okay, I want purchasing advice based solely on design

I think you should get the Krustylu Studio. There's good design potential with it too - add those Itchy and Scratchy parade balloons, billboards, various fences, etc.

There's other ways to add an alien theme to your mini-golf area. You can add the Rigellian Queen, UFO crash site, etc. instead. (I think you're ahead on collecting protein strands, so there's no point in getting the portal besides as a decorative piece IMO.)

MrClutch-1111 wrote:
By the way, your mini-golf course looks good. I'm thinking of doing something similar.

Thanks :) It can be a great way to use holiday stuff year-round.

ax0n01 wrote:
(I think you're ahead on collecting protein strands, so there's no point in getting the portal besides as a decorative piece IMO.)

Correct, that's why I'm asking Showcase, because it's all about design.
The Queen is too huge to fit in my golf course :(

Imagine the event has ended and you didn't get the portal. How much do you think you'd regret not having it? Will you be upset/disappointed you failed to pull the trigger, even slightly? Annoyed with yourself because you let a sweet, limited-time item slip through your fingers?

Now imagine the event has ended and you did make the purchase. Is the designer in you happy you got it? Do you expect it to bring you a tiny bit of joy every time you see it? Will you smile knowing your neighbors who didn't get it will be jealous when they stop by for a visit? Might you find a different use for it somewhere down the road and double-down on your happiness?

It's a tough call and I'm sure you've already asked yourself those questions, but I'm passing on the Portal. A bit too pricey for a deco that I wouldn't know what to do with in my town; I'm certain it is a decision I can live with . . . can you?

neuroheart wrote:

ax0n01 wrote:
(I think you're ahead on collecting protein strands, so there's no point in getting the portal besides as a decorative piece IMO.)

Correct, that's why I'm asking Showcase, because it's all about design.
The Queen is too huge to fit in my golf course :(

You could embiggen your mini-gold/amusement area to include larger decorations. :) There's some gray pavement between the bench and hedges and the sidewalk. Also you could delete the street on the left to fit larger stuff between the Kang and Kodos shrubs.

sandwedgeking wrote:
Imagine the event has ended and you didn't get the portal. How much do you think you'd regret not having it? Will you be upset/disappointed you failed to pull the trigger, even slightly? Annoyed with yourself because you let a sweet, limited-time item slip through your fingers?

Now imagine the event has ended and you did make the purchase. Is the designer in you happy you got it? Do you expect it to bring you a tiny bit of joy every time you see it? Will you smile knowing your neighbors who didn't get it will be jealous when they stop by for a visit? Might you find a different use for it somewhere down the road and double-down on your happiness?

It's a tough call and I'm sure you've already asked yourself those questions, but I'm passing on the Portal. A bit too pricey for a deco that I wouldn't know what to do with in my town; I'm certain it is a decision I can live with . . . can you?

Aahh! The Socratic method to reach an answer. Very wise!

I really like what you have in mind for the portal. I got my portal because I liked the looks, but I was also fresh off a boatload and didn't know how much I'd end up spending over the Halloween event. In retrospect, I'd probably have passed on it. Still, I'm happy with how it looks. It's fun to set up something behind it so it looks like you're seeing through the portal. Right now, it's a skeleton tree... I played around with putting the black hole there, and it made it look like an eye was staring through the portal. :mrgreen: Lots of fun to be had with it.

That said, I haven't regretted Krustylu Studios in the slightest. Plus, I rather like Mel. Still... you've got plenty of time to get them, if you're really set on the portal.

All told, looking at the designs you've got set up, it looks like the portal will make a bigger contribution to the overall look of your town. I assume you plan to decorate the studio area more after you get it, but right now it looks like you've already set up for the portal. Have you already made your decision subconsciously?

sandwedgeking wrote:
Do you expect it to bring you a tiny bit of joy every time you see it?

Yes! I do expect that! :shock:

I'll just have to hope I shoot down some donut saucers to make up some of the difference.

Thanks, guys!

sandwedgeking wrote:
Imagine the event has ended and you didn't get the portal. How much do you think you'd regret not having it? Will you be upset/disappointed you failed to pull the trigger, even slightly? Annoyed with yourself because you let a sweet, limited-time item slip through your fingers?

Now imagine the event has ended and you did make the purchase. Is the designer in you happy you got it? Do you expect it to bring you a tiny bit of joy every time you see it? Will you smile knowing your neighbors who didn't get it will be jealous when they stop by for a visit? Might you find a different use for it somewhere down the road and double-down on your happiness?

It's a tough call and I'm sure you've already asked yourself those questions, but I'm passing on the Portal. A bit too pricey for a deco that I wouldn't know what to do with in my town; I'm certain it is a decision I can live with . . . can you?

This is good advice. Last year I passed on the ghost zapper and regretted it until it was re-released. Design wise, the studio looks fantastic with the itchy & scratchy building, and even better with the film set. But as stated, those arent going anywhere.

Separately - I have always loved your mini golf area. I actually used it as inspiration for my own.

The portal is great. No matter how useless it is, it's a stargate portal that will make any future newcomer envious, can be perfect in a Frink area, and looks very good in the place you chose for it. Took me zero seconds to buy that awesome portal and the ghost zapper, which I consider equally awesome (visually). Also it's limited, you can always get Mel and the Aztec later if you get lucky with some scratchers, this will be gone at least until next halloween (or less likely yard sale).

After that I'd choose the Aztec over Mel, but I'm more of a "buildings" person (neighbors tend to notice buildings before characters when visiting your town) and the Aztec's design is one of the best in the game. It's probably one of the best looking non-limited buildings imho, along with happy sumo, but much more iconic than happy sumo. For these same reasons I have the Aztec in my town but not Mel (yet). Also, get the portal.

cdepast wrote:

sandwedgeking wrote:
Imagine the event has ended and you didn't get the portal. How much do you think you'd regret not having it? Will you be upset/disappointed you failed to pull the trigger, even slightly? Annoyed with yourself because you let a sweet, limited-time item slip through your fingers?

Now imagine the event has ended and you did make the purchase. Is the designer in you happy you got it? Do you expect it to bring you a tiny bit of joy every time you see it? Will you smile knowing your neighbors who didn't get it will be jealous when they stop by for a visit? Might you find a different use for it somewhere down the road and double-down on your happiness?

It's a tough call and I'm sure you've already asked yourself those questions, but I'm passing on the Portal. A bit too pricey for a deco that I wouldn't know what to do with in my town; I'm certain it is a decision I can live with . . . can you?

This is good advice. Last year I passed on the ghost zapper and regretted it until it was re-released. Design wise, the studio looks fantastic with the itchy & scratchy building, and even better with the film set. But as stated, those arent going anywhere.

Separately - I have always loved your mini golf area. I actually used it as inspiration for my own.

Same here :mrgreen: