As of today, PlayStation 3 owners will finally get access to Facebook. Just a day after its Xbox 360 competitors received access to the popular social network, gamers on the Blu-ray enabled console will now be able to show off their Trophies, purchase information and specific game events on their Facebook page.
Meeting with representatives of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) yesterday in Washington, DC, Facebook integration, the system's future and the system's three year anniversary were all discussed. But we asked if there was any hope of getting popular Facebook games like FarmVille, Restaurant World or other games on the PlayStation 3? A company representative said that while the choice to bring a Facebook game to PlayStation 3 would be up to the game's publisher, be it Zynga, Playdom or other company, Sony wouldn't be against it. The rep felt that the PSP may ultimately be a better platform any such effort.
Given the recent "it does everything" marketing campaign by Sony, the PlayStation 3's stake in the gaming race has only been dwarfed by its success with capturing 60% of the Blu-ray player market. With hardware units installed in that many homes and Facebook games looking to capture a large chunk of the non-gamer audience, discussions to bring those games to the family TV seems like a no-brainer. For now, we'll wait.
Today's PlayStation 3 Update
To get a taste of what Facebook is like on PlayStation 3 as of the 3.10 update that released today, owners need to merely select System Update from the XMB navigation bar. Once done, they'll be able to push their Trophy achievements to Facebook by comparing Trophies to a friend or by checking their PlayStation 3's Trophy Collection. Purchases and demo downloads can also be posted to Facebook but the user does get the option to not post, thus evading any awkward conversations about one's spending habits. The option should make it eaiser to decide on which games to purchase based on the ones that a friend is playing.
The last part of the update today is the option for developers to add specific events into their future games (or via updates). So those could run from posting information that you've completed a level, found a special item, beaten a friend in competition or quantitative results ("Micheal killed 1,000 foes!").
(As of 11:40am ET, the 3.10 update had not yet arrived. )
Houston, we have a problem. Restaurant City on Facebook has been invaded by giant mushrooms, thieving penguins and more disasters! The horror!
Actually, these new invasions are part of a way to rake in a little extra coinage when visiting other friends' restaurants. When you visit, you'll find your friends' restaurant has one of these problems (see below for examples) and you have to solve it for them by clicking on the penguin/bear/fire to make them go away. After a few seconds, the problem will disappear, and you're rewarded with 10 coins.
So far we've helped friends scare away penguins, skunks, bears; stop fires and leaks and get rid of gigantic mushrooms invading the garden (all to the tune of 10 coins per good deed). Previously there was no incentive to visit friends' cafes other than once (which would win you a first-time visit ingredient, after that, nothing), so it's nice to see that more social aspects -- with rewards -- have been incorporated into Playfish's restaurant simulation game.
It's Greek Week in Facebook game Restaurant City. We're naturally referring to a slew of brand new decorations that have peppered the game stores, including everything from Togas (toga! toga!) to a huge Pegasus statue that will welcome visitors before they enter your cookery. See a complete list of brand new items below:
A matter of hours after Playfish announced its acquisition by gaming giant Electronic Arts, we're already seeing ads for The Sims for iPhone and Pogo games integrated into Pet Society and Restaurant City, et al. Even though the deal was sealed this morning, according to the Playfish COO, this is an indication that the deal has been in the works for a while (or the EA ad team works extra fast).
On an editorial note, we're intrigued by the prospect of these two companies working together. We're curious to see what popular EA game series will be turned into social games and if the recently launched Spore Islands and Pogo Puppies on Facebook will change (if at all) under Playfish's tutelage.
And the winner for most popular game on Facebook in October is ... (drumroll, please!) ... FarmVille. The farm-simulation is still attracting players in droves, bringing in 11 million people in the past month for a whopping total of 63 million users. Zynga's restaurant simulation game, Cafe World, went from zero users to 27 million in a single month and Happy Aquarium went from zero to 22.5 million users in a month.
The other games that made the top five include Mafia Wars, and Pet Society. Even though these games have the most users, it's also important to mention that Zynga's Roller Coaster Kingdom gained 14 million users last month, Pet Society gained 3 million users, Restaurant City gained 2.3 million users and the newly redesigned Bejeweled Blitz gained 2.6 million users.
Needless to say, Facebook game are continuing to attract players in droves; we're already placing bets as to how soon Cafe World will overtake FarmVille as the top dog on the charts. Care to wager?
Social gaming company Playfish turns two this week and celebrated with custom-cocktails named for some of their premier games -- the Playfish Martini, Restaurant City 'Rita, Geo Club and the Quiztastic! Cooler.
We snagged this pic of the entire drinks menu from Facebook so you can try to recreate these bottoms-up concoctions. Or, at least be inspired to make your own. Pet Society's Peachy Gin Fizz anyone?
Apparently the gaming world doesn't slow down on a Friday. So we captured a stack of quick stories to fill your time as you wait for your next energy pack refill.
- Halloween fiends with a love of Zynga's new Roller Coaster Kingdom can now gain coins for their creations. Simply add any of the game's new holiday themed items and submit a pic of your park and drop it in the Halloween Decoration Contest Entries folder in the Zynga forums. Win and you'll score 500,000 Coaster Coins.
- Everyone started believing the rumor that EA had already bought Playfish. Now there's word that the makers of Pet Society and Restaurant City) might be considering other (read: higher than the rumored $250 million) offers from companies looking to get into the social gaming world. (TechCrunch Europe)
- Social games as child labor? Just as the world felt modern enough that kids could go to school, one blogger discusses a recent company deal that seeks to monitize younger players without their parents' consent. Might social games become the new youth sweatshops of tomorrow? Hopefully not.
- Bloomberg finally catches on to the social gaming fire by equating Facebook's success to the increase in users playing Mafia Wars, Pet Society and FarmVIlle. You already knew this, right? (Bloomberg)
- Big companies like Electronic Arts are catching up to the social gaming buzz by creating things like Dragon Age: Journeys, a free browser-based game that's based on the company's Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game, Dragon Age: Origins. It's got a Lord of the Rings vibe, we like it. (EA)
Rumors that EA has purchased social gaming company Playfish have been flying and two separate reliable industry insiders have confirmed that tongues are wagging over at Playfish about the sale. One of our anonymous sources also confirmed the $250 million price tag that EA paid for the company responsible for Pet Society, Restaurant City and more.
These rumors began circulating when EA COO John Pleasants told Paid Content, "We have huge regard for companies like Playfish," he said. "They don't have high customer acquisition costs and they're getting users to bite on micro-transactions from the start. So we're in investment mode, and we'll be announcing deals with companies that will be of note some time in the near future."
Even though official Playfish reps are staying tight-lipped -- "There's not much I can say on this other than it's simply a rumor and nothing more. Let me know if you have any additional questions," they told us -- we predict it's only a matter of time until we get the official word from on high.
Insider sources say that the game publisher Electronic Arts has written a big fat check for $250 million dollars and has purchased Playfish, the social gaming company responsible for Pet Society, Restaurant City, Country Story and more.
Playfish and EA are staying mum at the moment. "EA doesn't comment on rumors," an EA spokesperson told us.
Coincidentally, we recently asked a Mafia Wars senior producer when he thought EA might make a move to buy Zynga. "Not likely," he says.
At the same time, we've seen Electronic Arts employees jumping ship to work for social gaming developers. For instance, Brandon Barber, a former senior director of global online marketing at EA moved to Zynga (he has since left the company); so did Mike Verdu, who was EA LA's general manager. Playdom, another social gaming developer, has also been enticing EA employees to join their ranks.
Recently, EA's casual game studio, Pogo, launched a Facebook game called Pogo Puppies, so it's safe to assume EA is interested in this space, at least enough to put money behind a full-fledged social game. Also, if you think about Playfish's offering and the current Pogo.com offering: pairing these two together would make them the biggest power couple since Brad and Angelina.
Log onto Facebook game Restaurant City starting October 10, and you'll find a brand new feature that lets you gift food to your friends. To give the gift of grub, click on the red lunch box icon in the game's menu and you'll be prompted to select an edible item and pick which four friends will receive your bounty.
Right now the selection is limited to a water, apple, banana and sandwich, items used to keep restaurant employees on the move. Menu ingredients can still be traded with friend, but not gifted -- a change we wouldn't mind seeing in the future.
Things are getting trippy in Restaurant City this week. 'How?' you ask. New items this week include Super Mario Bros. inspired- mushroom tables and chairs, a few more commonplace items like a big grey fireplace and red sink, and, our favorite new addition, the Brain Jar. It's a big jar with a brain floating in liquid which costs 15 PlayFish dollars (roughly $2.75), and purportedly attracts zombies to your restaurant.
We hope they attract zombies that are big tippers -- we could use the extra cash.
Find the complete list of new Restaurant City items below:
Zynga's newest Facebook game, Cafe World, launched less than a week ago and it's already gaining a huge following on the popular social network. The game sets you up with your own cafe, letting you hire friends as waiters to help serve hungry customers. But how does it stack up to Restaurant City, the 6 month-old food shop game from competing social games developer Playfish? We pit the games head-to-head so you can decide which restaurant you'll want to be the top chef of.
What's for Dinner? (and Lunch, and Breakfast)
Cafe World's food selection ranges from Bacon Cheeseburgers to Shrimp Cocktails, from Pot Roast to Stir Fry. In order to cook each item, you'll need to pay for the ingredients (from 15 coins for the Baconburger to 5000 coins for the Impossible Quiche), prepare the ingredients by clicking on the stove a few times, then waiting a set amount of time for it to cook (cheaper foods take less than an hour, and at level 9, the most expensive food takes 2 days). When it's ready, there will be a certain number of servings available for your customers (again, depending on the complexity and price of the dish) -- if you don't serve it in time, though, the food will spoil and you'll have to start from scratch.
Free gifts in Cafe World serve as 'boosters' for customers. You might receive a Shirley Temple, which yields 5 extra coins per customer currently seated at your cafe.
Restaurant City's approach to food is much different -- in order to cook a dish, you'll need to collect the ingredients required (by trading with friends, buying them in the market, or answering daily quizzes) for it. Each dish can be leveled up to 10, with each level requiring more ingredients to complete -- higher level dishes will earn you a higher praise from your customers. Once you've 'learned' a dish, it'll become a permanent part of your menu and your cooks will automatically serve it.
The dishes in Restaurant City are also divided up into four categories - Starters, Main Course, Desserts and Drinks. The choices range from Garden Salads to Lamb Samosas, Lasagna to Mapo Tofu, Creme Brulee to Parfaits, Lemonades to Bubble Tea.
Wondering how to catch rare fish in Pet Society, or curious what the arcades in Restaurant City are for? We grilled Playfish COO Sebastien de Halleux for secrets on their company's popular Facebook games during last week's podcast. He even dropped a few hints about project they're working on now, including more efforts to bring Playfish games to mobile devices.
Pet Society Tips
- Try different kinds of bait when fishing. You never know what crazy kind of fish you'll end up with.
- An unannounced feature that only a few users have figured out: you can purchase a light switch in the DIY shop, then turn off the lights and play in the dark. Certain items are 'luminous' and will glow in the dark, as well.
- Poo has become a status symbol in Pet Society, since it's not an item you can buy in stores. As Sebastien told us, "People collect poo, they have shelf cabinets with all the poos arranged, and it's really a status about how dedicated you are." Gold and Rainbow Poo is extremely rare (almost one in a million chance of getting the latter), and they've become extremely valuable to have.
The most handsome man in gaming, Playfish's Sebastien de Halleux, joins the cast to talk about games and love, Facebook and... rainbow poo.
This week we were extremely lucky to snag co-founder and chief operating officer of Playfish (makers of hit social games Pet Society and Restaurant City, among others), Sebastien de Halleux. If you've listened to any of our recent podcasts, you'd know how much of a crush we've had on him -- this is the guy who, with a charming Belgium accent mind you, said that "Games are Love," back at this year's Casual Connect conference.
We (barely) managed to keep our composure long enough to ask him about life at Playfish, how they come up with stuff like Rainbow Poo and developing on the Facebook platform. We also get him to clarify what he meant by "Games are Love," and even get him to spill some exclusive tips and hints for Pet Society and Restaurant City.
Hey, I've got a great idea/shoutout/question for you guys!
We'd love to hear it! You can email us at podcast@games.com, or you can send us a reply on Twitter! Just include "@AOLGameShow" in your update and we'll be able to see it on our super computer controller panel screen. :)
Things have been cooking in Playfish's Facebook game, Restaurant City, where players start out with a small establishment and build it up by hiring cooks and a waitstaff, then making money which can be used to upgrade the menu and deck out the restaurant.
The folks behind the scenes recently held a 'dream menu' competition: asking fans to send in new menu dishes (using ingredients already available in the game). The winners get their dish included in the game and 100,000 worth of virtual coins for Restaurant City. Not too shabby, especially since coin doesn't come easy in this game.
Without further adieu the winning menu is as follows:
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- Halloween fiends with a love of Zynga's new Roller Coaster Kingdom can now gain coins for their creations. Simply add any of the game's new holiday themed items and submit a pic of your park and drop it in the 
Things are getting trippy in Restaurant City this week. 'How?' you ask. New items this week include Super Mario Bros. inspired- mushroom tables and chairs, a few more commonplace items like a big grey fireplace and red sink, and, our favorite new addition, the Brain Jar. It's a big jar with a brain floating in liquid which costs 15 PlayFish dollars (roughly $2.75), and purportedly attracts zombies to your restaurant.
Pet Society Tips
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