Eduardo Saverin funding social games in Singapore — Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has been in Singapore for the last year and a half, according to TechCrunch. While remaining low-key, he is reported to have been funding Facebook game developers.
Zynga Looks for Consumer PR Team — Zynga has put out an RFP seeking a “consumer-focused PR agency”, according to PRWeek. The company plans to continue using Brew Media Relations for its corporate and technology communications strategy.
The PlayStation Phone – Engadget has surfaced pictures of a prototype preview of a device that may well take mobile gaming to a new level, the PlayStation Phone. The upcoming device is presumed to use Android 3.0.
Apple to Host Secret iOS Developer Summit — Based on information from Business Insider, Apple is set to host an iOS Summit, of some sort, next week. Though there are no public details, it is being compared to the iPhone Tech Talks from last year.
Filing from Slide acquisition emerges — Google paid $179 million in cash to acquire the social app and game maker Slide this August, according to a 10Q filing dug up by paidContent.
Playdom Adds Honda to Social City — Playdom is integrated branded goods into Social City in the form of a “Honda Dealer.” Users that watch a 2011 Honda Odyssey video, within the game, will receive the item for their city.
PlayFirst Enhances Facebook Title, Chocolatier: Sweet Society — Developer and publisher, PlayFirst has announced new updates for their Facebook game, Chocolatier: Sweet Society. Dubbed “Grand Voyages,” players will be able to venture out on global trips and visit various markets in order to find and purchase new ingredients, increasing the overall value of their goods.
Farmers Airship Remains on FarmVille — Farmers Insurance Group of Companies partnered with Zynga for a 10 day period to offer FarmVille players a digital rendition of the Farmers Insurance Airship that provided free “wither protection” for crops a few weeks back. Due to the success of the promotion, Farmers has noted that the Airship will remain for those that purchased it. The “wither protection” is no longer included.
Zombies Invade Yahoo! — Just in time for Halloween, a new game from Yahoo! Labs called Shambling Hordes has come to Yahoo. Players will be able command the zombie apocalypse as they use their zombie hordes to control various territories. Yahoo will be analyzing how people distribute troops in order to gain insights in user behavior as it applies to economics.
Manga Castle: Bring Manga to Social Games — A young startup from Singapore called Manga Castle has launched one of the first manga-based social games (at least, in English), according to an interview from Penn Olson. The company has attracted over 15,000 fans on Facebook and growing.
Kiip Raises Money For In-Game Advertising — A stealth startup called Kiip, founded by a 19 year old entrepreneur named Brian Wong, has raised $300,000 for mobile game ads. Its partners have not been announced, but the company has two million users in its network, according to Vator.tv.
BAFTA Adds Social Gaming to its Awards List — Earlier this week, techradar.com noted that the British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced that it is introducing Social Network Games as a category to its for its upcoming gaming awards.
World Wildlife Fund Opens Online Gift Shop on Facebook — The conservation agency, World Wildlife Fund, has added its gift catalog to Facebook. Now users will be able to adopt virtual renditions of various animals as well as purchase WWF-branded cloths and apparel. Donators who give over $50 will receive a free stuffed animal.
Woman Blames FarmVille for Killing Her Baby — According to Jacksonville.com a Florida mother has pleaded guilty to second degree murder; having shaken her baby to death. Based on what she told the investigators, she had become angry because the 3 month old infant was crying while she was trying to play Zynga’s FarmVille.
Source: Inside Social Games
Saturday, October 30, 2010