Sunday, March 29, 2015

Style Studio Etiquette

Remember way back when, when a hacker would ask "Can I give you a makeover?", and of course, you said "Yes!". Then the hackers asks for your password, and being the newbie you were, you willingly gave it up. Next thing you know, your clams, face parts, and possibly you're whole account, were gone. That all changed with the addition of the Style Studio where you can safely give and receive makeovers. Here are some tips on proper style studio etiquette.

Always Say "Please" and "Thank You"

Whether you're the stylist or style-ee manners are important. For the stylist, being nice attracts more customers and will get you good ratings. For the style-ee, good manners will make the stylist want to give you a great makeover, and you might even get better prices!

Clearly State Whether You Are Buying Parts or Would Like A Makeover

This will make the stylist's job so much easier, especially if the stylist only does makeovers or only sells. (This also, the stylist should explain.)

Use the Favourite Tool to Your Advantage

Choosing favourite parts helps the stylist immensely when giving a makeover. We're not mind-readers! If you favourite parts, there's no way you'll be dissatisfied with your makeover.

Make Sure You and The Stylist Agree to the Makeover/Price

Don't press "I'm happy with this look" before the stylist gives the go-ahead! The stylist may not be finished with the makeover, or you may have just unknowingly ran off with her rares (which is a big deal). If the stylist agrees to selling you her parts, then you can click and confirm your purchase.

Charge Accordingly

As a stylist, if you are only going to sell face parts, and not give an actual makeover, don't charge 300 clams for them to look at your parts! Think about it like this, you aren't expected to pay for window shopping! If you are giving makeovers, then you can charge more for your services.

Don't Scam

This is a big one. Don't try to scam people out of there face parts. Not only does it hurt the stylist, it hurts you. Word will get out, most likely on the BBS, and no one will want to give you a makeover again.

Give Fair Ratings

Don't rate your stylist 1 star because you didn't like her or her face parts. If you didn't like the makeover, ask for something else! Stylists are there to help, and a good stylist will be willing to re-do it if you ask nicely. There are very few times you should rate a stylist with one or two stars.

Pay The Stylist, Even if You Didn't Buy Anything

This is pretty self-explanatory. It's the least you could do. Pay the fee as a "thank you" for the stylist taking the time to style you.

As the style studio gets more and more popular, stylists must work harder than ever to please customers. Follow these tips to become a better style studio stylist or customer, and remember, tip your waitress! Er, I mean, stylist.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Free Scions?!

No, THIS IS NOT A JOKE! All those years of petitioning for "FREE SCIONS FOR EVERYONE!!!1!!" have finally paid off. Now you can win FREE SCIONS.

As you may know, March is Whyville's birthday month, and to add to the celebration, there is a new game where you can win free scions, even the special, out-of-commission Box Scions!. All you have to do is throw a present on top of a Scion, and you win that Scion.

Sound easy right? Well... not really. These presents work like projectiles. You have to get the angle and speed right for a present to land on a Scion. Need help? Check out this article on throwing projectiles.

I've already won two! So play and get your free Scions now! You can win one per every two days in the month of March.

Here's the link to the game:

www.whyville.net/smmk/bday/scionToss

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Upcoming Events: March 15th to March 22nd

All of March:

March Log In Challenge: Log in to your Whyville account on 15 separate days and win 100 pearls, log in on 30 separate days and you will also receive a one-month why-pass!

March is Whyville's birthday month! Whyville is turning 16 and to celebrate there will be 16 contests which are:

Most Clams Earned from Salary
Highest Star My Avatar Rating
Most Akbar's Sales
Most Popular Welcome Guides
Most Dedicated Y-mail Helpers
Top Clams Earned from Whyville Games
Top Clams Earned from Raven Island Games
Most Helpful to Distressed Avatars
Most Saves in Wilson City Rescue
Most Clams Earned from ACT Career Quest
Most Clams Earned from Project Tricho
Most Clams Earned from ACT Job Center Jobs
Most Clams Earned from BIOlympics
Most Clams Earned from Vampire Power
Most Clams Earned from Dragons
Most Unique Games Won in PlayMath

For each citizen who places in the top 10 of each category, they will receive 160 pearls and a special trophy. The top scorer in each category will also win a special limited edition face part.

March 15th

4 PM: Special Meet the Makers event with Times editor Amae at the Greek Theater

March 17th:

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

All Day: Find a four leaf clover in a chatroom and you could win some pearls!
5 PM: Trivia with Coolethan at the Greek Theater

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

BIOlympics Tutorial

BIOlympics is one of Whyville's newer salary games. the name combines "bio" or living, with the Olympics.  In this game, you "train" your animals to see how fast they can run, how fast they can swim, and how hard they can bite, and then you compete with other animals in the BIOlympics.

First, you will need to "train" your animals. To do this, you will need to find the right components in their "biomechanics" that allow them to bite, swim, or run, like they do. Follow the hints, and move the sliders slowly until you find the correct answers, and then click "validate". For every two check marks you receive in your training log, you will earn one clam of salary.

When playing BIOlympics, you will have a random selection of animals to choose from, but you can use this guide to help figure out which is the best animal to choose for each competition.

Animals With Strongest Bite:

1. T-Rex (Bite force: 12,025 n.)
2. Great White Shark (Bite force: 8,828.4 n.)
3. Dunkleosteus (Bite force: 6,187.7 n.)
4. Crocodile (Bite force: 5,415 n.)
5. Hyena (Bite force: 2,291.4 n.)
6. Gharial (Bite force: 1,770 n.)
7. Parrot (Macaw) (Bite force: 587.1 n.)
8. Cheetah (Bite force: 495 n.)
9. Sea Turtle (Bite force: 394.7 n.)
10. Horse (Bite force: 343. 7 n.)
11. Piranha (Bite force: 275.5 n.)
12. Triggerfish (Bite force: 274.7 n.)
13. Parrot Fish (Bite force: 259.2 n.)
14. Kangaroo (Bite force: 163.6 n.)
15. Barracuda (Bite force: 88.3 n.)
16. Dolphin (Bite force: 59.3 n.)
17. Pufferfish (Bite force: 54.4 n.)
18. Penguin (Bite force: 22.7 n.)
19. Gar (Bite force: 9.8 n.)
20. Roadrunner (Bite force: 6.3 n.)
21. Tuna (Bite force: 1.2 n.)

Animals With Fastest Bite:

1. Gar (Bite speed: 15.6 m/s)
2. Dolphin (Bite speed: 11.6 m/s)
3. Horse (Bite speed: 11.1 m/s)
4. Dunkleosteus and Gharial (Bite speed: 8.6 m/s)
5. T-Rex (Bite speed: 7.9 m/s)
6. Tuna (Bite speed: 6.4 m/s)
7. Great White Shark (Bite speed: 6 m/s)
8. Penguin (Bite speed: 5 m/s)
9. Kangaroo (Bite speed: 4.7 m/s)
10. Cheetah (Bite speed: 3.8 m/s)
11. Parrot Fish (Bite speed: 3.7 m/s)
12. Crocodile (Bite speed: 3.5 m/s)
13. Barracuda (Bite speed: 3.6 m/s)
14. Sea Turtle (Bite speed: 2.4 m/s)
15. Hyena (Bite speed: 2.3 m/s)
16. Roadrunner (Bite speed: 1.2 m/s)
17.  Pirahna, Parrot (Macaw), Triggerfish, and Pufferfish (Bite speed: 0.7 m/s)

Animals with Fastest Cruise Speed

1. Tuna (Cruise Speed: 19.2m/s)
2. Barracuda (Cruise Speed: 12.0 m/s)
3. Great White Shark (Cruise Speed: 11.1 m/s)
4. Penguin (Cruise Speed: 11 m/s)
5. Dolphin (Cruise Speed: 10.5 m/s)
6. Sea Turtle (Cruise Speed: 9.8 m/s)
7. Pirahna (Cruise Speed: 6 m/s)
8. Gar, Crocodile, and Gharial (Cruise Speed: 1 m/s)
9. Parrot Fish (Cruise Speed: 0.8 m/s)
10. Lion Fish, Triggerfish, and Pufferfish (Cruise Speed: 0.5 m/s)

Animals with Smallest Turn Radius (Can Make the Sharpest Turns)

1. Pirahna, Triggerfish, and Pufferfish (Turn Radius: 0.1 m)
2. Lion Fish (Turn Radius: 0.3 m)
3. Parrot Fish (Turn Radius: 0.5 m)
4. Barracuda (Turn Radius: 1 m)
5. Gar, Crocodile and Gharial (Turn Radius: 1.5 m)
6. Penguin and Tuna (Turn Radius 2.0 m)
7. Sea Turtle (Turn Radius: 3 m)
8. Dolphin (Turn Radius: 6 m)
9. Great White Shark (Turn Radius: 8 m)

Animals Who Can Run the Fastest

1. Cheetah (Run Speed: 24.3 m/s)
2. Hyena (Run Speed: 16.1 m/s)
3. Hare (Run Speed: 16 m/s)
4. Kangaroo (Run Speed: 14.1 m/s)
5. Crocodile (Run Speed: 10.2 m/s)
6. Horse (Run Speed: 8.9 m/s)
7. Roadrunner (Run Speed: 7.9 m/s)
8. T-Rex (Run Speed: 6.6 m/s)

Animals With the Most Endurance (Can Run the Longest Before Tiring)

1. Roadrunner (5.7 minutes)
2. Horse and T-Rex (5 minutes)
3. Crocodile (4.4 minutes)
4. Kangaroo (3.2 minutes)
5. Hare and Hyena (2.8 minutes)
6. Cheetah (1.9 minutes)

Animals with Biggest Run Ratio (Fastest Speed Relevant to Size)

1. Hare (26.7 meters x Length/second)
2.Cheetah (16.2 meters x Length/second)
3. Roadrunner (13.2 meters x Length/second)
4. Hyena (10.2 meters x Length/second)
5. Kangaroo (9.4 meters x Length/second)
6. Horse (3.6 meters x Length/second)
7. Crocodile (2.6 meters x Length/second)
8. T-Rex (0.5 meters x Length/second)

For an average of 30 clams per game, in my humble opinion, this game is not worth it. Go ahead and train to get those precious 21 clams of salary, and maybe try your hand at it during the Triple the Clams days, but there are funner and more high-paying games out there.

Monday, March 9, 2015

2015 Whyville Times Awards Nominees and Winners

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the Times Awards this year, but here are the nominees and winners (the winners will be bolded in blue).Congrats to all, and good luck next year!

Article of The Year

Wearing the Hijab by Honeybbz9
My Chicken and I by MadamTaz
Our Reality by N00RA
Naked Mole Rats: The Forerunner of Cancer Treatment by Bibi4evr
Accidental Experiment: Friendless and Social Media by booksRus
Women in Science: What's the Issue? by Pamelia
Inside the Internship by Jillith
The Blood Moon's Journey by Kittieme
A Meaningless Puzzle Peace by 0chenz0
Staying A Healthy Weight for Guys by Zebranerd

Contribution to the Times

autumnlov
Bibi4evr
Honeybbz9
Jillith
Kittieme
MeBeLizzi
ocean10kv

Science Chicago Award

The Forer Effect by Delp
Water: Too Little of Much by Bibi4evr
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch by iSprig
Women in Science: What's the Issue? by Pamelia
Trouble with Colors by Jillith

Interview of the Year


Welcome to the New Year by DahCutie
Bagged Milk: Udderly Debatable by Xoxkitkat and Bibi4evr
Is That Seriously on TV? by Jts2000
Introspective Challenge by Bibi4evr
Yay or Nay? by Business4

Review of the Year

Nickelodeon Versus Disney Channel by hashtagno
A Growing Collection: Baby by redhottay
Series Review: The Mortal Instruments by Xoxkitkat
Book Review: Outliers by Malcom Gladwell by Jojokjk2
Delirium by MeBeLizzi

Help Article of the Year

Loving Your Body by Delp
Senior Survival Guide by Bibi4evr
How to Make a Resume by MeBeLizzi
DIY: Disney Costumes by DahCutie
My Drawing Process by ocean10kv

The Poetry Prize

Raindrops by EcoGeek
Love Finds You by Xoxkitkat
The Beauty of Islam by Honeybbz9
Be Alright by Jillith
Measurements by Zebranerd
Oak Tree by Rex13
Three Words by MeBeLizzi
Let Go by autumnlov
422 Days by Kittieme
Live Without any Regrets by holiday50

The Prose Prize

Torn Between War by saku3
The Short-Lived Life of Lennly Slaight by redhottay
Once Upon a Star by autumnlov
He Plead Guilty on All Accounts by Kittieme
Of Paupers and Angels by bopitybop

Art Achievement

Snow Leopard by sctupelo
Down With Webster by ocean10kv
Lana Del Ray by redhottay
2Pac by karma1013
Orangutan by Band7Geek
Prairie Girl by Barbie94
Solarized Lennon by nico511
Mother Nature by 1twilover
Depth of Field by 7stars
Baking with Kirsten: Sugar Work by kmg333

Fashion Article of the Year

Nailed It! by Xoxkitkat
Indian Clothes: A Look Into My Closet by Bibi4evr
Make Me Over by Honeybbz9
Easy and Affordable Red Lip Tutorial by Mangorox
The Classy French Twist by MadamTaz
Widening and Brightening Eyes by Delp

And just for fun, here are the users and how many times they were nominated, which is an accomplishment in itself.

Honeybbz9: Nominated 4 times
MadamTaz: Nominated 2 times
Bibi4evr: Nominated 7 times, won 5 times. She is also the winner of the Contribution to the Times Awards
Pamelia: Nominated 2 times
Jillith: Nominated 4 times, won once
Kittieme: Nominated 4 times, won 2 times
Zebranerd: Nominated 2 times
autumnlov: Nominated 3 times, won once
MeBeLizzi: Nominated 4 times, won once
ocean10kv: Nominated 3 times, won once
Delp: Nominated 3 times, won once
DahCutie: Nominated 2 times
Xoxkitkat: Nominated 4 times, won once
redhottay: Nominated 3 times