Following a big rumor that Google and Zynga will be working together in the future, there are new reports circulating that the Big G is in talks with Playfish/EA and Playdom as well to do, well, something with the Google Games offering that's expected later this year.

Even though Google Chief Exec Eric Schmidt denies anything about 'Google Me,' a social networking service comparable to Facebook ("the world doesn't need a copy of the same thing," he tells WSJ), the search giant is clearly making a move to get all of the big social gaming companies on board with Google Games. This rest is speculation (for now) but if Google Checkout enters the picture, and developers are charged a certain percentage to use the Google e-commerce system -- that would strike right at the heart of one of Facebook's big money makers.

Google higher ups can deny all they want -- but it's seems like they're sending a singular message to Facebook -- 'It's on!'

[Via Wall Street Journal]

Where would you rather play your social games? Google or Facebook?

While we were busy cracking heads and counting cards in Mafia Wars Vegas, the game has rolled out a handful of Sin City-themed limited edition gifts that you can send to the rest of your mafia for free.

FarmVille Crafting Buildings have finally made their way to the game. Farmers level 25 and up have access to three crafting buildings -- a Winery, Spa and Bakery. What's the purpose of these buildings? In addition to giving you something to do with all those bushels you've been getting from you and your friends' Farmers Market, the main motivation is fuel. That's right, make stuff in your Bakery, and you'll ultimately be rewarded with sweet fuel to power your tractor and other farming equipment.

Most of my fellow farmers chose the Winery (says a lot, doesn't it?), so I decided to play contrarian and pick the Bakery as my crafting building. After all, who doesn't love a nice baked good, even virtual ones? To start on your way to becoming a master baker, choose the bakery from the Crafting is Here! pop-up window. I previously chose the bakery, so I just had to click the 'Yes Place' button to set the bakery on my farm.



A Tip: Make your you clear out some room for your new crafting building -- it might require a little more space than you might expect. Once the Bakery is placed, you can get to work, well, baking.

If you didn't select the bakery several weeks ago, and you want to make the switch, click 'Choose Another' and then pick the building you want.

Yesterday, Disney announced that it was spending more than half-a-billion dollars to buy Playdom, the third largest social game publisher responsible for Facebook games, such as Social City, Sorority Life and Wild Ones.

While this move makes it clear that Disney's ready to get elbow-deep in social gaming, one analyst tells Gamasutra that Disney's latest acquisition is looking "very expensive," and that the Mouse House might not get a good return on investment for several reasons, including the fact that social games are losing players by the week. For instance, the most popular Facebook game, FarmVille, dropped roughly 20 million players in a matter of months, and lesser games haven't fared much better.

One of the consumable items you're going to need to complete jobs in Mafia Wars Las Vegas is a Car Key Copy. Much like the Wire Tap Device or Untraceable Cell Phone in New York, you have to earn the Car Key Copy by doing a job -- specifically, the Blackmail A Car Dealer job in North Las Vegas (this is a job if you take the Energy path). It takes 9 energy to do the job, and you'll get a Car Key Copy (alternating with construction materials) every few times that you do the job.


The Car Key Copies are then used as a consumable item for the Secure Some Wheels job in North Las Vegas (again, only for the Energy path). I didn't have enough keys to complete the Wheels job, so had to go back and do the Blackmail A Car Dealer job again several times, even though it was already 100% mastered.


What do you think of Mafia Wars Vegas? Is it the best yet?