Bug Alert! Seeing a few bugs with this event…I’ll outline them below. So before you ask…check the post. 🙂
Hey Howdy Hey Tappers!
It’s finally Christmas in Springfield! Our pocket-sized Springfields have been covered with a fresh blanket of snow! What’s in store for us this time? Well, we’re tasked with seeing if Grampa can bore Death…well to death! Loads of dialogue with this one, so be sure to read along to see what happens! And of course, I’ll be posting it as each week wraps up…
Once again we see another multi-event in Springfield. So love them, or hate them, they’re still here. So let’s all try to make the best of this…
Anywho….things kick off with some 6s tasks for Death and yes, if you don’t have Death you’ll be given him for free..
After you’ve completed these initial tasks you’ll kick off Abe’s in Toyland Week 1…
First, remember this was an app store update available for download yesterday (Tuesday 12/10). So if you haven’t already done so, and you don’t see the Splash Screen above for your game, head to your app store and update TSTO. You may have to search the store for Tapped Out, as it doesn’t always appear on the update list initially…
We did not receive an info packet from EA yet. If we get one I’ll update this post with the event synopsis. Packet just came in…so here’s the synopsis:
Abe’s been waiting all year for Christmas to roll around. Not to give anyone gifts, but to finally take his turn telling stories! No one gave him a chance last year. No one wants to hear his stories and head off to
bed. Fortunately for Abe he is visited by a ghost! It’s Death there to take Abe away, saying “It’s time”.
Which Abe just understands as “It’s story time” thinking it is the Ghost of Christmas Past.Now follow along as Abe recounts stories from his youth all the way to after Homer was born. And find
out how Abe runs into Santa, multiple times, and saves Christmas, multiple times.
BUG ALERT (all issues listed below…except the freaking sound one…have been FIXED via the in-game update 12/12)
So here’s the roundup of bugs we’ve found so far…
-The annoying sound glitch is STILL THERE. Here’s the sound it makes from our Addicts Live show (Video should be queued up to the start of it..but it’s right around the 39:00 mark)..
VERY ANNOYING!
-The Splash Screen, at least on Androids, is all wonky. Looks like they didn’t create a splash screen big enough, so it cuts off on one side.
-Bleeding Gums Murphy Cloud (and I think Cthulhu’s monument..but not sure) has been replaced with just a screenshot from the show…. (thanks Jeremy for providing the image)
-Town Portrait Camera is missing. The option to take a full screenshot of your Springfield seems to have disappeared from games…
I think that’s it for now, but if I see anything else widespread I’ll add it here…
Now on with the update…
We should all know by now unless of course, you’re new to TSTO that the prizes for this event follow the same questline format to unlock as our regular mini-events do.
Just like every large event since last Christmas, this is not your typical Major Event. And there are pros and cons to that, and everyone will find their own pros and cons. And some people’s pro will be someone else’s con.
As always, I just ask that you have an open mind, and reserve judgment until we’re into the event. It’s 4 weeks long (and remember for the past few years we’ve been complaining that events that are 6 weeks plus are just too long). It should be fairly easy to complete. You’ll unlock a bunch of new prizes. No crafting to grind through. Just have some good old fashioned TSTO fun. And, as long as you don’t rush things, you won’t get bored because it’ll change each week!
As I stated above, the initial quests are 6s tasks Death. Once completed you’ll start the Claus And Son questline, which is the week 1 story to follow. This is how you’ll unlock the Week 1 (Act 1) prizes.
Abe’s in Toyland Intro
Auto starts
Grampa: Hey, everyone, it’s Christmas Eve, and time for my favorite tradition… Telling you one of my amazing stories of Christmas past.
Bart: But first, time for one of *our* favorite traditions…Going to bed instead of wasting time on one of your rambling stories.
Homer: Don’t worry Dad, there’ll be lots of time for your stories tomorrow. Like when I’m watching football and ignoring you.
Grampa: *heads to guest room* Aw, what’s the point of living if no one wants to hear me talk.
Death: Glad you feel that way. Because your time has come, Abraham Simpson!
Make Death Terrify Grampa- 6s, Earns $35, 1xp
Grampa: That’d be like taking a girl who’s never been kissed, or a cop who never beat a witness.
Death: Fine, tell your story. I hate people who whine for mercy.
Grampa: In that case, you picked a heck of a business.
Death: But the fates have decreed you must die before Christmas morn. So no rambling.
Grampa: Oh, I never ramble.
And this triggers the entire story premise for each act…
(and yes, just like I did for the past multi-events, I’ll be posting full dialogue for this one before each week is over)
And here’s the Act 1 Synopsis:
Abe’s first story starts from his youth. Young Abe believes to have seen an elf. The elf gives Young Abe a
bottle to spread on his father Orville’s food to get him in the Christmas spirit. After doing so, Orville
believes the bottle to not have been filled with magic but instead with grain alcohol. Orville gets sick
from the grain alcohol and Santa comes down the chimney. Orville believes both Santa and the elf to be
hobos that are trying to steal his pie. The elf encourages young Abe to lock his father in the closet and bring the pie to Santa and himself. Young Abe believes Santa would never lie so he obeys and eats pie with Santa and the elf.
Now let’s talk about what’s included…
DO NOT FORGET TO SCROLL UP AND DOWN IN THE TASK BOXES (PICTURED ABOVE) TO BE SURE TO COMPLETE ALL TASKS FOR EACH PART.
I’ll lay out specifically what you need to do for each part in the turbo tappin’ post, but I don’t want any of you to get messed up with this. So don’t forget to SCROLL!
Currency Act 1: 
Holiday Scythes
Here are the prizes for Part 1:
Claus and Son Pt. 1 and 50 (Winter Wonderland Box token)
Claus and Son Pt. 2 and 100 (Crowd of Elves)
Claus and Son Pt. 3 and 100 (Simpsons Gingerbread Couch)
Claus and Son Pt. 4 and 100 (Winter Wonderland Box token)
Claus and Son Pt. 5 and 100 (Orville)
Questline, which I’ll post later, will show how each is unlocked.
Characters who can complete tasks for Act 1:
Homer
Lisa
Bart
Milhouse
Ned
Grampa
Marge
Moe
Old Tut (Premium)
Characters earn:
5/4hrs for Freemium
8/4hrs for New Premium
The Daily Challenges have NOT converted over to event currency. They remain exactly as they’ve been prior to this event launching. Cash, SH Currency and Donuts.
The Store
Here’s what’s included today:
New stuff…
Professor Simpsons Universal Panacea and Old Tut- 150 Donuts. Earns event currency for Week 1. Leave stores December 18th.
Returning
Mystery Boxes…
Winter Wonderland- 60 Donuts (or Mystery Box Token from Prize Track). Includes:
Giant Snow Globe
Ski Chalet
Springfield Skating Rink
The Grumple
Dancing Reindeer
Spruce Caboose
Chocolate Shoppe
Funzo Bundle
Ski Lift w/ Stupid Sexy Flanders Skin
Murderhorn
Plow King
Santa Bundle (Santa Homer and Santa Flanders)
Snow Monster
Star Snowsuit Maggie*
Gingerbread Mansion*
Festivus CBG*
Slide Factory
Ice Palace and Ice Princess Martin
Nativity Scene
Virgil’s Cabin*
King Winter’s Cave w/ King Winter
Krusty’s Kristmas on Ice
Cirque De Puree w/ Circus Acrobat*
Anchor Management w/ Don Brodka*
Kid First Industries w/ Jim Hope*
Yarn Barn w/ Kathy from Personnel*
The Peak Inn w/ Lyla
Roller Rink w/ Young Marge*
Mini Golf Castle w/ Lee Carvallo*
Marge Sculpture Garden w/ Young Artie*
Ice Fishing Shack w/ Young Barney*
Aircraft Carrier w/ Young Abe*
*Denotes NOT available in Yearbook Mystery Box
Happy Holidays- 60 Donuts. Includes:
Jesus Christ and Heavenly Swing Set
Rigellian Christ and Manger
Rabbi Krustofsky and Temple Beth Springfield
Brother Faith and Brother Faith Van
Shiva
Gautama Buddha
Pope and St. Paul’s Basilica
ALL items in the Happy Holidays box are also available in the Yearbook Box.
Returning Cash Items…
As with all Christmases of the past, this event comes loaded with a ton of Christmas items you can purchase for in-game cash. Think of these items as crafting, but for in-game cash…
Hot Roasted Chestnuts Cart- $200
Fair Booth- $400
Festive Carolers- $300
Flaming Christmas Tree- $100
Pile of Presents- $100
Returning Premium:
North Pole Bundle- 50 Donuts. Includes Marshmallow Tree, Ice Fence, North Pole Reindeer Stables, Gingerbread House, Lollipop Flowers, North Pole Columns, North Pole Elf Cabins, Gum Drop Docks, Fancy Igloo, Reindeer, and Festive Lawn Bell.
Festive Bundle- 50 Donuts. Includes Ice Fence, Lollipop Flowers, North Pole Columns, Gum Drop Rocks, Festive Bell Lamp Post, Candy Cane Fencing, Rigellian Christmas Wall, Festive Hot Drink STand, Festive Fancy Lawn Bell, Wooden Soldiers, Duff Beer Tree, Poinsettias, Festive Bow Lamp Post, Festive Wreath Lamp Post, Festive Trashcan Fire, Festive Lawn Angel, Festive Candycane, Festive Nutcracker, and Snowperson Security Guards.
Christmas Market Bundle- 50 Donuts. Includes Candy Cane Fencing, Festive Wreath Lamp Post, Festive Nutcracker, Bistro set, Ice Skating Rink, Lovely Flower Cart, Giant Outdoor Fireplace, Holiday Tree, Ferris Wheel, and Snack Stands.
Circus of Values- 45 donuts
The Screens- 50 donuts
Igloo Mansion- 30 Donuts
Boathouse- 50 Donuts
Timberlog Diner- 60 Donuts
Bethlehem Inn- 50 Donuts
Toys B This- 75 Donuts
Personalized Talking Astrolabe- 50 Donuts
The Stable at the Inn- 45 Donuts
Santa Claus- 150 Donuts
Land Tiles
Because I know I’ll be asked…as of right now I don’t see anything awarding Land Tiles. Nor do I see the Golden Goose Realty coming back with this event.
This may be corrected with a patch during this event, but as of right now I don’t see a way of getting more land with this event.
I’m sure GGR will come back at some point, just have to wait it out a little longer.
Item Limits
Per Patric, they have not raised the item limits with this event. That doesn’t mean they won’t, just means they’re not raised at this moment. There have been plenty of times in the past where the limits were raised shortly after the event went live with a patch. If they’re increased we’ll let you know.
And that’s it my friends. The details of week one of the 2019 Christmas Update, Abes in Toyland!
Your thoughts on the event? Like the multi-event format, considering it is only 4 weeks long? Like the idea of new content each week? Thoughts on the content? Sound off below, you know we love hearing from you!
Any kind soul know if the house lights are or will be available? I can’t seem to find anything about them. This past Halloween I started playing again. Forgot how relaxing and fun this game can be. I was really looking forward to getting them again! Much appreciated for the help.
Bug? My Future Simpsons House disappeared with the update.
I’m hoping ice tiles become available during this event. I don’t have enough to make a Christmas area.
I’m another long term player and again for this event the only option I have for tokens is to exchange them for 12 doughnuts which means week one will only see two new small decorations,one new character and one building with a character which cost 150 doughnuts.
I still enjoy building my town though so I guess that’s what really matters the most.
Is Virgil’s Cabin in the Yearbook? I don’t see it
It is not. Must have missed the * on it in the post, I’ll fix it now.
Thanks Alissa 🙂
When I started playing years ago, each event was different and challenges were interesting. Now every single new event is the same boring format. I keep hoping that they will add some interest but they all involve just a few of the characters doing the same jobs over and over. What has happened to the Simpsons tapped out creators?
I like that they changed things up with the prize track tokens for the mystery boxes. Although I’m not a fan of mystery boxes I do like the fact that they are trying something new. My one request is bring back the Christmas lights/ building skins. I really want to decorate my town for Christmas. For 10-20 donuts we were able to buy them in the past.
I just went to go check on mine, it’s still there. Wonder why yours disappeared.
~BB
Downside to Universal Panacea: it gives Robo Burns a 4hr task location, which forces poor Robo Puppy Smithers to sleep at the robo vet’s office…
My yellow submersible has gone missing. 🙁
Ok, so of it’s Grandpa Abe Simpson doing a different Story each Week? I’m willing to play along for that 👍🏻 …. but it doesn’t excuse EA from the fact there are enough glitches that need a Patch Download to fix (some of these Event Prizes are going right into Storage, while no swell 🍩’s deals means EA isn’t getting my 💰) …. zero expectations means I can still have fun, but I have zero reasons to trust EA until they try harder.
I am thankful that our storage does not have an item limit lol 😜
Happy tapping ~BB
BurghBaby
Oh yeah, if Storage had a Limit? Tappers would be in a panic over another EA snafu !😂
I believe most have wanted the ability to trade in / delete what’s just taking up space in Storage (make it so, EA). 😉
Yes, I have many things in my storage that i would love to get rid of and clear out the clutter. Maybe this is something I will post to EA. 😋
~BB
I was feeling optimistic for this event, and for relatively new players there are loads of great Christmas items but… for long time players it is really disappointing, a new character or two. All mystery boxes are non existent as you already have all the items, the tokens are also therefore useless, and the few new prizes are meh. Oh well, I’ll just focus on decorating my town… Oh wait the items limit hasn’t increased. Sorry to be negative but just not sure what this great game has for long time players in the future 🤔
I have had to remodel my town so many times it’s not funny. I do however find it fun and challenging to make it look good with the amount of items I can use. Lol. Hopefully us long time players will see more new things in the future.
Keeping the hope alive ~BB
Same as that. Week one gives up two small decorations and one new character with the option of one premium building plus character because the only thing I can use my tokens on are a box of 12 doughnuts.
I miss the days when they incorporated your neighbors into the events. I don’t need the money or xp from a regular visit, so, unfortunately, I find myself forgetting to visit other towns very often. I’d love to drop gifts on Christmas or treats on Halloween. Or even if they added a new prize to the friendship level track. Otherwise the event is decent. I also emptied my mystery box before I realized that’s what the tokens are for. But, I would’ve only used these first two, being too impatient to wait for the other 6 to drop. Had 7 things in the one box. All building/character combos I missed. Nothing in he other box. Didn’t even know there was one until I read this article. Lol. Happy to get things I missed. I’m sad for the newer players that they stopped offering Christmas building facades, and of course the neighbor visits.
I miss the neighbor interaction as well. I loved the dropping off gifts and of course receiving them as well.
Happy tapping ~BB
Will there be any more prizes released later this month? For years I’ve really, really wanted the Christmas lights on houses and Christmas building skins, like the striped power plant stacks. I do love the snow and appreciate that someone had to make all those graphics for every item!
I dont see lights in this at all. So unless they release them with a different update I dont see it
Yay! Christmas is finally in Springfield!
I’ll will resist using my donuts to use in the mystery box until the last act. I first want to know how many tokens there will be. Also, if Gil happens to surprise us with his deals, i want to save my donuts as much as I can.
Merry Christmas everybody! 😊
You should get two tokens per act for a total of 8 tokens.
Good Luck ~BB
I am happy with whatever they give. If I get a useless token, so what? It’s just a milestone on the way to the next prize. 12 donuts instead of something o have (even if I paid donuts for it), super. I’ve enjoyed the thing since I bought it. No regrets. I’m busier than ever so easy events where we get new characters are perfect for me.
I do really miss exchanging gifts with neighbors.
Otherwise I’m happy with the snow and any fun stuff I get for not too much work or worry!
Thank you for the rundown and details
I think the main ones complaining again are the donut farmers that have everything so they are disappointed EA didn’t add much new for them. I don’t farm and I’m happy with the event so far. Forgive me if I’m missing something but why would EA busy their behinds to make all kinds of extra new content to please the very people that found a loophole so as to not pay real money to the game to help pay the TSTO staff members that EA employs? It is a business after all so if they aren’t making money they will scale down their TSTO employees or end the game altogether. It reminds me of rich kids that have everything crying on Christmas ‘cuz no present was good enough. It’s a good problem to have. If you want to be happier with the events you could stop farming donuts so that all the items will become special to you again because you won’t have everything with no effort. Also, maybe the majority of those hitting the item limits are farmers? Not sure on that but if so maybe it’s not just a software size issue but also a little farmer punishment planned by EA. Guess the farmers got lumps of coal for Christmas again ‘cuz they’re too donut rich and have everything else. I’m excited to get a few new items with my prize tokens because I don’t have everything, not even close. Yay Christmas update, this one looks like it’s going to be fun 🙂 well, for some of us donut poor players at least that play the way EA designed it by having tons of items available that we couldn’t buy yet with the small amounts of donuts earned and purchased. I want to farmers to enjoy this awesome game too 🙁 it’s no fun not being excited by a Christmas event but I see no solution other than by making donuts special for yourselves again. Doesn’t the donut grinding get tedious too? Doesn’t that suck some fun out as well? I don’t know, just thinking out loud.
You make a lot of really great points! The thrill of earning Barney for his great donut price was exciting! I don’t donut farm, not interested.. but I steal a great donut deal in the store every now when offered for $50 or $100 and get my ‘boatload’ of donuts. Plus I still do Where’s Maggie and recycling center for a few extra donuts weekly. I started playing after game originated so I missed a bunch of events with many great prizes. I’m happy with the recurring items as it gives me a chance to catch something I didn’t have. I do wish there were more neighbor tasks for events. I love dropping things in neighbor villages. And yes I complained about crafting but looking back it was kind of fun (could make extra decorations for later)! Plus the Holiday building lights would be great to return for all! I never got the Power Plant towers with the candy cane wrap either. Hard to please everyone. But I’m glad EA still updates this game and it hasn’t gone defunct.
Not all long time players donut farm. I have pumped hundreds of dollars of cash into the game over the past 6 years. And no I don’t quite share your excitement for this update but very glad new players are able to pick up some returning content.
Well said, Justin, thank you,
I think the people are complaining because there isn’t a lot of new Christmas items since judging by the calendar posted by Patric only the elves and couch are Christmas related apart from the tokens which help get premium Christmas past items. People complained 3 years ago when the Christmas event was pagan themed but they didn’t complain with the Rigellians and B.S. League the following year but some did last year even though it was story based and had plenty of Christmas related items.
I just think people are confusing in general. I’m coming up to be a 6 year player and I like this event and also have a Mystery Box with 6 character building/decoration combos to spend the tokens on plus I don’t always buy all the new items in the store. I also think that if you don’t have the mystery box to spend tokens on then this event will be a repeat of Halloween’s prizes with 3 new prizes and 2 12 donut prizes in each act for long term or premium players.
I’m only disappointed in the fact that there are still no land tokens in these events and there have been no item limit increases in the last 9 months which can easily be implemented into any event by EA but they still don’t do them.
Agree completely on your last paragraph.
I wouldn’t be so sure that adding land/increasing the limit can be so easily implemented. If they were just limits for limit’s sake then you’d be right.
But if the limits are there because performance bogs down to an unacceptable level on some supported devices when the map becomes “so” big or the number of objects to manage becomes so great, then those are fundimental limits that would need to be dealt with by changing what devices are supported for our game, or more clever programming to manage more with the same number of cpu cycles.
I’m with you on wanting more space/objects…but I also suspect that might be a big ask and I’ll have to be patient.
Scott
The item limits are completely unrelated to land tiles. They have clearly released as much land as they are going to, but many missed the chance to get the Golden Goose, so they can’t unlock it. The item limits are easy to increase, as they have done repeatedly, in chunks of 300-500 in the past. There is no programming limit…but may “bog down” someone who is visiting town that is huge. However, since neighbor visits are all but forgotten in game plAy, this is pretty much moot as well.
Hi Tapper,
I can’t attest to the percentage of donut farmers who are commenting with frustration on the lack of holiday mystery boxes, etc but I can say that there are many of us longtime players (I’ve played since Whacking Day in March 2013) to whom your comments don’t apply. Your generalisations are truly unfair to us.
I am among many longtime players who’ve bought many many donuts with real $$$$ through the years, did round after round grinding donuts from the Recycling Center, periodically earned donuts via leveling up, took advantage of the occasional in-game Easter Egg, and other in-game methods. For many years there was no such option as donut farming.
Many longtime players are receiving tokens as 2 out of 5 weekly prizes when we have no event boxes where the tokens can be used. It is not unjustified to be unsatisfied with what EA is offering – these event track tokens are a gift designed to be useful for only a portion of players instead of all players.
12 donuts in exchange for 1 token is a poor game design element which, as Patric often says, is LEAzy. And a lousy way to treat longtime players.
In the same boat as some others, I had only ONE thing in the boxes and bought it with first token. Any idea if there will be donut exchange or something else in place of them?
As someone who only started playing this game this year, I’m more than happy with getting tokens for this event. The thing I’m surprised by is actually that I can’t get any of the Christmas facades. I see some of my neighbors with them and they look so fun! I want to decorate the crap out of my Springfield for Christmas!
But, oh well. The snow will have to be enough for me!
I have all the Simpson family snowmen except the Buff Homer and it’s never come back and bothers me every year so I sympathize with tappers wishing for building skins. I snatched up everything offered except the candy cane cooling towers which I now wish I had.
Since the is an Abe centric event, I’d love it if the Hellfish are a returning premium item. Glad Young Abe and the carrier are back!
I think all the lights should’ve been put in their own mystery box for about 10 donuts each along with Elf Bart and Lisa, the Tire Fireplace, and the Rigellian Queen skin. The mystery box probably should have been called “Festive Facades” or something. It would be easier for us since they all are in one place and easier for EA since they just have to include the mystery box in the event.
Will there be a Gill deal this event?
All I want for Christmas is Golden Goose Realty
https://inktale.com/tstoaddicts/golden-goose-christmas/sweatshirts?size=M&color=Navy
Kind of neat that you get a token for the mystery box as a prize, so you really could get anything. Everyone gets something different. I like this concept! At least EA is thinking of new things, instead of the usual prizes.. land token or 12 dozen donuts. Must be hard thinking of new ideas after so many years of doing this and players have so many characters/buildings in villages.
Kim, I agree that it’s cool to get tokens as prizes to use for mystery box items. That really works well for many players.
Unfortunately, many of us longtime players have no mystery boxes during these events, so we get tokens that are useless. It would be more fair to those of us with no mystery boxes to get a default prize (perhaps new items not yet in the game?) in lieu of those tokens.
The same should be true for the previously released prize track prizes that we already have; getting 12 donuts instead of a prize is not a fair, equal substitute. EA would be wiser to do what they always did in the past – give only brand new items for all Event prize track prizes.
You make a good point. That is a bummer. 🙁 I do remember all NEW prizes from events past. Always a thrill to get something NEW.
Another glitch, same as last year: Wiggop’s Station is invisible. There’s no snow version of it apparently.
I really wish they’d put out some of the more obscure characters to buy with donuts or in mystery boxes. I have nothing to buy but am still missing lots of Holiday Themed characters and skins. Also the last of the Apu family, several pets and mascots, and the real Sgt. Skinner (whose tank was in the Yearbook Box without him).
Now I feel like I’m whining… sorry about that. The Bleeding Gums glitch is hilarious at least.
you know what this game really needs, besides Troy McClure…. a weather switch… where you can activate the snow, fall, Halloween mode at anytime during the year.. possibly add Night mode too…
No mystery boxes because I have all the items already.😢 So I guess the tokens will be worth bupkis. They needed to make them tradeable for donuts like the Thanksgiving event. Hate doing four hour jobs for nothing. 😕
You get 12 donuts for tokens
Woo Hoo!
Yes, the Cthulhu monument is just a screen pic of it, like the Bleeding Gums glitch.
D’oh! Should have read before acting! Only had 2 items in the Wonderland box and spent 60 donuts instead of waiting to unlock tokens. Oh well, at least I got the character I wanted (as opposed to Funzos).
Doh is right…….. You are going to get a ton of tokens.
Same here done the same thing big DOH!!!!
Oh, I did the same thing with about seven or eight items. I was so excited to see fun stuff I didn’t have. Double Doah!
No mystery boxes For me would it be that difficult to give land tile instead of tokens I can’t use. Plopped Professor Simpson’s Universal Panacea inside my zoo since that was the only space available.
I hope they get the town portrait working. I really wanted a picture of my town with snow.
I’m worried that they removed it for the event and that it won’t come back until the event is over.