Wildly Popular MyTown Receives a 4.0 Update

Booyah’s MyTown took iPhone users by storm when it launched earlier this year, quickly soaring to the top of the charts. A free location-based app that could only be called a “game” in the loosest sense, it hooked users into building up virtual “cities” by pouring hours and hours into checking into locations and managing their towns.

Of course, the problem—as Chris put it—was that users eventually woke up and realized that they had simply exhausted what MyTown had to offer, and were just repeating the same tasks. (In his words, like “bums.” He was speaking of himself, I think.) Addictive though MyTown was, most users eventually tired and moved on.

MyTown’s 4.0 update aims to both lure old users back and ensnare new users by adding lots of new content. The update adds a revamped user interface and some new abilties—such as item creation and trading with friends. Locations can now create items (food at dining locations, for example) and in some cases you can even combine items to make others. You can also swap these newfound items and cash with your friends.

Also, perhaps in a bid to stop people from “cheating” by checking in at a location over and over again, check-ins now recharge over time (until you reach level 70, anyway). Additionally, checking-in can yield a Collectible (now called a Stamp), which may have a special ability.

These changes are certainly welcome for a game that, though quite addictive, was somewhat lacking in substance when Chris reviewed it back in February. If you’re willing to be sucked into MyTown’s addictive vortex, go on and check it out—if you dare. With the new additions, MyTown is almost guaranteed to suck still more productivity from the lives of iPhone owners everywhere.