Father's Day iOS Game Sale: Scratch dad's gaming itch on the go

Madden NFL 11 iOS
Alright, just admit it: Father's Day is less than two days away, and you still didn't get him something. (I got mine a grill ... shh!) Don't worry, we've got you covered--well, EA, Gameloft and Firemint do at least. We're just the messengers. All three iOS game creators have started Father's Day sales for tons of great games to give your pop on the cheap. With game's like Madden NFL 11, Real Racing and Real Soccer 2011 for just $.99, your dad is gonna' love these mobile gaming gifts. Here are the games you can find on sale in the Apple App Store (each link will direct you to the game's App Store page):

EA (Electronic Arts):

    Battlefield: Bad Company 2 – $.99
    Command & Conquer: Red Alert – $.99
    Command & Conquer: Red Alert HD – $1.99
    Dead Space – $2.99
    Dead Space HD – $4.99
    Dragon's Lair 2: Time Warp – $.99
    FIFA 11 – $.99
    FIFA 11 HD – $4.99
    Fight Night Champion – $.99
    Madden NFL 11 – $.99
    Madden NFL 11 HD – $.99
    Monopoly – $.99
    NBA Jam – $.99
    NBA Jam HD – $4.99
    Need For Speed Hot Pursuit – $.99
    Need For Speed Hot Pursuit HD – $4.99
    Need For Speed Undercover – $.99
    Need For Speed Shift -$.99
    Need For Speed Shift HD – $4.99
    Reckless Racing – $.99
    Reckless Racing HD – $.99
    RISK – $.99
    RISK HD – $1.99
    Sim City Deluxe – $.99
    Sim City Deluxe HD – $.99
    Tetris – $.99
    Tetris HD – $1.99
    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 HD – $2.99


Real Soccer 2011
Gameloft:

    Eternal Legacy – $.99
    Eternal Legacy HD – $.99
    Fast Five: The Movie: Official Game – $.99
    Fast Five: The Movie: Official Game: HD – $.99
    Fishing Kings – $.99
    Gangstar: Miami Vindication – $.99
    Gangstar: Miami Vindication HD – $.99
    NFL 2011 – $.99
    NFL 2011 HD – $.99
    Order & Chaos Online – $.99
    Real Soccer 2011 – $.99
    Real Soccer 2011 HD – $.99
    Spider-Man: Total Mayhem – $.99
    Spider-Man – Total Mayhem HD – $.99

Real Racing 2
Firemint:

    Real Racing -- $.99
    Real Racing HD -- $1.99
    Real Racing 2 -- $4.99
    Real Racing 2 HD -- $6.99


It's safe to assume that each of those games with the letters "HD" at the foot of its title are for iPad only. And while EA and Firemint hit it on the nose with games a dad would go gaga for, we're a bit confused by some of Gameloft's choices. Unless your dad is a major nerd (like us), we doubt he'll dig Order & Chaos Online. Though, at least this company is the only one to offer a soccer game, so kudos to them for that. And even if you're no baby's daddy, you're free to treat yourself--just don't forget to get a little something for who truly deserves it: old poppa dukes.

New Playfish GM Aaron Loeb: '[Social games are] just not going away'

The next console developer to join the ranks of the Facebook game regime, Aaron Loeb--formally of Planet Moon Studios, now of Playfish--said to Gamasutra, "People might look at the Facebook games right now and say, 'I can't imagine that's what people will be doing 20 years from now, ergo this will never last and it's a bubble.'" Loeb, now the general manager of Playfish in San Francisco, claims to have never been on the traditional developers to roll their eyes in response to the social gaming movement.

In fact, Loeb said, "It's just not going away," he says. "In fact it's only going to get stronger and better, and games are always at the forefront of how new technologies expand. We have no idea how huge this stuff can get, and it's going to be unbelievably important to the growth of companies, and to the growth of the industry." In other words, advanced social gaming is bound to expand into more devices and become simply commonplace.

Loeb went on in the interview to explain his strengths honed in his days of console development and how he plans to apply them to new position. Team building is his game, and he's bringing it to Playfish. More important is how confident he claims to have been in social game development while working with consoles. Most traditional developers we hear are crying foul. Perhaps time for lashing out at social games is nearly over, and now the movement boons? Let's hope, because it's about time.

How do you think Loeb will fare at Playfish? Do you think the time for the movement to, well, move forward is here?

The Sims Social Haunted House Week items punish friends' pranks

We know, you're sick and tired of your arch nemesis in The Sims Social sabotaging everything you do. From peeing on your azaleas to hacking into your computer and breaking your appliances you've about had it. Luckily for you, EA and Playfish recently brought Haunted House Week to The Sims Social. Of course, that means a long list of new items are up for grabs.

From interesting, bovine-headed plants to spooky couches and infernal organs, you're just about covered for scaring the bejeezus out of your friends' avatars. Let's not delay this any further. Here are all the decorations (that matter) from the Haunted House Week in The Sims Social:

Trans-Van Furnace

    Costs: 45 SimCash
    House Value: 6,650


Trans-Van Turn

    Costs: 2,000 Social Points
    House Value: 5,350
    Boosts Sleep


Haunted Organ

    Requires 15 Music Skill
    House Value: 5,200
    Boosts Fun


Trans-Van Candle

    Costs: 3 SimCash
    House Value: 450


Toasting Drinks

    Costs: 50 Social Points
    House Value: 100
    Boosts Funs and Social


Candelabra of Calamity

    Costs: 4 SimCash
    House Value: 600
    Boosts Fun and Social


Trans-Van Buttress

    Costs: 350 Simoleons
    House Value: 250


Sullen Ancestral Skull

    Costs: 350 Simoleons
    House Value: 250
    Boosts Fun and Social


Light in Despair

    Costs: 12 SimCash
    House Value: 1,750


TrueReflection Afterlife

    Costs: 200 Social Points
    House Value: 400


Infernal Organ     L. Simnivorii     Light in Despair
Undying Classics Side

    Costs: 400 Simoleons
    House Value: 250


Vlad's Dog

    Costs: 14 SimCash
    House Value: 2,050


Trans-Van Mort

    Costs: 500 Simoleons
    House Value: 350


Trans-Van Compact

    Costs: 600 Simoleons
    House Value: 450


Trans-Van Throne

    Costs: 600 Simoleons
    House Value: 450


Trans-Van Boss

    Costs: 24 SimCash
    House Value: 3,550


Gargle Goyle

    Costs: 29 SimCash
    House Value: 4,300
    Boosts Fun and Social


UndyingClassics Desk

    Costs: 1,000 Simoleons
    House Value: 950


Furnace     Trans-Van Pew     TrueReflection Mirror
L. Simnovorii

    Costs: 500 Social Points
    House Value: 1,150
    Boosts Fun and Social


UndyingClassics Chest

    Costs: 600 Social Points
    House Value: 1,450


Trans-Van Dining Table

    Costs: 39 SimCash
    House Value: 5,750


Trans-Van Pallid

    Costs: 700 Social Points
    House Value: 1,750
    Boosts Sleep


Cuckcoo Clock

    Requires Quest Unlock
    House Value: 1,900
    Boosts Fun and Social


Trans-Van Pew

    Costs: 800 Social Points
    House Value: 2,050
    Boosts Sleep


UndyingClassics Shelf

    Costs: 1,000 Social Points
    House Value: 2,750
    Boosts Fun


Trans-Van Bloodcold and/or Spinechill

    Cost: 2,500 Simoleons
    House Value: 2,000
    Boost Happiness and Food


EA and Playfish threw in a number of new floor tiles, wallpapers and windows for players to use to fill out that haunted house feel. While a good amount of the cooler items in this collect go for SimCash, as one would expect, there are quite a few decorations like the L. Simnovorii and the Trans-Van fridges that at least go for Social Points. Don't worry, you'll get some good scares for your friends on the cheap this Halloween. Well, at least in Littlehaven--have you been to a costume shop?

Have you picked up any of the new Haunted House items in The Sims Social this week? How do you normally celebrate Halloween outside Facebook?

The Sims Social Cheats and Tips: A Guide to Land Expansions

You've grown out of room to put all of your cool stuff? Man, a Sim's life sure is rough, huh? Well, we're about to make your Sim's life in The Sims Social even easier. A large component to the game is building out your Sim's dream home, which of course, requires you to expand, expand expand. So, here is everything you need to know about Land Expansions in The Sims Social:

Are You Financially Prepared?
Before you even think about expanding your home, you will need to level up a bit. To expand your property for the first time, reach Level 10 and accumulate a House Value of at least 25K. To increase your House Value, simply buy more stuff! Once that's through, you will find "For Sale" signs littered around your property.

Location, Location, Location
Next, it's time to choose where you want to expand first. Expansions are good only for the square in which you request. Click on the square, and a pop-up window will appear with the requirements for a Land Expansion. Surprise--you'll need to ask your friends for items in true Facebook game fashion.
The Sims Social For Sale Sign
Oh, and it'll cost you a chunk of Simoleons, too. While the first Land Permit Application requires just four items and 2,000 Simoleons to take, we imagine this would increase with later expansions. Also, read carefully: This is a Land Permit Application, remember? That means ...

The Waiting Game
Every time you apply for a Land Expansion through this process, it'll take some time go through. And we're talking literal time: Your first Land Permit Application will not be accepted for one minute after completing it. Sure, this is nothing, but just wait until you reach your 11th and final expansion. That's right, it'll take days later on for applications to go through. Here are the requirements for each Land Permit Application, and the time it takes for each to go through:

Land Expansion Requirements:

    * First: 25K House Value; Level 10
    * Second: 30K House Value; Level 11
    * Third: 70K House Value; Level 12
    * Fourth: 80K House Value; Level 14
    * Fifth: 90K House Value; Level 16
    * Sixth: 100K House Value; Level 19
    * Seventh: 120K House Value; Level 22
    * Eighth: 140K House Value; Level 26
    * Ninth: 170K House Value; Level 31
    * 10th: 200K House Value; Level 38
    * 11th: 250K House Value; Level 45

The Sims Social Land Permit Application
Land Permit Application Wait Times:

    * First: One minute
    * Second: Five minutes
    * Third: 30 minutes
    * Fourth: One hour
    * Fifth: Two hours
    * Sixth: Four hours
    * Seventh: Eight hours
    * Eighth: 12 hours
    * Ninth: One day
    * 10th: Two days
    * 11th: Three days


Once your application has been approved, you'll definitely know. It's said that a prize comes with each major Land Expansion, and that your Sim won't be able to help but celebrate. And after all the hard clicking work, we doubt you will either.

[Source and Image Credit: Playfish]

Have you started expanding your property in The Sims Social yet? What do you think of how Playfish is handling land expansions in the game? Share with us in the comments. Add Comment