1）亚洲支付服务公司MOL Global最新调查发现，多数新加坡Facebook用户并不熟悉如何在社交游戏中使用虚拟货币购买道具，但了解情况后就会很乐于付诸行动。

在1221名受访者中，约有半数人表示自己不从来没听过虚拟货币这一概念，还有30%表示自己没用过虚拟货币，仅有25%自称使用过虚拟货币。在问到是否可能使用虚拟货币时，1513名受访者中约有48%表示自己不会去用虚拟货币，40%表示如果安全简便，他们就会使用，15%表示希望得到一些虚拟货币购买道具。

在3104名受访者中，有72%表示自己不曾为在线游戏付费，18%表示有可能为其掏钱，仅10%曾付费玩游戏。

在这些付费游戏玩家中，有1187名受访者分享了其选择的支付方式，有41%选择预付卡，33%选择信用卡，26%选择手机支付。

在2133名透露每月Facebook游戏开销的受访者中，83%表示自己每月消费低于20美元，9%称超过50美元，8%消费额介于20至50美元。

Facebook Credtis(from omeoo.com)

其他调查结果包括：

是否会为社交游戏付费（683名受访者）：43%称如果能获得更多乐趣就会付费；39%为了获得更好的游戏体验而付费；18%称假如游戏虚拟货币购买方便就会掏钱。

购买游戏虚拟货币的原因（416名受访者）：50%为了得到独特的游戏道具；31%为了获得额外的游戏奖品；19%为了参与幸运抽奖。

购买游戏虚拟货币的用途（1101名受访者）：31%为获得独特道具；17%为了快速升级，52%两种用途皆有。

曾为哪种在线游戏付费（930名受访者）：16%为Facebook上的其他游戏（排除Zynga游戏）付费，10%为Zynga游戏买单；74%从未付费玩游戏。

是否使用Facebook Credits（3657名受访者）：45%不使用Facebook Credits，41%已使用Facebook Credtis，14%从未听说过Facebook Credits。

Facebook Credits的用途（753名受访者）：37%会用其购买商品和服务，22%用于慈善目的，41%两种用途皆有。

2）布宜诺斯艾利斯软件服务供应商Globant日前宣布收购旧金山手机及社交游戏开发商Nextive。Nextive现有130名成员，曾与Crowdstar、GSN和Zynga等公司合作，为其提供质量检验、游戏设计和工程管理等服务，被收购后的Nextive将与EA、迪士尼、索尼、LikedIn和谷歌等Globant客户进行合作。

3）据games.com报道，世界最大流行电玩奖项庆典之一的“金摇杆奖”（游戏邦注：Golden Joystick Awards，今年举办时间为10月21日，地点是伦敦Westminster Bridge Park Plaza饭店）今年将针对免费游戏推出新奖项。

joystick (from games.com)

《CityVille》、《Empires & Allies》、《FIFA Superstars》和《祖玛闪电战》等Facebook游戏已获得公众的不少投票支持率，但很难说会不会从《英雄联盟》和《RuneScape》等多款MMO游戏中突围。

4）据Kotaku报道，从前EA Sports成员Mark Turmell（曾参与制作《NBA Jam》系列体育游戏）加入Zynga团队的情况来看，Zynga有可能借其之力进军体育类社交游戏领域。Turmell从2009年开始在EA Sports的Tiburon工作室就职，曾协助推出了90年代风格的街机游戏Smash TV和NFL Blitz，他是EA Tiburon工作室创意总监。

最近几个月EA成员出走的现象并不鲜见，例如前EA首席文化总监John Schappert最近就加入Zynga，前EA免费游戏开发商Easy Studios成员Ben Cousins也进入了Ngmoco公司的瑞典工作室。

5）《Moster Fusion》是一款由日本Headlock公司开发，并通过Tetris Online发行的怪物搜集角色扮演游戏。它是Tetris Online向Facebook平台发行的第三款日式RPG游戏，在6月面世后面曾于7月底在Facebook新晋游戏榜单露面。据AppData数据显示，该游戏目前的MAU是31万4809，DAU是3万9993。

Monster Fusion(from insidesocialgames)

玩家可以使用虚拟货币购买Gacha机器制造出各种各样的怪物，这些机器包括金银铂三种类型，怪物也因机器类型而划分为普通、罕见和稀有三大类。游戏三大任务包括工作、故事和战争，参与战争任务需支付战争积分，而工作任务只需摁下动作按钮即可完成，故事任务要求玩家与不同角色和人物会面，制造出一段故事。

该游戏的独特之处在于“融合”功能，玩家首先选择一只基本怪物，然后再添加二级怪物，以及通过玩游戏或购买得到的融合材料，培养出一只拥有两者威力的新怪物。

6）GameHouse推出的《Collapse! Blast》是一款根据其原版游戏《Collapse!》改制的连线消除游戏，于7月中旬在Facebook平台发布，并进入了上周五的发展最快的Facebook游戏榜单。

Collapse-Blast(from insidesocialgames)

据AppData数据显示，该游戏目前MAU是64万7036，DAU是10万7712。玩家在游戏中若已耗尽红心能量，就可以向也在体验这款游戏的好友请求帮助，该游戏还支持玩家向好友赠送礼物，并设置了一个积分排行榜，向显示玩家当前得分，以及好友之间的排名情况。如果玩家以高分获胜，还可以通过病毒传播渠道与其他好友分享。

该游戏主要通过贩售升级道具以及额外红心来盈利，据称GameHouse还将继续更新该游戏，添加新游戏机制和额外的升级功能。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

1）REPORT: Singapore Is Slow To Pay For Facebook Games

by David Cohen

Facebook users in Singapore don’t really understand how to use virtual currency to buy premium items in social games, but seem willing to experiment after learning more about the concept.

That comes from a new study by the Asian payment processor MOL Global

In MOL’s Singapore Social Gaming 2011 Poll Report, nearly half of the 1,221 respondents to the question, “Would you use virtual currency?” said they had never heard of it. Another 30 percent said no and only 25 percent responded positively.

When presented as, “I am likely to use virtual currency if…,” 48 percent of the 1,513 respondents to this question. said they still would not use it; 40 percent said they would do so if it was safe and easy to use, and 15 percent wanted the virtual currency to pay for a range of items.

Pay To Play

And out of 3,104 people that responded to the question of whether they’d pay for online game credits, 72 percent said no, 18 percent said maybe, and only 10 percent said yes.

Turning to respondents who actually do pay for online games, of 1,187 people who shared their preferred online payment method, 41 percent chose prepaid cards, 33 percent went with credit cards, and 26 percent chose mobile payments.

Of the 2,133 who revealed the amount they spend monthly on Facebook games, 83 percent dish out less than $20, nine percent said more than $50, and eight percent admitted to $20 to $50.

Here are six more related questions from the survey, and their answers:

I will pay for social games (683 respondents): 43 percent to make them fun, 39 percent to play better, and 18 percent if it is easy to buy game credits.

I purchase more game credits for (416): 50 percent exclusive in-game items, 31 percent bonus game credits, and 19 percent lucky draw.

I buy online game credits to (1,101): 31 percent get exclusive in-game items, 17 percent to quickly move up one level, and 52 percent both.

I have purchased online games from (930): 16 percent other games on Facebook, 10 percent Zynga games, and 74 percent have never paid.

I have used Facebook Credits (3,657): 45 percent no, 41 percent yes, 14 percent had not heard of them.

I would use Facebook Credits to (753):  37 percent buy products and services, 22 percent donate to charity, and 41 percent both. （source:allfacebook）

2）Social/Mobile Game Developer Service Provider Nextive Acquired by Globant

By AJ Glasser

Globant, a Buenos Aires-based software service provider, announced the acquisition of San Francisco-based social and mobile game developer service Nextive today for an undisclosed sum.

Nextive claims to have worked with the likes of Crowdstar, GSN and Zynga, providing services that range from basic quality assurance testing to full game design and engineering. As part of Globant, Nextive will head up the company’s mobile studio and increase its reach in North America. In a statement sent out via press release, Nextive CEO Andrew Burgert says he looks forward to working with Globant’s existing clients, which include EA, Disney, Sony, Linkedin and Google.

Globant recently made headlines by landing $15 million in financing from Riverwood Capital and FTV Capital. The company provides clients with software products designed in a mix of open source and proprietary software. With the Nextive acquisition, the company broadens its portfolio to include mobile and social game development.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Nextive’s 130 employees will join Globant staff in San Francisco, Buenos Aires and Cordoba.（source:insidesocialgames）

3）Facebook games to hit the red carpet at 2011 Golden Joystick Awards

by Joe Osborne

This year, you may see CityVille Sam strutting or the Zuma Blitz frog hopping along the red carpet at the 2011 Golden Joystick Awards on Oct. 21 at the Westminster Bridge Park Plaza in London. (OK, probably not, but that would be seriously awesome.) Future, hosts of the awards for 29 years running, have teamed up with UK games magazine GamesMaster this time around and have introduced a new category: free-to-play games.

More importantly, there is a number of Facebook games on the list that could win the coveted honor of Free-to-play Game of the Year. CityVille, Empires & Allies, FIFA Superstars and Zuma Blitz have all been put up for a vote by the public starting now. However, they’re beset on all sides by plenty more free-to-play MMOs (massively multiplayer online games) like the popular League of Legends, RuneScape and Champions Online among eight others.

Everyone knows that Facebook games are popular. But it’s only recently that they have been publicly recognized at large media events. For instance, FarmVille and social other games scored nominations at this year’s Webby Awards, while a number of upcoming social games like Sims Social and MargaritaVille were featured at this year’s E3. (Even a game about illegal farming was nominated for an award recently.) So, consider this a call to action. （source:games）

4）NBA Jam creator splits EA for Zynga; next stop, BasketballVille?

by Joe Osborne

With Zynga, anything is possible. Come on, it made a mini game called PrivacyVille. Kotaku reports that Mark Turmell (pictured), creator of the legendary NBA Jam series of arcade-style basketball games that were recently revisited on the Wii and other consoles, has left EA Sports and joined the creator of FarmVille. (However, no sources have been cited.) And considering his extensive track record with entertaining sports games with wide appeal, Zynga might intend on entering the sports genre with Turmell.

Turmell had been with EA Sports at its Tiburon studio since 2009 and also helped bring iconic games like the ’90s arcade game Smash TV and NFL Blitz, another arcade-style sports game. Turmell was senior creative director at EA Tiburon in Orlando, Fla., and while his Linkedin profile has yet to be updated with the new position, his departure is official. “We appreciate Mark’s contribution to Tiburon and EA Sports and wish him well in future endeavors,” an EA spokesman told Kotaku.

A number of EA employees have reportedly left the company in recent months for ventures in social gaming. Former EA CCO John Schappert has left the company for Zynga, and former EA CCO Bing Gordon has invested in the monolithic company. Ben Cousins of EA’s free-to-play developer Easy Studios left the company for Ngmoco’s (owned by Japanese gaming giant DeNA) new Sweden studio. （source:games）

5）Monster Fusion Brings a Twist to the Facebook Collection Genre

By Carolyn Koh

Monster Fusion is a monster collection role-playing game developed by Headlock, Inc. of Japan and published by Tetris Online. This is the third Japanese style RPG game that Tetris Online has published on Facebook after Lost Trails and Monster Fantasy. Monster Fusion launched in June and first made our list of top 20 emerging Facebook games in late July.

According to our data tracking service AppData, Monster Fusion currently has over 314,809 monthly active users and over 39,993 daily active users.

In Monster Fusion, players create monsters by paying soft currency for Gacha machines that generate different types of monster depending on machine type. The machine types range from silver, gold and platinum; the monster types are common, uncommon and rare. Each machine has the chance to produce higher level monsters. With up to a team of three monsters, players can participate in quests by paying quest points or combat by paying battle points.

There are three types of quests: Job, Story, and Battle. Note that a Battle Quest is separate from the Battle multiplayer mode that requires the use of battle points. Job consists of pressing an action button to complete a task while Story has the player meeting various characters and types of monsters as part of a narrative. Battle quests are scenarios where the computer pits your team of monsters against another team in a combat simulation.

The Battle mode differs from the Battle Quests by pitting players against one another. Like the quest version, the only actual action a player takes during battle is selecting an opponent. There are currently no penalties for losing a Battle.

The “fusion” part of Monster Fusion is a distinguishing feature of the game. Players complete the process by first selecting a base monster, then a secondary monster and a fusion material obtained through gameplay or purchase. Once all components are selected, the fusion process produces a new monster that improves on the base monsters’ attributes.

Outside the quests, combat and fusion, players create an avatar and monsters that roam around a virtual “ranch.” Players are free to decorate the ranch, but they must also clean it and feed the monsters as gameplay objectives. Visiting other players’ ranches is the primary form of social feature in Monster Fusion; the game rewards players with premium currency for a first-time visit to a friend’s ranch for the first 10 friends a player visits.（source:insidesocialgames）

6）Collapse! Blast for Facebook Is A Chip Off An Old Block

By Randy Nelson

GameHouse’s Collapse! Blast for Facebook is a match-3 puzzle game built as a follow-up to the developer’s original title, Collapse!, which has seen multiple releases on casual games portals. The style of gameplay very likely inspired other Facebook games in the genre such as Wooga’s Diamond Dash. Collapse! Blast launched in mid July and topped our list of fastest-growing Facebook games last Friday.

According to our traffic tracking service AppData, Collapse! Blast currently has 647,036 monthly active users and 107,712 daily active users.

Should the player exhaust their heart supply, they can request one heart from each friend they have playing the game. Players can also send a gift of one heart to those friends. The game has a scoreboard that displays the player’s current high score and ranking versus their friends. Accomplishments such as leveling up and beating a personal high score can be shared via viral channels for friends to see.

Collapse! Blast is monetized through the sale of power-ups and additional hearts, should players not wish to wait for them to refill over time or ask friends to gift them. Some power-ups become available for use once players reach a certain level, or can be bought at any time using Facebook Credits. The social network’s default currency can are also be used to buy hearts and a soft currency that players accumulate through play. The soft currency can be used to purchase power-ups.

GameHouse has issued several updates to the core game since it went live last month, in an effort to address bugs and gameplay balance. As it stands, the game contains several “coming soon” placeholders, for what appears to be a new game mechanic and some additional power-ups. GameHouse could not be reached as of posting time to shed more light on its future plans for the game.（source:insidesocialgames）