Games.com Weekly Roundup: Spotlighting social games at E3 2011

Couldn't get your daily Games.com news fix and want to know what you've missed? Whether it's a major FarmVille guide or the launch of a new Facebook game, the Roundup will bring you up to speed on the most important or popular or just plain out amazing and weird social gaming stories of the week.

Monday:

    The Sims creator Will Wright is making a Facebook game, and it's not SimCity
    Instead, Wright is basing his new game on Bruce Sterling's short story "Maneki Neko".
    Want to work for Marriott Hotels? Play the Facebook game first
    "We had no idea there was such a demand for hotel employees, but alas, here we are, recruiting them through ... Facebook games."
    Zynga hangs on iPhone in Hanging with Friends: Fuhgettabout pen and paper
    "Developed by Texas-based Zynga subsidiary Zynga with Friends, Hanging with Friends is a mobile multiplayer take on the classic two-player puzzle game Hangman."
    Playdom's City of Wonder on iPhone: Conquer the world wherever
    "Playdom has released City of Wonder, it's Civilization-like empire-building Facebook game, to iOS devices. And better yet, it's absolutely free."
    The Sims Social: Yup, The Sims is finally coming to Facebook
    Were you as creeped out by the debut trailer as we were? Nonetheless, it's hard not to get excited.



Tuesday:

    Apple Game Center in iOS 5 mirrors Facebook gaming, coming this fall
    "Social gaming has effectively become mobile gaming in many a developer's eye, and Apple is poised to strike the competition this fall with the new Facebook games-inspired Game Center."
    'Arookoo: World Explorers' steps up social gaming, but stumbles on Facebook
    Reader's Digest Association and Vivity Labs' create a Facebook game to complement a free iPhone app that nabs you virtual perks for real world strolls.
    E3 2011: Prime World mixes free-to-play MMO with Facebook friend interaction
    "You'll be able to invite your Facebook friends to play the game with you . . . There's even a Zuma-inspired marble game for those that would prefer to match marbles than enter combat (at least temporarily)."
    E3 2011: Yoostar Playground puts you in the movies on Facebook
    "With Yoostar Playground, you're really given the opportunity for your 15 minutes of fame, as the company routinely holds contests over the best videos uploaded to the service."



Wednesday:

    Zynga celebrates FarmVille's 2nd Birthday with an explosion of items
    For the full scoop, check out our FarmVille 2nd Birthday Guide.
    E3 2011: Walking Dead game gets a Facebook tie-in
    "A few months ago, we learned that The Walking Dead, a hit TV series on AMC as well as a comic book series with a serious cult following, is getting the game treatment."
    Casino City, Bar World and Slot City get the axe
    "[A]s a result of Zynga's recent acquisition of DNA Games (its 14th purchase in just a year!), all three of the studio's games will shut down come July 8."



Thursday:


    E3 2011: Fruit Ninja Frenzy takes a slice out of Facebook this summer
    "In Fruit Ninja Frenzy, the same basic gameplay from the mobile version has been retained, but has been chopped (no pun intended) into 60-seconds of bite sized fruity goodness."
    E3 2011: Pet Society Vacation on iPhone takes your Facebook pet on a tropical trip
    Playfish fans are definitely excited, but the catch is this iOS game won't crossover with the one on Facebook except when it comes to porting over your pet.
    John Carmack: Facebook offers the 'Walmart experience of gaming' [Interview]
    "[Social games are] not a connoisseur experience, but it's important to recognize that most of what people consume in the world is not a connoisseur experience."
    E3 2011: Shooters, not social, are still king
    So how's E3 treating the social games scene? Our EIC, Libe Goad, spent the week over there and left us this thoughtful piece.
    The Amazing Spider-Man's Emma Stone was hooked on FarmVille
    "I got to level 42, and I wasn't doing anything else anymore, so I had to stop," Stone told ELLE.
    FrontierVille Oregon Trail becomes 'Pioneer Trail' after community vote
    Not that we thought anyone could confuse the official Oregon Trail with Zynga's FrontierVille expansion on Facebook, but that's lawsuits for ya.
    Scam Alert: 'Zynga Promotions' is not RewardVille, but another scam
    Dastardly!

Take-Two taking the 'wait-and-see' approach with social games

So, basically, don't expect Grand Theft Auto on Facebook anytime soon. In a recent earnings call, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick announced that the company would be taking a new approach to their future gaming lineup, to remove their "dependence" on Grand Theft Auto. As reported by Edge, Zelnick has announced that the company is "focused on building new franchises. For example, you can look at what Red Dead Redemption did for us in our last fiscal year." If that means that more Red Dead Redemption games are in the works, I'm definitely all for it - but wait! Does this diversification of Take-Two's approach mean we'll see the company branching into social games? I wouldn't count on it.

Zelnick commented on social gaming juggernaut Zynga, stating that their games were far too different, when compared to the titles produced by Take-Two. "The business Zynga's in has only been around for about four years," he said. "Playing Zynga titles doesn't scratch the same itch as playing Grand Theft Auto - that's a dynamic that doesn't change in the videogame business."

Does that mean Take-Two thinks their games are better, or simply different? With other hardcore game developers already jumping into the Facebook game pool (Ubisoft and EA, as examples), it would only make sense for Take-Two to dive in as well, but it doesn't look like the company has any interest in doing so. At most, they've only confirmed that they're "keeping an eye" on other platforms, like mobile. Either way, it leaves us to wonder: if Take-Two does eventually warm up to the Facebook gaming idea, will it be too little, too late? Only time will tell.

THQ reorganization places major focus on social games

With just 9,000 monthly active users across its entire catalog of Facebook games (according to AppData), it's easy to say that THQ has plenty of climbing left to do to make a stand in the social space. With its upcoming MargaritaVille Online game for Facebook, it's clear that THQ has seen the light, but that light might turn into a giant beacon after the company's recent reorganization.

In a recent press release, THQ announced that the company will place its focus into four major digital areas, one of which is social gaming. In fact, the social gaming space actually comes in at number two on the four-part list (number one being an increased focus on established IP like Saints Row). In terms of social games, the company wishes to "create a critical mass of users on social media platforms such as Facebook and mobile platforms, including iOS and Android(TM), using THQ-owned or branded content, such as the upcoming fall release of Margaritaville(R) Online, based on Jimmy Buffett's popular brand."

So what does this mean for the end-user? If I had to make an educated guess, I'd wager that we'll likely see a slew of side-games released on the service in the same way as EA's Dragon Age: Legends was released; that is, games that tie-in to the console versions of THQ's new titles, offering players incentive to play the Facebook game as well. Of course, if MargaritaVille takes off, we could see plenty of other branded or at least original titles released in the future as well. If anything, it almost seems as though THQ is dedicated enough to the social gaming space to throw tons of games at the wall and see which ones stick. Either way, we'll make sure to keep track of THQ's continued social gaming efforts, and will bring you all of the news on MargaritaVille as soon as we know more.

UNO Boost on Facebook: A goofy, give-and-take twist on the original

The fast track, scream-inducing card game, UNO, has reintroduced itself to Facebook with a new look and feel. UNO Boost puts the classic in unique, new packaging that publisher Game House hopes will spur virtual goods purchases and that UNO fans will appreciate. Game House took the original Facebook card game and... didn't do much to it.

Well, aside from taking Boost cards, turning them into both a strategic tactic and a commodity, and apparently removing what made the original so enjoyable. UNO Boost, while introducing an element that could launch its fun and strategy levels into the stratosphere, inexplicably removed the live play feature found in the original Facebook rendition. Game House giveth new features and taketh away defining ones.

Find the rest of our impressions of UNO Boost after the break.

UNO Boost in actions
All things considered, the core gameplay of UNO in UNO Boost remains unchanged. The color switching, number matching and quick turning still remains, but Game House turned Boost cards into more of a conscious decision than ever. While players can still draw Skip, Draw and Wild Cards, they can also replace cards in their hand with Boost Cards at will. These Boost Cards come from a pool that will recharge once daily, but can also be purchased using Coins. This currency, which accumulates from matches won, can be purchased from within the game using several methods including credit cards (but no Facebook Credits yet, sorry folks).

Boost CardsAlso found in the store are new characters to play against, individual Boost Cards and Boost Packs. Notice my use of the word "characters." These are the guys who have seemingly replaced your friends in UNO Boost (the ability to add friends is currently bugged in my experience). The personally-adored live play feature (complete with chat room) in the original UNO for Facebook is, hopefully for now, no more. Imagine the possibilities of being able to play Boost Cards against your friends in real time, shifting the playing field in an instant under your control. Sure, things would get crazy quickly, but that's what UNO is all about, right?

Instead, your friends are merely people to compare scores with this time around as you play characters like Kevin the Coach and Oog, a cave man. Opponents increase in difficulty level as you increase in player level, which is determined by how badly you defeat opponents in matches. Your experience points earned for each successful match is a combination of the numbers on his cards multiplied by the character's difficulty level and other factors. Basically, the more cards your opponent has in his hand when you win, the more experience points you gain for winning.

UNO Boost is a fun way to waste some time thanks to the brand new Boost Card system, but without the live play feature of the original it could loose steam quickly. Hopefully this is added to the game at a later time, because Boost Cards plus live play and chat could make for a huge success.

The guys behind Collapse! Blast are super serious about social games

That's not to be confused with "super cereal." GameHouse, creator of hit Facebook game Collapse! Blast, announced that it's expanding its Victoria, B.C. studio with a larger office with plans to double staff there to 45 staffers in 2012. And they'll be working toward one goal: making more social games.

"Social game development is the number one priority for our company in 2012 and Victoria is an attractive area for expansion due to the city's high caliber of talent combined with a great quality of life," GameHouse head Matt Hulett said in a statement. "I believe this strategic expansion of our social games studio in Victoria will not only grow our games portfolio, but it will also solidify our leadership position in the overall games industry."

This new office will be headed by Alex Mendelev, who came to GameHouse last year as a package deal with the acquisition of Victoria-based social games maker Backstage Technologies. Just in case Hulett wasn't clear, the Seattle-based games division of RealNetworks mentions it's invested $11 million in social gaming this year alone.

In short, expect a lot more from where the recent Bayou Blast came from. In speaking with us about the matching game, which has been growing since November, Hulett hinted that GameHouse is rather bullish on social casino games. (Well, so is everyone and their mother.)

[Via GeekWire]

Are you a Collapse! Blast or Bayou Blast fan? What other types of games would you like to see from GameHouse in 2012?

Hey, Nintendo: Tell us how you really feel about Facebook games

We already know that Nintendo isn't interested in making Facebook or mobile games. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said as much, as has Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime, citing the company's dedication to its own hardware. But when All Things Digital's Tricia Duryee mentioned CityVille maker Zynga's public stock market debut to Fils-Aime during an interview, the Nintendo executive took the opportunity to get a few jabs in.

"What's the share price? It will be interesting when it breaks below $9," Fils-Aime said of Zynga's new publicly traded stock, which has already dipped below the $9 mark once or twice. "The thing about entertainment--as consumers have a range of experiences--their desires for what's new continues to be pushed out. So delivering the same experience all the time ... consumers will move on. So when I look at gaming experiences on social networks, there's a variety of entertainment value. Some are strong, some are not. But in the end, how will they evolve? Doing the same thing over and over again is no longer fine."

Fils-Aime went on to predict that the companies that win in the social game arena will have to "provide the new and different experiences, and a way to monetize it." Well, social game companies certainly have the whole "monetize" thing down. But what happens when social games are built around monetization (virtual goods) entirely, as many are quick to point out?

[Via SlashGear]

Do you think Nintendo is right in the criticism is lobs at social games? Are social games capable of delivering the experiences Nintendo touts so much?

If Pawn Stars works on Facebook, Storage Wars will feel right at home

What the hey, let's throw Parking Wars on their too while we're at it--oh, never mind. It's official, folks: Now that Storage Wars has made it to Facebook after just a single season on A&E, reality TV has staked its claim in social gaming. The game based on the popular--though, we can't understand why--TV show hits Facebook today as the second season premieres tonight on A&E. (With Pawn Stars still kicking, this is A&E's second Facebook game.)

In Storage Wars on Facebook, players join animated versions of characters from the show in high-stakes bidding wars on things in folks' storage units. Players travel around the world in-game to bid on various relics with virtual cash in order to earn more digital bucks to bid on more things. It sounds like a boring vicious cycle, but ultimately players will go all-in for Wanted Treasures that come with huge profits.

"Storage Wars fans have shown that they are eager to get in on the bidding action themselves and our new game for Facebook lets them do just that," said A+E Networks SVP of Games Kris Soumas in a release. "We've put the same emphasis on developing a fun and addictive game experience that A&E brings to its program development."
Gallery: Storage Wars on Facebook
Based on these first screen shots, the game looks to pack numerous storage units with items to bid for inside. More importantly, however, players are guided through the game with none other than quests, or folks craving for Wanted Treasures. But what about our Wanted Treasure, Mario Kart on Facebook?

NASA to create space-themed social game combining in-depth education with fun

A few years ago, NASA held a research challenge looking for a developer and game proposal for an educational, space-themed video game that could not only be extremely educational, but also fun and commercially viable. Now, four years later, we've started to see the fruits of that challenge, as Canadian developer Project Whitecard has created a Kickstarter video preview, asking the public at large for donations to boost the project along (for the record, its goal has already been met).

The game is called Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond, and it will play like an MMO set in the year 2035. Space flight for the average citizen is now not only available, but actually encouraged, as players will make their way through our solar system (and potentially beyond), landing on Mars and exploring other celestial bodies with both friends and strangers alike. In the game's story, a threat to "civilization as we know it" has emerged, and you'll need to build a base somewhere in outer space (yes, Mars is an option) and eventually outfit a team of other players or potentially NPCs (non-player characters) with high-tech gear to fight back.

Astronauts is described by the developers as being Harry Potter in space, as players are centered around the Arthur C. Clarke Astronaut Academy Station, which is the game's version of "Hogwarts." We'll be assigned missions in this fictional version of outer space, and can then go about our business in either player vs. environment or team vs. team modes. True scientific challenges will appear in the game, as we'll need to worry about radiation, extreme heat or cold and other elements that true-to-life astronauts and NASA as a whole must deal with everyday.

If everything goes well for Project Whitecard, we can expect to see the full launch of Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond on PC, Mac and iOS in December of 2012. Sure, that's a long time to wait, but hey - space is a pretty big place to recreate.

[Via Mashable]

Are you interested in trying out Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond when it launches? Will you donate any money to the cause of helping the game reach final production? What do you think of educational video games - do they have a place, or are they out of touch with what gamers want? Sound off in the comments.