Games that Don’t Suck: DragonVale
Today’s game that doesn’t suck is DragonVale (free/universal) , a Freemium title from BackFlip Studios. Before I go into why it doesn’t suck, let me just point out that this game actually came DANGEROUSLY close to getting a “Suck” rating, solely for the one fatal flaw that I will go into later in this review. However the awesomeness was ultimately able to beat out the suckage, so If you’re into Sim-like time wasters to help you escape the tedium that Is your real life, there is much to like in DragonVale.
Watch the above video if you don’t feel like reading anymore. It should give you a decent idea of the gameplay.
Long story short, DragonVale is a Sim-like game where you are put in charge of creating a (hopefully) successful Dragon Zoo. In order to bring in visitors to your park (or more importantly, your visitor’s MONEY into the park) you will need Dragons, and the bigger the better. There’s a quick tutorial that does an excellent job walking you through the basics of the game, and gets you set up with your first dragon, dragon habitat, and goes over the basics of how to feed and breed your dragons.
The breeding Cave is where you can corss breed species to create new ones.
Two of the biggest things DragonVale has going for it is that unlike other similar games, like God Finger, there is no real downside to not playing DragonVale for a couple of days. Your gold does not “spoil” or anything if you neglect your park, you simply don’t make any more money than each exhibit can generate until you collect that money. But second, and more central to what makes DragonVale so fun to play, is the ability to cross breed your dragons and create entirely new races of dragons. For example, you might decide to cross a Fire Dragon with an Earth Dragon and create a Lava type dragon, or a Plant and Fire Dragon to create a Poison type Dragon. For some reason there’s a very Pokemon feel to the game in that each of your dragons starts out so adorably cute that you might not want to evolve them, but bigger dragons bring in bigger paydays, so feed them you will until they turn into very cool-looking adults.
All the dragons are adorable – At least as babies
Another big plus is the level design and art work. DragonVale is extremely colorful, and the animations are fluid and oddly fun to watch given how repetitive they ultimately are. There is much more to the game than I am going into here, but you probably will need to invest a good 6 or so hours playing in order to unlock some of the cooler achievements. Similar to other freemium games like Tiny Tower, you can speed things along by using the game’s “real money” currency of gems. However, you do not need to spend any money at all if you’re patient, and you can actually earn gems by having Game Center friends gift them to you (incidentally, my Game Center ID is “Dr Macenstein” (no period) and my iPad is “MacensteiniPad” if you have extra gems lying around…).
As you advance, you can purchase additional worlds to expand your park into
Kind of sucky though
Earlier I mentioned there was something about DragonVale that was so lame it almost cost it the coveted “Games that Don’t Suck” rating, and that thing is that for some reason I cannot fathom, it requires an internet connection to play. There is nothing about this game that is any different from Tiny Tower which plays fine on an iPod touch on a plane or long car ride, yet for some reason the game tells you it cannot launch without internet. The fact that DragonVale feels it needs to constantly talk to its server has me a little wary of what it’s doing and what it’s doing to my iPhone’s battery life/data usage when away from WiFi, but more importantly it alienates a HUGE potential part of the game audience – kids. If you’re an iPhone user, odds are the internet connection thing won’t be a problem, but since I got my kids addicted to the game as well, they have expressed their displeasure about this via the only way they know how – whining. And I have to listen to it.
So if BackFlip can just switch the way the game handles internet requirements (and again, I suggest the Tiny Tower method of check-in when you can, but play fine when away from internet as well) this game will be the perfect colorful timewaster.
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- All the dragons are adorable – At least as babies
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- As you advance, you can purchase additional worlds to expand your park into
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- The breeding Cave is where you can corss breed species to create new ones.
I play everyday, Add me for GEMS! Also visit me for Cash!
Let’s help each other out! My GC name is CandyNJ
Add me for gems. Lukepfowler.
Love the game,
Thanks!
I play all the time can I have some gems I have 0 gems.
Please add me! I have no friends! Ha ha. DollyPoppy
Ooooh. I like gems and gifts in general!! Lol add me! Kylii.marii
Why I can not play dragonvale in china?
I love this game. ADD MEE, Mariateocookie
GEMS FOR GEMS 🙂
Great game, add me guys, RjMcIvor
gem trades xD
hello add me on game center for dragon vale i send gems daily GC name= CONORT650
hey guys. i need gems! and i will return the favor glady for a gem! add me on game center “scotthammer” is my name. i would love to help you out!
you need internet conection as if they got rid of this you could do the change the time cheat
Add me for gem!!i have no friends lol… – yariny@windowslive.com
Add me for Exchanging Gems.
I will Definitely send you if we do this
Gamecenter : Drag0nvale (<–thats not O. it's zero)
or try adding me by johnfr0212@gmail.com
The reason DragonVale requires an Internet connection is to prevent cheating. All the date is held online rather than on the iDevice. Specifically, one method they are preventing is the change time method. Say you have about 12 hours on an egg and you don’t want to wait that long. If this game had offline capability, you could go into settings and change the time 12 hours ahead from what it was. The reason the online/offline variable makes a difference is because when offline, the iDevice goes by the system battery. When online, in an app that utilizes time, you go by an online time.
add me “svettesen”
Add me as a friend and we will give each other gems.
Name is doctor:-)
How do u get a rainbow dragon?!?!!!?????!!!
Please add meh 😀 its:
David Morrison
Add and ill send you gems 🙂
Thanks 😀
Interesting, for an article called, “Games that Don’t Suck” you feature a game that is the archtype of everything that sucks about modern games.
ahh i love this game :’) GEMS FOR GEMS – ADD ME – DravenDeleterious :’) <3
Hey all I just got a IPad2 and found Dragonvale and I love it game center ID is CodeMaster313 add me and all help you out.
Sent you a request. anc21094
add me too! xiaowil in gamecentre!=)
Best game ever add me gem for gem blah842
add me on gc: xxglarebearxx
im new and i have no friends, and need gems plz, ill return the favor!!
add me I’m all day player give gem i need gem back feel free to add me. nomarshadey
PLS ADD ME 😀 Gems 4 Gems, my GameCenter is jalletheso or jallzor xD otherwise my e-mail is jalletheso@hotmail.com
Please add me “nattaponkr”. Normally I randomly distribute 3 gems everyday.
By the way, I have a survey about iOS game here.
http://bumanagement.qualtrics.com//SE/?SID=SV_a3Oeh8Go8a6MUCM
Please help me reply it and reply this thread; I will give you a gem.
Since I have only 3 gems per day, I will start from the first one. Be patient 🙂
Thanks
Ad mee for gems. Icefreemank
I do not know how to add people to this game center and where is game center I am new at this
I am new and would love it if you would add me STalian23
Hey, add me my game enter is royds4lifwe and we can swap gems 🙂
Add me: rawacidrawr
Gems 4 gems 🙂 add me… leannel17
Hi guys add me on game center my name is CALKE gems 4 hems I will try and send one every day
Add me and we can exchange gems??
I need gems plz add me!!!!
My name is doctor who king
Add me plz!!!
We can exchange gems!!!!!
My name is stud65
add us for dragonvale gems Jason horgan
nicole-louise18
Add me! ????
Sending free gems ???? daily!!!
Heidigoseek4
??
Add me – gems for gems 😉
miss.mindy
add me will send gifts theanimal41
Add me!!!!!!
ill send you gems, and you guys can send me them too
🙂
GC= joyfuljudy
or account : joyfuljudy96@mac.com
This game is crazy addicting! Add me!
My email is haleydawn1@yahoo.com
Became curious about this game when my visa bill came in this month and showed over $1,000 in “bag of gems” charges. Of course my 9 year old claims that he didn’t know he was being charged real $ – said the game was “glithcy” one day and the next time he played, he had tons and tons of gems in his account. As I don’t play these games, I’m wondering if anyone else is suspicious of the game’s online/wifi requirements. The game has to be played online so that the in-game charge feature can access your iTunes account without you having to miss a beat… or pay much attention… particularly if you are 9. Anyone else get caught in a quick charge they regret?
I can’t build any new habitats. They are all ghosted. I’ve even moved stuff around to make room for one & still no luck. Any ideas? It’s kinda boring now that I can’t have any new ones. I’ve had a hatched egg waiting for its habitat for weeks now. Can someone please help me?? Thanx!
You might have too many habitats for your current level. If you see in your habitats menu that a number like 11/11 is in the bottom corner of the pic, then you have too many habitats in your park. Too get around that, you may have to upgrade a habitat and fit your hatched dragon in there.
Thanx A10823 but that wasn’t the problem. I say wasn’t because for whatever reason, it rectified itself. I was @ 12/13 but still couldn’t add a habitat, even if I moved things around. It was like that for several weeks but all of a sudden, it was ok again. Super weird but good for me. Thanx again for responding to my question!
Just got an ipod touch and this is one of the first games that got me hooked.
Looking for nice people to play with and possibly lead to other games we can play together =)
Gamecenter nickname is Stealthxs
Hi guys plz add me i’m kristensen.min@gmail.com (BTW that’s not my actual e-mail i just made it up.lol
Adddd me <3 LovelyLadyLucifer
Hey guys, proud lvl 20 player, willing to give gem for gem everyday, I promise u that I wil gift u a gem , and u will not have to worry. Since there’s only 3 gems for 3 ppl , I will get to u. Add me ! Edsless25760
Hi everyone!
Just started this game today and I love it! Reminds me of Chococo breeding from FFVII… haha. I’m new to this whole gem concept thing so please add me: sammi-kitti
Hi everyone!
Please add me! I play and give gems everyday!
Gem for gem!
My game name : natashaczech
add BinGo_SkillzZ
Gems for Xmas
I’ve been gifting gems to all who promise to send gems back, but apart from the odd exception I rarely get a gem in return.
I will return gem gifts if u gift them to me as I know it sucks to be gifting gems and not have any in return.
Game centre name is GORDOLIU
MERRY CHRISTMAS!