Many of you FarmVille players likely start your days off with a bowl of Kellogg's cereal, and Zynga is looking to offer you a few free Farm Cash for being fans of not only FarmVille but Kellogg's itself with a new promotion circulating players' farms. As usual, you can find this promotion underneath the FarmVIlle gameplay area, but be fast! These promotions likely come and go quicker than you can blink! Ok, so maybe you can blink a few times before they disappear, but you get the idea.
This promotion is called "Share Your Breakfast," and it has you simply entering in the two letter abbreviation for your state and then choosing from a list of normal breakfast items that you may have had for breakfast this morning (or the particular morning that you're completing this promotion). It's that simple - just submit that information and voila! Your 2 free Farm Cash will automatically update to your in-game total, but if it doesn't, a quick refresh of the game should force them to appear.
Via this promotion, Kellogg's is looking to share breakfasts with children who may otherwise not have any, so not only will you receive something for completing it (free Farm Cash), but children in need will as well - it's a win-win!
Great Site to earn Money Online
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Playfish's Tom Sarris defends decision to shut down Pirates Ahoy!, Gangster City and Poker Rivals
At the beginning of April, we brought you the sad news that Playfish has decided to close Pirates Ahoy!, Gangster City and Poker Rivals, there of their under-performing Facebook games, this June. Now, Playfish's Tom Sarris has spoken out about the decision with News10.
In an interview, Sarris defended the company's difficult decision to close (or "sunset") the three games by stating that: "We [Playfish] constantly evaluate all of our games during the duration of their life and three games in particular, their player numbers have dropped in such a way that it no longer made sense for us to support them. And, as such, we reallocate resourced to games that are currently, you know, doing very well and also for games that we are developing for future release."
All isn't lost for fans of those three games, however. If you do happen to have virtual currency saved up in those games, remember that Playfish has launched an opportunity to transfer that money into another of the company's games, and will eventually allow you to do so into EA's Monopoly Millionaires with a "player's pack," although specifics about what is included in that pack weren't made clear.
Sarris went on to state that all of Playfish's other games are "thriving," and that there are many other games that the company is looking to release over the next few months to fill in any gap left behind with the closure of these three games. We'll make sure to let you know what those new games turn out to be, but for now, you can check out the full interview with Sarris at the top of this post.
Were/Are you a big fan of any of the three closing games? Will you take the opportunity to transfer your money into another game, or do no other Playfish games hold the same allure for you?
In an interview, Sarris defended the company's difficult decision to close (or "sunset") the three games by stating that: "We [Playfish] constantly evaluate all of our games during the duration of their life and three games in particular, their player numbers have dropped in such a way that it no longer made sense for us to support them. And, as such, we reallocate resourced to games that are currently, you know, doing very well and also for games that we are developing for future release."
All isn't lost for fans of those three games, however. If you do happen to have virtual currency saved up in those games, remember that Playfish has launched an opportunity to transfer that money into another of the company's games, and will eventually allow you to do so into EA's Monopoly Millionaires with a "player's pack," although specifics about what is included in that pack weren't made clear.
Sarris went on to state that all of Playfish's other games are "thriving," and that there are many other games that the company is looking to release over the next few months to fill in any gap left behind with the closure of these three games. We'll make sure to let you know what those new games turn out to be, but for now, you can check out the full interview with Sarris at the top of this post.
Were/Are you a big fan of any of the three closing games? Will you take the opportunity to transfer your money into another game, or do no other Playfish games hold the same allure for you?
Hi5 gaining momentum among top online/social gaming sites; should Facebook be concerned?
While many would doubt Facebook's longevity in the entire social media sphere (including social games), it looks like all of that smack hi5 has been talking might actually be paying off. As reported by Gamezebo, ComScore Media Metrix recently released a list of the top 10 worldwide online gaming sites, and hi5 currently sits at number six, sitting amongst companies like EA Online and WildTangent Media.
"We're currently launching two to three social games per week, and we have over 400 games in the pipeline," said Alex St. John, President and CTO of hi5, in a company press release. Some recently released games include exclusives (Sega Play Football) as well as games that have already become popular on Facebook like Digital Chocolate's Millionaire City and DJArts Games' Bush Whacker.
While I personally doubt Facebook has anything to worry about in the long term, perhaps hi5 is onto something after all.
Are you a member on hi5, or do you spend all of your time playing games on Facebook? Do you think hi5 is a real threat to the social gaming throne?
"We're currently launching two to three social games per week, and we have over 400 games in the pipeline," said Alex St. John, President and CTO of hi5, in a company press release. Some recently released games include exclusives (Sega Play Football) as well as games that have already become popular on Facebook like Digital Chocolate's Millionaire City and DJArts Games' Bush Whacker.
While I personally doubt Facebook has anything to worry about in the long term, perhaps hi5 is onto something after all.
Are you a member on hi5, or do you spend all of your time playing games on Facebook? Do you think hi5 is a real threat to the social gaming throne?
Official CityVille Podcast (04/22/2011): Zoo and Mall coming to town soon
In this week's official CityVille podcast, Community Manager Clerk Casey gave us two sneak peeks at coming attractions in the game. The first deals with the zoo that we've known was coming for a few weeks now, since the first CityVille podcast. Now, though, we know that this building will apparently be much more than a simple community building or business, as we'll actually have to work to fill the zoo with animals.
Animals will apparently be separated by rarity, and we'll have to physically "track down animals" to give them a home in our zoos. It's unknown right now how you'll actually track down these animals - whether they'll be in your own city, in your friends' town, and so on, but it's a very interesting idea and I'm personally looking forward to see what it entails.
The other bit of news comes with the announcement that a local mall will be released in the game. From our very limited information, we know that you'll be able to choose the stores that we want to place inside. If this is what it sounds like (or what it should be, given the current state of the game), the mall may turn out to be an absolute life-saver (or at least land-saver), if we're allowed to place our businesses inside and then collect and supply them in bulk. I know I personally wouldn't care if I had to click on the Mall 15 times to supply all of the businesses within, if I knew that I would have all of that land free from where those businesses original stood.
While that's complete speculation on our part, it is something exciting to dream about, and we'll make sure to update you should that ever come to pass. In the meantime, check out the full podcast at the top of this post, which includes an interview with one of the game's animators.
Would you like to place your businesses inside a mall in your town, or do you like looking at each individual one because of the art?
Animals will apparently be separated by rarity, and we'll have to physically "track down animals" to give them a home in our zoos. It's unknown right now how you'll actually track down these animals - whether they'll be in your own city, in your friends' town, and so on, but it's a very interesting idea and I'm personally looking forward to see what it entails.
The other bit of news comes with the announcement that a local mall will be released in the game. From our very limited information, we know that you'll be able to choose the stores that we want to place inside. If this is what it sounds like (or what it should be, given the current state of the game), the mall may turn out to be an absolute life-saver (or at least land-saver), if we're allowed to place our businesses inside and then collect and supply them in bulk. I know I personally wouldn't care if I had to click on the Mall 15 times to supply all of the businesses within, if I knew that I would have all of that land free from where those businesses original stood.
While that's complete speculation on our part, it is something exciting to dream about, and we'll make sure to update you should that ever come to pass. In the meantime, check out the full podcast at the top of this post, which includes an interview with one of the game's animators.
Would you like to place your businesses inside a mall in your town, or do you like looking at each individual one because of the art?
FrontierVille: Strike water and build your own Water Well for boosts and critters
Why howdy pardners! There's water in them thar hills of FrontierVille! Yee-haw! Ahem, excuse the minor impersonation of Jack, but there is indeed water to be found on your Homestead, and you'll find it at random while clearing debris. To be specific, while clearing debris you have the chance to "strike water," in the form of a small Wellspring. Again, this happens at random, and at this point, there's nothing you can do to increase your chances.
Once you find a Wellspring, you'll unlock the ability to build an actual, structural Well on top of it. This is done by whacking the Wellspring three times, with each time costing nine wood. Once that's done, you'll have to collect seven different building ingredients, just as you would with any other proper building in the game. The seven ingredients are the Shovel, Rope and Bucket, Spigot, Hand Crank, Pulley, and Dowsing Rod. You'll need seven each of the Shovel, Rope and Bucket, and Spigots, and you'll earn each through individual requests from friends. Meanwhile, you can ask for the five each that you need of Hank Cranks, Pulleys, and Dowsing Rods via simple wall posts asking all of your friends at once.
After you've completed the structure of the Well, you'll be able to collect from it ten times before it goes dry. Doing so will allow you to receive all sorts of crop boosts, and even some animal boosts, along with two new (rare) critters: a Blue Frog and a Yellow Turtle, as seen below.
It's presumable that after your first Well "dries up," you'll be able to complete the process all over again, finding a Wellspring and then building another well, but we wouldn't be surprised if the requirements changed (ie: became more difficult) in the process, just as expanding the storage shed becomes ever more challenging each time you complete it. What we do know for sure is that yes, you can find a second Wellspring, and will even need to do so to finish the accompanying Water Well quests. It's just how difficult the second construction will be that's up in the air.
Sure, this Well is almost exactly like the Beehive, but with the chance at rare critters, I think it's worth a build, at least once - don't you?
Check out the rest of FrontierVille Cheats and Tips right here.
Will you build a well and use it to collect boosts, or are you not a fan of the many critters we already have in the game?
Once you find a Wellspring, you'll unlock the ability to build an actual, structural Well on top of it. This is done by whacking the Wellspring three times, with each time costing nine wood. Once that's done, you'll have to collect seven different building ingredients, just as you would with any other proper building in the game. The seven ingredients are the Shovel, Rope and Bucket, Spigot, Hand Crank, Pulley, and Dowsing Rod. You'll need seven each of the Shovel, Rope and Bucket, and Spigots, and you'll earn each through individual requests from friends. Meanwhile, you can ask for the five each that you need of Hank Cranks, Pulleys, and Dowsing Rods via simple wall posts asking all of your friends at once.
After you've completed the structure of the Well, you'll be able to collect from it ten times before it goes dry. Doing so will allow you to receive all sorts of crop boosts, and even some animal boosts, along with two new (rare) critters: a Blue Frog and a Yellow Turtle, as seen below.
It's presumable that after your first Well "dries up," you'll be able to complete the process all over again, finding a Wellspring and then building another well, but we wouldn't be surprised if the requirements changed (ie: became more difficult) in the process, just as expanding the storage shed becomes ever more challenging each time you complete it. What we do know for sure is that yes, you can find a second Wellspring, and will even need to do so to finish the accompanying Water Well quests. It's just how difficult the second construction will be that's up in the air.
Sure, this Well is almost exactly like the Beehive, but with the chance at rare critters, I think it's worth a build, at least once - don't you?
Check out the rest of FrontierVille Cheats and Tips right here.
Will you build a well and use it to collect boosts, or are you not a fan of the many critters we already have in the game?
Sunday, December 25, 2011
FrontierVille: Finish Big Barn Collection for Animal Harvest Boosts
With the release of the Big Barn in FrontierVille, we've also seen a new collection added to the game. Don't scoff at having yet another set of collectibles to gather, though, as the rewards here are definitely worth the effort. These items, like those in the original Barn collection, can be earned by collecting the Daily Bonus from your Barn / upgraded Big Barn. Here's what to keep a look out for:
Halter
Maure Fork
Lariat
Hoof Pad
Cow Bell
Once you collect all five of these new items, you'll be able to trade them in for one Sawhorse and two Animal Harvest Boosts. Why waste all of your energy growing those Cows, Oxen, Horses and Mules to adulthood so they'll fit in your Big Barn? Just use one or both of these bad boys and you'll be that much closer to the end with all of your energy intact for other things. This is honestly one of the best collection prizes in the game, so make sure to collect the Barn's Daily Bonus everyday to finish it as soon as possible.
What do you think of this Big Barn collection? Will you do everything you can to complete it for the Animal Harvest Boosts? Will you wait until you also have Animal Ready Boosts to use them for maximum progress?
Halter
Maure Fork
Lariat
Hoof Pad
Cow Bell
Once you collect all five of these new items, you'll be able to trade them in for one Sawhorse and two Animal Harvest Boosts. Why waste all of your energy growing those Cows, Oxen, Horses and Mules to adulthood so they'll fit in your Big Barn? Just use one or both of these bad boys and you'll be that much closer to the end with all of your energy intact for other things. This is honestly one of the best collection prizes in the game, so make sure to collect the Barn's Daily Bonus everyday to finish it as soon as possible.
What do you think of this Big Barn collection? Will you do everything you can to complete it for the Animal Harvest Boosts? Will you wait until you also have Animal Ready Boosts to use them for maximum progress?
FrontierVille: Big Barn Badges reward you for storing large animals
Want some extra experience points, energy or food in FrontierVille? Have you been working on your Big Barn upgrade? You can combine both of these effort now with the Big Barn Badges that unlock after you complete the upgrade. To complete these four Badges, all you'll need to do is store more and more animals in your completed Big Barn, up to the 200 animal mark.
To start, you'll be required to store certain types of animals, as the first level of the Badge requires you to store one each of Cows, Mules, Oxen, and Horses. After this point, you can store any and all adult animals that you'd like (from the four types mentioned), worrying more about quantity than variety. Here's a full breakdown of these four Badges:
Level 1: Store one cow, horse, oxen, and mule - 100 XP, 100 Food, and 300 coins
Level 2: Store 50 animals - 750 XP and three Dinners
Level 3: Store 100 animals - 1000 XP and 1000 coins
Level 4: Store 200 animals - Aluminum Water Trough, 5000 coins and one 7 Course Feast meal
All in all, this Badge should be fairly easy for most pioneers to complete, so long as you've employed the strategy of "the more the better" when it comes to animals on your Homestead. If not, just keep chugging along, growing these four animals to adulthood, and you'll eventually finish the Badge as a result.
What do you think of these Badges and their rewards?
To start, you'll be required to store certain types of animals, as the first level of the Badge requires you to store one each of Cows, Mules, Oxen, and Horses. After this point, you can store any and all adult animals that you'd like (from the four types mentioned), worrying more about quantity than variety. Here's a full breakdown of these four Badges:
Level 1: Store one cow, horse, oxen, and mule - 100 XP, 100 Food, and 300 coins
Level 2: Store 50 animals - 750 XP and three Dinners
Level 3: Store 100 animals - 1000 XP and 1000 coins
Level 4: Store 200 animals - Aluminum Water Trough, 5000 coins and one 7 Course Feast meal
All in all, this Badge should be fairly easy for most pioneers to complete, so long as you've employed the strategy of "the more the better" when it comes to animals on your Homestead. If not, just keep chugging along, growing these four animals to adulthood, and you'll eventually finish the Badge as a result.
What do you think of these Badges and their rewards?
Game of the Day: Gardenscapes
The Game of the Day thinks you love gardens and hidden object games. Gardenscapes: Restore a once-stunning garden to its former glory in Gardenscapes, a colorful blend of hidden object and time management fun! Your grandfather has left you a beautiful mansion but unfortunately, the garden is in need of repair and you are completely broke.
Click --> Play Gardenscapes
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.
Click --> Play Gardenscapes
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.
Amazon looking to hire Games Designer to develop for Facebook and smartphones
First, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus said that he wanted to turn his company into the Amazon of online gaming, and now Amazon itself might be looking at trying to become another Zynga. According to Inside Social Games, the company has posted a job listing looking for a "Senior Game Designer." This job's description details Amazon's desire to "focus on social games innovation."
Specifically, the Game Designer would be in charge of not only developing new social game ideas, but also bringing them to life for play on Facebook and smartphones. Amazon has already created an App Store for Android games, proving their interest in the mobile gaming space, but this is quite a move to developing their own games in-house. However, it seems like a smart choice. After all, the company would be able to streamline in-game purchases, presumably allowing users to simply purchase in-game items or premium currency using the credit cards they have on-file with the shopping giant (by connecting their accounts), rather than requiring players to make a trip to the store, or even to their wallets to pull out a card. At least, that would be the smart way of doing things.
With Google looking to create an entirely new social games network, and Amazon simply deciding to join the rank and file of Facebook, it will be incredibly interesting to see which company comes out on top when the dust settles. Regardless of who wins, we'll stay on top of Amazon's push into social gaming, so keep checking back with us for more news as it becomes available.
Would you play games developed by Amazon? Would you like to purchase in-game items in Facebook games by simply connecting to your Amazon account and letting them handle the transaction?
Specifically, the Game Designer would be in charge of not only developing new social game ideas, but also bringing them to life for play on Facebook and smartphones. Amazon has already created an App Store for Android games, proving their interest in the mobile gaming space, but this is quite a move to developing their own games in-house. However, it seems like a smart choice. After all, the company would be able to streamline in-game purchases, presumably allowing users to simply purchase in-game items or premium currency using the credit cards they have on-file with the shopping giant (by connecting their accounts), rather than requiring players to make a trip to the store, or even to their wallets to pull out a card. At least, that would be the smart way of doing things.
With Google looking to create an entirely new social games network, and Amazon simply deciding to join the rank and file of Facebook, it will be incredibly interesting to see which company comes out on top when the dust settles. Regardless of who wins, we'll stay on top of Amazon's push into social gaming, so keep checking back with us for more news as it becomes available.
Would you play games developed by Amazon? Would you like to purchase in-game items in Facebook games by simply connecting to your Amazon account and letting them handle the transaction?
FarmVille: Send a Black Pig free gift for a limited time
If you're a Pig Breeder in FarmVille, or you know someone who is, you'll be excited to know that the Black Pig is now available on the game's free gifts page, but only for a limited time.
Remember, while this Black Pig is technically just called a "Pig," it will function as a Sow, meaning that when bred, it will have a chance to tone down those bright colored Piglets you might have stocked up on before by adding some of its dark color to the mix. Or, you could just receive more Black Piglets. Either way, if you'd like to see some black and white Piglets, black and pink patterned Piglets or anything in between, this is your chance to add the dark color to your catalog, so take advantage while you can.
Either ask your friends to send you some, or send out some Black Pigs yourself, as you'll likely receive some in return. Happy Breeding!
Remember, while this Black Pig is technically just called a "Pig," it will function as a Sow, meaning that when bred, it will have a chance to tone down those bright colored Piglets you might have stocked up on before by adding some of its dark color to the mix. Or, you could just receive more Black Piglets. Either way, if you'd like to see some black and white Piglets, black and pink patterned Piglets or anything in between, this is your chance to add the dark color to your catalog, so take advantage while you can.
Either ask your friends to send you some, or send out some Black Pigs yourself, as you'll likely receive some in return. Happy Breeding!
FarmVille Mystery Game (05/29/11): Chrome items and animals
This week's FarmVille Mystery Game has gone chrome. All six of the items are either entirely chrome (ok, maybe just silver) or are predominantly chrome (in the case of the one re-released item), and you can earn your chance at adding one or more of these items to your farm by paying 20 Farm Cash per dart to play this week's game.
The six new items include both animals and decorations. Here's what you can win:
Chrome Duck
Chrome Fountain
Chrome Gnome
Chrome Pegasus
Chrome Pony
Golden Garden
The one re-released item is the Golden Garden, which was first seen as part of a Mystery Game back in December of last year. Don't be confused by its name though - this item is more silver than gold. As usual, you'll have just a week to take part in this new Mystery Game, at which point the items will cycle out to be replaced with more items. It's true that we might see these items released again in the future, but your best bet would be to invest in them now, while they're at least somewhat guaranteed.
What do you think of this week's Chrome Mystery Game? Which of the six prizes are you most excited about potentially winning?
The six new items include both animals and decorations. Here's what you can win:
Chrome Duck
Chrome Fountain
Chrome Gnome
Chrome Pegasus
Chrome Pony
Golden Garden
The one re-released item is the Golden Garden, which was first seen as part of a Mystery Game back in December of last year. Don't be confused by its name though - this item is more silver than gold. As usual, you'll have just a week to take part in this new Mystery Game, at which point the items will cycle out to be replaced with more items. It's true that we might see these items released again in the future, but your best bet would be to invest in them now, while they're at least somewhat guaranteed.
What do you think of this week's Chrome Mystery Game? Which of the six prizes are you most excited about potentially winning?
CityVille Bullet Train Goal: Everything you need to know
If you're level 25 or higher in CityVille, you now have access to a new, limited-time-only quest dealing with your town's train system. The quest is called Bullet Train (Zynga refers to it as Choo Choo Charlie, but in game it is labeled as Bullet Train), and it will only be around until the end of the month - May 31 - to complete.
In this quest, you'll need to complete a series of three tasks, which are actually a bit time consuming.
Harvest 75 Watermelon
Send 8 Trains
Ask friends for 20 Palettes
The Palettes are earned through a general news post to your wall, so that 20 requirement might be a bit harder to reach than you initially thought. Meanwhile, Watermelon take four hours to grow. As for the requirement to send trains, remember to send the shortest, five minute train, if you want it to pass by quickly. The reward for finishing this quest is the Cargo Shed, a building that is otherwise available to purchase in the store for 20 City Cash. What's so special about this building? Simple - it adds 1,000 Goods to your maximum capacity! That's actually a great prize!
Remember, this quest is only available to complete for the next few days, so work fast to earn this great reward.
Check out the rest of our CityVille Cheats & Tips right here.
Have you started working on the Bullet Train quest in your city?
In this quest, you'll need to complete a series of three tasks, which are actually a bit time consuming.
Harvest 75 Watermelon
Send 8 Trains
Ask friends for 20 Palettes
The Palettes are earned through a general news post to your wall, so that 20 requirement might be a bit harder to reach than you initially thought. Meanwhile, Watermelon take four hours to grow. As for the requirement to send trains, remember to send the shortest, five minute train, if you want it to pass by quickly. The reward for finishing this quest is the Cargo Shed, a building that is otherwise available to purchase in the store for 20 City Cash. What's so special about this building? Simple - it adds 1,000 Goods to your maximum capacity! That's actually a great prize!
Remember, this quest is only available to complete for the next few days, so work fast to earn this great reward.
Check out the rest of our CityVille Cheats & Tips right here.
Have you started working on the Bullet Train quest in your city?
CityVille Upgrade your Grade School: Everything you need to know
A new community building has been given the upgrading spotlight in CityVille. The Grade School is now the newest building that can be upgraded, and if you choose to do so, you'll be able to earn Building Grants when collecting from the building in the future.
Just like upgrades to the Bank, Post Office, etc. this Grade School upgrade will require the help of your friends. You'll need to fill 10 positions to upgrade to Level 2 which increases the Grade School's population payout to 600 citizens (the original number is 500). You'll also have a chance of receiving Building Grants (which are used in the construction of other items) each time you collect from the Grade School in the future.
Class isn't out on the Grade School just yet though, so meet us behind the break to see how to move from Level 2 to Level 3.
From Level 2 to Level 3, you'll need to again hire 10 additional friends to work in your Grade School, but you'll also need to have a total population of at least 2,700 citizens before you can do so. Once this is done, your Grade School will allow for 800 citizens, and your chance for receiving extra Energy and Building Grants will increase.
While it may seem like Zynga is randomly picking and choosing which community building or business to upgrade, we're just glad that the process hasn't become even more intrusive or complicated than it already is. Which building will be upgraded next? We'll make sure to let you know as soon as Zynga announces another.
Check out the rest of our CityVille Cheats & Tips right here.
Have you finished the upgrades on all of the possible buildings so far? Do you think it's good that Zynga is making these older buildings more valuable, or should they leave them the way they are?
Just like upgrades to the Bank, Post Office, etc. this Grade School upgrade will require the help of your friends. You'll need to fill 10 positions to upgrade to Level 2 which increases the Grade School's population payout to 600 citizens (the original number is 500). You'll also have a chance of receiving Building Grants (which are used in the construction of other items) each time you collect from the Grade School in the future.
Class isn't out on the Grade School just yet though, so meet us behind the break to see how to move from Level 2 to Level 3.
From Level 2 to Level 3, you'll need to again hire 10 additional friends to work in your Grade School, but you'll also need to have a total population of at least 2,700 citizens before you can do so. Once this is done, your Grade School will allow for 800 citizens, and your chance for receiving extra Energy and Building Grants will increase.
While it may seem like Zynga is randomly picking and choosing which community building or business to upgrade, we're just glad that the process hasn't become even more intrusive or complicated than it already is. Which building will be upgraded next? We'll make sure to let you know as soon as Zynga announces another.
Check out the rest of our CityVille Cheats & Tips right here.
Have you finished the upgrades on all of the possible buildings so far? Do you think it's good that Zynga is making these older buildings more valuable, or should they leave them the way they are?
Cafe World Dog Show Dinner Catering Order: Everything you need to know
A new Catering Order is now available for you to complete in Cafe World chefs, as the annual dog show is now happening (virtually, of course), and you're out to cater the event. Don't worry - your menu hasn't gone entirely to the dogs, as you'll be taking care of the cute pooches and humans alike through five different tasks.
You'll have three days to cook three dishes (the human side of this order), along with collecting two items for the pups. If you can achieve all of that in time, you'll be rewarded with a new Hush Puppies recipe (clever Zynga, very clever). Meet us behind the break for a full look at what it takes to complete this order in time.
For starters, you'll need to cook three dishes: Smoked Salmon Latkes (a 2-hour dish) 216 times, Shu Mai Dumplings (a 6-hour dish) 308 times, and Ginger Plum Pork Chops (a 24-hour dish) 35 times. Luckily, the longest cooking dish is required the least number of times, but those Shu Mai Dumplings are nothing to scoff at. You'll need to make sure not to waste any time (and use all of the friends' help that you can get) to finish this one in time.
On top of those three dishes, you'll also need to collect 44 items: 22 Fancy Dog Biscuits and 22 bowls of Gourmet Dog Chow. You can purchase these individually for 4 Cafe Cash, or you can simply sent out a mass request to your friends to help you before it's too late.
With the help of the 15 people you can bring into this order with you, if you can finish in under three days, you'll receive the three-star rating, 12 Catering Points, 6,300 Cafe Points, 75,000 coins and the Hush Puppies recipe as a reward. Finish in more than three days, but less than five and you'll earn two stars, 8 Catering Points, 4,500 Cafe Points and 50,000 coins. If it takes you more than five days to complete these five steps, you'll earn the one-star rating, 4 Catering Points, 2,700 Cafe Points and 30,000 coins. Sure, the coins are great in any situation (and the Cafe Points aren't bad either), but I doubt you'll want to go through all of this again if you miss the three-star rating the first time around. Good luck if you take this one on.
What do you think of this newest Catering Order in Cafe World? Will you try to finish it within three days, or do you think your the goal is just too hard to finish it in time?
You'll have three days to cook three dishes (the human side of this order), along with collecting two items for the pups. If you can achieve all of that in time, you'll be rewarded with a new Hush Puppies recipe (clever Zynga, very clever). Meet us behind the break for a full look at what it takes to complete this order in time.
For starters, you'll need to cook three dishes: Smoked Salmon Latkes (a 2-hour dish) 216 times, Shu Mai Dumplings (a 6-hour dish) 308 times, and Ginger Plum Pork Chops (a 24-hour dish) 35 times. Luckily, the longest cooking dish is required the least number of times, but those Shu Mai Dumplings are nothing to scoff at. You'll need to make sure not to waste any time (and use all of the friends' help that you can get) to finish this one in time.
On top of those three dishes, you'll also need to collect 44 items: 22 Fancy Dog Biscuits and 22 bowls of Gourmet Dog Chow. You can purchase these individually for 4 Cafe Cash, or you can simply sent out a mass request to your friends to help you before it's too late.
With the help of the 15 people you can bring into this order with you, if you can finish in under three days, you'll receive the three-star rating, 12 Catering Points, 6,300 Cafe Points, 75,000 coins and the Hush Puppies recipe as a reward. Finish in more than three days, but less than five and you'll earn two stars, 8 Catering Points, 4,500 Cafe Points and 50,000 coins. If it takes you more than five days to complete these five steps, you'll earn the one-star rating, 4 Catering Points, 2,700 Cafe Points and 30,000 coins. Sure, the coins are great in any situation (and the Cafe Points aren't bad either), but I doubt you'll want to go through all of this again if you miss the three-star rating the first time around. Good luck if you take this one on.
What do you think of this newest Catering Order in Cafe World? Will you try to finish it within three days, or do you think your the goal is just too hard to finish it in time?
Friday, December 23, 2011
CivWorld hands-on impressions: A Facebook game that's not for the FarmVille set
For about a year now, we've been hearing that the classic PC game Civilization would be making its way to Facebook, in the form of Sid Meier's Civilization World (CivWorld for short). And, at long last, the wait is over. Starting today, real-time strategists and Civ fans can join the game's open beta to test their civilization building (and destruction) skills in this new breed of social game.
And by new breed of social game, I'm not talking about the fact that it's a real-time strategy game, but the fact that it has the complexity and depth that seasoned gamers have been begging to see on Facebook ever since FarmVille launched two years ago.
CivWorld is a classic take on the the strategy genre with a social twist. The goal is to work with others to build a civilization, and keep it safe while taking out the competition (other civilizations made up of other groups of players) by using military might, scientific discovery or cultural influence. In the end, the one who conquers all, wins. The game is filled with multi-level technology trees, complex strategies for conquering the world, a definite end and beginning, plus a social part made up of real-time chat systems used to coordinate with other people in your particular nation/empire. The game is, ya know, Civilization, but it lives on the Facebook gaming platform.
And that's where I see the biggest challenge ahead for this game. It's on Facebook. With everything that's going on in Civ World -- which will no doubt appeal to a small, impassioned segment of social gamers -- my initial impressions of Civ World leave me wondering just how well this game will translate to the Facebook gaming set. I'm talking about those millions of people who have been trained by Zynga games like FarmVille, FrontierVille and its newer Civilization-style game Empires & Allies to expect highly intuitive control schemes, serious hand-holding regarding how to play the game and, overall, a presumption that anyone and everyone should be able to log in and play these games without requiring some additional background knowledge on how strategy games, and in particular Civilization games, should work.
Gallery: Civilization World on Facebook
If you don't have built-in knowledge of this long-running game series, it will be difficult to get started. You are expected to sit through a bare-bones tutorial that attempts to explain the many aspects of the game and then -- at a certain point -- are left hanging without a prompt on what to do next. If I hadn't played other Civilization games previously, it's highly likely I would have grown frustrated and stopped playing in the first 10 minutes.
Some other sticking points in CivWorld:
- It's extremely difficult to find and play a game with your fellow Facebook friends. I spent the better part of an hour trying to sync up with one of my pals, and I even though I knew his game ID number, we still had no luck connecting. I ran through the FAQ in the game's built-in Wikipedia (called the 'Civilopedia') for answers and still found nothing. If the option is available in the game, it's certainly difficult to find and is likely leave other players scratching their heads as they try to do the same.
- Navigating the CivWorld environment is also, at times, unintuitive. The navigation for the game sits at the bottom of the screen, but once you click on a tab or button, it's sometimes challenging to find your way back to the game's main screen. There were times I just kept clicking the 'Play' tab at the top of the screen (my go-to move in other Facebook games) to get back into my game and kept wondering why nothing happened.
- It's hard to sync up with other players in real-time to get stuff done. To win in CivWorld, you must join a nation, comprised of other players, and then work with them to decide what tactics you're going to use to conquer the world. Now, granted, there were a limited number of people playing this game during my initial experience, but many other players were offline and not responding to my chat requests.
- The game is sluggish and often unresponsive. This may be due to the fact that I played it pre-release, but the game loaded slowly and there is a too long of a response time after clicking on buttons. Also, where is the full-screen option?
CivWorld does manage, however, to avoid some of the more irritating pitfalls of other Facebook games. The strategy game is largely free of annoying pop-up ads that try to convince you to use Facebook Credits to buy extras for the game. It's also refreshing that you don't have to constantly beg fellow players to send items or otherwise assist you when building a new structure. And, while I bemoan the game's complexity, I also fully support the idea of creating more mature, in-depth games for Facebook. There just needs to be a better way to help the uninitiated ease into a new experience.
It's difficult to give any final "review" on a Facebook game, especially since they're constantly evolving. While I expect the FarmVille-playing masses will not necessarily latch onto CivWorld, the game will easily fill a certain niche on the Facebook platform, serving up serious real-time strategy like umpteen Civilization games have done since 1991.
And by new breed of social game, I'm not talking about the fact that it's a real-time strategy game, but the fact that it has the complexity and depth that seasoned gamers have been begging to see on Facebook ever since FarmVille launched two years ago.
CivWorld is a classic take on the the strategy genre with a social twist. The goal is to work with others to build a civilization, and keep it safe while taking out the competition (other civilizations made up of other groups of players) by using military might, scientific discovery or cultural influence. In the end, the one who conquers all, wins. The game is filled with multi-level technology trees, complex strategies for conquering the world, a definite end and beginning, plus a social part made up of real-time chat systems used to coordinate with other people in your particular nation/empire. The game is, ya know, Civilization, but it lives on the Facebook gaming platform.
And that's where I see the biggest challenge ahead for this game. It's on Facebook. With everything that's going on in Civ World -- which will no doubt appeal to a small, impassioned segment of social gamers -- my initial impressions of Civ World leave me wondering just how well this game will translate to the Facebook gaming set. I'm talking about those millions of people who have been trained by Zynga games like FarmVille, FrontierVille and its newer Civilization-style game Empires & Allies to expect highly intuitive control schemes, serious hand-holding regarding how to play the game and, overall, a presumption that anyone and everyone should be able to log in and play these games without requiring some additional background knowledge on how strategy games, and in particular Civilization games, should work.
Gallery: Civilization World on Facebook
If you don't have built-in knowledge of this long-running game series, it will be difficult to get started. You are expected to sit through a bare-bones tutorial that attempts to explain the many aspects of the game and then -- at a certain point -- are left hanging without a prompt on what to do next. If I hadn't played other Civilization games previously, it's highly likely I would have grown frustrated and stopped playing in the first 10 minutes.
Some other sticking points in CivWorld:
- It's extremely difficult to find and play a game with your fellow Facebook friends. I spent the better part of an hour trying to sync up with one of my pals, and I even though I knew his game ID number, we still had no luck connecting. I ran through the FAQ in the game's built-in Wikipedia (called the 'Civilopedia') for answers and still found nothing. If the option is available in the game, it's certainly difficult to find and is likely leave other players scratching their heads as they try to do the same.
- Navigating the CivWorld environment is also, at times, unintuitive. The navigation for the game sits at the bottom of the screen, but once you click on a tab or button, it's sometimes challenging to find your way back to the game's main screen. There were times I just kept clicking the 'Play' tab at the top of the screen (my go-to move in other Facebook games) to get back into my game and kept wondering why nothing happened.
- It's hard to sync up with other players in real-time to get stuff done. To win in CivWorld, you must join a nation, comprised of other players, and then work with them to decide what tactics you're going to use to conquer the world. Now, granted, there were a limited number of people playing this game during my initial experience, but many other players were offline and not responding to my chat requests.
- The game is sluggish and often unresponsive. This may be due to the fact that I played it pre-release, but the game loaded slowly and there is a too long of a response time after clicking on buttons. Also, where is the full-screen option?
CivWorld does manage, however, to avoid some of the more irritating pitfalls of other Facebook games. The strategy game is largely free of annoying pop-up ads that try to convince you to use Facebook Credits to buy extras for the game. It's also refreshing that you don't have to constantly beg fellow players to send items or otherwise assist you when building a new structure. And, while I bemoan the game's complexity, I also fully support the idea of creating more mature, in-depth games for Facebook. There just needs to be a better way to help the uninitiated ease into a new experience.
It's difficult to give any final "review" on a Facebook game, especially since they're constantly evolving. While I expect the FarmVille-playing masses will not necessarily latch onto CivWorld, the game will easily fill a certain niche on the Facebook platform, serving up serious real-time strategy like umpteen Civilization games have done since 1991.
Shocker: Games are most popular apps on iPhone, Android devices
Seriously, what did you expect it be--apps for communicating with people? Please, this is 2011. Nielsen has found in a study that mobile games are the most popularly used apps on mobile devices like iPhones and Android phones.
According to the study, 64 percent of mobile folks have played games on their smartphone in the past 30 days. But what will make the industry folks absolutely salivate is that, according to Nielsen, app downloaders are most willing to pay for games than any other type of app.
If you're EA or Zynga, you've already wiped the drool off of the keyboard--though it is interesting that, as screen size gets smaller, gamers seem more willing to pay, no?
A whopping 93 percent of app downloaders would pay for games, and that's directly inverse with the supposed 1 to 3 percent that pays within social games. No wonder Zynga has released two mobile games, Hanging with Friends and CityVille Hometown, in just under two months.
Nielsen mobile gaming
The thing is, nowhere in this study are in-game, or in-app, transactions mentioned, which are quickly becoming the lynch pin in mobile game creators' strategies. For instance, Capcom launched Smurfs Village for free on iPhone with micro-transactions, and the game has made money like gangbusters ... perhaps too well. At any rate, don't look at your bulky laptop to see of the future of gaming--it's happening in your pocket right now.
According to the study, 64 percent of mobile folks have played games on their smartphone in the past 30 days. But what will make the industry folks absolutely salivate is that, according to Nielsen, app downloaders are most willing to pay for games than any other type of app.
If you're EA or Zynga, you've already wiped the drool off of the keyboard--though it is interesting that, as screen size gets smaller, gamers seem more willing to pay, no?
A whopping 93 percent of app downloaders would pay for games, and that's directly inverse with the supposed 1 to 3 percent that pays within social games. No wonder Zynga has released two mobile games, Hanging with Friends and CityVille Hometown, in just under two months.
Nielsen mobile gaming
The thing is, nowhere in this study are in-game, or in-app, transactions mentioned, which are quickly becoming the lynch pin in mobile game creators' strategies. For instance, Capcom launched Smurfs Village for free on iPhone with micro-transactions, and the game has made money like gangbusters ... perhaps too well. At any rate, don't look at your bulky laptop to see of the future of gaming--it's happening in your pocket right now.
Facebook gives in to Consumer Watchdog over Credits ... sort of
Consumer Watchdog has a bit of bite to that bark, after all. Facebook has changed its Facebook Credits terms oh-so-slightly after the non-profit consumer interest group called the company out on violating anti-trust laws last week, according to a press release.
Of course, Watchdog sniffed Facebook out as soon as Credits became the only official currency on Facebook last week. Both of Watchdog's formal attacks show that it isn't terribly pleased with how Facebook is essentially caging its developers by controlling how they price virtual goods on other platforms.
But now, Facebook has downgraded that ball and chain from steel to copper with its single revised line in its developer terms. The revised line reads, "You may not charge a logged-in Facebook user of your game app on Facebook a higher price in Credits for an item, virtual currency, or service than you would charge a logged-in Facebook user on another platform or service via another payment method."
Sure, Facebook has changed the terms of its, um, terms, but has merely taken an implicit limitation and transformed it into an implied one. Developers can undercut Facebook all they want on other platforms, but those games better not use Facebook Connect. Funny thing--that's where all of the players are.
It almost goes without saying that Watchdog is still calling for the Federal Trade Commission to intervene. At this point, developers' only hope of avoiding Facebooks' reportedly dastardly policies is for Google Games (and its rumored 20 percent cut) to take off in a big, big way. Like ... 250 million players big.
Do you think Facebook is being too restrictive with game developers? How do you think its policies should change, if at all?
Of course, Watchdog sniffed Facebook out as soon as Credits became the only official currency on Facebook last week. Both of Watchdog's formal attacks show that it isn't terribly pleased with how Facebook is essentially caging its developers by controlling how they price virtual goods on other platforms.
But now, Facebook has downgraded that ball and chain from steel to copper with its single revised line in its developer terms. The revised line reads, "You may not charge a logged-in Facebook user of your game app on Facebook a higher price in Credits for an item, virtual currency, or service than you would charge a logged-in Facebook user on another platform or service via another payment method."
Sure, Facebook has changed the terms of its, um, terms, but has merely taken an implicit limitation and transformed it into an implied one. Developers can undercut Facebook all they want on other platforms, but those games better not use Facebook Connect. Funny thing--that's where all of the players are.
It almost goes without saying that Watchdog is still calling for the Federal Trade Commission to intervene. At this point, developers' only hope of avoiding Facebooks' reportedly dastardly policies is for Google Games (and its rumored 20 percent cut) to take off in a big, big way. Like ... 250 million players big.
Do you think Facebook is being too restrictive with game developers? How do you think its policies should change, if at all?
FarmVille Sneak Peek: The Crafting Silo needs manure, and lots of it
Alright, so the Crafting Silo in FarmVille needs more materials than just manure, but no one is too old for potty humor. Ever. Several new items associated with the new building have been found including what will be needed to build the structure.
It looks like players will need hinges, screwdrivers and duct tape to create the Silo, though part of me actually hopes more is involved. (Do you want a Silo made of duct tape? Didn't think so.)
Once the Silo is complete, players will have to retrieve pig manure, yarn, milk, Bushels and Wood to unlock the additional items that lie inside. So far, we gather that players will collect these materials through simply harvesting animals and tending to crops and trees. Though, Zynga has thrown us curve balls before, so stay tuned for when this enigmatic feature launches.
FarmVille Crafitng Silo
[Source and Image Credit: FarmVille Feed]
Are you psyched about the upcoming Crafting Silo? How do you think it will be used in conjunction with the Craftshop?
It looks like players will need hinges, screwdrivers and duct tape to create the Silo, though part of me actually hopes more is involved. (Do you want a Silo made of duct tape? Didn't think so.)
Once the Silo is complete, players will have to retrieve pig manure, yarn, milk, Bushels and Wood to unlock the additional items that lie inside. So far, we gather that players will collect these materials through simply harvesting animals and tending to crops and trees. Though, Zynga has thrown us curve balls before, so stay tuned for when this enigmatic feature launches.
FarmVille Crafitng Silo
[Source and Image Credit: FarmVille Feed]
Are you psyched about the upcoming Crafting Silo? How do you think it will be used in conjunction with the Craftshop?
Three crazy possibilities for Facebook games with Video Chat
Don't click away just yet--these ideas might be crazy, but they're safe for work. (Though, potentially as creepy as HAL over there.) Facebook launched its long-awaited Skype-powered video chat feature to the network today, and all is abuzz about what this will do for social networking.
However, no one has said a peep about what this might do for games. Granted, that's because games weren't exactly in mind when this feature was created, but you can't stop a guy from dreaming. So, here are three crazy possibilities for Facebook games, thanks to video chat.
1. Pre-recorded News Feed Shares
Text-based sharing is so done for. Imagine instead of hitting that annoying share button, you would hit a "Record+Share" button. You could create fully customized messages for your friends to pluck right from the News Feed.
Then, your friends can see your beautiful face and hear your angelic chords sing, "This Shovel is for you, buddy!" in FarmVille. Well, they would probably sound more like "You just got owned, sucka!" in matches of Bejeweled Blitz.
Facebook video chat
2. Real-time Collaboration over Video
Alright, so maybe this isn't so crazy, but it's cool nonetheless. This would come especially handy in the brand new Civilization World, which revolves around real-time collaboration between alliances. Even imagine just chatting with your grandmother across the way as you tend to each your homestead in FrontierVille. Real-time gameplay or not, video chat would just improve that experience, though some bonuses for chatting would be most welcome.
Topps Augmented Reality
3. Augmented Reality
Finally, you could get back at your buddies for marking up your face at that party last weekend. Except your revenge would come from miles away ... and not with a real marker. This is just one of the possibilities for augmented reality in Facebook games--virtual pie throwing, anyone? Of course, these games might end up being mini games for larger Facebook games considering how tough it might tough be to overlay the standard social game interface over live video. Regardless, count us in for the virtual face painting sessions.
Of course, these three ideas would only be possible if Facebook opens up its video chat feature to third-party developers like Zynga and EA. But considering the insane growth of social games (and Facebook's apparent stranglehold on them), the company would be stupid not to give it the green light. Well, that could be the inner child in us talking--he has a thing for drawing on faces.
However, no one has said a peep about what this might do for games. Granted, that's because games weren't exactly in mind when this feature was created, but you can't stop a guy from dreaming. So, here are three crazy possibilities for Facebook games, thanks to video chat.
1. Pre-recorded News Feed Shares
Text-based sharing is so done for. Imagine instead of hitting that annoying share button, you would hit a "Record+Share" button. You could create fully customized messages for your friends to pluck right from the News Feed.
Then, your friends can see your beautiful face and hear your angelic chords sing, "This Shovel is for you, buddy!" in FarmVille. Well, they would probably sound more like "You just got owned, sucka!" in matches of Bejeweled Blitz.
Facebook video chat
2. Real-time Collaboration over Video
Alright, so maybe this isn't so crazy, but it's cool nonetheless. This would come especially handy in the brand new Civilization World, which revolves around real-time collaboration between alliances. Even imagine just chatting with your grandmother across the way as you tend to each your homestead in FrontierVille. Real-time gameplay or not, video chat would just improve that experience, though some bonuses for chatting would be most welcome.
Topps Augmented Reality
3. Augmented Reality
Finally, you could get back at your buddies for marking up your face at that party last weekend. Except your revenge would come from miles away ... and not with a real marker. This is just one of the possibilities for augmented reality in Facebook games--virtual pie throwing, anyone? Of course, these games might end up being mini games for larger Facebook games considering how tough it might tough be to overlay the standard social game interface over live video. Regardless, count us in for the virtual face painting sessions.
Of course, these three ideas would only be possible if Facebook opens up its video chat feature to third-party developers like Zynga and EA. But considering the insane growth of social games (and Facebook's apparent stranglehold on them), the company would be stupid not to give it the green light. Well, that could be the inner child in us talking--he has a thing for drawing on faces.
FarmVille Pic of the Day: TsubasaM's Farmhouse Illusion
TsubasaM is back with yet another FarmVille Pic of the Day. Though his last featured farm was very impressive, this indoor farmhouse illusion might be even better. TsubasaM showed us something new with his epic island resort, but this is something I'm sure most FarmVille players haven't seen before.
TsubasaM's indoor perspective gives us city-dwellers an idea of what it's like to be out in the country. Gazing out those big windows at endless sky, green fields, and trees is enough to make a man yearn for simpler times (or do something interesting with our own FarmVille farms). Also note how TsubasaM put up some picture frames in his house of crop mastery signs and barnyard animals. Very creative TsubasaM, and congratulations on having two featured farm designs!
TsubasaM sat down to explain this second featured farm design:
What inspired your creative farm design?
I was thinking of creating an illusion of being inside a house with windows that looking at good scenery of farms. I grew up on a farm and I would spend time by the window admiring the scenery, which gave me the idea of creating that concept.
Do you have any awesome decorating tips to share?
When you think of a design for your farm, make an outline or sketch first on how you want it to look. Then just give it a try on your farm. Just use a portion of your farm to try a bit of your design.
When I started my EC farm, I deleted my plots and at the top of my farm, I tested how I could accomplish the illusion of a wall. I went on to try the frame for the window and picture frames on the wall. I started with using hay bales but realized it would take hundreds to accomplish the look I wanted. So, realizing it would be quicker and more affordable, I switched to using fences. It's all about trial and error and most of all, patience.
How did you create the wonderful crop and hay bale art? Was it difficult?
It wasn't difficult at all. I knew exactly how I wanted it to look. I just keep testing portions of my design to see what would work well. At first I wanted to create the illusion of my wall using plots. I tested it at the top corner of my farm to see if it was do-able, but I failed, so I decided to use hay bales. That didn't go well because I didn't have enough patience to go through that many hay bales. I could accomplish a more beautiful wall with hay bales, but using fences could give me that with just a little bit of a problem with the corners being slightly off.
How long did it take you to complete the design?
The EC farm took about 4 or 5 hours to finish the whole design. I knew exactly how I wanted it to look so it was a lot quicker to do [than my other island farm] and spent some time in refining the design to make sure the fences were aligned correctly.
What do you guys think of TsubasaM's indoor illusion?
If you have an AWESOME FarmVille farm that you want to see featured on Games.com, please email a picture to editors@games.com, Include a few words about the inspiration for your design and maybe a few tips for people who need an assist!
TsubasaM's indoor perspective gives us city-dwellers an idea of what it's like to be out in the country. Gazing out those big windows at endless sky, green fields, and trees is enough to make a man yearn for simpler times (or do something interesting with our own FarmVille farms). Also note how TsubasaM put up some picture frames in his house of crop mastery signs and barnyard animals. Very creative TsubasaM, and congratulations on having two featured farm designs!
TsubasaM sat down to explain this second featured farm design:
What inspired your creative farm design?
I was thinking of creating an illusion of being inside a house with windows that looking at good scenery of farms. I grew up on a farm and I would spend time by the window admiring the scenery, which gave me the idea of creating that concept.
Do you have any awesome decorating tips to share?
When you think of a design for your farm, make an outline or sketch first on how you want it to look. Then just give it a try on your farm. Just use a portion of your farm to try a bit of your design.
When I started my EC farm, I deleted my plots and at the top of my farm, I tested how I could accomplish the illusion of a wall. I went on to try the frame for the window and picture frames on the wall. I started with using hay bales but realized it would take hundreds to accomplish the look I wanted. So, realizing it would be quicker and more affordable, I switched to using fences. It's all about trial and error and most of all, patience.
How did you create the wonderful crop and hay bale art? Was it difficult?
It wasn't difficult at all. I knew exactly how I wanted it to look. I just keep testing portions of my design to see what would work well. At first I wanted to create the illusion of my wall using plots. I tested it at the top corner of my farm to see if it was do-able, but I failed, so I decided to use hay bales. That didn't go well because I didn't have enough patience to go through that many hay bales. I could accomplish a more beautiful wall with hay bales, but using fences could give me that with just a little bit of a problem with the corners being slightly off.
How long did it take you to complete the design?
The EC farm took about 4 or 5 hours to finish the whole design. I knew exactly how I wanted it to look so it was a lot quicker to do [than my other island farm] and spent some time in refining the design to make sure the fences were aligned correctly.
What do you guys think of TsubasaM's indoor illusion?
If you have an AWESOME FarmVille farm that you want to see featured on Games.com, please email a picture to editors@games.com, Include a few words about the inspiration for your design and maybe a few tips for people who need an assist!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
FarmVille Raffle Tooth (08/21/11): Gypsy Stallion and Giant Pot Fountain up for grabs
It's Sunday evening, which marks a new round of the FarmVille Raffle Booth, with two new items (out of five) being particularly interesting in this week's selection of prizes. Once you go through the process of turning in your Raffle Tickets from last week (and hopefully winning tons of prizes), you'll be able to view this week's available goodies. The odds may not exactly be in your favor for winning each and every one of these items, or even just the top prize, but remember - Raffle Tickets can be earned for free, so there's no harm in collecting a few!
Here's the lineup of prizes, along with your odds of winning them this week:
10 Special Delivery Boxes: 1:5
3 Arborists: 1:20
5 Love Potions: 1:100
Giant Pot Fountain: 1:500
Gypsy Stallion: 1:2000
Remember, once this week is over, these prizes will be raffled off, so you'll need to collect as many Raffle Tickets between now and then as possible. Good luck - I hope we both walk away with a few prizes of our own!
Which of this week's prizes would you be most interested in? Do you still need a Stallion for your Horse Stable, or are you more interested in the Giant Pot Fountain?
Here's the lineup of prizes, along with your odds of winning them this week:
10 Special Delivery Boxes: 1:5
3 Arborists: 1:20
5 Love Potions: 1:100
Giant Pot Fountain: 1:500
Gypsy Stallion: 1:2000
Remember, once this week is over, these prizes will be raffled off, so you'll need to collect as many Raffle Tickets between now and then as possible. Good luck - I hope we both walk away with a few prizes of our own!
Which of this week's prizes would you be most interested in? Do you still need a Stallion for your Horse Stable, or are you more interested in the Giant Pot Fountain?
FarmVille Mystery Game (08/21/11): Take to the wild with Wildlife Animal prizes
Continuing in FarmVille's recent theme of wildlife animals, this week's Mystery Game offers all farmers a chance at one of six Wildlife animals to celebrate the launch of the Wildlife Habitat in the game. Of course, if you go through with "winning" all six items in this week's game, you'll also receive a bonus animal, but we'll get to that later.
This week's game costs 20 Farm Cash per dart, and there don't look to be any free darts in sight. If you go through with purchasing a Dart (or ten), you'll have a chance at winning the following animals:
American Black Bear
Black-Footed Ferret
Jaguarundi
Kit Fox
Margay
Red Brocket
Again, only if you can earn all six of these items by purchasing individual darts will you be given your bonus animal: a White Reindeer. Remember, you can very well earn duplicates of some of these animals, so you may end up spending hundreds of Farm Cash just to finish your board. Either way, you'll only have a week to make your final decision and get it done, as the game will reset with new items after that point. Good luck if you're going for the White Reindeer! I hope it only takes you six Darts!
Will you try to earn the White Reindeer from this week's game? If you're only going to throw a few Darts, which animals are you hoping to win?
This week's game costs 20 Farm Cash per dart, and there don't look to be any free darts in sight. If you go through with purchasing a Dart (or ten), you'll have a chance at winning the following animals:
American Black Bear
Black-Footed Ferret
Jaguarundi
Kit Fox
Margay
Red Brocket
Again, only if you can earn all six of these items by purchasing individual darts will you be given your bonus animal: a White Reindeer. Remember, you can very well earn duplicates of some of these animals, so you may end up spending hundreds of Farm Cash just to finish your board. Either way, you'll only have a week to make your final decision and get it done, as the game will reset with new items after that point. Good luck if you're going for the White Reindeer! I hope it only takes you six Darts!
Will you try to earn the White Reindeer from this week's game? If you're only going to throw a few Darts, which animals are you hoping to win?
FarmVille Fairy Garden Items: Star Flower Trees, Fairy Cat, Garden Gate and more
The lovely Fairy Garden item theme in FarmVille has grown by quite a bit this evening, as new trees, animals, decorations and more have been launched in the game's store. There are even avatar clothing items here, if you have a few Farm Cash to spend sprucing up your character's clothing. Either way, we won't waste any more time with introductions; let's get straight to our look at these new items!
Trees
Star Flower Tree - 7 Farm Cash
Big Star Flower Tree - 15 Farm Cash
Both of these trees earn their first star of mastery after 75 harvests, and will be ready to harvest every two days (so, they have the same stats as most other recently released trees).
Animals
Fairy Cat - 18 Farm Cash
Fairy Unicorn - 31 Farm Cash
Hold onto something, farmers. Considering how popular Unicorns have been in FarmVille in the past, and how popular fairies are generally, I can definitely see this Fairy Unicorn flying up to the top of the Best Sellers chart in the store, even with its higher-than-normal price tag of 31 Farm Cash. I must admit the Unicorn is very lovely, but whether or not you're willing to pay 31 Farm Cash for a single animal will really be up to you.
Buildings
Green Cottage - 25 Farm Cash
Mossy Den - 15 Farm Cash
As of this writing, these buildings aren't marked as limited edition, but don't let that fool you - they won't be around for long.
Decorations
Ivy Curve Wall - 8,000 coins
Fairy Roses - 10,000 coins
Fairy Garden - 10 Farm Cash
Garden Gate - 30,000 coins
Flowery Fountain - 15 Farm Cash
If the names don't give it away, the Ivy Curve Wall and Garden Gate form a new kind of fencing for this theme, if the plain Wooden Gates and Fences released previously don't do it for you. Unfortunately, the supply of coin-only items here is rather small, but hopefully we'll see a positive change in that area in the future.
Avatar Clothing Items
Ivy Leaves Crown - 2 Farm Cash
Flower Hat - 5 Farm Cash
Tree Fairy Dress - 10 Farm Cash
With the release of this large set of new Fairy Garden items, we have also seen many of the theme's items reach the two day time limit for availability in the store. For these newest items, you'll have two weeks to purchase them, but don't waste too much time or you may miss out on them entirely! We'll make sure to let you know if more Fairy Garden themed items are released in the future, so keep checking back.
What do you think of the Fairy Unicorn? Do you think a Unicorn is worth 31 Farm Cash? Will you purchase any of these buildings or avatar clothing items?
Trees
Star Flower Tree - 7 Farm Cash
Big Star Flower Tree - 15 Farm Cash
Both of these trees earn their first star of mastery after 75 harvests, and will be ready to harvest every two days (so, they have the same stats as most other recently released trees).
Animals
Fairy Cat - 18 Farm Cash
Fairy Unicorn - 31 Farm Cash
Hold onto something, farmers. Considering how popular Unicorns have been in FarmVille in the past, and how popular fairies are generally, I can definitely see this Fairy Unicorn flying up to the top of the Best Sellers chart in the store, even with its higher-than-normal price tag of 31 Farm Cash. I must admit the Unicorn is very lovely, but whether or not you're willing to pay 31 Farm Cash for a single animal will really be up to you.
Buildings
Green Cottage - 25 Farm Cash
Mossy Den - 15 Farm Cash
As of this writing, these buildings aren't marked as limited edition, but don't let that fool you - they won't be around for long.
Decorations
Ivy Curve Wall - 8,000 coins
Fairy Roses - 10,000 coins
Fairy Garden - 10 Farm Cash
Garden Gate - 30,000 coins
Flowery Fountain - 15 Farm Cash
If the names don't give it away, the Ivy Curve Wall and Garden Gate form a new kind of fencing for this theme, if the plain Wooden Gates and Fences released previously don't do it for you. Unfortunately, the supply of coin-only items here is rather small, but hopefully we'll see a positive change in that area in the future.
Avatar Clothing Items
Ivy Leaves Crown - 2 Farm Cash
Flower Hat - 5 Farm Cash
Tree Fairy Dress - 10 Farm Cash
With the release of this large set of new Fairy Garden items, we have also seen many of the theme's items reach the two day time limit for availability in the store. For these newest items, you'll have two weeks to purchase them, but don't waste too much time or you may miss out on them entirely! We'll make sure to let you know if more Fairy Garden themed items are released in the future, so keep checking back.
What do you think of the Fairy Unicorn? Do you think a Unicorn is worth 31 Farm Cash? Will you purchase any of these buildings or avatar clothing items?
FarmVille Model Farm shows off Fairy Garden items with free coins too
Now, here's something to take note of: Normally, the Model Farm in FarmVille is a fairly useless addition to the game, containing limited edition items from whatever theme happens to be prominent in the store at the time. That's still the case this time around, as the current Model Farm is full of Fairy Garden trees and various decorations, but you'll also have some added incentive to visit: some free coins.
To be specific, you'll be able to find the Model Farm at the far right of your friends list at the bottom of your game (you'll spot it with the icon of the Fairy Pony). Once you visit, you'll be rewarded with 500 coins. That may not be much, but hey, we normally don't receive anything for visiting, so I appreciate Zynga sparing at least something.
While you're on the Model Farm, remember to take a look at the various Farm Cash items to see how they look on a real farm, if you've been questioning whether or not they're worth the high price. If you think so, you can purchase them directly by clicking on them.
Hopefully, this will be just the first of many new Model Farms that will offer us a prize for visiting, and we'll make sure to let you know if that's the case.
Will you visit the Model Farm for 500 free coins? Which other items would you like to see being given away by visiting the Model Farm, or is coins enough for you?
To be specific, you'll be able to find the Model Farm at the far right of your friends list at the bottom of your game (you'll spot it with the icon of the Fairy Pony). Once you visit, you'll be rewarded with 500 coins. That may not be much, but hey, we normally don't receive anything for visiting, so I appreciate Zynga sparing at least something.
While you're on the Model Farm, remember to take a look at the various Farm Cash items to see how they look on a real farm, if you've been questioning whether or not they're worth the high price. If you think so, you can purchase them directly by clicking on them.
Hopefully, this will be just the first of many new Model Farms that will offer us a prize for visiting, and we'll make sure to let you know if that's the case.
Will you visit the Model Farm for 500 free coins? Which other items would you like to see being given away by visiting the Model Farm, or is coins enough for you?
EA transplant to Zynga confirmed: Jeff Karp joins as marketing head
The cat has been officially removed from the bag ... by Zynga. The FarmVille creator confirmed to us that Jeff Karp (pictured), former executive VP of EA's casual games label, EA Play, has been hired as Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at Zynga. Of course, Karp will oversee all marketing operations at the $11.5 billion company (at least), as well as international sales.
Before joining Zynga, Karp enjoyed 11 years at EA in various executive positions including chief revenue officer of the EA Games label. It was there he oversaw international marketing for properties like Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Mass Effect and more, according to Zynga's statement.
This EA-Zynga transplant joins a number of high-level traitors former EA executives. Most recently it's rumored that Mark Turmell, senior creative director at EA Sports and creator of NBA Jam, has joined Zynga. Just this June, former GM of EA-owned Easy Studios Ben Cousins joined Ngmoco to head its Sweden studio. And there are plenty more to mention.
It's unfortunate that just as the company goes full speed ahead into social and casual games with one of the biggest buys in recent gaming history that some of its most important positions have gone temporarily vacant. But it looks like The Sims Social could already be the shot in the arm EA needed--it's already attracted over 7 million players.
Do you think this will be a harmful loss for EA? With The Sims Social and whatever PopCap is up to, do you think EA could bounce back and enter the ring with Zynga?
Before joining Zynga, Karp enjoyed 11 years at EA in various executive positions including chief revenue officer of the EA Games label. It was there he oversaw international marketing for properties like Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Mass Effect and more, according to Zynga's statement.
This EA-Zynga transplant joins a number of high-level traitors former EA executives. Most recently it's rumored that Mark Turmell, senior creative director at EA Sports and creator of NBA Jam, has joined Zynga. Just this June, former GM of EA-owned Easy Studios Ben Cousins joined Ngmoco to head its Sweden studio. And there are plenty more to mention.
It's unfortunate that just as the company goes full speed ahead into social and casual games with one of the biggest buys in recent gaming history that some of its most important positions have gone temporarily vacant. But it looks like The Sims Social could already be the shot in the arm EA needed--it's already attracted over 7 million players.
Do you think this will be a harmful loss for EA? With The Sims Social and whatever PopCap is up to, do you think EA could bounce back and enter the ring with Zynga?
Your rule is limited to iOS, Android in King's Bounty: Legions for mobile [Updated]
Update: A Nival representative tells us that this information is incorrect. "We are developing the mobile/tablet version to be the same King's Bounty: Legions you are playing now on Facebook," the representative said. King's Bounty: Legions for iOS and Android will be compatible with the Facebook version.
The reach of your mobile armies has just been cut a bit short. Speaking to Pocket Gamer at the Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany, Nival Interactive said that the Facebook and mobile versions of King's Bounty: Legions will not enjoy cross-platform gameplay. Basically, those who play on iOS and Android will not be able to dominate those on Facebook, and vise versa.
King's Bounty fans will have to download the app and start all over again with a mobile squad of peasants in the first town. Eventually, they'll be able to duke it out hexagonal-like with their fancy smartphone-having friends. This will likely limit the pool of opponents you'll have upon launching the game. Though, we're sure the fact that King's Bounty: Legions for iOS and Android devices will be free-to-play, just like its social cousin, will pique your interest.
The game, a social revival of a classic fantasy strategy franchise, launched on Facebook just this month, and has seen limited growth with just over 33,000 players. Hopefully King's Bounty: Legion for mobile devices will breathe some life into this project later this year, as it's more than deserving of a spot with the top strategy games on Facebook.
Do you think King's Bounty will find its audience on Facebook? Could the mobile version be where more of those closet King's Bounty fans are hiding?
The reach of your mobile armies has just been cut a bit short. Speaking to Pocket Gamer at the Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany, Nival Interactive said that the Facebook and mobile versions of King's Bounty: Legions will not enjoy cross-platform gameplay. Basically, those who play on iOS and Android will not be able to dominate those on Facebook, and vise versa.
King's Bounty fans will have to download the app and start all over again with a mobile squad of peasants in the first town. Eventually, they'll be able to duke it out hexagonal-like with their fancy smartphone-having friends. This will likely limit the pool of opponents you'll have upon launching the game. Though, we're sure the fact that King's Bounty: Legions for iOS and Android devices will be free-to-play, just like its social cousin, will pique your interest.
The game, a social revival of a classic fantasy strategy franchise, launched on Facebook just this month, and has seen limited growth with just over 33,000 players. Hopefully King's Bounty: Legion for mobile devices will breathe some life into this project later this year, as it's more than deserving of a spot with the top strategy games on Facebook.
Do you think King's Bounty will find its audience on Facebook? Could the mobile version be where more of those closet King's Bounty fans are hiding?
The CityVille Surf 'N Shop finally turns Sea Shells into quaint currency
Hopefully you didn't go an turn those Shells into a necklace yet. Zynga has recently released the Surf 'N Shop to CityVille, a new community building in vein of the recent Street Carnival buildings. While there is little to no information regarding how you will come across this new building or how to build, we do know just what the heck it does. (I would expect the usual few whacks and a series of items to request from friends.)
This will be where players spend their hard-earned Shells for new decorations and buildings. Players can now redeem Shells by asking friends through the Surf 'N Shop menu as well as collect them from the Sea Shell Stand.
The stand doesn't seem to hold more than 200 Shells, and, of course, encourages players to buy Shells with City Cash. Here are all six items available through the new Surf 'N Shop and how much they'll cost you:
Surfers: 5 Shells
Buoy: 15 Shells
Humpback Whale: 30 Shells
Sky Diving School: 75 Shells
Aloha Hut: 125 Shells
Dream Beach Home: 200 Shells
Surf 'N Shop menu
The items which have a function, of course, cost the most Shells. Though, 30 Shells is a steal for a Humpback Whale that swims around on your coast line. Go forth and collect Shells, for there are whales to litter your ocean with. Do you really need a better reason?
[Source and Image Credit: Zynga]
Have you seen the Surf 'N Shop in your game yet? What was the building process like, and which of the available items do you want most?
This will be where players spend their hard-earned Shells for new decorations and buildings. Players can now redeem Shells by asking friends through the Surf 'N Shop menu as well as collect them from the Sea Shell Stand.
The stand doesn't seem to hold more than 200 Shells, and, of course, encourages players to buy Shells with City Cash. Here are all six items available through the new Surf 'N Shop and how much they'll cost you:
Surfers: 5 Shells
Buoy: 15 Shells
Humpback Whale: 30 Shells
Sky Diving School: 75 Shells
Aloha Hut: 125 Shells
Dream Beach Home: 200 Shells
Surf 'N Shop menu
The items which have a function, of course, cost the most Shells. Though, 30 Shells is a steal for a Humpback Whale that swims around on your coast line. Go forth and collect Shells, for there are whales to litter your ocean with. Do you really need a better reason?
[Source and Image Credit: Zynga]
Have you seen the Surf 'N Shop in your game yet? What was the building process like, and which of the available items do you want most?
Game of the Day: Truck Loader 2
Using an amazing magnetic forklift truck, load crates into a delivery truck. You'll need to stack the boxes in the right position or the driver won't be pleased. To make matters worse, the warehouse is a dangerous obstacle course! Puzzles, fragile boxes, elevators, and pitfalls stand between the forklift and the delivery truck. With 30 levels of increasingly difficult truck loading action, it'll take brains and precision to maneuver the hazards and carefully arrange boxes into the truck.
Click here to play Truck Loader 2!
truck loader 2 game of the day truck loader 2 game of the day
Pro Tips:
Be careful with fragile boxes, try not to smash them into walls. Soften the impact by allowing fragile boxes to land on the truck loader or by catching the boxes with the magnetic arm.
Once you're familiar with how the magnetic arm controls, speed up your runs by throwing the boxes that aren't fragile.
Jump to flip the forklift back on to its wheels.
Click here to play Truck Loader 2!
What do you think of Truck Loader 2?
Click here to play Truck Loader 2!
truck loader 2 game of the day truck loader 2 game of the day
Pro Tips:
Be careful with fragile boxes, try not to smash them into walls. Soften the impact by allowing fragile boxes to land on the truck loader or by catching the boxes with the magnetic arm.
Once you're familiar with how the magnetic arm controls, speed up your runs by throwing the boxes that aren't fragile.
Jump to flip the forklift back on to its wheels.
Click here to play Truck Loader 2!
What do you think of Truck Loader 2?
Think Facebook games stink lately? Then make one in Pixaquarium
Come on, you know after witnessing the umpteenth bug in FarmVille you said to yourself, "Hell, even I could do this better!" Well, now's your chance to make good on your foolish statements made in anger, with Pixaquarium Game Maker by Stuntbird Games. More of a creation platform than a game, Pixaquarium gives players the tools to make their own games within the game, albeit far simpler ones that are governed by a template.
You have control over nearly every aspect of the games you create from background artwork to your character's image and the shape of your enemies. But what's most interesting about this is that players can share their game creations with friends, according to a release. Sure sounds like it beats sharing gifts.
"My oldest daughter was bringing me drawings to put into that game," Stuntbird Games President Dean Ruggles said of his inspiration for the game in a statement. "I realized that a game that was as much about creativity as play could be fun. I thought of it as active entertainment, which is new in the game world, in that Pixaquarium is all about being artistic and inventing a new world to play in."
Pixaquarium in action
While I wouldn't agree about this type of gameplay being new, it's one of the first Facebook games I've seen clearly geared toward the little ones. Especially those who might have dreams of making their own games. The game is revolved around players uploading photos or other images to play with in the game. So imagine scenarios like a player making a game that includes their best friend to share with them.
It sounds like a great opportunity to increase the meaning of sharing content in Facebook games, but I would imagine kids will need their parents' help with the editor. (As for playing the games, that's as simple as avoiding the bad guys and collecting stars.) As simplified as it is, it might be a bit too much for the single-digit crowd. Regardless, nothing beats making a mini game of yourself slaying aliens and goblins in less than a few minutes, but prepare to pay if you want to save your work.
Click here to play Pixaquarium Game Maker on Facebook Now >
Do you think user-generated content could take off in Facebook games? If you could make any Facebook game, what would it be?
You have control over nearly every aspect of the games you create from background artwork to your character's image and the shape of your enemies. But what's most interesting about this is that players can share their game creations with friends, according to a release. Sure sounds like it beats sharing gifts.
"My oldest daughter was bringing me drawings to put into that game," Stuntbird Games President Dean Ruggles said of his inspiration for the game in a statement. "I realized that a game that was as much about creativity as play could be fun. I thought of it as active entertainment, which is new in the game world, in that Pixaquarium is all about being artistic and inventing a new world to play in."
Pixaquarium in action
While I wouldn't agree about this type of gameplay being new, it's one of the first Facebook games I've seen clearly geared toward the little ones. Especially those who might have dreams of making their own games. The game is revolved around players uploading photos or other images to play with in the game. So imagine scenarios like a player making a game that includes their best friend to share with them.
It sounds like a great opportunity to increase the meaning of sharing content in Facebook games, but I would imagine kids will need their parents' help with the editor. (As for playing the games, that's as simple as avoiding the bad guys and collecting stars.) As simplified as it is, it might be a bit too much for the single-digit crowd. Regardless, nothing beats making a mini game of yourself slaying aliens and goblins in less than a few minutes, but prepare to pay if you want to save your work.
Click here to play Pixaquarium Game Maker on Facebook Now >
Do you think user-generated content could take off in Facebook games? If you could make any Facebook game, what would it be?
Plants vs. Zombies: Design-a-Zombie Contest
Update: This contest has ended. The top 4 will be contacted by Alexander Armero on Facebook this week. Check back in with blog.games.com for future contests. Thanks for entering!
Folks, if you love Plants vs. Zombies, you're in luck. This week we're giving our fans the chance to win some seriously awesome Plants vs. Zombies swag. I'm talking goodies like hats, magnets, and even Plants vs. Zombies action figures!
So what are you waiting for? Find out how you can win awesome prizes below!
plants vs zombies contestConehead
Zombie Jack-in-the-Box
Zombie Pogo
Zombie plants vs zombies contestSnorkel
Zombie
plants vs zombies contestPole Vault
Zombie plants vs zombies contestDolphin
Rider Zombie plants vs zombies Zamboni
Zombie Zombie
Yeti
If you've played Plants vs. Zombies, you know there are dozens of hilarious zombies. The zamboni zombie, dancing zombie, and dolphin rider zombie are all classics, but I think it might be time for some new ones.
That's where you come in. To win our contest you're going to have to design a zombie of your own.
How to enter:
1. Click this 'Like' button to share the Design-a-Zombie Contest with your friends:
2. Go to our Facebook fanpage and click 'Like'. This enables you to leave us posts.
3. Leave a post on our Facebook fanpage telling us the following:
If you could add your own zombie to Plants vs. Zombies, what would it be? What would it look like? What powers would it have? Be creative, the more detailed the better!
(Example answer: If I could add a zombie to Plants vs. Zombies, I would add a sumo zombie. He would have a massive amount of health, but move really slowly. When facing a plant, he would jump into the air and body slam it, defeating it in one shot.)
plants vz zombies contestPrize A plants vz zombies contestPrize B plants vz zombies contestPrize C plants vz zombies contestPrize D
Click the images to make them larger
At the end of the week, I'll post the top ten zombie ideas right here on Games.com where it will be up to you folks to vote for the winner. The creators of the top four zombie ideas will have their pick of the prizes above. Alexander Armero will reach out to the winners on Facebook for their address and choice of prize.
Sound easy enough? Good luck!
Note: To enter you must be a resident of the United States and have a Facebook account.
Folks, if you love Plants vs. Zombies, you're in luck. This week we're giving our fans the chance to win some seriously awesome Plants vs. Zombies swag. I'm talking goodies like hats, magnets, and even Plants vs. Zombies action figures!
So what are you waiting for? Find out how you can win awesome prizes below!
plants vs zombies contestConehead
Zombie Jack-in-the-Box
Zombie Pogo
Zombie plants vs zombies contestSnorkel
Zombie
plants vs zombies contestPole Vault
Zombie plants vs zombies contestDolphin
Rider Zombie plants vs zombies Zamboni
Zombie Zombie
Yeti
If you've played Plants vs. Zombies, you know there are dozens of hilarious zombies. The zamboni zombie, dancing zombie, and dolphin rider zombie are all classics, but I think it might be time for some new ones.
That's where you come in. To win our contest you're going to have to design a zombie of your own.
How to enter:
1. Click this 'Like' button to share the Design-a-Zombie Contest with your friends:
2. Go to our Facebook fanpage and click 'Like'. This enables you to leave us posts.
3. Leave a post on our Facebook fanpage telling us the following:
If you could add your own zombie to Plants vs. Zombies, what would it be? What would it look like? What powers would it have? Be creative, the more detailed the better!
(Example answer: If I could add a zombie to Plants vs. Zombies, I would add a sumo zombie. He would have a massive amount of health, but move really slowly. When facing a plant, he would jump into the air and body slam it, defeating it in one shot.)
plants vz zombies contestPrize A plants vz zombies contestPrize B plants vz zombies contestPrize C plants vz zombies contestPrize D
Click the images to make them larger
At the end of the week, I'll post the top ten zombie ideas right here on Games.com where it will be up to you folks to vote for the winner. The creators of the top four zombie ideas will have their pick of the prizes above. Alexander Armero will reach out to the winners on Facebook for their address and choice of prize.
Sound easy enough? Good luck!
Note: To enter you must be a resident of the United States and have a Facebook account.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Zynga gobbled up two unnamed companies for $4.9 million in 45 days
CityVille money bags
Talk about nom-noms. VentureBeat reports that FarmVille maker Zynga has acquired two unnamed companies between Oct. 1 and now, citing an amendment to an S1 filing submitted to the U.S. Security and Exchanges Commission yesterday. Zynga has filed several amendments to the S1 filing in preparation for its expected $1 billion initial public offering, but this is by far the juiciest (and most positive, frankly).
According to the filing, Zynga paid a measly $4.9 million total for both companies, meaning they were likely rather small. But it's exactly these tiny acquisitions that have helped the company amass over 2,500 employees globally. With this news, Zynga has bought 15 companies in the past year, all for a total of $45.5 million. Zynga's most recent acquisition (that we know of) was Astro Ape back in August
EA paid nearly $1 billion upfront for Bejeweled maker PopCap, while Disney played upwards $500 million for Playdom last year. Keep in mind, however, that both EA and Disney are basically in a position where small startups simply won't do, if they want to combat Zynga. But don't think Zynga hasn't at least considered a major purchase ... or made major offers outright. Now, who's next?
Who do you think Zynga might have purchased? Do you think EA and Disney could employ a similar strategy to compete with the company?
Talk about nom-noms. VentureBeat reports that FarmVille maker Zynga has acquired two unnamed companies between Oct. 1 and now, citing an amendment to an S1 filing submitted to the U.S. Security and Exchanges Commission yesterday. Zynga has filed several amendments to the S1 filing in preparation for its expected $1 billion initial public offering, but this is by far the juiciest (and most positive, frankly).
According to the filing, Zynga paid a measly $4.9 million total for both companies, meaning they were likely rather small. But it's exactly these tiny acquisitions that have helped the company amass over 2,500 employees globally. With this news, Zynga has bought 15 companies in the past year, all for a total of $45.5 million. Zynga's most recent acquisition (that we know of) was Astro Ape back in August
EA paid nearly $1 billion upfront for Bejeweled maker PopCap, while Disney played upwards $500 million for Playdom last year. Keep in mind, however, that both EA and Disney are basically in a position where small startups simply won't do, if they want to combat Zynga. But don't think Zynga hasn't at least considered a major purchase ... or made major offers outright. Now, who's next?
Who do you think Zynga might have purchased? Do you think EA and Disney could employ a similar strategy to compete with the company?
Casual gamers dump 3DS, PSP to hook up with iPhone, Android
As Facebook would say, "It's complicated." According to a survey released by research firm Cowen and Company, only 26 percent of casual gamers are playing on a Nintendo DS, 3DS or Sony PSP, GamesIndustry.biz reports. By contrast, 52 percent of those surveyed reported playing games on their phone. Granted, this is a survey, but we smell a trend ... a bittersweet one.
"Over the last five years, the penetration of dedicated handheld platforms into survey respondents self-identifying as casual gamers has declined by 29 per cent, with the vast majority of that decline occurring in the last two years," the report reads, according to GI.biz. "We believe cellphone and smartphone gaming is significantly impacting demand for dedicated handheld devices."
The report is based on a survey conducted in September across 1,300, randomly selected people throughout the US, 1,001 of which reported that they've played video games. The report resonates with not only recent surveys, but with how a lot of investors feel. Well, at least in Nintendo's case. The big N's response?
"The concept of having our core franchises on other systems really flies in the face of what we believe in, and that's because by understanding the hardware, that's how we're able to bring these great experiences forward," Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime recently told us, referring to games like Super Mario 3D Land for 3DS. At the very least, bonus points for sticking to your guns, guys.
Do you think Nintendo and Sony have a chance to regain supposedly lost ground in portable gaming? Where do you play most of your handheld games now?
"Over the last five years, the penetration of dedicated handheld platforms into survey respondents self-identifying as casual gamers has declined by 29 per cent, with the vast majority of that decline occurring in the last two years," the report reads, according to GI.biz. "We believe cellphone and smartphone gaming is significantly impacting demand for dedicated handheld devices."
The report is based on a survey conducted in September across 1,300, randomly selected people throughout the US, 1,001 of which reported that they've played video games. The report resonates with not only recent surveys, but with how a lot of investors feel. Well, at least in Nintendo's case. The big N's response?
"The concept of having our core franchises on other systems really flies in the face of what we believe in, and that's because by understanding the hardware, that's how we're able to bring these great experiences forward," Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime recently told us, referring to games like Super Mario 3D Land for 3DS. At the very least, bonus points for sticking to your guns, guys.
Do you think Nintendo and Sony have a chance to regain supposedly lost ground in portable gaming? Where do you play most of your handheld games now?
Scott Steinberg: Facebook could be in music games' future [Interview]
"It was too many games in too short a time, playing to too niche of an audience at too high a price--in the middle of the worst recession possible." According to technology analyst and public speaker Scott Steinberg, this was what essentially killed the enormous music gaming franchises, Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The age of sitting around your living room with three friends, plucking and fiddling with plastic instruments to Rush's Tom Sawyer is all but over ... for now.
Well, at least those exorbitant pieces of plastic are through. Steinberg details the rise, fall, and imminent resurrection of music-based video games in his new novel, "Music Games Rock: Rhythm Gaming's Greatest Hits of All Time," which you can read for free right here. (If you're so inclined to support the guy, it's also available on iBooks, Kindle and in paperback.)
According to Steinberg, music games inspired by Guitar Hero and Rock Band's wild success will get their second shot in the limelight on Facebook and in your smartphones. We recently sat down with Steinberg to hear his thoughts on just how Facebook games can take advantage of this golden opportunity, why it hasn't happened just yet and what the killer Facebook music game might be like.
What advantages would you say social games have to capitalize on the downfall of music games?
There's a number of advantages, right? Free-to-play and incredibly low barriers to entry. You certainly don't have high-end system requirements, and you don't have to buy pricey plastic peripherals. They can tap into your existing music collection or stream it live, and you have millions of players connected to a platform that's uniform.
You don't have to worry, for the most part, about bugs or errors, because everybody is playing the same thing at the same time. So, what you have is a ready made audience, say, on Facebook alone of 800 million people who are incredibly connected. [They] used to playing with one another and are taking part in a platform that's uniquely tailor-made to take advantage of digital music--and oh, by the way, it's completely free to play.
When you take it in this context, coupled with the fact that every human being on this planet is hardwired to enjoy music, that really is the common unifier. Social games really are uniquely poised to take the genre to the next level.
Music Games RockIn your book, you mention that the music genre has enjoyed a revival on social networks through Facebook games like Nightclub City and Dirty Dancing--largely simulator games. But what about games that more closely resemble the now-defunct rhythm games like Pump It? Which of the two do you think has a better chance at thriving on Facebook?
Actually, I would argue that some of the better ones that have a chance of surviving may not even be traditional games at all. Look at a service like Turntable.fm: Wouldn't consider it a game per se, except it's powered completely by gamification elements. You're creating custom play lists, you're interacting with other players in a social environment and ultimately you're competing for the approval of other users by liking the songs.
Or, if you look at other games like YooStar Playground or apps like VidRhythm--these are the titles that are to do particularly well. That said, simulation titles [have a] strong audience for them and proven capability, and certainly because that's where so many games got their roots [on Facebook]. There's likely to be a lot of people interested. I've even seen a number of unreleased games that are in prototype that essentially allow you to take on the role of managing or performing in a rock band--I think they're uniquely well-suited.
I think what's not going to translate over well is simply the standard tap in time with the on-screen indicator type games. Though, these can continue to succeed on mobile platforms, because in the mobile context you're typically looking to play maybe with one hand in a span of five or six minutes. Whereas social games may only be a 15-minute spurt, you're sitting down in front of a PC and you're typically more engaged.
There are some music creation social games on the fringe already, like BreakOutBand, that rely on players to share content to succeed. How important would that be in a social game centered around music?
I think user-created content, as it relates to social games, is massively important, because at the end of the day the developers can only take a game so far. And it's the players' ability to interact with and reshape that music or related content that really creates a sense of community, and allows a title to constantly keep feeling fresh and people coming back for more.
It's essentially a win-win, because for the developer it's a very affordable way to keep adding content to the game and keep people talking about it, and coming back after weeks and weeks. Players aren't constrained by office politics, licensing issues, and--to be frank--everybody loves to mix and mash creations.
But how much of that is going to be super-high quality, or chart-topping hits shall we say, versus underground little diddies? This is social interaction at its core, right? So, if you don't have that level of user interactivity, at the end of the day what you have is essentially a game with a bunch of canned content. And not much reason--unless it's saying you need to recruit other players to earn money for your band or unlock new stuff--there's not much incentive to pass it along.
A good amount of music games already exist on Facebook, but none are taking off like music games did before the turn of the decade. What do you think it would take for a music-based social game to enjoy success and notoriety like Guitar Hero?
You need to have a concept with extremely wide appeal that allows players to enjoy rock star wish fulfillment in a matter of minutes without the painful side effects. What also is important is to have recognizable band scenarios, you know, licensed music. But also the ability for players to put their own spin on it and a reason for them to engage with one another.
The problem is, to succeed on social networks where you literally have thousands of titles competing, dozens of them coming out every single week--all of which are completely free to play versus Guitar Hero, which was completely brand new. To have that success on Facebook or another social network, I almost think what you're going to see is a title that's going to have to align itself with Spotify or another one of these streaming services to tap into a massive database of real-world artists and then finds new ways for you to interact with that music.
Dirty Dancing Facebook game
Back to the branded music games like Dirty Dancing (pictured). As you know, they're reaching critical mass, so what do you think is the likelihood of a monster brand like Guitar Hero or Rock Band appearing on Facebook?
Oh, it's a certainty. It's not a question of 'if,' but just a question of 'when.' I think a lot of that is because the game makers aren't unawares. Activision, Harmonix, Mad Catz: They understand the power of social networks as a platform. The problem is that their business has been thus far founded in either selling peripherals--good mark up on those plastic guitars--or selling software for 60 bucks a pop.
They haven't had as much incentive to scurry and think, 'How do we make a free-to-play platform where we're probably going to make a lot less money in the immediate?' But slowly and surely, as so many game players are migrating to these platforms, convenience is winning. It's almost as if they're being forced to acknowledge it. It's a completely new approach to game design--Wal-Mart's not going to order a million units. They'll embrace it; it's just a question of 'when.'
Try to describe your dream music-based Facebook game to me. In other words, what do you think would be the ultimate approach to a music game on Facebook?
The ultimate Facebook music game would not only be able to tap into your full library of digital music, but also stream millions of songs on demand. [It would] allow you to set up on stage custom concerts for your friends, featuring this music or original music you created. [You would] style your avatars, build your own bands, create your own followings, sell your own virtual merchandise and connect over shared love of music with millions of players across the world.
It would effectively recreate the rock and recording industry experience, only in a virtual setting. What I mean is a combo listening service, social network, slash simulation game that effectively allows you to build a rock band and recording industry career from the ground up. I don't see any reason why you couldn't create avatars for your band--it's own look, logo, virtual stickers, t-shirts. You could buy branded gear like Gibson's or Marshall's, earn cash from touring, build your own virtual labels. I don't see any reason why a platform wouldn't be able to break new artists.
Wow, I think it's time for you to call the patent office. Thanks for taking the time to chat, Scott.
What do you think of the prospects of a wildly successful music game hitting Facebook? Who do you think could be the first to create the ultimate music game on Facebook?
Well, at least those exorbitant pieces of plastic are through. Steinberg details the rise, fall, and imminent resurrection of music-based video games in his new novel, "Music Games Rock: Rhythm Gaming's Greatest Hits of All Time," which you can read for free right here. (If you're so inclined to support the guy, it's also available on iBooks, Kindle and in paperback.)
According to Steinberg, music games inspired by Guitar Hero and Rock Band's wild success will get their second shot in the limelight on Facebook and in your smartphones. We recently sat down with Steinberg to hear his thoughts on just how Facebook games can take advantage of this golden opportunity, why it hasn't happened just yet and what the killer Facebook music game might be like.
What advantages would you say social games have to capitalize on the downfall of music games?
There's a number of advantages, right? Free-to-play and incredibly low barriers to entry. You certainly don't have high-end system requirements, and you don't have to buy pricey plastic peripherals. They can tap into your existing music collection or stream it live, and you have millions of players connected to a platform that's uniform.
You don't have to worry, for the most part, about bugs or errors, because everybody is playing the same thing at the same time. So, what you have is a ready made audience, say, on Facebook alone of 800 million people who are incredibly connected. [They] used to playing with one another and are taking part in a platform that's uniquely tailor-made to take advantage of digital music--and oh, by the way, it's completely free to play.
When you take it in this context, coupled with the fact that every human being on this planet is hardwired to enjoy music, that really is the common unifier. Social games really are uniquely poised to take the genre to the next level.
Music Games RockIn your book, you mention that the music genre has enjoyed a revival on social networks through Facebook games like Nightclub City and Dirty Dancing--largely simulator games. But what about games that more closely resemble the now-defunct rhythm games like Pump It? Which of the two do you think has a better chance at thriving on Facebook?
Actually, I would argue that some of the better ones that have a chance of surviving may not even be traditional games at all. Look at a service like Turntable.fm: Wouldn't consider it a game per se, except it's powered completely by gamification elements. You're creating custom play lists, you're interacting with other players in a social environment and ultimately you're competing for the approval of other users by liking the songs.
Or, if you look at other games like YooStar Playground or apps like VidRhythm--these are the titles that are to do particularly well. That said, simulation titles [have a] strong audience for them and proven capability, and certainly because that's where so many games got their roots [on Facebook]. There's likely to be a lot of people interested. I've even seen a number of unreleased games that are in prototype that essentially allow you to take on the role of managing or performing in a rock band--I think they're uniquely well-suited.
I think what's not going to translate over well is simply the standard tap in time with the on-screen indicator type games. Though, these can continue to succeed on mobile platforms, because in the mobile context you're typically looking to play maybe with one hand in a span of five or six minutes. Whereas social games may only be a 15-minute spurt, you're sitting down in front of a PC and you're typically more engaged.
There are some music creation social games on the fringe already, like BreakOutBand, that rely on players to share content to succeed. How important would that be in a social game centered around music?
I think user-created content, as it relates to social games, is massively important, because at the end of the day the developers can only take a game so far. And it's the players' ability to interact with and reshape that music or related content that really creates a sense of community, and allows a title to constantly keep feeling fresh and people coming back for more.
It's essentially a win-win, because for the developer it's a very affordable way to keep adding content to the game and keep people talking about it, and coming back after weeks and weeks. Players aren't constrained by office politics, licensing issues, and--to be frank--everybody loves to mix and mash creations.
But how much of that is going to be super-high quality, or chart-topping hits shall we say, versus underground little diddies? This is social interaction at its core, right? So, if you don't have that level of user interactivity, at the end of the day what you have is essentially a game with a bunch of canned content. And not much reason--unless it's saying you need to recruit other players to earn money for your band or unlock new stuff--there's not much incentive to pass it along.
A good amount of music games already exist on Facebook, but none are taking off like music games did before the turn of the decade. What do you think it would take for a music-based social game to enjoy success and notoriety like Guitar Hero?
You need to have a concept with extremely wide appeal that allows players to enjoy rock star wish fulfillment in a matter of minutes without the painful side effects. What also is important is to have recognizable band scenarios, you know, licensed music. But also the ability for players to put their own spin on it and a reason for them to engage with one another.
The problem is, to succeed on social networks where you literally have thousands of titles competing, dozens of them coming out every single week--all of which are completely free to play versus Guitar Hero, which was completely brand new. To have that success on Facebook or another social network, I almost think what you're going to see is a title that's going to have to align itself with Spotify or another one of these streaming services to tap into a massive database of real-world artists and then finds new ways for you to interact with that music.
Dirty Dancing Facebook game
Back to the branded music games like Dirty Dancing (pictured). As you know, they're reaching critical mass, so what do you think is the likelihood of a monster brand like Guitar Hero or Rock Band appearing on Facebook?
Oh, it's a certainty. It's not a question of 'if,' but just a question of 'when.' I think a lot of that is because the game makers aren't unawares. Activision, Harmonix, Mad Catz: They understand the power of social networks as a platform. The problem is that their business has been thus far founded in either selling peripherals--good mark up on those plastic guitars--or selling software for 60 bucks a pop.
They haven't had as much incentive to scurry and think, 'How do we make a free-to-play platform where we're probably going to make a lot less money in the immediate?' But slowly and surely, as so many game players are migrating to these platforms, convenience is winning. It's almost as if they're being forced to acknowledge it. It's a completely new approach to game design--Wal-Mart's not going to order a million units. They'll embrace it; it's just a question of 'when.'
Try to describe your dream music-based Facebook game to me. In other words, what do you think would be the ultimate approach to a music game on Facebook?
The ultimate Facebook music game would not only be able to tap into your full library of digital music, but also stream millions of songs on demand. [It would] allow you to set up on stage custom concerts for your friends, featuring this music or original music you created. [You would] style your avatars, build your own bands, create your own followings, sell your own virtual merchandise and connect over shared love of music with millions of players across the world.
It would effectively recreate the rock and recording industry experience, only in a virtual setting. What I mean is a combo listening service, social network, slash simulation game that effectively allows you to build a rock band and recording industry career from the ground up. I don't see any reason why you couldn't create avatars for your band--it's own look, logo, virtual stickers, t-shirts. You could buy branded gear like Gibson's or Marshall's, earn cash from touring, build your own virtual labels. I don't see any reason why a platform wouldn't be able to break new artists.
Wow, I think it's time for you to call the patent office. Thanks for taking the time to chat, Scott.
What do you think of the prospects of a wildly successful music game hitting Facebook? Who do you think could be the first to create the ultimate music game on Facebook?
Quote of the Moment: 'People will get burnt out on' today's social games
Better prepare your last words, CityVille. Alright, so the top Facebook game might have longer than that in it, but Glitch developer and Tiny Speck founder Stewart Butterfield says that games designed like Zynga's best can't last forever. Speck, best known for creating Flickr, made the projection during an in-depth interview with GamesIndustry.biz.
"People will get burnt out on this," Butterfield told GI.biz. "Maybe some of them will last for a very long time, but I feel like the easy successes have been taken already, and that won't work in the long run. I mean, I could be wrong about that, and I hope I am, because that would be a lame future for games."
The social game rookie is speaking to how the majority of, if not all, popular Facebook games are designed: the Energy system. Butterfield thinks that social gamers will eventually grow tired of being forced to either wait to progress in a game after their Energy is spent or put up a buck to keep going. (Only it's slowly becoming more like $5.)
"Just my own reaction, the first time I saw that it was okay, the second time I saw that it was okay, and by whatever time it is now I'm like, 'I get this. It's transparent, and I don't give a shit about having a bigger building here that cost me three dollars.,'" the Glitch maker admitted to GI.biz. In other words, he's tired of the gated progress design in Facebook games. Actually, so should we after four years of putting up with it.
Are you sick of Energy in social games? What should social game makers do to change this system yet remain profitable so that they might keep making games?
"People will get burnt out on this," Butterfield told GI.biz. "Maybe some of them will last for a very long time, but I feel like the easy successes have been taken already, and that won't work in the long run. I mean, I could be wrong about that, and I hope I am, because that would be a lame future for games."
The social game rookie is speaking to how the majority of, if not all, popular Facebook games are designed: the Energy system. Butterfield thinks that social gamers will eventually grow tired of being forced to either wait to progress in a game after their Energy is spent or put up a buck to keep going. (Only it's slowly becoming more like $5.)
"Just my own reaction, the first time I saw that it was okay, the second time I saw that it was okay, and by whatever time it is now I'm like, 'I get this. It's transparent, and I don't give a shit about having a bigger building here that cost me three dollars.,'" the Glitch maker admitted to GI.biz. In other words, he's tired of the gated progress design in Facebook games. Actually, so should we after four years of putting up with it.
Are you sick of Energy in social games? What should social game makers do to change this system yet remain profitable so that they might keep making games?
Ever want to joust on a Vespa? Then thank social game maker Naoplay
Soon, friend--your weird, weird dreams of impaling your best friends while riding a motorscooter will come true. French social game developer Naoplay has announced MetroJoust, a new social game headed to Facebook, iOS and Android come 2012. Expected in the year's "first trimester (what kind of time frame is that?)," MetroJoust sounds fairly self-explanatory.
You'll get to compete in a joust ... in a metropolitan area with metropolitan themes. We can already imagine how this is going to turn out. (Spoiler: It'll probably be a skill-based affair.) According to the announcement, "MetroJoust offers different and complementary playing experiences depending on the platform you play it on." We're just gonna go out on a limb and guess that means you'll earn rewards usual across multiple versions of the game.
MetroJoust artwork
Naoplay says that MetroJoust will start off like a casual social game, but later ramp up in complexity. The game will later feature "real RPG dimension including character leveling, interaction with other players but also non playing characters, a complete guild system and from the start, a thousand items available, allowing players to upgrade and personalize their characters."
Based on these initial screens, we know that the game will focus heavily on artwork evocative of themes like urban decay or perhaps even post-apocalypse. Players will get to deck out their modern knights like new shields, armor and steeds--er, rides. Naoplay will release another teaser for MetroJoust on Dec. 8, and maybe we'll get to see a Vespa joust in motion. But only if it's a Vespa.
Are you intrigued by a Facebook game focusing on modern jousts? Which of the three platforms do you think a game like this would do best on?
You'll get to compete in a joust ... in a metropolitan area with metropolitan themes. We can already imagine how this is going to turn out. (Spoiler: It'll probably be a skill-based affair.) According to the announcement, "MetroJoust offers different and complementary playing experiences depending on the platform you play it on." We're just gonna go out on a limb and guess that means you'll earn rewards usual across multiple versions of the game.
MetroJoust artwork
Naoplay says that MetroJoust will start off like a casual social game, but later ramp up in complexity. The game will later feature "real RPG dimension including character leveling, interaction with other players but also non playing characters, a complete guild system and from the start, a thousand items available, allowing players to upgrade and personalize their characters."
Based on these initial screens, we know that the game will focus heavily on artwork evocative of themes like urban decay or perhaps even post-apocalypse. Players will get to deck out their modern knights like new shields, armor and steeds--er, rides. Naoplay will release another teaser for MetroJoust on Dec. 8, and maybe we'll get to see a Vespa joust in motion. But only if it's a Vespa.
Are you intrigued by a Facebook game focusing on modern jousts? Which of the three platforms do you think a game like this would do best on?
Monday, December 12, 2011
It was ... Mafia Wars malware that infected the Air Force drone fleet?
I guess when local politicians are too busy playing CityVille to attend meetings, you really can't put this sort of thing past anyone. The U.S. Air Force has revealed new details on just what virus has infected the remote cockpits of its drone fleet, Wired reports. They're quite revealing as to what these remote crews might be up to on the job.
An anonymous defense official told the Associated Press that the malware that infected the remote cockpits' hard drives "is routinely used to steal log-in and password data from people who gamble or play games like Mafia Wars online." The official didn't explain why remote drone crews were playing Mafia Wars or gambling online while on missions overseas.
And according to Wired, insiders say that the virus has been particularly difficult to remove, forcing crew to erase and completely rebuild the infected hard drives. The Air Force said that the virus is "a credential stealer," transmitted by thumb drives. So, Air Force drone crews were either playing Mafia Wars/gambling online using military computers, or using thumb drives in said computers that had been used in outside computers with access to Mafia Wars.
But do you really think those thumb drives ever leave base? If that's the case (fat chance), then this is another issue entirely. Remotely piloted drones are on slippery enough of a slope already. Come on, people, couldn't you at least have been playing a new Zynga game, like Mafia Wars 2?
[Via Kotaku]
[Image Credit:: TSgt Erik Gudmundson/U.S. Defense]
Have you ever played a social game on the job? What do you think of the remote drone program, given news like this?
An anonymous defense official told the Associated Press that the malware that infected the remote cockpits' hard drives "is routinely used to steal log-in and password data from people who gamble or play games like Mafia Wars online." The official didn't explain why remote drone crews were playing Mafia Wars or gambling online while on missions overseas.
And according to Wired, insiders say that the virus has been particularly difficult to remove, forcing crew to erase and completely rebuild the infected hard drives. The Air Force said that the virus is "a credential stealer," transmitted by thumb drives. So, Air Force drone crews were either playing Mafia Wars/gambling online using military computers, or using thumb drives in said computers that had been used in outside computers with access to Mafia Wars.
But do you really think those thumb drives ever leave base? If that's the case (fat chance), then this is another issue entirely. Remotely piloted drones are on slippery enough of a slope already. Come on, people, couldn't you at least have been playing a new Zynga game, like Mafia Wars 2?
[Via Kotaku]
[Image Credit:: TSgt Erik Gudmundson/U.S. Defense]
Have you ever played a social game on the job? What do you think of the remote drone program, given news like this?
FarmVille Pic of the Day: Trick or Treat on Diva Denae 7's haunted path
You won't ever get lost trick or treating on Diva Denae 7's FarmVille farm thanks to the handy black hay bale path that she's created. Sporting the caption "BOO!", the black path is also lined with trees of varying colors. A large white arrow, which was also made using hay bales, points to the starting point. Once you're at the end of the path, trick or treaters will be greeted by a smiling pumpkin face on the front lawn of last year's fully completed, buildable Haunted House.
Beneath the "BOO!" caption is a rectangular centerpiece filled with Halloween decorations released last year, including Pumpkin House, Bat Tree, Plant Monster, and what looks like a row of Scared Ewes that are definitely surrounded by the Autumn Fence. You'll also find the Limited Edition FarmVille Sign plugging the gap in those fences, but the fence itself is from the California theme event.
Diva Denae 7's Halloween concept for her farm may not be as epically encompassing as Onisuka057's from earlier this week, but that path definitely grabs your eyes and certainly wins points for originality.
Are you going trick-or-treating this year? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
If you have an AWESOME FarmVille farm that you want to see featured on Games.com, please email a picture to editors@games.com, Include a few words about the inspiration for your design and maybe a few tips for people who need an assist!
Beneath the "BOO!" caption is a rectangular centerpiece filled with Halloween decorations released last year, including Pumpkin House, Bat Tree, Plant Monster, and what looks like a row of Scared Ewes that are definitely surrounded by the Autumn Fence. You'll also find the Limited Edition FarmVille Sign plugging the gap in those fences, but the fence itself is from the California theme event.
Diva Denae 7's Halloween concept for her farm may not be as epically encompassing as Onisuka057's from earlier this week, but that path definitely grabs your eyes and certainly wins points for originality.
Are you going trick-or-treating this year? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
If you have an AWESOME FarmVille farm that you want to see featured on Games.com, please email a picture to editors@games.com, Include a few words about the inspiration for your design and maybe a few tips for people who need an assist!
Ngmoco names former Mattel exec as CMO to oversee Mobage launch
DeNA and Ngmoco really want the Mobage platform to succeed in the states and elsewhere. And who can blame them: Mobile is the proverbial final frontier for games companies. This must be why Ngmoco just announced that it has hired former Mattel marketing executive Michael Staskin to oversee the company's marketing push for Mobage, DeNA's mobile social gaming network for Android devices (and soon iPhone and iPad).
Staskin most recently served as VP of marketing and communications at Milan, Italy-based gaming and lottery company Sisal SpA. At Ngmoco he will "lead all global marketing and communications efforts for the company," according to a release, and that includes things like advertising, public relations and customer acquistion. In layman's terms, it's Staskin's job to get more mobile gamers to use Mobage.
"ngmoco is poised to forever change the way people interact with content on their mobile devices," new Ngmoco CMO Staskin said in a release. "I'm excited to introduce consumers around the world to Mobage, a new way to consume, share and experience mobile entertainment."
A report by JP Morgan in Tokyo, via Serkan Toto, said there have been between 50,000 and 100,000 installs of the Mobage app for Android devices, calling that number "extremely small." So yeah, DeNA and Ngmoco could certainly use a guy like Staskin to get more players on their mobile social gaming platform. And with developers like Grasshopper Manufacture and Atakama Labs on board, perhaps Mobage has yet to "arrive."
[Image Credit: Business People Italy]
Do you think Staskin will bring what it takes for Mobage to come out on top as the premier mobile social gaming platform? Have you tried Mobage for Android?
Staskin most recently served as VP of marketing and communications at Milan, Italy-based gaming and lottery company Sisal SpA. At Ngmoco he will "lead all global marketing and communications efforts for the company," according to a release, and that includes things like advertising, public relations and customer acquistion. In layman's terms, it's Staskin's job to get more mobile gamers to use Mobage.
"ngmoco is poised to forever change the way people interact with content on their mobile devices," new Ngmoco CMO Staskin said in a release. "I'm excited to introduce consumers around the world to Mobage, a new way to consume, share and experience mobile entertainment."
A report by JP Morgan in Tokyo, via Serkan Toto, said there have been between 50,000 and 100,000 installs of the Mobage app for Android devices, calling that number "extremely small." So yeah, DeNA and Ngmoco could certainly use a guy like Staskin to get more players on their mobile social gaming platform. And with developers like Grasshopper Manufacture and Atakama Labs on board, perhaps Mobage has yet to "arrive."
[Image Credit: Business People Italy]
Do you think Staskin will bring what it takes for Mobage to come out on top as the premier mobile social gaming platform? Have you tried Mobage for Android?
Find free Android games through OpenFeint's Game Channel app
Gree and OpenFeint just opened fire on DeNA and Ngmoco's Mobage network for Android. DeNA's primary competitors abroad just announced that Game Channel has arrived on Android devices. Known on iOS devices as OpenFeint's mobile games discovery platform, Game Channel offers Android gamers a way to discover new games to play, namely free-to-play games.
Through Game Channel, OpenFeint will display games to users such as the Featured Game and Free Game of the Day, which the company says will include free in-game items, too. As for curation, OpenFeint will recognize notable free games under its Free Games That Rock category, and highlight game personally recommended by the company within Feint's Featured Picks.
The Game Channel app will also recommend games based on the seasons and other themes like holidays. Players will get to access their profiles and other social features right from within Game Channel, and OpenFeint will recommend new releases. This news comes just as OpenFeint finds itself with a new CEO, former Gree exec Naoki Aoyagi, and a new director of developer relations, Sarah Thompson.
Gree and DeNA have begun to battle for mobile social gaming supremacy vicariously through their strategic acquisitions, OpenFeint and Ngmoco, respectively. While Ngmoco is reportedly seeking more users to bolster its rather small number of Mobage users, OpenFeint reports welcoming 128 million players across all platforms. But it's also important to note the amount of developer support DeNA and Ngmoco have garnered recently. And now Zynga is heavy into mobile gaming--oy vey.
Are an Android gamer that has trouble finding new mobile social games to play? Do you think OpenFeint will provide that solution better than Mobage can, and which do you prefer?
Through Game Channel, OpenFeint will display games to users such as the Featured Game and Free Game of the Day, which the company says will include free in-game items, too. As for curation, OpenFeint will recognize notable free games under its Free Games That Rock category, and highlight game personally recommended by the company within Feint's Featured Picks.
The Game Channel app will also recommend games based on the seasons and other themes like holidays. Players will get to access their profiles and other social features right from within Game Channel, and OpenFeint will recommend new releases. This news comes just as OpenFeint finds itself with a new CEO, former Gree exec Naoki Aoyagi, and a new director of developer relations, Sarah Thompson.
Gree and DeNA have begun to battle for mobile social gaming supremacy vicariously through their strategic acquisitions, OpenFeint and Ngmoco, respectively. While Ngmoco is reportedly seeking more users to bolster its rather small number of Mobage users, OpenFeint reports welcoming 128 million players across all platforms. But it's also important to note the amount of developer support DeNA and Ngmoco have garnered recently. And now Zynga is heavy into mobile gaming--oy vey.
Are an Android gamer that has trouble finding new mobile social games to play? Do you think OpenFeint will provide that solution better than Mobage can, and which do you prefer?
Angry Birds maker Rovio looking at $1 billion IPO next year
Thanks to those irate, wingless birds, Rovio is worth lots and lots of money, apparently. Speaking with Bloomberg, the Angry Birds creator's CMO Peter Vesterbacka said, "We're not ready to file for an IPO tomorrow. Maybe a year from now." And speaking to the recent estimations that Rovio is worth around $1 billion, Vesterbacka all but confirmed the guesswork.
"We're happy with our valuation but we think it's probably a bit north of that," Vesterbacka said to Bloomberg. So, there you have it: Regular folks like you and I might be able to invest in the creator of Angry Birds by sometime next year. Also known as Rovio's Mighty Eagle, a play on the in-game character, Vesterbacka said that the company is "insanely profitable."
While we're not sure, we're going to make an educated guess and say that the Angry Birds' insane profitably comes from, oh, I don't know, the fact that they're everywhere? From big-time movie deals to plush toys, cookbooks, board games and stadium screen games, Rovio's flagship franchise is everywhere. And it's through this massive push that the company looks to be the first entertainment brand with 1 billion fans.
The two never seem to come up in the same conversation, but Rovio sounds more and more like Zynga every day, though with a vastly different strategy. As rumors stir of a FarmVille movie in the works (sound familiar?), Rovio toys with the idea of becoming a games publisher (again, sound familiar?). It makes one wonder if the two will ever clash. Hey, Angry Birds is supposedly in development on Facebook, after all.
[Via Mashable]
Do you think Angry Birds can sustain the Angry Birds fever into 2012 for its potential initial public offering? Do you think Zynga and Rovio consider each other a threat?
"We're happy with our valuation but we think it's probably a bit north of that," Vesterbacka said to Bloomberg. So, there you have it: Regular folks like you and I might be able to invest in the creator of Angry Birds by sometime next year. Also known as Rovio's Mighty Eagle, a play on the in-game character, Vesterbacka said that the company is "insanely profitable."
While we're not sure, we're going to make an educated guess and say that the Angry Birds' insane profitably comes from, oh, I don't know, the fact that they're everywhere? From big-time movie deals to plush toys, cookbooks, board games and stadium screen games, Rovio's flagship franchise is everywhere. And it's through this massive push that the company looks to be the first entertainment brand with 1 billion fans.
The two never seem to come up in the same conversation, but Rovio sounds more and more like Zynga every day, though with a vastly different strategy. As rumors stir of a FarmVille movie in the works (sound familiar?), Rovio toys with the idea of becoming a games publisher (again, sound familiar?). It makes one wonder if the two will ever clash. Hey, Angry Birds is supposedly in development on Facebook, after all.
[Via Mashable]
Do you think Angry Birds can sustain the Angry Birds fever into 2012 for its potential initial public offering? Do you think Zynga and Rovio consider each other a threat?
Saturday, December 10, 2011
FarmVille Sneak Peek: Meet Winter Wonderland's Zing the Elf
Whether you're ready or not, winter is coming in FarmVille, and it comes in the form of a fourth farm called Winter Wonderland. While we have already taken a few guesses as to what this farm will be like (essentially Lighthouse Cove but with a train track instead of the cove), we have been given a few more concrete details today, via the big Z itself on the game's Facebook Fan Page.
Here, we meet Zing the Elf, a new character that will apparently lead us through our time in the Winter Wonderland farm. With this introduction comes another look at the farm itself. We see the same Peppermint Candy Market Stall, but we also see what looks to be a Train Station (I'm guessing, via the clock above the main door) and a cozy cabin. We can also see Gingerbread Men crops growing, which are definitely adorable, and some silver, yet snow covered fencing in the very bottom right-hand corner of the screenshot.
As for any specific tips from Zynga, we're simply told that we should "[g]et ready for a Holiday hijinks and snowy surprises coming soon." Oh, I'm ready Zynga. I'm definitely, definitely ready.
Are you excited to learn more about this Winter Wonderland farm, coming soon to FarmVille? Will you pay Farm Cash to access the farm early, assuming that sort of option is once again available for this farm?
Here, we meet Zing the Elf, a new character that will apparently lead us through our time in the Winter Wonderland farm. With this introduction comes another look at the farm itself. We see the same Peppermint Candy Market Stall, but we also see what looks to be a Train Station (I'm guessing, via the clock above the main door) and a cozy cabin. We can also see Gingerbread Men crops growing, which are definitely adorable, and some silver, yet snow covered fencing in the very bottom right-hand corner of the screenshot.
As for any specific tips from Zynga, we're simply told that we should "[g]et ready for a Holiday hijinks and snowy surprises coming soon." Oh, I'm ready Zynga. I'm definitely, definitely ready.
Are you excited to learn more about this Winter Wonderland farm, coming soon to FarmVille? Will you pay Farm Cash to access the farm early, assuming that sort of option is once again available for this farm?
FarmVille Autumn Items: Multi-Color Corn, Striped Maple Tree and more
Tonight's FarmVille update will give even the most traditional farmer a cause for celebration. If you're the kind of player that likes to master each and every crop released in the game, make sure to take a note of the special Mutli-Color Corn that has launched in the Autumn theme this evening. On top of this crop, there are new trees, animals and more to take a look at, so let's get started on our overview of what to expect if you head into the store in the near future.
Crops
Multi-Color Corn - 15 coins
To be specific, each square of Multi-Color Corn planted will cost 15 coins, and will be ready to harvest in 10 hours. You'll earn two experience points for each plot planted, and will be able to sell the corn for 90 coins per square when it's mature. The first star of mastery for this crop comes after 650 harvests, and it will be available to grow for the next 27 days, no permit required.
Trees
Striped Maple Tree - 6 Farm Cash
Paperbark Maple Tree - 12 Farm Cash
As usual, only purchase the Striped Maple Tree from the store, as you can claim the Paperbark Maple as a Mystery Seedling from friends, or from your own Orchards.
Animals
Longwool Sheep - 16 Farm Cash
Red Devon Ox - 20 Farm Cash
Spotted Draft Horse - 26 Farm Cash
None of these animals particularly scream "Autumn;" that is, the don't come with funny outfits or hats. While that's not entirely a bad thing, if you're a fan of more whimsical animals, you're out of luck with this update.
Buildings
Clapboard House - 15 Farm Cash
As far as buildings in FarmVille go, this one is fairly average, both in terms of size and height. If you're looking for a smaller building to fill in a gap in your Lighthouse Cove village, for instance, you might want to take a look at this one.
Decorations
Colonial Fence - 7,000 coins
Colonial Carriage - 12 Farm Cash
Wool Spinning Wheel - 30,000 coins
If you're looking to only spend coins in this update, at least we've finally found a couple of items that will be available to you. However, if you're fine spending Farm Cash and purchase most of the items in this update, you'll receive a Chieften Gnome as a prize in your game.
For the majority of these items (save for the crop and the Chieften Gnome), these items will be available in the game's store for the next two weeks. if you'll be busy with holiday preparations and celebrations during that time, make sure to check out the store at some point so you don't regret missing out on one of these items! Believe me, I've done it - you don't want to be me!
What do you think of these new items in the Autumn item theme? Which ones will you purchase for your farm(s), and which ones will you pass on for now?
Crops
Multi-Color Corn - 15 coins
To be specific, each square of Multi-Color Corn planted will cost 15 coins, and will be ready to harvest in 10 hours. You'll earn two experience points for each plot planted, and will be able to sell the corn for 90 coins per square when it's mature. The first star of mastery for this crop comes after 650 harvests, and it will be available to grow for the next 27 days, no permit required.
Trees
Striped Maple Tree - 6 Farm Cash
Paperbark Maple Tree - 12 Farm Cash
As usual, only purchase the Striped Maple Tree from the store, as you can claim the Paperbark Maple as a Mystery Seedling from friends, or from your own Orchards.
Animals
Longwool Sheep - 16 Farm Cash
Red Devon Ox - 20 Farm Cash
Spotted Draft Horse - 26 Farm Cash
None of these animals particularly scream "Autumn;" that is, the don't come with funny outfits or hats. While that's not entirely a bad thing, if you're a fan of more whimsical animals, you're out of luck with this update.
Buildings
Clapboard House - 15 Farm Cash
As far as buildings in FarmVille go, this one is fairly average, both in terms of size and height. If you're looking for a smaller building to fill in a gap in your Lighthouse Cove village, for instance, you might want to take a look at this one.
Decorations
Colonial Fence - 7,000 coins
Colonial Carriage - 12 Farm Cash
Wool Spinning Wheel - 30,000 coins
If you're looking to only spend coins in this update, at least we've finally found a couple of items that will be available to you. However, if you're fine spending Farm Cash and purchase most of the items in this update, you'll receive a Chieften Gnome as a prize in your game.
For the majority of these items (save for the crop and the Chieften Gnome), these items will be available in the game's store for the next two weeks. if you'll be busy with holiday preparations and celebrations during that time, make sure to check out the store at some point so you don't regret missing out on one of these items! Believe me, I've done it - you don't want to be me!
What do you think of these new items in the Autumn item theme? Which ones will you purchase for your farm(s), and which ones will you pass on for now?
FarmVille Winter Holiday Items: Santa Hat Tree, Tinsel Reindeer and more
Even though a completely new farm will be coming to FarmVille in the near future - that being the Winter Wonderland farm - that hasn't stopped Zynga from releasing more Winter Holiday items into the game's current store. A series of trees, animals and even decorations was released this week, so we're here to give you a complete look at what's now waiting for you when you get back to your farm.
Trees
Santa Hat Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Giant Santa Hat Tree - 14 Farm Cash
If it still needs to be said, the Santa Hat Tree is the only one here that you should purchase, as you can earn Giant Santa Hat Trees for free through Mystery Seedlings.
Animals
Tinsel Reindeer - 16 Farm Cash
Giant Tinsel Reindeer - 16 Farm Cash
Tinsel Mini Horse - 24 Farm Cash
Elf Corgi - 12 Farm Cash
Belgian Blue Cow - 2 million coins
Like the Santa Sheep released before them, these Tinsel Reindeer really only differ in their sizes, and in the fact that both animals can be mastered separately, resulting in two separate mastery signs for your farm.
Buildings
Reindeer Stable - 15 Farm Cash
Are you going for a true Christmas Village look on your farms this year? This Reindeer Statue will do beautifully next to those Tinsel Reindeer, or any you happen to be holding onto from previous events.
Decorations
Garland Fence - 7,000 coins
Snowman Gnome - 12 Farm Cash
Big Ornament Fountain - 10 Farm Cash
There aren't very many decorations in this particular release, but the ones that are there are quite cute, if you ask me. This Snowman Gnome is also cheaper than the 15-16 Farm Cash prices we normally see for gnomes, so at least you'll be able to add one to your collection for a bit cheaper than "normal."
Avatar Costumes
Reindeer - 10 Farm Cash
Santa Suit - 10 Farm Cash
Both of these costumes are re-releases from previous years' themes, so if you don't see one or both listed in your own store, you likely already have them in your in-game closet.
All of these items will be available in the game's store for the next two weeks. Will we see the launch of the Winter Wonderland farm between now and then? We're not sure, but we'll make sure you're the first to know when this new farm launches, just as soon as we do.
What do you think of these newest Winter Holiday items? Which ones will you purchase for your farm?
Trees
Santa Hat Tree - 8 Farm Cash
Giant Santa Hat Tree - 14 Farm Cash
If it still needs to be said, the Santa Hat Tree is the only one here that you should purchase, as you can earn Giant Santa Hat Trees for free through Mystery Seedlings.
Animals
Tinsel Reindeer - 16 Farm Cash
Giant Tinsel Reindeer - 16 Farm Cash
Tinsel Mini Horse - 24 Farm Cash
Elf Corgi - 12 Farm Cash
Belgian Blue Cow - 2 million coins
Like the Santa Sheep released before them, these Tinsel Reindeer really only differ in their sizes, and in the fact that both animals can be mastered separately, resulting in two separate mastery signs for your farm.
Buildings
Reindeer Stable - 15 Farm Cash
Are you going for a true Christmas Village look on your farms this year? This Reindeer Statue will do beautifully next to those Tinsel Reindeer, or any you happen to be holding onto from previous events.
Decorations
Garland Fence - 7,000 coins
Snowman Gnome - 12 Farm Cash
Big Ornament Fountain - 10 Farm Cash
There aren't very many decorations in this particular release, but the ones that are there are quite cute, if you ask me. This Snowman Gnome is also cheaper than the 15-16 Farm Cash prices we normally see for gnomes, so at least you'll be able to add one to your collection for a bit cheaper than "normal."
Avatar Costumes
Reindeer - 10 Farm Cash
Santa Suit - 10 Farm Cash
Both of these costumes are re-releases from previous years' themes, so if you don't see one or both listed in your own store, you likely already have them in your in-game closet.
All of these items will be available in the game's store for the next two weeks. Will we see the launch of the Winter Wonderland farm between now and then? We're not sure, but we'll make sure you're the first to know when this new farm launches, just as soon as we do.
What do you think of these newest Winter Holiday items? Which ones will you purchase for your farm?
In CityVille, it's gonna feel good to be The King (of Pop, that is)
Look, we normally question the validity of in-game branding events (take Enrique, for instance), but you don't question Michael. Well, at least not when it comes to his contributions to pop culture--good, bad and hilarious. So, instead of wonder why Zynga has enlisted the late King of Pop as the next big brand to hit CityVille, we're just going to accept it ... and maybe have a little fun.
From Nov. 17 through Nov. 25, Michael Jackson will rock CityVille (all night?) to celebrate the The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil, an interpretive showcase of the multimillion record-selling recording artist's work. The developer has included a number of activities for players to partake in order to unlock an exclusive video of The Immortal World Tour. For starters, you'll get your very own version of Bubbles, Michael's pet monkey to keep you company in your city.
Throughout this week, collecting rent from your properties in CityVille has the chance to inspire a "synchronized gang of marching futuristic soldiers," according to Zynga. No folks, we couldn't make this stuff up if we tried. During the event, players can collect virtual posters from their friends and "grovel" (Zynga's word, not ours) for other items to complete the Goals.
CityVille Michael Jackson stage
The ultimate reward for your work is a stage of robotic performers honoring the late, great King of Pop. Better yet, you can keep it forever. Alright, we'll give in: Look, Michael's life was crazy enough, so can't we just let the guy rest? Fine, just after this quest.
Are you digging the Michael Jackson tribute in CityVille so far? What do you think of branded promotions in your social games?
From Nov. 17 through Nov. 25, Michael Jackson will rock CityVille (all night?) to celebrate the The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil, an interpretive showcase of the multimillion record-selling recording artist's work. The developer has included a number of activities for players to partake in order to unlock an exclusive video of The Immortal World Tour. For starters, you'll get your very own version of Bubbles, Michael's pet monkey to keep you company in your city.
Throughout this week, collecting rent from your properties in CityVille has the chance to inspire a "synchronized gang of marching futuristic soldiers," according to Zynga. No folks, we couldn't make this stuff up if we tried. During the event, players can collect virtual posters from their friends and "grovel" (Zynga's word, not ours) for other items to complete the Goals.
CityVille Michael Jackson stage
The ultimate reward for your work is a stage of robotic performers honoring the late, great King of Pop. Better yet, you can keep it forever. Alright, we'll give in: Look, Michael's life was crazy enough, so can't we just let the guy rest? Fine, just after this quest.
Are you digging the Michael Jackson tribute in CityVille so far? What do you think of branded promotions in your social games?
Zynga temp worker accused of $100K theft, caught on security camera
Zynga thief
Surprise--you're on candid security camera. At least that's what FarmVille maker Zynga seems to think of 21-year-old Keith Brown, a temp worker in the developer's San Francisco headquarters. Brown is accused of stealing $100,000 worth in desktops, laptops and software from the building between Oct. 31 and Nov. 15, the date of his arrest.
According to The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco District Attorney's Office spokesman Omid Talai said that Brown's alleged theft was caught on security camera footage. Brown was escorted from Zynga HQ by security and handed off into police custody. "At this point, he's the only Zynga employee arrested for doing this," Talai told the San Francisco Examiner.
Since Zynga is a multibillion dollar company (with likely very, very strong security) expected to make even more billions in its imminent initial public offering, we're not surprised. Still in custody and said to have been arraigned in San Francisco Superior Court on Wednesday, Brown faces four felony counts of commercial burglary, one of receiving stolen property, one of grand theft and one of embezzlement.
We've certainly heard of theft surrounding Zynga's games and other social games. (We've even heard Zynga itself be accused of theft in a way.) But allegations of physical property stolen directly from the company is a first. We've reached out to Zynga for comment.
[Via Kotaku]
What are your thoughts on the possibility that a Zynga temp worker might have stolen from the company? How would you have handled the same situation?
Surprise--you're on candid security camera. At least that's what FarmVille maker Zynga seems to think of 21-year-old Keith Brown, a temp worker in the developer's San Francisco headquarters. Brown is accused of stealing $100,000 worth in desktops, laptops and software from the building between Oct. 31 and Nov. 15, the date of his arrest.
According to The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco District Attorney's Office spokesman Omid Talai said that Brown's alleged theft was caught on security camera footage. Brown was escorted from Zynga HQ by security and handed off into police custody. "At this point, he's the only Zynga employee arrested for doing this," Talai told the San Francisco Examiner.
Since Zynga is a multibillion dollar company (with likely very, very strong security) expected to make even more billions in its imminent initial public offering, we're not surprised. Still in custody and said to have been arraigned in San Francisco Superior Court on Wednesday, Brown faces four felony counts of commercial burglary, one of receiving stolen property, one of grand theft and one of embezzlement.
We've certainly heard of theft surrounding Zynga's games and other social games. (We've even heard Zynga itself be accused of theft in a way.) But allegations of physical property stolen directly from the company is a first. We've reached out to Zynga for comment.
[Via Kotaku]
What are your thoughts on the possibility that a Zynga temp worker might have stolen from the company? How would you have handled the same situation?
Call of Duty veterans set crosshairs for 'first-person social game'
That sounds a helluva lot like "first-person shooter game," no? Well, these folks are best known for their contributions to hardcore games like Call of Duty. VentureBeat reports that Activision veterans Dusty Welch and Chris Archer have founded their own social game studio, U4iA. Pronounced "euphoria" (that's cute), the Bellevue, Wash.-based studio aims to bring core games to Facebook in a big way.
Welch (CEO) and Archer (CCO) aim to set the quality bar even higher on Facebook and mobile with a "first-person social game" that matches the caliber of recent free-to-play games like League of Legends, according to VentureBeat. At least from what the U4iA heads see, the future of social games is the arrival of traditional gamers.
"We're making core games for a social audience." Welch told VentureBeat, "We think the hardcore gamers are going to start looking for the core games on the social and mobile networks now." Well, with companies like Kixeye and Kabam gunning for the same audience, at least they're not alone.
"We think we're at the spearhead of a lot of cool things," Welch said to VentureBeat. Since the guy is credited with creating the Call of Duty series--the best-selling game franchise ever--we can't really contest that. This first-person shooter social game will be created for both Facebook and mobile devices using the Unity Player. With expertise like that, we're sure the game will be a technological marvel, but will the audience be there to bear witness?
Would you ever play a hardcore first-person game on Facebook? Do you think shooters could perform well on social networks?
Welch (CEO) and Archer (CCO) aim to set the quality bar even higher on Facebook and mobile with a "first-person social game" that matches the caliber of recent free-to-play games like League of Legends, according to VentureBeat. At least from what the U4iA heads see, the future of social games is the arrival of traditional gamers.
"We're making core games for a social audience." Welch told VentureBeat, "We think the hardcore gamers are going to start looking for the core games on the social and mobile networks now." Well, with companies like Kixeye and Kabam gunning for the same audience, at least they're not alone.
"We think we're at the spearhead of a lot of cool things," Welch said to VentureBeat. Since the guy is credited with creating the Call of Duty series--the best-selling game franchise ever--we can't really contest that. This first-person shooter social game will be created for both Facebook and mobile devices using the Unity Player. With expertise like that, we're sure the game will be a technological marvel, but will the audience be there to bear witness?
Would you ever play a hardcore first-person game on Facebook? Do you think shooters could perform well on social networks?
Lunchtime Poll: Would you play a (real) Twilight Facebook game?
Today is Nov. 17, but for millions of ladies (and maybe some gents) out there, it means oh, so much more. It's Twilight Eve, after all. Alright, so not officially--though, you'd think it would be by now--but it is the night before Twilight: Breaking Dawn hits theaters. Many ladies have likely already called out of work tomorrow to see the long-awaited film when it lands at midnight.
As you already know, branded games are huge on Facebook--nearly every major TV release in recent memory has its own social game from Weeds to Dexter and even Pawn Stars. So, we can't help wonder: Why in the world is one of the biggest movie releases of the year without a Facebook game? The closest fans ever got to one was numerous nods to the iconic franchise in games like the The Sims Social and PetVille. And who could forget that dirty scam?
When a TV show like The Vampire Diaries gets its own social game, you have to ask how Summit Entertainment's marketing team missed this golden opportunity. That is, of course, assuming you'd actually want to play a Twilight-themed social game. So, we want to know:
Would you play a Twilight Facebook game?
Umm, do I even need to answer this? Yes!Nah, Twilight is for nerds!I love Twilight, but not that much.Sure, but only if it added something to the storyline.
VoteView ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com
Have something unique to add to the discussion?
As you already know, branded games are huge on Facebook--nearly every major TV release in recent memory has its own social game from Weeds to Dexter and even Pawn Stars. So, we can't help wonder: Why in the world is one of the biggest movie releases of the year without a Facebook game? The closest fans ever got to one was numerous nods to the iconic franchise in games like the The Sims Social and PetVille. And who could forget that dirty scam?
When a TV show like The Vampire Diaries gets its own social game, you have to ask how Summit Entertainment's marketing team missed this golden opportunity. That is, of course, assuming you'd actually want to play a Twilight-themed social game. So, we want to know:
Would you play a Twilight Facebook game?
Umm, do I even need to answer this? Yes!Nah, Twilight is for nerds!I love Twilight, but not that much.Sure, but only if it added something to the storyline.
VoteView ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com
Have something unique to add to the discussion?
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Future Publishing CEO and CFO Step Down
On Friday, Future Publishing, the British media company behind some of the best gaming magazines in both Europe and the US (Edge, PC Gamer, Max PC and the Official Xbox and Playstation mags), announced that its CEO Stevie Spring and CFO John Bowman have stepped down. The move was not unexpected -- rumors of corporate restructuring have been doing the rounds since July, and the company's stock has taken a serious beating over the last few months. Reuters reported that the media company's board has named Mark Wood as the new CEO and Graham Harding as the finance chief.
"The recent restructuring which positions the company for its digital future has allowed the Board this opportunity to achieve substantial savings by eliminating an entire tier of corporate overhead," Future said in a statement. According to a Reuter's report, the company's stock has dropped sixty percent on the year.
What this means for the American publications under Future umbrella remains to be seen. Video game magazines like The Official Xbox Magazine, Playstation: The Magazine, Nintendo Power, and PC Gamer have been industry icons for years, but Future's July statement revealed the company is heading to a "primarily digital model" for its U.S. businesses. Additionally, a reorganization of Future's UK business will likely lead to layoffs and cash cutting measures.
As a former Future US staffer myself, I can't help but feel for my former colleagues and hope that the next year treats them better.
"The recent restructuring which positions the company for its digital future has allowed the Board this opportunity to achieve substantial savings by eliminating an entire tier of corporate overhead," Future said in a statement. According to a Reuter's report, the company's stock has dropped sixty percent on the year.
What this means for the American publications under Future umbrella remains to be seen. Video game magazines like The Official Xbox Magazine, Playstation: The Magazine, Nintendo Power, and PC Gamer have been industry icons for years, but Future's July statement revealed the company is heading to a "primarily digital model" for its U.S. businesses. Additionally, a reorganization of Future's UK business will likely lead to layoffs and cash cutting measures.
As a former Future US staffer myself, I can't help but feel for my former colleagues and hope that the next year treats them better.
10 Creepy Mobile Games
Be sure to also read: The 10 Best PS3 Games, The 15 Best PSN Games, The 10 Best Xbox 360 Games, The 15 Best XBLA Games, The 10 Best Wii Games, The 30 Best PC Games, The 6 Best Free Steam Games, The 15 Best iPhone Games, The 15 Best iPad Games, The 10 Best 3DS Games, The 31 Best DS Games, The 10 Best PSP Games, The 15 Best Android Games, and The 15 Best Free Android Games.
10 Creepy Mobile Games
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to gear up for the holiday by playing creepy games on your phone or tablet? Admittedly there aren't a ton of legitimately scary horror-themed iOS and Android games, but here are 10 (in no particular order) that will at least make you think twice about turning off the lights.
10 Creepy Mobile Games
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to gear up for the holiday by playing creepy games on your phone or tablet? Admittedly there aren't a ton of legitimately scary horror-themed iOS and Android games, but here are 10 (in no particular order) that will at least make you think twice about turning off the lights.
UPDATE: Want to Win a Copy of Fruit Ninja Kinect? (Winners Announced!)
UPDATE: Enough talk -- let's hand out some sweet, sweet prizes. Courtesy of random-number-selector-gadget-thingy Random.org, our winners are:
Facebook winners:
Bill Putman
Lisa Sassone
Kellen Casey
GamePro.com winners:
heatherspeaks493
The12P
Bipple
Htial
Twitter winners:
@SirKhalid
@8bitPOPE
@BritishBryn
Thanks to everyone for entering, and congrats to our winners! Sit tight -- codes will be sent out shortly!
Original text: The fine folks at Halfbrick have hooked us up with a set of ten download codes for copies of their awesome motion-controlled hack-'n-slash arcade game, Fruit Ninja Kinect, as well as redeem codes for all three DLC packs that've been released for it so far. That means the Storm Season, Space Capsule, and Art Box packs, and a copy of the complete game. Want to get in on the frenzied fruit-felling action? Here's how!
Via GamePro: Leave one comment on this article, and you'll be entered into the drawing.
Via Twitter: Make sure you're following @GamePro, then shoot us a tweet mentioning @GamePro and #FruitNinja.
Via Facebook: "Like" the GamePro Facebook page, then comment on our following contest post on Facebook.
Facebook winners:
Bill Putman
Lisa Sassone
Kellen Casey
GamePro.com winners:
heatherspeaks493
The12P
Bipple
Htial
Twitter winners:
@SirKhalid
@8bitPOPE
@BritishBryn
Thanks to everyone for entering, and congrats to our winners! Sit tight -- codes will be sent out shortly!
Original text: The fine folks at Halfbrick have hooked us up with a set of ten download codes for copies of their awesome motion-controlled hack-'n-slash arcade game, Fruit Ninja Kinect, as well as redeem codes for all three DLC packs that've been released for it so far. That means the Storm Season, Space Capsule, and Art Box packs, and a copy of the complete game. Want to get in on the frenzied fruit-felling action? Here's how!
Via GamePro: Leave one comment on this article, and you'll be entered into the drawing.
Via Twitter: Make sure you're following @GamePro, then shoot us a tweet mentioning @GamePro and #FruitNinja.
Via Facebook: "Like" the GamePro Facebook page, then comment on our following contest post on Facebook.
Big Metal Gear Solid: Rising Reveal in November?
A huge exclamation point appears on the very last page of the latest issue of the Official PlayStation Magazine UK. The image bears a striking resemblance to the iconic symbol from Konami's popular stealth series, Metal Gear Solid.
It's been a long time since we've last heard a peep out of Kojima or Konami about the next game in the franchise. And some suggest that this is in fact hinting at some sort of big announcement about Metal Gear: Rising.
It's been a long time since we've last heard a peep out of Kojima or Konami about the next game in the franchise. And some suggest that this is in fact hinting at some sort of big announcement about Metal Gear: Rising.
Win a Free Tribes: Ascend Beta Key
If you're not familiar with Tribes: Ascend, then watch the trailer above to get a feel for the multiplayer, sci-fi, FPS action. But you know what's better than just watching? Getting to try it out yourself.
The development team's been accepting limited beta invites through their homepage for some time now, but we're going to help you jump right to the front of the line. If you want to snag a code, just leave a comment on this story with a short message explaining why you want to play. It's just that easy.
But what if you want to enter, but don't want to leave a comment? We have you covered with two other options!
Follow us on Twitter and write a post using the hashtag: #GameProTribesBeta
Comment on this story's Facebook post saying you want a code! (And make sure your settings allow non-friends to message you. You'll receive the code from GamePro Contest).
We'll be running the contest all weekend until we run out of codes so enter now to ensure yourself a spot!
The development team's been accepting limited beta invites through their homepage for some time now, but we're going to help you jump right to the front of the line. If you want to snag a code, just leave a comment on this story with a short message explaining why you want to play. It's just that easy.
But what if you want to enter, but don't want to leave a comment? We have you covered with two other options!
Follow us on Twitter and write a post using the hashtag: #GameProTribesBeta
Comment on this story's Facebook post saying you want a code! (And make sure your settings allow non-friends to message you. You'll receive the code from GamePro Contest).
We'll be running the contest all weekend until we run out of codes so enter now to ensure yourself a spot!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Exploring The Secret World’s Most Mysterious Secret Society
Of the three secret societies vying for domination of the world’s hidden side in Funcom’s upcoming supernatural MMO The Secret World, none are quite so secret as the Dragon, orchestrating change through the stealthy generation of chaos.
While the Illuminati make a mad grab for power and the Templar strike out at the world’s hidden evils with the subtlety of a charging elephant, the Seoul-based Dragon wait patiently for the right time to strike, using intelligence and subterfuge to reach their ultimate goal. Where the other societies might favour direct strikes to weaken their enemies, the Dragon would rather use deception and misinformation to get the others to weaken themselves. Why waste valuable resources when a single misplaced word or seeded secret can do the job for you?
It’s Dragon week for The Secret World, with new information, assets, and other odds and ends about these shadowy manipulators appearing on the game’s website each day. There’s a test there that places visitors in one of the three societies, so maybe you’ll find subtlety your strong point, like I did.
Don’t worry, Templar and Illuminati members. We’ll let you have your turn. For now, feel free to look through our gallery and admire how powerful we are.
While the Illuminati make a mad grab for power and the Templar strike out at the world’s hidden evils with the subtlety of a charging elephant, the Seoul-based Dragon wait patiently for the right time to strike, using intelligence and subterfuge to reach their ultimate goal. Where the other societies might favour direct strikes to weaken their enemies, the Dragon would rather use deception and misinformation to get the others to weaken themselves. Why waste valuable resources when a single misplaced word or seeded secret can do the job for you?
It’s Dragon week for The Secret World, with new information, assets, and other odds and ends about these shadowy manipulators appearing on the game’s website each day. There’s a test there that places visitors in one of the three societies, so maybe you’ll find subtlety your strong point, like I did.
Don’t worry, Templar and Illuminati members. We’ll let you have your turn. For now, feel free to look through our gallery and admire how powerful we are.
So What Makes Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 So Ultimate?
One might ask, does Capcom really need to revisit the work of Marvel vs Capcom 3, which came out in February, in the form of Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, due out next month? Capcom special consultant Seth Killian justifies the new title by saying that the development team’s gone back under the hood and re-balanced all of the characters, so that it is essentially like an all-new game.
Most fans know that Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 will be adding 12 new characters to the roster, including fan-favorites like Strider Hryu on the Capcom side and Hawkeye on the Marvel side. Capcom revealed that all the game’s characters will also be playable in up to six alternate looks for each. So with Spider-Man, the alternats will be Spider-Armor 2.0, Big Time from the Dan Slott storylines, and the mostly white FF Spidey from Jonathan Hickman’s series. (No Miles Morales?!) As for Felicia from Darkstalkers, her classic look got contrasted by her Puzzle Fighter interpretation as well as various palette variations from her appearance in other Capcom games.
You’ll also get reversible package art, with a choice of a drawing from Mark Brooks (Marvel) or Shinkiro (Capcom) and new backgrounds as well. Marvel New York gets further represented in the City That Never Sleeps, all the signage is a reference to people, places or thing in the Marvel Universe like the Coffee Bean café where Peter Parker hangs out or the law offices of Nelson & Murdock. There’s also the Days of Future Past background, which references the alternate future from the Chris Claremont/John Byrne run on Uncanny X-Men. The destroyed landscape has giant Sentinels looming in the background, along with the iconic Wanted poster with Marvel vs. Capcom 2 characters who didn’t make it into MvC3.
At the weekend’s Marvel Games panel Killian also revealed that Galactus will be playable in UMvC3, albeit in his own separate mode which spans eight levels. There’s also the strategic Heroes and Heralds Mode, which I detailed here, on top of all of that. To sum up: New characters. New balancing. New modes. New art. Is all of this worth it, readers? Even if it’s $US40 instead of $US60?
Most fans know that Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 will be adding 12 new characters to the roster, including fan-favorites like Strider Hryu on the Capcom side and Hawkeye on the Marvel side. Capcom revealed that all the game’s characters will also be playable in up to six alternate looks for each. So with Spider-Man, the alternats will be Spider-Armor 2.0, Big Time from the Dan Slott storylines, and the mostly white FF Spidey from Jonathan Hickman’s series. (No Miles Morales?!) As for Felicia from Darkstalkers, her classic look got contrasted by her Puzzle Fighter interpretation as well as various palette variations from her appearance in other Capcom games.
You’ll also get reversible package art, with a choice of a drawing from Mark Brooks (Marvel) or Shinkiro (Capcom) and new backgrounds as well. Marvel New York gets further represented in the City That Never Sleeps, all the signage is a reference to people, places or thing in the Marvel Universe like the Coffee Bean café where Peter Parker hangs out or the law offices of Nelson & Murdock. There’s also the Days of Future Past background, which references the alternate future from the Chris Claremont/John Byrne run on Uncanny X-Men. The destroyed landscape has giant Sentinels looming in the background, along with the iconic Wanted poster with Marvel vs. Capcom 2 characters who didn’t make it into MvC3.
At the weekend’s Marvel Games panel Killian also revealed that Galactus will be playable in UMvC3, albeit in his own separate mode which spans eight levels. There’s also the strategic Heroes and Heralds Mode, which I detailed here, on top of all of that. To sum up: New characters. New balancing. New modes. New art. Is all of this worth it, readers? Even if it’s $US40 instead of $US60?
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