To Infinity and Beyond! Deep Space Homer Update Hits TSTO

Hey Howdy Hey Tappers!

Time to explore a galaxy far far away…as the Space Update teased by EA has hit our games!

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This is an IN-GAME UPDATE, so no need to download a new update from the app store (as long as you’ve downloaded the winter removal update.  If you’re still seeing snow in Springfield, you won’t see the Space Update).

Kent Brockman will auto-start this for you.  After the first part (which is basically instant built), you’ll need Comic Book Guy free to start part 2 and Homer free for the task…which is 6s.  At that point you’ll unlock a few of the Deep Space Homer items in the store.   Once you complete another 6s task for Homer the “event” itself will start.  At least initially, this looks similar to the Thanksgiving Event we had this past year.  Where you complete tasks to unlock prizes.

I’ll be back with more details as soon as I go through it all….

It looks like (at least initially) this “event” is 2 weeks long…so it’ll end just in time for a Valentine’s Day Event..

Sorry this took me a little longer than anticipated to update…dealing with a 2 month old who didn’t want to nap today. 

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First up, from what I can tell by the game script requirements.  You have to have Quimby unlocked in order to start this.

So, as mentioned above this is similar to the Thanksgiving Event, where you have to complete tasks in order to unlock prizes.  The prize task screen will open for you once you’ve completed Mars Won Pt. 3.  

First let’s look at what’s new in the store..

rocket launch pad emptyRocket Launch Pad- Free, 9×7 in size.  Instant Build.  Available at Mars Won Pt. 1

New Stuff…

Space_Shuttle NASA_BarneySpace Shuttle Simulator- 120 Donuts.  Comes with Astronaut Barney.  Also produced NARA stars.  Yes, we’ll be doing a Should I Buy…

Inanimated_Carbon_RodInanimate Carbon Rod Monument- 3o Donuts.  Earns 2.75% bonus on all cash and XP (Should I Buy will be done on it, BUT that’s a great value for the bonus % return…)

Returning…

portalgate_menuPortal to Rigel 7- 75 Donuts. Earns $200, 22xp/8hrs Should I Buy

ico_thoh2014_crafting_rigelliantribalhutRigellian Tribal Hut- 20 Donuts.  Earns $75, 7xp/3hrs.

ico_thoh2014_crafting_rigellianshrubRigellian Shrub- 5 Donuts.

Not going to do new Should I Buys for the 3 Rigellian items.  Honestly, they’re not worth it.  Don’t waste your donuts on them.  

Special Barney Offer…

You can now buy Barney’s Bowlarama and Barney for 250 donuts with a rebate of 130 donuts..that’s a steal!

bowlarama and barney

Now onto the prizes….

Space_Training_GroundsSpace Training Center- Complete Cheap Space Homer Pt. 1

Deep_Space_HomerDeep Space Homer- Complete Cheap Space Homer Pt. 2

Shuttle_Hangar Shuttle Hanger- Complete Cheap Space Homer Pt. 3

deepspacehomer2Special Animation for Deep Space Homer- Complete Cheap Space Homer Pt. 4

deepspacehomerwalkSpecial Animation for Deep Space Homer- Complete Cheap Space Homer Pt. 5

Rocket_Launch_PlatformRocket Launch Platform- Complete Cheap Space Homer Pt. 6


 

Another touch….

Potato chips are floating around the air of Springfield…so not you’re not seeing things 😉

chips

If you don’t get the Potato Chips…you must not have seen Deep Space Homer.  It’s a classic gag from the episode.  For those that are confused and don’t get it….


 

And that covers the basics of this mini event.  Just remember you’ve got 2 weeks to earn all of the prizes and then it’s onto something new!

Event Ends February 4th…

What do you think of the Deep Space Homer Event?  Thoughts on the prizes?  How about Barney?  Like the floating chips?  Sound off in the comments below, you know we love hearing from you!

 

 

521 responses to “To Infinity and Beyond! Deep Space Homer Update Hits TSTO

  1. Tracy - 1ltwoody920

    Welcome back, Bunny!

  2. So essentially if you are a long time player and had Barney before this event you spent 250 donuts (and in my case cold hard cash), then need to spend another 120 donuts if you want the skin and simulator (370 total)… versus spending 250 for Barney now, getting 130 back, being able to get the skin and simulator free AND getting to keep an extra 10 donuts (240 total)?

    The good will I was feeling towards EA after the winter event has quickly evaporated. I’m going to take my mind off of the money/donuts I’ve wasted and will undoubtedly continue to waste as I really want that skin/simulator by playing a quick solo campaign on Star Wars Battlefront!

    Son of a…

    • Not quite. If you didn’t already have Barney, you can buy him and the Bowlarama for 250 with a 130 rebate for a net of 120. That includes his astronaut skin, but *not* the shuttle. The price of the shuttle for non-Barney-havers (or those who bought him today with the deal) is 75, so for everything (Barney + Bowlarama + Shuttle), it’s 250 – 130 + 75 = 195. Still a raw deal for the Barney-havers, though.

      • Sounds like that would put the skin at 45 donuts. Which seems cheap for how they’ve been pricing skins lately (more like 90). So, maybe shuttle+skin is a 45 donut discount.

        Should have just made it free, even for someone who doesn’t but any of it, to use when they finally get Barney.

    • Read my post below. There’s little difference between this game and going to a casino. You win some, you lose some.

    • The simulator is separate if that makes you feel any better.

  3. So sad to be unavailable to buy Barney once again. I had a case of Accidental Tapping during the Christmas update in the Act 2, (I got that stupid Winter Card that gave me 2 mistletoes from every action on other towns, 90 donuts gone in a sec), I thought back then that I couldn’t ask for a donuts refund, it’s too late to try???
    If it’s not, please tell me how to contact EA. Thanks, I love the site.

    • I’m sorry that happened to you, but nearly all of us have been there. Don’t let a few dollars stand between you and this deal if you really want Barney. This is an amazing deal, says someone that spent 250 donuts on Barney. But I picked him up for my B and C games! Even if you spent $20, in the grand scheme of things, is it REALLY that big of a deal if you have so much time to waste tapping on this game? Maybe just spend a few bucks (lets say $5 or $6) on scratch offs and see if you get lucky. Good luck!

  4. Ugghhhh…. once again I start an event and it disappears… anyone else having that problem? I placed the launch pad, did some of the jobs, put Wiggam on his job and now it is all gone and Wiggam is tied up for another 22 hours?!?!?!

    I also had been saving for Barney and finally bought him just a few weeks ago at full price… 🙁

  5. I did it. I plunked down $20 for 300 doughnuts so I could get the Barney deal. Since I got so many doughnuts back, I decided to get Lotto and Liquor (Dewey Largo) too. I was a devoted freemium player. I’m glad I did it, but I feel dirty somehow. Is this how all premium players feel? It feels like gambling somehow, and I’m not a gambler. EA is very clever to have offered this deal. I’m sure they’re going to make a boatload of doughnuts- ahem- I mean dollars on this offer to us. 🤑

    • It’s hard when you first break that freemium status, but I’m here to say it’s possible to do that without going completely over to the dark side. I’ve bought a chunk of donuts only once, when there was a great discount donut Gil’s Deal and buying it through Amazon made it an even greater deal. I’ve also bought a Golden Scratch-R maybe 3 or 4 times. But, other than that, I’ve managed to play freemium, so I just call myself a “mostly freemium” player.

      I do have some Amazon credit that I got from answer surveys set aside for when they do another discount donut deal, though.

      • Hi Sandra. Thanks for the support. I enjoy the game a lot. I play constantly-much to my wife’s frustration. I must admit that I forgot about a $5 purchase of doughnuts I made about a year ago. So I guess I’m not a pure freemium player. I can afford to pay $ for doughnuts (dollars to doughnuts….that’s pretty funny. I just got the joke). It just seems a little weird to me to shell out that kind of money for a silly game. But the more I think about it, the more I’m OK with it. I remember going to the video arcade back in the 80’s (yes. I’m that old), and shelling out $ to play q-bert, or dig dug, etc. So I’ve spent $20 for doughnuts. Big whoop. I just don’t want to make a habit out of it. 😎

        Best to all.

        • I remember going to the arcades in the ’70s!

          I HATE Q-Bert!! In the realm of video games, he is my arch-enemy. He just decided in committing suice within, like, 2 seconds of my starting the game. I could go through a quarter’s worth of play (which was worth a lot more in the late 70s) in under a minute!

          I find it easier to spend donuts if I don’t first tranlate the cost into dollars, which I have a nasty habit of doing and which keeps me from buying a lot of things. (“Sure, such and such is cute and all but would I really spend $18 for it a the store? Because that’s what it would cost to buy the number of donuts that such and such costs!”)

          I’m mostly able to buy things (without doing the dollar math) when they’re being sold at a good deal and something I really know I’d enjoy having a lot. For example, that Barney combo was an instabuy because I knew I’d be kicking myself for months (or years) if I didn’t get it. (I had originally not wanted Barney, because his tasks are mostly gross, but once I saw him with the B-Sharps, I fell in love with them and started wanting him. But 250 donuts always seemed way too extravagant and hard to amass. But getting that three-pack combo for a “measly” 120 donuts was just a total no-brainer.

    • How much would you spend if you go out to a movie with popcorn? And how long would that entertainment last? 🙂 I say it’s worth it.

    • i wrote a post about this very recently, but the bottom line is this: when your life is thoroughly invested in this game, why feel shame if you invested a bit to support it?

    • I spend money on this game and never feel bad about it. This game is very enjoyable for me. I love the show and now the game. I rarely go to the movies, mostly because my eyes are bad and it gives me a headache, but when I do, I don’t feel bad about spending the money on it. I don’t go out to eat a lot (I love to cook at home), but again I don’t feel like they scammed me into spending money. Same with any other hobby of mine. At least with TSTO, I get to enjoy my purchase for a long time. I get a story to work and laugh through or with a deco, I get to figure out where to put it and how to make it look great in my town. I feel TSTO is much more enjoyable as a paying player. Just my 2 cents. 🙂

      • I second that. This game is wroth a few bucks here and there. I probably spend 4 hours a day at least on it. TV has become an insult to intelligence so at least this way I can listen to music while mindlessly tapping away. Besides the entire Beatles cataloge just got released.

        • Craig (ibuylow2014)

          TV used to be an insult – all the stupid reality shows. Now with Walking Dead, Vikings, The Expanse, Better Call Saul, Black Sails, Game of Thrones, Hell on Wheels, True Detective and House of Cards, to name a few, I can stand to watch a little TV now and then.

          • I have my shows. House Of Cards, Ash vs Evil Dead, etc but music is dead. Most pop culture is used to dumb people down.

  6. So sad to be unavailable to buy Barney once again. I had a case of “Accidental Tapping” during the Christmas update (I accidentally tapped on the Winter Card, that gave me two mistletoes from every action on a friend town, and 90 donuts went away just like that), I thought back then that I couldn’t ask for a donuts refund, it’s too late to try???

  7. Must admit I’m deeply annoyed at the Barney discount/rebate, having bought him not long ago, pretty much the only time I put actual money onto the game. Half tempted to contact EA and complain, but worried they won’t do anything and it’ll ruin my view/enjoyment of the game completely 🙁

    • I did contact them in the end and they put 20 donuts on my account. Doesn’t make up entirely for being hugely down if I decide to buy Barney but it is something, at least

  8. I’m glad to see people are finally going to be able to get Barney for cheap! I forgot I even paid doughnuts for him. But when he does flips around your town, you won’t regret it. I honestly couldn’t imagine this event without him. I was hoping for a break but this little event looks fun. And I never look at my bonus % but after placing the Carbon rod it pushed me up to 404%, I can live with that.
    And Alissa please don’t apologize for being a mother, we can wait.

  9. What an awesome event 👍 Just hit ONE BEEEELION DOLLARS 😓 Pheww! Aaaaand finished upgrading my IRS building too!!! What a great day

  10. I can’t believe they discounted Barney so heavily. 😐

  11. The Barney deal also includes space Barney. The space simulator shuttle costs 75 donuts without the Barney skin.

  12. Careful…they’re ruffled!!!

  13. I’m so annoyed right now. I’ve been wanting Bowlarama for AGES now, and I could afford it if they just took the 130 donuts off first! (I only have 142.) I don’t see why they can’t just do a regular sale instead of this whole “donuts back” nonsense. Annoyed and disappointed.

    • It’s a money grab. Makes people buy the 250 donuts and because you’re not actually *spending* all of them more people will buy the donuts. At that point EA doesn’t care if you spend the leftovers, they already have your money. Makes sense from a business perspective, sucks to be the customer. That’s why I never give into these rebate deals unless I already have the donuts. No way I’m playing into their hand.

      Sidebar: I’ve disliked Barney ever since he screwed Homer over with the Plow King. Sorry not sorry 💁

    • I know, right? I’ve only got 134 donuts, and I so so want to get Barney. I might finally end up paying a premium for this >.<

    • If you honestly can’t see why they do it that way, I will make it clear for you: They want you to buy donuts if you are a little short, as opposed to you just spending the ones you already have and NOT giving them any money in the process.

  14. I’m constantly getting burned by this game. I just paid full whack for the Bowlerama LAST WEEK! AAAAARGGHHH!

  15. Are those potato chips floating through the air?!

      • ummmmm, why?

        • I guess you never saw the episode…

          • probably wasn’t alive when it came out….! 😉

          • nice comeback tapebelt! I tried to be funny one time. It was THOH and the shinning came out and I said “Someone can’t spell! Haw Haw!” and someone was like “you obviously haven’t seen the episode….” (Crickets.) You get no credit for being funny here. And certainly no E for effort for thinking you are funny. 😉

          • There’s no E grade. Nice try.

            😉 😛

          • heh i apologize if you misunderstood me stephanie. i wasn’t talking about myself, so it wasn’t a comeback… if anything, it was a joke at the expense of my own age, as i started watching the show back in elementary school, and am old enough to have watched the original airing (which i did) of the episode in question.

            and better luck next time on the humor. 🙂 just be glad you didn’t waste 15-20 minutes of your life responding in earnest to a question you thought somebody actually cared about, only to never see a response back in the comments…. 💩

  16. I was kicking myself for having missed Barney and the Bowl-a-rama back during the 2014 Black Friday “sale” when it was offered with a 55 donut refund. But with a 130 donut refund AND an extra costume, this was a no-brainer for me. The added bonus for me is that I finally get to make use of the “Plow King” costume that I earned so many Christmas events ago.

    • I too have had the Plow King outfit for 2 years. I got an extra extra bonus too. I had 123 donuts, so I spent $9.99 for 132 donuts. Amazon gave me 150 Amazon Coins as a reward for making the purchase. That was more than enough for a scratch ticket which I bought. I won 50 donuts. Woo hoo! With the 130 donut rebate, I’m up to 185 donuts! That’s 53 more than I started with!

    • Me too! Barney’s not my favorite character but I blew my Christmas event bonuts on it in a heartbeat. Great tie in to this new event.

    • Oh yea! I forgot all about the Plow King skin! I’m even happier now.

  17. I hoarded some donuts and was considering to get Disco Stu for the heights, but This was such a deal I couldn’t pass! I’m glad I could grab one of the most iconic characters… Now I gotta save up for Disco Stu!

  18. First time commenting, long time Premium player. I actually enjoy non-holiday events more… I can’t enjoy the holiday decor as long as I will with items like these. I’ve already started tricking out a sciency/space area with the spaceship, launchpad, Frink’s Lab, the XP Collider, Frink’s Egg Generator, and a ton of bomb shelters. The El Chemistri building also looks pretty good along with all this stuff, too.

  19. EA is primarily here to make money! We are sucked in their system. Oh! I forgot! Thanks EA for your generosity! Now we can generate do uts, which we could not before! However I still cannot tap Maggie and EA has not resolved the issue. I cannot afford Barney, so will have to work nights to get all the prizes (sic)!

    • It’s very possible to do it WITHOUT Barney. So don’t go down that road…you just have to play and play regularly to do it. Don’t expect to log in once a day and get everything. That’s not true for ANY event…with or without premium characters.

      Also, the Maggie thing. Tap the base of the building, as we’ve mentioned over and over here. That clears it.

    • You need to tap the base of the building that Maggie is sitting on or around. I had a similar problem to start but since tapping at the base of Maggie’s building I am having much better success in “finding” her. Hope this helps. If you try this and it doesn’t work let me know and the next time I tap her I will se what else I am doing and let you know (I play on iOS, just so you know).,

  20. pieridingsharks

    The event is not starting for me Brockman is free but nothings happening

  21. I’m loving these mini event updates. Seems awfully familiar though *cough FG*.

    • Mini events are nothing new for TSTO. They’ve done them for the Superbowl and various holidays in the past. So this isn’t anything new really. More just something to hold us over until Valentine’s Day..

      • not knocking this update since its great and all, but I think some of us would have been just fine with some downtime to remodel our towns. Almost like that’ll never happen, one event ends, *blink* another one starts. But I’m sure the three of you are noticing that also lol.

      • Our last few mini events have (only one that comes to mind that didn’t was Monty money) coincided with holidays or sporting events like you said. What holiday does this Deep Space mini Event correspond with? Nothing. It’s a pure $$$ grab ala *cough FG*.

        • lol i think it’s just something to keep everyone busy and probably not enough to do a full blown event about

          • Probably. Funny thing is I’m not complaining. I got a crappy behind the counter job so this event will make the hours not seem so long.

  22. I just bought bowlorama 2 days ago. Been saving for 5 months for barney. What a waste.

    • Contact EA and ask for a donut refund, see what they say

      • Well, had a little chat with EA and was told there was nothing that they could do for me. As a predominantly freemium player, I hoard my donuts for a special purchase. I have been dying to get Barney and have been feverishly adding to my donut-stockpile with the rail-yard. FINALLY, while milking the last 3 donuts with 4000 bears late in the final day, and praying that the update wouldn’t automatically happen until I received those donuts, I hit the 250 mark. One hour later, got 3 more with maggie’s help. BOOM! Barney was mine!!!! Now, today, I feel deflated and defeated. 3 donuts is what I have left. Booooo EA. I’m going to try my best to get all these prizes sans Barney skin. Challenge accepted!!

    • Wait, what? is Barney offered free during this event?

      • Finally figured everything out (I think) regarding Barney. Kind of a rip off to those that already had him, to have to buy the skin if you want it, AND have paid full price for him to begin with. I had Barney for a while now, but still not happy about this. Don’t care if I have the rocket, but should be able to get the skin if everyone else gets it on purchase.

        • I used to get upset at these deals but just can’t afford the stress. So what? It was so long ago I forgot he was even premium, he’s so iconic I figured he was an early level character. Que serra, serra. I’m happy just to have a new skin for him. I was a little burned out on his regular jobs and Plow King.

        • Everybody has to buy the Space Shuttle to get the astronaut skin. As it says above “Space Shuttle Simulator- 120 Donuts. Comes with Astronaut Barney. Also produced NARA stars. Yes, we’ll be doing a Should I Buy…”

          I get that buying something and later seeing it on sale is a drag, but it’s hardly unique to this game.

          • I know, its just a MAJOR blow to those that really can’t afford the game to begin with, and it happens to be one of their most expensive characters, who is next, Uncle Herb? (and no I don’t have Herb yet, for that very reason, can’t afford bad enough I went as far into premium as have)

          • Also um, I’ve read a few comments already that said the Bowlarama currently COMES WITH the astronaut skin. That’s all I want, is the skin, couldn’t care less about the rocket.

        • I agree! I’m not upset that he went on sale, I understand that happens, but the free skin in the sale (and only the sale) really bothers me.

          I bought the shuttle. I bought it because my grandfather worked for NASA and it holds a special place in my heart. I am glad to have the shuttle in my town. I’m *incredibly annoyed,* though, that it cost 120 donuts rather than 75 donuts just because I *spent 250 donuts previously!*
          I don’t expect EA to make this right, but I do hope they will. I suspect that plenty of people will stop buying donuts if this trend continues.

          • I agree completely, and as for “those people” that will stop buying donuts, I am one of them, already got my TSTO Patch on my arm as we speak. As I’ve said earlier, kudos to those that want the shuttle, but I don’t, and should be able to get the skin cheaply since I already have Barney from the full price “sale”

        • I have a premium and a freemium game.
          Already Had Barney in premium.
          Acquired him today in freemium game (I have 800 saved up from 2 yrs of gameplay, and VERY rarely spend. I have bumblebee man and a couple of things with superb bonus%).

          So I have both sides of the argument personally. Don’t regret buying him premium long ago, don’t mind that others are getting him at a discount, HOWEVER, it does seem like those who already own him should be able to either get the skin cheap, or free.

          After much thought, if this is main item they will sell during event (Barney/skin), they are increasing the possible number of people who MIGHT spend on the event to 100%.
          If they give the skin free, the only people who would spend are those who don’t yet have Barney.
          It’s a good tactic for increasing the number of spenders, and once you break down and spend it’s easier to do it again.
          Frustrated that my “expensive” game will be harder to play in this event than my “free” game, but appreciate the clever idea by them.
          Reminding myself in the expensive game, I don’t HAVE to buy the skin, I don’t HAVE to buy the skin…

          **i also do understand they have other items for sale! but the comments here focus on what appear to be the “main” item so far.

          • Yes that is a good analysis. The players who are premium will tend to stay that way even after expressing their annoyance. The highly discounted will suck in the remaining freenium players who are on the verge of turning into the dark side.

  23. I almost got Barney after Christmas ended but I hoarder the donuts instead. Best. Decision. Ever.

  24. While I was initially excited about this update finding out that I pretty much wasted 250 donuts on Barney less than 3 weeks ago has soured it. Feeling a bit ripped off as no refund donuts, no skin and only had the item for about 20 odd days. I think ea have treated existing purchasers pretty poorly again, to even get the skin we have to buy the shuttle at 120 donuts so I would spend 370 donuts to get barney, the skin and shuttle while everyone else is picking them up for around 200? It’s late here in the UK but I will be on to ea about this tomorrow.

    Ps – sorry to be so negative in my first post ( this just ticked me off tonight!), long time reader and I love the site 😀

    • In my opinion, if “Past You” bought Barney full price at the time, he was worth that amount to you, and you were happy to pay it. “Future You” may be angry, but hindsight is always 20/20. So, live with your decision, and just know you paid a super premium price for a super premium character. :3

  25. Loving the potato chips flying around. “Homer…Noooooooo!”

  26. BrickSponge2015

    hmmm, is it possible to make 52 donuts in 12 days without the Rail Yard or spending over $5?

    • if you play a perfect “where’s maggie?” game you can get 18 donuts from that over the next 12 days – assuming you have the coin to make sure you get three donuts every time.

    • Well, with the Maggie mini game you could earn a minimum of 12 donuts in 12 days (36 if you have cash to always be sure to earn 3 instead of 1) A couple of times you’d win 3 without spending any extra game cash to try again. So 12-18 donuts just playing Maggie game every day and not spending extra game cash, 36 guaranteed if you have the cash.

      $5 in golden scratchers will net minimum 30 (but odds are you’d probably get at least 36).

      Visit neighbors every day and you’ll probably earn a few more. (I have 70 neighbors and average a donut a day over a month).

      It’s doable. 🙂

  27. So it sounds like if you buy Barney at a discount, got get the astronaut skin for free. If, however, you bought him previously at full price, you have to shell out more donuts to get his astronaut skin. They can’t even give us the skin as some sort of consolation. There’s also no decorations available for cash, not even the Rigelian shrub. I have very little to be excited about, here. 🙁

  28. they didn’t waste any time did they? I thought we would get a new level but I’ll take a space event! and perfect timing cause i just got my new phone today. woo hoo!!! 🍩🍩

  29. Somehow I don’t think I have much chance of earning 102 donuts in 13 days & 8 hours… Barney will have to cope without me for a little longer…

    Here’s hoping that discounted once will be discounted again!

  30. Woohoo Rigilian shrubs! Boo 5 donuts a piece! I’ll buy at least 2, since I’ve been coveting them for over a year now, but I wish they cost in game cash. Does anything in this mini-event cost in game cash?

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