Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[You Don't Know Jack is live on Facebook, as garish and fun as ever]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/you-dont-know-jack-is-live-on-facebook-as-garish-and-fun-as-ev/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/you-dont-know-jack-is-live-on-facebook-as-garish-and-fun-as-ev/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/you-dont-know-jack-is-live-on-facebook-as-garish-and-fun-as-ev/#comments ImageOur editor-in-chief just told everyone on staff, "You don't know jack," which at first we chalked up to another moment of him flaunting his immense gaming and grammatical intelligence while we all cower in terrified inadequacy. Turns out he wanted us to write a post, but now we don't know who this Jack guy is or why he's so newsworthy.

Whatever - in unrelated news, You Don't Know Jack is now available for anyone to play on Facebook and holy snack cakes, we just figured out what our EIC wanted us to write about. Now who's dumb, huh?

JoystiqYou Don't Know Jack is live on Facebook, as garish and fun as ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookjellyvisionmacmobilepcTHQyou-dont-know-jackTue, 29 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You Don't Know Jack and Cookie Masterson want to be your new Facebook friends]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/you-dont-know-jack-and-cookie-masterson-want-to-be-your-new-fac/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/you-dont-know-jack-and-cookie-masterson-want-to-be-your-new-fac/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/you-dont-know-jack-and-cookie-masterson-want-to-be-your-new-fac/#comments ImageWe don't know about you, but You Don't Know Jack's charismatic host Cookie Masterson sure seems like a swell fellow; the kind of guy who takes to Facebook only to post photos of cats doing silly things, and potentially show his friends pictures of his newly shaven dome. We say this because we now have a new way to interact with Mr. Masterson through - you guessed it - You Don't Know Jack, now on Facebook.

The game is currently in closed beta, but I signed up to be a beta tester and was already in before this post was finished. Also, yup, I did play a round right quick, and it was totally awesome. In so many words, it's You Don't Know Jack, but played asychronously against Facebook friends. Rounds are shorter, and there's some microtransaction stuff in there, but it's pretty much the same game you've been playing (and loving) for 20 years.

Regardless, it's free and seemingly unobtrusive in regards to your Facebook account, which sounds like a big winner to us.

JoystiqYou Don't Know Jack and Cookie Masterson want to be your new Facebook friends originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cookie-mastersonfacebookfree-to-playjellyvisionmacmicrotransactionspcyou-dont-know-jackWed, 23 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ghost Recon Commander deploys to Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/ghost-recon-commander-deploys-to-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/ghost-recon-commander-deploys-to-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/ghost-recon-commander-deploys-to-facebook/#comments ImageGhost Recon's tactical tour of Facebook begins, with Ghost Recon Commander hitting the social media site earlier today. Developed by John Romero's social studio Loot Drop, Commander is linked with Ubisoft's free-to-play Ghost Recon Online and the upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.

Ghost Recon Commander is an isometric, tactical-strategy game within the popular Tom Clancy license, featuring ten "replayable missions, three difficulty levels and dozens of weapons for players to choose from."

By playing Commander, players can unlock "exclusive weapons, weapon skins and bonuses to use while playing Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and Ghost Recon Online." There are also additional "benefits" to linking the products, such as unlocking characters in Commander by playing Future Soldier. It is advisable to check it out; however, we wouldn't recommend poking anyone on the battlefield. One of you won't make it out alive.

Joystiq has contacted Ubisoft on the release date for Commander's mobile version, which was announced in April.

Gallery: Ghost Recon Commander (5/21/12)

JoystiqGhost Recon Commander deploys to Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2012 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookghost-recon-commandermacpcrelease-dateMon, 21 May 2012 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Unleash 'The Power of Liking' in Infinity Blade 2's 'Vault of Tears' this Thursday (tissues not included)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/unleash-the-power-of-liking-in-infinity-blade-2s-vault-of-te/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/unleash-the-power-of-liking-in-infinity-blade-2s-vault-of-te/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/unleash-the-power-of-liking-in-infinity-blade-2s-vault-of-te/#comments ImageIt's not a new box set from The Cure, nor from Joy Division, nor from Him. It's not a Tears for Fears reference, nor is it access to Prince's 1980s clothing selections! Nope, Infinity Blade 2's "Vault of Tears" is actually a massive (free) content update headed to Epic's latest iOS entry this Thursday.

Several new enemies are being added, as well as "more than 50 new items" and rewards. Most bizarrely, the ability to "earn extra turns and invite their friends, family, and other non-Infinity Blade players to do in-game damage with the power of liking and re-tweeting battle calls." You read that right, folks: "the power of liking and re-tweeting battle calls." In the biz, we call that a "paradigm shift." Also, awful.

Gallery: Infinity Blade 2 (Vault of Tears)

Continue reading Unleash 'The Power of Liking' in Infinity Blade 2's 'Vault of Tears' this Thursday (tissues not included)

JoystiqUnleash 'The Power of Liking' in Infinity Blade 2's 'Vault of Tears' this Thursday (tissues not included) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2012 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chairchair-entertainmentepicepic-gamesfacebookinfinity-blade-2twitterupdatevault-of-tearsMon, 21 May 2012 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Zynga shares close at record low following lackluster Facebook IPO]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/zynga-shares-close-at-record-low-following-lackluster-facebook-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/zynga-shares-close-at-record-low-following-lackluster-facebook-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/zynga-shares-close-at-record-low-following-lackluster-facebook-i/#comments Facebook went public yesterday, and its unexpectedly less-than-stellar performance on the trading floor has had powerful ramifications for its social soul sister Zynga, which finished the day's trading at a record low of $7.16 a share.

It's possible that Facebook's unimpressive IPO, closing out Friday at $38.23 a share - four dollars less than its $42.05 opening price - caused Zynga's value to drop in tandem, as the two platforms are inexorably intertwined in the public mindset. It's also possible that Zynga share holders jumped ship in favor of that new Facebook hotness, no longer having to settle for social second best.

Regardless, the severe downturn in value lead to two trading halts on Zynga shares over the course of the day; once after reaching $7.17 a share, and once again after a slight increase in market value. Despite this, share values eventually dropped to as little as $6.93 before finally settling at $7.16.

JoystiqZynga shares close at record low following lackluster Facebook IPO originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 May 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfacebookiosipadiphoneIPOmacmobileNASDAQpcstock-marketzyngaSat, 19 May 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jetpack Joyride beta now on Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/jetpack-joyride-beta-now-on-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/jetpack-joyride-beta-now-on-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/jetpack-joyride-beta-now-on-facebook/#comments Those of you who work in an office environment: we suggest you just keep right on movin'. For everyone else, please enjoy the following news: Jetpack Joyride is now playable on Facebook for free. Yes, adventure after adventure after adventure with Barry Steakfries is now just a few clicks (and a few onerous Facebook permissions) away.

It's worth noting that the game is currently in beta, and some of the seams are definitely showing. The visuals aren't terribly sharp and we even ran into some display issues, specifically if your browser view settings are zoomed in.

Again though, it's Jetpack Joyride, excitingly and horrifyingly more available than ever.

Continue reading Jetpack Joyride beta now on Facebook

JoystiqJetpack Joyride beta now on Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookhalf-life-2jetpack-joyridemacmachine-gun-jetpackpcFri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: EA planning SimCity Social for Facebook [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/rumor-ea-planning-simcity-social-for-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/rumor-ea-planning-simcity-social-for-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/rumor-ea-planning-simcity-social-for-facebook/#comments ImageDomain registrations suggest that EA is planning to follow up its hit Facebook game The Sims Social with a Facebook-based SimCity. Last September, the publisher registered (or re-registered) "SimCitySocial.com," "SimCity-Social.com," and "SimCityFacebook.com," which, put together, provide evidence of a Facebook game called "SimCity Social."

Additionally, as SimsVIP reports, you can spot a Playfish SimCity Social URL ... if you load up http://apps.facebook.com/simcitysocial/ in Google Cache, stop the page before it redirects to Facebook, and view source. It's a lot of crazy steps to take in order to see some shaky, uncertain evidence, but it works.

Even if this game turns out to be real, there's no telling when EA will launch it. Outernauts will likely be EA's big Facebook launch this summer, and the publisher has been sitting on these URLs for months. Perhaps it'll be released next year alongside the other new SimCity.

[Thanks, Victor!]

Update: We came across this URL for a currently inactive "SimCity" app. The source, including the broken image on the front page, links back to Playfish. EA officially declined to comment to Joystiq.

JoystiqRumor: EA planning SimCity Social for Facebook [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eafacebookpcsimcitysimcity-socialWed, 09 May 2012 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Outernauts is new Facebook game from Insomniac and EA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/outernauts-facebook-insomniac-and-ea/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/outernauts-facebook-insomniac-and-ea/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/outernauts-facebook-insomniac-and-ea/#comments
Insomniac Games (Ratchet and Clank, Resistance series) and Electronic Arts have teamed up on Outernauts, an adventure role-playing Facebook game. Outernauts are sent out into the galaxy to capture and train "exotic alien beasts" and unlock the secrets of the ancients while fighting in asynchronous battles.

"As we have demonstrated for nearly twenty years in the console games space, we're confident we can help evolve the definition of a game experience on Facebook," said Insomniac prez Ted Price. "With Outernauts, we are delivering a deep story with real RPG strategy, coupled with Insomniac's signature sense of humor."

The game popped up across galactic radar relays this past February following copyright registrations, and could be seen in stars after the creation of Insomniac Click. Outernauts will launch this summer and is currently in closed beta.

Gallery: Outernauts

JoystiqOuternauts is new Facebook game from Insomniac and EA originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2012 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsFacebookInsomniacmacOuternautspcWed, 09 May 2012 08:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook under fire over virtual currency architecture; lawsuit seeks $5 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/facebook-under-fire-over-virtual-currency-architecture-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/facebook-under-fire-over-virtual-currency-architecture-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/facebook-under-fire-over-virtual-currency-architecture-lawsuit/#comments Glynnis Bohannon is none too happy with Facebook right now. She argues her son - who purchased Facebook Credits for use in social games - did not know he was spending real-world money, and is looking for a refund. She's also trying to get Facebook to give back money to all the minors in the US who had laid down cash, and is looking for funds exceeding $5 million, court documents show.

Bohannon says Facebook's currency system goes against consumer protection laws in California. Minors from the age of 13 on can create an account on Facebook and purchase Facebook Credits, though there are warnings that individuals under the age of 18 must have permission from a parent. No specific apps were mentioned in the filing.

JoystiqFacebook under fire over virtual currency architecture; lawsuit seeks $5 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-actionclass-action-lawsuitfacebookfacebook-creditslawsuitmobilepcSat, 21 Apr 2012 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Vita Facebook app updated to 1.01, adds photo uploading]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/psa-vita-facebook-app-updated-to-1-01-adds-photo-uploading/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/psa-vita-facebook-app-updated-to-1-01-adds-photo-uploading/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/psa-vita-facebook-app-updated-to-1-01-adds-photo-uploading/#comments ImageThe Facebook app for Sony's Vita handheld has been updated from version 1.0 to version 1.01, adding the ability to use Pages, upload photos and tag said photos once they've been uploaded. It also adds full support for the Vita's system languages, although it doesn't look like this firmare update includes the "Pirate" language setting available in the browser version of Facebook.

Here's hoping that'll be part of the next infinitesimally small incremental firmware update.

JoystiqPSA: Vita Facebook app updated to 1.01, adds photo uploading originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.01Facebookfirmware-updateplaystationplaystation-vitaPSASonysystem-updateupdatevitaSun, 15 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Walking Dead shambles over to Facebook in April]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-walking-dead-shambles-over-to-facebook-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-walking-dead-shambles-over-to-facebook-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-walking-dead-shambles-over-to-facebook-in-april/#comments You've got the comics, you watch the show every week and you're counting down the minutes until you can play Telltale's game. Well, listen up, The Walking Dead fans: another game is coming ... to Facebook.

AMC and social games publisher RockYou have teamed up to offer The Walking Dead Social Game, in development at Eyes Wide Games. The gameplay is built from two major activities: setting up and maintaining base camps, and sending out scouts to scavenge for supplies. There's also some combat, naturally.

As you can see in the screen above, it's quite the colorful game. Inside Social Games has more screens, and the Facebook page has a few videos showing off some of the characters from the show.

JoystiqThe Walking Dead shambles over to Facebook in April originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amceyes-wide-gamesfacebookmacpcrockyouthe-walking-deadWed, 14 Mar 2012 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zynga stock jumps after announcing a platform separate from Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/zynga-stock-jumps-after-announcing-a-platform-separate-from-face/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/zynga-stock-jumps-after-announcing-a-platform-separate-from-face/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/zynga-stock-jumps-after-announcing-a-platform-separate-from-face/#comments One of investors' main concerns when it comes to Zynga is the fact that it piggybacks on Facebook -- very successfully, mind you, but still, its entire multi-million dollar existence relies on a social networking platform that has a mind and billions of dollars of its own. Yesterday, when Zynga announced it will be launching its own gaming/social platform at zynga.com, investors perked up, and Zynga's stock rose 10 percent.

Zynga's stock had been trading at $13.43 and it rose to $14.49 by the end of the day yesterday. For once we agree with the stock market, at least in principle. Anything that puts Zynga in its own bubble that can only be reached by choice is a very, very good thing.

JoystiqZynga stock jumps after announcing a platform separate from Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfacebookiosipadiphonemacmobilepcPlatformstocksZyngaFri, 02 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Vita's Facebook app is back]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/psa-vitas-facebook-app-is-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/psa-vitas-facebook-app-is-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/psa-vitas-facebook-app-is-back/#comments You've got your PlayStation Vita primed and ready to go, but first you want to notify all of your friends that your lunch -- a delightful ham sandwich -- was outstanding. Fire up the Twiiter app and go! Fire up Face... wait a minute? Where is the Facebook app?

Don't fret, food reviewer, though the Facebook app was pulled from the PlayStation Network after originally being made available last week, it has returned. Citing issues on Facebook's side for the app's disapperance, the PlayStation Twitter account promises that the updated version of Facebook for Vita is "fully restored."

Download it now, if you dare. We wouldn't want your friends to miss out on your dinner impressions.

JoystiqPSA: Vita's Facebook app is back originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Facebookplaystationplaystation-vitaPSAvitaThu, 01 Mar 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita Facebook app pulled from PSN]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/playstation-vita-facebook-app-pulled-from-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/playstation-vita-facebook-app-pulled-from-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/playstation-vita-facebook-app-pulled-from-psn/#comments When we saw Eurogamer's report that the PS Vita Facebook app had been pulled from PSN, it was only in Europe -- the US PSN store still had the app available for download. But as we began to compile this post, a funny thing happened: the PS Vita Facebook app was pulled from the US store, too.

So we contacted Sony for the reason why it was pulled. "The Facebook application for PS Vita is not available at this point in time," a Sony rep told Joystiq. "We are currently looking into this to restore it to normal operational status. We will announce further details when ready." There's currently no timetable for the app's return, but as soon as we know something, we'll let you know.

JoystiqPlayStation Vita Facebook app pulled from PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookplaystationplaystation-vitavitaFri, 24 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Vita Facebook app now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/psa-vita-facebook-app-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/psa-vita-facebook-app-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/psa-vita-facebook-app-now-available/#comments You might have downloaded Flickr and Twitter last night, but your Vita's social (networking) life was still missing one crucial component as of yesterday: a dedicated Facebook app. Well, now that's been taken care of, as you can head to the PlayStation Store and download the app.

The official PlayStation Facebook page notes that the app is "only" 12 megabytes, so bear that in mind when considering how best to fill your valuable, valuable memory card.

JoystiqPSA: Vita Facebook app now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookplaystationplaystation-vitapsapsnvitaThu, 23 Feb 2012 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Robot Unicorn Attack Evolution lives in harmony on Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/robot-unicorn-attack-evolution-lives-in-harmony-on-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/robot-unicorn-attack-evolution-lives-in-harmony-on-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/robot-unicorn-attack-evolution-lives-in-harmony-on-facebook/#comments
Robot Unicorn Attack evolved from browser game to mobile title and will now live in harmony, harmony on Facebook as Robot Unicorn Attack Evolution. The pseudo-sequel for the social network adds new control elements, new animals (PANDAS!), daily challenges, and a bevy of microtransaction options.

Players can purchase Fairy Dust, which will allow them to add "enhancements" for extra abilities and bonuses before a session. Enhancements include triple jumps, slowing the game down, blasting through a star without dash, and "Freevolution," which allows players to start the game as the panda. And, really, what game wouldn't we pay to start off as a panda in?

Gallery: Robot Unicorn Attack: Evolution (Facebook)

JoystiqRobot Unicorn Attack Evolution lives in harmony on Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adult-SwimFacebookmacpcrobot-unicorn-attack-evolutionTue, 07 Feb 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Judge Xenoblade Chronicles by its (inside) cover]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/judge-xenoblade-chronicles-by-its-inside-cover/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/judge-xenoblade-chronicles-by-its-inside-cover/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/judge-xenoblade-chronicles-by-its-inside-cover/#comments Xenoblade Chronicles "the game" is definitely coming to the US Wii on April 3, but Xenoblade Chronicles "the box art" is more of a vague idea at this point. Nintendo is allowing fans to choose the inside portion of Xenoblade's reversible box art via a Facebook photo poll -- of the four photos shown below, whichever has the most "Likes" will become the US game's reversible image:

Continue reading Judge Xenoblade Chronicles by its (inside) cover

JoystiqJudge Xenoblade Chronicles by its (inside) cover originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coverfacebooknintendopollreversiblevotewiixenoblade-chroniclesMon, 06 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mass Effect 3 'Mission Command' Facebook app offers in-game goodies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/mass-effect-3-mission-command-facebook-app-offers-in-game-good/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/mass-effect-3-mission-command-facebook-app-offers-in-game-good/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/mass-effect-3-mission-command-facebook-app-offers-in-game-good/#comments Microsoft has launched a Facebook app called Mass Effect 3 Mission Command, that both serves as promotion for the upcoming Mass Effect 3, and an opportunity to get some in-game items. You "log in" to Mission Command (which grants EA access to your Facebook account and email), and then you have to fulfill missions like recruiting your friends, posting pickup lines for Liara, downloading the demo, or sharing movies of you pretending to be in the game.

The first prize on offer is an Xbox Live avatar prop of the Normandy (presumably the same one found in the Xbox 360 Collector's Edition), and later missions will give away an Xbox 360 console complete with the game and Kinect. Sure, doing missions for EA's promotional gain might not be quite as heroic as saving the universe from the reapers, but even Commander Shepard finds the time to sell out occasionally.

JoystiqMass Effect 3 'Mission Command' Facebook app offers in-game goodies originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commander-shepardeafacebookkinectmass-effect-3microsoftpromotionsweepstakesxboxThu, 02 Feb 2012 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[NASA totally makes iOS and Facebook games now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/nasa-totally-makes-ios-and-facebook-games-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/nasa-totally-makes-ios-and-facebook-games-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/nasa-totally-makes-ios-and-facebook-games-now/#comments NASA is exploring the strange new world of social and mobile gaming, with two new game apps designed to educate about math, flight, and the history of space exploration.

Sector 33 for iOS is an air traffic control simulator, in which players manage the speed and route of up to five planes coming into San Francisco from the east. Instead of the breezy gameplay of Flight Control, you have to deal with actual wind and other real-life complications.

Space Race Blast Off is a virtual game show on Facebook in which players compete to answer space-related trivia for points, in categories including "technology," "astronauts," and "math." Go learn something!

JoystiqNASA totally makes iOS and Facebook games now originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>educationfacebookiosiphonemobilenasapcsector-33space-race-blast-offThu, 02 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Harmonix working on unannounced XBLA, PSN and Facebook game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/harmonix-working-on-unannounced-xbla-psn-and-facebook-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/harmonix-working-on-unannounced-xbla-psn-and-facebook-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/harmonix-working-on-unannounced-xbla-psn-and-facebook-game/#comments Rock Band 3 senior designer Brian Chan is working on a new project for Harmonix, intended for three platforms that rarely receive the same games: XBLA, PSN, and Facebook. That's about all the detail we have on that project, other than that Chan is working as lead designer -- as this information is straight from Chan's resume. Of course, judging by Harmonix's history, it'll either be a music game or motion-controlled hoverboarding.

Harmonix was reticent about the project when we asked, unable to give us a clear answer due to the positioning of tongue in cheek. "As we've stated before," a representative told Joystiq, "our studio is growing and hard at work on a variety of titles. In a storied Harmonix tradition, our designers start working on those games before they're publicly announced." Harmonix will have more information "in the coming months, probably via a LinkedIn update or something - we haven't decided."

JoystiqHarmonix working on unannounced XBLA, PSN and Facebook game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookharmonixmicrosoftpcplaystationps3psnxblaxboxMon, 30 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Another indie dev points to Zynga similarity with cheeky chart]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/another-indie-dev-points-to-zynga-similarity-with-cheeky-chart/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/another-indie-dev-points-to-zynga-similarity-with-cheeky-chart/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/another-indie-dev-points-to-zynga-similarity-with-cheeky-chart/#comments It seems nonsensical to propose that a bingo-based game could be copied, but in the case of Buffalo Studios' Bingo Blitz and Zynga's Zynga Bingo, the evidence is rather clear. "We wanted to alert you to the striking similarities between Zynga's recently announced game, to our game Bingo Blitz," Buffalo Studios VP of product marketing and operations Salim Mith told Venture Beat. Mith also offered a cheeky visual letter addressed to the Facebook game publishing giant, comparing images of Bingo Blitz to those of Zynga Bingo to highlight the similarities (seen in full after the break).

The letter comes just five days after Tiny Tower dev NimbleBit created a similar visualization to address what it perceived as a copy of its building management sim in Zynga's Dream Heights. Zynga has yet to respond to copycat allegations from either NimbleBit or Buffalo Studios, but it's also possible that the publisher simply can't hear the complaints over the din of its coffers being filled.

Continue reading Another indie dev points to Zynga similarity with cheeky chart

JoystiqAnother indie dev points to Zynga similarity with cheeky chart originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bingo-blitzbuffalobuffalo-studioscopycatfacebookmacnimblebitpczyngazynga-bingoMon, 30 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Triple Town developer sues over iOS knock-off]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/triple-town-developer-sues-over-ios-knock-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/triple-town-developer-sues-over-ios-knock-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/triple-town-developer-sues-over-ios-knock-off/#comments Spry Fox, a social developer most recently known for its Facebook game Triple Town, has filed a copyright-infringement lawsuit against iOS development house 6Waves LOLAPPS (seriously) over Yeti Town, a mobile app that Spry Fox CEO David Edery claims is almost an exact duplicate of his company's product.

"We're not just talking about the game's basic mechanics here," Edery said in a statement made on his personal blog. "We're talking about tons of little details, from the language in the tutorial, to many of our UI elements, to the quantities and prices of every single item in the store." What's more, Spry Fox was in confidential, NDA-protected negotiations with 6Waves LOLAPPS to publish Triple Town, right up until the day Yeti Town was released.

As part of their negotiations, Spry Fox had given 6Waves months of private access to Triple Town during its closed beta test. "It's bad enough to rip off another company. To do so while you are pumping them for private information (first, our game design ideas, and later, after the game was launched on Facebook, our private revenue and retention numbers) is profoundly unethical by any measure."

Mobile rip-offs have become fairly commonplace these days, so its refreshing to see a small developer aggressively try to protect its intellectual property. The outcome of this case will be unlikely to set any legal precedents, but if the courts weigh in Spry Fox's favor, it could be enough to discourage iOS counterfeiting in the future.

[ER 09 via Shutterstock]

JoystiqTriple Town developer sues over iOS knock-off originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6waves-Lolappsandroidfacebookiosipadiphonelawlawsuitlegalmacmobilepcspry-foxtriple-townyeti-townSun, 29 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Closed beta testing for Zynga Bingo begins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/closed-beta-testing-for-zynga-bingo-begins/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/closed-beta-testing-for-zynga-bingo-begins/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/closed-beta-testing-for-zynga-bingo-begins/#comments If you love games of chance and stamping cards but hate being around the elderly, know that Zynga is working on a solution for your extremely specific and worryingly ageist dilema. Zynga Bingo has begun beta testing and will be made available to the general public "very soon," according to Shacknews.

The app will join Zynga Poker as part of the Zynga Casino suite and will allow players to score on up to six cards, as well as fill in spots on friends' cards. There will also be power-ups of some kind, which is where we expect to find Zynga's trademark monetization, although that's purely speculation on our part. We also expect Zynga Bingo to post "BINGO!" on your friends' walls every time you win, but we desperately hope we're wrong about that.

JoystiqClosed beta testing for Zynga Bingo begins originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta-testbeta-testingbingofacebookmacMicrotransactionspczyngazynga-bingoSat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Angry Birds catapulting to Facebook on Valentine's Day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/angry-birds-catapulting-to-facebook-on-valentines-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/angry-birds-catapulting-to-facebook-on-valentines-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/angry-birds-catapulting-to-facebook-on-valentines-day/#comments Mirroring the plans of every bitter, lonely soul the world over, Rovio will be filling Facebook with anger come Valentine's Day. Granted, Rovio's February 14 release of Angry Birds for the social-networking site will be quite a bit different from the vitriolic bile we'll be spewing as a projection of our own debilitating loneliness, but both activities do involve throwing things and impassioned rants about how things didn't go as planned.

In addition to leaderboard support, the Facebook version of Rovio's darling will feature "higher quality animation" to take advantage of the game's full-screen capabilities. It will also include power-ups, which come in familiar bird flavors as well as more divine abilities, such as triggering earthquakes on command. Power-ups can either be earned in-game or purchased for $0.99, but you'll never be able to buy your way back into her heart. Please come back, Susan.

JoystiqAngry Birds catapulting to Facebook on Valentine's Day originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angry-birdsappfacebookmacMicrotransactionspcroviovalentines-dayWed, 25 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai full-game streaming to start 3 months after launching on Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/gaikai-full-game-streaming-to-start-3-months-after-launching-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/gaikai-full-game-streaming-to-start-3-months-after-launching-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/gaikai-full-game-streaming-to-start-3-months-after-launching-on/#comments Gaikai is set to launch full-game streaming services on its network of gaming and entertainment websites, ramping up its current demo-only model, GamesIndustry reports. After launching its cloud service on Facebook, Gaikai will roll out full-game streaming on retailer sites such as YouTube, Best Buy and Walmart, and on publisher sites such as EA and Ubisoft.

Full-game streaming will go live about 90 days after the Facebook service begins, which should be soon, Gaikai head Dave Perry says. Gaikai's main competition is OnLive, but Perry says there is a huge difference between the two companies. "They have to modify the game; they have to get the source code to the game," Perry said. "Gaikai doesn't require modification of the game."

There are no direct plans to put Gaikai on console, but Perry can see the need for cloud services on all platforms: "You do not want to be the console that can't do this," he said. "You do not want to be the retail website that doesn't have playable games on it. You don't want to be the gaming website that you can't buy a game from.

"I don't want to take your console from your cold dead hands, that's not the case at all. You're going to continue to play the way you play, but just imagine that you could have an opinion on all games because you've been able to try all of them."

JoystiqGaikai full-game streaming to start 3 months after launching on Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best-BuycloudEAfacebookgaikaimacmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3streamingUbisoftwiixboxyoutubeTue, 24 Jan 2012 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai will introduce your mom to hardcore gaming through Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/gaikai-will-introduce-your-mom-to-hardcore-gaming-through-facebo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/gaikai-will-introduce-your-mom-to-hardcore-gaming-through-facebo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/gaikai-will-introduce-your-mom-to-hardcore-gaming-through-facebo/#comments Streaming service Gaikai has finalized a deal to bring hardcore PC game demos to Facebook, following previous deals made with YouTube, Wal Mart and others. Gaikai said it has been working with Facebook for some time, and it sees this as a golden opportunity for both parties.

"Facebook already owns the category of casual gaming; we're going to help them own core games," founder David Perry said at Cloud Gaming Europe, GamesIndustry reports. "A click and boom, you're playing World of Warcraft."

Perry demoed World of Warcraft on Facebook, but later clarified to GameSpot that Gaikai "is NOT bringing WoW to Facebook (at least not in the foreseeable future)." Gaikai's approach to streaming games sees it in more of a marketing role than a game-provider, but introducing the Facebook audience to more hardcore opportunities shouldn't be a bad thing. Unless your mom starts sending you invites to join her guild page, "Massive Mamacitas."

JoystiqGaikai will introduce your mom to hardcore gaming through Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudfacebookgaikaihardcoremacpcstreamingWed, 18 Jan 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RISK: Factions invades Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/risk-factions-invades-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/risk-factions-invades-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/risk-factions-invades-facebook/#comments
Friendship fracturing game Risk: Factions is available now on Facebook. Compete with friends and continue the endless debate of whether streaming out of Australia or South America is more advantages. Don't forget to mock and deride anyone who tries to hold Asia! That's, like, a rule.

The Facebook version of Factions features a single-player mode, player-vs-player against Facebook friends and a "friendly fire" mode against Facebook randoms. The game also features bonus cards and other aspects that didn't exist in the console version. It's definitely Risk, but where the console version of Factions was a twist on that formula, this Facebook version seems like a twist on Factions.

Gallery: Risk Factions (Facebook)

JoystiqRISK: Factions invades Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsFacebookmacpcRisk-FactionsThu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Marvel: Avengers Alliance brings Marvel and Disney to Facebook games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/marvel-avengers-alliance-brings-marvel-and-disney-to-facebook-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/marvel-avengers-alliance-brings-marvel-and-disney-to-facebook-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/marvel-avengers-alliance-brings-marvel-and-disney-to-facebook-g/#comments
Disney begins its inevitable assault on Facebook through its subsidiary Marvel, with the upcoming Q1 release of Marvel: Avengers Alliance, a new game for the platform developed by Playdom. It's a "combat role playing game experience with dozens of familiar Marvel superheroes and villains to be collected," in which players can train their stable of Marvel superfolks to upgrade their abilities and stats.

This, of course, means we can expect to see more Facebook games from both Disney and Marvel -- the floodgates have been thrown open (let's say by the Hulk, in the interest of following the theme). We're surprised that this hadn't already happened!

Gallery: Marvel: Avengers Alliance

Continue reading Marvel: Avengers Alliance brings Marvel and Disney to Facebook games

JoystiqMarvel: Avengers Alliance brings Marvel and Disney to Facebook games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneyfacebookmarvelmarvel-avengers-alliancepcplaydomMon, 09 Jan 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook's most popular games list topped by Playdom (which isn't Zynga)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/facebooks-most-popular-games-list-topped-by-playdom-which-isn/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/facebooks-most-popular-games-list-topped-by-playdom-which-isn/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/facebooks-most-popular-games-list-topped-by-playdom-which-isn/#comments You'll excuse our baffled aghast, but we just saw Facebook's most played games of 2011 list and were mesmerized by this list of stuff we've never heard of. Also, we're surprised that Disney-owned Playdom sits at the top of the list with Gardens of Time, while Zynga's myriad "Ville" offerings, "... with Friends" games, Empires & Allies, and Adventure World are instead scattered throughout the bottom nine.

EA's The Sims Social edges out Zynga as well for the number two spot, though neither Playdom nor EA can compare to Zynga's four entires on the top 10. According to Facebook, the list is put together by "looking at the top games on Facebook with more than 100,000 monthly active users and giving priority to those games with the highest user satisfaction scores."

JoystiqFacebook's most popular games list topped by Playdom (which isn't Zynga) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011cityvilleeaelectronic-artsfacebookgardens-of-timepcplaydomthe-sims-socialzyngaFri, 23 Dec 2011 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PixelJunk Monsters Facebook ready for wave after wave of players]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/pixeljunk-monsters-facebook-ready-for-wave-after-wave-of-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/pixeljunk-monsters-facebook-ready-for-wave-after-wave-of-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/pixeljunk-monsters-facebook-ready-for-wave-after-wave-of-players/#comments PixelJunk Monsters Online, the first entry in the PixelJunk franchise not to appear on PlayStation devices, is now in open beta on Facebook. Announced over the summer, PixelJunk Monsters Online is based on the PSN tower defense game, which has sold over 500,000 units. Now you can play it while waiting for TPS reports to collate.

PJO features the tower defense gameplay of the original along with a world map, and sees players defending their lands from waves of monsters. The objective is to collect gold and gems to expand territory and defend more tiles -- of course, your friends will be doing the same. That's when the fighting starts, followed by nasty Facebook messages, and eventually it culminates in a peace accord over buffalo wings at T.G.I. Fridays.

Gallery: PixelJunk Monsters Online (Facebook)

JoystiqPixelJunk Monsters Facebook ready for wave after wave of players originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FacebookmacpcPixelJunk-MonstersPixelJunk-Monsters-OnlineQ-GamesFri, 16 Dec 2011 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott's Portalarium announces first game, and it's about garage sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/garriotts-portalarium-announces-first-game-and-its-about-gara/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/garriotts-portalarium-announces-first-game-and-its-about-gara/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/garriotts-portalarium-announces-first-game-and-its-about-gara/#comments Multi-millionaire Richard Garriott probably hasn't been to a garage sale in many years (unless they were actually selling garages), but he's making a game about them. Perhaps those are the "roots" he intended to return to with his recent startup, Portalarium.

Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale, going into closed beta "just after the holidays," is a Facebook game that claims to invent a new "shopping and collecting" category of social games. Players create homes and avatars, and then search in-game garage sales, storage units, estate sales, pawn shops, and other junkeries to complete collections of real-world items, using them to decorate their houses or flipping them in their own sales. Portalarium said that "national retailers" will also have in-game stores.

Garriott's own experiences do play into the design of Ultimate Collector. Many of the available items will be from his own collection of ephemera, including space memorabilia, "quack medical devices," and of course shrunken heads. And all of the real-world items will come with information about their provenance.

"In fact we've provided links in the game so players can go back to these websites to learn more about the items they've collected," said executive producer Dallas Snell, "and, in some cases, even buy them for real if they still exist and are available for sale."

Continue reading Garriott's Portalarium announces first game, and it's about garage sales

JoystiqGarriott's Portalarium announces first game, and it's about garage sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookpcportalariumRichard-Garriottsocial-gameultimate-collectorultimate-collector-garage-saleWed, 07 Dec 2011 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Diner Dash dev PlayFirst hit with layoffs after social games fail]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/diner-dash-dev-playfirst-hit-with-layoffs-after-social-games-fai/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/diner-dash-dev-playfirst-hit-with-layoffs-after-social-games-fai/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/diner-dash-dev-playfirst-hit-with-layoffs-after-social-games-fai/#comments PlayFirst, developer of mobile and social games like Diner Dash and Chocolatier, is going through a period of "restructuring." According to Gamasutra, this includes an unspecified number of layoffs at the studio, which had over 100 employees.

The company's stated focus on the saturated social games market has not been successful. PlayFirst shut down all its Facebook efforts, including the social adaptation of its previously successful Diner Dash franchise. Gamasutra also reports that other social games veterans who joined PlayFirst have since left for Playdom or Zynga.

The bad times haven't deterred PlayFirst. A representative for the company stated, "Our future plans are to continue to focus on the mobile casual gaming space."

JoystiqDiner Dash dev PlayFirst hit with layoffs after social games fail originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocolatierdiner-dashfacebooklayoffsplayfirstsocialWed, 07 Dec 2011 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Xenoblade Chronicles arrives in the US in 'April 2012' [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/xenoblade-chronicles-america-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/xenoblade-chronicles-america-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/xenoblade-chronicles-america-release-date/#comments
After this morning's accidental retail reveal of Xenoblade Chronicles coming to North America, Nintendo has made the game's launch official, pinning an "April 2012" release date to the much hyped Wii RPG. Nintendo teased the reveal earlier today with a new gallery of Xenoblade artwork that mysteriously popped up on Facebook, though at the time there was no news attached to said tease.

Despite Nintendo not giving a date to the game, this morning's image indicated an April 3 launch. GameStop's website, however, reflects an April 2 date, post-official announce. We're just gonna go with "early April" for now.

So, after this, now all the Operation Rainfall folks need to do is get those other two Wii RPGs to come out in the US, and we'll be all set! We'll get right back to helping with that just as soon as we get through Skyward Sword and Xenoblade Chronicles. In, like, 120 hours, give or take.

Update: According to the official PR that Nintendo of America just sent out, the game will be sold exclusively through GameStop retail outlets and Nintendo.com's website for $49.99.

JoystiqXenoblade Chronicles arrives in the US in 'April 2012' [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookmonolith-softmonolithsoftnintendoq2-2012release-daterpgwiixenobladexenoblade-chroniclesFri, 02 Dec 2011 13:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Myspace CEO Owen Van Natta now former Zynga executive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/former-myspace-ceo-owen-van-natta-now-former-zynga-executive/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/former-myspace-ceo-owen-van-natta-now-former-zynga-executive/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/former-myspace-ceo-owen-van-natta-now-former-zynga-executive/#comments Owen Van Natta has resigned from his position as an Executive Vice President of Business Operations at casual/social gaming megalith Zynga, according to a regulatory filing released Thursday. While Natta maintains his position on the company's board of directors, his involvement in the developer's daily operations has ceased.

Natta served as Facebook's Chief Revenue Officer until joining Myspace in 2009, where his tenure as CEO lasted until being scooped up by Zynga in August of 2010. Natta takes 2.1 million shares of Zynga stock with him, leaving behind 4.6 million of his original 6.8 million shares which had not fully vested to maturity. Despite delaying its IPO earlier this year, Zynga is still expected to go public before long, and depending on how that goes Natta's shares could either extend his resignation indefinitely, or amount to a whole lot of his last name.

JoystiqFormer Myspace CEO Owen Van Natta now former Zynga executive originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualfacebookmacmobilemyspaceOwen-Van-NattapcsocialzyngaSun, 20 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jamil Moledina leaves EA Partners for Funzio]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/jamil-moledina-leaves-ea-partners-for-funzio/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/jamil-moledina-leaves-ea-partners-for-funzio/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/jamil-moledina-leaves-ea-partners-for-funzio/#comments
Jamil Moledina, one-time executive director of GDC and the man behind EA Partners' digital business (Shank, DeathSpank, etc), has left EA to join Funzio. Those of you who follow executive departures have probably guessed already, but Funzio is a developer of social games. Specifically, according to the press release, it does "action-packed AAA quality social games for mobile, Facebook, and Google+." The only title listed on Funzio's website is Crime City, a Facebook and iPhone title about building a city (of crime, presumably). Moledina will take up the role of vice president of business development.

Personally, we'll keep pretending that Moledina left EA to hang out with Funzio Auditore da Firenze, Ezio's cousin. He's not that great at killing people, but he will assassinate your funny bone ... with gags.

Continue reading Jamil Moledina leaves EA Partners for Funzio

JoystiqJamil Moledina leaves EA Partners for Funzio originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfunziofunzio-auditore-da-firenzegoogle-plusiosiphonejamil-moledinamobileMon, 07 Nov 2011 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Zynga reports record quarterly revenue, profits still down year-over-year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/zynga-reports-record-quarterly-revenue-profits-still-down-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/zynga-reports-record-quarterly-revenue-profits-still-down-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/zynga-reports-record-quarterly-revenue-profits-still-down-year/#comments Never underestimate the addictive power of microtransaction infused farms, apparently, as Zynga has disclosed a record quarter for the period between July 1 and September 30: Over $306 million, an 80 percent increase in revenue over that same period in 2010. The social megalith attributes the increase in revenue to the successful launches of Adventure World and the Facebook version of Words with Friends, which took place during this quarter.

Revenue is a very different beast than profit, however, where Zynga continues to decline. Following a 95 percent year-over-year profit decrease in Q2, the SEC filing shows a 54 percent decrease year-over-year in Q3 after a total of $12.5 million in net profits.

Hey Zynga, want a tip? It's on the house: Monetize letter tiles in Words with Friends. We'll pay you fifteen dollars to get rid of "MXLCZDL."

JoystiqZynga reports record quarterly revenue, profits still down year-over-year originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-worldfacebookfarmvillemacmobilepcprofitsQ3recordrevenuewords-with-friendszyngaSun, 06 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tour Call of Duty Elite's virtual world through the eyes of Modern Warfare 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/tour-call-of-duty-elites-virtual-world-through-the-eyes-of-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/tour-call-of-duty-elites-virtual-world-through-the-eyes-of-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/tour-call-of-duty-elites-virtual-world-through-the-eyes-of-mode/#comments
Worried about Mom on Facebook infiltrating your super elite squad of Modern Warfare 3 multiplayers? It looks like that won't be an issue with Call of Duty Elite's Facebok integration into MW3, though that guy from high school you don't wanna talk to might end up bugging you constantly. The good with the bad, folks.

JoystiqTour Call of Duty Elite's virtual world through the eyes of Modern Warfare 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeachheadbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cod-eliteelitefacebookgameplayinfinity-wardiosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilemodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3sledgehammersledgehammer-gamesxboxFri, 04 Nov 2011 05:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kevin Butler opens the Hall of Play on Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/kevin-butler-opens-the-hall-of-play-on-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/kevin-butler-opens-the-hall-of-play-on-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/kevin-butler-opens-the-hall-of-play-on-facebook/#comments If you were jealous of Michael and all his video game character fans in Sony's awesome "Long Live Play" ad, Sony's giving you a chance to get your own sliver of the gratitude pie. Just head over to Facebook and let Kevin Butler induct you into the Hall of Play.

You'll not only get your own "Michael" ad, you'll get to hang out with KB in a sport coat, and if that's not worth a few clicks and minutes of your time, we don't know what is. (Also, he claims he'll be giving out macaroons.)

JoystiqKevin Butler opens the Hall of Play on Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookhall-of-playkevin-butlerplaystationps3sonyFri, 28 Oct 2011 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook looking to expand Credits to other gaming portals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/facebook-looking-to-expand-credits-to-other-gaming-portals/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/facebook-looking-to-expand-credits-to-other-gaming-portals/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/facebook-looking-to-expand-credits-to-other-gaming-portals/#comments Facebook's thick, sinewy tendrils continue to twist and worm their way through every facet of the internet's expansive infrastructure, as the social giant has unceremoniously announced plans to expand the Facebook Credits system to other sites. Sandwiched between payment system and graph API updates on the Platform Update developers blog, the brief entry names Gamehouse's Collapse! Blast as the project's initial testbed, adding that interested developers should get in touch.

Rather than using Paypal or their credit cards, users now sign into Collapse! Blast via Facebook, at which point their existing Facebook Credits can be spent on virtual goods. Should the expansion progress beyond these initial testing phases, Facebook Credits may provide appsperience developers with a solution that's easier and cheaper to implement than a proprietary one. Facebook's massive existing install base doesn't hurt things either, and since adoption is the key to standardization, maybe this is the first step towards a Star Trek-esque credits-based utopian future society.

JoystiqFacebook looking to expand Credits to other gaming portals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developersexpansionfacebookfacebook-creditsmacmobilepctestingMon, 24 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom wants to tell you about the Dragon's Secret World]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/funcom-wants-to-tell-you-about-the-dragons-secret-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/funcom-wants-to-tell-you-about-the-dragons-secret-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/funcom-wants-to-tell-you-about-the-dragons-secret-world/#comments
Playing telephone with sensitive information is never a wise decision, which is why Funcom is hosting a Q&A session on Facebook today to answer fan questions about the mysterious Dragon society in The Secret World. The session starts at 2 p.m. EST, but if you have a burning question go ahead and submit it now for the devs to answer later -- keep in mind, they're only answering questions about the Dragon secret society.

If you don't know anything about the Dragon yet -- as is the case with any good secret society, especially one in an already secret world -- check out the backstory, the above teaser and the gallery below. The quest to gather this content claimed the lives of dozens (of potato chips while we watched it download), so take it seriously, you fools.

Gallery: The Secret World (The Dragon)

JoystiqFuncom wants to tell you about the Dragon's Secret World originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookFuncommicrosoftpcquestion-and-answerthe-secret-worldxboxSun, 23 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST