1）据AllThingsD报道，Zynga日前与云服务TV公司Synacor签署合作协议，将从明年开始把游戏推向基于云服务的电视平台。

Zynga游戏将通过45条电缆、卫星和电信公司分配到2400万户美国家庭，游戏内置虚拟货币也将成为其中的用户订阅内容。

观察者认为这是Zynga进一步摆脱对Facebook依赖性的表现之一，该公司在上周修改了与Facebook合作协议，现在可以更自由地向其他平台发行游戏。

Synacor-Zynga(from vator.tv)

2）据gamezebo报道，独立游戏工作室Amanita Design最近在其Facebook页面发布了一张《机械迷城》游戏主角Josef的毛绒玩具照片，并在其中附上“您想购买这个毛绒玩具吗？”这个问题。

stuffed Josef(from gamezebo)

从该游戏大受欢迎的情况来看，该工作室很可能是在征求粉丝意见，有意效仿Rovio等其他公司推出基于游戏的授权产品。

不过这并非首家推出游戏毛绒玩具的独立开发商，Edmund McMilen过去已推出《TIME FCUK》中Little Steven这一角色的毛绒玩具产品，而《Ninjatown: Trees of Doom》中的小忍者也推出了一系列可收集的毛绒玩具产品。

3）据games.com报道，Zynga日前推出新游戏《The Friend Game》并在Facebook进行测试。

The Friend Game(from games)

该游戏由Zynga纽约工作室开发，这是一款与用户好友有关的问答游戏，玩家能否获胜则需取决于他们有多了解自己的Facebook好友。

在这款异步问答游戏中，玩家要先创建虚拟角色，随着时间发展回答与对方个人生活有关的事情，如果回答正确可以赢得点数，并最终解琐新玩法和个人专用档案。

4）据gamasutra报道，Epic Games总裁Mike Capps日前通过公司博客宣布离职，打算回家专心做个好父亲，但仍将以顾问身份参与Epic事务。

Mike Capps(from gamesindustry.biz)

这是Epic Games今年以来最重大的人事变动，之前离职的重要人物包括前制作总监Rod Fergusson（已加入《生化奇兵》开发商Irrational Games公司）以及《战争机器》核心成员Cliff Bleszinski。

5）据gamasutra报道，手机游戏开发商Jeremy Alessi最近表达了自己对免费增值模式的担忧，他认为现在有大量游戏被淘汰，原因就在于它们实际上只是盈利工具而非游戏。

他称自己在2001年玩过的《光晕》与《合金装备2》都属于令其回味无穷的艺术作品，他最早接触的iOS App Store免费增值游戏是Ngmoco的《Eliminate》，并在其中消费了20美元，但很快就丧失兴趣，也不想在其中消费已经花钱买来的虚拟货币。

Eliminate(from toucharcade.com)

他称由于《Eliminate》的运营模式和玩法相互交织在一起，因而其后端基础设施成本昂贵，而如果这一成本超过了游戏收益，游戏运营也就难以为续了。

6）据gamasutra报道，社交游戏开发商Kabam日前收购中国手机游戏开发商Balanced Worlds（游戏邦注：代表作是《Bomb Buddies》）。

Balanced Worlds(from gamesindustry.biz)

这个17人团队将并入Kabam北京工作室，其目标是扩大Kabam手机游戏业务。

在此之前，其他被Kabam兼并的工作室还包括WonderHill、Fearless Studios、Gravity Bear以及Wild Shadow Studios。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，拒绝任何不保留版权的转载，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

1）Zynga signs cloud TV deal with Synacor

By Matthew Handrahan

Zynga games will be available through connected TVs, in-game currency bundled with subs packages

ZyngaZynga has signed a deal with the cloud TV company Synacor, which will make its games available to as many as 24 million US households with web-based TVs from next year.

According to a report from AllThingsD, Zynga’s games portfolio will be distributed through 45 cable, satellite and telecom companies, with its in-game currency included as part of their subscription deals.

This is part of an ongoing effort to move Zynga’s business away from its reliance on Facebook. Last week, the company amended its agreement with the leading social netork that gave it special privileges in exchange for the exclusivity of more popular titles. As a result, Zynga can now publish its games through competing networks and seek new opportunities with more freedom.（source：gamesindustry）

2）Is a Machinarium plush toy on the way?

By Jim Squires

After Angry Birds proved that cute and cuddly video game characters could be just as cute and cuddly in real life, every notable developer seemed to jump into the plush toy market.  You can buy Cut the Rope stuffies, fluffy Fruit Ninja figures – the list goes on and on. But what about well-loved indie games?  Could they break out of their digital prisons too?

Amanita Design looks like they might be ready to try. On their Facebook page this morning they posted a great image of a stuffed Josef, the lead character from Machinarium.  Along with the image, they asked “Would you buy this plush guy?”

Considering the popularity of Machinarium, it seems safe to say that the collective answer from fans would be “YES!”  And while I wouldn’t expect to see them on the shelves at Toys’R’Us anytime soon, Amanita could see a good deal of success if they decide to sell these through their online store.

They wouldn’t be the first indie developers to delve in the world of plush toys, either.  Edmund McMillen has sold plush versions of TIME FCUK’s ‘Little Steven’ in the past, and the little ninjas in Ninjatown: Trees of Doom actually started life as a series of collectible plushies.

Here’s to hoping this is the real deal and not just a teaser of some fan-made fluffy friend.  After all, if Amanita are getting into the toy game with Machinarium, could Botanicula toys be far behind?（source：gamezebo）

3）Sneak Peek: The Friend Game is Zynga’s way of getting back to basics

by Joe Osborne

Aside from FarmVille, Zynga’s most iconic and ubiquitous games are based on gaming staples (e.g. Words With Friends and Draw Something). With The Friend Game, a brand new game that’s currently in beta testing on Facebook, Zynga seems hopeful to create some of that ubiquity on its own. (Both Draw Something and Words With Friends were products of acquisitions.)

Developed by Zynga New York, a source familiar with the matter tells us, The Friend Game is little more than a trivia game involving your friends on its face. But give the game a few rounds more, and it quickly becomes clear why this could be the next big thing in social gaming much like Draw Something was earlier this year. You see, The Friend Game is a trivia game that focuses on how well you know your Facebook friends.

Players create an avatar and, over time, answer questions about themselves to reveal facts ranging from terribly personal to everyday factoids. Of course, players gain points and level up for answering questions correctly, which notifies those friends to keep the gears turning. Eventually, you’ll unlock new play modes and personality profiles. So, an asynchronous trivia game–no big deal right?

Most social games are single-player experiences with either asynchronous or synchronous multiplayer, and The Friend Game certainly fits in the former bucket. But what’s most interesting about The Friend Game is that it has tons of potential as a couch multiplayer, with a group of friends hanging around the laptop, answering questions about each other or their mutual buddies.

Frankly, this would make a brilliant tablet game to simulate a board game experience. But even as a Facebook game, The Friend Game could very well be the next Words With Friends when Zynga decides to formally launch it, thanks to its intuitive, beautifully simple design. We’ll have more on The Friend Game, including a full review, soon enough. （source：games）

4）Epic Games president retires to be a dad

By Kris Graft

Epic Games president Mike Capps is stepping away from his 10-year role for a new venture: fatherhood.

Writing on his company’s blog, Capps says that he’ll remain involved with Epic in an advisory role, but he’s retiring from his presidential seat.

It’s the latest high-profile (amicable) departure from Epic Games this year, which saw the departure of production director Rod Fergusson, who joined BioShock house Irrational Games, and Gears of War lead Cliff Bleszinski.

All of these departures followed a big investment from Chinese online giant Tencent, it may be worth mentioning.

“After dedicating a decade of my life to Epic, and with so many close friends here, it’s impossible to just walk away. I absolutely love this company,” he said in a statement.

The Epic veteran and his wife are expecting a baby boy, and he said his plans include being a stay at home dad for a while, “cleaning up baby barf,” and possibly doing some teaching, writing and philanthropic work.

Capps expressed confidence that Epic execs Paul Meegan, VP of development, and John Farnsworth, VP operations could pick up where he leaves off.

“I’ll continue to be available as a resource to Epic, to provide context or advice where I can. Whatever I can do to help in Epic’s success.”

Epic’s business is in a state of flux, as the company transitions to support next generation game hardware with its upcoming Unreal Engine 4. It recently expanded with a Seattle-based location dedicated to engine development.

Epic’s other recent expansion moves include new Maryland-based game development house Impossible Studios, and the outright purchase of Poland Bulletstorm developer People Can Fly. The company has locations in North Carolina, Washington, Utah, Maryland, Poland, Korea and Japan. （source：gamasutra）

5）The sad fate of the free-to-play game

By Staff

“There are now literally thousands of examples of games that have been eliminated from the current generation of games because they are merely revenue vehicles.”

- Mobile developer Jeremy Alessi in a new Gamasutra feature on the perils of free-to-play.

Do we have to worry about the elimination of an art form? Alessi writes that free-to-play games are disappearing in a way that their forefathers did not.

In 2001, Alessi played Halo and Metal Gear Solid 2 — and, as he writes, “both were works of art that I can appreciate as much today as I did over a decade ago.”

However, the first free-to-play game on the iOS App Store that caught his attention was Ngmoco’s Eliminate.

“I played and enjoyed Eliminate,” Alessi writes. “I even tried out out the new in-app purchase system and spent $20 on the game. I was enthralled at the possibilities of our latest technologies, just like every other developer. I looked at Eliminate as something to aspire to. Was it art to me like Halo or MGS2? Maybe — but unlike Halo and MGS2, I can no longer play Eliminate, and I never got to enjoy the in-game currency I purchased.

“Due to the fact that Eliminate’s business model and gameplay were entangled, it required an expensive backend infrastructure to run. Once that infrastructure’s cost exceeded the game’s income, Eliminate disappeared,” Alessi writes.（source：gamasutra）

6）Kabam fuels Chinese mobile expansion with new acquisition

By Mike Rose

As part of social game developer Kabam’s move into the Chinese mobile games market, the company has acquired Bomb Buddies studio Balanced Worlds.

The team of 17 will be merged into Kabam’s existing Beijing studio, with the aim to expand Kabam’s mobile offerings beyond the strategy games it is most well-known for.

This is the latest in a string of studio acquisitions by Kabam. Other companies that have been merged into Kabam’s operations include WonderHill, Fearless Studios, Gravity Bear, and Wild Shadow Studios. （source：gamasutra）