Facebook Heads to the Farm: Tending the Fields in Cyberspace
NEIRAD enilno edition
Load printer friendly version Facebook is forming a farming community that has nothing to do with organic, green-friendly ways. The social network is ramping up its game plan with a new game called FarmVille.
“I found it by word of mouth and it kept popping up in my news feed until I had to try it,” junior Kyle King said.
FarmVille, and other free Facebook games have become increasingly popular over the last few months. FarmVille is the brainchild of Zynga, a San Francisco-based online gaming start-up company.
Sophomore Sam Bryant said it, “gives you a reason to go on Facebook. At first I hated [FarmVille] and thought it was stupid that people were spending time on a fake farm on Facebook, but then once I started it was fun and addicting. But for some kids it is too addicting,” Bryant said. Bryant has attained a level three mastery of cotton since he began playing in October.
Students also enjoy the ability to experience another platform while they simultaneously receive Facebook chat messages and notifications.
“I like Farm Ville because there is a lot of freedom of choice and it is something to do when you are bored. It gives you a reason to go on Facebook, but now instead of going on creeping or stalking you are checking your FarmVille. On top of socializing you are farming,” Bryant said.
The premise is simple. The gamer starts his own FarmVille by choosing to become a virtual girl or guy. Then they receive an avatar that can be customized to create an original online identity.
The user then starts on a small plot of land. Then buy the seeds, plant them, and harvest them at specific times or the crops die. Once the user harvests the crops they receive free FarmVille money. This pro bono cash can be used to buy more crops or expand the farm with trees, animals and a farmhouse.
All the animals have certain prices and users have to be a certain level to be able to purchase the most prized items, which include a green cow. This green cow is one of the limited items that only last for approximately one month.
Here is the catch: the game never ends. FarmVille is a very easy game to play, but junior Dan Pidgeon said, “It’s so addicting that I just can’t stop playing.”
Pidgeon’s point reflects a national trend. According to a recent USA Today front-page story, “[FarmVille] is widely believed to be the largest and fastest-growing social game ever.” Starting with just over 350 users on June 20th the barnyard binge now boasts more than 62 million users.
The objective is to gain coins and Farm Ville bucks by growing a variety of crops. By playing consistently, the player earns free coins (FarmVille bucks) and experience points to later purchase new animals, crops, buildings, trees, and scenery. Each type of crop and animal has a harvesting time (between two hours and three days) where the player has to wait until the crop or animal grows/prepares milk etc. Players can also compare their farm and rank to Facebook friends by becoming their neighbor.
Junior Grant Nelson said, “FarmVille creates a haven from our stressful and busy lives. It is a place we can go when we're overwhelmed and need a break from homework”
This reporter - along with many virtual farmers - makes it a habit to check every evening: but many also check in the mornings too. It helps to schedule one’s life. Facebook farmers plan everyday tasks to allow 10-15 minutes on FarmVille as well as doing homework. And as a result they find they procrastinate a lot less with a schedule put in place.
Many critics at the high school say FarmVille is stupid and a waste of time. “I love FarmVille but I find it really embarrassing, my one friend always makes fun of me for playing it so I don’t really like to tell anyone about it,” sophomore Alexa Carroll said.
These free amusements are giving the big box console games some serious competition. Worldwide, the Xbox and Playstation makers have seen a decrease in sales not only because of the economic depression, but also because of the increase in popularity of social networking games such as FarmVille.
“I find myself playing my Xbox a lot less because it is much easier to stay on the computer, and play FarmVille for 20 minutes, instead of going into the other room and turning on my Xbox,” junior Andrew McGarey said.
Then there are those virtual farmers who find the free FarmVille money just isn’t enough. They start laying down their own money. Players can purchase virtual goods through PayPal.
The purchase of FarmVille goods is a way for Zynga to cash in on this craze. According to a recent story in “The New York Times” less than three percent of players actually pay for these virtual goods. Putting money down takes the game to the next level: gamers have the ability to farm faster when they buy things such as gas or other items to up their performance. However, choosing not to spend money doesn’t seem to lessen the experience for the majority of DHS’s virtual farmers even if they do treat this game like a guilty pleasure.
Enilno readers before you completely rule out FarmVille; try it for yourself. You might find it to be a great way to relieve stress; organize life, and maybe even have some free fun.
