By Megan Bonini, ’10, Perspectives Editor

I recently joined the Farmville community on Facebook and have already distinguished myself as a farmer. Having heard from several classmates about the “awesomeness” of Farmville, I finally gave in to temptation.  I added my friends as neighbors, bought animals, and plowed and planted land from the comfort of my own home.

The main goal of Farmville is to grow and harvest plants to make money, which enables you to advance in levels and allows you to buy things for your farm so you can continue planting, harvesting, and expanding.  Farmville is similar to the Sims game in the multitude of ways you can design your farm.  There is also the new Fishville on Facebook, but I have my hands full with Farmville as it is.

As I entered the online pastures of Farmville, I was overwhelmed with possibilities. I had my own plot of land with which I could do as I pleased.  I was able to quickly discover an ample variety of crops and trees to plant and developed a strong connection to my farm. I felt like a mother – I remain very protective of my imaginary bunnies and Thanksgiving-themed turkeys. The first couple of days, I was filled with anxiety for my growing plants, wondering when they would be ready to harvest. As I began to understand how Farmville worked, I developed a system of checking my plants for “readiness” after school each day.

It amazed me how friendly Farmville is. It fosters neighborly hospitality by allowing you to help fertilize your neighbor’s crops. You can even help your friends by raking leaves and scaring away foxes. It is always sunny in Farmville. The game seems like an escape for the hardworking student who just wants to relax and watch his crops grow. There is a full-screen mode to view your farm, which makes this very easy. (Warning: Do not go into full screen too often. It induces a trance-like state, and you can find yourself playing on your farm for hours.)

Photo courtesy of www.zynga.com.