I started first with Zynga a company who has made $39 Million from social games. They have 2 well recognized and established applications on Facebook Farmville & CityVille.
1. Farmville
General Opinion
I didn't understand the big deal about the whole thing you lay crops and just when you get into it their asking you for "Farm Cash" very annoying this is a constant complaint of mine for all these virtual worlds or social games you just get into them and their asking you for money. You have to be using the application every day or your crops die the more time you put into it the more you can develop your farm.
Features I did Like
- The sign was a good idea you can place a sign on your farm and people can leave comments on it.
- The five steps to complete to start you off in the game they stay at the top till you have completed them. There is "Start Farming", "Give Email Address", Become a Fan", "Play 3 days ion a row",
- The point system so you are competing against friends, you build up points for the more effort and time you put in
- The bottom toolbar makes it easy to know what your doing, the tools are very easy accessible
Picture of Interface
Features I didn't Like
- Constant asking for money
- The use of an Avatar
- The lack of things to create at the beginning (The reason I didn't proceed with the application)
- Takes ages loading
- Sending gifts?
2. CityVille
General Opinion
Preferred it in comparison to Farmville a define improvement by Zygna. It is more realistic in my opinion I person can relate better to building a city a have a better feeling of accomplishment. The asking for money is evident but not as dependable as Farmville
Features I did Like
- Uses population count instead of points
- Can visit other friends cities
- The bottom toolbar makes it easy to know what your doing, the tools are very easy accessible. Gives you good easy layout and shows you what you can build.
- Can make away better places like in the interface pictures below you can see the comparison between a standard city to a more advanced city
- Can do a good amount of stuff before you run out of money
- The animations walking around
- You get rent from the houses you build
- You have energy levels you have to build up
- Daily bonus awards and bonuses for playing 3 days in a row
- You had to build government buildings
- Really liked the landscape especially the water
Picture of Interface
Features I didn't Like
- Constant asking for money
- Annoying background music
- Things popping up to the screen constantly
- Gifts?
- The limitations are the reason i stopped playing, the game was fun for the first 15mins even the next day I played it I had fun for 5mins before limitations of not having enough money kicked in
3. Hotel City
General Opinion
Boring. Seemed interesting at the start to build a hotel but just could do 2 little to make me interested before had to pay money. Don't like the way you have to build upwards and no stairs, makes no sense!
Features I did Like
- Tutorial that highlights all the features at the start
- Gave tips & advice
- Nice Zoom in/out buttons
- Neat layout to toolbars etc
Picture of Interface
Features I didn't Like
- Clustered interface
- Things popping up to the screen I wasn't sure what was going on half the time
4. My Town
General Opinion
This was my favourite out of all the applications I played and if I was to waste money it would probably be on this application. It is like a modified version of cityville has stats, trophies too which is away better technique of getting a user to accomplish things.
Features I did Like
- Tutorial that highlights all the features at the start
- Best Layout everything you need is easily accessible and in front of out
- Best zoom in/out option
- Roads free to build
- Also collects rent but if your late you lose rent
- The demolition tool is a first, you have to pay to demolish something others its just like deleting this adds to the experience
- Toolbar is superior
- Can buy multiple towns
- Good help made that is easily accessible from top tab bar
Picture of Interface
Features I didn't Like
- Landscape too plain
- I still don't like the whole gift thing but I suppose good way to get people playing the game
- Background music is very irritating
- Invite and add neighbours same thing?
- Cash is pretty much worthless in comparison to coins
5. Millionaire City
General Opinion
Same thing over again but not as good layout. Free roads was a plus you could get fairly creative with the roads but nothing really exciting this application could have been rated higher only for me playing it after my town like it has same features like free roads, demolition, expansion but just is not presented as well as my town. Toolbar was a huge disappointment and wouldn't play the game again just over that.
Features I did Like
- Tutorial that highlights all the features at the start
- I like the expansion options and landscape its not plain
- lots of expansion room
- Building takes time to build or you can spend more for an instant build
- You have to build sites first
- Cars driving on the roads
- Have to unlock levels
Picture of Interface
Features I didn't Like
- Layout of toolbars etc is poor and not easy to see this is essential to be laid out properly and wasn't so very disappointed
- Very slow loading
- You choose a man or woman as your avatar
- A new screen pops up with your building etc options
- Very shiny interface
- not enough things to build
I also played Nightclub City, Social City, Zoo World and couple more nothing really worth mentioning about them that hasn't already been mentioned.
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