Farmville - More than casual?

If you were to define a casual game, you'd probably describe it like this: A simple, addictive, mindless game that can be completed in a short amount of time and has mass appeal to non-gamers. Farmville, the ultra-popular Facebook-based farming simulator, fits this category perfectly, but there are other elements that make Farmville something "different" altogether.

Meth-like Addiction

If you've ever played Farmville, you know how addictive the game is. The simple gameplay and the time-based objectives that you must constantly perform ensure that you'll be coming back everyday, multiple times.




Fucking Microtransactions


Probably the worst thing to ever grace online gaming, Microtransactions allow to spend cash on completely useless things. Like Gondolas, Brazilian flags and orange scarecrows. You spend real cash, not the the in-game currency on these items, which are completely useless and only serve to make Zynga rich.

More ways to consume you.

Multiplayer?

The game does have some multiplayer aspects to it, though you don't directly interact with others, you can visit other peoples' farms, leave messages and perform certain tasks on their farm for both players benefit.

Achievements?

The game also has a achievement-esque system called "ribbons." You're awarded a colored ribbon every time you complete a certain task, like adopt a pink cow, harvest a million flowers or fertilize a friends crops. 


So, the elements listed above point out that Farmville isn't exactly what it seems. What we can determine, is that Farmville is a Casual MMOG. The multiplayer elements, the meth and the fucking microtransactions are a common-trait in free/Browser-based MMORPGS. So if you play Farmville, take note that you're no better than the folks playing World of Warcraft.

- Kyle K.