Mr.Farmville

How 15 Federal Executive Departments Use Facebook

2011-10-25T02:09:00.001-07:00

U.S. federal government pages on Facebook mostly follow accepted practices for customer satisfaction.

So concludes ForeSee, a firm possibly better known for its compilation of the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

The government version of this quarterly index came out today, analyzing the following federal departments:

Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department of the Interior
Department of the Treasury
Department of Transportation
Department of Veterans Affairs

And here are ForeSee’s findings for Facebook:

All 15 departments have a Facebook presence.
All of them are using at least one standard Facebook application (notes, discussions [at least until October 31], photos, links, events, videos).
11 of the 15 departments' Facebook pages include custom pages or third-party tools (YouTube, Flickr), which are devoted to content that the departments want to feature, as well as comments, policies, and welcome statements.
All 15 pages have vanity addresses and official names that reflect the proper name of the departments or their elected leaders.

The report also offered a set of best practices for government agencies using Facebook, including:

Only include applications if they will be consistently maintained, and turn off standard applications if associated content has not been provided (11 of the 15 agencies complied with this).
Use a separate tab to house policies on comments if those policies are too long to fit in a standard field, or if they are longer than two paragraphs (four agencies did this).
Vanity URLs should reflect the official name of each department or the official leading it (all 15 were in compliance).

ForeSee President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Freed said:

Social media is no longer a nice to have, but a necessity in both the private sector and the public sector. It's just the way people communicate now. The good news is that federal departments are participating in social media; the bad news is that efforts are happening at a variety of levels, and the effect can be muddled for citizens.

Readers: What have your experiences been with the Facebook pages of government, agencies, either U.S. or overseas?

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Source: All Facebook

Reuters: Zynga IPO Due Before Thanksgiving

2011-10-25T02:05:00.001-07:00

Zynga’s initial public offering could happen (finally) the week before the November 24 Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, two anonymous sources told Reuters.

According to the report, the two sources have been briefed on the offering, but caution that the plans are not finalized and could change at any time. Reuters speculates that Zynga will proceed on the heels of Groupon, which just launched a roadshow approximately two weeks before its own IPO occurs.

Zynga filed its form S-1 back in July and has since made several updates to the document. The most recent update includes a third-party valuation completed in August, which found that the developer’s outstanding equity was worth $14.05 billion, up from a May $13.98 billion quote. There has been speculation that Zynga would delay its IPO into 2012 due to poor market conditions.

Zynga Reportedly Set Public Offering For Mid-November

2011-10-24T20:05:00.001-07:00

Facebook’s leading game developer Zynga reportedly scheduled its initial public offering for the second week of November.

That’s what unnamed sources told Reuters, claiming they were briefed on the offering.

The unnamed sources said this date hasn’t been finalized and could change.

So we’ll take this report with a dollop of salt, especially because the earliest leaks to the media have the greatest likelihood of involving some factual errors.

However, Zynga recently resubmitted its IPO registration with the Securities and Exchanges Commission.

And the way the company announced ten new products October 11 now looks a lot like a strategy for getting the word out before a quiet period kicks in — as if Zynga were bookmarking some future releases.

It also makes sense to do the offering relatively quickly. Since the capital markets have shown some turbulence that had led Zynga to withdraw a prior plan to go public, no one can predict how long the latest stock rally will last.

And like Reuters points out, Zynga’s timing would mean the IPO roadshow would occur right after Groupon’s public offering.

If that deal does well, it could make for a better pitch when the game developer talks to prospective investors.

Zynga first registered with the SEC in July, and has since updated its registration several times.

The most recent update, according to our sibling blog, Inside Social Games, included a valuation of the Zynga’s outstanding equity at $14.05 billion in August, up from $13.98 billion in May.

Despite all of the updates given to the SEC, many have speculated that Zynga might postpone a public offering until 2012.

Certainly, if the market started moving down again, all bets would be off for an IPO this November. That might not rule out this year, since stocks historically tend to rally in December.

Source: All Facebook

Blizzard giving away Diablo III with WoW Annual Pass subscription

2011-10-24T14:15:00.001-07:00

Blizzard has used Blizzcon this year to make existing World of Warcraft players a very tempting offer, while at the same time ensuring they will continue playing the MMO for most of 2012. The new subscription deal is called Annual Pass and encourages players to sign up to play WoW for 12 months rather than [...]

Source: Geek.com >> Games

#7: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

2011-10-24T14:11:00.003-07:00

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
by Activision Publishing
160 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: November 8, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Know Your Roots: Here's a Handy Guide to the Evolution of Videogame Controllers

2011-10-24T14:11:00.001-07:00

Wanna know how the modern videogame controller got to where it is today? Check out this handy chart.

Whether or not you're aware of it, controllers have pretty much defined videogame history as we know it today. They've elevated some systems, and outright killed others. And like everything else, one innovation will result in another innovation down the line

With that in mind, here's a handy chart outlining controller history from the misty early days of the Magnavox Odyssey, all the way down to the Wii U.

It all makes for a nifty snapshot of gaming history. Who remembers the ColecoVision Super Action controller these days?

If you want, you can also click here for a closer look at the chart.

Steve Jobs Biography Is A Big Hit On Facebook Today

2011-10-24T14:09:00.001-07:00

Facebook is filled with posts about Steve Jobs again, as the eagerly anticipated biography of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs hit bookstore shelves today.

Facebook posts the late Apple co-founder, along with Walter Isaacson’s biography entitled Steve Jobs, were going up on Facebook at a rate of at least once a minute, increasing in frequency as the day progresses.

One popular (re-)share on the site an audio recording from Jobs’ biographer Walter Isaacson, which was posted on the CBS “60 Minutes” website.

In the recording, Jobs is heard praising Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg:

I admire Mark Zuckerberg. I only know him a little bit, but I admire him for not selling out, for wanting to make a company. I admire that, a lot.

It’s not surprising that the book release is generating such Facebook traffic.

Starcom MediaVest Group found that, in the 24 hours after Jobs' death was made public, there were some 143,000 status updates devoted to the Apple icon, at a rate of 1.6 per second.

Have you shared any thoughts about Steve Jobs on Facebook?

Source: All Facebook

Spooky Night Escape

2011-10-24T14:08:00.001-07:00

Spooky Night Escape is the latest Room Escape game created by Selfdefiant, the author of Super Sneaky Spy Guy. “I was riding home late at night but my car ran out of gas and stopped in the middle of this spooky road. Now I must try to find some objects and fill my gas can [...]

Continue Reading about Spooky Night Escape

Source: FreeGamesNews

#1: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-24T14:06:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
154 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Metrogames' Coco Girl Glams Up Facebook Fashion Game Scene

2011-10-24T14:05:00.001-07:00

Auto Hustle developer Metrogames revisits the fashion genre with its newest game, Coco Girl, for Facebook. The game launched at the end of September and has already overtaken Fashion World as the developer's top title, thanks to improvements in graphics and aggressive viral sharing features.

According to our traffic tracking service, AppData, Coco Girl currently enjoys 1.8 million monthly active users and 350,000 daily active users.

Like other fashion games on Facebook, Coco Girl's core gameplay loop involves obtaining clothes that can be mixed and matched to form outfits. Players control a female avatar that functions like a 2D paper doll posing in various environments that the player navigates using the mouse. Also like other fashion games, the bulk of the play session is spent in virtual shops that offer different styles and pieces of clothing in exchange for virtual currency (Rubies) or Facebook Credits. Players can dress their avatar in two outfits per day, creating a Daily Look and a Quest Look that the game stores each day for other players to vote on. Once worn, an outfit is sent to the cleaners, temporarily removing it from the player's inventory and forcing them to craft a new outfit with different pieces the next day.

The voting system in Coco Girl is incentivized with Rubies. As part of a daily checklist that can be completed for additional Rubies, players are invited to vote on a number of looks available from a Fashion Expert magazine in the player's virtual home. Most votes involve a star rating, but there are also alternative votes for "best out of these three" or "thumbs up, thumbs down." The more closely the player's vote align with other players' votes, the more Rubies they earn for participating. Top-voted outfits are made visible to all players from the home location and in the Hall of Fame location.

Where Coco Girl gets interesting is in the player-driven economy, to which the voting process contributes. Aside from the in-game store front and a "catalogue order" location, players can obtain or sell items for Rubies at a marketplace where players determine the price of goods. Prices tend to fluctuate based on which items turn up in the top voted outfits. The developer takes a 10% selling fee, which also impacts price. As many players will sometimes try to offload the same item, the store often features the same item for a variety of prices (see below).

In addition to the fashion economy, Coco Girl also offers a series of mini-games like a slot machine simulation or a connect-the-two-sides puzzle. Players can play these games for free up to three times a day each to earn Rubies as part of the daily checklist. The mini-games also award the player Prize Tickets, which can be spent on bundles of Rubies or on special customization items for your avatar, like a smartphone or guitar accessory.

Social features include an outfit posting system that encourages non-players to vote on Coco Girl outfits both on Facebook Walls, Friend Requests, Twitter, and anywhere the player can post a URL. The player economy is also supported by sharing Wall posts that name which players are ranking with which outfits — and who is buying from or selling to whom. Additionally, players can visit in-game friends' homes to help speed up their laundry load for outfits at the cleaners.

Coco Girl is primarily monetized through the sale of premium fashion items, which are mixed in on store racks with items available for in-game currency. Players can buy discount cards for Facebook Credits that take a certain percentage off the next 10 items the player buys, regardless of which currency the game charges for that item. Decoration items for the player's home are also available for Rubies or Credits. Lastly, additional mini-game turns can be purchased for Facebook Credits.

We've seen the fashion genre grow quite a bit in the last six months as Facebook game graphics have improved, making for more interesting visual choices. The social aspect of the genre, however, relies on players expression their opinions to other players on what looks good. Coco Girl provides more avenues for expression than most social games — but at times, the steady Wall post and Friend Requests prompts feel oppressive and distract the player from other gameplay objectives.

You can follow the game's progress on AppData, our traffic tracking service for social games and developers.

#2: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-24T14:01:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
132 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#9: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-10-24T13:57:00.001-07:00

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
by Bethesda
138 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: November 11, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#7: Assassin's Creed Revelations

2011-10-24T13:10:00.001-07:00

Assassin's Creed Revelations
by UBI Soft
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: November 15, 2011

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $57.98

(Visit the Most Wished For in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Most Wished For in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Kinect Sports Season Two

2011-10-24T13:04:00.001-07:00

Kinect Sports Season Two
by Microsoft
44 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $49.99
4 used & new from $47.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Just Dance 3

2011-10-24T11:34:00.001-07:00

Just Dance 3
by UBI Soft
Platform: Nintendo Wii
(25)
Release Date: October 7, 2011

Buy new: ~~$39.99~~ $33.96
41 used & new from $32.95

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

5 Facebook Strategies Pros Need In Their Play Books

2011-10-24T08:05:00.001-07:00

With seemingly every professional athlete now using a Facebook fan page, what do athletes — and their page administrators — need to do to get noticed?

And what can the rest of us learn from the best examples set by sports pages?

When athletes began using Twitter and Facebook to connect with their fans a few years ago, it was easy to get followers and likes, which as you may remember were called fans back then.

The reason was because it was so new to sports fans, that no matter who the athlete was, fans were enamored with the fact that they could actually know what these athletes were doing, thinking, and feeling.

Average NFL players like Nick Barnett were able to amass hundreds of thousands of Twitter followers by being early adapters and giving fans access to them in an unscripted, informal setting, contrary to the typical post-game interview where the player is essentially forced to say the politically correct thing.

Fast forward to today and nearly every professional athlete is using Twitter and Facebook to interact with their fans, which is great for fans, but bad for the players, as the saturation means that typical fans aren’t going to follow them just because they have Twitter and update their status saying what they had for lunch.

Moral of the story? If you are a professional athlete, you need to understand that in order to grow your Twitter followers and Facebook likes, you must stand out. How do you do that? It’s really quite simple, but requires you to follow these five basic steps:

1. Use Facebook and Twitter, but remember how much more powerful Facebook is.

Research not only shows that there are a great deal more people with Facebook accounts than Twitter accounts, but that there is an even greater ratio of Americans that use Facebook daily when compared to Twitter.

2. Consistently provide your audience with unique video and picture content, or you’ll blend right in with everyone else.

You aren’t going to get fans to pay attention to you by just posting text updates unless you’re LeBron James.

To captivate your audience and get them coming back for more, give them content that they won’t find on your teammates’ pages.

I highly recommend that all iPhone or Droid users download the app “Tout,” which gained popularity when Shaq used it to announce his retirement.

3. Ask your teammates, friends, and acquaintances to help you out.

They may not do it, but it never hurts to ask. When asking, it’s best to provide them with the exact copy of what you’d like them to say (including your pages URLs) so that it’s easy for them to copy and paste it.

4. When times are great and times are bad, don’t forget to post.

While we all sit on the couch watching players win a big game or lose a heartbreaker, these players are physically drained after either outcome.

Despite that, I think it’s imperative that players recognize that often the most opportune time to post is in these situations, because that’s when fans crave their updates most.

5. Sometimes your best post is what you don’t post.

There are countless examples of athletes posting controversial thoughts that have cost them both fans and money (see: Rashard Mendenhall bin Laden tweets).

My cardinal rule I tell the athletes I work with: If you wouldn’t say it on TV during an ESPN interview, then don’t post it on Facebook!

Guest writer Jeff Weiner is president and chief executive officer of ESBL Sports Management.

Both images courtesy of Shutterstock, second one taken by Mike Flippo.

Source: All Facebook

We Try World of WarCraft: Mists of Pandaria's Monk for Ourselves

2011-10-24T02:11:00.001-07:00

You've read our in-depth analysis of Mists of Pandaria, but how does the new monk class actually play? Contributor Billy Berghammer has the full report.

Want an extended look at Mists of Pandaria's other new features? Click here to check out the complete breakdown by World of Warcraft superfan Julian Rignall.

Perhaps not the biggest surprise of BlizzCon, was the announcement of the new expansion to World of Warcraft. Currently the Pandaren can play as a mage, shaman, priest, rogue, hunter, warrior, or the new monk class, so I opted to give the new class a go. Since my main character that I currently play as is a mage, this experience was quite different. The Pandarens open section doesn't take place on Pandaria, but just off the coast on the back of giant sea turtle, and I got to play through its entirety.

First and foremost, one of the new differences to the Monk class is the fact that there's no auto attack. This offensive class will keep players constantly hitting attacks after locking on to an adversary. In the starting zone, my Monk began with a simple jab and tiger palm attack, but as I leveled up, new attacks such as a blackout kick, tiger palm, and eventually a spinning crane kick (think Chun Li) were moves added to my arsenal.

Beer stealing? I can definitely get behind that. These are the types of quests I really hope Blizzard leans on instead of the kill 4 of these, gather 5 of these types of quests – because I did plenty of those fetch quests too."

Moves are powered by chi, and to gain chi you need to use an opening attack such as a jab to build up both light and dark force. Once the meters are powered up, you can then pull of more advanced moves. In essence it makes switching up attacks in these encounters feel more like combos in fights, where you jab, then tiger palm, then jab again, and finish with a blackout kick or something else.

Monks do have a new dive roll that can be used to either evade attacks or travel a little quicker on foot. Considering the fact that the Monk is such an offensive based class, diving into an enemy, spinning around, targeting and then letting off a flurry of attacks was quite satisfying, even though the early enemies I encountered were fairly low-level. Needless to say I dive rolled enough to earn the Panda Express achievement (roll 100 times at BlizzCon). It's fun, what can I say?

Since I really enjoyed more of the action type quests introduced in Lich King and Cataclysm, I was hoping to see more in this starting zone. Since this is such a different type of class, the first few levels were based on training and learning the ways of the Monk. And while there were action quests in the opening section, it needed more. One early action quest example had my Monk climb on top of posts that were in a lake, ring a bell, and then later leap from post to post and kick and knock off other monks as one of the training exercises. There was also a quest to stop enemies from stealing beer.

Although the trailer shows a fairly cute Pandaren doing martial arts, don't think that Blizzard has dipped into the world of Kung-Fu Panda too much. While this area wasn't quite as dark as some of the areas visited in the last few expansions, I really enjoyed the Asian influences I saw. From bamboo tree, ponds, and farms, to temples, shrines, and beautiful tapestries, it oozes in an interesting combination of cultures that I found intriguing. It's a refreshing change of pace from Knights, Orcs, Dwarves and Elves.

This whole opening zone took me about 2 hours to complete, which saw my monk reach level 10 quickly. Obviously, this was a BlizzCon demo and that time length could grow a bit, but I don't see it growing exponentially. A bit after hitting level 10 and finishing the quests on the turtle, you choose which faction you want to join. Since I was quite in love with this new world and enjoyed my time in the starting zone, I was ready to jet off to Pandaria and continue in this excellent new land. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to do some grinding first, because Pandaria is reserved for level 85-90 questing and raiding.

The Pandaren is a fun new race, and I'm enamored with the new world, but I'm not sure if it will be enough for me to start yet another alt. The road from 1-85 is a long one, but it's going to be interesting to see what Blizzard adds to the mix in the coming months to get new players and old to do it all again.

#7: Kinect Sports Season Two

2011-10-24T01:09:00.001-07:00

Kinect Sports Season Two
by Microsoft
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $49.99
5 used & new from $45.99

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Xbox 360 Live 1600 Points [Online Game Code]

2011-10-24T01:04:00.001-07:00

Xbox 360 Live 1600 Points [Online Game Code]
by Microsoft
873 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(510)

Buy new: $19.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-10-23T20:11:00.001-07:00

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
by Bethesda
137 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: November 11, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#9: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

2011-10-23T19:57:00.001-07:00

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
by Sony Computer Entertainment
118 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: November 1, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#7: Saw II: Flesh and Blood

2011-10-23T14:11:00.001-07:00

Saw II: Flesh and Blood
by Konami
1 day in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
(9)

Buy new: ~~$39.99~~ $15.56
57 used & new from $5.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Nuts and Bolts

2011-10-23T14:08:00.001-07:00

Nuts and Bolts is a 30 level puzzle game where you have to “help Nuts and Bolts reach the exit of each level by connecting beans to platforms.” Have fun!

Continue Reading about Nuts and Bolts

Source: FreeGamesNews

#1: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-23T14:06:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
153 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

This Week's Headlines From Across Inside Network

2011-10-23T14:05:00.001-07:00

A roundup of all the news Inside Network brought you between October 17th and 22nd.

Inside Mobile Apps

Tracking the convergence of mobile apps, social platforms and virtual goods.

Monday, October 17th:

Tuesday, October 18th:

Wednesday, October 19th:

Thursday, October 20th:

Friday, October 21st:

Saturday, October 22nd:

New This Week on the Inside Network Job Board: Natural Motion Games, Lolapps, TinyCo and More

Inside Social Games

Covering all the latest developments at the intersection of games and social platforms.

Monday, October 17th:

Tuesday, October 18th:

Wednesday, October 19th:

Thursday, October 20th:

Friday, October 21st:

Saturday, October 22nd:

New This Week on the Inside Network Job Board: Games Cafe, King.com, TinyCo and More

Inside Facebook

Tracking Facebook and the Facebook platform for developers and marketers.

Monday, October 17th:

Tuesday, October 18th:

Wednesday, October 19th:

Thursday, October 20th:

Friday, October 21st:

Saturday, October 22nd:

New This Week on the Inside Network Job Board: Storm8, TinyCo, Lolapps and More

#2: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-23T14:01:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
131 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#9: Just Dance 3

2011-10-23T13:57:00.001-07:00

Just Dance 3
by UBI Soft
31 days in the top 100
Platform: Nintendo Wii
(24)

Buy new: ~~$39.99~~ $33.96
42 used & new from $33.22

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#7: Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect

2011-10-23T13:14:00.001-07:00

Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect
by Microsoft
Platform: Xbox 360
(306)

Buy new: $299.99
193 used & new from $235.00

(Visit the Best Sellers in Hardware list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Hardware

#7: Gears of War 3

2011-10-23T13:10:00.001-07:00

Gears of War 3
by Microsoft
Platform: Xbox 360
(333)

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ Click to see price
128 used & new from $42.00

(Visit the Most Wished For in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Most Wished For in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Dance Central 2

2011-10-23T07:04:00.001-07:00

Dance Central 2
by Microsoft
44 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $49.99
4 used & new from $47.89

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Xbox 360 Live 12 Month [Online Game Code]

2011-10-23T01:04:00.001-07:00

Xbox 360 Live 12 Month [Online Game Code]
by Microsoft
621 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(756)

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $48.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

2011-10-22T20:34:00.001-07:00

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
by Activision Publishing
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: November 8, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#9: Just Dance 3

2011-10-22T20:20:00.001-07:00

Just Dance 3
by UBI Soft
Platform: Nintendo Wii
(24)
Release Date: October 7, 2011

Buy new: ~~$39.99~~ $33.96
42 used & new from $32.00

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#7: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

2011-10-22T20:11:00.001-07:00

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
by Activision Publishing
158 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: November 8, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#1: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-22T20:06:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
152 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#2: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-22T20:01:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
130 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#9: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

2011-10-22T19:56:00.001-07:00

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
by Sony Computer Entertainment
117 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: November 1, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#7: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-22T17:34:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
Platform: Windows Vista / 7
(7)
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95
3 used & new from $55.95

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#9: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

2011-10-22T17:20:00.001-07:00

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
by Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: November 1, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

The Lame Scale: Incredible Shrinking Breasts and Games that Shoot YOU

2011-10-22T14:11:00.001-07:00

While Batman's triumphant return in Arkham City soaked up much of the gaming-related excitement this week, there was a smattering of other stuff going on that you should know about, too.

Jacko in Hell

2011-10-22T14:08:00.001-07:00

Jacko in Hell is a dark adventure game from Pyrozen just in time for Halloween! “Our friend Jacko is sent on a mission to find the final element that will wake the spirit of Halloween. On his journey Jacko will have to face daunting challenges that will require some problem solving. Explore areas, collect items [...]

Continue Reading about Jacko in Hell

Source: FreeGamesNews

New This Week on the Inside Network Job Board: Games Cafe, King.com, TinyCo and More

2011-10-22T14:05:00.001-07:00

The Inside Network Job Board is dedicated to providing you with the best job opportunities across social and mobile application platforms.

Here are this week's highlights from the Inside Network Job Board, including positions at Lolapps, Sociable Labs, Games Cafe, Storm8, Acquinity Interactive, King.com, Natural Motion Games, TinyCo and CrowdStar.

Principal Software Engineer Social Commerce

Listings on the Inside Network Job Board are distributed to readers of Inside Social Games, Inside Facebook and Inside Mobile Apps through regular posts and widgets on the sites. Your open positions are being seen by the leading developers, product managers, marketers, designers, and executives in the Facebook Platform and social gaming industry today.

#7: Dance Central 2

2011-10-22T07:03:00.001-07:00

Dance Central 2
by Microsoft
43 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $49.99
3 used & new from $47.89

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

Batman Arkham City: This is What You Need to Run it on PC

2011-10-22T02:11:00.001-07:00

Both the minimum and recommended requirements for the PC version of Batman: Arkham City are here. And here's what you'll need to play the game.

GeForce has detailed the PC requirements for the forthcoming PC version of Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham City, which is due out November 15th. You can check out both the bare minimum system requirements, and what you should have to get the most out of Arkham City below.

Minimum System Requirements

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP, Vista or 7

CPU: Dual-Core CPU 2.4 Ghz

RAM: 2GB

Graphics Card: NVIDIA 8800 or ATI 3800 with 512MB of VRAM

Sound: Microsoft Windows XP/Vista or 7 compatible sound card (100% DirectX 9.0c-compatible)

DVD-ROM: Quad-speed (4x) DVD-ROM drive

Hard Drive: 17.5GB free disk space
Input Devices: 100% Windows XP/Vista or 7 compatible mouse and keyboard

Recommended System Requirements

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7

CPU: Dual-Core CPU 2.5 GHz

RAM: 4GB

Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or ATI Radeon HD 6850 with 768MB+ of VRAM (DirectX 11 compatible)

Sound: Microsoft Windows XP/Vista or 7 compatible sound card (100% DirectX 9.0c-compatible)

DVD-ROM: Quad-speed (4x) DVD-ROM drive

Hard Drive: 17.5 GB free disk space

Input Devices: 100% Windows XP/Vista or 7 compatible mouse and keyboard or Xbox 360 Controller for Windows

Also Read: Batman: Arkham City on PC Features Stunningly-Detailed Catwoman Cleavage

Social Gaming News Roundup: Google+, Rovio and Toyota

2011-10-22T02:05:00.001-07:00

Google Narrows Social Focus - Google is now a little less social after axing Google Buzz, Jaiku and the social features on iGoogle. The move, according to an official post by Bradley Horowitz, Google's vice president of product, is in order to allow the company to focus on Google+.

Social and Mobile Pushing up Gaming Investment - According to a report issued by British investment bank Digi-Capital, games investment has shifted to online and mobile companies thanks to the prospects of high revenue growth and healthy profit margins. The report also found that due to the growth of social and mobile gaming, investment in the industry is increasing, with funding nearly doubling between 2010 and 2011.

Matsuyama: I Dislike Social Games - In a candid interview with Gamasutra, Hiroshi Matsuyama, CEO of Japanese developer CyberConnnect 2 heavily criticized social games, saying most social titles are "not fun at all" and that he only plays them for business reasons.

John Belushi Comes Back to Life in Social Game – Entertainment Games has signed a deal to bring John Belushi to their as yet, unannounced social game. The Pennsylvania based company has acquired the rights to use Belushi's likeness in the game and in virtual goods, according to Entertainment Games president, Gene Mauro.

Wizardia to Make Social Games More Social - Lithuanian developer Yummi Apps is hoping that their upcoming game Wizardia, a GPS based game for both Facebook and smartphones will bridge the gap between the social and real worlds. In Wizardia, users build their kingdom on Facebook, but will also need to complete quests and track down opponents for battle in the real world using the game's mobile app.

Fake Names OK on Google+ – In a presentation at the Web 2.0 Summit, Google+ boss Vic Gundotra said the social network will soon allow users to go by their online handles if they choose, but did not give a firm timeline as to when pseudonyms would be integrated into the network.

Angry Birds Even More Popular – TechCrunch is reporting that during the Web 2.0 Summit, Rovio's North American general manager Andrew Stalbow updated the audience as to just how popular the franchise is now. According to Stalbow, Angry Birds is now up to 400 million cumulative downloads, 120 million MAU and 30 million DAU.

Black Rock Becomes West Pier - Five former employees of Black Rock, a studio closed by Disney Interactive Studios have reformed under the banner of West Pier Studio. According to studio's website, the team will be focusing on online and mobile titles.

Egyptian Social Startup Gets $1 Million in Funding – Egyptian developer Nezal Entertainment has received $1 million in series A funding from Arab firms Ideavelopers and Tamkeen Capital to develop games for the growing Middle East and North African market. Nezal has released one game for Facebook thus far, tower defense title Defender of Arabia.

House of Fun Proves Popular – Earlier this week Pacific Interactive touted that over a million people had already tried its new Facebook game House of Fun. According to a press release from the developer, the game has attracted almost 700,000 MAU since its debut on September 13th. Our full review of House of Fun can be found here.

[Launch] Toyota Promotes Car with Social Game - Toyota is drumming up interest for its latest concept car with a social game on Facebook according to All Things Facebook. Social Network Racer turns a user's Facebook page into a 3D race course, and users can compete with their friends to become the fastest racer on the social network. The promotion runs until the Tokyo Motor Show opens on December 31st and the winner receives a free trip to Japan.

[Launch] Woodland Heroes Debuts on Facebook – Florida based startup developer Row Sham Bow launched its debut game this week, action/strategy title Woodland Heroes. Row Sham Bow was founded by a group of former EA executives.

#7: Gears of War 3

2011-10-22T01:09:00.001-07:00

Gears of War 3
by Microsoft
Platform: Xbox 360
(317)
Release Date: September 20, 2011

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ Click to see price
130 used & new from $38.00

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Xbox 360 Live 12 Month [Online Game Code]

2011-10-22T01:03:00.001-07:00

Xbox 360 Live 12 Month [Online Game Code]
by Microsoft
620 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(753)

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $48.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

#9: Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-21T20:20:00.001-07:00

Batman: Arkham City
by Warner Bros
Platform: Xbox 360
(42)
Release Date: October 18, 2011

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $49.99
29 used & new from $44.99

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#7: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-10-21T20:11:00.001-07:00

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
by Bethesda
135 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: November 11, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Facebook Joins International Franchise Association

2011-10-21T20:05:00.001-07:00

Facebook is joining the International Franchise Association, the Washington, D.C., based group announced today.

The move makes sense when put in the context of Facebook‘s recent announcements regarding job creation, economic growth and the platform’s role in helping customers and local businesses connect.

IFA represents 825,000 franchises, and the partnership will enable franchisors use Facebook to find people interested in buying a franchise, all in a secure, online environment.

Facebook’s page creation, ad-targeting and check-in tools are services small business franchisors can utilize to increase engagement with customers and grow a fan base.

We’re guessing that the partnership might have been arranged during Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg‘s visit to Washington D.C. earlier this week.

Spokespeople for the social network had said she met with leaders on Capitol Hill about issues related to small businesses.

The company is putting Sandberg’s experience to good use; she previously served as Chief of Staff to former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, under President Bill Clinton.

In September, the company announced with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce a small business program that would give Facebook advertising credits to a number of small businesses.

Behind the scenes, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been part of a cadre of Silcon Valley chief executive officers who have briefed President Barack Obama on range of economic issues and job growth strategies important to the tech community.

Facebook’s emphasis on small business issues is understandable since 800 million people are using the site while the global economy is still anemic.

Building relationships with third parties, like the IFA and Chamber of Commerce, is helping the company raise awareness of its work on these issues, and likely deflects some attention from other public policy concerns, as Capitol Hill continues to grapple with Facebook over privacy and security, for example.

What do you think of Facebook’s expanding role in working with small businesses?

Source: All Facebook

#9: Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-21T19:56:00.001-07:00

Batman: Arkham City
by Warner Bros
83 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(42)

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $49.99
32 used & new from $43.00

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#7: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

2011-10-21T17:34:00.001-07:00

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#7: Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-21T14:34:00.001-07:00

Batman: Arkham City
by Warner Bros
Platform: Xbox 360
(41)
Release Date: October 18, 2011

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $55.99
27 used & new from $46.99

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#2: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-21T14:24:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

PS3 jailbreak made possible using dongle and v3.55 firmware

2011-10-21T14:15:00.001-07:00

It looks like Sony has another hacker to track down. A video has appeared on YouTube of a new jailbreak for the PS3 that requires a dongle to function. The jailbreak solution is called JB2, short for Jailbreak 2, and was apparently found being sold as an initial test run in Indonesia. It requires a [...]

Source: Geek.com >> Games

Pumpkin Carving Artist Uses Ico as Inspiration

2011-10-21T14:11:00.003-07:00

With Halloween just two weekends away, it's about that time to start sipping apple cider and hosting a pumpkin carving party. If you're looking for inspiration, check out this amazing Ico carving.

A big part of my brain wants to say that this carving is *completely fake, but another, smaller, tenderer part of my brain wants to believe.

Deviant artist cemmdee may have just blown my mind, but her Ico inspired pumpkin carving might just inspire you to get out of your house this weekend, pick up around 40 pumpkins at a nearby pumpkin patch, and get to practicing.

Unfamiliar with Ico? It's a gorgeous action adventure-puzzler from Japanese developer Team Ico. The game was re-released last month in an HD collection with the developter's other game, the larger-than-life fantasy adventure Shadow of the Colossus. Based on our review, we believe it deserves your attention.

*The artist probably knew this pumpkin is too beautiful to believe, so she took some pictures of the carved pumpkin in a lit room. Click here to see how ceemdee did it.

Also Check Out: The Last Guardian Trailer

#7: Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-21T14:11:00.001-07:00

Batman: Arkham City
by Warner Bros
83 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(41)

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $55.99
28 used & new from $46.80

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Pages Prep For Removal Of Facebook Discussion Tabs

2011-10-21T14:09:00.001-07:00

As Halloween nears and, along with it, the impending removal of Facebook’s own discussion tab from pages, administrators are quickly girding themselves with alternative solutions.

Fanzila‘s Forums App, which includes a discussion tab, boasts 55,600 installations on pages since its release earlier this month.

Forums App offers full forum functionality, support for multiple forums, a rich text editor, and media integration.

The co-founder of the Tel Aviv-based company, Asaf Gendler, said in an email to us:

We see page owners jumping to add the Fanzila Forums app before Facebook removes its Discussion Tab at the end of the month.

The Fanzila Forums app is the perfect solution for all users who want to replace their discussions with another solution. Big advantages we offer are the ability to launch multiple forums on a Facebook page tab, seamless integration with other apps, and powerful moderation features.

Readers: Do you welcome the ability to continue using forums and other discussion vehicles to interact with brands on Facebook?

Source: All Facebook

Vehicles 2 – Municipality Unleashed

2011-10-21T14:08:00.001-07:00

Vehicles 2 – Municipality Unleashed is the second installment in the Vehicles series created by Dmitriy Fyudorov and Dmitriy Zaletov. “Bad vehicles are causing havoc on the streets. Use your vehicles to ram them off the screen and restore peace to the streets. “ Have fun!

Continue Reading about Vehicles 2 – Municipality Unleashed

Source: FreeGamesNews

#1: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-21T14:06:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
151 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Crowdstar Enters Facebook Hardcore Strategy Genre With Wasteland Empires

2011-10-21T14:05:00.001-07:00

In a dramatic change from its past games like Happy Aquarium and It Girl, developer Crowdstar is now targeting a different demographic on Facebook with hardcore strategy-combat game, Wasteland Empires. The title is currently in open alpha.

According to our traffic tracking service, AppData, Wasteland Empires currently has 150,000 monthly active users and 30,000 daily active users.

Like other Facebook strategy games aimed at the "hardcore" player, Wasteland Empires puts players in the role of a leader responsible for building structures that produce units, which can then be led into battle against other players and non-playable character factions. Building structures and creating units is dependent on resource gathering — some which can be collected from certain structures like farms, and some of which the player finds by scavenging ruins or attacking other settlements. Special items like rope or metal are also required to complete structures, which is where Wasteland Empires works in its monetizaiton, social features, and impetus for attacking other players, as these are the only ways to get special items.

Currently, combat in the game is asynchronous — and Crowdstar means to keep it that way as Facebook is a naturally asynchronous platform. Players can view a map on which several other players' settlements are visible, and mouse over each to see a quick snapshot of that settlement's capabilities — including a difficulty ranking for how hard it will be to defeat that settlement. Once confirming the decision to attack, the player is taken to the opponent's settlement and can choose which of their units to send in by class type (scouts, clubbers, etc.). While in combat, the player can control up to six different unit types at once, sending each type to different places in the settlement for an element of strategy. The only defenses currently live in the game are weapons towers constructed by the opponent.

While in combat, a reputation scale indicates the player's progress. The scale shows an orange bar to the left of a skull icon and an empty bar to the right of it — the player depletes that orange bar as they destroy opponent structures. Once the orange has run all the way down to the skull icon, they player is deemed as winning the battle and a blue bar begins to build to the right of the skull. Attacks end when all structures are destroyed, when a timer expires, or when the player runs out of units. A percentage of resources is then awarded to the player, along with special items. If a player is attacking an equally matched or higher level player, the skull icon on the scale is moved more toward the middle or far left of the scale, meaning that the player can achieve victory more quickly. If the player is attacking a lower level character, the "win" point moves farther to the right, meaning the player will have to destroy almost all structures in a settlement to achieve a win.

The things that makes Wasteland Empires stand out are the setting — a post apocalyptic Earth — and a colonist-to-combat-unit ratio restriction that the player must balance while building structures and training units. The player can only have 50% of its population earmarked for combat units; the rest, the player can use to clear the land around the settlement and to build new structures. There is also a tech tree that the player can advance by building certain structures or researching different technologies, but this is something we've seen in other strategy games on Facebook.

User acquisition is going to be a challenge for Wasteland Empires. Given Crowdstar's current lineup of women-oriented games, it's almost impossible to leverage cross promotion of the developer's 11.8 million MAU and 1 million DAU user base. The developer tells us it will be actively recruiting users from different demographics, although it declined to name the acquisition companies with which Crowdstar works. We do know that Crowdstar is a client of Facebook ad service Nanigans.

Wasteland Empires monetizes through the sale of a premium currency, gold, which is mainly used for speeding up building construction. Interestingly, players can also earn gold by leveling up in addition to purchasing batches of it with Facebook Credits. Social features are currently limited to gifting special resources. Wasteland Empires does not allow players to attack friends and there is no alliance or chat feature in place.

Crowdstar is officially revealing Wasteland Empires today by adding its brand to the existing alpha product on Facebook. You can follow the game's progress with AppData, our traffic tracking service for social games and developers.

#2: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-21T14:01:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
129 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#9: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-10-21T13:56:00.001-07:00

#7: Kinect TV Mount Clip

2011-10-21T13:09:00.003-07:00

Kinect TV Mount Clip
by PDP
Platform: Xbox 360
(80)

Buy new: ~~$19.99~~ $10.33
16 used & new from $6.25

(Visit the Best Sellers in Hardware list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Hardware

#7: Dance Central 2

2011-10-21T13:09:00.001-07:00

Dance Central 2
by Microsoft
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $49.99
3 used & new from $47.89

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Dance Central 2

2011-10-21T13:04:00.001-07:00

Dance Central 2
by Microsoft
42 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $49.99
3 used & new from $47.89

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

7 Tricks And Treats To Boost Your Brand On Facebook During The Holidays

2011-10-21T08:05:00.001-07:00

Halloween unofficially kicks off the holiday season and with early reports predicting record sales, we’ve got seven tips for businesses on how to get into the spirit with Facebook marketing campaigns.

Start Early

Halloween isn’t too soon to think about your marketing and social media strategies for Christmas and beyond. Facebook can be used to build buzz before leading up to the holidays.

Retail marketers begin planning for Christmas in July, so there’s really no such thing as starting too early.

Photo Contests

Halloween is among the most creative holidays of the year, so take advantage of it with a photo contest.

It’s a traditional marketing tactic but with social media, still oh-so-effective.

Encourage fans to post photos of their carved pumpkin, their home decorations or their costumes.

Or ask for photos of the best costume in your neighborhood. Or show off your company culture by posting photos of your staff in costumes.

Update Pictures for the Season

The holidays are a great time to update your Facebook photo strips or profile photo to reflect the season.

Or create a tab dedicated to seasonal photos. You could even add an application that will help fans infuse the holiday into their own profile photos. Starbucks has a tool that imposes fans’ likenesses upon a pumpkin, calling the result a carving.

Polls and Questions

A great tool for spurring engagement, and one that is so easy to implement, is Facebook polls and questions.

One neat example: Target encourages fans to poll their friends about what costume to wear on Halloween.

Leverage the News Feed

The Facebook news feed group posts with identical keywords, presenting a real opportunity for word of mouth campaigns.

This month’s holiday is showing up on everyone’s homepage right now. As friends post about Halloween, and click on what their friends say about it, posts using the phrase continue to become more visible.

Get Fans To ‘Talk About This’

The latest measurement tool from Facebook is a gift that keeps on giving this holiday season. The “talking about this” metric is a great way to regularly gauge who’s talking about your Facebook page, and what’s getting them to talk about it.

The seasonal costume chain Spirit Halloween has 126,143 "talking about this" as of this writing. Contributing to that phenomenon, the page has numerous promotions going, including $5 discounts on purchases of $25 or more and daily contest that appears to be driving up the fan count.

Don’t Be a Scrooge

Small businesses have an opportunity to raise their visibility and give back to the community at the same time during the holidays.

How? Partner with a local food bank before Thanksgiving, for example. For every new page fan in the week before the holiday, donate one can of food.

Companies can match fan donations to a selected charity. A running tally of total donations can be mad within a Facebook tab.

Do you plan on using Facebook to do shopping or marketing this holiday season?

Source: All Facebook

This robot might beat your Angry Birds high score

2011-10-21T02:16:00.001-07:00

Those of us who grew up in the latter part of the 20th century were inundated with sci-fi fantasies of humanoid robots flying spaceships, helping to win wars, and engaging in witty banter with humans and other robots alike. You could make the case that real robots have now done all of the above, but [...]

Source: Geek.com >> Games

Unannounced, Top-Down Assassin's Creed Game Hits App Store Today (in Canada)

2011-10-21T02:11:00.001-07:00

A surprise game in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series is now available on the Canadian App Store.

A completely unannounced Assassin's Creed game for iPhone and iPad has appeared on the Canadian App Store today. And the unexpected title in Ubisoft's franchise is called Assassin's Creed Rearmed.

But if you're in the U.S., searching the App Store for it will result in "No Matches." Unlike other games in the AC series, Rearmed features an interesting top-down perspective, is multiplayer-focused, and is "exclusively designed" for iOS devices.

You can check out Assassin's Creed Rearmed's page on the App Store for more information about the game.

Also Read: Sony Close to Signing Assassin's Creed Movie Deal

Discount Mayonnaise

2011-10-21T02:08:00.001-07:00

Discount Mayonnaise is an intense platform shooter developed by Etienne Bergeron Paquet and Samuel St-Germain. “Go deeper and deeper into the caves of the killer worm! Buy new stuff, collect weapons and spill guts in this fast-paced shooter!” Be warned: this game is insanely addictive! Have fun!

Continue Reading about Discount Mayonnaise

Source: FreeGamesNews

#7: Gears of War 3

2011-10-21T01:09:00.001-07:00

Gears of War 3
by Microsoft
Platform: Xbox 360
(304)
Release Date: September 20, 2011

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $49.49
132 used & new from $39.98

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Xbox 360 Live 1600 Points [Online Game Code]

2011-10-21T01:04:00.001-07:00

Xbox 360 Live 1600 Points [Online Game Code]
by Microsoft
869 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(509)

Buy new: $19.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-20T20:11:00.001-07:00

Batman: Arkham City
by Warner Bros
83 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
(37)

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $55.99
30 used & new from $44.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#1: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-20T20:06:00.003-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
150 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $59.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

50 Cent Tackles Hunger One Facebook Like At A Time

2011-10-20T20:06:00.001-07:00

Hip-hop superstar 50 Cent is turning his attention to hungry children worldwide while promoting his energy drink’s brand, Street King.

A post on the Non-Profits on Facebook page announced that 50 Cent will donate a free meal to a child for every like on his Street King page.

The campaign is tied to World Food Program, and the goal, stated on the Street King page, is to reach one million likes for the energy drink, resulting in one million free meals for needy kids.

If the campaign meets that goal within one week, 50 Cent promises to double the donation to two million meals for children.

Posted on the Street King page:

Every like this week provides a meal for a hungry child: http://on.fb.me/Hustleto1MM. Street King and 50 Cent are committed to working with the United Nations World Food Programme to fight hunger worldwide. If we reach our goal of 1 million likes this week, 50 Cent will double the donation — one million more meals for one million more kids. With the purchase of every Street King energy shot, we provide a meal to a hungry child.

World Food Program is a Rome-based nonprofit organization focused on fighting hunger.

Readers, would you like a Facebook brand page in exchange for an act of charity?

Source: All Facebook

#2: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

2011-10-20T20:01:00.001-07:00

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
by Activision Publishing
158 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: November 8, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#9: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-10-20T19:57:00.001-07:00

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
by Bethesda
134 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: November 11, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#7: Gears of War 3

2011-10-20T19:04:00.001-07:00

Gears of War 3
by Microsoft
459 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(303)

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ Click to see price
133 used & new from $38.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-20T17:34:00.001-07:00

Batman: Arkham City
by Warner Bros
Platform: PlayStation 3
(36)
Release Date: October 18, 2011

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $55.99
29 used & new from $44.99

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#2: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition

2011-10-20T17:24:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition
by Electronic Arts
Platform: Windows Vista / 7
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: ~~$59.95~~ $49.98
4 used & new from $49.98

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

Microsoft creates a HoloDesk using Kinect

2011-10-20T14:15:00.001-07:00

From the moment Microsoft made the Kinect motion peripheral available, people were experimenting with it beyond the realms of the Xbox 360. Interest was so great in fact, that Microsoft ended up releasing a Windows development kit for it. Earlier this week we saw how the Kinect is being used to create a touchscreen on [...]

Source: Geek.com >> Games

Ken Levine Explains the Inspiration Behind Bioshock Infinite

2011-10-20T14:11:00.001-07:00

Comic books, horror flicks, and the nostalgic minds of politicians are the kindling that lights up BioShock Infinite.

The online incarnation of Complex Magazine sat down with Ken Levine at New York City's Comic Con. The interview circles around Levine's personal influences, and the creative process developed by his team in working on BioShock Infinite.

In the video, which you can watch below, Levine talks about the decision to jump from the haunted house feel in Rapture to the "Forth of July, 1912" look of Colombia. The new environment is boiled down to one part political nostalgia for the perfect America, two parts horror a la Blue Velvet and The Shining, and a dash of reoccurring political relationships between the left and the right.

A thoughtful highlight of the brief interview is Levine's description of his relationship to the game development medium. Rather than going through a game, trying to develop a way to magically put ideas into the player's mind, his team's focus is on developing fluent and precise visual languages that explore the game's themes on-screen.

Source: Complex via Irrational Games.

Also Read: Plans for PS Vita's BioShock Not Fully Hatched

Facebook Quietly Tones Down The Ticker

2011-10-20T14:09:00.001-07:00

Have you noticed your ticker changing?

Facebook appears to be testing slight modifications of the homepage ticker.

The ticker now defaults to half of the original size.

Sometimes the feature appears in the top half of the right-hand column, other times in the bottom portion or the middle.

Roughly half of the time, the label “Ticker” appears across the top of the feature.

There’s no longer an option to maximize or minimize the ticker’s size by dragging a thin grey line over the feature.

Wherever the ticker appears initially, it doesn’t remain fixed on the screen when I scroll down; it didn’t before, but since Facebook has recently tested fixed navigation bars on the site, it’s worth noting whether certain features stay in place or move.

The ticker appears differently on my own homepage than what a friend’s screen looked like. Said party wouldn’t let me share the screenshot, so readers, please feel free to forward images to us for comparison.

Facebook is probably testing the modifications to see whether any of them placate users, but this comes well after complaints about the ticker have quieted down.

Readers, what does the ticker look like on your screen right now?

Source: All Facebook

Binga

2011-10-20T14:08:00.001-07:00

Binga is the latest puzzle game created by Tom Vencel. “Use all your wits and skill to tackle fun puzzles and challenges!” Have fun!

Continue Reading about Binga

Source: FreeGamesNews

6waves Lolapps Sews an Undead Farm Simulation on Facebook with Zombie Island

2011-10-20T14:05:00.001-07:00

Recently picked up by 6waves Lolapps, Zombie Island from Vizor Interactive is a Facebook farm simulation that simulates the deceased. Well, actually, the re-animated deceased. Yes: it’s about zombies. Zombies that live on an island and have jobs to do, just like anyone else. It’s a formula that’s proving quite popular, at least in this game’s case.

According to our traffic tracking service AppData, Zombie Island currently has 120,000 monthly active users and 20,000 daily active users.

Zombie Island is set on — wait for it — an island. This one is of limited land size, however, and there are distinct sections of it (“backyard,” “mountains”) that can be unlocked, for a price. Players shamble around as their zombie avatar, which can be dressed up and given a makeover using a small selection of free items, along with a more sizable for-pay assortment. The goal is, as with nearly all simulations of this ilk, to complete various quests and tasks. Doing so often requires resources, such as those needs to build a tomb early on. In this example, the player needs wood and stone. In order to get them, they must “wake up” zombie woodsmen and stone workers from their graves and put them on the job. This takes brains.

The number of brains the player has at their disposal dictates how many tasks their workers can be handling at any given time. There’s a maximum number of brains available, which is set by “renting” brains for a price, using “zombiebucks.” Rented brains come in different quantities and durations, such as two for two days, one for three days, and so on. Although the amount of work being done is limited by available brains, players can still spend coins — earned from completing even small tasks — to hire more zombies, so they can be at the ready.

As is expected from the genre, the game also lets players spend their earnings on decorations to personalize their islands. There are also a variety of recipes to find (like more items in the game, they unlock as players level up) and make. This is how players can obtain some of the game’s more rare items. Collections are also here, with the game bestowing ample rewards of coins, bucks and XP on players who complete them.

In addition to renting brains, players are able to “plant” their friends’ brains in the ground (up to two per day). This is one of the game’s more clever social features. It’s also possible for players to visit the islands of friends they’ve invited, once per week, to claim rewards. Like most titles of this type, there’s a persistent display of the player’s rank along with their friends’ at the bottom of the play area. Sending free gifts and sharing stories about the player’s successes via viral channels rounds out the social side of the title.

Zombie Island is monetized in a traditional fashion, with players buying zombiebucks and coins using Facebook Credits. Bucks are generally used to unlock items early before their usual level requirements are met, buy premium deco, speed up tasks, rent brains, and obtain power-ups, such as automated resource harvesting for up to 12 hours. Coins, the soft currency, can be used to buy all the staples of Zombie Island life.

According to posts made on the game’s Wall, developer Vizor Interactive is finished on a “Halloween Campaign” that will roll out by month’s end and transform the look of the game, making it even more Halloween-y, and adding new quests.

You can follow Zombie Island's progress using AppData, our traffic tracking service for social games and developers.

#7: Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures!

2011-10-20T13:11:00.001-07:00

Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures!
by Microsoft Software
Platform: Xbox 360
(728)

Buy new: ~~$149.99~~ Click to see price
297 used & new from $64.97

(Visit the Best Sellers in Hardware list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Hardware

#7: Dance Central 2

2011-10-20T13:04:00.001-07:00

Dance Central 2
by Microsoft
41 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $49.99
2 used & new from $44.95

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters Wins Dems' Facebook Contest

2011-10-20T08:05:00.001-07:00

California Congresswoman Maxine Waters was named the most valued player among Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives for the growth of her Facebook fan base.

Representative Waters rocketed to first from a previous sixth place ranking in in the House Democrats’ annual new media competition.

The contest ranks individual and committee offices by the number of new Facebook fans, Twitter followers and YouTube subscribers generated during the three week challenge. Republicans in the House ran a similar social networking competition earlier this year.

The winners were announced by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland. He said the competition resulted in a total of 57,000 new fans, followers, and subscribers during the three weeks of competition — which surpasses last year’s total by more than 14,000.

The friendly yet competitive challenge saw frequent changes to the leaderboard, according to the Whip’s office.

Rounding out the top spots are Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison, New York Representatives Charles Rangel and Jerrold Nadler, Representative Adam Smith of Washington, and Representative Ted Deutch of Florida. The Education and Workforce committee ranked first among committees.

A full list of the Democratic All-Stars appears beneath this post.

So, how did Representative Waters vault to the top?

Her high national profile may be one reason, since she is a regular guest on cable TV shows. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, she spoke frequently this past summer about job fairs that the caucus organized around the country.

She has also commented on the administration’s plans for job creation and economic growth.

Do you engage with your elected officials on Facebook?

Source: All Facebook

Scientist: Controlling Games with Just Your Mind is "Not Science-Fiction"

2011-10-20T02:11:00.001-07:00

A video demonstration given by Research Scientist Gerwin Schalk includes a man controlling Doom with his brain.

Man tells character in Doom to shoot with just his thoughts. It works.

Computerworld reports that during the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Emerging Technology Conference, Research Scientist Gerwin Schalk explained that the ability to control computers with nothing but our minds could be a lot closer than we think.

"What I'm here to tell you is that this is not science fiction. This is an emerging reality," Schalk said. "We're about that close," pinching his thumb and index finger together, "to being able to play back the music just by listening to the brain."

Among several video demonstrations Schalk showed during the conference to back up his claim was one in which a man commanded his character in id Software's Doom to "accurately" shoot enemies. That's pretty impressive, but can it play Rage?

You can read the full story on Computerworld.

Also Read: Battlefield 3 Simulator Will Blow Your Mind

#7: Dance Central 2

2011-10-20T01:09:00.001-07:00

Dance Central 2
by Microsoft
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011

Buy new: $49.99
2 used & new from $44.95

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Xbox 360 Live 1600 Points [Online Game Code]

2011-10-20T01:04:00.001-07:00

Xbox 360 Live 1600 Points [Online Game Code]
by Microsoft
869 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(508)

Buy new: $19.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Xbox 360 list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Best Sellers in Video Games > Xbox 360

#7: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition - Preload Available [Download]

2011-10-19T20:34:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition - Preload Available [Download]
by Electronic Arts
Platform: Windows Vista / 7 / XP

Buy new: ~~$59.95~~ $49.98

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#2: Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-19T20:24:00.001-07:00

Batman: Arkham City
by Warner Bros
Platform: Xbox 360
(30)
Release Date: October 18, 2011

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $55.99
19 used & new from $48.90

(Visit the Hot New Releases in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Source: Amazon.com: Hot New Releases in Video Games

#7: Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition - Preload Available [Download]

2011-10-19T20:11:00.001-07:00

Battlefield 3 - Limited Edition - Preload Available [Download]
by Electronic Arts
9 days in the top 100
Platform: Windows Vista / 7 / XP

Buy new: ~~$59.95~~ $49.98

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Facebook Promotes Photos From Pages You Like

2011-10-19T20:05:00.001-07:00

Facebook has begun highlighting photos from pages you like.

The social network has “highlighted friends’ photos for a while, but I’ve never seen them promote page photos until today,” said Brittany Darwell, social media coordinator at Ignited, who sent us the screenshot that appears to the right. It’s “good for brands if this continues.”

If the practice does continue, that could amount to free advertising for the brands that upload the most pictures.

Presumably, Facebook wants brands to put more images on their pages.

Pages look a lot more inviting with regularly updated images.

Uploading them can also be an easier way to update page content more frequently and put more stories in fans’ news feeds and tickers.

Tagging those images provides an additional way for brands to send messages into news feeds and tickers.

Readers, have you seen Facebook highlight photos from pages you like, and if so, did you feel motivated to click through to the images?

Source: All Facebook

#2: Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-19T20:01:00.001-07:00

Batman: Arkham City
by Warner Bros
81 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
(30)

Buy new: ~~$59.99~~ $55.99
19 used & new from $48.91

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#9: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-10-19T19:57:00.001-07:00

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
by Bethesda
133 days in the top 100
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: November 11, 2011

Buy new: $59.99

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Google Chrome gets Bullet physics libray using Native Client

2011-10-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

Native Client finally went stable in Google Chrome 14. Its potential is impressive, allowing native C code to run inside the Chrome browser and offer app performance that truly rivals that of traditional desktop programs. But there aren’t too many apps or games in the Chrome Web Store that take advantage of Chrome’s new secret [...]

Source: Geek.com >> Games

#7: Sengoku Basara Samurai Heroes

2011-10-19T14:11:00.003-07:00

Sengoku Basara Samurai Heroes
by Capcom
4 days in the top 100
Platform: PlayStation 3
(28)

Buy new: ~~$39.99~~ $16.10
47 used & new from $9.00

(Visit the Best Sellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)