In 2009, the wildly popular social game, FarmVille, was released on the social media site, Facebook. Gaining popularity quickly, it became the most popular game on Facebook almost instantly. It belongs to a genre of online games known as "social games", which has grown leaps and bounds with the ubiquity of social media.
Game play is not terribly complex. At the outset, users are given a farm. By growing and cultivating a number of crops, one can earn both farm coins and experience points. The coins allow for the purchase of additional plants and tools. Meanwhile, the points make available new types of crops in the "market." Ultimately, players are hoping to build a diverse and healthy farm, while earning as much of this currency as they possible can.
Social interaction is also a major component of the game. Utilizing the social media platform, users can invite their Facebook friends, and more recently, other users that are not their friends, to become farm neighbors. Neighbors can visit one another's farms and perform actions on it. Gifts can be exchanged as well. A single farmer can establish a wide network of neighbors.
The concept of virtual farming is not unique to FarmVille. In fact, its roots can be found in a 1996 game called Harvest Moon.This role playing video game was released for the Super Nintendo and was met with only mild success. However, it did lead to the release of the Chinese social networking game Happy Farm. Released just one year before the introduction of FarmVille, Happy Farm set the stage for success for the interactive virtual farm concept.
Plinga, a German game developer, has apparently attempted to mimic the success of Zynga, the producer of FarmVille, with a remarkably similar name and business model. Yet, Zynga's reputation stands apart, as it has produced dozens of games across many platforms in the past few years. Its products can be found especially in stand alone platforms and social media sites. In fact, it has developed most of the games available for play on Facebook. Each follows a similar model in which users have the option to make in-game purchases using "Facebook credits".
This has quickly become a billion dollar industry, leaving the door wide open for advertising opportunities. Most users that participate will visit the same site every single day in order to keep up with their farm, restaurant, or what-have-you. Companies may decide to invest in product placement within the game. Or, banners displayed across the top of a page will surely catch attention. This can increase traffic to any website or company.
FarmVille was one of Facebook's most popular social games. It was so widely played that a sequel, FarmVille 2, was even released. Since reaching its peak, it has settled into the seventh most popular slot on Facebook. Zynga continues to produce new games that hold the top positions, however.
Being introduced on Facebook can define the career of a brand. FarmVille's home on Facebook almost surely guaranteed its bullet rude to the top. Since 2009, it may have lost some popularity, but, on the whole, it defined a new generation of social gaming.
Game play is not terribly complex. At the outset, users are given a farm. By growing and cultivating a number of crops, one can earn both farm coins and experience points. The coins allow for the purchase of additional plants and tools. Meanwhile, the points make available new types of crops in the "market." Ultimately, players are hoping to build a diverse and healthy farm, while earning as much of this currency as they possible can.
Social interaction is also a major component of the game. Utilizing the social media platform, users can invite their Facebook friends, and more recently, other users that are not their friends, to become farm neighbors. Neighbors can visit one another's farms and perform actions on it. Gifts can be exchanged as well. A single farmer can establish a wide network of neighbors.
The concept of virtual farming is not unique to FarmVille. In fact, its roots can be found in a 1996 game called Harvest Moon.This role playing video game was released for the Super Nintendo and was met with only mild success. However, it did lead to the release of the Chinese social networking game Happy Farm. Released just one year before the introduction of FarmVille, Happy Farm set the stage for success for the interactive virtual farm concept.
Plinga, a German game developer, has apparently attempted to mimic the success of Zynga, the producer of FarmVille, with a remarkably similar name and business model. Yet, Zynga's reputation stands apart, as it has produced dozens of games across many platforms in the past few years. Its products can be found especially in stand alone platforms and social media sites. In fact, it has developed most of the games available for play on Facebook. Each follows a similar model in which users have the option to make in-game purchases using "Facebook credits".
This has quickly become a billion dollar industry, leaving the door wide open for advertising opportunities. Most users that participate will visit the same site every single day in order to keep up with their farm, restaurant, or what-have-you. Companies may decide to invest in product placement within the game. Or, banners displayed across the top of a page will surely catch attention. This can increase traffic to any website or company.
FarmVille was one of Facebook's most popular social games. It was so widely played that a sequel, FarmVille 2, was even released. Since reaching its peak, it has settled into the seventh most popular slot on Facebook. Zynga continues to produce new games that hold the top positions, however.
Being introduced on Facebook can define the career of a brand. FarmVille's home on Facebook almost surely guaranteed its bullet rude to the top. Since 2009, it may have lost some popularity, but, on the whole, it defined a new generation of social gaming.
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