Look, if you've never played Apples to Apples before, just go out to Walmart or something and fork up the 20 bucks. Play the game with a few friends, come back to read this news and you'll understand why we're excited. (Just trust us on this one, OK?) THQ and Mattel have announced that they're working to bring the awesome board game to Facebook and mobile this winter.
Better yet, like Zynga's Words With Friends, the game will be playable across platforms. This means players can challenge their friends in games of goofy comparisons from either Facebook or their mobile device (likely iOS and Android), and their friends can respond from either device. The game is quite simple: One player chooses a card from a deck with an adjective, while the other players choose one card from their hand with a person, place or thing of note. The former then chooses which card they think fits bests, generally based on whether it's funny ... which is almost always the case.
On Facebook and mobile, players will be able to create their own games with their friends or jump into existing games with random players. Through playing Apples to Apples, you'll earn Apple Coins, Apple Cash and Apple Achievements to unlock additional avatars, playing cards and themed backgrounds, according to a release.
THQ and Mattel are also releasing the game for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network for $10, but we imagine the Facebook and mobile versions will be free. We also imagine that Apples to Apples will create awkward situations when players inexplicably laugh to themselves in public.
Have you ever played the original Apples to Apples card game? Will a game like this become a worthy competitor for the mighty Words With Friends?
Chủ Nhật, 19 tháng 2, 2012
Scam Alert: Mario Kart does not exist on Facebook, and likely never will
Nintendo has already established--rather firmly, actually--that its games will never leave Nintendo hardware. Alas, here we are, with yet another attempt at your account information to spread a dastardly scam. According to Internet security firm Sophos's Naked Security blog, a scam that claims Nintendo's popular racer Mario Kart is available for Facebook is circulating.
But it's not just circulating through News Feed posts, but through private messages between Facebook users. If you happen to click on the link that's spreading the fake news, you will arrive at what appears to be a launch page for the game. You absolutely should not click on it, but doing so takes you to an online survey rather than a thrilling race with Mario and friends.
Some users have even told Naked Security that clicking on the link attempts to install a browser extension on their computers. It should go without saying that you should under no circumstances accept the installation, but we're saying it anyway. If you were so unfortunate as to click on it, be quick to delete any News Feed or private messages sent inadvertently by you.
Mario Kart Facebook scam News Feed
And, if you did happen to install anything offered from the scam, be sure to can your computer immediately. Oh, and would you be so kind as to remind your friends that this is a scam? Sure, you'll be a dream crusher, but a computer-saving dream crusher.
[Via Kotaku]
Have you ever unfortunately fell prey to a Facebook game scam? What steps did you take to alleviate the situation, and what tips do you have for your fellow social gamers?
But it's not just circulating through News Feed posts, but through private messages between Facebook users. If you happen to click on the link that's spreading the fake news, you will arrive at what appears to be a launch page for the game. You absolutely should not click on it, but doing so takes you to an online survey rather than a thrilling race with Mario and friends.
Some users have even told Naked Security that clicking on the link attempts to install a browser extension on their computers. It should go without saying that you should under no circumstances accept the installation, but we're saying it anyway. If you were so unfortunate as to click on it, be quick to delete any News Feed or private messages sent inadvertently by you.
Mario Kart Facebook scam News Feed
And, if you did happen to install anything offered from the scam, be sure to can your computer immediately. Oh, and would you be so kind as to remind your friends that this is a scam? Sure, you'll be a dream crusher, but a computer-saving dream crusher.
[Via Kotaku]
Have you ever unfortunately fell prey to a Facebook game scam? What steps did you take to alleviate the situation, and what tips do you have for your fellow social gamers?
Fox ladies, karate masters and robot men will do battle in Prime World by Joe Osborne, Posted Oct 27th 2011
Don't worry, we're a little confused, too. Nival, the Russian social game studio behind King's Bounty: Legions, has released some new images of Prime World. The screen shots reveal a bit more of what's about to go on your PC or Mac (or Android phone and iPhone) in this downloadable strategy game that's said to have deep Facebook Connect support.
For one, the game looks pretty gorgeous, especially the spell effects like fire and what appear to be laser weapons. (Yeah, we have no idea what type of setting Nival is going for at this point.) More important are the characters within the images that are duking it out: You'll see a woman with a fox tail, a necromancer of sorts, a karate master amongst giant robot war machines. Oh, and let's not forget the giant towers and other various defensive structures.
We scored an early look at the game during this year's E3, and game looks to tread on dynamic territory. Actually, that could be said of the simple fact that this is a downloadable, apparently hardcore strategy game that uses Facebook Connect. According to a release, Prime World uses the Unity 3D engine to create its flashy graphics.
Gallery: Prime World (PC, Mac, iOS, Android)
But we think the goofy mash-up of characters is all Nival's doing. Prime World still has not been given a release date, but you can bet we'll follow the trail this game is blazing. You know, if only to see who would win in a fight: a fox lady or a robot with spiked clubs for hands?
What do you think of Prime World so far, based on our preview and these new screens? Will Facebook Connect drive the game to success?
For one, the game looks pretty gorgeous, especially the spell effects like fire and what appear to be laser weapons. (Yeah, we have no idea what type of setting Nival is going for at this point.) More important are the characters within the images that are duking it out: You'll see a woman with a fox tail, a necromancer of sorts, a karate master amongst giant robot war machines. Oh, and let's not forget the giant towers and other various defensive structures.
We scored an early look at the game during this year's E3, and game looks to tread on dynamic territory. Actually, that could be said of the simple fact that this is a downloadable, apparently hardcore strategy game that uses Facebook Connect. According to a release, Prime World uses the Unity 3D engine to create its flashy graphics.
Gallery: Prime World (PC, Mac, iOS, Android)
But we think the goofy mash-up of characters is all Nival's doing. Prime World still has not been given a release date, but you can bet we'll follow the trail this game is blazing. You know, if only to see who would win in a fight: a fox lady or a robot with spiked clubs for hands?
What do you think of Prime World so far, based on our preview and these new screens? Will Facebook Connect drive the game to success?
OpenFeint powers Chinese mobile social game network Game Zone
Google and the Chinese government have a ... tenuous relationship. And mobile social gaming, namely Android gaming, has suffered as a result. Amidst frequent shutouts of the official Android Market in China, Chinese game company The9 has announced Game Zone, an OpenFeint-powered mobile social game network and distribution channel.
Through Game Zone, Western mobile social game makers can hit Chinese mobile game audiences across 30 Android app stores other than the Android Market. The service was made possible by deals The9 made with all three major Chinese mobile carriers: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. The deals also allow Game Zone to be preinstalled on Lenovo, HTC, and Motorola Android phones.
While The9 will fund smaller American and European Android game creators through the $100 million-strong Fund9, it's the big league creators that might benefit most from this. PopCap recently announced that Plants vs Zombies will shuffle toward Chinese audiences, which is joined by Rovio's Angry Birds. Several Zynga games have launched in China, and perhaps this opportunity will nudge similar moves by the social game giant on Android.
We often talk about how Japan's mobile social game companies are encroaching upon Western audiences. It looks like the inverse is happening in China, where Western mobile and social game makers are looking to tap into their audience. It makes you wonder why Chinese game companies have yet to try the same at such a scale.
Would Western game companies be smart to enter China through products like Game Zone? When, if ever, will Chinese social game companies push as hard into the West as Japanese companies?
Through Game Zone, Western mobile social game makers can hit Chinese mobile game audiences across 30 Android app stores other than the Android Market. The service was made possible by deals The9 made with all three major Chinese mobile carriers: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. The deals also allow Game Zone to be preinstalled on Lenovo, HTC, and Motorola Android phones.
While The9 will fund smaller American and European Android game creators through the $100 million-strong Fund9, it's the big league creators that might benefit most from this. PopCap recently announced that Plants vs Zombies will shuffle toward Chinese audiences, which is joined by Rovio's Angry Birds. Several Zynga games have launched in China, and perhaps this opportunity will nudge similar moves by the social game giant on Android.
We often talk about how Japan's mobile social game companies are encroaching upon Western audiences. It looks like the inverse is happening in China, where Western mobile and social game makers are looking to tap into their audience. It makes you wonder why Chinese game companies have yet to try the same at such a scale.
Would Western game companies be smart to enter China through products like Game Zone? When, if ever, will Chinese social game companies push as hard into the West as Japanese companies?
Final Fantasy's big hair and bigger swords go mobile, social on Mobage
We just hope it'll all fit into a 3-inch screen. Japanese game companies Square Enix and DeNA have announced that they're working on the first Final Fantasy social game to launch on Mobage, DeNA's mobile social game network, Gamasutra reports. That is, the first social game to directly revolve around the 24-year-old Final Fantasy role-playing game franchise.
You might remember Square Enix released two Facebook games last year that were loosely based on the Final Fantasy series, Knights of the Crystal and Chocobo's Crystal Tower. According to Gamasutra, the game will be developed in-house at DeNA, and will use familiar characters from the franchise. (We imagine those will come from the 13 numbered Final Fantasy games.)
There's no word on whether the game will hit the Western, Android version of Mobage, but Japanese Final Fantasy fans can already pre-register for the game. As an added incentive, those who buy the brand new Final Fantasy Type-0 (pictured) for the PSP will receive special benefits in the Final Fantasy game for Mobage when it releases. Gamasutra's Kyle Orland (humorously) recalls that, during an interview with Gamasutra earlier this summer, Square Enix CEO Mike Fischer scoffed at social games.
Final Fantasy Mobage
Keep in mind, Fischer dismissed social games even after the company released two Facebook games. Look, if games based on Gundam and The Smurfs from Japanese companies can reel it in, a Final Fantasy social game is going to do just fine.
Do you think a Final Fantasy mobile social game would do well outside of Japan? Are you hopeful that Square Enix and DeNA will release the game in the West?
You might remember Square Enix released two Facebook games last year that were loosely based on the Final Fantasy series, Knights of the Crystal and Chocobo's Crystal Tower. According to Gamasutra, the game will be developed in-house at DeNA, and will use familiar characters from the franchise. (We imagine those will come from the 13 numbered Final Fantasy games.)
There's no word on whether the game will hit the Western, Android version of Mobage, but Japanese Final Fantasy fans can already pre-register for the game. As an added incentive, those who buy the brand new Final Fantasy Type-0 (pictured) for the PSP will receive special benefits in the Final Fantasy game for Mobage when it releases. Gamasutra's Kyle Orland (humorously) recalls that, during an interview with Gamasutra earlier this summer, Square Enix CEO Mike Fischer scoffed at social games.
Final Fantasy Mobage
Keep in mind, Fischer dismissed social games even after the company released two Facebook games. Look, if games based on Gundam and The Smurfs from Japanese companies can reel it in, a Final Fantasy social game is going to do just fine.
Do you think a Final Fantasy mobile social game would do well outside of Japan? Are you hopeful that Square Enix and DeNA will release the game in the West?
Conquer Online MMO rides from China onto Facebook and iPad
Made by Chinese developer NetDragon Websoft Inc. and published by TQ Digital, Conquer Online is a free-to-play, MMO (massively multiplayer online) game for PC that's been around since 2003 and boasts 10 million players worldwide. Earlier this year, NetDragon partnered with a major Japanese mobile network and developer, DeNA, and then unveiled both Facebook and iPad beta versions of its MMO at GamesCom in August.
The Facebook version of Conquer Online launched two weeks ago, but unfortunately has been plagued by lag, log-in issues and strange bugs. (For instance, setting my character on auto-path caused her to bare her arms in a spread-eagle sprint.) The official YouTube trailer also tries so groan-inducingly hard to appeal to Western audiences (music that sounds like the TV opening to Roseanne should not be scored with a game set in ancient China, people!), paying attention to it hurts my brain.
If you do manage to get in, things don't fare any better. Like most Chinese MMOs, you're presented with (at best) passable graphics, music, user interface, and the gameplay is always ridiculously heavy on the grind. There's also something very amateurish about this kind of game. What they lack in finesse and cohesion, they compensate with an aggressive, workman-like execution and gorgeous still art--in this case, the kind of style you'll find in Chinese wuxia comics.
Conquer Online Facebook
This thing might be on Facebook, but no changes have been made to accommodate Facebook gamers. Nexon's MapleStory Adventures does a much better (and certainly fantastic) job of making itself accessible to newcomers. And not just through gameplay, but aesthetics, too. To hammer home the unfriendly nature of this game, a more optimistic reviewer noted Conquer Online is an open PVP (player vs player) environment. This means that random players can come along and just kill you in-game, if you're not careful. On the upside, if you've never played Conquer Online, you can now save yourself the trouble of downloading a several hundred megabyte file and just run the game on Facebook in mere minutes (though it will prompt you to install Kalydo before you can begin).
Click here to play Conquer Online on Facebook now >
How many MMOs have you ever played?
The Facebook version of Conquer Online launched two weeks ago, but unfortunately has been plagued by lag, log-in issues and strange bugs. (For instance, setting my character on auto-path caused her to bare her arms in a spread-eagle sprint.) The official YouTube trailer also tries so groan-inducingly hard to appeal to Western audiences (music that sounds like the TV opening to Roseanne should not be scored with a game set in ancient China, people!), paying attention to it hurts my brain.
If you do manage to get in, things don't fare any better. Like most Chinese MMOs, you're presented with (at best) passable graphics, music, user interface, and the gameplay is always ridiculously heavy on the grind. There's also something very amateurish about this kind of game. What they lack in finesse and cohesion, they compensate with an aggressive, workman-like execution and gorgeous still art--in this case, the kind of style you'll find in Chinese wuxia comics.
Conquer Online Facebook
This thing might be on Facebook, but no changes have been made to accommodate Facebook gamers. Nexon's MapleStory Adventures does a much better (and certainly fantastic) job of making itself accessible to newcomers. And not just through gameplay, but aesthetics, too. To hammer home the unfriendly nature of this game, a more optimistic reviewer noted Conquer Online is an open PVP (player vs player) environment. This means that random players can come along and just kill you in-game, if you're not careful. On the upside, if you've never played Conquer Online, you can now save yourself the trouble of downloading a several hundred megabyte file and just run the game on Facebook in mere minutes (though it will prompt you to install Kalydo before you can begin).
Click here to play Conquer Online on Facebook now >
How many MMOs have you ever played?
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