Stepping onto the train and walking down the aisle, I pass person after person trying to get their green candies to line up . . . trying to break the chocolate or hoping for those sprinkle candies. Everywhere I look – on Kindles, on iPads on Andoids and on Laptops – it’s everywhere! How on earth could people be so infatuated with this game?! I wonder, exasperated, then lift up my iPhone and begin to tackle Level 53 – freaking Jellies!
For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, Candy Crush is one of the latest insane fads on Facebook and a few other social websites. It also has apps you can download on iTunes, Droid store and more. It’s basically a sweetly-modified version of Bejeweled and no . . . it’s not related to PopCap Games (the makers of Bejeweled, Plants v. Zombies and Peggle). Candy Crush is made by a company called King Games, and they have done a great job harnessing the social game aspect of it.
Candy Crush is a great game, but it’s also two other things; a tremendous waste of time (nice sometimes, bad at others) but also a tremendous money waster. Admit it, you too have gone, “Yeah, why not . . . it’s only 99 cents for a few of those ‘Smash a candy’ suckers.” Cheater! Oh, that’s right . . . that was me.
All joking aside, Candy Crush has two alluring parts to it:
1. It allows you to do something on your own that’s fun and brainless.
2. It allows you to help and get help from friends (in fact, you must get help with some levels).
You have to wonder though, what is it about the game that makes it so popular? It boils down to one simple word: “viral.” The entire concept of the game, by default, causes you to brag to your friends that you completed a level, and you get additional “goodies” simply for inviting more people to play. Then they get more goodies for inviting others to play and those people spend 99 cents for a a sprinkle candy . . . and *breathe* . . . before you know it, King Games has made King Money.
So, in a nutshell, enjoy the game, but remember where the real world is and how to get back to it. Because if you don’t, then your brain just might be “tasty” or “delicious!”
P.S. If you want my advice, don’t ever listen to the tips (flashing candies), they just waste your moves. Argh!
I tend to have candy crush sweet dreams because I always fall asleep waiting for one of my friends to send me a life…lol.