The wrong sign language?

Does the photo above look familiar to all you gamblers out there? It's the facade of the beloved Pico Casino. But ... if you look close enough, you'll see that it bears Pigg's branding! The name of the chat wasn't changed from "Pigg" to "Pico" when it was brought over for our enjoyment.

Some naughty game developer in the Ameba head offices needs their hand slapped for such an oversight.

Of course, most of us spend time inside the casino, not outside of it staring at its walls.

Thanks to the ever-observant nature of our very own Peggy Hill, I'm bringing this little bit of information to you.

How long do you think it will be before The Powers that Be over at Ameba notice this blunder?

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For those of you who don't know, Pico is the little brother of Pigg - Ameba's first Kawaii-style avatar social environment. Our version of an alternate Picoverse, you might say. And they're always ahead of us over on that side.

Don't believe me? Read for yourselves ...

Inside Social Games • CyberAgent’s Ameba Pigg Virtual World Comes to Facebook as Ameba Pico: Japanese internet company CyberAgent is bringing its popular virtual world, Ameba Pigg, to the U.S. market, and to Facebook, as Ameba Pico.

Ameba Pigg has gained around 2 million users in the last 11 months, making CyberAgent one of the larger Japanese companies of its ilk. Here’s our look at the new app.

At first glance Ameba Pico does not look like much. It has a very simplistic art style, and a stiff, child-like, and limited set of animations for the avatar. But the variety and activity within this virtual world bring it to life. (Read more ...)

That being said, you should also note that many of the rooms and features that you find in Pico were in Pigg first.

Virtually all of the Travel rooms - including Time Travel destinations - appeared in Pigg first and have been transferred over to Pico. The same goes for clothing and accessories.

How-to: Get the Edo Stars!

Now that Edo has been released on Pico, it's also brought us a total of 3 new stars to earn in our little blue books. As always when new stars are released, there are some misconceptions and some confusion on how to earn them. For the most part, the Edo stars are simple to earn... but I can see why a couple of them would cause people to start pulling their hair out in frustration. If you are having trouble, feel free to keep reading and hopefully this will aid you in your star quest!

Goal: Play Team Arithmetic
Earn: 150 Gummies



This is, by far, the easiest Edo star to get. And if you hate math, you will be happy to learn that you don't even have to play the game in order to get it. After visiting the area...

PicoStyle Preview: Edo

Hello, everyone! I know you have grown accustomed to seeing me here on Thursdays, but I wanted to take this time to make a quick update. I planned on posting this yesterday, but... well... it was my birthday! Yeah, you know that birthday card is amazing. Admit it. Now, for the real reason why I'm here:

It's been a while since PicoStyle had an update of this sort. If you've been a longtime reader, you may remember Catero having a Picogasm over Egypt and posting a preview of the area as it appears in Pigg. Since a very large majority of the areas introduced to Pico are already in Pigg, it makes it easy for us to show our readers quick glimpses of what they should expect. What can you expect this time, you ask? Allow me to show you. There are spoilers ahead, so if you don't want to know just stop reading now. Right now. You sure you want to know? Okay, I warned you.

Most of you may have recently noticed this while playing Pico:




This may have got you wondering "what is Edo?" Or maybe you were preoccupied with wondering "why doesn't Pinkerton ever shave his goatee?" I can't give a good answer to that question, but I can help with your questions regarding Edo.

Viva Mexico!

Pico provides us a diversity of wonderful places to visit… China, Hawaii, New York, Tokyo, Japan, New Zealand, and Las Vegas. We can even travel back in time to Ancient Egypt, the Age of Exploration, and the Stone Age. However, have you ever wish they would bring to us your country, city or even your favorite theme place or era?

Mexico


I would love to see my mother’s birth place brought to us, beautiful Mexico!
With its diverse colonial and modern architectures, the barrios, floating gardens, and beautiful scenery, who wouldn’t want to visit? Imagine at the shop purchasing the folkloric colorful dresses,the big hair bows and flowers. For the guys, the traditional charro and mariachi apparel. Also being able to buy a Mexican folk dance (considered one of the most stunning expression of its kind). And let’s not forget the food… enchiladas, tacos, tamales and my dear Catero’s favorite… flautas.

Theme Place


How about a circus full of clowns, acrobats, animal trainers,trapeze acts,musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, and unicyclists. Being able to purchase their costumes and why not some of their amazing skills (for actions)? Wouldn’t that be fun?

Era


The 50’s, the era of rock and roll! With those polka dot or poodle skirts and the T Bird jackets for the guys, who wouldn’t want to get up and dance their feet off to the music of Elvis or Little Richard!

These are a few places I personally would like to see… how about you PicoStyle fans?

Let me know what’s on your mind!

A Trip to the Casino

Who understands baccarat anyway...

Casino Fever.

Word on the street is people are losing their shirts and panties left and right. I had to cover up poor Peru Peru who lost everything to Black Jack. Alfonso, the nicest of the four Black Dealers deemed him unworthy of casino credits.

Bad things are happening at this Pico Casino... It's like a black hole, it WILL suck you in.


I watched as Gembear threw pennies at this slot machine in hopes of winning the Mega Jackpot. The crazed dazed look she was giving the machine made me think of all the grandmas out there in Vegas right now yellin' respectably at their own money chuggin' slots.

I am worried y'all...

Learning to swim at Sparking Ocean

The Aloha spirit has taken over Pico at a fevered pace. Colorfully dressed Picos are everywhere, sporting their hibiscus hair flowers or patterned board shorts. Loco moco. Hula. Friendly dolphins. Fire dancing.

Those who are new to the world of Pico have not yet experienced the "swing of things" and may need a little help getting their feet wet, so to speak.

When I visit Sparkling Ocean I see Picos hopelessly wandering the beach begging people to help them figure out how to swim.

It's not very clear how you get from walking on the beach to floating in the water, but it's fairly simple ... if you've got a spare token in your pocket.

To swim and get a floatie you need a swimsuit. So, let's get started.

Once you've landed on the little sliver of shoreline in the Sparking Ocean room ...

1. Head over to Ricky, the surfer with the word Shop floating over his head and click on him

2. In the shop menu that pops up after clicking on Ricky, purchase a swimsuit using your Token (or Ameba Gold). Look at the bikinis for girls and the board shorts for boys to see your options.

Don't know if you have a Token? Look at the bottom of the shop menu.


If your Token amount is 0, you can't buy a swim suit right now. Wait to get your Daily Scratch Token and return to Sparkling Beach. In the meantime, why not enjoy Sunset Beach?

3. Once you've bought your swimsuit, click on your Closet button to put it on. Poof! Your other clothes disappear (don't worry, once you take off the swimsuit they re-appear). Click Save.

4. Voila! You're in your swimsuit and floatie. Click on the water to enjoy a dip in Sparkling Ocean or to head over to the island and meet Ka-lena who has more shop goodies to buy.

WARNING! NEW AREA ALERT!

EVERY PICO STOP, DROP, AND SAVE YOUR GUMMIES.
Pico just updated with a HOT new release ... and by "hot" we mean this new area spits HOT FIRE.



The queue to get into the Shibuya shopping area might be long, but one of our reporters managed to dodge in and see the sales. Here is a taste of the prices.

In just a mere couple of days you can buy a lot from Rinarina. The selection is both adorable and elegant. Save your gummies girls!







Also does anyone think that this little guy (below) looks like he might be Mortie's ancestor?

Getting cozy in the pharaoh's chamber

Have you found the pharaoh's chamber? In our teaser post about Egypt we intentionally left out the treasures of the tomb, hoping that curiosity would drive you through the long hallways when the new time travel destination opened.

Why bother? Well ...

• Finding the pharaoh's tomb will get you a Bonus Chance (the star book) star and 100 Gummies.
• Solving the pharaoh's key (a 3x3 slide puzzle) will get you a Bonus Chance (the star book) star and 150 Gummies ... and open up a shop of his secret goodies.

For our eager explorers: to find the chamber, go to Egyptian shrine in your time travel destinations (shown right; icon outlined in red with a + sign).

Once you've appeared outside the pyramid, pass the guards (they're harmless) and click the tomb's door to enter.

Navigate the tomb's hallways
You'll be faced with a long hallway. Do yo go straight at the end of the hall or turn right? Doesn't matter. Eventually - regardless of which direction you turn - you'll end up in the pharaoh's chamber. You can't wander forever.

Now, walk up the hallway, click the arrow that points in the direction you want to go and keep going!

All of a sudden, without any warning, *boom* you'll end up inside the burial chamber ... face-to-face with a large sarcophagus in the middle of the ornately decorated room.




Meet the animated coffin
Have a seat ... and wait. You'll see a little talk bubble appear with a suspenseful "..." over the sarcophagus from time to time. You may have to wait a few minutes or maybe just a couple of seconds before you see the lid of the sarcophagus push back as the anthropoid-shaped coffin rises from within like something from a bad horror film.

Outwit the pharaoh
Quick! Click on the coffin before it descends back into the sarcophagus for a chance to unlock the pharaoh's key - a 3x3 slide puzzle which will open up a "secret treasures" shop when solved.

The puzzle is timed. You have 180 seconds to shift the pieces before the game times out, you lose all progress and are forced to start all over ... if you dare.

Since the pharaoh's key puzzle is random each time, I can't tell you eactly how to win; I can only give you strategy by pointing you to a tutorial on ho to solve any kind of slide puzzle.

Score the goodies
When you solve the puzzle you'll be presented with  the option to buy a selection of household furnishings and fashionable items to add to your image of ancient dynastic grandeur. Put the 250 Gummies you just earned to good use.



Now, all you need to do is enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Egyptian Fashion Overload!

Hey Guys! I'm back, did you miss me?! Gem Rocker and I have been busy collecting gummies to drape ourselves in the lovely Egyptian goodies that you've probably been seeing everywhere. There are sexy outfits (Ancient Dress for Egyptian Dancers) for the risque and for those of you who are gun-shy like me... very cute Saharan and Egyptian Public Robes both can be purchased with or without pants for cheap! I personally like the affordable Saharan Robes with the MUST HAVE Egyptian Public Shoes! These shoes are so cute and at 300 gummies a pop you can afford to buy all the colors! All these things can be picked up at the Desert area which requires a time machine to travel to.



I admit this was the straw that broke the camel's back. I finally gave in and purchased Ameba Gold because I was too impatient to wait for survey gold and there were just so many pretty things that I couldn't resist buying for Peggy. I just had to have the Egyptian Queen's Special Dress which couldn't be purchased with a token :( For those who don't want to or can't afford to buy Ameba Gold check this entry to learn how you can gain Ameba Gold for free. There are plenty of things that you can buy with tokens and gummies so don't worry if you can't get Ameba Gold. I'm waiting for my scratch card token to get the adorable new explorer outfits that you can pick up in the shop catalogue. Tres Chic! Check out the new Egypt areas and get your Egypt pieces and create your own looks!

Safari Gem Rock

Hey guys, Peggy here! I've been a lil lazy but don't cry! Gem Rock will be filling in for me as guest blogger and Pico Adventurer Extraordinaire! I love it!

The rumour around Pico is that an ancient land had been uncovered.


Inside Gem Rock's room she equips herself with a sturdy spear and backpack of supplies (beer). Sands sweep through the floor of her Pico home as she thinks of what she might uncover in the underbelly of this ancient Pico world.

She slides her map across her table and pinpoints her destination.

Kissing her dog goodbye she travels to the land we call "Egypt".


Interesting. The people who live here work hard for little. Don't you get a lunch break? No medical benefits? Really?


Our hero stops in-front of a local newspaper. Looking into her rough Egypt to English handbook what does that translate to, Gem Rock? "5 gummies beer nights at Sandy Sam's local Saloon & Dance Hall"?


Wanting to go into what she believes as an Egyptian strip mall she's blocked by mall security.

Luckily ... she slips past the guards by flashing them a bit of that famous Gem Rock leg.


Inside she finds a long dark tunnel. "Hey guys, where is the escalator? I can sense a sale around here."


Oh lucky for us it DOES lead to an Egyptian wholesale store ...


but wait ... what's this? ... a coffin?!


Time passes and after a bit of time spent in this new Tourist Capital Gem Rock is now ready to blend in (or stand out) with the natives. Break it down ladies!

Ancient Egypt is coming to Pico!

My Grade 5 science fair project was an in-depth look at the practice and cultural significance of Egyptian mummification. Amongst other props I made canopic jars from clay and a diagram of the route one traveled to the Afterlife.

High school art class studies in ancient art prompted me to make a clay replica of the Palette of Narmer as my assignment. It was A+ work and I've kept it in near-mint condition since.

The 1932 film The Mummy with Boris Karloff is one of my favorite movies (despite all the historical inaccuracies). And I have love for the more recent adaptations with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz too. Who doesn't love the paranoid antics of pilot Izzy Buttons?

Most recently, I salivated in the halls of the  King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs Exhibition for many hours as I pressed my face up against the display glass and mustered every fiber of my inner being to not touch.

Why am I rambling on like this? Because I am a longtime ancient Egypt freak and you need to know this to realize how excited I am to see those new "Coming Soon" images in the Time Travel menu! The fact that Pico players will soon be able to travel to ancient Egypt has me jumping for joy.

I have to admit, as an Egyptophile, when I traveled through ancient Egypt in Pigg I couldn't wait until it was brought over to Pico.

The new travel destination will have 3 rooms: a palace, a temple/shrine labyrinth and a small desert.

Pico in Egypt - like the Valley of the Kings - holds many treasures. Soon, we will be privy to those lavish furnishings, wallpaper and garments. I'm certain I'll log in one day to find Peggy as a belly dancer.

Take a look at the screenshots from Pigg's Egypt below (which includes composite images of the shop vendors) and don't get too annoyed with how elated I am.

No photos of the shrine, though. I'm not going to give it all away. ;-)

Palace




Desert