Games.com Blog: “BREAKING NEWS - Mafia Wars Marketplace Now Open” plus 19 more |  |
- BREAKING NEWS - Mafia Wars Marketplace Now Open
- Farmville Pic of the Day: Mega-Heart
- SPP Ranch! on Facebook Leaves Us in Awwwww
- Mafia Wars Marketplace coming soon (hold on to those wallets)
- ABCNews.com covers Farmville only slightly inaccurately
- Top 10 signs you're addicted to FarmVille
- Explore new Inca and Limited Time Maps in Treasure Madness
- FishVille shoots for the moon with new space items
- New Laser Cannon gives Wild Ones fans the upper hand
- PetVille's FarmVille collectible of the day - FarmVille Farmer Gal
- Cafe World rocks the Stone Age with new prehistoric items
- Get Your White Tiger in Restaurant City!
- Pet Society Product Reviews: Transportation
- 1000 Coins for Pet Society Fans
- PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies biggest iPhone game launch - ever
- Friends' Petlings Can't Find Food
- FarmVille Game Interface Makeover
- FarmVille on CNN.com: Changing the way we play games.
- FarmVille Lunar New Year: Tiger Lantern & Red Lantern
- FarmVille Freak Terrence's Chinese Themed Farm
| BREAKING NEWS - Mafia Wars Marketplace Now Open Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:17 PM PST  We just checked our news feed and saw big news come across the wire - Mafia Wars has opened up it's own marketplace. This is a logical progression for Zynga's micro-transation business. By creating a sanctioned marketplace - Mafia Wars will protect itself from having a secondary market of items being created outside of Zynga's control. This very likely will be the first of many marketplaces opening across other Zynga owned properties like FarmVille and Cafe World. More news on this story to follow tomorrow.  Click here to play Mafia Wars --> What do you think of the Mafia Wars Marketplace? Will you buy any items? Let us know.
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| Farmville Pic of the Day: Mega-Heart Posted: 25 Feb 2010 10:00 AM PST FarmVille is more than just an ultra-popular farming simulation -- it's a chance to express yourself artistically through unique and creative farm layouts. To that end, Games.com's FarmVille Picture of the Day features some of the most interesting and imaginative FarmVille layouts out there. Got a FarmVille pic you want to share? Send it to submit2gamescom@gmail.com. Today's pic: Mega-Heart  Seeing heart-shaped designs in Farmville layouts is nothing new. It's one of the first things everyone seems to do with their decorative hay bales, and an obvious choice for decoration around Valentine's Day. But this farmer put in the extra effort to make their heart-shaped farm not only super-sized (this thing fills up the entire grid!), but full of color and depth, incorporating trees, animals, and even a house into the familiar shape. The subtle little "FV" logo made of trees in the foreground just completes the striking effect. Browse the Farmville Picture of the Day archives
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| SPP Ranch! on Facebook Leaves Us in Awwwww Posted: 25 Feb 2010 10:00 AM PST  Remember back in the day when instead of Farmville and Mafia Wars gifts, you'd throw sheep at Facebook friends? Turns out, the company behind SuperPoke!, Slide, has been busy at work in the wake of the social games gold rush over the past few months. Though these guys have been in the business of creating interactive Facebook applications since applications were introduced, SPP Ranch! is one of their first full-featured forays into the social gaming space dominated by major leaguers such as Playfish and Zynga. SPP Ranch! takes some of social gaming's tried-and-true mechanics such as maturation periods for items which you then sell for profit/experience, decoration and collection, and of course, gifting and packages them in one of the cutest animal-caretaking simulators yet. The game starts by giving players a small square plot of land, which they can outfit with fences, trees and a revolving assortment of seasonal knick-knacks. The main goal is simple: raise animals like rabbits, sheep, horses and cows by keeping plenty of food around and making sure the water trough is filled. While you can release an animal into the wild at any point after you purchase them, you'll gain the most profit and experience if you let them fully mature. This can take as long as 72 hours for a Bull or as short as five minutes for a Squirrel -- standard fare if you've grown crops in FarmVille or prepped dishes in Cafe World. Naturally, the usual incentives to recruit friends to the game are present -- gifting is heavily encouraged, and visiting neighbors' ranches yield opportunities to gain coins and experience from cleaning up after and even feeding their livestock for them. What puts SPP Ranch! a cut above the rest of the animal-caretaking games out there is the polished interface, attention to detail and quality animation. We've yet to see animals roam as smoothly in a Facebook game as they do here, and the fact that each animal is automatically assigned a name (currently there's a rabbit named Waffle and a horse named Sean playing around in my ranch) makes it even more heartbreaking to set them free. Luckily, as long as they're fed and watered, it seems you can keep animals indefinitely even if they're reached maturity. To little surprise, veteran Facebook developer Slide has managed to distill the stickiest features of the most popular social games and combined them with the virtual gifting process they pretty much invented (throwing sheep, gifting sheep -- hey, this is just a semantics issue) to create an adorable experience in SPP Ranch!. Play SPP! Ranch on Facebook now >
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| Mafia Wars Marketplace coming soon (hold on to those wallets) Posted: 25 Feb 2010 09:00 AM PST  Mafia Wars premium items, i.e. virtual goods that cost real-life cash, are about to get a new home in a revamped Godfather page, called 'The Marketplace.' We don't know all of the details other than the fact that this new space will consolidate the for pay loot, boost and special crates in one place, making it easier to spend your hard-earned Godfather points. Is that really a good thing? Guess it depends on how much you're willing to spend to be the top dog. Mafia Wars been getting a total overhaul of late, first the New York properties section (which now resembles Playfish's less popular Gangster City) and the new My Mafia interface that lets you check out who in the family needs help (which means extra bonuses for you) and keep track of your top mafia.
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| ABCNews.com covers Farmville only slightly inaccurately Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:30 AM PST  Following on the tail of CNN.com's piece the other day, ABC World News host Diane Sawyer seems to have finally cottoned on to the growing importance of Facebook and social gaming. In a short video segment on ABCNews.com, Sawyer talks with New York Times tech blogger Nick Bilton about Facebook, FourSquare, and, of course, Farmville.After giving the world's quickest overview of the actual gameplay ("The concept is you plow land..." Bilton says helpfully), Bilton goes on to give a couple of close-but-not-quite accurate statements about the game. First, he tells Sawyer that "everyone gets the same size farm," which is true at the outset, but takes a quick turn towards inequality as people spend coins and Farmville Dollars on bigger plots. Then Bilton talk a bit about the social aspects of the game, claiming that "I can actually send an invite out saying 'Hey, I'm not going to be there today, can someone go and farm my crops and take them to market?'" As any Farmville player knows, neighbors are limited to basic tasks like spreading fertilizer and chasing away raccoons on their friends' farms. That said, I think this virtual-farmtending feature would be an excellent addition to the Farmville landscape. I can just picture a new generation of 21st century indentured servants getting paid slave wages to tend to their friends' farms while they're away... The piece finishes up with a skeptical-sounding Sawyer asking rhetorically, "What on earth would my parents, who both grew up on farms [think of Farmville]. This must seem the most lunatic thing on the face of the Earth to the real people who really get up at four in the morning to milk the real cows." Well Diane, it actually depends on who you ask...
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| Top 10 signs you're addicted to FarmVille Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST  Facebook games, specifically FarmVille, has the nation -- and the world -- hooked. Over 80 million people are regularly tending their virtual crops, and a more new farmers are getting in on the action every day. We've already heard horror stories of nurses neglecting patients and moms ignoring children in order to perfect the art of click farming. And we certainly don't want to think about how many college students have been buying virtual farmhouses using their parents' credits cards. That, my friends, is addiction. So the real question is: How do you know you're addicted? Read through our list of nine telltale signs below. If any of these sound familiar, you might make an ideal candidate for FarmVille rehab. 1. Your friends have stopped using your name and just call you 'Farmer' 2. You click on food in the fridge to 'harvest' it 3. You count chicken coops, instead of sheep, to go to sleep 4. You've changed your Facebook name to 'John Deere' 5. You constantly refer to your yard as the 'back forty' 6. You've considered trading in your Volvo for a tractor 7. You've considered wearing overalls on Casual Friday 8. You've rearranged the plants on your fire escape to look like Mario 9. You've paid someone to tend to your digital crops while you're at work/on vacation 10. You tattoed 'Zynga' across your knuckles What are some other signs of FarmVille addiction? Leave us your warning signs below.
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| Explore new Inca and Limited Time Maps in Treasure Madness Posted: 25 Feb 2010 07:09 AM PST
A slew of new maps are available for purchase in Treasure Madness. Treasure hunters who claim they've seen it all, ain't seen nothing yet. The new maps are part of the Inca Series and the Mysterious Series, but they won't be around for ever so check them out now. Included in the release are two limited time only maps, part of the Mysterious Series. These object shaped islands were winners of a competition where Treasure Madness asked fans for new island ideas. These are only around till March 1st, expiring Monday morning at 3:00 AM eastern time. The new maps are as follows: -Anchor Island - requires level 10 -Bottle Island - requires level 10 These maps are said to bear more tresures, not just gold. Equally nice is the low level requirement allowing us novice adventurers to hunt treasure deep beneath these limited edition islands. We can't wait to get our hands on some of those juicy special edition treasures.
Seven new Inca Maps were also released: -Nazca Lines - requires level 94 -Inca Ruins - requires level 100 -Old Inca Road - requires level 104 -Ruined Road - requires level 104 -Lost Meadow - requires level 110 -Cross Roads - requires level 112 -Cuzco Ruins - requires level 116  This series of maps has a rather high treasure density and lower gold density, so expect to complete a collection or two. Head over to Treasure Madness and check out these new maps!
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| FishVille shoots for the moon with new space items Posted: 25 Feb 2010 07:00 AM PST   FishVille Giftables  Space items in the FishVille Store  FishVille Moon Tank Wallpaper
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| New Laser Cannon gives Wild Ones fans the upper hand Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:55 AM PST  Wild Ones fans that also receive email updates will be glad to hear they are entitled to two Laser Cannons! Even those who are new to Wild Ones can get in on the deal. We were given one Laser Cannon for becoming a fan, and then another for accepting emails from Wild Ones (although we unsubscribed for both later).Many Facebook games have been giving out treats to their registered fans. In Wild Ones, the promise of such a weapon was finally enough for us to click that "Become a Fan" button. The Laser Cannon itself works by charging up and then unleashing a massive beam of destructive power (pictured below) that does 400 damage.So long as you aim correctly, it does not miss either. This potential game changer can be a life saver if your animal is in a tight pinch. As you can see below, we tried to go for a 2 for 1 shot to test the laser's capabilities. Although we missed...it looks as though you can hit multiple targets as long as they're lined up.  Wild Ones is a game of strategy and skill that has you blasting away at your opponents with a variety of weapons. Unlike most Facebook games, Wild Ones throws out the endless clicking and repetitive tasks and instead focuses on exciting animal battle royals. Only one animal will remain victorious, and you will have to use an arsenal of weapons and a bag of tricks to be the last pet remaining. (In case you were wondering, we won the game pictured above.) After customizing your warrior animal, you can either practice against bots or jump into a multiplayer game. One of the few Facebook games that actually allows you to play with people, Wild Ones pits you against several other real players. If you've ever played Worms or Crazy Planets, you'll love Wild Ones. Animals have a range of standard weapons such as grenades, rocket launchers, teleport balls, and more. Each is unique and you'll have to know what weapon will work the best in the situation at hand. If you ever run low on ammo, you can either buy more or have friends send you gifts of weaponry.  Another neat feature is the destructible environments that will have your animal struggling to retain the high ground (pictured above). New maps and unlockables become available as you level up and continue to hone your skills. Finally, the game is free to play but accessories, advanced weaponry, and goodies for your animal will cost you. So if you've been looking for a Facebook game with a little more action, check out Wild Ones.
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| PetVille's FarmVille collectible of the day - FarmVille Farmer Gal Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST  PetVille has introduced an extra special collection this week -- FarmVille collectibles. That's right, if you collect all of the limited edition farm items, your pet can have its own version of FarmVille in its home. Isn't that adorbs? Every day, a new collectible is introduced, but there's a catch -- the only way to get these is as a gift from a friend. Just remember the old adage, "Ask and you shall receive," then apply that liberally if you want collect 'em all.
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| Cafe World rocks the Stone Age with new prehistoric items Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST  
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| Get Your White Tiger in Restaurant City! Posted: 25 Feb 2010 04:30 AM PST Playfish is once again offering a real treat to their Restaurant City fans: a white tiger that looks absolutely awesome and you can get it too if you want it. Check out the animal below:  So if you want to grab your free Restaurant City white tiger and you're a fan of the game, click the following link: here. Have fun! This article originally appeared on Social Games Help.
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| Pet Society Product Reviews: Transportation Posted: 25 Feb 2010 03:30 AM PST Today, we're looking at three modes of transportation available in Pet Society: the Stagecoach, the Bicycle and the Viking Ship.  Released earlier this week (Feb 21) in the Luxury Shop, the Stagecoach comes with a stiff pricetag - 5000 coins - and that's a weekly special, my friends. For that price, you'd think your pet could sit inside it like the Queen of England. Alas, that's not the case. A reader, Amanda, rates it a measly 1 1/2 paws. Instead of feeling like royalty, we see that we are just traveling coach!  I admit, I'm biased. I love bicycling in real life. I ride my bicycle pretty much every day, while my car sits in the garage. Biking is a fun way to save gasoline, be good to Mother Earth, and keep your booty in shape. (Great for us Pet Societyholics who spend way too much time in front of the computer.) The Pet Society bicycles don't move, but your pet almost looks like she's riding it. Two bikes were released in the Furniture Shop on February 14. The pink version has gone away already, but the red one is still available for 1400 coins.  The Viking Boat is another fantastic item. First introduced in June 2009, this boat costs 15 Playfish Coins at the Cash Shop. I personally don't have one, but thanks to my seafaring friend Kuma, I hop aboard for a ride whenever I can. The oars move and the ship rocks back and forth. Your pet will make that I'm-so-excited-I-can't-keep-my-eyes-open expression. Cute overload! Your Reviews Do you have an opinion about a new item? Share your thoughts and help out other Pet Society players! Send a picture of your pet using the item to petsocietyanon@gmail.com or attach the picture on the PSA fan page. Tell us why it's good or bad, and rate the item between 1-5 paws. 1 = Awful. 5 = Excellent. The best product reviews will appear here and on AOL games.com. Be sure to include the name of your pet. This article originally appeared on Pet Society Anonymous.
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| 1000 Coins for Pet Society Fans Posted: 25 Feb 2010 03:10 AM PST  Whoo hoo! Just found this today. Thanks, Playfish! I won't be sharing my e-mail with you, but it's nothing personal. I'm still a fan of Pet Society. This article originally appeared on Pet Society Anonymous.
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| PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies biggest iPhone game launch - ever Posted: 25 Feb 2010 03:00 AM PST  If you're not familiar with the game Plants vs. Zombies, you're missing out on a casual gaming gem with a diverse fan base, everyone from the hardcore Halo player to the harried housewife. The tower defense style game where you use deadly plants to keep waves of shuffling zombies from entering your house (and eating your brains) was an instant hit when it was released on PC last year. Now Plants vs. Zombies has arrived on iPhone, and even though the the game is largely the same, this game's launch was the most successful ever. PopCap says that PvZ sold more than 300K during its first 9 days, which set a record for App store launches. The game has also grossed roughly $1 million, and for a cost of $2.99 that maybe debunks the myth that cheaply priced mobile games can't bring in the big bucks. Plants vs. Zombies does not have any social elements built, e.g. Facebook Connect, which was disappointing since we're completely over the moon about another PopCap game -- Bejeweled Blitz -- which lets you post your scores on Facebook for bragging rights. Don't let that stop you from spending the three bucks for PvZ -- this is one of the reasons it's cool to play games on iPhone.
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| Friends' Petlings Can't Find Food Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:55 AM PST  The Right Way to Feed Your Petling A sure way to feed your petling is to WAIT until it begs for food. Reserve some proper petling food in your storage. When the petling asks for an item in a thought bubble, place the food right on top of the bubble or above its head. The petling should then consume the food. You Can't Feed Your Friends' Petlings While it's difficult to feed your own petlings, it's impossible to feed your friends' petlings. Here's Sushi visiting his friend Barksha and her two little tigers. (The tiger petlings cost 25 Playfish coins at the Garden and Cash Shops.)  The whole dissatisfying experience reminded me of the time when my pet failed to take out burning food from a stove. How can our pets be good neighbors to one another if we can't help our friends in times of need? This article originally appeared on Pet Society Anonymous.
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| FarmVille Game Interface Makeover Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:50 AM PST You may have noticed that the FarmVille game interface got a new look.   This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
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| FarmVille on CNN.com: Changing the way we play games. Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:45 AM PST  CNN.com featured an article about FarmVille and other Zynga games! The article seeks to explain social gaming and the virtual community of 75 million FarmVille farmers that includes a demographic of new gamers, many of which have been virtually ignored. At least half of the farmers are women, it is estimated that about "60 % are women and 40% are men" (Gross, CNN 02/23). Typically, women have been ignored by traditional gaming platforms. What makes FarmVille so successful is that it is universal and covers a broad spectrum that reaches across all cultures. Everyone knows about farming, no matter where you live. Its uncomplicated nature does not require you to know background information or experience to understand the basic concepts of farming- plow, plant, grow. It is a game whose players range from teenagers to senior citizens. It can be played with little experience or knowledge, but still be appealing and enjoyable. There is a love or hate relationship with FarmVille and Facebookers. You either play the game and love it or wish it would just go away. Many of the traditionalist Facebookers are annoyed by the constant FarmVille newsfeed notifications and posts that clutter their Facebook pages. However, 75 million people later FarmVille is still happily accepting new farmers and does not appear to be going away anytime soon. If anything, it has become an interesting model for social games and the gaming industry's future and the possibilities ahead. What do you think is so interesting about FarmVille that so many people play? Why do you play? Read the article on CNN here: CNN.com "The Facebook Game that millions love (and hate)" by Doug Gross This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
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| FarmVille Lunar New Year: Tiger Lantern & Red Lantern Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:30 AM PST   Another FarmVille Lunar New Year decoration , the Tiger Lantern, debuted on 02.24.10. The Tiger Lantern can be purchase with coins in the Market for the next four days. This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
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| FarmVille Freak Terrence's Chinese Themed Farm Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST  I've attached my Chinese themed farm picture for you. You've never uploaded any materials related to it before. So i was wondering if you can upload this for everyone to see. :D Terrence" This article originally appeared on FarmVille Freak.
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