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FarmVille Zynga and Politics

As local elections come to a close tonight throughout the United States, we’d like to take a moment to revisit the idea of politics invading FarmVille’s virtual real estate and possibly your own farms.

Back in September, Bloomberg Businessweek first reported that some presidential hopefuls and their campaigns, specifically Rep. Michele Bachmann in this case, would like to target popular social games such as Zynga’s FarmVille in hopes of gaining virtual support and to pick up some key voters.

Michael Hendrix, a consultant for the firm working on Bachmann’s ad campaign dubs this idea the “gamification of politics”. One game in particular, FarmVille, he sees as an advantageous “demographic frontier for Republicans” with “the majority of social gamers [being] stay-at-home moms over 38″.  Hendrix claims to have written software that will allow players to bring politics to the farm. We’ve all seen some of our fellow FarmVille Freaks flex their political affiliation on their farms via their hay bale constructed farm art of Democrat Donkeys or Republican Elephants, but Hendrix plans to take this a step further with a more real world borrowed concept- yard signs! He suggests that his software would allow FarmVille players to show support for their candidates by placing political yard signs on their virtual farms just as they would on their real world lawns.

Even though Zynga has not yet publically endorsed the notion of a political invasion of FarmVille and this article is written from a speculative perspective, it has us all wondering- do politics belong on the farm? Certainly, if politics did seep their way into FarmVille, it’d be an optional endorsement for players to decide and one with all parties represented. On the other hand,FarmVille is already becoming more like a full-time job, do we really need to corrupt it with politics, party lines, and the sometimes unwelcomed diversity it brings? We can see how happy neighbors and our shared love of toiling over our farms could quickly turn into heated arguments and broken farmer friendships.

What do you think, FarmVille Freaks? Does political representation belong on your farm? If it were possible, would you show support for your candidate or political affiliation with a yard sign display on your farm? Sound off in the comments below and be sure to take our FarmVille Freak Poll!

(Referenced Source: Bloomberg Businessweek)

FarmVille Mark Pincus at Zynga's Unleashed Event

Zynga’s Unleashed event that took place earlier today at Zynga’s headquarters in San Francisco introduced a barrage of new Zynga game titles, a new Zynga platform with Project Z and Ztags, and a new way to play some of your favorite games including FarmVille!

New Zynga Games

Keeping up with the competition and hoping to stay ahead, Zynga’s studios are constantly producing new social games  and today they announced the titles of even more fun games including the latest Ville game, CastleVille which we are most excited about. Read below for a recap on all the new Zynga games “coming soon”.

• CastleVille
• Zynga Bingo
• Hidden Chronicles
• Dream Zoo
• Mafia Wars 2

CastleVille

CastleVille hails from the Zynga’s Lone Star State studio in Dallas and it is the latest “Ville” title. It takes place in a medieval world with fantasy and enduring characters. It’s movie quality looks (is that Tangled?) and music (75 piece orchestra and full choir backed original soundtrack) Zynga describes as the “most beautiful game we’ve ever made”. In CastleVille you can “get your happy ending” by building the castle and kingdom of your dreams.

Zynga Casino’s Zynga Bingo

Hurry up and tell Grandma, Zynga releases yet another Casino title, Zynga Bingo! It joins Zynga’ Casinos most popular Poker game, Zynga Poker. We can’t wait to see what the Big Z was able to do with the already natural social aspect of Bingo transformed into social gaming. What we already know? Think- themed bingo rooms such as “Pirates Paradise” and “Vegas Lights”. Your chips from Zynga Poker will work in Zynga Bingo too with a promise to make it easy to find your casino friends while they are playing. Bingo!

Hidden Chronicles 

A new genre for Zynga, Hidden Chronicles is your soon-t0-be favorite memory challenge game. Think the adult version of Highlights with all the fun of Where’s Waldo. Beautiful graphics for you to stare at and scope out all the hidden objects all in a social game setting.

The twist is that there will be a social game setting which means you can play with your friends and work up a friendly competition. Throughout your game play you will unlock the story of Ramsey Manor which is your home base in Hidden Chronicles. There at the Manor you will also be able to meet and interact with characters and customize the Manor. Interesting!

Dream Zoo

Dream Zoo is a zoo themed game that will be available at the Apple App Store. You can build your own virtual zoo in the palm of your hands (literally) as you collect some of your favorite zoo animals. Recruit your neighbors to help you take care and feed your animals and help them out as well.

Mafia Wars 2 

Zynga’s first real sequel Mafia Wars 2 launched yesterday. Mafia Wars 2, yes it needed its own new game and new title is now available on Facebook and Google+ games. Get your mafia on now!

New Zynga Platform & Project Z

As you already know, most of Zynga games can be played on Facebook, some Google + and mobile devices. Zynga wants to continue to move forward with making more games mobile accessible. They also want to give us a new promise of  what they call “instant social” with Project Z, which they describe as a new Zynga social game service that will be enabled by Facebook Connect where players can “connect with others who are playing at that very moment”.

Project Z seems like another another step towards more Zynga independence from social networks. As of yet very little details have been released about Project Z and what exactly it means. We can expect to learn the nitty gritty of Project Z as we approach its launch. However, what you can do today, is sign up and reserve your gamer tag! Your gamer identity tag, called “zTags” will allow you to travel effortlessly between your favorite Zynga games on the Project Z service. They also reveal that Project Z will “be coming soon to a browser near you very soon”.

To reserve your zTag visit Zynga:

http://ztag.zynga.com/

zTag

Zynga & Facebook Mobile

Recently Facebook launched its mobile apps and mobile site and along with this Zynga announced three HTML5 large scale games that will be coming very soon to Facebook’s mobile app site. Remember FarmVille Express? Yes! A new way to play FarmVille on your mobile device better than ever. With the help of HTML5 technology the mobile games will boast faster load times, smoother game play, and better responsiveness. The other Zynga titles that will be built using HTML5 besides FarmVille Expres are Zynga Poker Mobile Web and Words With Friends HTLML5.

Source: http://www.zynga.com/about/press/company-blog/more-social-more-fun-come-out-and-play

What are you thoughts, FarmVille Freaks? What do you think of the new Zynga games? Have you already registered your new gamer tag zTag? 

FarmVille White Kitten

We’re here again to alert you to another scam. Like they say, “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” The newest scam popping up on our news feeds is for an adorable White Kitten.

FarmVille White Kitten Scam FaceBook Notice

This is not a post from the official Zynga FarmVille game! For your safety, and your friends, please do not click on this! If you have, we suggested you report the page to FaceBook and update your password. Often the purpose of these scams is to gather your private data (entered on FaceBook) and any data of your friends that can be reached through your account. Several players have reported receiving viruses from similar posts in the past.

FarmVille White Kitten Scam Page

Please pass this message along to help keep everyone on FaceBook safe from these scammers, click our “Share on FaceBook” link. Visit us again soon to keep up with all your FarmVille news!

Do you suspect you have received a virus after clicking on this or a similar post?

Zynga vs. BlingVille

In a recent legal fight between FarmVille developer Zynga and Overtime Apps, Zynga is claiming trademark infringement for use of “Ville” in Overtime Apps’ game titled BlingVille. BlingVille is also a social game that will be released on Facebook.

It’s no secret that Zynga has built an empire of successful “Ville” games. Let’s count the ville titled family of games:

1. FarmVille
2. CityVille
3. FishVille
4. FrontierVille
5. PetVille
6. YoVille

FarmVille Creator Zynga Games

Although Zynga does not own the word ville by any means, in the gaming community they have invested interest in their popular ville titled games. It may sound ridiculous, but Zynga has built a reputation in the social gaming world with an extremely large following of players. In fact, many players would try BlingVille just because of its name and on assumption that it is the latest and greatest Zynga game.

A spokesman from Zynga justified the legal matter by making the following statement:

“We regret that BlingVille LLC has chosen to move forward with a social game called BlingVille despite our advance notice to them of our rights. Use of the name ‘BlingVille’ is an obvious attempt to capitalize on the fame and goodwill associated with Zynga’s family of “ville” games which includes FarmVille and CityVille. We are prepared to take all necessary steps to protect our intellectual property rights.”

Who knew that a suffix could cause such a stir!

(Source: G4, Gamasutra)

What do you think? Is BlingVille biting off Zynga’s success and riding on the FarmVille coattails or is anything fair game?

FarmVille on Prisoners Computer

FarmVille Freaks come from all walks of life . . . and criminal backgrounds. Smuggling cell phones into prisons is no surprise really, but did you ever think prisoners would be using smuggled smart phones to play FarmVille behind bars?

The New York Times is reporting that while smart phones in prison can be lethal devices that are used to organize inside riots or orchestrate crimes on the outside, they are also being used for leisure activities such as playing FarmVille! Smart phones provide internet access which allow all sorts of communication with the outside world. The incarcerated equipped with smart phones can have access to Facebook accounts, email capabilities and text messaging, not to mention their own piece of virtual land and livestock in FarmVille.

Smuggled cell phones most often enter the prison by guards or other employees, visitors, or incoming prisoners and usually come with a hefty price tag, “ranging from $300 to $1,000, depending on the type of phone and the service plan. Monthly fees are generally paid by inmates’ relatives”.  Most recently, notorious criminal Charles Manson was caught just a few weeks ago hiding a cell phone under his prison mattress.

It’s easy for anyone to get addicted to using their phones or playing FarmVille, but can you imagine if you had nothing else to do and all the time in the world to devote to tending your FarmVille crops? Farming for prisoners is not only fun, it helps pass the time in days filled with boredom. However, farming from your cell comes with a huge risk- since President Obama passed legislation back in August 2010 making possession of illegal cell phones a crime punishable with up to one extra year in prison.

What do you think FarmVille Freaks?

FarmVille Chinese Loading Screen

FarmVille Chinese has officially launched and while the Chinese version is very similar to the original FarmVille as far as fundamental game play and concept, there are some crop exclusives.

Our friends over at AOL’s Games.com investigated the crop exclusivity a little further and here’s what they had to say below.

“At the end of December, we brought you the news that Zynga had launched a new version of FarmVille for Chinese players. While the game appears mostly identical (the games share the same basic gameplay functions, crop prices, and so on), there are actually a few differences to be found, especially where Chinese FarmVille’s crops and trees are concerned.

While the standard version of FarmVille does have more items to offer overall, Chinese FarmVille has four exclusive crops, and one exclusive tree at the time of this writing. We’ve done a little bit of digging and have found out more about these exclusive crops and the exclusive tree, if you’re interested in seeing what our Chinese-speaking friends are experiencing in their version of the game.

FarmVille Chinese Exclusive Crops & Tree

The first crop is the Peony flower, which is the national flower of China, which obviously explains its presence in that version of the game. Based on our research, we believe the second crop to be Ginseng, an ingredient normally found in energy drinks or medicinal teas. The third crop is something called “dong chong xia cao,” which literally translates to “winter worm, summer grass,” but is more commonly known as Caterpillar Fungus. Finally, the mushroom crop is theLingzhi, a medicinal herb found in health supplements. As for the tree, it is known as the Areca Nut Palm, which is found in Asia and the tropical Pacific regions.

FarmVille Chinese Market

Whether or not the original version of FarmVille will ever receive these items as well remains to be seen. However, even if standard FarmVille doesn’t receive these items, it’s still interesting to see what items are being offered for the Chinese-speaking crowd.” (Source: Games.com)

FarmVille Freak Dr. Green Thumb's FarmVille Chinese Farm

Zynga’s latest social game hit, CityVille, has grown so much in popularity among Facebook users that it has now surpassed FarmVille in most monthly active users.

According to App Data CityVille breached the 69 million mark this month, while FarmVille attracted 57 million. Considering CityVille is still a very young one month old, it looks like Zynga has another hit.

FarmVille remains at the top of the leader board for daily active users with 14 million compared to CityVille’s at a strong 13.8 million easily securing the second place spot.

Has Zynga persuaded you to venture off your farm to try out life in the City?

FarmVille Farm Cash

Thank You Zynga! This is what we like to see!!!

As a compensation for its FarmVille players, Zynga has awarded farmers (who have placed a Snowman on their farms) with 20 free farm cash because of problematic issues due to the Snowman feature that has been causing havoc on our farms and causing more “Bah Humbug” than Christmas cheer.

You do not need to do anything special to get the free farm cash. It will automatically be added to your total accumulated farm cash.

FarmVille Snowman Issues & 20 Free Farm Cash

Thoughts? Do you accept Zynga’s farm cash apology?

This week’s FarmVille Freak Farm of the Week goes to FarmVille Freak Quackers the Duck.

He has created a classic hay bale art farm with Zynga’s Zing the Christmas Elf as an inspiration. One word- AmaZING (pun intended).

FarmVille Freak Quackers The Duck's Tribute to Zing Farm (Click to Enlarge)

“Greetings, FarmGoddess

I’ve been playing Farmville since the day it was released and have been following your site since you guys launched it. First of all, I wish to congratulate you guys here at FarmvilleFreak for being such a success and the #1 Farmville fan Site out there. It’s been quite a journey on the farm, Farmville & Farmvillefreak have come a long way.

Second, for well over a year I’ve had the chance to see some pretty awesome farms out there, many of them posted on here as “Farm of the Week” and a lot of them have included hay bale stacking in their designs. The holiday season this year has ruined my mastery oriented farm, and I’ve gone down from 580 Plots to only 4 plots which are now part of my holiday design. This holiday season I was inspired to doing my first ever hay bale art design, a tribute to Zing, the Christmas Elf. Just thought I’d share it with you guys, it might not be the BEST but I think it came out great, even after i couldnt finish his golden hair after reaching the maximum number of items allowed on the farm.

Happy Holidays to all, AND KEEP WARM!
FarmvilleFreak, Quackers The Duck.”

If you think you got what it takes to be our FarmVille Freak Farm of the Week, send your submissions to farmgoddess@farmvillefreak.com

FarmVille Sad Cow

UPDATE: FaceBook is now back up and the poll has been closed!

Breaking News as of 3:30 PM Central US Time.

We have had several reports from FarmVille Freaks that when they try to access FaceBook in order to get to their farms they are greeted with a blank page!

With that being said, FarmVille.com is still loading however, when you try to connect to your farm you will also get a blank screen.

FaceBook Blank Page