Istpika

Lots of attractive game apps have been coming out these days so we can’t really keep up or analyze all of the new ones but I will attempt to list up.

Apps made by major companies.

Poker Rivals by PlayFish
http://www.facebook.com/pokerrivals?ref=ts
501MAU (released only yesterday. It seems like it’ll get 1,000,000MAU tomorrow!)

Is this Playfish’s revenge for the success of RestaurantCity against Zynga!?

Poker Rivals is PlayFish’s version of Zynga’s hit, “Texas Hold ‘Em Poker” .
Texas Hold ‘Em Poker has been expanding and now with it’s tournaments the winners have a chance to win an XBOX 360 Elite.
On the other hand, Poker Rivals has a simple system. One of the features is it’s communication methods during play. With Texas Hold ‘Em Poker , you can have a chat with other players but with Poker Rivals , you can express your feeling using animations which so you don’t have to worry about language barriers. It also should be good for bluffing while playing poker.

SuperPocus by Slide
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=137947854575&ref=ts
269,860MAU
269,860MAU

Slide hasn’t released any apps for a while. Slide was one of the major developers when Facebook first started.
SuperPocus is a PetSocial type app. Players keep pets in your room and you can change your clothes, buy furniture, visit your friends and you can also learn how to use magic or study something else. There are a number of features which make me feel immersed in the game. It’s high-quality and I’m into it!

Zoo World by RockYou!
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=167746316127
2,398,818MAU

Zoo World is their first app in a while and it is a zoo managing game. It hasn’t been completed yet but we’re waiting for the release with expectation as they are one of the major facebook developers.

Happy Pets By CrowdStar
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=127148832824
3,480,710MAU

CrowdStar is a fast-growing developer with their Happy Aquarium and Happy Pets is a pet version of Happy Aquarium. Players can have dogs and cats. The cats are absolutely adorable. The animation is realistic which makes me think what’s gonna happen if I don’t feed my pet?? Once you’ve started, you’ll feel like you have to take responsibility for its whole life.
CrowdStar hasn’t been in this arena long however they’ve grown by advertising and they are considered as a major developer.

Apps made by new developers
(“new” means “not up on high level)

Home Inn By FunTime /ShineZone
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=131728383362
1,151,426MAU

Players manage a little B&B style hotel as an owner. Players can decorate or enlarge the hotel. As they play the game, they’ll also learn real managemet in running a hotel.

CrazyOffice By rain in rain (China)
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=79391065682
118,419MAU

Players employ their friends. The work place is a factory that makes bycicles. It has a similar system to Farmville.

Treasure Madness by zSlide
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=29518083188
1,684,760MAU

Dig a hole and hunt for treasure. This is a hybrid game – players have to clear quite a few mini games while treasure hunting. It’s a common style of game in Japan, bit like MarioParty. This company used to have lots of Flash mini games. We’re into this game now.

Kick-off by Hive7.com
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=53073376315
136,682MAU

Players orgnise a soccer team with their friends and play in a tournament online. Playing with friends is very important and choose your best positions. I wan to focus on Facebook sport games that are click controlled. There are some other developers that have released soccer games.

BlingTown by Vojo World
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=173487213734
143,350MAU

Real time avatar chat with a player room and quest format to it. You start with no money and a clothing change. As you progress there are several levels where you get talked to. With lots of levels this looks like a good one, even though it’s not quite complete.
but looks like it’s not completed yet.

MedicalMayhem by Vojo World
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=104049797383
284,967MAU

Hospital managing game. its small dot art is fresh. It’s basically very similar to Farmville.

Summary

It’s concerning that major game companies monopolise the market of facebook apps, but lots of new developers have been on the rise. New developers’ strategies are making apps unique and interesting.
In other words, a differentiation should be made. Such as their individual strategies;

- Add their vision of the world and replace the designs to modify existing popular apps (ex; Animal farm -> aquarium).
- Mix several basic systems such as animal farm + mob, cultivation + quest, additional mini game collision , etc)

These two are the main strategies.
Systems which are completely new are rarely seen, probably the same as the other game industries.

While major developers have been releasing new games after another, new developers have been planning carefully and releasing high quality and different apps comparable to the ones made by major developers. Wonder how they’ll go wothout advetising, on other words, with viral marketing.
If it goes well, that’ll be the proof that there’s a place for venture developers to slot into in facebook app design.

Istpika will be watching with interest.