Yo! Should You Join "YoVille" on Facebook?

YoVille is a fun virtual world, similar to Webkinz, for teens and adults. I have played around in YoVille on Facebook for several months now, and recommend YoVille to other Facebook users. YoVille, developed by Zynga, is a free Facebook application that offers entertainment for everyone: Decorate your YoVille apartment; gamble in the YoVille casino; play games with other users and go "work" at the YoVille Widget Factory; shop for clothing, furniture, kitchen appliances, and floral arrangements; chat with other YoVillians; and show off your dance moves in YoVille's Sky Night Club.

Are you screaming, "I don't want any more Facebook applications!"? I understand. I didn't want to add the YoVille application on Facebook, either. I'm too old for that virtual-world nonsense. I have a real house and a real job and a real family to take care of; I'm not interested in flirting with strangers online, no matter how cute their avatars are (so leave me alone, "HotBenjaminXXX." Just kidding, Dan). So what made me change my mind? I saw how much fun my husband was having decorating his YoVille apartment, and, like a good wife, started criticizing his choices in furniture, carpet color, wall decorations, etc. That's when it hit me: I can create a YoVille character of my own, and decorate my apartment any way I want! Sweet!

Creating Your YoVille Character

Your YoVille character will look nothing like you, unless you have a gigantic head and gigantic eyes, and stick arms and legs. The hairstyles and clothing choices are pretty limited. Everyone has the same head shape and body type. Everyone is young. You can buy new clothing in the fashion store, and, for a limited time only, Halloween costumes. Bikinis, with thong bottoms, and swim trunks for men are available for purchase at the beach. (Even in YoVille, I'm a prude, and haven't yet purchased a bikini for my character. I'm currently saving up my money for a $7500 hot tub.) You will start off with a standard, modest apartment, consisting of a sparsely-furnished living room, bedroom, and kitchen; and a chunk of change to spend.

Earn Coins in YoVille

To earn money in YoVille, your character must report for work at the Widget Factory. You can "clock in" as often as every six hours. You will receive a bonus if you're on-time. Another way to increase your base salary, which starts out at 200 coins per shift, is to add people to your "crew." Invite other Facebook friends or complete strangers in YoVille world to join your crew, or play games (the only games available at this time are tic-tac-toe and rock-paper-scissors--whoop-de-doo) with other YoVille users to earn more coins. I wish I had to earn my YoVille salary by answering trivia questions or solving a puzzle, but I'm probably the only nerd in YoVille who feels that way. The casino features a slot machine (again, I wish there were more games to choose from), where you can gamble your coins. Another way to make money is to sell off your belongings, but you'll only earn back a fraction of what you paid. If you're rich and impatient, you can purchase YoVille coins--5000 coins for $10. Or you can select various trial memberships, change your phone provider, sign up for identity-theft protection, and whatnot, in exchange for YoVille coins. I searched, but did not find any cheat codes for unlimited coins in YoVille. Sorry!

Chat with Friends in YoVille

My cousin, who lives hundreds of miles away, joined me in my YoVille apartment one evening to hang out. Your friends can always visit your apartment and leave you messages if you're not online. I tend to avoid all other YoVille users because I'm only interested in earning money to buy stuff for my apartment. But you don't have to be antisocial like me. The YoVille beach and night club, and the street in front of the high-rise apartment building, are popular social hangouts. When you chat with other YoVille users, a cartoon bubble with your witty dialogue inside will appear next to your head. I've never accidentally eavesdropped on any deep, philosophical discussions in YoVille; perhaps people are conducting those sorts of discussions in the privacy of their YoVille bedrooms.

Food and Drinks in YoVille

Is your YoVille character thirsty? Drink a cappuccino from the YoVille coffee shop, and watch your character's speed increase. Drink a bunch of beers in the night club or some mojitos on the beach to witness "virtual intoxication"--your character will sway unsteadily and his/her vision will become blurred. Hit Vinny's Diner in central YoVille for an apple or slice of pizza, and raise your character's energy level. With a high energy level, you can perform amazing actions, such as mystical levitating and the robot dance.

Where to Shop in YoVille

Here are your options: The clothing store (they need to add some better shoes!). YoDepot, for wall coverings, flooring, windows, kitchen appliances and cabinets, and teleportation doors (I wish Home Depot sold those!). The Gifts and Flowers shop sells floral arrangements and plants. The furniture store sells furniture and electronics, most of which is way too hip for my real-life home. But in YoVille, I'm twenty-one years old (give or take a few years), and so is everyone else, so it's totally okay to buy a zebra-print living room set and a beach-themed bedroom group. There are many furniture themes available; pick and choose from all of these: Safari, Beach, Egyptian, Girly Girl, Zen, Medieval, Mother Earth, Gothic, Cabin, and The 70s. The Cabin and 70s-themed items are brand-new. Limited-time collectibles are offered as well. Right now you can purchase Halloween specials, such as a $500 bowl of eyeballs--the perfect centerpiece for your kitchen table!--or a vampire coffin for your bedroom. You can spend hours browsing in the furniture store alone. I should also mention the gym equipment store; there isn't much to choose from, and in YoVille, everyone is thin, but, whatever. Sure. Go buy some barbells to display in your bedroom.

What to Do in YoVille When You're Flat-Broke

No matter how poor your YoVille version of you is, you can always throw water balloons at other YoVille users. (It's fun the first time you do it, anyway. The second time...not so much.) Wait six hours, and go back to the Widget Factory for your 200 coins. Beg other YoVille users to join your crew so you can earn more money as an engineer or project manager. Browse in the furniture store. Rearrange your YoVille apartment (that "Edit Room Layout" button will soon be your favorite). Chat with weirdos (never ever expect them to spell out the words "you" or "are"). Trade your items with other YoVille users--maybe you can get a nice Egyptian rug in exchange for the stupid water-balloon-filling machine you bought as a limited-time-only collectible. Click on "Events" to see if there are any YoVille parties you'd like to crash. Rate other YoVillians' apartments. Check out the "Top Rooms" in YoVille. Who has the coolest kitchen, living room, and bedroom? You will be amazed at what other creative YoVille users have done with beach towels, lava lamps, and windows.

YoVille keeps adding new features, and has three new locales currently under construction. I am sure that the YoVille community on Facebook, which consists of over two million active monthly users, will continue to grow. To add the YoVille Facebook application, go to http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=21526880407. I look forward to seeing you in YoVille soon!