by Wayne Reeves

Created on: October 24, 2009

Given a cursory glance - Zynga's browser-based 'Farmville' game looks simple and unappealing - but with time can become an all-consuming passion. The real magic is the time-based gameplay with which the entire game structure of 'Farmville' is played on.

Starting out with a basic animated character (male or female) to tend the farm, you are given a small isometric-viewed plot of land to develop any way you see fit. Initially you can only lay down a few plots of fallow land (with a simple click of the mouse) which then need to be ploughed (by again clicking the fallow plots) before you can choose a crop to grow on it (which you buy from the market screen).

Each crop available to you have a set price and growing time that is fixed in real-time. So plant a crop of rice and you'll have to wait 12 real hours before they are ready to be harvested for a tidy profit. As you progress, you will accumulate experience points (gained from ploughing and planting and other bonuses) which will increase your level - opening up further crops and items a long the way.

Besides crops, 'Farmville' possesses many trees to plant and harvest, with a selection of animals (cows, pigs, horses and even elephants to name a few) and a numerous collection of decorations to add a personal and unique flavour to your farming world.

Much like many of the Zynga games - they take advantage of the friends that many people have on their profiles - thus the more friends you have (playing) the better the overall experience will be. Everyday you will be given the option to visit your friends farms to 'help out' - meaning you can click on the job needed and gain some experience points and financial reward for doing so.

There are also gifts that can be sent out each day to all your other 'Farmville' friends, either as an item that everyone can receive or sent individually to one player. This social aspect to the game is a nice touch but it isn't an essential part of the game - although sometimes certain items are only available as a gift to friends so the 'neighbourhood' idea is encouraged by Zynga (as with many of their other games).

Graphically the game is well presented in its own unique style - bordering on cartoon-like appearance but with enough detail for all the crop animations (probably the most important visuals in the game) to look convincing enough (with different stages of growth adequately realised).

'Farmville' does have its own collection of custom content that is only available by purchasing 'Farmville cash' by the use of credit card or paypal. You can earn one dollar of FV cash by achieving a new level but it is a slow process if someone wants enough to buy the pay-only products without using real money. Some items are priced rather high for many players but they aren't necessary to enjoy the game as it is.

The game runs fairly smoothly considering all the separate items on-screen - occasionally you will get the odd 'game is out of synch with server - please refresh' but to Zynga's credit they do try and iron out the bugs in the game wherever possible.

After a few weeks and opening up more crops and options in 'Farmville' - the game will take on a new sense of life, you may find yourself fretting over harvesting times for carrots, or bemoaning the fact you let your red peppers wither away needlessly. Like a strategically planned assault you'll be laying out planting patterns, working out the best crops and times for when you'll be there at the farm to bring in the next harvest!

With new crops, animals, decorations and all manner of seasonal things being added to 'Farmville' - who knows where Zynga will take the game in the near future - right now they have something growing fast on the Facebook farm.

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