Social Game Fads: Enough with the cute lost animals already!

Social Game Fads is a new series where we take a look at some of the unoriginal game mechanics that are being reused over and over again in our favorite Facebook games. Are you getting bored of the same ole' thing? We are too, and we're exposing some of the copycats who are to blame.

Just about every game on Facebook does this, regardless if it's an animal game or not. "Oh no! This adorable little baby sad crying animal has been abandoned on your farm/zoo/island and needs your friend's help in order to rescue it!". Whether your play Facebook goes or not, you've seen this. The animals started out looking like regular animals, and over time the eyes have gotten bigger and bigger, the baby animals are getting cuter and cuter, and they're all looking sadder and sadder.

In this mechanic, the game will tell you that a lost/hurt/abandoned/wandering animal has appeared and you need to ask friends to rescue her. When friends click on the wall post that you make, they will get to claim the pet. Basically, the player gets nothing out of this except the gratification of 'saving' this poor adorable little critter and the feeling of helping their friends get a new animal. It seems like animals are constantly finding themselves lost and in trouble and in need of your help. Where do they come from?

In fact, Zoo World is built almost entirely on this concept. Animals are always appearing on your zoo and in need of rescue, and there is even a reward for having tons of people rescue your animal. Virtually every game is to blame for pulling on our heart strings and using the power of adorable sad animals to get us to post to our wall.


Do you post every sad animal you see to your wall? Do you like saving animals, or are you sick of this in Facebook games?

Gallery: Save The Lost Animals

Treasure Isle Halloween Spirit Maps have seven spooky isles to explore

Treasure Isle Halloween Spirit Maps
New decorations and a giant pumpkin for our home islands was fun and all, but what a true treasure hunter really wants is uncharted lands to explore. Finally, you can have just that with seven new isles added to Treasure Isle in the Halloween Spirit map. These brand new islands not only bring fresh adventures, but new collections of treasures as well.

There are four new collections to complete, but you'll have to search beyond the break to find a list of them.
Butterscotch Drop     Candy Apple     Candy Corn     Chocolate Bar     Peanut Butter Cup
This first collection, the Candy Cauldron, is a common one that will reward you with 1,000 coins and 100 XP once completed. Not to mention it'll rot your teeth right out:

    Butterscotch Drop
    Candy Apple
    Candy Corn
    Chocolate Bar
    Peanut Butter Cup



Big ears     Funny Eyes     Health Mask     Red Nose     Plastic Teeth
Altering Accents is an uncommon collection filled with goofy Halloween costume accessories that once completed will net you 10,000 coins and 100 XP:

    Big Ears
    Funny Eyes
    Health Mask
    Red Nose
    Plastic Teeth



Black Cat     Rat     Snake     Spider     Worm
The third, rare collection is Creepy Crawlies, which consists of enough critters to give you shivers ten times over. Once you face your phobias (wimp), enjoy another 10,000 coins and 100 XP:

    Rat
    Black Cat
    Snake
    Spider
    Worm



Eggs     Firecracker     Flaming Bag     Smoke Bomb     Toilet Paper
Finally the ultra rare collection is known as Petty Pranks, though depending on the context we wouldn't consider Firecrackers "petty." Here are the five treasures:

    Eggs
    Firecracker
    Flaming Bag (of what?)
    Smoke Bomb
    Toilet Paper

Free Gifts
To keep treasure hunters going on the seven new isles, there are also four new Free Gifts available that will each give a small Energy boost.