Kingdoms & Quests looks like Zynga's next big game, a social RPG?

pdate: Zynga has since taken down the support pages detailing Kingdoms & Quests. However, the "restricted" app still has a presence on Facebook.

And its worst-kept secret at that. Even before Adventure World has hit Facebook, it looks as if we already know a great deal about Zynga's next major social game. It's called Kingdoms & Quests, and at the moment is available only in Australia, according to brand new support pages for the game.

This is the first we're hearing of this new game, but a detailed guide for beginners reveals quite a lot about the unannounced Kingdoms & Quests. (You can try to access the game via Facebook, though you'll simply get a screen that reads, "Use of app 'Kingdoms & Quests' is restricted.")

First of all, we know that this game is a fantasy RPG (roleplaying game) in which players gain experience and resources like wood, coins and food through battling monsters as they clear the fog surrounding their kingdom. So, there will be a property management and expansion aspect to Kingdoms & Quests, but the support page drives home that combat is the focus in this game.

Like Empires & Allies before it, players will create a kingdom and populate it with combat units to do battle against monsters in turn-based bouts, though we doubt this game will focus on strategy like E&A does. That's namely because Zynga doesn't at all mention PvP (player vs player) combat nor does it mention large-scale encounters or having to defend your territory. In fact, it looks like you'll only be able to have four units in battle at a time.

Kingdoms & Quests art
Zynga uses language that implies that players will explore the land around them on quests, killing individual groups of monsters with supporting warriors. Furthermore, it looks like players will be able to micromanage their units through equipment either crafted or found during battle. It sounds as if each and every unit will be outfitted with unique weapons.

While PvP doesn't seem to be a part of Kingdoms & Quests, social interaction will, of course, be a major focus ... perhaps more so than in any Zynga game before it. "If a player has an element icon next to their name, rather than the home kingdom icon, you can visit them on their map and play Kingdoms & Quests with them in real-time," the support page reads. Surely Kingdoms & Quests will be a first for Zynga on many levels, and we're psyched to learn more. To see what this game will be about in detail, check out its support page right here.

[Via Mafia Wars Maniac]

[Image Credit: Zynga]

Are you excited for yet another new Zynga game? How do you think or hope Kingdoms & Quests will play? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

Plants vs Zombies for iPhone update unearths nine new mini games

Look, Plants vs Zombies might be PopCap's most entertaining game to date (next to Peggle), but even flinging seeds at ravenous zombies gets stale after awhile. Luckily, PopCap thinks so too, and has updated PvZ for iPhone, bringing with it a whopping nine new mini games that players can buy using coins in Crazy Dave's Shop. Well, at least these mini games are new to the iPhone--they're all from the PC and Mac version of PvZ.

Each of the nine new games comes in a pack of three for 50,000 coins, which players can collect through just playing the Adventure Mode or tending to their Zen Gardens (released in the previous update). Of course, you can expedite the process by purchasing bundles of 100,000 coins for $.99 apiece. Here's a sneak peek at all nine mini games, courtesy of PopCap:

Game Pack #3

    * Walnut Bowling 2: Knock 'em dead in this killer twist to an old favorite sport.
    * Seeing Stars: Unravel the mystery of the star-shaped pattern.
    * Bobsled Bonanza: Melt the ice and defeat bobsledders and Zombonis in this frosty battle.


Game Pack #4

    * Invisi-Ghoul: Test your prowess to take on invisible zombies.
    * Last Stand: Not your average day at the pool!
    * ZomBotany 2: Hybrid zombies sport plant heads and abilities to up the challenge ante.


Game Pack #5

    * Beghouled Twist: An homage to Bejeweled Twist, this mash-up requires match-3 skill.
    * Pogo Party: Crash the pogo party of your roof!
    * Zombie Nimble Zombie Quick: Get ready to move faster than ever!

PvZ mini games
All nine mini games sound like fun, but we're most interested in this homage to Bejeweled Twist, and Walnut Bowling has always been a blast when it comes up in Adventure Mode. This update also introduces more Achievements to brag about share on Apple Game Center, most notable of which is Peking Express.

This is a micro game of sorts in which you're timed on how quickly you scroll all the way down the Achievements page to visit China and its zombies. I made it in just over 10 seconds--can you beat my time? If you're game, then click on the link below and get to diggin'. If anything, this should hold you over until Peggle and PvZ hit Facebook ... maybe.

Click here to download the new Plants vs Zombies update for iPhone >

Have you unlocked any of the new features in this PvZ update? Which of the new mini games are you most excited about? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

Car Town Japan drifts onto Mobage, Cie Games opens Tokyo office

If The Fast and the Furious has taught us anything about the "real" world, it's that Tokyo is a haven for gear-heads. Car Town creator Cie Games looks to bring Japanese social gamers just what they've been looking for in a social game with Car Town Japan. Inside Social Games (ISG) reports that the Facebook racer with over 5.8 million monthly players will expand to Mobage, DeNA's mobile social games network, before the end of this week as the company opens its Tokyo office.

"When we launch future titles, you'll see us deployed internationally much more quickly on multiple platforms," Cie Games CEO Justin Choi told ISG. "We are planning on opening additional offices. We are going to use Japan as a hub to expand into other markets in Asia."

According to ISG, this Japanese version of Car Town on Mobage is different from what sounds like a dedicated version of Car Town for iOS and Android devices that's in the works, which will be released "soon." Car Town Japan features a decidedly Japanese look and feel, though folks will still race, build, decorate and upgrade cars based on real-life brands like Toyota, Honda and Ford.

For you lucky folks going to the Tokyo Game Show next week, Cie Games will have a playable version of Car Town Japan there, too. For the rest of us back in the states and elsewhere, we'll just have to wait patiently until the game speeds onto our iPhones and various Android devices. So pump your brakes, and go play Car Town on Facebook some more.

[Image Credit: Inside Social Games]

Do you think this is a sign of Cie Games rise to social game notoriety among the elites like Zynga and EA? Are you excited to soon have a mobile version of Car Town to take around? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

Tell your best FarmVille story to win early access to Lighthouse Cove

The hype surrounding Lighthouse Cove, the upcoming second expansion to FarmVille, is officially at a fever pitch. Zynga has teased us long enough about our future trip to the coastline, so it's about time it opens up the gates to Lighthouse Cove. Well, Zynga plans on doing just that ... for 25 people. Oh yes, if you want to be one of the first to step digital foot onto this new expansion, you'll have to work for it. It's time to put your writing chops to the test in a new FarmVille Story Challenge.

What you need to do is pen your brightest, most vivid FarmVille story in just 20 sentences or less, and accompany your tale with no more than seven unedited images of your farm. The game's team will then review all of the submissions posted in this forum thread and decide on 25 skilled FarmVille fabulists on Sept. 9 after 3 p.m. PST, when the contest ends.

If you're chosen as one of FarmVille's great storytellers, you will be asked to send your Facebook ID to FarmVille community manager TerriHelper through a forum private message. The winners, in addition to getting into Lighthouse Cove before everyone else (nyah, nyah!), will score exclusive items as well as a quest line just for them with "handsome rewards." If that didn't get your fingers typing yet, then nothing will. Check out the full contest rules here, and open that word processor already, will ya?

Have you started writing your epic FarmVille fable yet? What do you think of how Zynga is handling early access to Lighthouse Cove, and what are you excited for most with this new expansion? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

CityVille Tonga Tower Goals: Everything you need to know

The Eiffel Tower in CityVille has been but a light at the end of a tunnel for many players, a distant one. Now, Zynga has released the second step in unlocking the first Wonder to hit the game, the Tonga Tower.

This brand new Business is a tiki-themed restaurant that will eventually function as the previous Hotels released to the game. Of course, there are some daunting Goals tied directly to its construction. So, without further ado, here' everything you need to know about the Tonga Tower:

First things first, you must be at least Level 30 to access the Tonga Tower and the Goals attached to it. And while you do not have to build the Sailboat Hotel before the Tonga Tower, both are required to access the Eiffel Tower when it finally releases. If you're Level 30 and log into the game, Edgar will appear with a task for you.

Tonga Tower!

    * Place the Tonga Tower


This woefully simple Goal will introduce you to the Tonga Tower. Just click on the Place button in the Goal's window to throw it onto your city. And ... that's it--enjoy the 2 XP that is your reward. (I mean, all you did was place a building, after all.) Placing the Tonga Tower will cause it to appear nearly finished complete with scaffolding. Click on it for your next and final Goal.

CityVille Unlock Tonga Tower
CityVille Tonga Tower completeUnlock the Tonga Tower

    * Gather parts to Unlock Tonga Tower
    * Upgrade one Tiki Business to Level 3
    * Master one Tiki Crop to Level 3


Clicking on the Tonga Tower again after receiving this Goal will open the familiar window when constructing buildings. As per usual, you must ask your friends to send you items, which this time include seven of each these: Drink Umbrellas, Open Coconuts, Ukuleles, Table Mats and Welcome Treats.

The upgraded Businesses that will count toward this Goal are the Song Bird Pet Shop, the Ku Drive-in and the Tonga Room. We suggest you go with the Song Bird Pet Shop, as it's the cheapest option at 150,000 coins and will be ready for collection more often than the others as it holds just 320 Goods. Upgrading a Business is a completely different ball game these days, so check out this post for an idea of how to upgrade Businesses in the new system.

Crop Mastery is as simple as harvesting a given crop a certain amount of times, and you must harvest either the Pineapple or Sugar Cane crop to fulfill this Goal. We recommend going with the Sugar Cane, as it only costs 47 coins per plot, which amounts to 14,100 coins total for Level 3 Mastery. Your reward for this Goal is simple: a finished Tonga Tower, which will function like a normal Hotel once completed.

[Source and Image Credit: Zynga]

Have you started on your Tonga Tower yet? What tips might you have for completing it even more quickly? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

Ubisoft CEO: Smurfs & Co. gained 4.2 million players with no marketing

And now, The Smurfs & Co. is sitting pretty with over 9 million monthly players since its launch just over a month ago. During an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot revealed, "Smurfs went from zero to 4.2 million without marketing in two weeks."

While these might not be The Sims Social numbers, it speaks volumes to the power social games with strong brands behind them have on Facebook. This is especially considering Ubisoft conducted zero advertising (the main method of growth for Facebook games these days) for The Smurfs & Co. in that time period. That's the power of The Smurfs for ya, I guess.

Guillemont continued," So it's amazing how fast, when the content is adapted, those products can grow. So it really shows that people are very interested by new content in games. So we will continue to develop and make sure the quality of the game experience is adapted to what people are looking for."

In other words, the best way to for a Facebook game to grow is the keep it current, according to Guillemont. (So, that's why Zynga updates its games incessantly!) The Ubisoft boss went on to reveal to GamesIndustry.biz just why it's in on the rapidly growing free-to-play and social games movement: "In the long term there's no reason why the casual would not overcome the hardcore business because there are more people that are interested in buying casual."

So, if you ask Guillemont, casual (and free-to-play) are the way to go, which already accounted for 40 percent of the company's revenue in 2010. And Ubisoft is certainly not alone--EA has already spent over $1 billion on Facebook and mobile games, which is looking to already be paying off. Other traditional companies are slowly dipping their feet, while a legion of originally hardcore game designers have Facebook Credits twinkling in their eyes.

Does this mean no more Assassin's Creed or Ghost Recon for the hardcore crowd? Of course not, but I'm willing to bet that it does mean far more blue creatures in white hats in a not-so-little place called Facebook.

Do you agree that casual games could overtake hardcore games in the future? What do you think of The Smurfs & Co. so far, what brands do you hope Ubisoft brings to Facebook next? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment

Game Developers Choice Online Awards Audience Award: Vote for your fave Facebook game

We know, you're miffed that your favorite Facebook game didn't make the cut in the second annual Game Developers Choice Online Awards nominations. Luckily for you, the Audience Award category has finally opened up for voting from the public starting today, Sept. 8, through Sept. 22. All you need to do is head on over to the Audience Award voting page, type in what game--any online game--you think should win, and provide an email address to confirm your vote.

The second annual GDC Online, an Austin, Texas-based online game-centric offshoot of the annual GDC event that takes place annually in San Francisco, is little more than a month away, running Oct. 10-13. The GDC Online Awards will be held on the evening of Oct. 12 in the Austin Convention Center. Now that you know all of the logistics regarding the GDC Online Awards, let's talk a bit about that Audience Award.

Frankly, it can be a little daunting, that blank white box, just waiting for your answer. If you need some help framing your answer deciding on a sound candidate, take a look at the nominees that were already decided upon. If that doesn't help, take a look at this month's Top 25 Facebook Games to see what's hot.

Or, you know, just vote for what game you enjoy best--just make sure it's a Facebook game, kay? League of Legends won the Audience Award last year, and while it's a blast, we can't have that this year ... or we'll miss out on the Facebook royalty checks again. (Before the flaming starts: Jokes, people, just jokes.)

Do you plan on casting a vote for the GDC Online Awards Audience Award? Which game do you think should win the honor? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment