As with all of the recent updates, and especially the HUGE major updates (including the one in which we now find ourselves deeply immersed), there are LOADS of opportunities to purchase buildings, decorations, and characters from updates past. Some call ’em “Retreads,” others call ’em “A Second Chance to Get What I Missed,” and still others call them nothing at all…but still pull the Donut Trigger when they are offered.
In this installment of “Should I Buy?” I cover the Shinning Hotel and Maze combo. Is my DTF (Donut Trigger Finger) itchy? Or will I keep the safety locked firmly in position?
Let’s take a look….
I’m going to start with the fact that sometimes EA offers something that tweaks the “Gotta Have It” (GHI) segment of my brain pan, for reasons that at first don’t make a lot of sense on the surface, but then, as the memory tumblers drop, and the bolts of inspiration connect (sometimes you can hear it from across the room), I remember why the GHI neurons are firing. This was one of those.
First…I LOVE the movie “The Shining.” It is one of those horror films that has the “this could actually happen!” vibe to it. I think it is one of Stephen King’s best stories, as it was written in an actual haunted hotel (the Overlook, in Colorado), and has a main character with whom I can relate. I mean, especially in an election year like this, who doesn’t want to take an axe to the bathroom door with a little “Here’s Johnny!” to make the point that you can’t take the pressure anymore? But, I digress…
To add to the “GHI” syndrome, is the fact that I also LOVE the parody spoof that the Simpsons did on “The Shining,” which was part of the THOH from Season 6 (S6E6). It is hilarious. Spot on…and loaded with inside humor.
My favorite scenes from “The Shinning” (Willie won’t let Bart say “Shining” for copyright purposes).
And if that isn’t enough…the exterior scenes of the hotel in the movie version, were actually shot at Timberline Lodge, on Mt. Hood, here in Oregon.
The opening scene of “The Shinning” looks much like the road that approaches Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. I think the design of the building from the show, is pretty much a direct lift.
So…for me…it was a No Brainer! “Must Pull Donut Trigger.”
HOWEVER…………………………………….
As has been pointed out to me in past SIBs, by some of the more arduous “TSTOAddicts Traditionalists,” if I just give you my opinion, without doing the SIB the way it has been presented for eons (three years is eons in blog time), then people get upset, and start calling me names, and before you know it…we are ALL picking up axes to chop down doors, which should be open to conversation and communication! PHEW!!!
So…Here is the “traditional” SIB.
Combo: Shinning Hotel and Maze (Limited Time, Leaves Nov. 1st)
Cost: 11o Donuts
OR…
Shinning Maze by itself- (leaves Oct. 25th)
Cost: 55 Donuts Can Be bought Separately, in addition to Bundle, to create larger maze, or second maze
Details/Earning/XP
Maze- Vanity + 100, Earns 2.25% bonus on all cash and XP, Size: 9×9
Hotel- Indolence +20 (no bonus %, instead earns game income), Size: 16×6
NOTE- Combo Awards 605 MAG points for THOH 2016 Update (when placed/built)
Pros
- Building is an accurate representation of “National Monument”
- Combo Earns Mag Point
- Maze adds 2.25% Bonus
- Comes with a Quest Line
- Permanent task for Willie (4 hour get axe in back) with subtle hotel animation
Cons
- Relatively Expensive for a Building/Decoration
- Doesn’t Earn Update Currency (after initial Mag Points)
- Is Considered “Non Canon” by Simpsons Purists
- No animation for tasks
Final Thoughts
If I am honest, this combo is one of the few things in this update that I really wanted. It will “remind me of home” no matter where I play, and I’m just not that jazzed about a lot of the other offerings for this update, as I have TONS of the stuff being offered from previous THOH updates.
As the MAG points put me into the next level, and awarded me another Trick or Treater, it was a definite bonus. Plus, the Quest Line starts right off with a task that uses all of the extra kids in your Springfield, which is rare these days.
So…as a PREMIUM PLAYER, If you have the Bonuts to Burn…I say Pull the DT trigger.
If you are a Freemium Player, with scant Bonuts, you may want to pass, and get one of the other bundles.
In the end, it’s really up to you. What do YOU think about this combo? Did you already have a maze? Did you buy a second one? Is Homer really going to kill his family???
So… This has notingh to do with the SIB but i entered in a lvl 6 account that i don’t use and i started the halloween event. The game offered me Hermam for like 52000…i am not getting the money, and i dont care but it told me that he could fight monsters. In my game he can’t…
I have him and hopefully he will fight monsters in act 3 cause he was kinda speedy and doesn’t have very cool actions
This was my favourite Halloween episode. Even as a freemium player this was a no brainer for me. No regrets, I love it!
Do you guys think we’ll get a second chance at the spooky camp fire ? Fingers crossed
I think Sherri and Terri should have been packaged with it…that would have been perfect.
I figure that a 2.25% bonus usually costs 45 donuts (using the 20 donut per point standard). So 45 for the maze means 65 for the hotel, and that ain’t bad. But what to do with the Overlook ..I made out of classic mansions, and my maze sized 120×80 (give or take)?
Had-to-have-this!!! And I love the questline.
Just got the hotel and maze for free bought it then the game crashed got back on and I still had the deal and all my donuts as well.
Lucky boy lol
Not t nag, but is there a crafting run down? I can,t seem to find one.
Pass for me. Already have the maze from last year, happy with my bonus % atm. Unless I see something that I want in the next act I will probably save my donuts for the black friday/christmas deals.
So glad I passed on Hibbert’s Island. As soon as this hit the store I picked it up but haven’t truly found it’s place yet. I am considering picking up an additional maze to enhance the design but haven’t decided. I’m pretty flush with donuts at the moment so I am really wanting to see the next bundles. I want Booberella! Trying to decide if I should take a peek at the spoiler sites…lol
Can u find them on Google?
First thought was “YES!!!” But I’d rather spend my dough on characters.
Maybe in a few years they will rebundle it with GO Crazy Homer Skin or Axe-in-back Willie skin or something else to entice me. I might pick it up for 100 🍩
With more event items coming, and Winter Event and possible Black-Friday sales, I’d rather hold onto my donuts.
My thoughts are similar to yours. I love the movie and THOH episode, but the donuts can be better spent elsewhere and hope for a deal in the future.
The only con is it doesn’t have a task or quest line.
Actually, the maze does. I just finished it.
Oh okay, that explains it. I bought this too and didn’t remember a questline for it but I had bought the maze a long time ago. It was only the building that was new which didn’t come with a questline And yes, now I have two mazes. I put them together to make it look bigger. .
I already have the maze and don’t really want another one. Will the hotel not be offered as a stand alone item?
Doesn’t look like it…sorry.
Pass for me. I have the maze from a previous sales event and like it. I really don’t want the hotel bc I’m a wuss & it would give me the shivers every time I saw it. Very cool looking building though and I’m interested to see how it is used in neighbors towns.
I bought the set the minute I saw it ( I love it!) and it will be a permanent part of my town. I already had a maze attached to the sanitarium ( with 6 foot “Harvey-esk” rabbit topiaries), but the second one looks great with the hotel. It is now festooned with dead trees, pines and bats…can’t wait to see what it looks like with snow at Christmas. No regrets on this purchase – unlike Dr Hibbert’s Island, which I am still wondering “what the $#%!” was I thinking!
That’s the spirit!! I agree..glad I passed on Dr Hibbert’s Island
The maze was written for the movie. In King’s novel, it was topiary animals. So the hedge bunnies would be a cool, book-nerd-y addition.
My “DTF” was locked and loaded… And “GHI” mode was engaged as soon as I saw this bundle! Nothing extraordinary about the building but I love the movie and I had a free space in the mountains, so I pulled the trigger! I also bought a 2nd maze so that together they would look more proportional to the size of the building.
No regrets!
Jack and Homer would be happy!
I read that there is very subtle animation (shadow with axe). Is this incorrect?
If there is…it is VERY subtle…as I haven’t seen it.
Why is it considered non-canon?
Anything from THOH is considered Non-canon
Well…the “purists” would say it wasn’t part of a “regular episode” and that the hotel isn’t in Springfield or surrounding areas. I love it personally…and always find the canon/noncanon bit kind of annoying.
Everything prior to season 10 is canon, as far as I’m concerned.
I’m starting to get a little concerned that I am related to Patric because our logic is a little too alingned. Perhaps we simply both suffer from the curse of man-logic but I fear it may be more than that.
I also spent time near Mt Hood and love The Shining, I am also concerned about the imminent US election and suffer from GHI (although we refer to it as Completists Syndrome in England). Hmmn… a European branch of the clan? You be the judge.
Whatever the case, I am sorely tempted and it is only my desire to prove to myself that I have restraint that has allowed me not to flex my trigger finger… how long that will last will depend on what else EA offer up as tasty tricky treats.
Pull the trigger…pull the trigger…PULLL THE TRIGGGGGER!! LOL!
I just want the hotel, I don’t want another Shinning maze! This is so hard to pass up but I think I might, since I’m quickly running out of room for larger items.
You can turn one of your other buildings into the Overlook. I converted the Country Club for mine, I just read someone else’s comment about using SH classic mansions. Save space and donuts.
Sure…if you don’t mind a “reasonable facsimile.” But no worries… Whatever works.
I bought it immediately. One of my favorite horror movies. One of my favorite THOH episodes.
Urge to kill…rising!!!
P.S. I do wish the maze had holes cut in it all the way through.
I am more of a freemium player. I’m thinking about buying it. But I’m also thinking about the Space mutant/cinema. I enjoyed reading this post. Being from Australia, I didn’t know about the real life whereabouts of the shinning hotel.
If you have to choose, definitely go Space Mutant!
Get the drive-in. It is boss.
Got it. Did not hesitate. DTF was ready and waiting. I got one maze last year so now I have 2 but I am debating getting 2 more to make a bigger maze that is fitting of the dedicated area I have made. I gave up pretending I am a freemium player about a year ago and I am more so a completionist now. Although I rarely pull the DT on characters until they are offered in bundles on rebate as I have learned that lesson the hard way.
Sound logic, Sarah! You want what you want…but are willing to wait for a deal!
So what’s considered non canon about it?
everything from THOH is considered non-canon…
Ah gotcha, I thought it meant something about the TSTO hotel or maze wasn’t true to the episode.
It’s actually called “The Stanley Hotel”. There is no Overlook Hotel. Just sayin’.
Thanks for the write up. I love this episode.
Does the hotel or maze have any permanent
tasks?
Thanks again.
I missed the warning to freenium players to stay far far away. I think has been a while.
lol i feel like i just said it recently…
Oh haha maybe I missed it
I was already thinking of buying the combo, but I hem-hawed around, and decided to wait for the SIB before spending. (I’m freemium — but I’m also a house farmer, and it looks I’ll still have plenty of donuts to spare, for what I want during this event.)
After the quest does anyone have a permanent task there…..I ask with all finger crossed.
Love the design on the hotel, I didn’t really want another maze but a bonus is a bonus.