This much awaited update saw Gino Gambino - as the name suggests - recovered by Sasha, along with insight into Liam's true nature, and perhaps Ian's as well. As with the Fall of Gambino, we were presented with a manga-style story to the event, after clicking on Ian & Sasha who were at the Isle De Gambino, enjoying a day out together. Another cliffhanger! gonk
The Manga Style Report links are as follows:
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The Return of Gino - part two
In the run up to Hallowe'en, we had a nice new plot update, continuing from where the story left off. Ian's name was cleared of murderous intent for Gino with that knife, and we saw LabTech123 in his first star appearance. We finally met Bucho, Gambino's head of security who was somewhat responsible for the destruction of the Mansion last year. Liam's ladies games continued, of course, and then just when we thought it would all be alright. This was all viewable by clicking on a cute new long-haired Gino sprite on the Isle De Gambino.
The Manga Style Report links are as follows:
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Hallowe'en 2k5
Grunny Invasion
Well, this was by far the most audacious and daring event since last Hallowe'en. Bucho, finally in full avatar glory, informed us that Gino Gambino was inviting us all to make full use of the reconstructed Gambino mansion. However, before we were let in, clicking on the Mansion informed us of the following storyline update, beforehand. First off, Gino had rebuilt the Secret Underground Test Facility, but had made it plain to see: no more secrets. Hoping to bring his father's legacy to bear, he hired LabTech123 once again to head up the project, as he had field experience. That said and done, he invited Sasha around to dinner as a somewhat romantic, "thank you," for saving him. Ian was none too happy about this as the pair departed.Cut to the UTF: LabTech123 had somehow revivified Grunny (or perhaps the fluffball somehow survived Operation Silent Flash eek ), and brought back the deadly G-VIRUS. With alarming alacrity, LabTechX, towering over him, reappeared on the scene, and set free a horde of Grunnies, which promptly found their way into the mansion. At the same time, we were finally granted entry to the revamped Mansion, only to find the fuzzies rampant. Bucho requested that we capture as many as possible, and the event major began.
The Manga Style Report links are as follows:
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So what went on inside the Mansion? Well, the new mini-game was very simply based. We found ourselves set to a backdrop of a beaker, with a small amount of green fluid and a Grunny inside it. There was a scale of 1 to 5 on the side, which indicated the number of Grunnies you had collected. The different levels can be seen as follows:
Level 0
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
You gained levels by posting after someone with a higher Grunny count that you, or by posting 5 times. There were five basic rewards for each level; at the first level, which required 15 Grunnies, granted you a Grunny Shirt; the second, at 35, Grunny Slippers. The items stopped here, and the next levels gave you status changes. Level 3 at 175 would give you faded skin and sleepy eyes with red irises, Level 4 at 350 would give you more red eyes, baldness, two little earlike protrusions on the top of your head, and a bulge at the back. The final level, at 500, gave you the glaring red eyes seen last year, and a true Grunny attached to the back of your head. These last three levels were particularly difficult to reach, making it a real challenge to get yourself a Grunny. Still, many persevered and were reward with the little chap. Well played to everyone who did so! 3nodding
Eventually, however, the end came (a little early, to allow Trick or Treating to begin whee ), and we were treated to another dazzling manga endgame. Gino and Sasha, dining together, noticed the smell of burning, and found that not only the newly built Facility, but also the Mansion were ablaze! Gallantly, Gino managed to get Sasha almost out of the building, but at the last minute, the roof collapsed, and Gino found himself trapped (somehow holding a bar up with superhuman strength, it seems eek ). Ian arrived, planning to finally show Sasha Gino's true nature (with the pills he had forgotten earlier), but found them in a deadly situation. Dropping said medication (near Gino... could they save him? We can only hope!), he managed to drag Sasha away from the inferno before the entire structure collapsed, potentially burying Gino. And, when the night was done, and all was quiet again, a mysterious figure, perhaps someone we know, perhaps not, picked up a single vial of the G-VIRUS. Where the Gambino legacy will end, we do not yet know, but for Gino's sake - and our enjoyment - we hope it lasts a little longer.
The Manga Style Report links are as follows:
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Trick or Treating 2k5
With the Grunny infestation removed in possibly the most mammoth case of animal cruelty this year (just kidding wink ), we were left with the usual Hallowe'en Trick or Treating. This had the usual mechanic: get candy from shopkeepers, then find Jack on the map, and click him. He'd give you a Jack bag (this year, rather than being determined by candy co-ordination, it was simply counted by Jack... see later whee ), and the Jack Uniform items were contained within.
However, in a bonus joining up with the release of GAIA Towns, Jack was also located at the Fountain in every neighbourhood. You collected candy from the dispensers outside of everyone's homes (which were decorated for the event surprised ), and when you had 100, a massive Jack would reward you as above.
A slight aside to this event was that during the few days it spanned over, there were a few things odd with Jack. Occasionally, he couldn't count to 9 (the number of different Jacked giftboxes), and he also had a terrible problem with giving users box number 2, containing... pants... rather than other problems. You'll see why this is mentioned very soon. whee
Jack vs. Santa
Well, on the 7th November, soon after the events of Hallowe'en, a massive Santa was found in Barton square. In front of Ian, Sasha, Cindy, and many others, he proclaimed that the problems with Hallowe'en - namely, the fierce competition inside the Mansion leading some users to segregate themselves, and the problems with Jack during Trick or Treating were all Jack's fault. Jack, however, was rather distraught by this accusation, and ended up punching the gargantuan and somewhat metallic Santa into the LinkList in Barton, destroying the building (indeed, we saw this occur in a similar sprite based fashion to Gambino's fall from the Tower). The real Santa, who had been inside a large Santa Mech Suit, crawled out, but was in no fit state. After a brief insight into the Holiday anthromorphic personalities' past, much to the distress of many Gaians, Santa was pronounced dead. A Christmas without Santa? We'll have to wait and see. gonk
The Manga Style Report links are as follows:
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