Hey Howdy Hey Tappers!
So I’m working on posts for the Christmas Event (up first SIBs for Kathy and the Acrobat), but I wanted to share something with you that just came down to us from EA.
For the first time since Itchy and Scratchy Land, we did not receive the “spoiler” details from EA prior to the event launch. For whatever reason (and my guess is it’s just a hectic time of year) the information was not passed down to us prior to event launch, so we were just as much in the dark as you all were.
So a little earlier today we received the event detail packet we usually get prior to the event. Inside the packet is a rundown of everything for the event, in addition to the synopsis for each Act (which I’ll share with you all prior to week 1 ending). Also, included with the packet is an overview from EA describing the event overall, and their thoughts on why it’s structure as it is.
It’s that overview I want to share with you all now…
Here’s the overview, direct from EA:
A Simpsons Christmas Special utilizes a new event structure – the Multi-Event. Multi-Events consist of multiple, shorter acts than Main Events, allowing for a greater breadth and variety of content and themes. Multi-Events contain no crafting or friend actions, instead focusing on the unlocking of items from each acts’ prize track, similar to Mini-Events.
In the case of A Simpsons Christmas Special, the event consists of four acts. One act unlocks per week throughout the event and is then available for players to complete until the entire event concludes. This is accomplishable because the characters players will need to send on jobs to earn event currencies are different week-to-week, except for the Simpsons family who may be sent to earn event currency in every act.
In this specific event, there is also a focus on storytelling within the Simpsons universe, and thus when characters tell stories in which story-characters are speaking, they do so within a special Christmas-themed dialogue box.
*Disclaimer: No, I don’t know if this means this is how main events will be from now on. All I can tell you is Christmas generally isn’t the standard for how EA runs events during the year. The last couple of years we’ve all remarked about how we liked certain format changes with the Christmas events, only to have the format go back to business as usual in the New Year. So don’t get too excited or too bent out of shape over the format. We have no idea if it will be changing going forward.
For now, just enjoy the fact that this is easy, fun, and well done during a very busy time of the year for most of us.
So here’s the deal. This event is still HUGE. Between prizes and premium items, plus items you can purchase with cash. Yes, there’s no crafting (or friend actions…but honestly how many of you visit friends for currency daily anyway?) but there’s still a TON of content. Here’s an overview, for the entire event:
-No rush to complete each Act. While the Acts won’t unlock until the new week, you can complete them at any time. As the individual (weekly) questlines won’t leave until January 2nd.
Compare this to Christmas last year where each Act had an end date. If you didn’t complete the prize tracks you had to spend donuts or miss the prizes.
– 20 prizes (actual prizes, not event currency or just a land tiles) available throughout the entire event.
Compare that to 12 actual prizes via the prize tracks last year.
-No crafting. If you want more of some items unlocked via the prize tracks you can simply purchase the items for CASH. Yes, cash. The very thing many of you have complained had no use for a long time. (For Act 1 you can buy more Chestnut Stands and Fair Booths, once unlocked)
Compared to last year, there was crafting (with most items returning from a previous Christmas) that required you to earn a special currency (and level up) to unlock.
-Tons of land. This event will have AT LEAST 12 land tiles via the questline.
Compare that to Christmas last year, there were 6 land tiles (2/act). Even comparing this to recent events, where we were given a large lot of land for free once the event started, most of you complained about the location of this land. You wished EA would just give you the land titles to unlock it where you want it. Well, guess what? They listened, and that’s exactly what they’re doing.
-New questlines/content Every. single. week. until January 2nd.
Compare that to Christmas last year, where each Act lasted 2 weeks. And event just regular events with that 2 week format? How many of you complained that you were bored with a week left to go in each act? Now you won’t get bored, there’s new content every Wednesday!
-Great storylines. If you actually read the dialogue for this event (and I plan to post the full dialogue for each week as the week closes out for those who missed something), it’s funny and on point. The dialogue makes you feel like you’re watching an episode of the show, something that’s been missing from events for a while now.
I know there are some of you that will complain no matter what because it’s different and you don’t like different. Nothing I say will change your mind, I get that. But for everyone else, reserve judgment until it’s over. Wait to see what you unlock/acquire with the event before you get angry about the format change.
I’ll be back later today with the first SIB for the event, until then just have fun! It’s a game, it shouldn’t make you angry. Especially not when they’re making it easier to play during a very hectic/stressful time of year for many!
I was worried that each act would end after every week… now that I know that they can be finished at any time, I can breathe again…lol…
Personally I luv this new event…Im one of those who get bored with the events after a while and am sure this way I won’t be…
I really do love the idea of mixing things up. I really like the set up. I was angry yesterday because I want more land now. I just got frustrated because I can’t get any premium content until I get at least 1 land tile. Guess I’ll just have to be patient.
I really, really, really like tappables. It can be a pain sometimes but it gives you something to DO and it just screams ‘special event’. It’s cool. I also like when a new event starts and everything seems like a bit of a mess and you have to figure it all out – I get that that too can be a pain, but that’s why great places like here exist, to share ideas. I can deal with it though – any content is better than nothing and I see many people appreciate a slightly easier event which is fair game.
I do hope it doesn’t become the new event structure – unless they change the mini event structure too. Maybe not a lot separates gameplay in mini events from major events once you boil it all down, but it certainly feels different. If we end up alternating between ‘multi events’ and mini events as we know them, it’ll get really monotonous.
I would like to throw out the 2015 Winter event as having an element I’d love to see again. Upgrading buildings to earn currency was pretty cool, and you got 6, cool, free, buildings with multiple facades.
I like the format. Like I said on the other post, the only gripe I had was lack of free land tokens, but knowing there are in fact a lot of land tokens available, im satisfied. Prizes on 1st story aren’t the greatest but I think there;s some better stuff coming up.
I’m fine with the layout and everything, though I must admit it’s a little less exciting than a regular event for some reason. My only gripe, again, is the ratio of premium characters to freemium. There are some great characters from classic Christmas episodes, all premium, while we get… another costume for Lisa… the Ghost of Christmas Past… Mrs. Claus? Was she even in an episode? C’mon EA!
Not costume…full character. Just clarifying
Oof… that’s worse, I’m not a big fan of look alikes. But thanks for clarifying 🙂 I hope everyone’s gripes about the game isn’t making you feel undermined, we all appreciate your work!!
I like lots of free land tiles, I love the special dialog boxes, the story is good so far and I am over the moon about not crafting. I don’t want neighbors actions just to tap, but really loved the gift exchange feature and would love to see something like that but so far I prefer this to a grindy major event.
Hahhahaha so, nowdays you have to explain to people that they get what they asked for.
#2018
Personally- I love this event. EA has finally listened to (some) of us. I’m actually reading the dialogue this time around. I agree with Alyssa. This reads like a Simpson’s episode. It’s funny. I’m glad there’s no crafting. I’m glad it’s only four weeks long. I’m glad there are a ton of prizes and land tokens. Honestly? This is one of the best events in a long time.
Thanks Alissa. This is my first Christmas in Springfield. I love the snow!! I could not keep up with Halloween and all my other quests because I’m only on level 45, so this event is perfect for me to collect Christmas items. Looking forward to SIB not sure what premium character to get!
Get into kem farming asap if you are interested. You can boost your levels very quickly and make a bunch of donuts quickly and use it to boost your bonus percentage and repeat and get yourself a lot of characters unlocked. Remember that some quest lines need to be completed to activate other quest lines, but doing so will help you unlock a lot of characters in a short period of time, and also make money easier and also make donuts faster.
My advice is to look up kem farming (safi has a great writeup on it on this site) and know that it’s way easier than it sounds. Buying beach hideaways once you get to that point in Springfield heights is a major boost to bonus percentage so I highly recommend that.
Most of all, enjoy the questlines and diologue as early Tapped out is a very active and saturated part of the game full of funny writing and references. Just remember that events do have an expiry date and character quests do not.
For the first time in a while I’m enjoying the written questline, a big plus. Nothing feels like a grind and on day 2 of the Halloween event it was a grind.
One thing I miss is a modified landing zone that was created by placing a building or decoration in the event. So when I go to my Springfield or a friends’ (some have amazing towns and I enjoy visiting them during special events) I land at the Simpson House instead of my/their Holiday town. So if EA brought that back to this event I would have no complaints. And that’s saying something!
Move the Simpsons house to where you want people to visit.
I never really had a problem with crafting, it’s good little stuff for decorating, and I love being able to craft buildings that produce cash.
What I did not like about crafting was when the event quest forced you to buy a certain crafting item to advance the plot, and also when certain crafting items were locked until you spent x amount of currency or got to the next act.
What they should do is include crafting but make it 100% available from a pool of items from day 1 to the last minutes of the event. Also they should remove having crafting currency be one of prize track items; they could award you a small portion of crafting currency for each prize track item you unlock instead, similar to what they’re doing with the land tiles in this event.
I would love a crafting currency earning mini game like they had last Christmas to make it more fun. Openness and a lack of restrictions is a great way to make people who like crafting get what they want and have those who don’t have the opportunity to disregard it entirely.
We’ll done Alissa! Sound explanation of what EA have done and why. Nice event, should be fun. Just one tiny moany request – please please can we have a tool to delete the junk we’ve acquired over the years and is clogging up my inventory!
I got so burned out on the crafting in the last event, and I’m really not a fan of having to place items around certain objects to increase payout percentages. My Halloween area was a mess until the event was over, then I threw most of the stuff into storage. So far, I think I like this event format better.
Possitive: questlines don’t exspire eachweek
Nutral: prizes ( havnt decided yet)
Negative: it’s still 4mini-events no matter what you call it…… it’s not feeling like a Xmas update
Take mini events out of the equation. How is this different than last year? You follow a questline, you send characters on 4hr tasks and you earn prizes…and that’s different how? You’re upset because there are no tappables? I’m seriously not getting this argument of “not feeling like a christmas update” and you’re not the only one making it. However, I have yet to have someone explain their argument.
Im happy with it really….the whole format. I only miss dropping stuff at my loyal neighbors! I guess im one of the few that still visit…..as do most of my beloved loyal neighbors!!!!🎄❤🎅
I wish EA would add new prizes to the friendship points bonus track. I would gladly visit all my neighbors daily (instead of a few of them every few days) if I felt like it was working towards something substantial. While I’m off topic, what about some more Cecil schemes?
~MIB🕵️
Tappables slow down my game. I’m glad tappables are gone.
I love the snow! This is a great update!
it’s 4 mini events… land tokens is a nice incentive… we’ll see how it goes.
I love this Christmas event! So chilled for a busy time of year! Great post 🙂
Thanks for this. I think the format is fine and appropriate for this time of year.
I just want more land tiles is all. 12 is better than 6. But there are 100-200 available for most people. I mean you practically need 6 squares of land for the 3 Christmas bundles alone.
That’s the part that I don’t get. Here’s all this new stuff and you can’t get the land to put it anywhere.
I know people complain about this a lot…but I have yet to see a logical explanation of why we can’t just buy land and why in game money is now useless thing.
And why SH can’t expand and is only 1/4th as wide as Springfield now….and on and on. I know. Y’all are tired of hearing it.
But yea. One week minis with great dialogue. That part is pretty cool.
I mean I already own all of the stuff in the christmas bundles, it’s not new content. They don’t allocate land for returning content, they never have. It was already budgeted into the land count for the event in which it was released.
The logical explanation is they’re slowing you down…intentionally. They’re tired of hearing people say “there’s no land”. As soon as they’d release land people would buy every square and then complain they needed more. They’re forcing you to think about how you design and use item rather than just placing everything on all available land. Because the bigger the game (ie the more land you have) the harder it is to support on older devices.
That’s a good response. Thank you.
You’re welcome
I like that we’re able to purchase items instead of crafting. With the past events i seem to end up with stuff i don’t want and not enough of the things i do want. Wished i could have gotten more sand dunes and large trees from the Halloween event for example.
I do appreciate how EA brings stuff back from past events. Had a 3 year hiatus so I’ve been playing catch up for the last 6 months. Would be nice if they brought back old decorations. Especially walls and special trees. Whenever i see those items in neighbor’s springfields, i feel a twinge of envy. Bought two of the Christmas bundles so far. But it would be fun to be able to just buy the trees/ bells/ tables and what not that i want and skip the things i don’t. Sold the lemonade stand that came with the bundle immediately. Don’t need more of those. But that was the way to get the ice skating rink and cute tables.
Overall i really like playing this game. And the events are fun. Looking forward to the new content. Don’t have strong feelings either way about the 1 week or 2 week per act format.
I just think it would be nice if there was more emphasis on buying things a la carte in the store in addition to the prize tracks.
I absolutely love this Christmas event with the new format. I would be thrilled if it carried over into 2019. Time for a change…. Merry Christmas!!
I am enjoying this, because I don’t have the time to spend on these events like in the past (finishing school and working full time messes things up).
Thank you for the insight, Alissa!
Honestly, I was a bit bummed at it being multiple mini events. However, after reading your multiple positive points on the event I’ve gotten more excited for Christmas! 🙂
Thanks, Alissa! I appreciate your candor about the negative comments. (I can’t fathom some of them!). I think the event is fun has hilarious dialogue! Some events are better than others, but, in the end, it’s only a game. My favorite! A welcome break from some real life challenges we all face. Thanks for the help you all give to us. Merry Christmas to you and your family and to TSTO Addicts team. Happy Tapping!
I’ve seen alot of complaints about this act, but I really like it, I don’t feel rushed if I have to not play for a couple days it’s no big deal, plus I never cared for visiting neighbors or crafting (something people just complain about anyways.) I feel EA did a great job so far, can’t wait to see what’s to come! 🙂
again, where the heck is SANTA????
The north pole..
If you’re missing your santa, that you unlocked last christmas, contact EA. They should be able to put him back in your game.
how do i contact EA?
https://help.ea.com/en/contact-us/?product=the-simpsons-tapped-out
If they tell you to put your problem on the for rums, don’t listen. they told me that, someone on the forums told me that’s how they’re getting rid of people these days, rather than deal with the problem…
The good news is that you can do your Premium Characters quests first if you like. You can also your other characters (Homer, Lisa) on other quests if you are willing to wait to get the track prizes.
Thanks Alissa. Your Addicts team is the only reason I’m still playing and paying five years later. I’ve tried other games, but none compare to the ease of play with TSTO, and I’m always excited to have new quests and adventures, mini or full. No complaints here. 😀 Thanks, again.
As i say, great event! thanks for the post
Thanks for the good news.
I like the non expiring quest lines.
I am presently frustrated as there is a mid day mandatory update and it won’t accept my choice to allow the update over cellular data.
I had to click Decline the download, then click the screen to login, then accept the download.
Multi-events? I’M DOWN!!! hope this becomes the new meta 💪