Top Chef Challenge on Facebook: Please pack your knives and go

Top Chef Challenge, a new Facebook game which launched same night at the debut of Top Chef All Stars (what a coinky-dink!) lets you choose for your favorite chef from the new show (comprised of 18 chefs from previous seasons) and earn them as many points as possible by logging into the game daily to complete challenges.

Gallery: Top Chef Challenge on Facebook


The advergame works like this: Choose a "Chef'testant" that you want to root for, and then you'll be presented with a series of challenges, which when completed, will earn your chef points for the week. The first day's challenges include sharing your pick -- twice -- on Facebook or Twitter, each resulting in a certain number of points for your pick. Once the first two challenges are complete, then you're given a link to share with friends on Twitter and Facebook, which links directly back to the application. Do this to earn more points for your chef. The chef with the most points at the end of the week will in the challenge, and you can track your chef's standings in a leaderboard.



So now's time for the good news and the bad news:

The good: If your chef is kicked off the show, he/she will still be in the Facebook game.

The bad: This advergame is so dull and unimaginative that it just might be the worst offender in a long line of offensive advergames. All you do is share your pick on your Facebook wall and Twitter, then harass friends with a link to the game in exchange for maybe meeting one of the chefs or to "win other prizes." Blech.

top chef challenge

More bad: Right after I chose my chef (I chose Spike Mendelsohn because of his cool hat), I went to complete the first challenge, but could not. Instead of found a message that said, "Whoops look like you didn't complete the challenge in time..." What? I JUST signed up for the game -- how did I not complete it in time?

I decided to complete the second challenge (by sharing my pick on my Facebook wall), but then was not able to complete the third challenge because you have to complete the first two tasks to unlock it. And, since that wasn't an option, no third challenge for me.

And, if whomever made this thinks I'll back tomorrow to try again -- they'd be wrong. So, so wrong. Top Chef Challenge on Facebook, please pack your knives and go.

The Sims Social: Country meets chic with Country Kitchen items

Is it just me, or is decorating our houses one of the best things to do in the Sims Social? I know I could personally spend plenty of time rearranging furniture in each room, only to ripe it all out and start over again, and to help us do that with even more themes is a new Country Kitchen theme that has launched in the game this week. These country kitchen items bring in all sorts of shades of brown and ivory, and it's one of the most complete themes we've seen released in the game yet. Here's a rundown of what to look out for in the store to make this theme complete in your own home.

Plate Collection

    * Costs: 4 SimCash
    * Value: $600


Perfecto Fruitbowl

    * Costs: 4 SimCash
    * Value $600


Vintage Wines

    * Costs: 6 SimCash
    * Value: $900


RuralU Deluxe C (Kitchen Counter Piece)

    * Costs: 10 SimCash
    * Value: $1500


RuralU Deluxe (Kitchen Counter Piece)

    * Costs: 12 SimCash
    * Value: $1750


Antiquitate Deco (Wall Sconce)

    * Costs: 3 SimCash
    * Value: $450


19th Century Lamp

    * Costs: 10 SimCash
    * Value: $1500


19th Century Pot (Flowers)

    * Costs: 19 SimCash
    * Value: $2800


Antiquitate Oil

    * Costs: 325 Social Points
    * Value: $700


Basinuate Marble (Sink)

    * Costs: 12 SimCash
    * Value: 1750
    * Clean Stat: 5



FrancoFaux Chaise (Buildable item)

    * Costs: 225 Social Points
    * Value: $500


Cereal Shelf

    * Costs: 250 Social Points
    * Value: $550


19th Century Mat

    * Costs: 19 SimCash
    * Value: $2800


Clox Fruitful

    * Costs: 350 Social Points
    * Value: $800


RuralU Trove (Wall Cabinet Piece)

    * Costs: 600 Social Points
    * Value: $1450


RuralU Charm (Wall Cabinet Piece)

    * Costs: 800 Social Points
    * Value: $2050


FrancoFaux Tableau (Buildable item)

    * Costs: 800 Social Points
    * Value: $2050


RuralU Latch (Hutch - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 1100 Social Points
    * Value: $3100


G King Counter (Center Island - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 15,000 Social Points
    * Value: $21,250
    * Happiness Stat: 3


Normanity Chair (Living Room Furniture - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 450 Social Points
    * Value: $1050


FrancoFaux Cafe (Living Room Furniture - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 650 Social Points
    * Value: $1600


Normanity Sofa (Living Room Furniture - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 700 Social Points
    * Value: $1750
    * Sleep Stat: 3



In addition to all of these items, there's also a Cooking Skill vent hood called the SuxDelux that's available to users that have reached a Cooking Skill of 40 or higher. This item has a value of $3650.

In the Build Menu, you can also find a selection of new windows in the same matching dark wood color, ranging in price from 750 coins for the RealOak 2 Pane to 6,000 coins for the RealOak 5 Pane. If you want the window in the picture above, with the quaint ivory curtains, that will set you back a whopping 39 SimCash. Along with this, there are five new wallpapers and three new floor tiles to round out the theme.

There's no listed time limit on any of these items, so if you don't have enough Social Points or SimCash available to buy them now, you should be able to save up and purchase them well into the future. Still, if you want to get your hands on these items while they're fresh, I really couldn't blame you. I just hope your kitchen is big enough to hold them all!

[Final Image Credit: Playfish/EA]

What do you think of these Country Kitchen items? Are you more of a modern fan, or do you like country / southwestern items? Sound off in the comments.