Numerous companies ranging from Kwedit to Visa are racing to offer consumers the best virtual currency solution for playing social games and buying virtual goods on Facebook. Articles and analysis by:
GamesBeat discusses new reports by Inside Network concerning social games and digital goods on social networks including Facebook. From the article:
” The report details how social game developers organize their teams and publish on a frequent update schedule, with numerous iterations aimed at getting more users to play and share the games. It also describes the mechanics and designs of social games and what makes them unique, as well as monetization trends.”
ReadWriteWeb discusses Facebook’s progression into a massive advertising platform
Mashable discusses three potential massive revenue streams for Facebook
EA President Peter Moore says that EA will be bringing Madden NFL to Facebook. Articles and analysis by:
Bloomberg ” Electronic Arts is looking to capitalize on the surging popularity of games played on Palo Alto, California-based Facebook. The world’s second-largest video-game publisher purchased Playfish Inc., the maker of “Pet Society” and “Restaurant City,” for $400 million last year.”
PluggedIn discusses new entrants to the social gaming world including Take 2 Interactive, PlayFirst, Break Media, Booyah and Heatwave Interactive. From the article:
” PlayFish and Zynga dominate the world of social gaming right now, but 2010 will bring some new players to the market. “
PocketGamer.co.uk posts the Social Gaming Roundup with coverage of My Town, Wild Ones, Mafia Wars: Bangkok and more. Don’t forget to check out the hilarious FarmVille parody video. From the article:
” In terms of gameplay, Wild Ones is fun to play and not too dissimilar from the aforementioned Crazy Planets. Unlike Crazy Planets, however, Wild Ones allows you to battle up to four other players to the death, which is immensely amusing, and should satisfy any competitive streak.”
Agora Media Group LLC has an interesting blog post about a project that would integrate social gaming with social TV and videophones. Videos and screenshots included. From the article:
” We created an interactive, virtual world on both television and the Internet that envelops social networking, community, user generated content, competition, and entertainment.”
“Interesting” video about the Twinners/ Cross Media Social Platform below
Gamasutra provides an article that discusses Namco Bandai’s expansion of game titles on the iPhone. Additional info on its social network strategy for Facebook also included. From the article:
” Other traditionally packaged goods-focused companies are paying considerably more attention to social games. A few examples include Electronic Arts’ acquisition of social game maker PlayFish for $300 million last year, 2K Games’ and Firaxis’ announcement of Civilization Network for Facebook, and Atari’s Facebook appPhoto Sauce. “
Reuters has an article about EA that discusses the gaming giants efforts to learn more about social game strategy from its recent acquisition, PlayFish. More acquisitions in the social game space a possibility. From the article:
” Moore said online games were not only a way of compensating for lost revenue from packaged games but also potentially a source of new ideas and better games.”
gWallet provides an innovative way for advertisers to offer social gamers virtual currency in exchange for watching videos. Gamers exchange time for currency to purchase additional virtual goods or obtain exclusive offers.
Thoughts: I have always thought the idea of people building up virtual currency points by watching commercials and filling out online polls in order to get a free liter of soda or a free movie rental might work but the platform has never really been in place. Maybe engaging with ads on IPTV through Yahoo Widgets to get virtual currency? Is gWallet on to something huge?
gWallet also announces an investment fund targeting social game companies.
Articles and analysis by:
Vator News (FYI: video interview starts automatically).
” Once the wild west when it comes to monetization, the social gaming industry appears to be cleaning itself up. And, gWallet is hoping to be one of the companies to help monetize it in an upstanding, and not to mention, lucrative way. “
” Chahal started San Francisco-based gWallet as an “ethical offer company.” Amid the controversy around scam-like offers, Chahal said gWallet will work with major brands to create offers that are legitimate and valuable to consumers.”
” The company declined to say how large the total investment fund was, but is aiming at minority investments ranging from $100,000 to $1 million per company.”
