If you would like to really jump start your Cityville “career”, then check out Paul’s site as he reviews the #1 CityVille guide. If you do buy, then please stick to the strategy presented:

Ok now once you’ve got yourself a copy of the ebook above and became a member of the site, let us go through each item mentioned in the title. First up is Cheats. I am not a big fan of cheats, but here is 1 you could use in emergencies.

Cheat(s)
The cheat I use and recommend is creating more FB accounts. By doing so, you could add more “artificial” neighbors to your main city(in your main account). You could also send or gift yourself with necessary items for you to level up fast like Energy, Zoning Permits, etc… Don’t overdo this though as having many artificial neighbors will drain you out and render the game too strenuous for you to enjoy.

Bot
I am not a fan of bots. But if you want to really stream roll your opponents(neighbors) then you could probably use one. Here are the links to Cityville bots available online:

• http://www.cityvillebot.org
• http://www.cityvillebots.com/

Guide & Secrets
The guide and secrets are really all in the ebooks above. There is no need for me to mention it here as that would be redundant. However, you might want to check out the strategies section for help for intermediate to advanced players.

Strategy
Strategy is different from tactics. The two have often been confused to mean the same thing but they are not the same. Strategy pertains to the overall plan you are going to follow to achieve your goal while tactics pertain to techniques that you can employ to achieve various milestones in your overall strategy.

The best way to illustrate this is in the game of chess. The goal is to checkmate your opponent’s King. But what would be your strategy? Are you going to be aggressive and beat him by force? Or are you going to be defensive and beat him in the end game? White players tend to aggressive because they have momentum while Black players tend to be defensive for the opposite reason the White player does. That is strategy. Tactics on the other hand are the forks, pins, etc… you employ in the game.

Enough of chess and back to Cityville. So what strategy are you going to employ in the game? Before answering that question, what is your goal first? Are you playing just for the sake of fun? Then you don’t need any strategy at all! But if you are playing to beat your friends and neighbors and get to the highest level then you need a strategy.

Cityville is a more complicated game compared to other FB games and thus analysis of the game is much harder. Unlike the other games, Cityville has more limiting factors. And by that, I am referring to Coins, Energy and Goods. So we need to carefully balance each one to get the best out of it. Let us start.

Here is my goal => I want to beat my friends/neighbors by obtaining the highest level in the quickest time possible but at the same time have an attractive and big city with its borders maxed out.

Sounds intimidating but in reality that is what we all want. So what would be my strategy?

Level up as fast as possible by building the most profitable businesses and surrounding it with as much decorations as possible so that I get the most bang for my buck and energy. The game must be played according to the correct timing so as to play the game efficiently. Attractiveness comes last and will be dealt with when my Cityville “economy” is stable.

Let’s break that down by going into the basics of the game. You level up by gaining more XP(experience). XP can be obtained from rent/business/community collection and harvesting. Rent/Business/Community collection and harvesting require 1 Energy per action. You regenerate 1 Energy every 5 minutes. Unfortunately, you cannot buy time But you can sort of do so by using coins and cash. I won’t be talking about cash here as we want to play the game as “free” as possible thus we will stick to coins. If you did your homework and scoured the internet for guides blah blah blah, most of them will focus on buying/getting the best houses and business per coin/supply respectively. That is good for other games like Fishville but in Cityville that is not the case.

If you followed my logic above, the most important limiting factor or resource we have is Energy. Without Energy, we won’t be able to do anything. And if we don’t do anything then we don’t level up and thus won’t achieve our goal. Money/Coins are important but that is very easy to get. The same thing with Goods so I will give them less importance. Now, let us do some math.

As of this post, the maximum Energy limit is 30(assuming you are at least level 26). That means we get to fully refill our Energy bar every 150 minutes or 2.5 hours. Hence, we could play every 2.5 hours and build our city without much interference from our every day lives This also gives us a chance to get 2-3 Masterful bonuses which is a must if you want to level up and collect lots of money fast.

So, if you work 8 hours a day, you could play before you work, 3 times during your break time and after work. After work, you could devote more time to playing Cityville which means you don’t have to play every 2.5 hours. If you are “harvesting”  4 businesses which have their potential maxed out using decorations, you can harvest them every 20 minutes and get a lot of money in 1 hour’s worth of playing time! Using this strategy, I often collect 10k+ coins in just 1 hour, that is using the highest earning businesses available to me at my level.

Also, don’t use housing as a means of getting coins. Yes, you can get coins from them but regard them as extra bonuses. Housing should be treated only as a means to increase population. Hence you should get housing which occupies the least space with the most population. I am referring to the Colonial Chalet. It can fit in 13.34 population/people per grid which is the best in the game. It is quite expensive in the beginning at $10000 but if you harvest maxed out businesses as I did, then money should not be a problem.

Just to reiterate, housing is just for population. Never collect rent from houses to get money. That is a total waste of energy. To make money, use businesses and harvest them to the max using decorations. But not just any decorations though, use the best ones which give the highest multipliers. The only time to collect on houses is when you need bonus clicks to get to Masterful or when you are going to sleep, that is after collecting on businesses (use all your Energy before going to sleep!!!).

Since the max Energy is 30, we only need to have a total of 30 houses, businesses and crops combined. Thus, it would be a good and wise idea to build/plant houses/crops which can be harvested every 2.5 hours. Other houses are for population, other crops are for decoration and other businesses are just for show

We should also expand as fast as possible. More space means more clicks, more XP and more money! Thus it would be wise to always send Zoning Permits to your friends. The rule is, give and you shall receive. If you give a gift to your neighbor, they would likely gift back one to you.

So I guess that’s it. The strategy above would be able to help you to level up faster and make lots of money. It is not written in detail but if you have played Cityville for a while now you would understand what I am saying. If you need a complete beginners guide to help you through the game, then it would be best to get the 2 ebooks above.

Tips and Tactics

• Don’t close your Cityville app so that businesses use out their supply faster. I am not sure of this tip but it seems to me that it works. Faster supply usage means more money in your pocket. This is just a gut feel tip so use at your own discretion.
• Buy goods/supply from Charlieville using the train. I know it is expensive but we are talking about buying time here. Goods from Charlieville cost 4coins/good but without wasting precious time and Energy. If you have 3 businesses using a total of 300 goods and giving you 4500 coins gross profit, then your net profit would be 3300 coins in 15 minutes (assuming all 300 goods get used in that time span which is a good approximate)! That would be 13200 coins an hour
• Give and you shall receive. If you need +3 Energy, gift them out first to your friends/neighbors. This is a proven tactic which has survived the test of time.
• Use bonuses to your advantage…always. To get to the highest bonus(Masterful), you need 32 clicks. That can be done with 16 Energy. If you are fortunate and get extra items then you can do it in less than 16. Always find a way to get to Masterful as that would mean more coins/money for you. One way to get extra clicks without using energy is by using the Charlieville train. Doing so will give you 3 free clicks without using energy. I won’t post a bonus chart here as they are everywhere

If I have anymore to share, I will update this blog post for you guys.

The famous Facebook game, Farmville, is going up one level by having its own website! Via www.farmville.com, farmville addicts will know be able to play the very addictive game without logging into Facebook.

Facebook down? No problem! Just go to farmville.com and you still should be able to play.

The question now is, where are you going to play Farmville? Are you old school and will be playing it classically via FB? Or are you going to open a new tab or window for farmville.com? That is a very hard question and you should sit down and think about it seriously

[image from http://vator.tv]

Are you looking for Civilization Network Tips? Well if you are then you have come to the right place. But before that let me clarify that we are talking about the Facebook version of Sid Meier’s Civilization game. This game is not out yet but once it is, I will post tips and links to other sites containing worthy tips, strategies, tactics or maybe even cheats

One tip I can give right now is that expansion is a big must. Like in the real desktop Civilization game, if you don’t expand early and fast, you will lose out in every aspect of the game because you will not get the resources you would need if you have claimed real estate early. Not only that, you would have less population thus less productivity.

In Facebook, I would assume it would be the same thing. And like any other FB game, neighbors would play a vital part of the strategy. So right now in the pre-beta release of this much awaited FB game, my tips is to expand early whether socially (via adding as many neighbours as possible) or functionally (claiming real estate early … if that is ever part of the game which it should be…).

I also know of a site being created as early as now which would serve as a repository of strategies, tactics or simply tips to the much-awaited Civilization Network game. The site is Civilization Network Tips.

Due to the seasonal holidays, consumers are once again looking for gifts to give and one of the top gifts is Zhu zhu pets. But there is a problem. Because of the economy, retailers are not stockpiling and thus there is a low supply of this commodity. Thus many are asking, where to buy Zhu Zhu Pets?

Well, Amazon has them but they are selling at a high price. Talk about taking advantage! But you can opt to get it from Toys R Us. You have to be quick though. Only the first 50 families at each Toy’s R Us store tomorrow will be able to buy Zhu Zhu pets so act now!

Click here to find the nearest store from your place.

Before giving out a tip or two, what is Fishville? Fishville is the latest Facebook game from Zynga! After the smashing success of Farmville, a game where you create and maintain a farm, Zynga has introduced another game which has a lot of potential of being another winner.

Some say that this game is like an underwater Farmville. But in my opinion, this game is more like Tamagochi (remember the small pocket-size gadget kids of the 90s where crazy with??) where you need to make sure you feed your fish every now and then.

Now on to some tips. Like in Farmville, if you do not harvest your crops in time, they will wither and die. The same is true with Fishville. If you do not feed your fish with food, they will die. What you need to be careful of is that you need to know when you need to feed your fish. There are those that takes hours before you need to feed them and there are those that only takes minutes. If you got some fish that needs feeding every few minutes, then you need to be vigilant in feeding them or else they die which happened to me a lot of times. Thus, I resorted to using my kitchen timer so that I won’t forget LOLZ!

Another good tip would be to find neighbors as soon as possible. Like Farmville, you need them to unlock some items. I haven’t fully played Fishville yet but I am sure that your neighbors can help you take care of your fish like how you can take care of your neighbor’s farm in Farmville.

If you haven’t played it yet, go and create an account now so you’ll get the benefit of leveling-up early. By the way, this Fishville game is still in Beta so if you sign up now you’ll have a lot of head start.

Also stay tuned for more Fishville tips in the future!

Thanks to Nokia’s partnership with Gameloft we can now download free E71 games from the Nokia OVI store! The games are not only for the E71 but for other models as well. I am not sure what other models are supported so I would not list them here.

This offer is for a limited time only. From what I have heard, it is only offered until January of next year. So if I were you, make haste and go to the Nokia OVI Store now!

Here is the list of free games offered. There are 10:

1. Assassin’s Creed™ Free Promo Action

   Description

   Assassin’s Creed – Jerusalem, 1191 A.D. The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You play Altair, a disgraced Master Assassin, sent to kill eight men in order to end the Third Crusade. Along the way, you discover that the men share a dark secret – one that threatens not only the Holy Land – but the entire world. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

2. 
   

   Asphalt 4 Free Promo Arcade

   Description

   Asphalt 4 – Face the world’s richest drivers in high-speed races through traffic. Choose among 10 dream cars and bikes from the world’s most prestigious manufacturers, and zoom through the streets of Monte Carlo, New York, Shanghai, Paris, and Beverly Hills to impose your style. Check your rides in your own garage and spend millions to tune them. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

3. 
   

   Zombie Infection Free Promo Action

   Description

   Zombie Infection – Save New York from a virus attack that turns people into bloodthirsty zombies. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

4. 
   

   BBD 2 Free Promo Arcade

   Description

   Have fun rediscovering this great cult game, totally updated for the first time. Besides offering visuals and animations never before seen in a puzzle game – ultra-realistic ball and pad controls, bricks creating stunning, dynamic shapes, and more, Block Breaker Deluxe 2 is also the only game of its kind with a spirit: its elaborate, colorful settings. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

5. 
   

   Prince of Persia Free Promo Action

   Description

   Prince of Persia – The Prince is back in a new adventure where cooperation with the mysterious Elika will let you perform actions never before seen on a mobile. To save the world from a magical menace that has contaminated everything in its path, you must be ready for anything: ride a dragon, swing from high ropes and fight enemies in gigantic environments full of traps. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

6. 
   

   Texas Hold’em Poker Free Promo Card & Casino

   Description

   Texas Hold’em Poker – Discover all the popular poker modes. Learn everything there is to know about winning hands, bluffing, and more. Also take advantage of interactive help available in all games that will give you the best advice on making the right decision at the right moment. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

7. 
   

   Platinum Sudoku 2 Free Promo Puzzle

   Description

   The multi-award winning Platinum Sudoku 2 returns! 2,000,000 puzzles to solve. Monitor your progress with the daily performance chart! You hold all the essential options in the palm of your hand: 5 difficulty levels, Custom and Solver mode, automatic check, hints and more. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

8. 
   

   Paris Nights Free Promo Adventure

   Description

   Paris Nights – Make all your dreams come true in the City of Lights, where adventures, love, and success await you. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

9. 
   

   RRR TV Party Free Promo Arcade

   Description

   Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party – Play through 12 different TV channels in a compilation of outrageously fun mini-games. Go on a hyperspace trip on the Science Channel. Add a photo and box your enemy on the Sports Channel. Jump into an action movie with Rabbid Jones, Grandpa Rabbid, or Splinter Rabbid. Get ready to go insane channel-hopping with the bunnies. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

10. 
    

    Brain Challenge 2 Free Promo Puzzle

    Description

    Brain Challenge 2 – Brand new, jam-packed exercises within the acclaimed “Brain Challenge” brand for your well-being. This gameloftspecial is now free for you for a limited time only.

Fortunately for me, Sudoku is being offered as well. I am a big Sudoku addict and I thank Nokia and Gameloft for this =P

If you bought a Baby Einstein, then you might be eligible for the Baby Einstein recall. Disney is offering a full refund of $15.99 to anyone who purchased a Baby Einstein DVD between June 5, 2004 and Sept. 4, 2009. The reason behind this is prominent research shows that these videos are ineffective thus are worthless.

“We see it as an acknowledgment by the leading baby video company that baby videos are not educational, and we hope other baby media companies will follow suit by offering refunds.” said Susan Linn, director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.

Really then, the secret to an intelligent baby relies not on any educational DVD but on the parents themselves. Train them right from a tender age and expect your babies to grow up as intellectual individuals.

[image from http://i295.photobucket.com]

The PS3 Slim Release Date is on August 24, 2009 which is next week!! It would be selling at the price of $299. There is already a link to online stores offering them. Here is one.

This new PS3 baby includes a Blu-ray, a 120GB hard drive, a DualShock 3 gamepad, and HDMI support and I can’t wait.

[http://images.pcworld.com]

What I like about this site is you can make one move now and leave your PC and do whatever you want and come back later to see if your opponent has already moved or not. In other words, your games are saved even if you leave the website. Red Hot Pawn sends you a notification email when it is your turn to move.

What’s more, you can play simultaneous games at once! For the free version, you get to play 6 games at once. But for the paid version you get to play a million games at once . The free version would show non-obstrusive ads while the paid won’t. But hey, the free version works pretty well to me.

So, if you want to play chess online but do not want to get hooked for long straight hours at the computer, try out Red Hot Pawn and you won’t regret it.