The Killer Pumpkin assaults Pocket God on Facebook this Halloween

Do not under any circumstances mistake this for The Great Pumpkin. A killer pumpkin beast has attacked everybody's favorite pygmies in Pocket God on Facebook. Quebec-based Frima Studio has released a Halloween update to its social rendition of Pocket God, complete with new quests and powers, which means new ways (and reasons) to send pygmies to their doom.

While the game is down for maintenance as of this writing, a new Global Challenge awaits the game's 190,000 monthly players. The Great Jack-o'-Pygmy wants pumpkins everywhere this Halloween, and has granted players with the power to summon a giant pumpkin that transforms pygmies into pumpkins. And when those gourds grow to gigantic proportions, they can even be used to crush more pygmies.

A healthy seven solo quests have been introduced in honor of the costume and candy-filled day. Alright, we know all you care about is how you're going to squish more pygmies. Does this top a unicorn that farts radioactive rainbows? Not by a long shot, but hey, it's the Halloween season, and pumpkins just work. Besides, to best the unicorn, Frima would have to make a unicorn that farts double rainbows--that's still hip, right?

Check out the rest of our Halloween coverage right here >

Have you played Pocket God on Facebook before? What do you like about the game's social edition, and what would you do to change it?

PopCap says 'Happy Halloween' with pumpkins, zombies and ... a rave?

At this point, Halloween just comes too easy for Seattle-based PopCap Games. The maker of hits like Bejeweled Blitz, Zuma Blitz and, in this case, Plants vs Zombies has provided us with one crazy video. A resident zombie temp worker at PopCap is on a quest to ring in Halloween the right way, perhaps to impress his living co-workers and score a full-time position.

So, he's not the best pumpkin carver, and shows his lack of skill quite well in a PopCap cafeteria. It's then that the clumsy cadaver comes up with an idea, which is rare for a zombie, no? The result is probably the most fly dance party PopCap has ever seen, complete with a very ... festive zombie. Of course, we don't want to give too much away now. (Well, no more than that image already does.)

This video comes just weeks after the studio showed us Crazy Dave's (also from Plants vs Zombies) rap game. At this point, we'll admit that we're pretty envious at how well the PopCap folks can get down. Now, could those folks get down and release Lucky Gem Casino already? And maybe after that some Plants vs Zombies on Facebook--alright, we're getting greedy.


Are your big plans for Halloween this year as awesome as a zombie dance party? Which of PopCap's games do you hope hits Facebook next?

Meteor Games makes Island Paradise an island terror for Halloween

For about 350 days of the year, Island Paradise is a game about kicking back and running the most chillax resort possible. But Meteor Games likes to put that idea on its head for about two weeks every year in time for Halloween. This year, however, the Beverly Hills, Calif.-based developer has more in store for hapless Island Paradise players than just a few items.

A spook-filled (for now) new mini game has launched in Island Paradise, Slots of Fun. From now through Nov. 3, players can jump in and try to win unique, Halloween-themed prizes, namely materials to make costumes for their avatars. In order to receive the most materials, you'll have to try and match three rows of slots featuring characters dressed in Halloween garb like a "Cat Burglar, Space Monkey, Swan Ballerina, Mad Koala Scientist and more," according to Meteor Games.
Slots of Fun
Of course, there will be a number of cutesy Halloween goodies to grab in the in-game shop like a Sleepy Hollow Tree, a Bone Fence and a Flamingo Skeleton to name a few. Meteor Games will also hold a special event on Oct. 26, National Howl at the Moon Night, offering the game's Crescent Island expansion and Brown Wolf animal at a discount. Now, we wonder if Turkish folk celebrate a similarly awesome holiday.

Check out the rest of our Halloween coverage right here >

Are you planning on celebrating Halloween in Island Paradise? What are your big plans for the joyously terrifying fall holiday?

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?

FarmVille Sneak Peek: Giant Jack-O'-Lantern collection event coming for Halloween?

My, my is Zynga ever predictable. It looks like a third Jack-O'-Lantern collection event will be coming to FarmVille to celebrate Halloween this year, asking users to collect pieces of candy or other themed items (called "Treats") in order to trade them in for collectible items inside a new "Giant Jack-O'-Lantern."

If the menu below is anything to go by, then FarmVilleFreak has discovered that the menu will allow us to not only collect Treats to fill a meter (as we're used to), but we might also be able to purchase the prizes themselves directly from the menu, if asking for Treats is too time-consuming for your liking (this could also just be a link to purchase Treats in bulk). Either way, keep in mind that some of the text in this window is a placeholder, as we'll of course be able to redeem our Treats for themed items, and not just six different "Purple Valentine Cows." Still, this gives us something to look forward to in the long run, as we know we'll be able to interact with friends to earn as many Treats possible within the few weeks that will likely be available to do so.

As for the Treats themselves, it looks like we'll be able to collect Candy Corn, wrapped pieces of Candy and perhaps even small Jack-O'-Lanterns to fill our Giant Jack-O'-Lantern to the brim. It would be great to see a return of the Haunted House as well, giving us free Candy daily, but a new item released for the same purpose also wouldn't be an entirely bad thing.


We'll make sure to keep an eye on all of the Halloween festivities in FarmVille, and will make sure you're the first to know when this Giant Jack-O'-Lantern (or Halloween collection event in general) kicks off in the game.

[Image Credit: FarmVille Freak]

Are you looking forward to collecting pieces of candy to earn more prizes in FarmVille this Halloween? Sound off in the comments.

Pioneer Trail Ghost Town feature coming soon [Video]

Way back in January, Pioneer Trail players (then FrontierVille) were able to take a survey detailing potential new themes for the game. One of those themes just so happened to be "Ghost Town." While it may now be October, it looks like that theme is finally coming around, and will likely comprise the greatest portion of the game's Halloween event this month. While we haven't received much official news in text, Zynga has released a preview trailer for this Ghost Town theme, which it's calling a "Mega-Feature!"

The trailer [embedded below] shows us that the Ghost Town will be more than just an item theme in the game's store; it will apparently be a location we can visit and complete tasks in. The story of Ghost Town sees the evil Mayor Witherwood placing a curse on the town, which has apparently resulted in some... unusual animals and crops being developed. There looks to be some sort of zombie corn with glowing pink eyes, a broken clock tower, Frankenstein's Monster trees, tombstones a plenty (including what looks to be an Indian Burial Ground and ghost frogs) and even floating, zombie / ghost chickens!

We're told that we'll use "your Sharpshooter, Mad Scientist and Shaman" in tasks that resemble those out on the Pioneer Trail map proper. If I'm making an educated guess, it's likely that these positions will be filled by friends, with your Sharpshooter being able to go out and hunt undead bears and other monsters to earn Hides, the mad scientist can "tackle" man-eating plants for Potions, and the Shaman will seek out ghosts and bless them for Spirits. Your own character can also complete tasks, rewarding you with Charms (from rocks, shrubs and buildings). You'll be able to use the hides, potions and spirits to help the locals in Ghost Town, with the ultimate goal being to earn enough keys to open the Mayor's Mansion and bring him to justice.


As for the Charms, you'll use those to earn special, exclusive prizes like decorations along the way. The more Charms you collect, the more prizes you'll apparently wind up with, giving you incentive to play around in Ghost Town for days and even weeks after the feature launches. Unfortunately, we just don't know when that will be.

Either way, we'll make sure to keep track of all things Ghost Town in the Pioneer Trail, and will let you know when you can embark on this spooky adventure in your own game, so keep checking back!

Are you excited to travel to Ghost Town in Pioneer Trail? What sorts of prizes are you hoping to earn along the way? Sound off in the comments.