Thứ Ba, 13 tháng 3, 2012
FarmVille Pic of the Day: Annielapierre gets her farm ready for ... Halloween?
Perhaps Annielapierre didn't get the memo that Halloween is long gone. Personally, I'm glad she didn't, because this festive farm design is a beauty that deserves a closer look..
Annielapierre's FarmVille design seems to be a Halloween town of sorts. Roads connect impeccably decorated, spooky houses lined with fences and other items. Creative crop and tree patterns can be found all over the design. Closer inspection reveals that Annielapierre obviously thought through the placement of every single item on this farm. My favorite elements of the design are the spooky clearing in the trees to the south, and the cute Halloween house to the west. Overall, I'm happy Annielapierre chose to share this farm, rather than wait until next year.
What do you think of this better-late-than-never Halloween farm?
Facebook gaming's fat cats will only get fatter, unfortunately
Companies like Zynga and EA (with the help of Playfish and PopCap) have long dominated the Facebook game scene. Sadly, it looks like that's not going to change anytime soon, according to a report released by Lazard Capital Markets. Basically, the report comes to the conclusion that, because they've already achieved critical mass, Zynga and EA will continue to rule Facebook games.
The report is based on meetings with six privately-held social game makers, including CrowdStar, Digital Chocolate, Funzio, HeyZap, IGG, and Tapjoy, according to All Facebook. "We acknowledge that toughening competition on Facebook could constrain margins and is generally negative for the space; however," the report reads, "we believe that rising user acquisition costs could be relatively positive for companies like Zynga and Electronic Arts that have already built large user bases on Facebook and disproportionately benefit from network effect and, therefore, may have an advantage over the newer companies in the space."
In other words, Zynga and EA will always competitive advantage over even relatively large companies like CrowdStar simply due to the fact that these companies already have created massive internal networks of players. This is exactly why no other company could release a game that amasses 5 million players in six days like CastleVille. The smaller developers' response?
Look elsewhere, basically. But when the majority of social gamers hang out on Facebook, where else is there to look? It's quite the predicament that the industry faces, especially considering the implications it could have as far as creativity is concerned on the platform. Developers will continue to create games that attempt to emulate Zynga and EA's wild success, and the copycat syndrome will persist. If the indie's time on Facebook is over, then all the hope we have for successful games that test the limits of the genre is for the players to grow tired of 'Ville after 'Ville.
Are you sick of the current stable of popular Facebook games? What new approaches or genres would you like to see on Facebook?
The report is based on meetings with six privately-held social game makers, including CrowdStar, Digital Chocolate, Funzio, HeyZap, IGG, and Tapjoy, according to All Facebook. "We acknowledge that toughening competition on Facebook could constrain margins and is generally negative for the space; however," the report reads, "we believe that rising user acquisition costs could be relatively positive for companies like Zynga and Electronic Arts that have already built large user bases on Facebook and disproportionately benefit from network effect and, therefore, may have an advantage over the newer companies in the space."
In other words, Zynga and EA will always competitive advantage over even relatively large companies like CrowdStar simply due to the fact that these companies already have created massive internal networks of players. This is exactly why no other company could release a game that amasses 5 million players in six days like CastleVille. The smaller developers' response?
Look elsewhere, basically. But when the majority of social gamers hang out on Facebook, where else is there to look? It's quite the predicament that the industry faces, especially considering the implications it could have as far as creativity is concerned on the platform. Developers will continue to create games that attempt to emulate Zynga and EA's wild success, and the copycat syndrome will persist. If the indie's time on Facebook is over, then all the hope we have for successful games that test the limits of the genre is for the players to grow tired of 'Ville after 'Ville.
Are you sick of the current stable of popular Facebook games? What new approaches or genres would you like to see on Facebook?
FarmVille: Visit Discover's Farm for free Discover Yeti
Yesterday, Discover and Zynga launched a series of themed, Discover Card goals in FarmVille, introducing us to a friendly orange Yeti that just wants help using his Discover Card to purchase Christmas presents for his friends. Via those goals - you can check out our full guide right here - you'll earn an "It Pays to Discover Tree," but what if you wanted the Yeti itself? Thankfully, you can now have one such Yeti by visiting the new Discover Card farm in your game.
The Discover Farm is now your very first "neighbor" on your friends list. By visiting it, you'll find a smaller version of a standard Winter Wonderland farm that's been buried in piles and piles of snow. With the click of a button, the Yeti drops down and magically makes the snow disappear, revealing the themed farm underneath. You'll receive the Discover Yeti in your Gift Box for your troubles, and are told to visit Discover's Facebook fan page to learn how you can unlock more rewards. Of course, we'll save you the trouble.
The only other prize listed on the Discover fan page is a Cashback Bonus Castle, but exactly how and when we'll be able to get our hands on this Castle remains to be seen. It can be assumed that the Castle will be made available after the Yeti, which will leave the game (as a prize anyway) on December 6. Either way, we'll keep an eye on things and will let you know as soon as you can claim a Cashback Bonus Castle for yourself.
Check out the rest of our Holiday 2011 coverage right here.
Have you claimed your Discover Yeti yet? How far have you made it into the Discover Card goals in your farm?
Pioneer Trail Holiday Hogknocker Timed Goals: Everything you need to know
As another way to lead into the holiday season in Pioneer Trail, you'll be greeted by Pioneer Jack, who is on the hunt for the legendary Hogknocker, a massive pig that will apparently make for a great Christmas ham on the dinner table. Ignoring for a moment that these goals deal with hunting and killing the poor thing, you'll be able to go through three separate timed goals, with there being level requirements along the way. For the first two goals, you'll need to be level 22 or above, while the third goal requires you to be level 90 or higher (quite a jump, wouldn't you say?).
As of this writing, only Part I of this feature is actually available, and is rolling out to users' games. It's called "That's Some Pig," and it must be accepted in your game by December 3. That's tomorrow, if you're keeping track, so make sure to accept it in your game as soon as you can! You'll have five days to finish this first timed goal, and here's how to do just that.
That's Some Pig
Harvest 100 Wheat on your Homestead
Find 25 Fuzzy Peaches
Collect 15 Holiday Slops
You'll need to ask your friends for the Holiday Slop, and can do the same for the Fuzzy Peaches. You can also earn Fuzzy Peaches by harvesting Peach Trees on your Homestead. As for the Wheat, it takes a full day to harvest, giving you plenty of time to wait for your friends to send you those items (since you have five full days to complete the goal, after all). Finishing this first timed goal gives you 500 XP and a Hogknocker Crate.
Again, as of this writing, only Part I is available in the game. Even if you complete it well before the five day time limit has expired, you won't be able to move on to Part II until Zynga decides to launch it in the game. However, we do know what to expect from these two timed goals. Here's a look at them, so you can prepare for when they do launch.
The Trouble with Truffles
Tend 60 Adult Spotted Pigs
Collect 25 Truffles
Collect 30 Hog Calls
Spotted Pigs are unlocked after mastering pigs to Level 1. If you've yet to master Level 1 of the original pig, this gives you plenty of time to do so (and grow some Spotted Pigs to adulthood) before ever being put on a timer for this second goal. Pretty convenient, right? Once you finish this goal, you'll be given 1,000 XP, another Hogknocker Crate and the Hogkocker Pig himself - a cute pig wearing a colorful winter hat.
For this third goal, remember that you must be at least Level 90 to access it. This will all but entirely eliminate the possibility for many users to be able to complete it (as it doesn't appear to be a permanent addition to the game). However, it looks to be quite the challenge, so if you've leveled up this far in the game, you're going to have to work for your rewards.
Bringing Home the Bacon
Harvest 50 Super Corn
Sell 75 Adult Giant Hogs on your Homestead
Collect 50 Holiday Hog Tracks
See? I told you it would be difficult. Super Corn on its own is available to purchase from the store for 1 Horseshoe per square, but you may have some seeds in your inventory from past goals / news feed rewards. If you can finish all three of these tasks in what looks to be another five day time limit, you'll receive a whopping 25,000 XP (yes, that's 25 thousand), a Hogknocker Crate and a Hogknocker Mount - a rideable pig that you can use to replace the Horse your avatar is currently riding.
There's also a new collection to complete with this feature - the Hogknocker Collection that gives you a Hogknocker Piglet and 50 XP for completing it. You can earn the five items necessary to complete this collection by opening Hogknocker Crates or by feeding Hogknocker Pigs.
We'll make sure to update this space when the second and third goals in the Holiday Hogknocker series launch, but for now, why not get started on Part I? You only have a limited amount of time to even accept the goal, so make sure you don't miss out!
What do you think of these Holiday Hogknocker Goals? Are you level 90, or anywhere close? Do you think it's fair that a goal be limited to such a high level / group of users?
As of this writing, only Part I of this feature is actually available, and is rolling out to users' games. It's called "That's Some Pig," and it must be accepted in your game by December 3. That's tomorrow, if you're keeping track, so make sure to accept it in your game as soon as you can! You'll have five days to finish this first timed goal, and here's how to do just that.
That's Some Pig
Harvest 100 Wheat on your Homestead
Find 25 Fuzzy Peaches
Collect 15 Holiday Slops
You'll need to ask your friends for the Holiday Slop, and can do the same for the Fuzzy Peaches. You can also earn Fuzzy Peaches by harvesting Peach Trees on your Homestead. As for the Wheat, it takes a full day to harvest, giving you plenty of time to wait for your friends to send you those items (since you have five full days to complete the goal, after all). Finishing this first timed goal gives you 500 XP and a Hogknocker Crate.
Again, as of this writing, only Part I is available in the game. Even if you complete it well before the five day time limit has expired, you won't be able to move on to Part II until Zynga decides to launch it in the game. However, we do know what to expect from these two timed goals. Here's a look at them, so you can prepare for when they do launch.
The Trouble with Truffles
Tend 60 Adult Spotted Pigs
Collect 25 Truffles
Collect 30 Hog Calls
Spotted Pigs are unlocked after mastering pigs to Level 1. If you've yet to master Level 1 of the original pig, this gives you plenty of time to do so (and grow some Spotted Pigs to adulthood) before ever being put on a timer for this second goal. Pretty convenient, right? Once you finish this goal, you'll be given 1,000 XP, another Hogknocker Crate and the Hogkocker Pig himself - a cute pig wearing a colorful winter hat.
For this third goal, remember that you must be at least Level 90 to access it. This will all but entirely eliminate the possibility for many users to be able to complete it (as it doesn't appear to be a permanent addition to the game). However, it looks to be quite the challenge, so if you've leveled up this far in the game, you're going to have to work for your rewards.
Bringing Home the Bacon
Harvest 50 Super Corn
Sell 75 Adult Giant Hogs on your Homestead
Collect 50 Holiday Hog Tracks
See? I told you it would be difficult. Super Corn on its own is available to purchase from the store for 1 Horseshoe per square, but you may have some seeds in your inventory from past goals / news feed rewards. If you can finish all three of these tasks in what looks to be another five day time limit, you'll receive a whopping 25,000 XP (yes, that's 25 thousand), a Hogknocker Crate and a Hogknocker Mount - a rideable pig that you can use to replace the Horse your avatar is currently riding.
There's also a new collection to complete with this feature - the Hogknocker Collection that gives you a Hogknocker Piglet and 50 XP for completing it. You can earn the five items necessary to complete this collection by opening Hogknocker Crates or by feeding Hogknocker Pigs.
We'll make sure to update this space when the second and third goals in the Holiday Hogknocker series launch, but for now, why not get started on Part I? You only have a limited amount of time to even accept the goal, so make sure you don't miss out!
What do you think of these Holiday Hogknocker Goals? Are you level 90, or anywhere close? Do you think it's fair that a goal be limited to such a high level / group of users?
Adventure World Lunar Mine Expedition: Everything you need to know
As we make our way deeper into the Calendar of the Sun series in Adventure World, we've seen an increase in the difficulty of these Expeditions. After making your way through Jungle Approach and Mystery of the Moon Door, you'll be left with tackling Lunar Mine, where you'll collect bits of strange ore for the Celestial Compass, and learn more about your competition in the process (that competition being other adventurers hoping to strike it rich before you and Indiana Jones). For Lunar Mine, you'll need to have at least 250 Supplies, along with two each of Food, Fuel and Water to begin. You can bring five friends in on this Expedition with you for free energy and will have five days to finish the quests within it. Here's a guide to doing just that.
Strange Ore
Ask for 10 Stone Cogs
Use 5 Seismograph Machines to Find Strange Ore
Collect 15 Strange Ore
First things first, the Stone Cogs are earned by asking your friends to send them to you via a general news item that you place on your wall. Since you're in a mine, there are tons of rocks scattered about, that you can destroy with your pick axe; however, only certain stones will contain Strange Ore, while others will simply waste your energy in clearing them. As you collect the Stone Cogs, you'll be able to activate Seismograph Machines placed around the map that will show you the rocks that contain the ore, so you won't waste energy on those empty rocks.
The Competition
Ask for 10 Ciphers
Use 5 Telegrams to Translate the Ciphers
Use Radios to Intercept Transmissions
To learn more about the other treasure hunters, you'll need to study the items they left behind. In this case, you'll find telegrams scattered around the map, but will need to ask your friends for Ciphers via individual requests in order to actually "use" those telegrams. The Radios are also found at various locations around the map, although they might be guarded by spiders (since you're in a cave), mine train carts that need to moved or traps that need to be disarmed.
Out of Time
Collect the Ancient Marajoara Vase
Collect the Ancient Conquistador Armor
Collect the Pristine Marajoara Vase
Collect the Pristine Conquistador Armor
Apparently, the Calendar of the Sun and Celestial Compass have something to do with the progress of time and space, which could explain why the previous two Expeditions in the series saw you collecting previously extinct birds or plants. While the team is still confused as to what exactly is causing this time warp, you can gather a pair of or armor pieces or vases to try and fill in the blanks. Feel free to click on the "Show Me" button next to a particular item if you're having trouble spotting it on the map on your own. Just keep in mind that these pieces might be located in an out-of-the-way corner of the map that you may not otherwise even need to travel to.
Once you finish this third Calendar of the Sun Expedition, you will have officially reached the halfway point in the series. We'll continue to bring you guides on how to finish the other Expeditions in both the Calendar of the Sun story and in the main game itself, so keep checking back with us!
Check out the rest of our Adventure World Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of this Lunar Mine Expedition? Do you appreciate the increase in difficulty we've seen in these Indiana Jones Expeditions thus far, or would you prefer them all to be as easy as the first?
Thứ Hai, 12 tháng 3, 2012
Game of the Day: Bubble Crush
Bubble Crush
Today's Game of the Day is Bubble Crush! Now it may not look like much, but this game is strictly a no-frills, all-rush, bubble-bursting experience.
The object of the game is to rack up the highest score that you can within 85 seconds. To do this, you click on bubbles of the same color that are in groups of two or more. You initially start off with blue and yellow bubbles, but the faster you play, the more colors appear, such as green and then purple. More colors mean less chances of same-color clusters, which makes matching bubbles more difficult. But random bombs will also appear to help you clear the screen.
These bubbles fall at an alarming speed, but don't fret. Unlike most games, your game won't end if the screen is overflowing with bubbles. It'll only end when the timer runs out.
Click here to play Bubble Crush!
How high a score were you able to get in Bubble Crush?
Today's Game of the Day is Bubble Crush! Now it may not look like much, but this game is strictly a no-frills, all-rush, bubble-bursting experience.
The object of the game is to rack up the highest score that you can within 85 seconds. To do this, you click on bubbles of the same color that are in groups of two or more. You initially start off with blue and yellow bubbles, but the faster you play, the more colors appear, such as green and then purple. More colors mean less chances of same-color clusters, which makes matching bubbles more difficult. But random bombs will also appear to help you clear the screen.
These bubbles fall at an alarming speed, but don't fret. Unlike most games, your game won't end if the screen is overflowing with bubbles. It'll only end when the timer runs out.
Click here to play Bubble Crush!
How high a score were you able to get in Bubble Crush?
The hardest of 'hardcore' games, Microsoft Flight, goes casual
As much as the media (us included) throws around the word "hardcore", there isn't a more fitting word to describe the long-dormant Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise. Seriously, just look up some of the older setups dedicated fans had to use for playing their favorite airplane simulator (and every button matters). But now, Microsoft has decided to take the series in a new direction.
Enter Microsoft Flight, a new free-to-play version of the (once) hit series that's designed for a wider audience of would-be virtual pilots. "Aviation can be incredibly technical, but we've taken great care to build an experience that makes taking to the skies thrilling and accessible for everyone," Microsoft Flight executive producer Joshua Howard said to Gamasutra.
This is re-imagining of the series will be the first to release in five years when it hits this March. When the studio responsible for the more traditional entries in the series, ACES Game Studio, closed in 2009, the chances of the franchise's survival were slim. But Microsoft, which is developing the game internally, hopes to inject new life into the once-revered series with not just accessible play, but an accessible price.
It seems that Microsoft has learned a thing or two from the social games movement, as Microsoft Flight will employ an in-game marketplace for players to buy new game items piecemeal, as well as daily challenges, achievements and social play. According to Gamasutra, Microsoft wants to introduce "a new perspective to the long-standing genre." Perhaps it was Arkadium that helped Microsoft look at its iconic franchise from this "new perspective."
Would you consider getting into flight simulators now that Microsoft Flight will be available for free? What other "hardcore" game franchises would benefit from going free-to-play?
Enter Microsoft Flight, a new free-to-play version of the (once) hit series that's designed for a wider audience of would-be virtual pilots. "Aviation can be incredibly technical, but we've taken great care to build an experience that makes taking to the skies thrilling and accessible for everyone," Microsoft Flight executive producer Joshua Howard said to Gamasutra.
This is re-imagining of the series will be the first to release in five years when it hits this March. When the studio responsible for the more traditional entries in the series, ACES Game Studio, closed in 2009, the chances of the franchise's survival were slim. But Microsoft, which is developing the game internally, hopes to inject new life into the once-revered series with not just accessible play, but an accessible price.
It seems that Microsoft has learned a thing or two from the social games movement, as Microsoft Flight will employ an in-game marketplace for players to buy new game items piecemeal, as well as daily challenges, achievements and social play. According to Gamasutra, Microsoft wants to introduce "a new perspective to the long-standing genre." Perhaps it was Arkadium that helped Microsoft look at its iconic franchise from this "new perspective."
Would you consider getting into flight simulators now that Microsoft Flight will be available for free? What other "hardcore" game franchises would benefit from going free-to-play?
Chủ Nhật, 11 tháng 3, 2012
Hey, Rovio, you missed one: Angry Birds lands on Samsung's Wave 3
Angry Birds
Yup, we think that's about all of them, now. Rovio has thrown Angry Birds onto yet another platform, GSM Arena reports. The Mickey Mouse of mobile games is now available on Samsung's Bada smartphone operating system (OS) for absolutely free. However, only one of Samsung's smartphones with Bada OS supports the game: The Wave 3.
More specifically, players must own a Samsung Wave S8600 3, complete with Bada Version 2.0 installed. The game is available now on the Samsung Apps Store, but only for that specific device with at least that version of the OS installed. For all 300 of you--a wild estimation--Bada fans out there, you can now play Angry Birds like the rest of us could since 2009. Congratulations.
At this point, we think Angry Birds just might have finally reached its saturation point on mobile devices. (My coffee maker doesn't have the game yet, so there's a new market, eh?) Thankfully, the Finnish developer plans to make good on the 6.5 million downloads it enjoyed this past Christmas Day with new types of games involving its Angry Birds. Angry Birds Racing, here we come.
[Via Pocket Gamer]
[Image Credit: The Clock Blog]
Are you one of the few, the proud, the Angry Birds newbies? What do you hope the next Angry Birds game will be like?
Yup, we think that's about all of them, now. Rovio has thrown Angry Birds onto yet another platform, GSM Arena reports. The Mickey Mouse of mobile games is now available on Samsung's Bada smartphone operating system (OS) for absolutely free. However, only one of Samsung's smartphones with Bada OS supports the game: The Wave 3.
More specifically, players must own a Samsung Wave S8600 3, complete with Bada Version 2.0 installed. The game is available now on the Samsung Apps Store, but only for that specific device with at least that version of the OS installed. For all 300 of you--a wild estimation--Bada fans out there, you can now play Angry Birds like the rest of us could since 2009. Congratulations.
At this point, we think Angry Birds just might have finally reached its saturation point on mobile devices. (My coffee maker doesn't have the game yet, so there's a new market, eh?) Thankfully, the Finnish developer plans to make good on the 6.5 million downloads it enjoyed this past Christmas Day with new types of games involving its Angry Birds. Angry Birds Racing, here we come.
[Via Pocket Gamer]
[Image Credit: The Clock Blog]
Are you one of the few, the proud, the Angry Birds newbies? What do you hope the next Angry Birds game will be like?
PyramidVille Adventure, or FrontierVille in Egypt, slated for iPhone, iPad
PyramidVille Adventure
Wait, how in the world has Zynga not slapped this with a lawsuit yet? At any rate, French social games developer Kobojo and publisher Bulkypix plan to drop PyramidVille Adventure on iPhone and iPad early this year. Basically a mobile take on the somewhat successful game (sans the "Adventure") on Facebook, Kobojo hopes to add some much-needed variety to its franchise.
On paper, PyramidVille Adventure doesn't sound too different from its predecessor: Players must build an Egyptian city by cultivating farms, constructing new buildings and generally decorating their land. You'll assume the role of either Cleopatra or Ramses, and erect famous ancient wonders like the Great Sphinx or the Lighthouse of Alexandria. But where's the variety?
PyramidVille Adventure characters
Ah, yes: Kobojo will introduce mini games with this mobile version of PyramidVille, though has yet to reveal what those mini games will entail other than a distraction from the main play hook. (A main play hook that embraces everything 'Ville, mind you.) Players will also get to conduct commerce with characters from other parts of the of the world through the game's Nile River.
One thing PyramidVille Adventure has going for it (aside from being free-to-play) is some impressive character art, which Kobojo released today. The nine characters make it clear that this version of PyramidVille will focus heavily on characters from around the globe. However, we'll have to wait and see whether Kobojo does enough to differentiate itself from the elephant in the room.
Have you tried PyramidVille on Facebook yet? Do you plan on picking up when it hits sometime soon?
Wait, how in the world has Zynga not slapped this with a lawsuit yet? At any rate, French social games developer Kobojo and publisher Bulkypix plan to drop PyramidVille Adventure on iPhone and iPad early this year. Basically a mobile take on the somewhat successful game (sans the "Adventure") on Facebook, Kobojo hopes to add some much-needed variety to its franchise.
On paper, PyramidVille Adventure doesn't sound too different from its predecessor: Players must build an Egyptian city by cultivating farms, constructing new buildings and generally decorating their land. You'll assume the role of either Cleopatra or Ramses, and erect famous ancient wonders like the Great Sphinx or the Lighthouse of Alexandria. But where's the variety?
PyramidVille Adventure characters
Ah, yes: Kobojo will introduce mini games with this mobile version of PyramidVille, though has yet to reveal what those mini games will entail other than a distraction from the main play hook. (A main play hook that embraces everything 'Ville, mind you.) Players will also get to conduct commerce with characters from other parts of the of the world through the game's Nile River.
One thing PyramidVille Adventure has going for it (aside from being free-to-play) is some impressive character art, which Kobojo released today. The nine characters make it clear that this version of PyramidVille will focus heavily on characters from around the globe. However, we'll have to wait and see whether Kobojo does enough to differentiate itself from the elephant in the room.
Have you tried PyramidVille on Facebook yet? Do you plan on picking up when it hits sometime soon?
The hardest of 'hardcore' games, Microsoft Flight, goes casual (and free)
As much as the media (us included) throws around the word "hardcore", there isn't a more fitting word to describe the long-dormant Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise. Seriously, just look up some of the older setups dedicated fans had to use for playing their favorite airplane simulator (and every button matters). But now, Microsoft has decided to take the series in a new direction.
Enter Microsoft Flight, a new free-to-play version of the (once) hit series that's designed for a wider audience of would-be virtual pilots. "Aviation can be incredibly technical, but we've taken great care to build an experience that makes taking to the skies thrilling and accessible for everyone," Microsoft Flight executive producer Joshua Howard said to Gamasutra.
This is re-imagining of the series will be the first to release in five years when it hits this March. When the studio responsible for the more traditional entries in the series, ACES Game Studio, closed in 2009, the chances of the franchise's survival were slim. But Microsoft, which is developing the game internally, hopes to inject new life into the once-revered series with not just accessible play, but an accessible price.
It seems that Microsoft has learned a thing or two from the social games movement, as Microsoft Flight will employ an in-game marketplace for players to buy new game items piecemeal, as well as daily challenges, achievements and social play. According to Gamasutra, Microsoft wants to introduce "a new perspective to the long-standing genre." Perhaps it was Arkadium that helped Microsoft look at its iconic franchise from this "new perspective."
Would you consider getting into flight simulators now that Microsoft Flight will be available for free? What other "hardcore" game franchises would benefit from going free-to-play?
Enter Microsoft Flight, a new free-to-play version of the (once) hit series that's designed for a wider audience of would-be virtual pilots. "Aviation can be incredibly technical, but we've taken great care to build an experience that makes taking to the skies thrilling and accessible for everyone," Microsoft Flight executive producer Joshua Howard said to Gamasutra.
This is re-imagining of the series will be the first to release in five years when it hits this March. When the studio responsible for the more traditional entries in the series, ACES Game Studio, closed in 2009, the chances of the franchise's survival were slim. But Microsoft, which is developing the game internally, hopes to inject new life into the once-revered series with not just accessible play, but an accessible price.
It seems that Microsoft has learned a thing or two from the social games movement, as Microsoft Flight will employ an in-game marketplace for players to buy new game items piecemeal, as well as daily challenges, achievements and social play. According to Gamasutra, Microsoft wants to introduce "a new perspective to the long-standing genre." Perhaps it was Arkadium that helped Microsoft look at its iconic franchise from this "new perspective."
Would you consider getting into flight simulators now that Microsoft Flight will be available for free? What other "hardcore" game franchises would benefit from going free-to-play?
Hey, Rovio, you missed one: Angry Birds lands on Samsung's Wave 3
Yup, we think that's about all of them, now. Rovio has thrown Angry Birds onto yet another platform, GSM Arena reports. The Mickey Mouse of mobile games is now available on Samsung's Bada smartphone operating system (OS) for absolutely free. However, only one of Samsung's smartphones with Bada OS supports the game: The Wave 3.
More specifically, players must own a Samsung Wave S8600 3, complete with Bada Version 2.0 installed. The game is available now on the Samsung Apps Store, but only for that specific device with at least that version of the OS installed. For all 300 of you--a wild estimation--Bada fans out there, you can now play Angry Birds like the rest of us could since 2009. Congratulations.
At this point, we think Angry Birds just might have finally reached its saturation point on mobile devices. (My coffee maker doesn't have the game yet, so there's a new market, eh?) Thankfully, the Finnish developer plans to make good on the 6.5 million downloads it enjoyed this past Christmas Day with new types of games involving its Angry Birds. Angry Birds Racing, here we come.
[Via Pocket Gamer]
[Image Credit: The Clock Blog]
Are you one of the few, the proud, the Angry Birds newbies? What do you hope the next Angry Birds game will be like?
More specifically, players must own a Samsung Wave S8600 3, complete with Bada Version 2.0 installed. The game is available now on the Samsung Apps Store, but only for that specific device with at least that version of the OS installed. For all 300 of you--a wild estimation--Bada fans out there, you can now play Angry Birds like the rest of us could since 2009. Congratulations.
At this point, we think Angry Birds just might have finally reached its saturation point on mobile devices. (My coffee maker doesn't have the game yet, so there's a new market, eh?) Thankfully, the Finnish developer plans to make good on the 6.5 million downloads it enjoyed this past Christmas Day with new types of games involving its Angry Birds. Angry Birds Racing, here we come.
[Via Pocket Gamer]
[Image Credit: The Clock Blog]
Are you one of the few, the proud, the Angry Birds newbies? What do you hope the next Angry Birds game will be like?
PyramidVille Adventure, or FrontierVille in Egypt, slated for iPhone, iPad
Wait, how in the world has Zynga not slapped this with a lawsuit yet? At any rate, French social games developer Kobojo and publisher Bulkypix plan to drop PyramidVille Adventure on iPhone and iPad early this year. Basically a mobile take on the somewhat successful game (sans the "Adventure") on Facebook, Kobojo hopes to add some much-needed variety to its franchise.
On paper, PyramidVille Adventure doesn't sound too different from its predecessor: Players must build an Egyptian city by cultivating farms, constructing new buildings and generally decorating their land. You'll assume the role of either Cleopatra or Ramses, and erect famous ancient wonders like the Great Sphinx or the Lighthouse of Alexandria. But where's the variety?
PyramidVille Adventure characters
Ah, yes: Kobojo will introduce mini games with this mobile version of PyramidVille, though has yet to reveal what those mini games will entail other than a distraction from the main play hook. (A main play hook that embraces everything 'Ville, mind you.) Players will also get to conduct commerce with characters from other parts of the of the world through the game's Nile River.
One thing PyramidVille Adventure has going for it (aside from being free-to-play) is some impressive character art, which Kobojo released today. The nine characters make it clear that this version of PyramidVille will focus heavily on characters from around the globe. However, we'll have to wait and see whether Kobojo does enough to differentiate itself from the elephant in the room.
Have you tried PyramidVille on Facebook yet? Do you plan on picking up when it hits sometime soon?
On paper, PyramidVille Adventure doesn't sound too different from its predecessor: Players must build an Egyptian city by cultivating farms, constructing new buildings and generally decorating their land. You'll assume the role of either Cleopatra or Ramses, and erect famous ancient wonders like the Great Sphinx or the Lighthouse of Alexandria. But where's the variety?
PyramidVille Adventure characters
Ah, yes: Kobojo will introduce mini games with this mobile version of PyramidVille, though has yet to reveal what those mini games will entail other than a distraction from the main play hook. (A main play hook that embraces everything 'Ville, mind you.) Players will also get to conduct commerce with characters from other parts of the of the world through the game's Nile River.
One thing PyramidVille Adventure has going for it (aside from being free-to-play) is some impressive character art, which Kobojo released today. The nine characters make it clear that this version of PyramidVille will focus heavily on characters from around the globe. However, we'll have to wait and see whether Kobojo does enough to differentiate itself from the elephant in the room.
Have you tried PyramidVille on Facebook yet? Do you plan on picking up when it hits sometime soon?
Thứ Năm, 8 tháng 3, 2012
Facebook tries new ways to get you to pay up, like 'Game Promotions'
You still haven't bought any Facebook Credits, have you? Well, prepare to be bombarded with "Game Promotions," Facebook's brand new way to try and get social gamers to pay up for boosts and items in their favorite games. According to Inside Facebook, the social network now displays a promotion to get $4 in Facebook Credits for the price of one.
Found attached to games like Words With Friends and others, the promotion is largely designed to get players to become not just first-time buyers, but regular customers once they get a taste. Luckily for the game developers, they'll continue to be paid as if the Credits were purchased full price during this promotion. So yeah, Facebook's taking a cut, but a minuscule one when considering the desired effect.
Facebook made 15 percent of its total revenue from Facebook Credits in 2011, with Zynga providing 12 of that 15 percent. It's easy then to figure out why the company would experiment with new ways to get players to pay. And Inside Social Games reports that developers aren't terribly pleased with Facebook Credits' performance. We'll see soon enough whether these experiments work, perhaps in Facebook's next IPO filing revision.
Have you seen the Game Promotions on Facebook? Would you ever buy something in a social game with Facebook Credits?
Found attached to games like Words With Friends and others, the promotion is largely designed to get players to become not just first-time buyers, but regular customers once they get a taste. Luckily for the game developers, they'll continue to be paid as if the Credits were purchased full price during this promotion. So yeah, Facebook's taking a cut, but a minuscule one when considering the desired effect.
Facebook made 15 percent of its total revenue from Facebook Credits in 2011, with Zynga providing 12 of that 15 percent. It's easy then to figure out why the company would experiment with new ways to get players to pay. And Inside Social Games reports that developers aren't terribly pleased with Facebook Credits' performance. We'll see soon enough whether these experiments work, perhaps in Facebook's next IPO filing revision.
Have you seen the Game Promotions on Facebook? Would you ever buy something in a social game with Facebook Credits?
Hasbro working on Cut The Rope toys, just like it is with FarmVille
Cut The Rope might not be on the same level as FarmVille and Angry Birds when it comes exposure and visibility, but don't even try to say that when comparing their cunning, addictive qualities. ZeptoLab's Cut The Rope has addictive play hooks in spades, but it does need to work on that visibility thing. Enter Hasbro, Mattel, JAKKS Pacific and LF USA: the four companies that ZeptoLab announcement partnerships with at today's Toy Fair in New York City.
The deal is similar to what Zynga has signed with Hasbro, and equally an effort to improve visibility while making some coin in the process. "We're looking beyond where things are in the moment," ZeptoLab executive chairman Misha Lyalin told VentureBeat. "We have 100 million downloads now, but this is the beginning of where we are going to go."
Om Nom, Cut The Rope's protagonist, will be all over Mattel toys with Cut The Rope branding, one of which will use Mattel's Apptivity technology to read the movements of toys on an iPad with a matching app. Hasbro, however, is working on On Nom-branded board games, while JAKKS Pacific will dole out special Cut The Rope game controllers and lounge wear will come from LF USA this fall. Let's hope one of these toys involves cutting rope, eh?
Are you excited to hear that Cut The Rope is about to blow up? What other casual games do you think deserve the action figure treatment?
The deal is similar to what Zynga has signed with Hasbro, and equally an effort to improve visibility while making some coin in the process. "We're looking beyond where things are in the moment," ZeptoLab executive chairman Misha Lyalin told VentureBeat. "We have 100 million downloads now, but this is the beginning of where we are going to go."
Om Nom, Cut The Rope's protagonist, will be all over Mattel toys with Cut The Rope branding, one of which will use Mattel's Apptivity technology to read the movements of toys on an iPad with a matching app. Hasbro, however, is working on On Nom-branded board games, while JAKKS Pacific will dole out special Cut The Rope game controllers and lounge wear will come from LF USA this fall. Let's hope one of these toys involves cutting rope, eh?
Are you excited to hear that Cut The Rope is about to blow up? What other casual games do you think deserve the action figure treatment?
FarmVille maker Zynga could go to court over patent infringement
If it's not one thing, it's another for Zynga, isn't it? Nonsensical phrases aside, Zynga could be taken to court over patent infringement, courtesy of Personalized Media Communications (PMC), a suspected patent troll by WebProNews. PMC has filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, claiming that Zynga has infringed upon four of its patents, all filed in the '90s.
According to WebProNews, PMC looks to bring Zynga to trial over this and get it to pay enhanced damages and attorney's fees, because of deliberate willfulness on the party of Zynga." The four patents are, like most patents, incredibly vague and open to interpretation. But generally, they revolve around the idea of "the use of control and information signals embedded in electronic media content to generate output for display that is personalized and relevant to a user," WebProNews reports.
"Many years of time and labor went into developing our inventions and securing the patents that permit their practice," said PMC chief inventor and founder John C. Harvey. "It wouldn't be right to sit by and allow them to be infringed." Given the vagueness of these patents and depending on what a Texas judge thinks, PMC could have a case.
Zynga is no stranger to legal documents, having faced lawsuits from numerous companies in the gaming arena. In fact, Zynga has been considered to be a trademark bully by Trademarkia. We hope both parties have honed their legalese.
Are you surprised that Zynga would be the target of a patent infringement suit? How do you think the company should handle it?
According to WebProNews, PMC looks to bring Zynga to trial over this and get it to pay enhanced damages and attorney's fees, because of deliberate willfulness on the party of Zynga." The four patents are, like most patents, incredibly vague and open to interpretation. But generally, they revolve around the idea of "the use of control and information signals embedded in electronic media content to generate output for display that is personalized and relevant to a user," WebProNews reports.
"Many years of time and labor went into developing our inventions and securing the patents that permit their practice," said PMC chief inventor and founder John C. Harvey. "It wouldn't be right to sit by and allow them to be infringed." Given the vagueness of these patents and depending on what a Texas judge thinks, PMC could have a case.
Zynga is no stranger to legal documents, having faced lawsuits from numerous companies in the gaming arena. In fact, Zynga has been considered to be a trademark bully by Trademarkia. We hope both parties have honed their legalese.
Are you surprised that Zynga would be the target of a patent infringement suit? How do you think the company should handle it?
FarmVille: Expand your Winter Wonderland for coins
I hope you've been saving up your coins, farmers, as four new land expansions are now available for coins in FarmVille's Winter Wonderland. With these expansions, you can expand your farm from the 22x22 level to the 28x28 level, all for coins. Here's a complete rundown of these four expansions.
Snowy Home - 22x22
Price: 500,000 coins
Icy Abode - 24x24
Price: 700,000 coins
Arctic Acres - 26x26
Price: 900,000 coins
Frosty Fields - 28x28
Price: 1.1 million coins
Of course, you can still purchase all four of these expansions (and those beyond the 28x28 size) with Farm Cash, but if you have enough coins on hand, why not splurge on these four expansions and unlock some additional snow treasures in the process? There's no time limit on these expansions, so if you don't have enough coins in your account right now, just keep saving up and expand whenever you can. We'll make sure to let you know when the three final Winter Wonderland expansions finally launch for coins.
Will you immediately expand your Winter Wonderland to these four new sizes?
Romance Roundup: 5 Real-Life Stories of Love and Marriage in Social Games
As a company, Zynga gets a lot of flak, but there's no doubt that plenty of good people work there. So when 24 year-old Anders Howard, then an artist for Zynga's FishVille (and later, FronterVille), wanted to pop the question to his girlfriend of 5 years, Steffany Farros, his co-workers -- Thomas Bennett Jobling, Ian Buczkowski (joined by two friends, Justin Fong and Jeff Aydelotte) -- teamed up with Anders for a super geeky proposal... they were going to do it with a video game at her 25th birthday party. Now that's super romantic for them, but the fun part for us is that the event was captured on video. Anders also made the game available on his website, so you can play it too!
[Photo Credit: SimpleRegistry.com]
Central Station Treasure Island, Florida
Mafia Wars
Zynga
As if finding love by playing Mafia Wars wasn't enough, imagine having Zynga pay for your honeymoon trip! That's what happened to two Floridians who lived on opposite sides of the state, John Sweeney in Margate and Joanne Doane in Treasure Island. While they've known each other through a gaming clan called "Mafia Wars Dark Angel" since March 2009, they didn't meet in person until John moved to Treasure Island to be with Joanne in 2010, followed by a mafia-themed wedding (and that goes for the cake too). Marriage hasn't slowed their fun though. The two run a weekly podcast called "The Facebook & Zynga Podcast" on Blog Talk Radio.
Megan Lawless and Jasper Jasperse
Words With Friends
Zynga
Two thousand and three hundred miles kept two strangers apart, but a match of Words With Friends brought Megan Lawless and Jasper Jasperse together. Megan said she got tired of waiting for a vacationing friend to make a move in the game, so she clicked on the "Random" button, which set her up for a game with Jasper. (Keep in mind, though, that for that to happen, Jasper had to have been looking for a random opponent too!) So they first began chatting in-game, then emailing each other beyond the game, and then video-chatted using Skype. Supposedly, the chats really took off on Jasper's birthday. Within months, Jasper, who lived in the Netherlands, moved to Chicago to be with Megan. Both were married last July. Megan's 75 year-old dad doesn't get how it happened, and for some people, it seemed to have happened quite suddenly. But then again, the now-married couple have been communicating for more than a year, while having fun doing it.
[Photo Credit: The Mary Sue]
Cindy Birch FarmVille Will You Marry Me?
FarmVille
Zynga
Those who don't have the resources to build their own game can still find other ways to get someone to say, "I do." FarmVille player Michael J. Kent did such a thing when he planted Morning Glories to spell out "CINDY WILL YOU MARRY ME?" and had his high school sweetheart, Cindy Birch, check his harvest.
Cindy recounted the story in a contest at Invitation by Dawn, a wedding party online store. "As I was waiting for his Farmville to load I looked over and saw him down on one knee, I asked him what he was doing and he said 'Oh, nothing.' I looked at the FarmVille page and saw [the farm]. I told him it didn't count as a proposal because he didn't say the words, so he looked at me and said 'Will you?' I of course said yes. Then he put the box in front of me backwards. Hehe. I took the ring out and placed it on my finger. I can not wait to marry my high school sweet heart, best friend and soul mate on June, 30 2012! :)" She ended up as the winning entry and was awarded $100 towards her next purchase, which rocks, because she's totally going to need it!
Chris and Laura Sheriff
Bejeweled Blitz
PopCap Games
And 'less you think that Zynga's got a monopoly on social gaming romance... Chris and Laura Sheriff caught the eye of PopCap when Laura submitted her real-life love story to the company's call for favorite memories of Bejeweled Blitz. The Sheriffs credit the Facebook game for bringing them together.
Here's how Laura tells it: "Chris is really into hardcore games like Call of Duty and Unreal Tournament so he's an experienced gamer. He almost always manages to beat me at Bejeweled Blitz but that one week, I was on fire. I racked up a score of over 600,000 which is a lot for me-my highest score ever is 775,000. I hit that score early in the week and then I watched as Chris tried and tried right up until the last minute to beat me. But he just couldn't top my score. The next day, he surprised me with a proposal, saying that he knew I was the one for him after I trounced him at Bejeweled Blitz."
They got married on Oct. 10th, 2010, which also happens to be the 10th anniversary of the Bejeweled franchise. Now they're the happy parents of two kids. To thank Laura for sharing her story with them, PopCap mailed a gigantic Bejeweled gem (complete with stand) commemorating the Sheriffs' one-year wedding anniversary.
Have you made a love connection through playing a social game?
Arkadium celebrates Valentine's Day in Mahjongg Dimensions
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Arkadium is looking to spread the love and cheer in its Mahjongg Dimensions on Facebook by releasing a new collection filled with chocolates that you can earn by playing the game. You'll need to collect 12 chocolates in all, and by completing the collection, you'll receive a Heart of Gold boost, an exclusive, limited edition VIP boost that will help you perform better the next time you play the game.
In addition, users can send their friends' Mystery Boxes to help fill out those chocolate collections, but you can only send one each day, so you'll want to send as many as possible to give your friends that much more of a chance of completing their own collections.
Speaking of Valentine's Day, Arkadium also surveyed almost 100 Mahjongg Dimensions players and found that 70% would rather give a gift for Valentine's Day, instead or receiving one. Furthermore, 19% of players would prefer to receive a "weekend away" as a gift, while 29% would want that powerful boost in Mahjongg Dimensions. Only 1% wanted chocolates. If you're one that would prefer to give a gift, make sure to help you friends complete their Mahjongg Dimensions chocolate collections while there's still time!
Check out the rest of our Valentine's Day coverage right here.
Are you working on completing your chocolate collection in Mahjongg Dimensions? If you already received the Heart of Gold boost, how did it affect your game?
In addition, users can send their friends' Mystery Boxes to help fill out those chocolate collections, but you can only send one each day, so you'll want to send as many as possible to give your friends that much more of a chance of completing their own collections.
Speaking of Valentine's Day, Arkadium also surveyed almost 100 Mahjongg Dimensions players and found that 70% would rather give a gift for Valentine's Day, instead or receiving one. Furthermore, 19% of players would prefer to receive a "weekend away" as a gift, while 29% would want that powerful boost in Mahjongg Dimensions. Only 1% wanted chocolates. If you're one that would prefer to give a gift, make sure to help you friends complete their Mahjongg Dimensions chocolate collections while there's still time!
Check out the rest of our Valentine's Day coverage right here.
Are you working on completing your chocolate collection in Mahjongg Dimensions? If you already received the Heart of Gold boost, how did it affect your game?
Thứ Bảy, 3 tháng 3, 2012
Go on a Buddy Rush between Facebook, iPhone and now Android
Now, that's what I call cross-platform. Budang, South Korea-based Team Sollmo announced that Buddy Rush, its RPG (role-playing game) in which players can use the same adventurer between Facebook and iOS devices, has hit Android devices. What this means is that now, you can access the very same game with your very same character across all three platforms.
"We've been truly honored by the reception Buddy Rush has received thus far, reaching hundreds of thousands of users on Facebook and the Apple App Store," said Company100 (the game's publisher) President Jin Cheon Kim in a release. "With the launch on Android, we're proud to offer Buddy Rush to the vast majority of smartphone owners and establish ourselves as the first to offer an RPG with true cross-platform capabilities across these popular gaming channels."
If Buddy Rush for Android is anything like it is on both Facebook and iOS devices, which we assume it is given Kim's wording, then this is essentially the same game offered across all three modes of play.
Players can take the character they're used to dungeon crawling with on Facebook, play with it a bit on their Android phone, conquer some more monsters on, say, their iPod Touch and proceed to enter yet another battle with the baddies back on Facebook.
Gallery: Buddy Rush
While it's largely a single player experience, Buddy Rush allows players to take their friends' characters asynchronously on adventures like in most Facebook games of its kind. (The main draw, of course, being that you can do so across three platforms with the same character, and arguably whenever.) So, it pays to have lots of friends in this game that I likened to a saccharine take on Blizzard's popular if terribly dark Diablo RPGs. And now that it's on yet another gaming platform, you have no excuse.
Click here to download Buddy Rush for Android Now >
Have you tried Buddy Rush on either Facebook or iOS? What do you think of Sollmo's take on asynchronous, cross-platform gameplay?
"We've been truly honored by the reception Buddy Rush has received thus far, reaching hundreds of thousands of users on Facebook and the Apple App Store," said Company100 (the game's publisher) President Jin Cheon Kim in a release. "With the launch on Android, we're proud to offer Buddy Rush to the vast majority of smartphone owners and establish ourselves as the first to offer an RPG with true cross-platform capabilities across these popular gaming channels."
If Buddy Rush for Android is anything like it is on both Facebook and iOS devices, which we assume it is given Kim's wording, then this is essentially the same game offered across all three modes of play.
Players can take the character they're used to dungeon crawling with on Facebook, play with it a bit on their Android phone, conquer some more monsters on, say, their iPod Touch and proceed to enter yet another battle with the baddies back on Facebook.
Gallery: Buddy Rush
While it's largely a single player experience, Buddy Rush allows players to take their friends' characters asynchronously on adventures like in most Facebook games of its kind. (The main draw, of course, being that you can do so across three platforms with the same character, and arguably whenever.) So, it pays to have lots of friends in this game that I likened to a saccharine take on Blizzard's popular if terribly dark Diablo RPGs. And now that it's on yet another gaming platform, you have no excuse.
Click here to download Buddy Rush for Android Now >
Have you tried Buddy Rush on either Facebook or iOS? What do you think of Sollmo's take on asynchronous, cross-platform gameplay?
6waves Lolapps puts up $10 million for indie social game developers
Is 6waves Lolapps looking to find the next FarmVille? It's possible, but what's more important is that the new found publisher-meets-developer duo is looking to give the little guy a chance. The company just announced that it has raised $10 million in what it calls the 6L Fund. With it, the publisher will grant independent social and mobile game creators the financial resources and support they need to (hopefully) create the next big thing on Facebook or elsewhere.
"There are game teams at all stages in the creative process that have fresh and potentially groundbreaking ideas," said SVP of Publishing at 6waves Lolapps Jim Ying in a statement. "With the capital and the resources that only 6waves Lolapps can deliver, they could help shape the future of social gaming."
The resources Ying referred to include cross promotion, funded user acquisition (essentially paying for more players through advertising), product management, localization, hosting, and the FLISO Game Engine. The latter is enhanced Flash--software game developers commonly use to create Facebook games--technology acquired by 6waves earlier this year.
Independent developers might want to bite, considering that 6waves Lolapps reaches about 38 million collective monthly players, according to AppData--that technically puts the company just under Diamond Dash maker wooga's over 41 million monthly players. Most importantly, this potentially gives indie social game makers a chance on Facebook, which some argue has otherwise all but dried up.
Starting Sept. 27, developers can submit their applications for the 6L Fund, and hopefully we'll see the fruits of their labor sometime next year. Who knows, maybe it's time for another indie developer to enjoy wild success. Just think, what was Rovio before Angry Birds?
What do you think of 6waves Lolapps looking to indie game creators for the next social or mobile hit? Do you think this strategy could result in the next big Facebook game?
"There are game teams at all stages in the creative process that have fresh and potentially groundbreaking ideas," said SVP of Publishing at 6waves Lolapps Jim Ying in a statement. "With the capital and the resources that only 6waves Lolapps can deliver, they could help shape the future of social gaming."
The resources Ying referred to include cross promotion, funded user acquisition (essentially paying for more players through advertising), product management, localization, hosting, and the FLISO Game Engine. The latter is enhanced Flash--software game developers commonly use to create Facebook games--technology acquired by 6waves earlier this year.
Independent developers might want to bite, considering that 6waves Lolapps reaches about 38 million collective monthly players, according to AppData--that technically puts the company just under Diamond Dash maker wooga's over 41 million monthly players. Most importantly, this potentially gives indie social game makers a chance on Facebook, which some argue has otherwise all but dried up.
Starting Sept. 27, developers can submit their applications for the 6L Fund, and hopefully we'll see the fruits of their labor sometime next year. Who knows, maybe it's time for another indie developer to enjoy wild success. Just think, what was Rovio before Angry Birds?
What do you think of 6waves Lolapps looking to indie game creators for the next social or mobile hit? Do you think this strategy could result in the next big Facebook game?
Angry Birds creator wants to publish indie games, Rovio exec says
xIt makes you wonder: Could Rovio be just a little bit scared that it might not strike gold again? Chief marketing officer for the creator of Angry Birds Peter Vesterbacka (pictured) said to Develop in an interview that the developer is planning to open a publishing label.
"We have some plans for this area, but not ready to announce yet," Vesterbacka told Develop. "If we do something in the publishing area, you can expect it to be a bit different."
However, it seems as if the maker of your favorite annoyed avians wants to keep things 1.) indie (independently developed) and 2.) mobile. According to Develop, Rovio has already approached several mobile game studios to form a foundation for the new business. While the Finnish company's other ventures have arguably been leaps of faith--cookbooks ... seriously?--it certainly has experience in the publishing business.
Well, at least from the other end. Angry Birds made it to the US in 2009 though Chillingo, a mobile games publisher that is now owned by EA. Of course, Rovio was able to back out of deal once the acquisition occurred, but the company is currently in another publisher relationship with Twentieth Century Fox, through which it nabbed the rights to create Angry Birds Rio.
And honestly, it would be a no-brainer for an indie game developer to team up with Rovio. For one, if the company claims to be worth at least as much as Zynga, it at least has considerable resources to offer. And seriously, could you go wrong with a team that has somehow successfully hyped up slingshotting birds into pigs for two years running? I think not.
[Via TouchArcade]
What do you think of Rovio potentially becoming an indie games publisher? Would you try a new iPhone game just knowing it was published by the creator of Angry Birds?
"We have some plans for this area, but not ready to announce yet," Vesterbacka told Develop. "If we do something in the publishing area, you can expect it to be a bit different."
However, it seems as if the maker of your favorite annoyed avians wants to keep things 1.) indie (independently developed) and 2.) mobile. According to Develop, Rovio has already approached several mobile game studios to form a foundation for the new business. While the Finnish company's other ventures have arguably been leaps of faith--cookbooks ... seriously?--it certainly has experience in the publishing business.
Well, at least from the other end. Angry Birds made it to the US in 2009 though Chillingo, a mobile games publisher that is now owned by EA. Of course, Rovio was able to back out of deal once the acquisition occurred, but the company is currently in another publisher relationship with Twentieth Century Fox, through which it nabbed the rights to create Angry Birds Rio.
And honestly, it would be a no-brainer for an indie game developer to team up with Rovio. For one, if the company claims to be worth at least as much as Zynga, it at least has considerable resources to offer. And seriously, could you go wrong with a team that has somehow successfully hyped up slingshotting birds into pigs for two years running? I think not.
[Via TouchArcade]
What do you think of Rovio potentially becoming an indie games publisher? Would you try a new iPhone game just knowing it was published by the creator of Angry Birds?
Tagged bulks up for a bout with Facebook, acquires WeGame
The imminent battle between Facebook and Google+ over social games domination has a potential, scrappy third contender. People often forget about Tagged, the San Francisco-based social network with a considerable 100 million plus users. Video games, our favorite thing to talk about, might change all that, as the company announced that it has purchased WeGame.
WeGame is a cross between a social network for gamers in vein of services like Raptr and an online store with digital copies of games. Of course, terms of the deal weren't disclosed, and it's unclear exactly how the social network will make use of its new gaming network-meets-game store.
This news is especially striking considering the fact that Tagged already offers social games to its users. In fact, the company hired former Pogo VP Andrew Pederson to oversee its social gaming efforts. Perhaps that venture hasn't produced results, or Tagged simply looks to further bolster its social gaming efforts. Unfortunately, we currently haven't a clue.
According to TechCrunch, Tagged will reveal the details of how WeGame's technology will be incorporated "in the coming months." The company in question is run by a mere four employees, so we imagine there is a good amount of automation going on there, something Tagged could be looking to take advantage of.
It's also worth noting that WeGame is heavily skewed toward the hardcore crowd, offering a number of games for sale that only fans of franchises like World of WarCraft might recognize. That said--and this is pure speculation--Tagged could be looking in a completely different direction than Facebook is and Google+ appears to be: the proverbial Call of Duty player. Hey, if the social network has found strong enough of a niche to thrive in the shadow of Facebook, perhaps it has found another.
Are you either a Tagged or WeGame user? What do you think of Tagged picking up another games service when it already offers games?
WeGame is a cross between a social network for gamers in vein of services like Raptr and an online store with digital copies of games. Of course, terms of the deal weren't disclosed, and it's unclear exactly how the social network will make use of its new gaming network-meets-game store.
This news is especially striking considering the fact that Tagged already offers social games to its users. In fact, the company hired former Pogo VP Andrew Pederson to oversee its social gaming efforts. Perhaps that venture hasn't produced results, or Tagged simply looks to further bolster its social gaming efforts. Unfortunately, we currently haven't a clue.
According to TechCrunch, Tagged will reveal the details of how WeGame's technology will be incorporated "in the coming months." The company in question is run by a mere four employees, so we imagine there is a good amount of automation going on there, something Tagged could be looking to take advantage of.
It's also worth noting that WeGame is heavily skewed toward the hardcore crowd, offering a number of games for sale that only fans of franchises like World of WarCraft might recognize. That said--and this is pure speculation--Tagged could be looking in a completely different direction than Facebook is and Google+ appears to be: the proverbial Call of Duty player. Hey, if the social network has found strong enough of a niche to thrive in the shadow of Facebook, perhaps it has found another.
Are you either a Tagged or WeGame user? What do you think of Tagged picking up another games service when it already offers games?
Kabam study suggests hardcore gamers are flocking to Facebook
hardcore gamers
Have the tables finally turned? Not quite just yet, but slowly and surely they are, a study released by Kabam suggests. The Redwood City-Calif.-based creator of Facebook games like Dragons of Atlantis and Edgeworld recently commissioned a survey of 1,412 "hardcore" gamers to find just how their behavior has changed since the dawn of Facebook games.
Dubbed the "Social Gamer Study," Kabam found that the demographics of the average social game fan are slowly changing--more young to middle-aged men are playing Facebook games. And a whopping 82 percent of them come from the console game space, which is terribly important. This is because 27 percent of those surveyed report playing console games less often.
And perhaps more importantly to those looking to make cash from hardcore games, those surveyed reported spending 50 percent less on console games. Of course, Kabam threw in that players of its games are even more dedicated to Facebook games than console games: 55 percent reported playing console games less and spending 65 percent on the games.
Social Gamer Study findings
According to the study conducted by Information Solutions Group, 72 percent of these hardcore social gamers are playing two or more games at once, and 47 percent are playing three or more. If you've ever played a game like Kingdoms of Camelot or Kixeye's Backyard Monsters, you know that this is quite a lot to keep up with--much more so than, say, FarmVille.
Not to mention that this growing sub culture of Facebook gamers plays far longer game sessions than the 30 minutes or so your average Bejeweled Blitz player sits down for on lunch break. A massive 68 percent reported playing social strategy games for three hours or longer a day, and 30 percent said they play for longer than an hour per session.
Of course, it's important to keep in mind who commissioned this study: a developer and publisher of hardcore Facebook games. Vested interests aside, it's undeniable that a new breed of Facebook game fan is emerging, and fast. And you have to assume, with advances like download-free 3D gaming on the horizon, these numbers will only grow. Check out the study in full here.
Are you part of this growing portion of Facebook gamers? Do you think social game creators like Zynga, EA and wooga have anything to worry about?
Have the tables finally turned? Not quite just yet, but slowly and surely they are, a study released by Kabam suggests. The Redwood City-Calif.-based creator of Facebook games like Dragons of Atlantis and Edgeworld recently commissioned a survey of 1,412 "hardcore" gamers to find just how their behavior has changed since the dawn of Facebook games.
Dubbed the "Social Gamer Study," Kabam found that the demographics of the average social game fan are slowly changing--more young to middle-aged men are playing Facebook games. And a whopping 82 percent of them come from the console game space, which is terribly important. This is because 27 percent of those surveyed report playing console games less often.
And perhaps more importantly to those looking to make cash from hardcore games, those surveyed reported spending 50 percent less on console games. Of course, Kabam threw in that players of its games are even more dedicated to Facebook games than console games: 55 percent reported playing console games less and spending 65 percent on the games.
Social Gamer Study findings
According to the study conducted by Information Solutions Group, 72 percent of these hardcore social gamers are playing two or more games at once, and 47 percent are playing three or more. If you've ever played a game like Kingdoms of Camelot or Kixeye's Backyard Monsters, you know that this is quite a lot to keep up with--much more so than, say, FarmVille.
Not to mention that this growing sub culture of Facebook gamers plays far longer game sessions than the 30 minutes or so your average Bejeweled Blitz player sits down for on lunch break. A massive 68 percent reported playing social strategy games for three hours or longer a day, and 30 percent said they play for longer than an hour per session.
Of course, it's important to keep in mind who commissioned this study: a developer and publisher of hardcore Facebook games. Vested interests aside, it's undeniable that a new breed of Facebook game fan is emerging, and fast. And you have to assume, with advances like download-free 3D gaming on the horizon, these numbers will only grow. Check out the study in full here.
Are you part of this growing portion of Facebook gamers? Do you think social game creators like Zynga, EA and wooga have anything to worry about?
GameHouse hopes to build buzz on Facebook with Bayou Blast
This might be the first and last time you see these words from me: I cannot wait to hit the bayou. GameHouse just announced that its next Facebook game, Bayou Blast, is scheduled to hit the platform this October. Keeping with the recurring "Blast" theme started with Collapse! Blast, this game tasks players with matching gems to make them explode. Sound familiar?
Of course it does, but judging from an early look at the game courtesy of GameHouse CEO Matt Hulett, Bayou Blast brings a fresh twist to the sub genre. You are Bayou, the last remaining firefly of the swamp who must save his friends from a voodoo frog that has captured them in various gems. But rather than simply matching them à la Bejeweled Blitz, you must draw lines of lightning through as many identical gems as you can to destroy them.
Bayou Blast takes this hook and crams it into 60-second game sessions in a race for the high score. Much like its competitors and previous offerings from GameHouse on Facebook, Bayou Blast features weekly tournaments between friends and power-ups that unlock over time and can be bought using either in-game currency or Facebook Credits. These include staples like time extensions, exploding gems and score multipliers.
Bayou Blast gameplay
The game takes on a charming, cartoonish art style, and rewards players for blowing up gems with greater speed. In fact, match fast enough and the game board will burst into flame, which we assume means much more points. "We've really focused on the quality of the game," Hulett tells us. "I've got people outside my office who are constantly looking at different art effects. Like, 'Is the lightning looking the right way when [players] drag the mouse cursor?' The amount of detail they're putting into this game is really great."
According to Hulett, games like Collapse! Blast and soon Bayou Blast mark a significant shift in where the company is headed. About 50 percent of the GameHouse staff is now focused on creating social games for Facebook and mobile devices. (GameHouse was originally focused on downloadable casual games.) Speaking of which, both of these games will receive Facebook-connected versions for the iPhone and iPad early next year. And Hulett is confident that GameHouse's new direction will pay off.
"We have a good shot of being in the Top 10," Hulett gushes. "I think we've gotten really good at Facebook games over the past three to five months. Maybe Bayou Blast will be our first game [with 1 million daily players]." We'll see if Bayou Blast lives up to Hulett's ambitions this October. Until then, check out the trailer below.
Are you psyched to play Bayou Blast on Facebook? What do you think of GameHouse's approach the world of Facebook games?
Of course it does, but judging from an early look at the game courtesy of GameHouse CEO Matt Hulett, Bayou Blast brings a fresh twist to the sub genre. You are Bayou, the last remaining firefly of the swamp who must save his friends from a voodoo frog that has captured them in various gems. But rather than simply matching them à la Bejeweled Blitz, you must draw lines of lightning through as many identical gems as you can to destroy them.
Bayou Blast takes this hook and crams it into 60-second game sessions in a race for the high score. Much like its competitors and previous offerings from GameHouse on Facebook, Bayou Blast features weekly tournaments between friends and power-ups that unlock over time and can be bought using either in-game currency or Facebook Credits. These include staples like time extensions, exploding gems and score multipliers.
Bayou Blast gameplay
The game takes on a charming, cartoonish art style, and rewards players for blowing up gems with greater speed. In fact, match fast enough and the game board will burst into flame, which we assume means much more points. "We've really focused on the quality of the game," Hulett tells us. "I've got people outside my office who are constantly looking at different art effects. Like, 'Is the lightning looking the right way when [players] drag the mouse cursor?' The amount of detail they're putting into this game is really great."
According to Hulett, games like Collapse! Blast and soon Bayou Blast mark a significant shift in where the company is headed. About 50 percent of the GameHouse staff is now focused on creating social games for Facebook and mobile devices. (GameHouse was originally focused on downloadable casual games.) Speaking of which, both of these games will receive Facebook-connected versions for the iPhone and iPad early next year. And Hulett is confident that GameHouse's new direction will pay off.
"We have a good shot of being in the Top 10," Hulett gushes. "I think we've gotten really good at Facebook games over the past three to five months. Maybe Bayou Blast will be our first game [with 1 million daily players]." We'll see if Bayou Blast lives up to Hulett's ambitions this October. Until then, check out the trailer below.
Are you psyched to play Bayou Blast on Facebook? What do you think of GameHouse's approach the world of Facebook games?
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