Hey Howdy Hey Tappers!
Christmas is gone but snowy Springfield is still here! In addition to a mini update hitting our games, we’ve also got ourselves an episode tie-in carry over going on. Yesterday, Brendan Beiderbecke hit our games for a limited-time…from Sunday’s Haw-Haw Land episode.
As we all know, that limited-time label can tempt us 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 the STEM Conference Hotel and Brendan to your Springfield? Well before you hit that confirm button let’s break down the pros and cons of adding this sciency/jazzy duo to your town…
Character: Brendan Beiderbecke
Building/Decoration: STEM Conference Hotel
Donut Cost:150 Donuts
Size:11×10
Earns: $200,20xp/12hrs
Conform-O-Meter: Vanity
Other Info: Can be placed on the grass|pavement|boardwalk|pier|dirt|ice
Build Time: 12hrs….WEIRD for a premium item
Leaves stores January 16th, 2018
Pros
-Full premium character
-Comes with a questline
-A couple of amusing outdoor animated tasks
-Building is animated (lights up) when in use (and it will be used beyond questline)
Cons
-Not Voiced
-Expensive for a just introduced, and likely never heard of again, character combo
-Building animation is meh
-It has a 12hr build time…if I’m spending donuts I want to use items right away
Final Thought
Premium:
Meh, I’m underwhelmed with this one. I’ll end up buying him before he leaves because it’s a character combo…but Meh. Really underwhelming for the donut cost.
Freemium:
I’d pass on this duo. Save your donuts for a couple of better characters, but if you still have donuts come January 15th and really want him then grab him. But for now I’d pass.
Of course, in the end, it’s your decision, we can only tell you what we would or wouldn’t do…and as I premium player, I’m underwhelmed but I’ll end up purchasing him because of science and character combos and stuff. But whatever you decide, just make sure you make your final decision before it leaves our games for good (or for now).
Brendan Beiderbecke’s Permanent Tasks:
| Task | Length | Earns | Location |
| Flaunt his Superior Jazz Music | 1hr | $105, 26xp | STEM Hotel |
| Play Difficult Jazz on Piano | 4hrs | $260, 70xp | Outside/Visual |
| Decide Between Jazz Purity and Fame | 8hrs | $420, 105xp | Outside/Visual |
| Compose Showy Jazz Music | 12hrs | $600, 150xp | STEM Hotel |
| Dream About Owning a Jazz Club | 24hrs | $1000, 225xp | STEM Hotel |
What are your thoughts on the hotel and Brendan? Will you be spending the donuts to bring them to your Springfield? Did you already? Why or why not? Where have you placed in the STEM Hotel in your town? Sound off in the comments below, you know we love hearing from you!
I have experienced the same glitch, in that the “special” is still not offered, and I hate to miss a Character! Bummer!
Did they ever me mention what STEM stood for? This is a pass for me, they will bring it back next year for less than 150. There is only one character that I really still want/need. Zotrov! I will be a happy addict when and if they ever offer him once more.
STEM is a fairly common acronym in the education system which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Oh, thank you Shea. I guess she was singing that. I didn’t catch it.
EA already gave me 3 FREE Buildings during this Mini-Event …. I’m grateful if there are permanent Tasks offered with Springfield Characters for any of them (my sprinkles are going only for any leftover Stonecutters goodness) 👍
The episode hasn’t screened here yet (as far as I’m aware). I know that there may be *other* ways to see episodes but that’s not something I like to do.
So, I won’t be getting him. Maybe I’ll regret that but at 150 donuts, I suspect not.
Anyone else experiencing a “downloading updates” glitch? It’s had to re-download the entirety of the game content (all 1885.3 MB of it) FOUR times over the past two days. The problem seems to have started after the tie in item came available. Is this a problem with the app or with my device? I do have an iOS update that needs to be installed, although that has never caused anything like this before.
A few people have been reporting this and I have experienced it. The issue invariably is space on device – if you have about 4GB free, you should be ok. If you do have at least that and it’s still happening then it may be something more sinister. Good luck!
I have not been offered a Brendan, so I am concerned about the expiration of the offer? Another glitch? Any thoughts?
he showed up yesterday for me
Did you look in the “Haw-Haw Land” section (The one with the Black Hat icon or the one with Brendan himself) in the store because he only appears in that part and not in “The Buck Stops Here” (TBSH) section which has all the Stonecutter stuff and TBSH. He has been available for about 3 1/2 days already and should leave on Tuesday 16th so you have the rest of the week to decide if you want to buy him.
Brendan still missing, and no store update. I have all other Premiums? No STEM,nada! hawHaw is just the teaser?
Maybe you already have him in your town (check the Census at the Town Hall to see if “Brendan Beiderbecke” appears), moon bounce to see if he can be sent there or in the inventory. You could also have bought him and placed the building but haven’t built the STEM Hotel because it does have a 12 hour building time like this post says. I don’t think the Haw-Haw Land part of the update is a teaser because episode tie-ins usually have a free item and a premium item or two available.
I bought it because it’s a building/character combo, I liked the episode, and I needed another hotel for my downtown area.
This building can also use Springfield beach tiles, so it can be a lot closer to the ocean than the average building.
Unnecessary to complete the Questline and WAY too expensive. Totally a PASS for me!
I was hoping that he would be a free character for the episode tie in similar to Jay in 2016 and Kumiko in 2014, lately episode tie in characters have been premium (Anger Watkins, Tree-stache + Jay G are recent ones). I was also hoping the building would be a premium purchase or unlocked in a questline. I don’t have an issue with the build time of the building and it does look like a hospital but at least it is used by Brendan. I will pass on this combo and like others have commented will buy this if it has a rebate or returns in a mystery box in the future. It is also funny that all of his main tasks have the word “jazz” in them and that along with Jesse Grass and Luke Stetson, Brendan is a boy that Lisa has a love interest in that are also premium. 😄🎷🎹😄
Don’t really care about the build time. Antici……pation. Besides I liked the episode
2 hour build time… so old school! 🤣
Do you think they will fill his box with another item before the event ends?
Thank you for asking… I’m confused as to why there’s a box that just keeps saying somethings coming, but nothings there, yet the opportunity expires in what, like 7 days?
To paraphrase……
“How do you keep an Addict in suspense for 7 days?”
😇
😂😂😂
I agree; they put that teaser Haw Haw category into the game as an obvious attempt to capitalize on a big build of anticipation running up to the new episode air date — but then they populated it with exactly *one* new item after the episode aired: this premium character/building combo. (I assume that the freebie Visible Man was originally in this category as well, though I can’t be sure.) Frankly, I not only expected that there would be more items, but I was also kind’a anticipating a continuation of the tie-in mini-event. No such action, as yet… and the only thing I can think of is that perhaps the *only* tie-in is Brendan’s questline. Thing is, if buying him unlocked the option to buy additional tie-in items — thus more adequately justifying that Haw Haw item category — than surely that’s something they would have prominently advertised, right? (Even if they hadn’t, Alissa obviously would have told us so, in this write-up.)
In any case, this was certainly more than a little underwhelming… so barring some further justification for his purchase, I’ll just save my donuts for now and maybe buy him when he comes back around in a Mystery Box or something.
All my doughnuts are going towards The Stonecutters. I only have 4 more to buy then I’m good. It’s odd that a premium character and building have a 12hr build time. I see this discounted somewhere in the future. I’ll wait it out.
I would also place pretty good odds that we will see this combo offered again at a discount/rebate within a year’s time ….. No, I am not related to EA but the trend is pretty clear (e.g. Jay-Z, Dia-Betty, Becky, Russ Cargil, Adil Hoxha etc etc)
The only 2 premium characters I paid FULL price for in the last 2 years are BG Murphy & Leon Kompowski, simply because they were TOO iconic to pass out on (little Brendan Beiderbecke just cannot compete with these two).
Ive finished this event without buying any of the 3 new premium characters. Waiting eagerly now for the next Major event = )))
Yeah, the 12 hour build time is ridiculous. I got it to round out an area of my town, but it’s a pretty boring combo.
I wonder if he made enough of an impression, or was slated like the GOT cameo if I’ve got this right.
Maybe he’ll get enough support and be an asset, useful in events to come, or maybe he’ll bomb and this is it, until there’s a mystery box needs filled.
Ahh, the uncertainty, and I gave all my coins to the bloke with the magic beans on the way home from Moe’s so I can’t even be a …….. to decide
( Gambler, mucky minds you lot )
I got this combo and for some reason the character doesn’t earn at a premium rate for tasks. I was just wondering if anyone else is having this problem.
If that’s the case, it makes me wonder if this was originally supposed to be free. Considering the long build time, I almost have to think so.
It’s not paying premium rates? I was on the fence if I should buy it, but if it’s not going to pay out premium, I’ll pass on it. It’s bad enough that the Santa outfit for Homer which I purchased with donuts doesn’t pay premium. I thought EA would fix it, but it’s been a few years now and they have yet to do so.
I’m passing on all the character combos for this mini event…more interested in getting the table and number 51. And maybe the tunnel, wanted to see it first but none of my neighbors have it lol : )
Is there any benefit to collecting all of the stonecutters aside from the fact that they all have a task together?
Just the usual small bonuses for filling out character collections.
Hopefully the character will show up after the building finishes its 12 hour build.
Mine did no problem 😊
TWELVE HOURS to build!? The heck?
It’s pretty clear I won’t be touching this one, which is kind of a shame as I really like the architecture of the building. It stands out quite a bit from others without being some zany crackpot setup like the the Springfield Concert Hall/Prison. It feels like a real building.
While the 12 hour build is unusual, is that really a logical reason to not purchase, given that character / building have long term benefit to your game.
character + building = instant buy
I bought because I love the reference to Bix Beiderbeckie. A Jazz pianist/ coronet player of the 1920’s, contemporary of Red Nichols and Louis Armstrong, who died in his 30’s.
Even have some of Bix’s albums – well, CD copies.
That’s cool to know, now I’ll have to see what I can find on iTunes & YouTube to listen to him 😊
That 12 hour build was lame. 6 seconds if I’m spending a pile of donuts, yo.