Games Get Real, BaZynga!
Anytime I can drop a reference to the show The Big Bang Theory, I will. That shouldn’t surprise you. However, you might find it surprising that Zynga, the cyber parent of Farmville, is worth $4 billion.
Zynga took over the social media scene like an uninvited relative, both unexpectedly and annoying at times. Wherever we went on Facebook, there it was. Many of us have since moved on from Farmville, and Zynga knows it. That’s why they’ve launched Frontierville, the electronic lovechild of Farmville and Oregon Trail. You know this type of game, it’s the kind where you can play at your leisure and have moderate entertainment, but are too embarrassed to tell anyone you use it.
With the arrival Frontierville, we can finally put Farmville to rest…or at least think we can. Zynga is answering the drop in Farmville (252 MM to 216 MM in two months) by releasing Frontierville. The company’s large reach, which was built by Farmville, is responsible for the recent success. That is, the launch of Frontierville has been the most successful of social media gaming to date. When you get down to the basics, Frontierville is essentially the same game.
Zynga is becoming so successful that they are now merchandising/advertising outside of social media. For the period of June/July, their games will be featured on 7-Eleven cups. This is a monumental shift in how social media is becoming part of our society. It’s the first social media gaming product to have a physical presence in retail. While the company is busy trailblazing for social media games, it’s difficult to say whether they are a fad or not. Time will tell.
Do you play any of these games or is it for the birds? Are you on Frontierville? If you answer yes, I won’t tell your boss…
Hit us back…
Post on our Facebook wall at Welt Branding
Tweet us at WeltBrand
Or join our LinkedIn group at Welt Branding: Challenge Everything
