Hey Howdy Hey Tappers!
A little magic popped into Springfield yesterday, in the form of the Magic Monorail Station. With it a few returning items magically returned to our stores…just asking us to drop our sprinkles.
Of course with that limited-time label, it can be tempting to grab everything in sight because it’ll be gone soon. But don’t sweat it! That’s where we come in to tell you what’s worth those donuts and what you might want to hold off on.
Wondering if you should add Ray Patterson, Jesse Grass, the Self-Reliant House, the Monorail Cafe, Krusty’s Drive-Thru Station, the Golf Course or the Mechanical Ants to your Springfield? Well before you hit that confirm button let’s break down the pros and cons of adding these throwbacks to your town…
ALL ITEMS LEAVE STORES OCTOBER 2nd
Item: Ray Patterson
Cost: 60 Donuts
What Does It Do?: A full character for Springfield, helps with the Monorail. But he does NOT earn at a premium rate. (was originally free, prize during the Monorail event)
My Opinion On It Now: Meh. This one is a pass.
Item: Jesse Grass
Cost: 100 Donuts, 20 Donut Rebate, NET 80 Donuts
Previous Post: Should I Buy Jesse Grass
What Does It Do?: Premium character, has a fun task at Krusty Burger, and helps with the Monorail
My Opinion On It Now: I was a fan before, I’m a fan now. Pick him up.
Item: Self-Reliant House
Cost:35 Donuts
Previous Post: Should I Buy
What Does It Do?:Just a house for Springfield (no one interacts with it)
My Opinion On It Now: Meh. Doesn’t do much, but if you like it it’s reasonable in price enough…pick it up.
Item: Monorail Cafe
Cost: 60 Donuts, Rebate 15 Donuts, NET 45 Donuts
Previous Post: Should I Buy
What Does It Do?: Another one that’s just a building…no character interacts with it
My Opinion On It Now: Pass. Overpriced for what it is/does
Item: Krusty Drive-Thru Station
Cost: 150 Donuts, Rebate 50 Donuts, NET 100 Donuts
Previous Post: Should I Buy
What Does It Do?: Monorail station. Comes with tracks and extension pieces
My Opinion On It Now: Pass. Overpriced. You can buy the Magic Station for less.
Item: Golf Course
Cost:100 Donuts, 30 Donut Rebate, NET 70 Donuts
Earns:1.5% Bonus on all cash and XP
Previous Post: Should I Buy
What Does It Do?: Just a decoration for Springfield
My Opinion On It Now: Unless you REALLY love Golf and need a course (it’s only 1 hole) in your town, Pass.
Item: Mechanical Ants
Cost:120 Donuts, 50 Donut Rebate, NET 70 Donuts
Earns:.75% Bonus on all cash and XP each Ant
Previous Post: Should I Buy
What Does It Do?: Animated task associated with them, see Should I Buy post for more details
My Opinion On It Now: Meh they’re cool, but I’d still pass on them. Not worth the donuts IMO.
What are your thoughts on the returning items? Which items do you have already? Which items will you be picking up? Sound off in the comments below, you know we love hearing from you!
The only one of these I think it’s a hard pass is the golf course, because it’s way out of scale (much too tiny)…the trees in the background are smaller than the bushes in the store! (Side note: Swype just now thought I was trying to say “zygote” instead of “store”? Really?! Of the two possibilities, they thought THAT was the more likely one??)
Ray is really quite helpful if you do the monorail tasks each week and Jesse is even more helpful and has some really good animations (and he makes Lisa happy). I was just about to buy the monorail cafe (because I liked the look of it) before this update hit, so happy to get it for a discount. The Krusty Burger station can be used as a standalone building as maybe rail-themed theme park restaurant, especially in Krustyland (just as I used the Springfield Heights “Mall-o-Rail” station as a standalone mall building).
The self-reliant house is cheap and there’s always a shortage of varied housing stock (plus, it goes well with one of the original tennis courts (the ones that have the multiplier bonus)).
I just got the ants and they’re fun, although I don’t get to use a 10-hour task too often.
I got the ants, put ’em by the space center and model Mars colony. (What is this? A colony for ants?!)
Everything else, I either have or I’m not interested.
The colony has to be at least three times bigger than this!
👍
I don’t want to hear your excuses!
Thank you so much. It’s great to have these in one place. I think I’ll get the cafe and the house (new buildings- huzzah!). I’m torn on the putting green. I don’t want to pay 70 donuts for it but I bought the Pro Shop during the Chilliad and all my attempts at creating a golf course have been exceedingly lame. Has anyone got good golf course designs that don’t include it?
https://i.imgur.com/L1l9Sd2.png?1
I must be going blind… I’ve been staring at the image you posted for several minutes and don’t see the golf course in it.
I think it is supposed to be a mini-golf course…
Yeah, it’s my elaborate mini golf course. Which I think goes well with the Pro Shop, since I figure Homer could have easily been wandering a mini golf course while he hallucinated. (To be fair, the pro shop is out of frame in that shot, because it’s too big.)
But that’s not the golf course we were talking about…it’s the one on special now.
I like it, I am all for mini-golf. I tried to do something like that, too, at one time, but it never quite worked out so well. Plus the ‘normal’ kind of golf always seems like such a waste of space to me…
The question was whether anyone had a good golf course design that does *not* include the one being offered currently. I think I do, so I posted it.
(I also have the one that’s on sale right now. It’s behind my country club. I don’t find it nearly as interesting as my mini golf sprawl, though.)
The golf course is the only returning item that I both didn’t already have and still don’t want. It’s not that I don’t want to spend three donuts on it, it’s that it’s ridiculously small and wouldn’t work anywhere I can think of. (I had forgotten that and started to buy it, but, when I saw its size, I cancelled the purchase.)
It is so tiny!
I think even with the rebate the putting greens are ridiculously over priced (3 for 60 donuts would be more like it) but ever since the Around the World event I’ve been developing my Duff Gardens into my Small Worlds largest mini golf course so I actually requested on Addicts that this item come back. I bought 3. Now I need the small flag and cup to come back. Been using my downtime before Halloween to get this project finished. Nearly there. Neighbors are welcome to swing by and check it out. Was disappointed to discover my cheering crowds face the wrong way to tee up. If EA would kindly make them face in 4 directions I would be a happy camper.
I would love to see screenshots of this if you’re so inclined!
It’s huge. I wouldn’t know how to screen shot, stitch, imgur if I could but I have wanted you as a neighbor for a really long time. *hint hint
Sure, I’d love to have you! My game name is neuroheart, and fair warning I’m not the best at visiting regularly or avoiding spray cans when I do.
https://flic.kr/p/XZonCg
Bought the self-reliant house, pleased to include it in my design. Thought it reasonable for the 🍩 spend.
Can’t wait for 👻💀🎃☠️🎃🎃🎃 😊😊😊😊
I accidentally purchased the cafe when I meant to purchase the Magic Monorail station. Oh well, now I have both, but didn’t really want the cafe.
And still can’t decide about the Krusty station…..
I have my cafe on my Squid port. I love it, I think it looks great.
same here neighboreeno, and agreed.
Hi there. I have checked the should I buy for the ants, but couldn’t see an answer to my question: do the ants roam around like an NPC if you don’t task Bart to command them, or are they invisible? Thanks, and apologies if I have missed the answer somewhere!
The ants are stationary decorations while they are not being commanded. They kinda look like statues of attacking ants; they appear to be rushing around obstacles, etc, rather than just being lined up. And you place each one individually.
Brilliant – think I will get them then. Thanks very much for your help.
I stuck them in my egyptian area where they remind me of the scarab beetles seen in most mummy movies The area is all dirt so when they leave a mound to attack the school it looks pretty cool & stationary they are the sentinals of the Orb of ISIS , Sarcophagus etc The animation at the school is great + I set it on fire with the Paralyzer for added effect 70 donuts with a 3% boost isn’t bad. I think these were 60 each when they were released Not positive though
Has EA ever had a donut sale for Halloween? I’ve been thinking about buying some but don’t know if I should wait
It’s been awhile since they’ve had a TRUE donut sale (Dec. 2014 was the last pure sale). But no, never for Halloween
Thanks! I guess odds are low that I’ll regret buying donuts then. Thanks Alissa!
They haven’t had a donut sale in a few years. They used to have donut rebates where prices were slashed or you were offered bonus donuts, but the last one was over 3 years ago.
The last special I recall was you got golden scratch R cards with a donut purchase. That was last summer 2016 I think.
True, if you include deals like that, well then you can also include the Jebediah Springfield and Shelbyville Manhattan throw-ins. But, yes the Golden Scrath-R’s would be like the extra donuts.
I think the monorail was the single most enjoyable addition to the game in the 3 1/2 years I’ve been playing the game. So anything monorail is an instant buy for me. The monorail is one of the few things that I’m constantly rearranging to accommodate new additions to my town- both new content and new land. I really love watching the monorail tour around my town.
Me too. Completely agree. I love riding my neighbours monorails too!
It’s like being a tourist. 🙂
Been super slammed so I haven’t been able to read/contribute as much as I’d like to. Hope this hasn’t been talked about a million times over, just found out I’m unable to tap the drone or Norbert’s bi-plane! Super stoked about this update, love the flying tasks, loathe the tappability. Hope I’m not trippin’, I need this to be confirmed.
They have significantly reduced the tap radius of these objects.
Thank goodness for that, I was putting those 2 clowns on 8hr tasks now just to stop bumping them during play :p
Yes, to zero, I think. I’ve tapped directly on them and they do nothing now when you do. Overall, it’s wonderful, although I did used to sometimes hitch a ride with Norbert, when I wanted to get to the airport area of my town quickly (kind of like another teleporter option). But, on balance, I much prefer it the easy it is now!
correct, there is no longer a radius, because these flying objects are no longer tappable. EXTREMELY welcome change.
Mechanical ants: 3% bonus for 70D = 23.333D/1%. Combine from country fair was 2% for 45D = 22.5D/1% which was rated as “decent”. PLUS the school destruction is fantastic!
Golf course (green) overprized, though I am more addicted to golf than to this game: a must-buy for me. Now the Springfield Country Club is Springfield G&CC… with a 1-hole course, PAR 2
https://flic.kr/p/YzJYWL
The 60D-character is a character, even if only “standard”. I’ll pick him up tomorrow.
I’ve bought Jesse Grass during Homerpalooza for nearly every monorail character was busy making music. Would have else picked him up now with a rebate.
Oops, I thought my other comment was lost. Nevermind, THIS one has a picture 😀
I know that Jesse’s Krusty Burger protest task is visual (and awesome), but can anyone tell me if his protest at the power plant is also a visual task in any way?
No, it’s not visual.
Very happy for Jesse’s rebate, had considered getting him lots of times before to help with the railyard. Instabuy as soon as i saw the offer. With the double blueprints and immediate restart of railyard collecting, i’ll probably get more than 50% of his donut cost back within a few days.
Ants would be nice too, but for now i don’t want to spend the donuts.
Jesse Grass… spent 100D while Homerpalooza: all my monorail characters were in making music. Would have got him now, with a rebate.
Ray Patterson: a character for 60D is OK, I will pick him up tomorrow.
Golf course: I absolutely love golf, severe addicted so this was a must have for me. Absolutely overprized, I agree, pass if you hate golf. 1.5% for 70D.
Mechanical Ants: 3% bonus for 70D, I’ve read this ratio is OK elsewhere at this site, the demolishion task is great. Bought ’em.
In my son’s town i just started 4th round of donut’s for the week. already gotten 15 free donuts. Anyone else experience this? In my town and my daughter’s town we had already finished the weekly collection before the update hit and for us, it shows that we are done for the week. But with my son every time we’ve hit the 25K mark this week, we’ve gotten the donuts and it’s reset back to 0. This is in addition to the reward payouts being doubled…
Got the Mechanical Ants – wanted them when they first came out, and happy to finally have them. Hesitant on getting Jesse Grass, though – he is a great deal, but the timing could be better, with THOH just around the corner…
What about Should a post about spending donuts on Uriah’s Heap Recycling Center? It was the only prize I didn’t get during the Monorail event. It’s 135 donuts.
I didn’t have it as part of this set of returning items. But not worth 135 donuts IMO.
Should I buy Jesse Grass,even if Halloween is near an I have only 100 donuts?
He is a great character that significantly helps with the Monorail tasks. Here is Alissa’s Should I Buy.
In my opinion you should focus um Mistery Box Farming
Just remembered we had to buy the ants individualy for 60 donuts each when they were first introduced, and now all for 70?! That is a great deal! 😊 Might pull the trigger on these very soon.
I bought Ray because he was the only prize I missed during the Monorail event, and that has always irked me just a bit… and I don’t regret the purchase at all, because his questline is very funny. Then I bought the Krusty Drive-Thru just because it looks neat and I couldn’t afford it previously. I’m thinking I might buy the mechanical ants as well, for much the same reason… I just have to do the math to figure out if I’m comfortable with how many donuts I’ll have, going into Halloween.
The equation for the math is:
C – A ≥ H
C = Current donut total
A = Donuts required for mechanical ants
H = Donuts needed for Halloween
Problem is we don’t know what H is.
Sorry for the delayed response… but the equation is a little bit more complicated than that when your donuts are still “unearned” — that is to say, they’re in the form of in-game cash awaiting the purchase of Rat Trap Trucks to earn level-up bonuts. So to run that math, I also have to factor in my XP bonus percent, (including the total hidden bonus) to determine how many donuts I *can* have. 😉
But just to follow-up: yeah… I decided that math or no math, I just couldn’t resist nabbing those ants.
I earned Ray Patterson, but I would drop 60 on him since he reminds me of Steve Martin (to be clear…not voiced!). Been wanting the Krustyburger station for a long time. I have a design idea to run track around a kids’ area.
I picked up Jesse Grass even though trying to save donuts for the upcoming holiday events…I have no regrets, he is well worth it in my opinion : )
Completely agree. How can you say no to Joshua Jackson? He’s the heart and soul of the Mighty Ducks. Charlie: “Flying V!”
The ants are one of my favorite things in the game.
When they first introduced, I didn’t have the donuts for them, but as a successful farmium, I grabbed them instantly.
In my mind I hear Chalmers scream: “SKINNNNNEEEEEEERRRRRR” 😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣
I already own Jesse and I’m passing on everything else. Is there any info on a time limit for the mini events? On Chiliad at the moment and I still have Crook and Ladder, and Pin Pals to go.
Alissa, thanks for all the info, but your opinion on the golf green has me in suspense!
Whoops! Lol Fixed now
I got Jesse Grass last week, so if you’ve been waiting to get him with a rebate, you’re welcome. 😛
I was happy to get the ants and golf course for a rebate but I’m thinking I need an extra couple golf course or two to really do anything with it.
Bit the bullet and bought Jesse. I really wanted to keep as many donuts as possible for THOH and the last character I would’ve expected to grab before the event is Jesse Grass. But I like to get my monorail stuff done asap each week and I still need to finish the Redwood quest. So it just made sense to grab him while he was at a discount.
I still have more than enough for the Zombie Sandwich so I’m good.
I noticed the other day that Roller Skate Pride Smithers uses the Monorail Cafe for his 1 hour “Grab a Latte” task if he is close enough to it (he also will use the Java Server, Spy Cafe and Shamrock Cafe – whichever is closer). So it does have a character task but only for a premium skin.
Ooooh good to know, I don’t think Ive seen mine animated.
Can someone tell me why Craig Demon was released Andy not Ramondo(I think that’s how you say it) he was the main character of the episode! I hope during the (magic) Halloween event they’ll release Penn and Teller aswell.
Released and not*
I wasted 70 donuts on the golf course, I actually thought it was a course not just a green, I wanted to have a golf course in my Springfield but 1 green for 70 donuts is way too expensive. I should have done some research before pulling the trigger on that one.
I still think that the mechanical ants is one of the best animated tasks in the game. So for me, it was worth it.