There's no rush to complete. But if you want the fire station and town hall then by both. I too was freemium and too was frustrated at not getting the best stuff then thought sod it go premium and I never regret it.

Hi there, one of the problems with the game at the start is that it's far easier to earn xp and your game level far exceeds the quest level of the player, the secret to the game is just take your time and enjoy it as you play, there is no prize for getting to the maximum level and when you are fairly new to the game unfortunately the first event and maybe even the second one these days with how quickly we seem to jump from event to event will prove difficult if not next to impossible to obtain every item, just get what you can and think of it as a bonus, now you say that you feel most things are premium rather than available for game cash whilst there is quite a large amount of content available for donuts there's also just about an even ammount of content also for game cash if you want to you can check out a list of premium vs freemium here http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/9035573.page then there is also our most helpful LPNINTENDOITA who posts guidance to each event and all the levels here http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/10317299.page definitely worth checking out to see how far along each quest line you are and how far from the next, hopefully the above links will help you some what, personally I'd stick with the game for a bit longer and see if you do enjoy your time with it, myself I do buy quite a lot of premium content but that's by choice as I like to support the game and very much enjoy it to, so finally to sum up I'd say slow down a little and try to enjoy the design and build side of the game a bit more but if you still find that your not enjoying it then maybe it's not the game for you and time to find a different game to play and pass away your time, oh and if you do get stuck anywhere in the game there are loads of helpful people on here that will do their best to help.EDIT : Sorry for the wall of text the post just got much longer than I expected.

My son was complaining because he couldn't do some of the fire quest due to only being level 10Mands xxx

Stick at it, I can remember being frustrated at the beginning because there was so many buildings coming up to buy and I never seemed to have enough in-game cash to buy them.The game events was played differently then so it's probably even more frustrating now. But as Nick said there's no rush, take your time. Buy buildings that come with a character to help boost up the cash( like the pet shop.) Most of all don't bother what your neighbours have, just do your own thing in your own time. :D

Your best bet? Use whatever donuts you can scrounge up to buy Mystery Boxes until you have all the Premium characters, buildings, and the Lemon Tree.I started an anonymous game by accident when moving my games around my devices and just for the heck of it I started playing with it and buying Mystery Boxes to see what I'd get. In short order I got just about everything.Here's what you can win:Characters:Blue Haired LawyerSqueaky Voice TeenKearney"Buildings" with payouts:Lard Lad DonutsLemon TreeChannel 6 News Van - extra task for Channel 6Tire Fire - Bonus multiplierItchy & Scratchy Billboard - Bonus multiplierChalmers' 1979 _ONDA - Vanity+Bomb Shelter - Vanity+Khlav Kalash Stand - Vanity+Minnow Pond - Tree Hugging+10 Donuts30 Donuts

Tire fire doesn't payout, just multiplier.

Game Not Friendly for New Players?

Lee3472
9 years ago
It's an unfortunate fact that whenever any of us started playing, we couldn't fully participate in the first or second event.
Just keep plugging away and you'll be ready for the next one, as for premium content, it probably looks like there's more as you still have a lot of freemium stuff to unlock, every player has been in your situation but it's worth it in the end
heyababy47428
Seasoned Newcomer
9 years ago
Starting out you will find events difficult or impossible to complete because you simply don't have the resources to support it.
It's one of the problems with events drawing new players to the game, then punching them in the gut when they figure out they're not going to be able to earn any of the cool stuff they started playing for.
Then shortly after they stop playing because they feel frustrated. Not sure what the solution to this is. Maybe if it's your first ever event you could get some bonuses that wouldn't require you to spend donuts.

Like everyone else says tho, keep tapping. I got a late start in the game also and missed out on a lot of things I'd really like to have for my Springfield, but this motivates me through events now.

The game itself I would say is VERY new user friendly, just not the events.
Kratos6283
9 years ago
Make finishing questlines the priority.

I started during the Monorail and I'm still annoyed that I don't have the Act 1 Station and wasn't able to get the Hippie. I tried doing the event with what I had instead of finishing the quests to unlock more people(Bart, Marge, and Moe, namely).

Also, yes, the Mystery Box is awesome when you're starting out.
Phinnea
9 years ago
I have one premium town and keep starting new freemium towns. Yes, there's always an event or two where you can't get everything, but I still have fun playing it, regardless. If you're not having fun, then maybe you should quit, but if you keep at it, it won't be long before you don't have that problem any more.

As for premium stuff, there'll always be a lot of that and it's fun, but I don't think it's necessary to finish an event. That is, not if you can log in often enough.
clayjar-fred
9 years ago
Everybody starts at the beginning where buying a house is a challenge. Yes you won't be able to get all the prizes in the event. But eventually you be a pro in future events. I started right before the Stonecutter's event. The fourth building I built was the Stonecutter Hall. I couldn't do most of the challenges since I only had 4 or 5 characters. I got a few prizes but it was a learning experience.
I just kept at it. It is no race. I have been playing for less than 2 years and I still haven't bought all the land. I am freemium so I just patiently accumulate donuts. I am in no hurry. Though during events I do work harder. I have 33 million now. Just keep building houses.
TwigletStyx
9 years ago
billdoors1533 wrote:
petehd14 wrote:
There is a lot of content already available, most 'limited' content has a tendency to return. I think time limited events are an incentive to keep players in the game. Simpsons TSTO embraces all ages and meets all skill levels, you can play the event as you want and construct your town as you want at your own pace. This is in part the attraction of playing.

This. ^
chrisgyo
9 years ago
this thread for real? new players now basically get showered with donuts
2 years ago I was lucky if I got 3 donuts every month
baksinengl89
9 years ago
wadebear wrote:
Your best bet? Use whatever donuts you can scrounge up to buy Mystery Boxes until you have all the Premium characters, buildings, and the Lemon Tree.

I started an anonymous game by accident when moving my games around my devices and just for the heck of it I started playing with it and buying Mystery Boxes to see what I'd get. In short order I got just about everything.

Here's what you can win:
Characters:
Blue Haired Lawyer
Squeaky Voice Teen
Kearney

"Buildings" with payouts:
Lard Lad Donuts
Lemon Tree

Channel 6 News Van - extra task for Channel 6
Tire Fire - Bonus multiplier
Itchy & Scratchy Billboard - Bonus multiplier

Chalmers' 1979 _ONDA - Vanity+
Bomb Shelter - Vanity+
Khlav Kalash Stand - Vanity+
Minnow Pond - Tree Hugging+

10 Donuts
30 Donuts

Personally I wouldn't recommend the topic creator to buy mystery boxes with donuts as sometimes you can win them for free by completing several daily challenges in a row.

Save up those donuts instead to buy premium characters with buildings. Barney, Luann, Otto, Akira, Professor Frink and Jasper are pretty good picks imo. I have most of those except for Barney, Luann and Akira.
thetim37889
9 years ago
I was frustrated when I first started also. At times I was wishing they would let me opt out of event by the time you hit level 40 or so it's not nearly as bad then once you level out they are a much more enjoyable.
petehd14
9 years ago
chrisgyo wrote:
this thread for real? new players now basically get showered with donuts
2 years ago I was lucky if I got 3 donuts every month

New players don't get the Where's Maggie? game or the railyard. The rest of the donuts are so sparse, its almost not worth trying. I got a total of 3 this week from the Daily Challenges AND from visiting neighbors.