Game update: 18/01/18

Let's get the party started!

Introduction to glow party themed goals

In particular get your glow sticks out! A glow party not the theme most players were probably anticipating, but it's the one we've got, with a range of new content released alongside a fresh set of goals. Here is the complete list of additions:

Tables:

• Phosphorescent Table - 20,000 coins

Chairs:

• Luminescent Chair - 19,000 coins

Floor decorations:

• Glowing Jar Display - 21,000 coins
• Party Hipster - locked by goal
• Underglow Fountain - locked by goal
• Glow Party - locked by goal

Wallpapers:

• Glowing Bokeh - 8,000 coins

Floor tiles:

• Illuminated Tiles - 9,000 coins

Appliances:

• Glowing Oven - locked by goal
• Glowing Drink Maker - locked by goal

Counters:

• Fluorescent Counter - 22,000 coins

The fact of the matter is that Valentine's Day is just around the corner. But looking at past years, it is still a little too early for any lovey-dovey stuff, so perhaps this shouldn't be all that surprising. It's one of those random sorts of updates which can seem strange and out of place at any time of the year, essentially because it isn't tied into a particular season or occasion.

My analysis has to start with the Illuminated Tiles. Since you can purchase any flooring to complete the initial step of the quest I tend to opt for something other than the new release, since they can be so expensive. But with this floor tile I didn't bat an eyelid at the price. It is a beauty. A classic glowing square design which leaves no doubt in the mind as to what you should be going when standing on them - dance!

So many times I have had a dancefloor in my restaurant but no effective flooring to make it work. Having tried the likes of the Foam Mats and Ruby Red Mosaic with mixed results in the past, I can't wait to put together a scene which calls for a dancefloor.

Sadly the Glowing Bokeh wallpaper is less enticing to me. We have a black background upon which a vast number of love hearts of every colour imaginable have been scattered. Some have borders and some are semi-transparent, meaning that it really does look a mish-mash. Bokeh is a technical term used in photography for the section of an image which is blurred when the focus has been placed on another part of the image, and I suppose the transparency with some of those hearts is the connection. But in my view this is a messy wallpaper which lacks any coordination.

In complete contrast, the Glowing Jar Display is a sleek and precise floor decoration. It's 2x2 in size and consists of two black shelves occupied by glowing jars of red, blue and green. They feel like they have been placed very regimentally which does my perfectionist nature the world of good. This could be a really nice inclusion come Halloween for a potion-making set-up, and we've got enough related decor that it's doable.

The last three items which can bought in the market from the off are the new table, chair and counter. More often than not these three are connected by the same overall style, but that is not the case on this occasion. The Phosphorescent Table is a mouthful, but beyond that it's a groovy little number with changing tones of blue in concentric circles eventually giving a white centre to the tabletop. It has a futuristic feel to it which could make it a snug fit for ultra-modern layouts.

There's also something otherworldly about the Fluorescent Counter courtesy of the many glowing speckles. Any kind of magical theme would be a natural habitat, or even a space theme. I feel that this counter has been really well rendered, making excellent use of different shades of blue to give an effective finish.

Lastly there's the Luminescent Chair. The New Chair added in the previous update set a new bar for seating in the game, but I have to admit that this entry is another quality one. The stripes of white on the pink cushioning do a fantastic job of conveying depth and texture, leaving us with an attractive chair.

We do still have three floor decorations awaiting a verdict as well as two appliances and six recipes. But they are just going to have to be patient because we need to get through the goals to access them - you can get details of the accompanying quest in my dedicated post here.

Opening step of glow party themed goals

So does this update receive glowing reviews? I think it's on the way with some fine decor which excites and intrigues in equal measure. The key question when rating an update really is thus - how will I utilise any of the content in my place? And the answer this time is in plenty of ways. All we need now are some new dishes which have a statistical breakdown that makes them actually worth cooking!