FarmVille: Zynga boosts News Feed collection limit to 200

After releasing a new item collection limit in FarmVille to stop those players who choose to use automatic bonus collection applications, Zynga faced a lot of heat from its userbase, with both players that use said automatic collectors, and even those that don't, stating that the limit simply wasn't fair. The general consensus was: Why punish the entire group for the acts of just a few? This was only exacerbated by the fact that a new throttle was also introduced, slowing all players (even those who were playing the game entirely on their own) in their bonus collection, so that we now have to wait a few seconds before collecting another item, for fear of being hit with the throttle for the rest of the day (which slows you down even further, potentially causing you to miss free items altogether).

At the time, the item limit was placed at 125 items per day, but due to player suggestions ("outrage" seems like a more appropriate word), Zynga has announced a change to the limit on the official FarmVille forums, to increase the number of bonuses players can claim each day. No, this doesn't get rid of the limit entirely, but we are now able to claim 200 items, rather than the original 125.
Community Manager Stumpgrinder posted:
Based on your feedback we've made multiple adjustments to the throttling and item limit systems and we will continue to do so as we examine the data. A further adjustment we've decided to make is that we have increased the maximum number of items that can be collected from the feed on a daily basis from 125 to 200, effective immediately. With this increase we believe we have achieved a very good balance for all of our players from this point onward.Stumpgrinder adds that if users who aren't using automated programs still feel they are being unfairly limited in their item collection, they should post their continued feedback on the forums.

It seems like it was only a matter of time before Zynga simply had to increase the limit on users, for fear of losing agitated players altogether. Whether you use an automated collection program or not, the simple idea of not being able to take advantage of all of the free items that Zynga highly encourages, or even sometimes forces you to post simply doesn't make sense. We can understand Zynga's frustration, though, and hope that they continue to take this matter seriously into the future.

What do you think of the increased item limit? Have you already reached it, or does this finally give you a chance to collect each and every item your friends post? Let us know in the comments.
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Tags: farmville, farmville item limit, FarmvilleItemLimit, news feed, NewsFeed, zyngaEmail ThisRelated StoriesFarmVille Scam Alert! Do not click on 'Teacup Pig' News Feed PostsFarmVille Scam Alert: Stay away from 'Kung Fu Duck' Facebook postsFacebook Game Cheats and Tips: How to master the new News FeedPlease enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.blog comments powered by DisqusAdvertisementSearch The Blog

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Game of the Day: TextTwist

The Game of the Day is going to test those old spelling skills . TextTwist: Are you word wise? Do you love SCRABBLE? Take the Text Twist challenge! Win points when you unscramble the letters to make new words. TextTwist a classic on Games.com and people play it for hours. Join the craze.
Click --> play TextTwist
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.Bookmark this site! Email ThisPlease enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.blog comments powered by DisqusAdvertisementSearch The Blog

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FrontierVille Update: Visit Neighbors who visit you the easy way

A new feature has launched in FrontierVille. Hold you horses--it's nothing huge. When a friend visits you in the game and their avatar appears on your homestead, you now have the option to visit them right back before accepting the help. It's no big deal, but it's a much welcomed change over here. Come to think of it, Zynga probably should have included this a long time ago. It seems only natural that we'd want to return the favor, right? Well, be thankful now that it's easier than ever to do just that.

Saints Row on Facebook: Beating Mafia Wars at a different game

When I noticed that Saints Row, the Grand Theft Auto-inspired gang busters game for consoles, was on Facebook, assumptions ran wild. Though, the one rang most loudly was, "Here comes another Mafia Wars." THQ and Punch Entertainment threw us a curve ball with Saints Row: Total Control on Facebook. Admittedly, it looks strikingly similar to Crime City, but what's more surprising the developer didn't play it safe and copy the most popular mobster social game out there. And it makes for a refreshing and mildly fun experience, even if the graphics look like something out of a late '90s flash game.

Let's just address the elephant in the room right away: This game does not look good. The artwork lacks detail much less style and the animations are far from smooth. In fact, there is little motion in this social edition of Saints Row to begin with. Worse off, the music becomes a bother minutes after logging in. Shoddy graphics and animations? Check. Annoying sounds and music? Check. That leaves one hopefully redeeming quality: gameplay.

Zynga to shut down Mafia Wars: Cuba on March 3 in new story arc

No, we didn't stutter. Mafia Wars: Cuba is going for good in less than a week, so clear out everything you can from there now before it's all gone. According to Zynga, the game's storyline is headed in a new direction and its oldest locale will be the center of it all ... sort of. It's where a new global criminal organization will begin its conquest to become to world's largest drug trafficker, and no one will be safe come March 3.

In fact, you'll be downright kicked out. There is a new set of missions for players Level 18 and above available now with Cuba that involve combating this threat, but we doubt your mobs will succeed. If you need a hint, here is one wearing a chicken suit painted in red:

"A shadowy organization called the Neo-Imperium is secretly working to destabilize the current world order and control all criminal activities throughout the planet. The Neo-Imperium are attempting to overthrow the government and install a puppet leader to establish one of the biggest drug trafficking centers in the world. This is a warning to all Mafia crime bosses that Cuba is no longer safe."

You hear that? That means have fun with these missions now, but come March 2 you better collect from every property and empty your vaults and banks before the Neo-Imperium takes over. In fact, Zynga is hosting 5x Job Mastery right up until the city becomes grayed out in the travel options.

Not to mention a new loot item will drop from now through March 2 that might come in handy against these bullies. Oh, and you'll get an extra 10 percent cash payout if you complete the missions on time. Is that enough of a kick in the butt for you? Before you jump the gun, check out Zynga's full FAQ.

Zynga's CityVille is flawed (and brilliant): The issue of roads

Ever visited a friend's city in CityVille and notice something odd. It doesn't look like a city at all. There are rows upon rows of sushi bars on one end of the town while there is a slew of expensive chateaus on the other. (If everyone is living in $1 million homes and eating sushi all day, who is working at the banks and post offices much less the sushi bars?) But continue to suspend your disbelief for a moment and look between these fine, unrealistically placed establishments surrounded by elaborate bushes. Where did all the roads go?

They're gone, because they are worthless in CityVille. Roads cost 10 coins per square and serve no other purpose than to give pedestrians a place to walk between Businesses. However, Sidewalks cost double that, but take up less space and are much, much longer. So, what reason would an illustrious mayor have to place roads in their city rather than sidewalks. That's valuable space wasted that could be used by more homes and businesses. This is a fundamental flaw to CityVille and one of several reasons why players have reached such astronomical levels so quickly.

CityVille Suitable for Edgar Quest: Everything you need to know

As we told you earlier today, Zynga has launched a new quest set in CityVille surrounding Ruth and Edgar, along with Ruth's dear pigeons! While the first quest had us helping to prepare a meal for Ruth and Edgar, this second quest, called Suitable for Edgar, will have you helping Edgar find "parking for his expensive car."

You'll only be able to complete this quest after completing the "Edgar & Ruth Dine" quest, so make sure to take a look at our complete guide to finishing that quest if you need help. You'll need to be level 13 to access both of these quests in your game (they simply won't appear for you until that time). To complete this quest for Edgar, you'll need to ask your friends to send you 6 Coupons, by clicking on the "Ask your Friends" button and then posting a general news item on your feed asking for help.

The other two tasks in this quest involve new items that have recently been added to the game. The first is the Department Store, which is the prize for completing the Edgar & Ruth Dine quest. You'll still need to purchase this building from the store for 8,000 coins, but you won't be able to add one to your town until you unlock it at the end of said quest. Once you build the Department Store, you'll need to collect profits from it three times. It takes 135 Goods to stock the Department Store.
The final task has you simply purchasing one new decoration from the store - a Parking Lot, that costs just 10 coins.

For completing this second of the two new retail quests, you'll unlock the TV Terrace home, a building that costs 10,500 coins to build from the store, and will add 190 citizens to your town's population. It's a quick-earning building, offering you 11 coins every five minutes, which makes it great for those quests that ask you to collect from Residential buildings numerous times to move on.

We'll be sure to let you know if more retail quests are added in the future, so keep checking back.

What do you think of this new quest in CityVille? Will you work through this second quest to unlock a new home type in the store? Let us know in the comments.

FrontierVille Badges: Learn how to earn every stinkin' badge right here

After you complete FrontierVille's Jackalope Society Missions, you will be able to access the new Badge system in the game. Right now, there are 13 badges in the game and they can be earned by going about your daily in-game tasks -- visiting 15 neighbors, spending 10,000 coins -- to deliberate badges that require extra effort on your part -- like spending 500 Energy in a Day (which means you'll have to have lots of meals gifted from friends or buy 'em yourself) and scoring 5 points in the Horseshoe Pit (which will require you to actually build your own pit).

I'm sure these badges are just the beginning -- so, if you're an overachiever like me -- try to secure all of these badges before the new ones start showing up. See all 13 badges, what you need to do to earn them and what rewards you get for completing them after the jump.

FarmVille iPhone App Update v. 1.07 to fix stabiility issues

Zynga has pushed yet another update to its infamous FarmVille iPhone app. This time around, in Version 1.07 (much smaller than before), the only changes made were, "Bug fixes to improve loading and resolve crashes," according to the iTunes page. As always, the update is free, but does it really improve anything?

In my experience since the update, loading times are still excruciatingly slow (even on WiFi) and, most importantly, push notifications still refuse to work. Is that not the number one reason players use the iPhone app?

What are your experiences with the FarmVille iPhone app since 1.07 was pushed out? Are you satisfied with the improvements Zynga claims it has made to the app? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

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A Mafia Wars Wedding: John Sweeney and Joanne Doane find love in their favorite game [Interview]

Love can be found in the most unexpected of places. For John Sweeney and Joanne Doane, it was in the type of place most go to escape from everyday life, but within Zynga's Mafia Wars the two found themselves in a relationship that went above and beyond digital clan wars and leveling up. These lovestruck gamers from two opposite ends of a state soon united and on September 17 at Central Station in Treasure Isle, Florida, it was official -- John and Joan became the first husband and wife who met in Mafia Wars.

So, what's it like finding love in your favorite social game and running both a clan and a podcast together? More importantly, how does it all change the way you play? As it turns out for these mafia dons-turned-mafia lovers, not much.

I think this is the first question on a lot of peoples' minds: Where are you going for your honeymoon?
We are thinking of either going to New York as we have family there or maybe just a nice relaxing trip to Hawaii.

Aside from your mob-themed cake, what other elements of Mafia Wars made their way into the ceremony?
We gave everyone toy water guns and knives and everyone had fun attacking each other. They even attacked the bad karaoke singers as that was the going. All in all, good clean fun.

FarmVille German Animals and Buildings: Gelbvieh Cow, Mountain Tavern and more

Joining the FarmVille German Theme are more animals, buildings and decorations than you can shake a hiking stick at. Zynga has introduced two new animals, two buildings and four decorations. Here's what was made available in the market recently:

Animals

Gelbvieh Cow: 22 Farm Cash, Harvest in 1 day Lynx: 18 Farm Cash, Harvest in 2 days
Buildings

Mountain Tavern: 34 Farm Cash, 800 XP Moss Cabin: 300,000 coins, 3,000 XP
Decorations

Forest Waterfall: 34 Farm Cash, 720 XP Black Forest: 22 Farm Cash, 275 XP Tree Arch: 10,000 coins, 100 XP Flower Bed: 3,000 coins, 30 XP
All of these items will be gone in just 11 days and ask for a combined 130 Farm Cash, or just over $20 USD.

Excited to get your hands on these new items? Let us know in the comments. Add Comment.

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Pet Society Paw Paw Revolution Game: Build or buy your own dance machine

Playfish might be taking the hardcore game references a bit too far with Paw Paw Revolution, the newest decoration to grace Pet Society with its rhythmic presence. What's great about this decoration is that it gives you options.

If you want it right now, you can buy the whole darned thing outright for 26 Playfish Cash, or about $5 USD. However, patience is a virtue and for those of you who can 18 days, this dance machine will be yours to make a fool of your digital self with. Paw Paw Revolution, like the Space Rocket and Playhouse before it, can be built by asking friends for parts. The item requires 18 parts and players can only ask for one part daily, unfortunately. Can you resist the allure of instant gratification?

Will you be building or buying your Paw Paw Revolution? Need friends to help you out? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

Filed under: Pet Society

Email ThisRelated StoriesPet Society: Hideeni returns with moody fruit plushies, find them all for a prize!Pet Society Bunny Dispenser: Collect six bunny toys from the comfort of your homePet Society Halloween Competition 2010: Design spooky items for Playfish CashPlease enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.blog comments powered by DisqusAdvertisementSearch The Blog

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PetVille Design-A-Pumpkin Contest: Carve your spookiest pumpkin for 100 Pet Cash

In PetVille, the Halloween festivities have officially begun with Zynga's Design-a-Pumpkin Contest. Running through October 10, players have been asked to design their own pumpkin to be included in the game as a giftable decoration that will be sold for coins in the PetVille store. Speaking of coinage, the three winners chosen by the Zynga community team--who will also receive the three winning designs--will be rewarded handsomely with a sweet 100 Pet Cash.

What's most interesting about this contest (yes, more interesting than free money) is that the team is accepting all designs, whether they be digital from a program like PhotoShop or, if you're an experienced carver, photos of your own work. How the PetVille designers will work that out is uncertain, but it'll be interesting to see the interpretive work they come up with. Check out the official rules over at the PetVille forums.

Green Hornet Loot Event

Here comes a challenge for the Green Hornet, his aide Kato, and their rolling arsenal, the Black Beauty! Are you ready to be a masked vigilante to protect the rights and lives of decent citizens?

Mafia Wars Pawn Shop

Time to clean out your closet and pay a visit to the new Mafia Wars Pawnshop! Want to trade in some of your old items for awesome new LE loot? Just head over to Trader Goh's and get the best deals in town!
 
If you're at least at level 20 in Mafia Wars, you'll be able to unlock the Pawnshop feature. Each loot item Trader Goh has will be color-coded with the items quality type and will show you exactly what's needed to complete the trade. Simply choose the new item you want and you'll have the option to either purchase it using only Reward Points, or trade in some of your old loot along with a small transaction fee.
 
If you don't have the Pawnshop feature yet, hang tight - we're slowly rolling it out to all of our users so everyone can take advantage of the great deals and steals. Come visit Trader Goh's and see what he can offer you!
 
Click here and head to Mafia Wars: http://zyn.ga/2MI

The Green Hornet

Movie hit theaters this Friday in 3D and it's all the "buzz". Check out the Official Green Hornet Fan Page on Facebook.  Be your own masked vigilante by participating in the Mafia Wars Green Hornet Loot Drop Event going on now.  You need to hurry because the event ends Friday.  Seth Rogen who wrote and stars in will tell you all about it in this video.  Click HERE to view it.

Giftable Hired Guns

Hired Guns For Sale Free!  You read it right! Hired Guns will soon appear on the Free Gift page and this is great news for Mafia Wars players who haven't acquired a mafia of 501. Each Free Gift will contain 2 Hired Guns and every player with a mafia of less than 501 will be able to accept 5 a day for a total of 10 Hired Guns.  If your mafia is 501 or greater, gifts of Hired Guns will convert to Mystery Shipments. Hired Guns will enable you to compete with a wider variety of players on the PvP Fight List until you build your mafia.  Now is the time to let your mafia know that you are not at the 501 mark and to help those players in need of more mafia members.  To make this goal even more exciting, a new Mission will be added soon.  If you're new to the game and not sure why you need 500 additional mafia members, keep reading and learn the best way to go about attaining this ultimate goal!

In Mafia Wars, you can't be the best until you have a mafia of 501.  The rules of fighting seem simple but they are very complex.  Your mafia can contain an unlimited amount of players but only 501 will be used in the combat formula.  The 3 variables used to determine if you are the winner or loser of any fight are your skills, equipment, and mafia members (up to 501).

New Languages for Mafia Wars

French, Italian, German, and Spanish!

To switch your language preference, go to the Account tab on the top right-hand corner of your Mafia Wars homepage. From there, select Language. Then choose the language of your choice, and you’ll be ready to play the entire game in your preferred language. We hope everyone enjoys this latest feature. Go check it out today!

Also, be sure to 'like' the new language fan pages on Facebook, and stay up-to-date for all the happenings in Mafia Wars:
  
French Fan Page
 
Italian Fan Page
 
German Fan Page

Spanish Fan Page

 

Click here and head to Mafia Wars: http://zyn.ga/2ZM

 

Release Notes 1-20-2011

Free Hired Guns
Send and receive two hired guns to your Mafia from the free gifts page. You can get up to 10 free hired guns each day. If you’re not part of the elite 501 Club, it’s time to join up now.

Italy regions 6, 7, and 8 are coming soon!
Get ready to head to the newest regions in Italy and wreak havoc. New jobs and new bosses await.

Mafia Wars is now available in French, Italian, German and Spanish!
Se habla Español? Parlez-vous Français? Mafia Wars is going international. We now offer Mafia Wars in four new languages -  French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Play today in your language of choice!

Feature Voting
Cast a vote for your favorite up and coming mafia wars features!  Votes will be considered for Mafia Wars feature planning