After a long day of tending to their crops, farmers can now go home, sit down, and pick up their smartphones and tend to their virtual farms. Giant Software has just officially released the latest installment in its simulation video game series, titled "Farming Simulator 18," for Android devices. The latest title in the long-running franchise was originally released for the Nintendo 3DS and the PlayStation Vita just a few days ago, on June 6.
Getting into the mobile market
The developer of the niche simulation video game has continually been experiencing quite a lot of success in the mobile market since it released "Farming Simulator 14" for the iOS, Android, and Windows Phone back in 2013.
The game itself was downloaded more than 10 million times and the series has garnered a slew of new followers since then. The game was then followed by "Farming Simulator 16" in 2015. The newly released title will be the company's third title to be released on the Android operating system.
Unbelievably popular
The franchise, which is likely unknown to most mainstream gamers, is unbelievably popular in certain areas of the world. The previous installment alone is currently one of the biggest selling titles on Steam for 2016. The game also topped the charts in several countries, including France and Germany. The fact that the game is now in its eighteenth installment is also a testament to just how popular the franchise is and how much demand there currently is for newer versions to be released.
In-depth simulation
The franchise itself has come a long way since the original game was released back in 2008. The gameplay system has evolved so much that it actually includes scientifically proven crop yield increasing techniques such as calculated growth stages, calculated plowing intervals, and de-weeding procedures. The number of crops and animals that can be grown within the game has also greatly increased.
The latest game also now includes 50 farming equipment types that are based on real-life and commercially available vehicles. Popular vehicle brands from the farming industry, such as Deutz-Fahr, Lamborghini, Kuhn, Amazone, and Krone, have been "faithfully recreated" within the game. Additionally, Giants Software has revealed that gamers will be able to play local multiplayer with their friends over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with the latest version.
"Farming Simulator 18" can now be purchased and downloaded from the Google Play Store for $4.99.
