Farm Town, Living the American Dream - "Virtually"

Farm Town

Living the "Virtual" American Dream

I have found a new obsession, virtual world farming. Oh, I know, I know, I am not the first person to discover this wonderful outlet, but that is okay. This new past time has taken me beyond the barriers of video games where I was nothing more than a blip on a screen - here I am an  Avatar!

The ability to make your avatar closely resemble yourself is limited but that is minute compared to the enjoyment you will get from creating your own farm from four, little, barren plots of land.

I believe the appeal of this game, for me at least, is being able to achieve the now illusive, "American Dream". You know, you start with little and through strategy and hard work; you build your bank up and development the land. It can, of course, be achieved more rapidly if you indulge in the sponsor supplied offers for $, but that takes the fun out of earning it, for me anyway.

There is something quite rewarding in choosing your crop, sowing it and watching it grow to fruition. You can recruit farm hands to harvest for you, earning you even more $ for the yield or you can get your own hands on the sickle and "reap what you sowed."

Making a successful go of it from so little is rare enough but let's face it, there are very few of us who can you choose our neighbors too. Well, in Farm Town you can. You can even switch those who live immediately around you - the concept is fun and exciting.

The act of helping neighbors when they call upon you or when you "visit" their farms earns you money and experience points. In turn, these same neighbors will call on your farm from time to time. Most of these "visits" are computer initiated but you can select to do so yourself.

I confess I believe another attraction to this game is not only can you prosper, but also you do not have to deal with everyday, setback situations such as poor weather, rent, mortgages, cars, kids, etc. It is total Utopia.

This is not a difficult game. On the main screen, follow the tool bar buttons (which are mostly symbols) and you can hardly go wrong. The tool bars will assist you with farming your land and managing your assets, crops, etc. Across the top, you will find:

Send Gifts = You send "gifts" to you Facebook friends by selecting the intended gift then choosing the recipients. The gifts are trees that produce fruit, pine trees and animals. The higher level you achieve, the greater the variety to choose from.

Play = Takes you to the main screen

My Neighbors = Detailed list of your neighbors and their farm status. Here, you can also elect to go work for your neighbors on their farms. This task awards you money in your bank; the amounts depend on the crop you harvest.

Invite = Access to your mail contacts to invite into the game

Reviews = User comments

Forum = User discussions

Help/Rules = Answers questions regarding play

Account = Your personal account settings

Earn $ = Sponsor offers to obtain more $ quickly

Below them are;

C (circled) = Coins (the amount of $ you have available to you)

Envelope= Messages (sent to you from fellow farmers)

Progress Bar = Current level and your progression to the next one

Farm Name = Your choice, just type it in

Toggle bar = Save Button (Save changes)

Music, Speaker (Sound for the farm animals

Tool(Preferences)

Plug (Allows you to go off line)

? (Help key)

Across the bottom, you will see:

Friends/Chat box = Indicates your neighbors & their status

Navigational Tools = Move, pan, walk

Hoe = Used for prepping your plots

Sickle = Used for harvesting

Tool Box = Camera, watering can & bulldozer

Buddies = Hire farm help direct from this list instead of going to the marketplace

Trophies = Achievements obtained through being neighborly

Store = Where you purchase all your farm needs

Gifts = Received

Storage = Harvested crops being held for market

Map = Navigation assistance to market, pub, etc.

The main thing to remember is to pay attention to when you plant and what you plant. For example, grapes mature in four hours and if not harvested in the proper amount of time, they will ruin and be a wasted crop. The allotted harvest time is approximately equal to the time the crop took to mature. Currently, fruit on the trees do not ruin.

The more you achieve the higher your level/status goes. Planting quicker yielding crops gives you more opportunity to increase your experience points, thus raising your levels more quickly. Each level affords you different purchasing privileges, including flowers, animals, seeds, structures, fences, ponds, dirt paths and other miscellaneous items.

One negative note, I would say that the amount of email notifications associated with working someone's farm, or vice versa. It is annoying and should be adjustable per user if not just eliminated.

All of that being said, if you are in the mood for a game with some gratification and does not end in rounds, Farm Town is it - try it.