossover has to be toned down in my opinion.

And now a late addition - a sale was launched a few hours after the main update was released.

Notification for Winter in July sale

This sale does seem to offer a hint of a Christmas in July theme, although plenty of the goodies included are purely of the winter variety. There are 33 items included in total, and you can see them all together below:

Winter in July sale items

Among the stuff given the orange border treatment are four boxes, three of which are summer themed! Don't get too excited though - the Beach Resort Box and Ice Cream Crate were included in a summer sale only last month!

That does it for now - you can get all the details pertaining to the goals in my dedicated post here, with a goals content report to follow when I finish the quest myself. For now though dear readers, brace yourselves for the Long Night.