Knight's Story on Facebook: Treasure Isle goes medieval

Knight's Story, developed by Anute, tells two stories at once. First, it's a story of a knight who inherits a castle estate and explores the land he rules. Second, this is a retelling of the classic yarn, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Playing this brand new social game for even a few minutes will reveal that it has been heavily influenced by games like Zynga's Treasure Isle. In Knight's Story, the first Facebook game I've ever seen created using Microsoft's Silverlight (a Flash competitor), players explore various tracks of land through a grid system in which each tile explored costs a point of Energy. Sound familiar?


The similarities don't stop there, though Anute does attempt to expand on this tried and true game style. Upon logging into the game, players can customize their knight and its mighty steed with a variety of options. But it isn't until you receive your deed to the castle estate that Knight's Story begins to brag a little. The only way to complete the deed is to sign it--literally. You must use your mouse to click and drag the feather pen as if you were truly writing your signature. It's certainly nothing new when it comes to what's capable in Flash or Silverlight, but it's possibly a first in social games. Regardless, it's entertaining touches like these that almost set Knight's Story apart from the rest of the treasure-discovery games on Facebook.

Gallery: Knight's Story


Unfortunately, the defining characteristics essentially stop there. The game drudges along, employing tactics and interactions we've already seen before, and not done in a way that is particularly engaging. While you will come across new characters along the way, it seems that their purpose doesn't go beyond a short quest such as, "Kill this boar for me, please?"

Speaking of which, the combat in Knight's Story is almost insultingly simplistic. Of course, conflicts with wildlife are settled through turn-based battles in which you have three options: Strike, Bribe and Run Away. The fact that you can already imagine how battles pan out doesn't exactly spell excitement, does it? (Bribery uses coins to convince a monster to leave, by the way.) You can imagine even the most casual of gamers being bored by pressing the sword icon repeatedly.

Knight's Story combat
At least exploration in Knight's Story has a purpose: to build your castle town into a vast kingdom. The materials you find on your travels (and receive from your friends as gifts) are used to complete the buildings you create. These buildings provide you with coins and other tools daily to help you in your travels, creating a balance of nature hikes and home improvement. Unfortunately, there isn't anything terribly exciting about building your kingdom, which will likely lead you to explore more than build.

Knight's Story doesn't do much to distance itself from games like Treasure Isle aside from its theme, but some of those differentiations are glowing. Take the music, for instance. While it does play on a loop like all social games, the tune to this game sounds fuller and better produced than most Facebook games, something we should see more of across the board. For those who adored Treasure Isle and are looking for something new, this is your bread and butter. But if you're seeking a new experience on Facebook (like myself), you likely won't find it traversing tiles and slaying inanimate boars.

Click here to try Knight's Story on Facebook Now>

Have you played Knight's Story yet? What do you think of Anute's approach to the treasure-hunting genre of Facebook games?

Cafe World Feeding the Faire Goals: Everything you need to know

Whether you are part of the majority that thinks Zynga needs to slow down on Cafe World goal and Catering Order releases, or if you're always ready and willing to take on more of a challenge, there's a new set of eight goals that has now been added to your virtual plate. The annual Street Faire is this week, requiring you to cook a variety of dishes, and ask for plenty of items from friends with the overall goal being to unlock new dishes for your cookbook in the end. Here's a guide to get you through.

Note: This is one of those goal series that requires each user to cook different dishes. That being the case, we have just listed the amount of servings you will need to serve in your own cafe, as there's no way for us to predict what each individual user will need to cook. In the end, your overall cooking time should even out with that of your fellow players, so everyone will wind up "equal" in the end.

Feeding the Faire 1

    Ask for 5 Party Favors
    Serve 25 Random Dishes
    Serve 20 Random Dishes


Again, the dishes you specifically have to cook will be different of that of your neighbors. As a particular example, my own cafe has be serving 25 Irish Stews and 20 Gem Cakes, but your own requirements will vary. Regardless of the dishes you're asked to cook, just remember to keep checking your gift box for any extra servings you can use to speed the process along.

Feeding the Faire 2

    Ask for 6 Red Plastic Cups
    Serve 30 Random Dishes
    Ask for 8 Lemon Slices


For all of these "ask for" requirements, you'll need to send out requests for help from your friends to help you along. For finishing this particular goal, you'll receive the new Sloppy Joes recipe as a reward.

Feeding the Faire 3

    Ask for 7 BBQ Sauce
    Master Sloppy Joes to Level 1
    Ask for 7 Paper Napkins


Feeding the Faire 4

    Ask for 6 Basketballs
    Serve 50 Random Rishes
    Ask for 6 High Tops


Feeding the Faire 5

    Serve 30 Random Dishes
    Ask for 8 Chicken Breasts
    Serve 30 Random Dishes


For finishing this goal, you'll receive the Breaded Chicken Sandwich.
Feeding the Faire 6

    Serve 30 Pastrami on Rye
    Ask for 6 Wristbands
    Spice 5 of your own Dishes


For this particular goal, things become a bit more complicated. It looks like you'll need to cook 30 Pastrami on Rye, that is prepared on the Sandwich Counter specifically, but whether or not this dish will be random, or will always be Pastrami on Rye remains to be seen. We'll look into things, and will let you know if it is indeed different.

Feeding the Faire 7

    Ask for 8 Pie Servers
    Serve 30 Random Dishes
    Ask for 9 Pie Tins


Finishing this goal gives you your third recipe for this goal set: Strawberry Pie. You'll need to cook all three of your rewards here in the final goal.

Feeding the Faire 8

    Master Sloppy Joes to Level 2
    Master Breaded Chicken Sandwich to Level 1
    Master Strawberry Pie to Level 1


Unfortunately, this is another of those goal series that heavily relies on asking your friends for help, rather than on tasks that you can complete on your own (like visiting your friends' cafes, or trying their daily specials). Still, if you like collecting every dish in the game, you'll need to power your way through these sooner or later to fill in the holes. Good luck!

[Via: Official Cafe World Forums]

What do you think of these Feeding the Faire Goals? What sorts of dishes were you required to cook for these goals? Do you like goals that ask each user to cook a different set of dishes, or do you wish you knew exactly what to do before the goals launched?

Put your sports smarts to the test in AccuScore's SKL on Facebook

At least one football game viewing party has ended in heated debate that results in beers thrown and tables flipped. (Just me?) Now, it's time to settle the score of "who knows the most" with SKL, a new sports trivia game for Facebook. Well, at least it sounds like it could settle scores on paper--it might just make things worse.

Sports forecasting company AccuScore's first Facebook game, SKL will have players sign in-game contracts and advance through the ranks of sports know-how in both American college football, the NFL and the English Premier League. These tests of knowledge take place in three unique mini games like Buzzer Beater, which has players answer as many stat-based questions about their favorite teams correctly.

Another game, 4Cast, sees players use in-game currency to buy cards that represent predictions in statistics beyond just winning and losing. Finally, Challenge Mode pits up to five friends against one another in a trivia race against the clock. Of course, SKL features leaderboards to track friends' progress compared to your own--it is a contest for the top spot, after all.
SKL Buzzer Beater
However, there is also a global leaderboard to consider, and players will get to make predictions on upcoming games in their football of choice. As players progress, they'll gain power-ups to help in trivia games and predictions. Think of the Predictor feature in games like Madden NFL Superstars and World Series Superstars by EA, but blown up into an entire game. For the folks who actually buy the Sports Almanacs annually, this game could be for you.

Click here to play SKL on Facebook Now >

Do you plan on putting your sports to the test in this new social game? What do you think of sports-based Facebook games, and trivia games in general?

Beekin looks to make social games that raise $1 million for nonprofits

Social game giants like Zynga and EA raise a good amount of money for disaster relief and other charities during events. But what if that in-game event never ended? That's what former lawyer and entrepreneur Michael Fox hopes to make possible with Beekin, his upcoming New York-based social games project. According to TriplePundit, Fox hopes to raise $1 million for nonprofits in the company's first year.

While no games were announced or detailed, the company hopes to bake an infrastructure for helping nonprofits meet their goals directly into each game. "They're the FarmVille of philanthropy," Beekin founder Micheal Fox told TriplePundit. While TriplePundit says that Fox's goal of $1 million raised for nonprofits within a year is reasonable, citing the $1.3 billion the social games industry made in 2010.

However, there is an issue of exposure. Even with changes to the Ticker and other enhancements to game discovery, it's more difficult than ever to gain traction on Facebook. Well, Fox and Beekin have a plan for that: Every social game created by Beekin will be supported by a four-pillar system: major brand support, celebrity endorsements, nonprofit interest and motivated players that become aware of the social ills each game is trying to correct.

We're not too keen on that last one, but Fox's primary company, Humanitainment, has access to immense celebrity resources. If hip hop icons Kanye West and Common showed their support for the company's New Life Project, then perhaps Fox can rally other celebrities and brands to get behind Beekin. The most daunting challenge facing Beekin is whether it can create social games that can spur players to pay up.

What was your favorite social game (or social game campaign) for social good so far? Do you think these types of social games have potential to make a difference?

Lunchtime Poll: Should Facebook games have content ratings?

Facebook games have always generally skewed toward an older audience than most console, mobile and handheld games. But recently more social game makers have taken that to heart, creating games that are clearly for adult audiences. While there are numerous games that we could list, two recent releases come to mind.

First, UK-based Internet security blogger Charles Conway recently pegged EA and Playfish's The Sims Social for allowing underage players to have cyber sex through the game's WooHoo feature. While The Sims has always skewed more toward older audiences, it's far from "adults only." But we'll reserve whether the two companies should further censor the game for another debate. Second is Ecko|Code's Dexter Slice of Life, which quite literally allows players to act out as Dexter--ritualistic murders and all.

Games like these have led this writer to wonder, "Is it time for Facebook games to have content ratings?" Look, there's no debate as to whether a sizable amount of Facebook game releases have been more adult in the last year. And banning them is likely out of the question for Facebook. (And, in respect of freedom of expression, this guy right here.) So, perhaps it's time to introduce an enforceable ratings system for social games. But we want to know what you, the readers, think:

Should Facebook games have enforceable content ratings?
Absolutely! This should be done at the very least.Never! That would limit game creators' rights to expression.I don't think that's enough.I don't even care about console game ratings.
VoteView ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com

Have something unique to add to the discussion?

Take-Two taking the 'wait-and-see' approach with social games

So, basically, don't expect Grand Theft Auto on Facebook anytime soon. In a recent earnings call, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick announced that the company would be taking a new approach to their future gaming lineup, to remove their "dependence" on Grand Theft Auto. As reported by Edge, Zelnick has announced that the company is "focused on building new franchises. For example, you can look at what Red Dead Redemption did for us in our last fiscal year." If that means that more Red Dead Redemption games are in the works, I'm definitely all for it - but wait! Does this diversification of Take-Two's approach mean we'll see the company branching into social games? I wouldn't count on it.

Zelnick commented on social gaming juggernaut Zynga, stating that their games were far too different, when compared to the titles produced by Take-Two. "The business Zynga's in has only been around for about four years," he said. "Playing Zynga titles doesn't scratch the same itch as playing Grand Theft Auto - that's a dynamic that doesn't change in the videogame business."

Does that mean Take-Two thinks their games are better, or simply different? With other hardcore game developers already jumping into the Facebook game pool (Ubisoft and EA, as examples), it would only make sense for Take-Two to dive in as well, but it doesn't look like the company has any interest in doing so. At most, they've only confirmed that they're "keeping an eye" on other platforms, like mobile. Either way, it leaves us to wonder: if Take-Two does eventually warm up to the Facebook gaming idea, will it be too little, too late? Only time will tell.

Would you play a Grand Theft Auto Facebook game? How about a game based on Red Dead Redemption? Sound off in the comments.

THQ reorganization places major focus on social games

With just 9,000 monthly active users across its entire catalog of Facebook games (according to AppData), it's easy to say that THQ has plenty of climbing left to do to make a stand in the social space. With its upcoming MargaritaVille Online game for Facebook, it's clear that THQ has seen the light, but that light might turn into a giant beacon after the company's recent reorganization.

In a recent press release, THQ announced that the company will place its focus into four major digital areas, one of which is social gaming. In fact, the social gaming space actually comes in at number two on the four-part list (number one being an increased focus on established IP like Saints Row). In terms of social games, the company wishes to "create a critical mass of users on social media platforms such as Facebook and mobile platforms, including iOS and Android(TM), using THQ-owned or branded content, such as the upcoming fall release of Margaritaville(R) Online, based on Jimmy Buffett's popular brand."

So what does this mean for the end-user? If I had to make an educated guess, I'd wager that we'll likely see a slew of side-games released on the service in the same way as EA's Dragon Age: Legends was released; that is, games that tie-in to the console versions of THQ's new titles, offering players incentive to play the Facebook game as well. Of course, if MargaritaVille takes off, we could see plenty of other branded or at least original titles released in the future as well. If anything, it almost seems as though THQ is dedicated enough to the social gaming space to throw tons of games at the wall and see which ones stick. Either way, we'll make sure to keep track of THQ's continued social gaming efforts, and will bring you all of the news on MargaritaVille as soon as we know more.

Which THQ franchises would you like to see given social games? Would you play social games on Facebook if you were given items back in the console games as rewards? Sound off in the comments.

Baseball Superstars: The League goes for a grand slam on Facebook

Just in time for the playoff season in the states (Philadelphia NL East Champs! ... sorry), Gamevil has released its very own baseball simulator on Facebook, Baseball Superstars: The League. The Korean and Los Angeles-based developer best known for the Zenonia series of RPGs (role-playing games) on the iPhone released this social version of its hit baseball sims on iOS.

Of course, EA Sports and Playfish have already staked their claim to the sub genre on Facebook with World Series Superstars, but already Gamevil has one thing going for it: global multiplayer. That's right, once you choose your team's name, logo and specialty between Power, Accuracy and Speed, you can jump into games immediately with anyone playing the game.

While you will certainly need Facebook friends to play in Exhibition games, those looking for a fast and easy Quick Play game, the world's digital baseball managers await you. There's also a Home Run Derby mode as well as full-blown tournaments, which are coming soon. And the gameplay is surprisingly interactive, having players actually swing at pitches with clicks.
Baseball Superstars Logo
Baseball Superstars features a full-blown pitching system as well, in which players select from a variety of pitches and choose exactly where they land in or around the strike zone. There are also a number of commands you can give to base runners to attempt to steal bases. All in all, this looks like an impressively full-featured baseball game on Facebook at launch.
While much of the game has players tweaking their stadiums like most sports games on Facebook, it's the actually Quick Plays and Exhibition games that are the meat and potatoes of Baseball Superstars, and what could make this game a competitor to existing social sports games. "It builds upon our years of strategic advances in the global games market, and shows that we can adapt and offer a unique yet competitive social games experience," VP and head of Gamevil USA Kyu Lee said in a release.
Baseball Superstars gameplay
Baseball Superstars is just Gamevil's second release on Facebook after Train City, which didn't do so hot, according to AppData. Considering the hype train that is US baseball in September and October, baseball fans (the closet Facebook game-loving ones, at least) are going to be on the hunt for a new experience on Facebook.

And it looks like Gamevil will be there to meet them with a Facebook game that actually focuses on, you know, the baseball? Hey, the second time can still be a charm, too, right?

Click here to play Baseball Superstars: The League on Facebook Now >

Have you tried this new baseball Facebook game yet? What do you think of Gamevil's second entry into the Facebook game space, and what about their existing iOS games? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment

Social game makers Gree, DeNA to take spotlight at Tokyo Game Show

Social games will go toe to toe with the hardcore scene at this year's Tokyo Game Show, Reuters reports. Gree, the 26 million player-strong mobile and social games creator hailing from Japan, will have one of the largest booths at Japan's equivalent of E3 this year, according to Reuters. In fact, both Gree and its competitor DeNA will conduct keynote addresses at the event, which runs Sept. 15 through 18.

Reuters reports that several game companies aside from DeNA and Gree, including famed creator of games like Contra and Castlevania (some of the most hardcore franchises around) Konami, are shifting resources toward social games. While the biggest Japanese games company, Nintendo, lags behind as it continues to focus on games created deliberately to take advantage of its hardware. Unfortunately, that hasn't been working out so well for the company as of late.

"Nintendo has done some pretty awful things - no software, poor pricing, poor PR, no sign of a sustainable turnaround, software support dropping like flies," JP Morgan analyst Hiroshi Kamide told Reuters, referring to the failed 3DS launch (and resultant massive price drop).

On the other hand, competitor Konami recently welcomed over 10 million players to its social games. "You can make serious returns with social games in Japan if done well - and that is exactly what they have done," Kamide said to Reuters about Konami.

Both DeNA (which enjoys 3 million more monthly players than its rival) and Gree have major ambitions of becoming global competitors in the social games space to companies like Zynga and EA, which have blazed the trail for Facebook and mobile social game in the western world. Just this past year, both Gree and DeNA made huge purchases to make global headway in the space with mobile social game network OpenFeint and mobile games developer Ngmoco, respectively.

Just as some social game makers invaded this year's E3 event in the states, it looks like the ballooning sub genre will fill up the streets of Tokyo this week, too. Whether the two companies will fill the conference halls with hot air has yet to be seen. But considering Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley analyst Masato Araki expects Japan's social games industry to grow to about 400 billion yen ($5.1 billion) by 2013 from 106 billion yen in 2011, according to Reuters, you can bet everyone will be all ears.

Do you think Gree and DeNA will have some new, interesting things to say about social games at this year's TGS? How do you think traditional Japanese gaming companies will respond? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment