The Simpsons: Tapped Out Christmas 2012 content update

On December 3, 2012, The Simpsons: Tapped Out ' s official Facebook page posted a message: "Let it snow! Springfield's in for some holiday magic with a big new update... coming soon!" - which implied that the update would be released sometime in the first week of December. It was announced on Tapped Out 's Facebook page on December 4 that the holiday update would be released on December 5 (the same day when Tapped Out would no longer be able to be played on 1st and 2nd generation iPod touches and iPhones), and in that post was also an image of Santa Homer - a new outfit for Homer that was introduced in the update. With the update also comes a new icon for the game, and a new opening menu.

The features were going to be available until January 3, 2013; it was announced through Tapped Out ' s Facebook page on December 19, 2012 that the time the Christmas content would be available had been extended. Until January 2, 2013, it was unknown what date it has been extended to; on that date there was an update, changing the end date of the Christmas content from January 3, 2013 to January 10, 2013.

Players can buy a Santa's Sack (costing ), which includes 10-20 Santa Coins - a new currency in the update. As long as the holiday event lasts, players will be given Santa's Sacks instead of Mystery Boxes in their Daily Bonus.

Many users on the Tapped Out forums reported that they had seen Kodos shooting at the ray gun in her spaceship while she flies across a friend's Springfield. Many thought it was a bug, but it is likely a clue to what could happen next - Kodos being introduced as a character. Also, many users on the Tapped Out forums reported (one even showing an image) that Gil Gunderson would appear and give the player a 25% off offer on donuts. This was true, but EA had removed Gil from the game, presumably because of the problems surrounding Tapped Out players being locked out of their games. On December 19, 2012, users reported that Gil had appeared in their Springfield after an update. This update also changed Barney's "Sober Up" task from an 8 hour task to a 4 hour task. There was also an update on December 23, 2012, adding another of Gil's offers to the game.

In the App Store description of the game, a "Kiddie Ride" is said to be one of the decorations added with the update. However, the only sighting of a kiddie ride in the game is a one outside the in-game Try-N-Save building.

Reports started on the Tapped Out forums on December 29, 2012 that players could get "Mystery Stockings" for, and that they would have either donuts or a Reindeer in. There have been several more reports since then, and in late January 2, 2013 or early January 3, 2013 (depending on the time zone), the end of the update was officially extended to January 10, 2013, and the Mystery Stockings were introduced officially.

Holiday Spot was used to advertise the update.

Level 24 Level Up Message
Its level up is message is spoken by Dr. Hibbert



Façades
Each of the holiday façades costed, and generated every 24 hours per house type in addition to the building's standard income.

Objects/Decorations

 * Holiday Tree - (earns  and XP 10 every 24 hours)
 * Reindeer - (0.50% bonus money and XP to all jobs)
 * Lamp Post - (requires Level 17 and improves Vanity rating)
 * Cannon - (requires Krustylu Studios and 0.50% bonus money and XP to all jobs)
 * Ambulance - (0.50% bonus money and XP to all jobs)

Christmas façade quests
These quests take place after "Skilightful":

Christmas Pt. 14
Following these quests are "Christmas Pt. 15" and "Christmas Pt. 16". These will appear in the taskbook if the player has Frink's Lab and the Volcano Lair. Upon completing "Christmas Pt. 15", the player receives. Upon completing "Christmas Pt. 16", the player receives a further.

Side quests
These quests take place after "What's a Myp-Od?" and can only be done if Bart and Marge have been unlocked:

Santa's Village, Holiday Tree and Santa Homer offer


The Santa's Village, Holiday Tree and Santa Homer offer appears, with Gil in the picture saying "Celebrate consumerism with this holiday inspired theme park and tree!". This promotion was supposed to have lasted between December 13, 2012 and December 16, 2012, but Gil was removed from the game presumably because of players being locked out.

Gil was introduced in an update on December 19, 2012, and the offer lasted between December 19, 2012 – December 22, 2012. The offer is that the player can get Santa's Village, the Holiday Tree and Santa Homer for 200 Donuts instead of its 275 Donut Value. Once the offer is up, Gil will disappear from your Springfield.

According to the game files:

25% More Donuts offer


The offer appears, showing Gil in a Santa Suit picking up a green donut from a plate of white, red and green donuts. On the table is a picture of the Simpsons, but a cut-out of Gil has covered most of them. He is saying "Celebrate the season with even more donuts!".

The "25% More Donuts" offer lasted between December 23, 2012-December 27/28, 2012. The offer was added to the game in an update (released on December 23, 2012). This promotion was supposed to have lasted between December 19, 2012 and January 2, 2013, but Gil was removed from the game presumably because of players being locked out. Once the offer is up, Gil will disappear from your Springfield.

This offer is called "DayOldDonuts" in the game files.

In the store, the donut pictures have a new Christmas design.


 * Dozen Donuts now comes with 3 more donuts
 * Stack of 60 Donuts now comes with 15 more donuts
 * Tray of 132 Donuts now comes with 33 more donuts
 * Truckload of 300 Donuts now comes with 75 more donuts
 * Store Full of 900 Donuts now comes with 225 more donuts
 * Boatload of 2400 Donuts now comes with 600 more donuts

There were several reports on the Tapped Out forums of a bug which does not allow players to access their Springfield after purchasing donuts with the offer.

Messages
If you tap on Gil, these dialogue boxes will appear:

Mystery Stockings
Mystery Stockings contain donuts or a reindeer and cost. There was an update on January 2, 2013 installing the Mystery Stockings and the dialogue following into the game, but they didn't appear until January 3, 2013. Before this, there were several reports on the Tapped Out forums of Mystery Stockings from players who had jailbroken devices and were able to 'time-travel' to when the Mystery Stockings were available. The stockings contain 1-3 donuts or a Reindeer. The stockings were introduced to allow the players to convert their excess Santa Coins to permanent items, which was opposed to the experience after the Halloween content update, when the surplus of treats just vanished.

Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSCGBbvx8JI