Mafia Wars Las Vegas Beta - A Sneak Preview

Just lucky I got the chance to visit Las Vegas early with 35 rack of chips and I was that lucky to get the VIP access in my 2nd attempt! For those Mafia Wars game's maniac, I believe everyone are waiting to try out the latest chapter of Mafia Wars game.

So for those who haven't get the luck to obtain the VIP access to this chapter, here are some of the screenshots so that you can have the first hand preview of the Beta version of Las Vegas gameplay!

Here is the jobs screen. The layout is pretty different from the previous chapters i.e. New York, Bangkok, Cuba and Moscow. Each job panel is more compact and informative which cut down the mouse scrolling frequent to read the necessary information while doing the job.

In Las Vegas jobs, you could see there is a navigation panel on left side of the screen which indicates the path you can choose to complete an episode. The navigation still remain confusing to me, but try to move mouse cursor over each icon, the job that represented by the icon will get highlighted.

You can also maximize each job's image to see them in more detail. Otherwise the images will stay small and compact. Nice images from Zynga which play important role in adding to the game's attractiveness.

The screenshot below shows the specific job one needs to master in order to start building anything, i.e. the Casino which appeared to be one of the most important feature in the Vegas chapters. After all, Casino is what Las Vegas is famous about, isn't it?

It is not too hard to master this job "Steal A Truckload of Slots". If not mistaken it's the 3rd job in Chapter 1. You will loot Slot Machines in this job which are required in expanding your casino later.

So here is one of the exciting part - building your Casino! The section is not called "Properties" as in the previous cities, but it is called "My Casino". This casino is divided into few building segments which need mastery of different chapters to enable for expending. You can see all casino buildings remained grey and disabled until you master the job "Steal A Truckload of Slots". The casino is your source of income in Las Vegas!

The first building to get activated after you master the job stated above is the Slot building where the slot machines of your casino will be placed. After you start this building, the Vault building will be enabled for expanding as well.

Just like Chop Shop or Weapons Depot in New York, Slot needs friends' helps to supply the materials in order to expand. There is a small preview of your building's interior on the right top corner of the pop up screen which you can click to see in larger scale. Upgrading it will make the room look better and prettier (I presume). Same goes to the Vault.

The vault acts as " the bank" where you keep your money safe! It stated something like "There is no bank in the middle of desert...", so you have to build your own vault to secure your money! In the vault, you can also convert the money gained in New York tiers to Vegas chips! But then you can only do this once in every 24 hours.

Just like other cities, robbing feature will be available in Vegas tiers and the images are pretty "neon" look! Maybe this can reflect how Las Vegas looks like during night time, full of colorful lighting and it is so happening! Party time!

Fight also remain but there is a newly added gameplay called "Tournaments". It is just like you are taking part in the fight tournament in Las Vegas which also involves betting on the tournaments.

You can win titles and championship belts here by taking part in different tournaments with vary difficulties and requirements. I haven't venture into this section yet, so no further description on this, but I'll try it in the near future!

As other tiers, there are collection items and achievements to gain in Vegas. 3 sets of collectible items available which can only be gained through participating in Tournaments. There are also 10 achievements to claim in this city!

Borneo Cultural Festival 2010

It's Borneo Cultural Festival season again! Borneo Cultural Festival had become a significant annual event for the town of Sibu and this year it is a 10 days event starting from 16th to 25th of July 2010. As usual, Sibu Town Square, both 1st and 2nd phase became the choice of venue for this event.

Visited the festival last night with family after my Internet was down which upset me to the bottom of the earth! Well, from the positive point of view, it's perhaps the best excuse for me to temporarily step out from the cyberworld which I spent too much time on it and return to a more realistic world which suppose to be the world of truth of mankind!

Back to the topic, as previous years, the festival ground is divided into 2 major zones. The 1st zone is around the compound of Sibu own Square phase 1 where the community pavillions, cultural stages of different communities as well as the grand stage were placed. In here, you can find various handcrafts, arts and most importantly traditional foods of each race and community.

If you want to try Pansoh or Umai, Tebaloi or Kuih Jala, the alleyway in between Wisma Sanyan and RH Hotel would be your choice. This is where the Iban, Melanau as well as Bidayuh communities' stalls are located.

Satay daging, satay ayam, kacang kuda and pulut panggang? Visit the Malay stalls along the edge of Sibu Town Square phase 1 near Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, just opposite the phase 2.

Craving for Chinese traditional foods? Yes, you can get them at Chinese community pavilions along Sibu Town Square car park area and also the Corridor of "Chuang" opposite Sibu Rejang Port building. Oyster Omelette (O-Jian), Foochow biscuits (Leh-Biang), Glutinous Rice Dumpling (Zhang), Red Glutinous Cake (Ang Ku) and a lot more can be found here!

[Teo Chew Clan]

[Hakka Clan]

[Hainam Clan]

[Cantonese Clan]

[Foochow Clan]

[Hokkien Clan]

[Heng Hua Clan]

While your mouth is filling with the foods, your eyes can enjoy various cultural performance at each community's stage. Isn't that one of the most relaxing thing people like to do? Eyes watching while mouth chewing... (well, at least I like to do that when watching movies).

I also came across a tea arts demonstration near one of the stall specifying in selling teas. The performers were wearing Chinese Traditional Cheongsam and the emcee spoke precise and perfect Mandarin which signified the elegance of the tea art. Oh ya, sorry to say that I was attracted by the pretty emcee and not by the art! (cannot meh? :P )

Across Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg at Sibu Town Square phase 2 is the trade expo and exhibition as well as the fun fair zone. The Tradex exhibits and displays various heavy machineries, automobiles, equipment and household supplies which gives an opportunity to the local community to promote their products and services.

If you wish to have some fun or try some luck, fun fair zone will be your choice. "mini wheels", "pirate sampan", "old-cars-go-round-n-round", bumper cars and etc are here for the kids or the adults. You can also try your luck to win some prizes near the fun fair stalls providing different kind of games (and gambling).

So, this is about BCF 2010 which appears to be too commercial oriented and lack of freshness to me. I think the organizer should emphasis more on the cultural part instead of the foods part although I admit that food is part of the culture and they did contribute in colorizing the event. Let the visitors feel the festival is about promoting variety Borneo culture and heritage suit the festive title of "Borneo Cultural Festival". Otherwise, the event would have to change its name to Borneo Foods Festival to be more appropriate.

Anyway, the local council's efforts to make this town more happening and merrier is something that deserves compliment and credits.

The Blue Bear - Bearyfrance

Got a free Celcom Blue Bear yesterday by reloading my hand phone credit by RM30. It is actually a promotion from the telco during this world cup season. The step is simple, for Celcom prepaid service XPAX users:

1. Type BOLA and send to 22188
2. Wait for a message which indicates successful registration and there is an instruction asking you to reload RM30.
3. Reload RM30.
4. A serial number will be sent to your hand phone and it is the key to claim the blue bear at the nearest service center!

There were 8 blue bears to choose from actually each wearing different jersey represents a country that took part in World Cup 2010. They are France, England, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Italy and also Brazil.

Each blue bear had been given a name in such a way that the name is the creative combination of the country's name it represents and the word "Bear". Thus, their name are BEARYFRANCE, ENGLBEAR, BEARTUGAL, ESBEARANYOL, BEARMANY, BEARGENTINA, BEARITALIA and BEARZIL.

I had a hard time decide which to choose actually. I wished to go for Brazil which is my all-time favorite team in football, but Spain is the one advanced to final in World Cup 2010. Their opponent will be Netherlands, but the country is not in the blue bear list! After long thought, I decided to take this year World Cup finalist - the Spain!

However when I redeemed the blue bear at the service center, the officer told me that they are out of stock and only France bear left. Either I take it or leave it! Well, I guess I have no choice as the promotion closing date is approaching. Just took whatever they offered but I am still doubt if they really out of stock or have other "agenda"!

Planned to get the blue bear represents the best team in this World Cup, but ended up redeem the worst - France! Little upset yet no choice.

For more information about this promotion, click here.