Archives for posts with tag: Fruit-Bat-Signal

The answer to that one is “yes and no”.

This is the 6th episode promotion the game has seen (the 7th if you count Halloween, which was really one month-long episode promotion!). And there’s been a mix of free and paid content in every recent promotion. But two things are true for all the buildings, decorations, characters and costumes made available since September last year as promotional items: they were all available for just a limited time – and they’re all no longer available.

Here’s a bit of episode promotional game history for the benefit of newer players:

1. The Duff Racer
This was a free decoration to celebrate the first episode of the current season of the show. It had no real quest attached to it. All you really had to do was place it somewhere in your town.

2. Halloween
This had a mix of free and premium decorations, costumes, buildings and characters. For example, Mayan Homer, the Springfield Subatomic Collider and the Black Hole were all free (and related directly to this season’s Halloween episode). Kang and Witch Marge, however were premium (as were a number of other items).

3. Fat Tony
He arrived, on his own to promote the episode “Penny Wiseguys“. He was free, had a short quest, and there was no other building, decoration, costume or decoration as a premium extra. (That Fat Tony was only available for 3 days has since caused a mild outcry among newer players of the game, to the extent that he may be back within the next couple of levels – see here.)

4. The Cool Brown House and Cool Homer
This promotion occurred in November 2012, within a couple of weeks of the “Penny Wiseguys” promotion. Both the Cool Brown House and the Cool Homer costume were available free for a few days to promote the episode “The Day the Earth Stood Cool“. There was a quest which revolved around the theme of the episode which really needed both items to make any sense at all.

5. Gorgeous Grampa and the Gorgeous Grampa Billboard
Last month, to promote the “Gorgeous Grampa” episode, we got a free costume for Grampa and a decoration, the Gorgeous Grampa Billboard, which cost 40 donuts. There was a brief quest attached to Gorgeous Grampa, but buying the Gorgeous Grampa Billboard gained you no additional storylines.

6. Fruit-Bat-Man and the Fruit-Bat-Signal
Also in March was a promotion for the episode “Dark Night Court“. Many players found this one disappointing – not because the free item was a decoration (the Fruit-Bat-Signal) which didn’t do much and didn’t have a quest attached to it. The disappointment mostly came from Mr. Burns’ Fruit-Bat-Man costume, which was seen as the promotion’s key element, going for 90 donuts. If you didn’t buy it, you missed out on the episode-related quest, too.

7. The Swanky Fish and Springfield Falls
The current promotion is for the episode “What Animated Women Want” – and this time round, the free element is the far better prize! Springfield Falls is probably the nicest free gift EA have ever given us.

So, the free versus premium balance of episode promotions is mixed, particularly if you take into account Halloween. It does seem, though, that the pattern established in 2013 is to offer one free and one premium item in each promotion, which for EA probably makes very good commercial sense.

Tags Cool Brown House, Cool Homer, donuts, Duff Racer, episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Gorgeous Grampa, Gorgeous Grampa Billboard, limited time, Mayan Homer, Springfield Falls, Springfield Subatomic Collider, Swanky Fish, The Simpsons Tapped Out

Categories Cool Brown House, Cool Homer, Costume, Decorations, Donuts, Duff Racer, EA, Episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Gorgeous Grampa, Gorgeous Grampa Billboard, Limited time, Springfield Falls, Swanky Fish

Have any more episode promotions been planned for this season?

By TSTO Tips

March 31, 2013 //

Episode promotions are really fleeting things – they arrive and they’re gone before you know it. And if you miss out on adding them to your game, it’s likely that you’ll have missed out for good.

Here are some of the items that have already come into the game and gone again within a few days during this US season of The Simpsons (and by “gone” I mean that they’re no longer available):

The Duff Racer
Fat Tony (although he may be back!)
Cool Homer and the Cool Brown House
Gorgeous Grampa and the Gorgeous Grampa Billboard
Fruit-Bat-Man and the Fruit-Bat-Signal

With the exception of the Gorgeous Grampa Billboard and Fruit-Bat-Man, all of these items were free. But are there any more planned before the 24th season ends in May?

The short answer looks like it’s “yes”, and if that’s all you really want to know, it’s probably time to move on to another post. But if you want to know more, you’ll need to follow the link just underneath the clip of Fruit-Bat-Man in action from the ANIMATION ON FOX YouTube channel:

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags April, Cool Brown House, Cool Homer, Duff Racer, episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Gorgeous Grampa, May, Quests, season 24, The Simpsons Tapped Out, updates

Categories Cool Brown House, Cool Homer, Duff Racer, Episode promotions, Fat Tony, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Gorgeous Grampa, Quests, Updates

What’s the point of premium costumes?

By TSTO Tips

March 18, 2013 //

At the time this post is going up, the Simpsons episode featuring Fruit-Bat-Man will be over in at least part of the US. And as some of you now know the story behind Mr. Burns’ Fruit-Bat-Man costume and the Fruit-Bat-Signal, it’s a good time to ask – what’s the point of premium outfits?

Fruit-Bat-Man is the second premium costume we’ve seen this year (Mr. Plow was the first). And while they’re fun and add new storylines to the game, they’re a bit expensive for what they are. Generally, they come at the same price as a premium character. But the difference, of course, is that you’re not adding a character to your game – in fact, you’re taking one out. Sure, when your character puts on a premium costume, his or her tasks earn the premium rate – but that character is also no longer available to carry our regular tasks. And that means that a premium costume doesn’t add as much value as a premium character that costs the same donut price.

I’ll still keep buying them, though – I’m a sucker for these things, and I have a blog to write. But it’s certainly a question worth asking. For me, the jury’s still out on this one.

Oh – and what’s the point of the picture? It’s the Simpsons version of former US Attorney-General Janet Reno, who guest stars as herself on the Fruit-Bat-Man episode of the Simpsons.

Tags Costume, episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, limited time, outfit, premium costume, premium outfit, The Simpsons Tapped Out

Categories Costume, Episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Limited time

The collected Fruit-Bat-Man and Fruit-Bat-Signal posts

By TSTO Tips

March 17, 2013 //

Fruit-Bat-Man is a very limited-time episode promotion so really doesn’t justify a top menu all of its own. To help people looking for information on the Fruit-Bat-Man and Fruit-Bat-Signal update, though, I’ve collected everything you need to know right here:

There’s a new superhero in Springfield!
What was in the conversation that launched the Fruit-Bat-Signal into the game?
What does the Fruit-Bat-Signal actually do?
Should I spend my donuts on Fruit-Bat-Man?
How long do I have to decide whether I want Fruit-Bat-Man?
I bought Fruit-Bat-Man but can’t see him anywhere!
I don’t have Burns yet! Can I get Fruit-Bat-Man?
What happens in the Fruit-Bat-Man quest (part 1)?
What happens in the Fruit-Bat-Man quest (part 2)?
Poll: Will you be spending your donuts on Fruit-Bat-Man?

Update: EA has confirmed on the official Facebook page that Fruit-Bat-Man and the Fruit-Bat-Signal will no longer be available after Sunday night/Monday morning US time. No exact time was given, but don’t be surprised if both items are no longer available shortly after the episode airs at 8/7 Central time in the US.

And what does the image below have to do with all this? It’s from the episode on Sunday, 17 March featuring Fruit-Bat-Man!

Tags Costume, episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, limited time, quest, tasks, The Simpsons Tapped Out, update

Categories Episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Limited time, Quests, Tasks, Update, Walkthrough

Should I spend my donuts on Fruit-Bat-Man?

By TSTO Tips

March 17, 2013 //

Here’s a post that’s only good for the next day and a half…

Fruit-Bat-Man has proven to be a bit of a controversial offer – an episode promotion that costs you 90 donuts. We haven’t had a promtional item we’ve had to pay for before. All the other episode promotions to date have been free (The Duff Racer, Fat Tony, the Cool Brown House with the Cool Homer Costume, and Gorgeous Grampa). This is the first one we’ve had where we need to buy the main element.

So, is Fruit-Bat-Man worth it? Here are a few reasons why you might consider spending 90 donuts on this limited time costume for Mr Burns:

1. When Burns is wearing the costume, he behaves like a premium character, earning premium chracter rates for each of his Fruit-Bat-Man tasks:
- Pose in front of a mirror (60 minutes – $105 and 26 XP)
- Fly like a decrepit superhero (4 hours – $200 and 55 XP)
- Rehearse heroic one-lines (8 hours – $420 and 105 XP)
- Practice punching out a crook (12 hours – $600 and 150 XP)
- Sooth his welts and bruises in Burns Manor (24 hours – $1000 and 225 XP)
2. His Fruit-Bat-Man quest is quite entertaining and, while it’s not the longest quest we’ve had, at 5 parts it’s still a nice addition to the game. You can read about his quest here and here.
3. It’s fun to watch him to try to fly.

As you may have noticed, I’m a little shorter on reasons to buy him than I usually am – and, as regular readers of this blog know, I’m a big fan of the game’s premium offerings. So here are the reasons on the other side:

1. It’s a costume not a character, which makes it quite expensive at 90 donuts (the same price as a character like Dr. Nick).
2. When Burns becomes Fruit-Bat-Man, he may earn like a premium character – but you’ve also taken your regular Mr. Burns out of the game. That makes Fruit-Bat-Man a far less useful addition than Dr. Nick or any other stand-alone premium character.
3. Fruit-Bat-Man’s quest is quite short (probably due to his limited-time availability and the fact the costume promotes Sunday night’s new episode) – and there’s a missed opportunity to use the Fruit-Bat-Signal as part of his storyline.
4. To complete the quest, you need to have Burns Manor, which is almost enticing players to use donuts to speed up the game (which, we all know, is a really, really, bad idea) just to get to level 26.
5. Newer players can’t even buy the costume until they build the Cooling Towers and unlock Mr Burns (for some reason, this costume operates differently from the Gorgeous Grampa freebie of a few weeks ago). Given its short period of availability, this seems to be encouraging very new players to use donuts to speed up their game as well.
6. Fruit-Bat-Man only has 5 tasks – and three of these are indoors.

I have him and many other readers of this blog have bought him, too. But I’ll admit to being a bit disappointed by both the price and his tasks. I’m not alone in my assessment, either, as you can see by the current voting in the poll.

Tags Costume, donuts, episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, limited time, premium items, Quests, tasks, The Simpsons Tapped Out

Categories Donuts, Episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Limited time, Tasks

How long do I have to decide whether I want the Leprechaun or Fruit-Bat-Man?

By TSTO Tips

March 16, 2013 //

The Leprechaun and and Fruit-Bat-Man are both limited-time items, so if you want them, you’d better decide quickly. That’s because Monday, 18 March is quite possibly the day they’ll no longer be available in your premium store.

St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday, 17 March and we’re all assuming that the event will wind up sometime on Monday. After all, it’s not really a big event, and there’s no reason for it to be around much after the day itself. You’ll get to keep everything you’ve acquired once the event is over, though. But the quest will probably end and nobody new to the game will be able to get Tom O’Flanagan, O’Flanagan’s Pub, the Wishing Well, or the Leprechaun. That means you’ll need to hurry through the quest so that you can get the Shamrock Topiary before the event ends if it’s still going on for you.

Fruit-Bat-Man is part of an episode promotion and, if the past is anything to go by, this costume for Mr. Burns will also no longer be available after Monday, 18 March. If you’ve bought it, it’s yours for the life of the game – but new players and those that haven’t bought it will no longer be able to do so. They’ll also be wondering how you got the Fruit-Bat-Signal.

When on Monday will this happen? For international players, we’re taking Monday, 18 March in the US – and exactly when on Monday is anyone’s guess. Again, based on past experience, updates seem to come through in the afternoon or the early evening. But it could be any time.

Tags episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Leprechaun, limited time, O'Flanagan's Pub, premium items, Shamrock Topiary, St Patrick's Day, The Simpsons Tapped Out, Tom O'Flanagan, Wishing Well

Categories Episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Leprechaun, Limited time, O'Flanagan's Pub, Shamrock Topiary, St Patrick's Day, Tom O'Flanagan, Wishing Well

What does the Fruit-Bat-Signal actually do?

By TSTO Tips

March 15, 2013 //

Just like the Duff Racer that was given away free to launch the season, the Fruit-Bat-Signal in today’s update is just a decoration. It doesn’t give you any bonus cash or XP – it just helps your Vanity Rating. Oh, and it also lights up when you tap on it.

If it has any other uses as part of Fruit-Bat-Man’s premium quest, I’ll update this post and let you know. In the meantime, my Fruit-Bat-Signal is sitting outside the Police Station, waiting for a time when Fruit-Bat-Man’s services are needed!

Tags Decorations, episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, limited time, The Simpsons Tapped Out, update, Vanity rating

Categories Episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Limited time, Update, Vanity rating

I missed the conversation launching the Fruit-Bat-Signal! Can you tell me what was said?

By TSTO Tips

March 15, 2013 //

I must have known I’d get this question. If you tapped through the conversation launching introducing the Fruit-Bat-Signal too quickly to see what was being said, here it is again:

Tags Decorations, episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, limited time, The Simpsons Tapped Out, update

Categories Costume, Episode promotions, Fruit-Bat-Man, Fruit-Bat-Signal, Gameplay, Limited time, Update

There’s a new superhero in Springfield!

By TSTO Tips

March 15, 2013 //

A new update containing a new episode promotion has hit the game:

So there’s a new superhero in town – and nobody must know his secret identity:

Look inside your inventory, and you’ll find your Fruit-Bat-Signal, ready for you to place anywhere in your town (it lights up when you tap on it):

And Fruit-Bat-Man (the secret identity of Mr. Burns) is sitting in your premium store and available for 90 donuts (thanks to everyone who pointed out that I missed this):