Gamezebo
Open main menu
Search

  • Go Go Google Games!
    News
    Go Go Google Games!

    By

    Whoa, that was fast! Today, Google announced the launch of Google Games, with details on how it will work and launch partners.According to the blog post, users will be able click on a games button on top of their Google+ stream to play games, view game updates from friends in your circles, and see the latest games played, invites, and accomplishments.
  • Google’s 5% shot across Facebook’s bow (and why it’s a bad move)
    News
    Google’s 5% shot across Facebook’s bow (and why it’s a bad move)

    By

    According to an interview by Dean Takahashi of Venture Beat with Google executives Bradley Horowitz and Punit Soni, Google will charge game developers 5% for micro-transactions, not 20% as reported by this expert. And, much lower than Facebook's 30% cut.This is great news for game developers launching on Google Games in the short term. And such a stupid move by Google after making all the right moves so far.Why? Because once you start out at a low price, it's very hard to get the number back up without making your partners angry. Just ask Facebook.
  • Does Facebook favor Zynga?
    News
    • Android
    • iOS
    Does Facebook favor Zynga?

    By

    A famous quote from George Orwell's Animal Farm is, "all animals are equal, but some are more equal then others." Based on Dean Takahashi's excellent article in VentureBeat, this is how game developers perceive the relationship between Facebook and Zynga. Whether a special partnership exists or not, according to Takahashi, the mere fact that rumors are swirling will have a huge impact on social gaming in the year to come --- for Zynga, Facebook, and if they play their cards right, Google.
  • Casual Connect Seattle News Round-Up
    News
    • Android
    • iOS
    • PC
    Casual Connect Seattle News Round-Up

    By

    This year at Casual Connect, we had a roving reporter getting the scoops on games coming out this year. We'll post the previews (a lot of them) over the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, here is a news round up on what you may have missed last week at the show!
  • The Games World Goes Freemium at Casual Connect
    News
    • Android
    • iOS
    • PC
    The Games World Goes Freemium at Casual Connect

    By

    Every Casual Connect there is a theme that permeates through the hallways, lecture rooms, and social fests. One year its downloads, next year it's Facebook, iPhone, Android. So what was the phrase repeated time in every conversation at the show? Freemium games.
  • The Facebook games you are not playing yet
    News
    The Facebook games you are not playing yet

    By

    Sean Ryan, the "games" guy at Facebook, gave a presentation on Facebook ecosystem at Casual Connect. According to Sean, social games have "won," given the fact that the only game companies to sell out for a high price (more than $100 million) or going public are social game companies. Citing Zynga, Playfish, Playdom, Open Feint, PopCap Games, he raises a good point. More interestingly, Sean pontificated on the game genres he wish he'd see more of on Facebook.
  • It’s Official: Electronic Arts buys PopCap Games
    News
    • Android
    • iOS
    • PC
    It’s Official: Electronic Arts buys PopCap Games

    By

    Chalk this up as a rumor that turned out to be true. Electronic Arts has acquired PopCap Games for $650 million in cash plus $100 million in stock. This is less than the $1 billion that was initially reported, but there is an earn-out. According to TechCrunch, the earn-out scale is rather huge. If PopCap earnings are $91 million or less within a 2 year period, PopCap does not make anymore money. If earnings end up being $343 million or more, PopCap makes an additional $500 million, making the total acquisition price $1.3 billion!