The Order of Things in YoVille

Day Twenty

For those of you new to the game, as I am, you may be interested in the order of rewards and upgrades.
When I first "moved in" to my "free" apartment on YoVille, I noticed that there was no bathroom in the apartment. I though that this was because it was a virtual community, and virtual people and animals don't have to go "potty". But as I mentioned in previous post, weird doors keep popping up from nowhere. At first I thought that I was getting even more senile in my old age, and that I just hadn't been as observant as I use to be. However, I now know that your apartment has a pre-program capacity to upgrade itself as you acquire more points.

Each level gives you prizes. They can be a new action, pose or a dance, new item or an item-upgrade, and even a new room! For every 5 levels you complete you get a new title and as you progress, also the free (Facebook) gifts are unlocked one by one.

***SPOILER***

If you don't want to know what you get on YoVille, do NOT read any further.

I have to give credit to a place called yvlounge (http://www.yvlounge.com/) for most of this information, and to the Yoville Forum at http://www.yoville.com/. It has been edited and corrected, and the errors removed.


Here is what you can expect: I have included your YoVille title, the point system, the items you are allowed to gift, the medals you will receive, and the dance moves (that eat up your energy),too.

Levels

1. New Yo in Town
2. New Yo in Town, Mood Lamp, 10pts
3. Laugh, 30pts
4. Air Guitar, Zynga shirt, 50pts
5. Rookie Royale, Master Bathroom, 80pts
6. Party Lamp, Wind up Penguin, 120pts
7. Impatient, 170pts
8. Bronze Medal, 230pts
9. Egyptian, 310pts
10. Yo Q. Public, Hall of friends, black chair and ottoman
11. Angry, 510pts
12. I’m Hot, 630pts
13. Budding Tree, Pop sneakers, 770pts
14. Running Man, 930pts
15. Prodigy, Flowering Cherrytree, 1100pts
16. Yawn, Light destroyed skinnies, 1400pts
17. 2 Kewl 4 U, 1700pts
18. In Love, 2000pts
19. CanCan, Jack-in-the-box, 2300pts
20. Upstanding Citizen, Guest Bathroom, 2700pts
21. KungFu, 3100pts
22. Be Gone!, Spherical Red Chair, 3500pts
23. Mystery Bookshelf 1/3, 3900pts
24. Moonwalk, 4400pts
25. Socialite, Mystery Bookshelf 2/3, Toy robot, 4900pts
26. Touchdown, 5400pts
27. Tough Guy, 6000pts
28. Gold Medal, Barrel Costume, 6600pts
29. Disco, 7300pts
30. Civic Centered Yo, Mystery Bookshelf 3/3Surprise...Magic Room), 8000pts
31. Shadowboxing, Toy Monkey, 8700pts
32. Model Fabulous, 9500pts
33. Wave, 10300pts
34. Krunk, 11200pts
35. Cosmopolitan, Guest Bedroom, Birthday Cake, 12100pts
36. PU!, 13100pts
37. Head Spin, 14100pts
38. Purple Medal, 15200pts
39. Pop & Lock, Sunflower Pinwheel, 16300pts
40. Local Yocal, Basic Herb Garden, 17500pts
41. Sit Ups, 18700pts
42. Sit on Ground, 20000pts
43. Herb Garden, Treasure Chest, 21300pts
44. Hip Hop Spin, 22700pts
45. Resident Yo, Swanky balcony, 24100pts
46. Backflip, 25600pts
47. Meditation, Tesla Ball, 27200pts
48. Rainbow Medal, 28800pts
49. Uber, 30500pts
50. Master Yovillian, Magical Herb Garden, 32200pts

At this point level 50 is the highest level one can attain.

Glitches, Glitches, and Still More Glitches

Day Three:


It started with a little green retro calculator that I bought for my bedroom desk. It disappeared from my bedroom in my virtual apartment. I looked everywhere. At first, I thought that it was some mistake I had made, so I checked the YoVille forum, to find out how to fix it. Then I learned that it wasn’t a thief that had burgled my apartment, but the dreaded Glitches!

Furniture that I had bought just disappeared. The server connection would demand that I refresh, and more things would disappear. Of course, the coins I had earned were gone.

In all fairness to Zynga, they definitely tell you upfront that this a Beta issue of the game. The terms of service are incredibly restrictive, in my personal opinion. So much so, that I couldn’t believe that this was an American company. And, they indicate that, basically, you agree to just take what you get. But, I still wanted my coins back.

So, I file a support ticket request, and complained in the forum. I found hundreds of other complaints, and knew that I was in good company.

The problem seems to relate to how one purchases their items. There is a drop and drag feature that allows one to test the furniture before you actually buy. I now have to forego that feature.

In the meantime, I am still playing and getting more hooked by the minute.

***

Day Five

This weird door is behind my window in my bedroom. I am not sure where it came from.

This is scary, it just popped out of nowhere.

***

Day Eight:


I am right on schedule. I reached level eight. How? By accomplishing each of the missions, each day. And, by making something called a “coin runs”. I now have a Bronze Medal.

A coin run is a visit to http://www.yoville.com/, not to play the game, but to search the profile of other players. On a good day I can find “pots of gold”, each containing five coins. In addition to which, I am asked to “turn back on the lights, on a players’ profile. There are also gifts that are given. Each coin run equates to another 100 coins.

At the end of the day, I have another 500 coin from my missions and coin runs. I either save it, or use it to buy stuff. And with each purchase, my point total elevates.

My job on YoVille is to work in a bakery. As far as I can tell, that is everyone’s job. You earn coins and points for baking certain items. Nowhere in the world does it take two days to bake a chocolate cake, except in YoVille. I think the rationale is to allow people time to go to their job and live their real life.

But for me, home recuperating from a small stroke, it allows me to bake items that take 4 hours during the day, and then return to a twelve hour schedule overnight. It helps to pull in a few more coins.
In the meantime, I am fixing up my little apartment. Did I say little... My apartment is growing!

First, this mystery door appeared behind my window in my bedroom, when I reached level 5, and now, other strange things are happening. I just hadn't noticed it before. This is getting interesting.

Living the Good Life in YoVille

Day One:

To paraphrase the singer, Madonna, I am a virtual girl living in a virtual world in YoVille.

YoVille is an interactive virtual community built by Zynga games, (http://www.zynga.com/).

According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “Zynga is a casual game developer located in San Francisco, California, United States. They develop browser-based games that work both stand-alone and as application widgets on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace.

Founded in July 2007 by Mark Pincus, Michael Luxton, Eric Schiermeyer, Justin Waldron, and Steve Schoettler. they received $29 million in venture finance from several firms lead by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in July 2008, at which time they appointed former Electronic Arts Chief Creative Officer Bing Gordon on to the board. It was at this time that they also bought YoVille, this large virtual world social network game.

According to their website, as of December 2009, they had 60 million daily active users".

I am one of those users, and access the game through Facebook.

In YoVille, you can do almost all the things that you do in the real world, except there is no illness, no death, and no family units. Another exception is that the games give you a place to live, so no one is homeless, and a job to do, so there is no unemployment. Members of the community can communicate with each other, and participate in social activities, through the computer keyboard. One can do things that you have difficulty doing in real life. As a handicapped person in real life, in YoVille, once more I can run and walk.

The concept of the game is to accumulate items. The basics of the game are fairly straightforward…One performs specified missions (tasks) and receives payment in coins, and points. One then uses the virtual payments to buy things to decorate the apartment given you by the game, and to subsequently, buy more property (houses) and clothes. You further receive points for the things that you buy. You also use the coins received to buy food (energy) to meet the requirements of your avatar (your graphic representation of yourself).

Completing your "missions", a main feature of the game, consume a certain amount of energy. After expending energy, it slowly replenishes to the character's maximum amount. This can take minutes to several hours (energy replenishes whether or not you are logged into the game).

Your avatar can engage in additional missions, after you refill your energy. Waiting for your energy to replenish is a significant limiting factor in the games, so it is necessary to buy “food”.

There are fifty levels to the game. My goal is to reach level 50 in only 50 days.
I plan to blog about what I learn.

I invite you to follow me through this world.

A Change in Focus

I am a little distraught, today.

I recently learned that Black Labs are among the first dogs to be euthanized in some Animal Shelters.

I have spent many years in the support of The Cleveland Animal Protective League. In fact, I have been donating one dollar ($1.00) from the sale of Rajah and the Big Blue Ball to them.

I have been actively trying to raise $1500 to sponsor a dog cage. But, I think that it is time for a change...a change to Lab rescue.

I support animal rescue!

Rajah is a rescue dog.

I also have another Lab that I rescued (a Yellow Lab). His name is William's Pal Clifford, a pedigree yellow lab that was thrown away due to hip dysplesia. He is in need of more than $10,000 in surgery. At this point, all I can do is keep him comfortable and happy.

He will be featured in an upcoming book (Rajah Adopts A Brother).

So, I have decided to throw all my support to Lab Rescue and No-Kill shelters.
I will continue in my efforts to support the Cleveland APL, but they will take a back seat to the Northeast Ohio SPCA (www.northeastohiospca.org). Please support their efforts on behalf of our four-legged family members.

Free Gift Certificate From Amy Allgeyer-Cook

Amy Allgeyer-Cook is running a fundraiser again for 826 Valencia. She is giving a $25.00 gift certificate to Restaurant.com . For details visit http://lux-st-clare.blogspot.com .

14 Tips to Design the Perfect Book Launch Party

Congratulations!

Your book is coming out of edit and the publisher has set a release date. You may actually have galleys in your hand to caress. You have seen the book cover design, and everything is coming together. Your baby is ready to be born.

Although it is hard to believe, it is time to determine the exact details for your launch party. You already wrote the general plan and submitted it to your publisher. Now is the time to execute that plan for success.

Do not leave this project to your publisher. You know your city and are in a better position to make this local event your perfect party.


Pre-Release versus Post-Release
Work with your publisher to decide whether your first party is a pre-release or post-release launch. I vote for a pre-release party. The party(ies) should be held within the two weeks leading up to the actual release date. A post-release party should be held within the two weeks after the release date.


Select a Theme for Your Party
Your theme should relate to the concept of the book. The topic of the book and its intended audience help to determine the theme of the party as well as which activities there will be.

Choose Your Venue and Set Your Date.
When choosing the venue, think about location and decor.
If your book is about a day at the beach, do you want to have a formal dance? Instead, consider a beach party and decorate the venue to look like the beach (or, in a location with stable weather, actually have the party at the beach with a contingency plan for showers).
Try to have your book launch at a public facility rather than a private home. Most private homes are not big enough.
A Book Launch Party is usually held either Friday or Saturday to ensure maximum attendance. Setting the time of day is also related to the theme.

Choose a Community Service Project that can tie-in to the theme.
Rajah LeBeau of Rajah and the Big Blue Ball was adopted from the Cleveland Animal Protective League, therefore, the Cleveland APL receives a donation from the sale of each book.
They were invited and participated in the actual book launch.
They even brought their adoption van for the day.

Lead Time
Allow yourself twelve (12) to sixteen (16) weeks lead time.

Save the Date invitations should go out about twelve (12) weeks prior to the actual event. Follow up at eight (8) weeks with formal invitations and request a RSVP three (3) weeks before the event.
The invitations should follow through with the theme of the party.
Order your books four (4) weeks in advance. Other than with a very large publisher, or a bookstore, you will need to order books (at your author's discount) for the book launch party. I order one for each of my guest.

Celebrities, News, and Media
Make a list of local celebrities that may be willing to MC the event. Send out a formal letter requesting their participation at the sixteen week point.
Follow up within 7 days with a phone call. Secure your MC. Once you have your MC, send a confirmation letter immediately.
Send out your Media kits and press releases to your local newspaper starting 6 to 8 weeks before the event and post news releases online. Contact your local radio and television personalities and send them personal invitations to the event.

Your Guest List
How many people do you want at your book launch? Decide on a number and invite three to four times that number to your event.

Your Guest Book
Have everyone sign your guest book. Your guest book should include each person's email address and mailing address. Make sure that the guest print.

Door Prizes, Games, and Contest
Have door prizes for attendees. Have bookmarks, book bags, tee shirts, caps, pencils, key rings, and ink pens as prizes.
Develop and play a game centered around the theme of your book. Give out prizes to the winner.

Refreshments
Arrange for wonderful food. Sell luncheon or dinner tickets in advance. Remember to build in the price of the book, and the donation to your related community service project. Be prepared to pay for celebrity tickets yourself.
Or, just provide light refreshments.

Read Excerpts
Select one or two people in advance to read short (I do mean short) portions of your book.

Video and Pictures
Take copious amounts of pictures throughout the event. Consider investing in disposable still and video cameras for the guest to help you capture the activities. The pictures will be great for promotional materials, websites and blogs. DO NOT forget to have a release form signed. You need authorization to put their pictures on marketing and promotional materials.

Make the Sale
Determine special discounts and offers for your guest for multiple signed copies of your book. Have flyers, sale sheets, and mail order forms available. Not everyone agrees that mail order forms should be available, but I have had success with it.

Set up a Pay Pal account. Make sure you have a computer available with secure encryption. Guest can pay for your book online without having to share their credit card information.
Accept Checks through Pay Pal, also.

Follow Through and Follow Up
Send your formal, hand-written Thank You notes by snail mail.
Include special sell cards with a discount offer for guest to give to their family or friends. All discount offers should have an expiration date.
Keep your guest informed of any related activities for this book, with a cheery newsletter. Give out invitations to your next book signing.
Have Gift Certificates available for purchase. This helps to keep book sales robust.

Happy Book Launch and Best Wishes,

Dr. Mosetta

Need further help?

Promoting Your Book for $3.00 Per Day
For personalized help, contact me at MaiaCer@sbcglobal.net

Rajah and the Cleveland Animal Protective League

My latest title was released on Friday May 1, 2009.

Rajah and the Big Blue Ball is a story based on the real life adventures of my dog, Rajah LeBeau.
LeBeau, as I call him, was adopted from the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL), as was Chynna, the cat in the story.

The month of July will feature two (2) special events.

The first one is a Local Authors' Night at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Legacy Village, 24519 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst, Ohio 44124, from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.

Then, on Saturday, July 18, 2009, Nela's Restaurant, 3553 W.117th street, Cleveland, Ohio will host a Lunch with the Author event from 1:00 to 3:30 P.M. This should be a lot of fun. It will feature door prizes, and the Cleveland APL adoption Van.

One dollar of each book purchased is donated to the Cleveland APL.

My goal is to raise $1500 to sponsor a cage for a dog. This sponsorship means that a some lucky dog or puppy will live saely in this cage until s/he is adopted. Time can't run out for this animal for a full year.

The work of the APL is important to anyone who loves life, and the creatures placed on this earth.
If you wish to donate directly, you can do so at the Cleveland APL. Please reference Rajah and the Big Blue Ball. Our efforts, working together will save the life of some poor dog who cannot save himself.

Dr. Mosetta M. Penick Phillips-Cermak

Congratulations Mr. President

Dear President Obama,

Now that you have successfully negotiated the political waters of the United States of America, I am looking forward to the change you promised during your campaign.
I am looking for the thousands of dollars in bailout money placed in the hands of the American people.

I don't want tax credits. That is not want you offered the banks. I don't need concessions. The American labor force has already made too many. I want and need cold hard cash.

When we divide your generous bailout by industry, we, the American public can save America and the world economy.
So as part of the climate of change that you promised, I have developed my spending plan to invigorate the economy.

1) With the money diverted from the bailout of the banks I am going to pay off my mortgage on my current home. With the left over money, I will pay all my credit cards in full, and place the remainer in a long-term savings program. Now the banks have access to the money, too. There! We saved the Banking Industry.
I want to buy an additional home. My neighborhood is changing, and, after 20 years, I think it may be time to move. And, I just infused money into the housing market.

2) Let's explore the money that you planned to give the Auto Industry. Once that check comes in the mail, I will head straight to one of the Big Three to buy a new car. I may even buy two. That reduces the the number of stockpiled cars, immediately. Good Job!
Of course I need to augument my car insurance, so I am able to help the Insurance Industry.
To further aid them in their economic growth, I plan to increase my life insurance, and pre-pay my funeral expenses. Another two industries saved.

3) Now what about health care? Oh yes, I now have money to pay for my own health care.
I'll just prepay that $550 per month for the next two years. Way to go, Health Care Industry.
And, of course, now that I have health insurance, off to the doctors and dentist I go.
Dear Veternarian, my animals need a check-up, too. I have the cash to pay you.

4) I can assure you that each of the 13 industries that I support will receive their fair share of this spending. I can replace my work shoes. I will buy one new outfit. I can get a manicure. I may even throw in a pedicure!
All the construction and housing projects that I cut out, are back in. Hello construction and landscaping. Do you have any time for me?
Although I want to save the planet, it is costly to replace windows, doors, and appliances with the most engery efficient products. I can do that now.
I am looking forward to going to the grocery store, and actually having the funds to buy foods that are good for me. The only calculator that I will take with me is the one that counts carbs and fat grams.
Education has always been one of my priorities. I can pay-off the student loans that I incured because of NCLB, and I can donate to my alumni association's scholarship program.
Guess what? With the advent of this bailout, I can spend more time helping children. I can infuse money into the publishing and book industry with the purchase of class sets of books for an inner city school.
I won't forget my moral obligation to my church. I will reinstate the donation amount by which I reduced my offering. I'll even increase it.

Now that my plan is in place, Mr. Obama, I eagerly await my bailout check. Is that the postal person I hear?
I am off to check today's mail.

Dr. Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak