Perhaps it's already old news, but Zynga officially launched its RewardVille service over the weekend. Players can now be rewarded with zCoins for playing the gamut of Zynga games. It appears that this new service is designed to replace the cross-promotional Goals and missions that were so popular between games like FrontierVille and Mafia Wars in 2010. But is RewardVille working any better than those did? Does Zynga even care?
FarmVille forum contributor Annabelle Smitty asks in a nine-page thread, "Has RewardVille been successful at getting you back into [games you once gave up on]?" Several players have emphatically answered to the contrary while a few admitted that, yes, it has caused them to pop in on games like Treasure Isle for more zCoins towards new items. However, another player, Shini2, sums up what I think is more likely the case: "Well, it's not as bad as I thought. For those games I can just do a few specific things, and it's not that hard to get my 80 points. By this I mean that I don't really have to get into the games. Just spend like 15 minutes each."
Money!Isn't that what you do, anyway? It's pretty difficult to believe that RewardVille has magically reignited the old flames most of you had with Vampire Wars or PetVille. It's more likely that most players behave just like Shini: They'll log into each game and play for the 15 minutes required to net the 80 points and jump right back into their main crush whether it be CityVille or something else. This is because it's an incentive-based system. Once players find out that all they have to spend in one of these games is a few minutes for those points, that's all Zynga will have them for. And that's OK, because we're human (and naturally opportunistic).
However, a multi-billion dollar company like Zynga didn't get where it is now by accident. Perhaps Pincus and his crew know exactly what they're up to. Zynga already realizes that a vast majority of its gamers simply does not have time to keep track of more than one game. That said, it's understandable for the company to make the requirements for acquiring points in other games so simple and fast.
More importantly, it doesn't matter how long a player is logged into a game--that data is automatically recorded by websites like AppData. If even half of FarmVille's daily active players cosign to RewardVille, that's a boost worth millions in "new" users for games that are miles behind Zynga's top three. That could translate into more promotional and advertising opportunities as well as even better standing in the leader boards. Maybe, just maybe, everything is going according to plan.
[Image Credit: Social Trackr]
What do you think of RewardVille so far? Do you think Zynga intended for it to work this way or the players have already exploited it?
Thứ Sáu, 6 tháng 1, 2012
Thứ Tư, 4 tháng 1, 2012
Bejeweled is new and improved on iOS, while Blitz goes solo for free
Your second life of destroying shiny gems to techno music is about to enter its next chapter. Social and casual game maker PopCap announced that it has re-released Bejeweled to the App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch in a brand new, much-improved app. This new hotness is said to sport Retina Display graphics, new game modes including Zen Mode from Bejeweled 3 and more.
More like a Diamond Mine mode pulled right from Bejeweled 3 as well, personal leaderboards and support for multiple player profiles and several achievement badges with four levels each (bronze, silver, gold and platinum). However, there is one catch: You're going to have to download the game again for $.99, as this game is officially replacing Bejeweled 2 + Blitz on the App Store. We know, we were shocked too, but who are you kidding? You and I both know you're already in the App Store.
Besides, it's not as if PopCap didn't include two new play modes and high-resolution graphics or anything. As for the Facebook-connected Bejeweled Blitz? It's now a stand-alone freemium game on the App Store, meaning you can play the game for absolutely free, but you have the option to purchase additional power-ups to boost your ranking among friends. (However, we're guessing that this change will introduce the Hearts system to this version of the game, which is a bummer.) In short, it's just like the Facebook game, but in your phone. The future is awesome, we know. Both games are slowly rolling out today.
Are you down with buying another version of Bejeweled for your iOS device, given the new features introduced? Where do you play Bejeweled Blitz more: on your phone or on Facebook?
More like a Diamond Mine mode pulled right from Bejeweled 3 as well, personal leaderboards and support for multiple player profiles and several achievement badges with four levels each (bronze, silver, gold and platinum). However, there is one catch: You're going to have to download the game again for $.99, as this game is officially replacing Bejeweled 2 + Blitz on the App Store. We know, we were shocked too, but who are you kidding? You and I both know you're already in the App Store.
Besides, it's not as if PopCap didn't include two new play modes and high-resolution graphics or anything. As for the Facebook-connected Bejeweled Blitz? It's now a stand-alone freemium game on the App Store, meaning you can play the game for absolutely free, but you have the option to purchase additional power-ups to boost your ranking among friends. (However, we're guessing that this change will introduce the Hearts system to this version of the game, which is a bummer.) In short, it's just like the Facebook game, but in your phone. The future is awesome, we know. Both games are slowly rolling out today.
Are you down with buying another version of Bejeweled for your iOS device, given the new features introduced? Where do you play Bejeweled Blitz more: on your phone or on Facebook?
Alec Baldwin's love for Words With Friends got him booted off a plane
Alec Baldwin really digs Zynga's Word With Friends, and an American Airlines flight attendant didn't like that so much, apparently. CNN reports that the actor was allegedly kicked off of a plane sitting on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport after an attendant confronted him for playing the mega popular Scrabble-style mobile game.
"Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS while we sat at the gate, not moving. #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt," Baldwin tweeted on Tuesday. The 30 Rock star seems to have taken the incident in stride, and soon after tweeted, "Now, as I was kicked off this flight, the word I was playing was UNITED." We think you get the joke.
Now, it's not clear whether Baldwin was kicked off of the airplane specifically for playing Words With Friends, as American Airlines refused to comment on exactly why the actor was removed from the plane and onto another flight. Baldwin continued his zingers against the airline, later tweeting that the company is "where retired Catholic school gym teachers from the 1950's find jobs as flight attendants." Ouch!
When CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin tagged the actor in a tweet asking about Words With Friends, Baldwin (the actor) admitted, "It's...well....addicting," according to CNN. We feel your pain, Baldwin. Actually, we bet Emma Stone, Mila Kunis and Jimmy Fallon are right there with you.
[Via Mashable]
Are you hooked on Words With Friends like Alec Baldwin seems to be? Do you think the actor was right in his response?
"Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS while we sat at the gate, not moving. #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt," Baldwin tweeted on Tuesday. The 30 Rock star seems to have taken the incident in stride, and soon after tweeted, "Now, as I was kicked off this flight, the word I was playing was UNITED." We think you get the joke.
Now, it's not clear whether Baldwin was kicked off of the airplane specifically for playing Words With Friends, as American Airlines refused to comment on exactly why the actor was removed from the plane and onto another flight. Baldwin continued his zingers against the airline, later tweeting that the company is "where retired Catholic school gym teachers from the 1950's find jobs as flight attendants." Ouch!
When CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin tagged the actor in a tweet asking about Words With Friends, Baldwin (the actor) admitted, "It's...well....addicting," according to CNN. We feel your pain, Baldwin. Actually, we bet Emma Stone, Mila Kunis and Jimmy Fallon are right there with you.
[Via Mashable]
Are you hooked on Words With Friends like Alec Baldwin seems to be? Do you think the actor was right in his response?
Producer on anticipated PS3 game ditches Sony for Facebook games
The Last Guardian
One the most anticipated PS3 games of 2012, The Last Guardian (pictured), just lost its executive producer to Facebook games. And in other news, the sky is falling. Jokes aside, former Sony Computer Entertainment president and executive producer on The Last Guardian Yoshifusa Hayama has left Sony for UK-based social games studio Bossa Studios, Eurogamer reports.
Hayama, who previously worked on the popular Final Fantasy series and cult classic Ico, will serve as creative director at Monstermind creator Bossa and work to bring the studio's first 3D Facebook game to life. The game is set to launch this year, according to Eurogamer, which we imagine means within the next 365 days. Hayama sounds exceedingly confident (refreshingly so even) in 3D Facebook games.
"The future of gaming is definitely online and thanks to recent developments with Flash 11, there is no reason why a social game can no longer be as visually stunning and as compelling as the big console titles," Hayama told Eurogamer. "Together at Bossa we have plans to bring a plethora of games to Facebook and eventually other appropriate social media channels, which include 3D elements and can be enjoyed by all age and interest groups."
Not only does this news follow the unfortunate reports of Ico creator Fumito Ueda had left Sony, but the increasing rate at which big time Japanese game creators are hopping on the social games bandwagon. This year alone saw the folks behind Mega Man, Sonic the Hedgehog and games like No More Heroes break onto the scene. At least where "compelling" social games are concerned, let's hope they're all onto something.
[Via Gamasutra]
Why are more and more Japanese game makers entering the social games space? Are you waiting for more "compelling" 3D social games?
One the most anticipated PS3 games of 2012, The Last Guardian (pictured), just lost its executive producer to Facebook games. And in other news, the sky is falling. Jokes aside, former Sony Computer Entertainment president and executive producer on The Last Guardian Yoshifusa Hayama has left Sony for UK-based social games studio Bossa Studios, Eurogamer reports.
Hayama, who previously worked on the popular Final Fantasy series and cult classic Ico, will serve as creative director at Monstermind creator Bossa and work to bring the studio's first 3D Facebook game to life. The game is set to launch this year, according to Eurogamer, which we imagine means within the next 365 days. Hayama sounds exceedingly confident (refreshingly so even) in 3D Facebook games.
"The future of gaming is definitely online and thanks to recent developments with Flash 11, there is no reason why a social game can no longer be as visually stunning and as compelling as the big console titles," Hayama told Eurogamer. "Together at Bossa we have plans to bring a plethora of games to Facebook and eventually other appropriate social media channels, which include 3D elements and can be enjoyed by all age and interest groups."
Not only does this news follow the unfortunate reports of Ico creator Fumito Ueda had left Sony, but the increasing rate at which big time Japanese game creators are hopping on the social games bandwagon. This year alone saw the folks behind Mega Man, Sonic the Hedgehog and games like No More Heroes break onto the scene. At least where "compelling" social games are concerned, let's hope they're all onto something.
[Via Gamasutra]
Why are more and more Japanese game makers entering the social games space? Are you waiting for more "compelling" 3D social games?
Diamond Dash rushes to blast back at Bejeweled Blitz on iPhone, iPad
Watch out, PopCap: It looks like someone is gunning for your best game. Berlin, Germany-based social games maker wooga announced at the Le Web Conference in Paris that its Facebook hit Diamond Dash has finally hit iPhones and iPads everywhere. (The keyword in that sentence is "iPad", folks.) Better yet, the Facebook-connected game--announced way back in July--is 100 percent free to play.
Through Facebook Connect, players can compete for dominance between their friends on weekly leaderboards on their iOS device, and the game will track their progress should they hop back in on Facebook. While the game is free to play, you'll be governed by that dastardly Heart system--just the way it is on Facebook. However, you can also dole Hearts to your friends like you do on Facebook. (Of course, you can buy more, too.)
Wooga also promises players that the game, which is available in nine languages, will be updated frequently with new content. Diamond Dash hits the App Store the same day as its main competitor, Bejeweled Blitz, relaunches as an independent freemium game. While Diamond Dash is beating Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook in monthly players, according to AppData, the alternative gem crusher has some catching up to do on mobile devices. And the fact that it's first to officially hit the iPad certainly helps.
Click here to download Diamond Dash on the App Store for Free Now >
Do you prefer Diamond Dash or Bejeweled Blitz for your shiny smashing fix? Does the fact that the former is on iPad first sway you at all?
Through Facebook Connect, players can compete for dominance between their friends on weekly leaderboards on their iOS device, and the game will track their progress should they hop back in on Facebook. While the game is free to play, you'll be governed by that dastardly Heart system--just the way it is on Facebook. However, you can also dole Hearts to your friends like you do on Facebook. (Of course, you can buy more, too.)
Wooga also promises players that the game, which is available in nine languages, will be updated frequently with new content. Diamond Dash hits the App Store the same day as its main competitor, Bejeweled Blitz, relaunches as an independent freemium game. While Diamond Dash is beating Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook in monthly players, according to AppData, the alternative gem crusher has some catching up to do on mobile devices. And the fact that it's first to officially hit the iPad certainly helps.
Click here to download Diamond Dash on the App Store for Free Now >
Do you prefer Diamond Dash or Bejeweled Blitz for your shiny smashing fix? Does the fact that the former is on iPad first sway you at all?
EA, Playfish developing 'the hell out of SimCity' for Facebook [Report]
Hey, if The Sims Social struck gold, it only makes sense at this point. Business Insider reports, citing nameless sources, that a China-based Playfish team has suspended all other projects to "develop the hell out of SimCity" for Facebook. Of course, the idea is that the second place developer is doing so to go toe-to-toe directly with CityVille, the number one game on Facebook.
Zynga's city-builder has held the top spot on Facebook for over a year, and EA is reportedly doing everything in its power to dethrone the king of social games. According to Business Insider, multiple sources within the company say that SimCity has been in development for over a year, around the same time that Zynga started work on CityVile. But when the game broke every record in the book over the past year, EA had no choice but to ramp up work on SimCity.
At the time, Zynga had more time and resources to pour into CityVille than EA did with SimCity, which had "doubled down" on The Sims Social. Since the game has now proven itself, putting a dent into Zynga's then spotless lineup, the veteran games publisher has placed a laser focus on the social iteration of game designer Will Wright's masterpiece.
According to the news outlet, Playfish's Norway and San Francisco teams are working on entirely new games for EA. And yes, it's OK to be more excited by that rumor than yet another city-builder. This better be good.
[Via IndustryGamers]
Are you excited by the thought of SimCity hitting Facebook? Do you think it could give CityVille a run for its (boatloads of) money?
Zynga's city-builder has held the top spot on Facebook for over a year, and EA is reportedly doing everything in its power to dethrone the king of social games. According to Business Insider, multiple sources within the company say that SimCity has been in development for over a year, around the same time that Zynga started work on CityVile. But when the game broke every record in the book over the past year, EA had no choice but to ramp up work on SimCity.
At the time, Zynga had more time and resources to pour into CityVille than EA did with SimCity, which had "doubled down" on The Sims Social. Since the game has now proven itself, putting a dent into Zynga's then spotless lineup, the veteran games publisher has placed a laser focus on the social iteration of game designer Will Wright's masterpiece.
According to the news outlet, Playfish's Norway and San Francisco teams are working on entirely new games for EA. And yes, it's OK to be more excited by that rumor than yet another city-builder. This better be good.
[Via IndustryGamers]
Are you excited by the thought of SimCity hitting Facebook? Do you think it could give CityVille a run for its (boatloads of) money?
Thứ Sáu, 30 tháng 12, 2011
Hardcore Facebook games could grow five-fold by 2013
While I would consider FarmVille as hardcore an experience as they come for dedication's sake, that's not what this study by Social Times Pro has in mind. All Facebook reports that the market for games like Kabam's Kingdom's of Camelot and Backyard Monsters by Casual Collective will increase five times in just the next two years. As of right now, the total hardcore social game player base is about 20 million--by 2013 that number could soar to 100 million. And according to Casual Collective CEO Will Harbin, making it happen is as easy as making games that hardcore gamers want to play.
"[We] just need to make games they're not embarrassed to play," Harbin said to All Facebook. "As quality of the content increases... we'll see a lot of growth in the male gaming market." Ah-ha, so that's who you're looking at? If this is the case across the board, you can probably expect more stereotypically violent social games in the future. And while Harbin admits that these types of games have player bases that are dwarfed by the likes of FarmVille and CityVille, he claims that the hardcore audience is more likely to spend than your average digital farmer.
Social Times Pro study
According to All Facebook, Casual Collective's Backyard Monsters raked $30 thousand more a day after the company announced and released weapon upgrade. He expects that by 2013, 30 percent of the top monthly Facebook game charts will be male dominated games. That is entirely possible due to the expected increases in daily players, which would boost monthly numbers by default. But what's more interesting is Harbin's estimation that Zynga will not enter the hardcore social game market. You better hope that you're right about that, Harbin, because Zynga has quite a few studios with hardcore backgrounds, probably just waiting to make Facebook's proverbial StarCraft.
[Image Credits: Denuology and Social Times Pro]
Are you a hardcore social gamer? Do you see the sub genre growing by this much in just two years?
"[We] just need to make games they're not embarrassed to play," Harbin said to All Facebook. "As quality of the content increases... we'll see a lot of growth in the male gaming market." Ah-ha, so that's who you're looking at? If this is the case across the board, you can probably expect more stereotypically violent social games in the future. And while Harbin admits that these types of games have player bases that are dwarfed by the likes of FarmVille and CityVille, he claims that the hardcore audience is more likely to spend than your average digital farmer.
Social Times Pro study
According to All Facebook, Casual Collective's Backyard Monsters raked $30 thousand more a day after the company announced and released weapon upgrade. He expects that by 2013, 30 percent of the top monthly Facebook game charts will be male dominated games. That is entirely possible due to the expected increases in daily players, which would boost monthly numbers by default. But what's more interesting is Harbin's estimation that Zynga will not enter the hardcore social game market. You better hope that you're right about that, Harbin, because Zynga has quite a few studios with hardcore backgrounds, probably just waiting to make Facebook's proverbial StarCraft.
[Image Credits: Denuology and Social Times Pro]
Are you a hardcore social gamer? Do you see the sub genre growing by this much in just two years?
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