AMC and RockYou have teamed up to bring an interactive Facebook game based on the popular TV series “The Walking Dead”, which you can lay your hands on earlier than Telltale’s The Walking Dead adaptation hitting Xbox Live Arcade and PSN in a few months time.

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” Facebook game developed with Eyes Wide Games,   will not be following the show’s plot, but it does have similar setting depicted in bright, cartoon-like graphics.

Players won’t have the chance to follow the adventures of Rick Grimes and his fellow survivors or fight side-by-side with the shows characters, but they will have the chance to interact with them when they pop up from time to time.

The concept of the game is, well you already know that… didn’t ya?, surviving  the post-apocalyptic world by fighting hordes and hordes of zombies. After setting up and improving base camps to operate, the two main tasks as far as gameplay goes will be maintaining base camps and scavenging for supplies.

This turn-based strategy game will give players to choose how they navigate the world and engage in fights (melee or range). But, be warned that it’s not a one man show, and things can get messy. So, team up with friends to have better odds for survival, as well as for defending your post-apocalyptic camp.

The game hits Facebook in April. So, if you are ready to whack some walkers don’t forget to leave your “Like” on the official AMC The Walking Dead Social Game Facebook Page, to get started as soon as the game arrives.

Popcap is notorious for bringing popular casual games to Facebook. This game developer doesn’t surprise us much when it brought a rave up version of another popular game titled “Solitaire Blitz.”

The most important difference between a standard “Solitaire” game and PopCap’s Solitaire Blitz is the pace of game, just like standard Bejewel games and Bejewel Blitz. Do read on … there are more surprises.

Basic Gameplay

The game has the standard set up of seven rows of cards, each with one face-up card. Surprise ahead … In Solitaire Blitz, you only have one foundation pile in the beginning, with a random card. The numerical sequences can go either way. So here, you will be able to put either 8 or 10 on top of 9.

It is also possible to start a game with the feeder piles already populated with cards.

Type of Cards

In the game, you will also come across certain cards marked with keys, which unlock new foundation piles. Jokers work like wild cards. Try to hold off using face-up jokers until you don’t have any moves left.

Timer

You get 60 seconds for a round, and the game ends when you run out of moves, clear all the cards, or run out of time.

Beating the clock will be your biggest challenge. Apart from playing fast or using boosts, you should not forget to make use of “Time Lines.” There are four time lines in each round and you get 20 seconds each for uncovering them by clearing up the cards to display the time line completely.

You can use up to three different boost in each round, either to add extra time or increase your score, it’s up to you.

Each round/hand consumes one energy. You get a maximum of 5 energy which refills over time.

Scoring

Other than the regular score for clearing cards from the seven rows to the foundation piles, there are several ways to score in Solitaire Blitz, some of which includes -

• The quicker you complete a round, the higher is your score.
• Scores can be increased by creating chains to earn score multipliers (every card you use from the seven card rows without drawing cards from the deck or making an illegal move adds to your chain. A new chain will start when you draw new cards from the deck).
• If you manage to create a sequence of similar cards across the foundation slots, you get a score boost.

You will also earn cute little items at the bottom of all the seven rows of card. They are yours if you clear the cards to the bottom of the row. These items are converted into silver which can then be used to buy new boosts or other items.

Note: Making long runs is the best way for scoring big numbers. Because there are so many ways to increase your score like winning streaks, multiplier, finding fishes (finding fishes will also increase your level) etc and the timer ticking by, you won’t be caring much about the other ways of scoring.

Social Element

The game includes speed-based challenges, leaderboard, bonuses and gifts, premium items, and a lot of colourful aquatic art style.

Note: You can send one energy per friend per hour.

Final Word

As a long-time Solitaire-based game lover, Popcap’s Solitaire Blitz comes with many surprises and is challenging and addictive, and brings about a refreshing change to the Solitaire game. The only love-hate relation I have with this Facebook game is the energy factor, which forces you to take breaks .

Solitaire Blitz is currently in closed beta on Facebook and will be publicly released in March 2012.

Play Now

Game developer Rovio has set up their fruit of labor “Angry Birds” for a date with Facebook this Valentine’s Day.

So, Rejoice “Angry Birds” lovers! The rest might have to get ready to show some of your Facebook friends the boot, because angry birds are flocking to your feeds soon.

http://youtu.be/qS0NQ3CtKhg

This very popular mobile game is finally breaking into Facebook on Feb. 14 with a big launch in Jarkarta, reports Penn Olson.

“Why Jakarta? Well it’s obvious … as Jakarta is the global capital of Facebook. Holding the launch here would be appropriate as it is a major Facebook hub,” Penn Olson quotes Peter Vesterbacka.

“Nothing says ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ like competitive pig-popping among friends,” Rovio said in its blog post.

Angry Birds became a smashing hit on smartphones and tablets shortly after its debut in 2009, and quickly became a global phenomenon with over 700 million downloads.

The Facebook version is expected to contain added social elements that include leaderboards and premium items.

Without doubt date between the most popular game and the most popular social networking site will turn out to be the talk of the whatever. But, I my heart goes out to all the sick Angry Birds lovers, because its either “Angry birds” or “Angry Valentine.”

Undergraduate students at the University of Washington Bothell’s Center for Serious Play created and released a Wetlands restoration game for Facebook titled ‘UWB Wetlands Restoration’ on Thursday.

In UWB Wetlands Restoration, you start with an empty piece of land. The main objective of the game is to convert your empty piece of land into fully functioning ecosystems.

Evolution of your ecosystem follows a path of succession. So you will need careful planning and execution. Flora and fauna needs to be introducing gradually. For example, if you want the Cinnamon Teal duck to roost on your land, you need Tall Mannagrass, Ponds, and Broadleaf Arrowhead. But in order to have Tall Mannagrass, you need trees planted, and the easiest tree to get is the Douglas-fir, which will first require planting Tufted Hairgrass.

The game has two seasons, winter and summer. You will need to work on different aspects of your wetland during different seasons. to best protect and grow the ecosystem. The game last for 50 years of evolution and your progress is measured in a biodiversity rating.

There are two types of currency in the game: donations and grant funds. Grant funds are given at the beginning of the game and at various intervals. Donations on the other hand can be acquired by inviting friends to play, helping other players, holding events to raise money, and by buying them with Facebook Credits.

An interesting element of the game is video lecture by Dr. Warren Gold, the Associate Professor of Environmental Science at UWB, on how these flora and fauna contribute to wetland restoration. A video icon appears sometime when you gain access to new game element (animal, plant or terrain). Clicking on it allows you to view a brief YouTube lecture video.

Also, every time you purchase in-game currency, 80 percent of the proceeds will go to restoring the actual Wetlands ecosystem located at the university, while the other 20 percent will be retained to maintain the game.

You don’t often come across games like these; one that educate you, and gives you a chance to be a part of real-world issues and causes while you are having fun.

(Play UWB Wetlands Restoration)

Starz is launched another Facebook game titled “Spartacus: Vengeance,” a sequel to it popular social game, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.

Starz launched the game on Wednesday, the same day the new season of its popular TV show ‘Spartacus’ began.

Spartacus: Vengeance: The Game is sort of sequel to the existing Facebook game Spartacus: Gods of the Arena: The Game. The big difference between the two games is the new Spartacus game takes players outside of the arena.

The game takes the player, a recently escaped slave, outside of the arena to lead a band of warriors. Travelling from Capua to Vesuvius, players can engage themselves with the improved visuals, and new elements of the game like expanded battle system for six-on-six melee battles, advance game progressions, and more varied strategic gameplay as they try to take over Roman territories. Players will also come across various characters from the TV show in the game.

Starz will sample the first full episode of Spartacus: Vengeances to fans on their Facebook Page beginning January 20.

Check out the trailer of the game:

Indian online matchmaker shaadi.com launched a game called “Angry Brides” where players vent their virtual pre-marital frustration by attacking potential grooms greedy for dowry with variety of weapons, including flip-flops and kitchen wares.

In the game, players throw a variety of weapons at the three grooms – an engineer, a doctor and a pilot – who try to dodge the attacks.
Each time a player hits a groom, he or she wins money towards a virtual anti-dowry fund. Players need to collect enough funds to advance to the next level.

The game is short but players can keep themselves occupied with the game and try to book a place in the global ranking chart. Apart from that, the game doesn’t offer much challenges, but due to it’s attachment with social cause; it has attracted more than 275,000 likes so far.

Dowry in India has been illegal since 1961. However, this centuries-old tradition of the bride’s parents gifting cash and other items to the groom’s family still persists. Dowry demands often continue after the wedding ceremony, in some extreme cases, to the extent of some brides being tortured or murdered if their families are unable to meet the demands.

According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau, 8,391 women died in dowry-related deaths in 2010, and 44 per cent of all crimes against women in the country were carried out by their husbands and relatives.

“Shaadi.com has always believed that marriage is an institution of love, where there is a place for togetherness, mutual understanding, family values and emotional support but not for dowry!” it said in a statement.

Indian matrimonial site shaadi.com launched the game, named after the hugely popular game “Angry Birds,” to highlight the illegal practice of dowry still prevalent in India.

(Play Angry Brides)

Leading social game maker, Zynga, launched its first hidden object and puzzle game on Facebook titled “Hidden Chronicles.”

Hidden Chronicles has familiar features with other hidden-object and puzzle games with intricate scenes and a list of hidden objects that players must find before time runs out, in order to gather points and to progress with the story.

In Hidden Chronicles, players are lead through the game with a narrative. On starting the game, you are summoned to your Uncle Jeffrey’s estate, after his suspicious death. It’s up to you now, to unlock different location at his mansion and various parts of the estate and progress with the story of the game.

The game also includes leaderboards, a home base (players own Manor, which can be customize), quests, and several mini-games inside the game. The game also has some surprise elements, like certain scenes in the game becomes available when players challenge a friend to a contest. In addition, certain scenes can only be unlocked with reputation points, which you can amass by doing things such as sending gifts to friends.

The graphics of the game has a photorealistic style, quite different from the cartoonish graphics most of Zynga’s other games sports.

The team behind Hidden Chronicles includes some big names like Cara  Ely (as Creative director), veteran hidden object game creator well known for creating the popular Dream Day Wedding series, and Margaret Foley-Mouvais, former art director for titles such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Godfather”.

Hidden object games have been around and popular for quite some time. Looking forward with a hope that Zynga’s little romance with this genre will bring about a breath of fresh air to this genre.

Facebook released its list of top 10 most popular Facebook games and surprise, surprise… Playdom’s Gardens of Time topped the list.

As the list goes on, I see titles that have completely eluded me throughout the year.  Although leading social game developer Zynga made several appearances, they weren’t able to occupy the top two spots.

The list, according to Facebook, was based on game “with more than 100,000 monthly active users and giving priority to those games with the highest user satisfaction scores.”

 So, here’s the official Top 10 Most Popular Facebook games of 2011:

1. Gardens of Time ( By Playdom)
2. The Sims Social (By EA)
3. Cityville (By Zynga)
4. DoubleDown Casino (By DoubleDown Interactive)
5. Indiana Jones Adventure World (By Zynga)
6. Words With Friends (By Zynga)
7. Bingo Blitz (By Buffalo Studios)
8. Empires & Allies (By Zynga)
9. Slotomania-Slot Machines (By Playtika)
10. Diamond Dash (By Wooga)

More list of top games under different categories goes as follows.

 Top up-and-comers

Battle Pirates (By Kixeye)
Dragons of Atlantis (By Kabam)
Gourmet Ranch (By Rock You!)

* Based on new games which drew the highest engagement in the 100k-500k user category

Top games with 50,000-100,000 users

Super Slot Machines (By Davy Campano, David Livingston Kirby and Robby Campano)
WestWars (By Innogames)
MouseHunt (By HitGrab)

* Based on the most engaging apps with audiences between 50k-100k users

Top Casino Games in 2011

Zynga Poker (By Zynga)
Slotomania – Slot Machines (By Playtika)
DoubleDown Casino (By DoubleDown Interactive)

* Based on casino-related games with the most monthly active users in 2011

Top Sports Games in 2011

TopEleven – Be a Football Manager (By Nordeus)
Pool Live Tour  (By Geewa)
EA Sports: FIFA Superstars (By EA)

* Based on sports-related games with the most monthly active users in 2011

Top Fashion Games in 2011

Mall World (By 50 Cubes)
ItGirl (By CrowdStar)
Coco Girl (By Metrogames)

* Based on fashion-related games with the most monthly active users in 2011

The list might surprise many of you like me. Honestly, titles like Doubledown Casino or Bingo Blitz completely had me thinking “now, which one was that?” But, hey who is complaining? I am happy that there are quite a few good games out there that I have to try out before this year slither away. And as I wind up this post, I raise my cup of coffee to all the good times we had playing and to more good times in 2012. Cheers!

'Dirty Dancing' game launched on Facebook by Lionsgate and Social Universe

Lionsgate in collaboration with Social Game Universe has announce the launch of ‘Dirty Dancing Facebook game’. The game is an adaptation of the greatest 80′s romantic movie “Dirty Dancing”.

In the game, player manage and caretake the Kellerman’s Resort. The main objective is to built the resort into a burgeoning and romantic-filled harbor for its guest. To create the resort of their dreams, players can use the game’s watermelon currency to purchase virtual items like tennis courts and decorate their resorts with everything from hedges to jukeboxes.

Players must host dance shows where they can also feature their Facebook friends. Proper dance rehearsal with combination of different dance technique is pre-eminent in order to generate more ‘romantic waves’ which will contribute to restore Kellerman’s to its former glory. For every romantic wave blast it features soundtrack from the Oscar-winning movie. If they really want to put on a show for the ages, players must discover secret dance style combinations that give them bonuses.

Nathon Gunn, CEO of Social Game Universe said: “We wanted to create a game that would not only capture the essence and aesthetic of the Dirty Dancing film, but also offer Facebook gamers an opportunity to experience it in a whole new way”.

You can also take pictures of your resort and share them with friends on Facebook and can help out friends by visiting their resort. Dirty Dancing game is a part of Lionsgate to remake the original movie, which is set to release in 2013. Besides, the success of this game will give the way for other Lionsgate games.

With more than 10.9 million fans, ‘Dirty Dancing’is 9th ranked movie on Facebook. The great sensation of the movie will definitely hitch the game among players. You can play the game by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/dirtydancinggame

The third biblical Facebook game was launched by social game developer ‘Making Fun’ on September 6. The game entitle, Noah’s Ark was released to cater untapped market for religious games on social network. It is suitable for players of all ages and skill level. Noah’s Ark takes a familiar biblical tale from the Old Testament and turns it into a social gaming experience.

In the game, players have to attract different pairs of animal to Noah’s build site. They must be feeded and taken care of by planting and harvesting different kinds of crop. They must also chop wood and collect other materials in order to help Noah and his family built the ark before the flood. In order to achieve goals more efficiently, players can buy boosts and other items with Facebook credit.

‘Making Fun’ CEO John Welch said: “Noah’s Ark demonstrates our commitment to bringing new and different games to market. We hope that people from all walks of life enjoy playing Noah’s Ark. We approached the project with a great deal of reverence toward the subject matter and high standards for the game’s development to ensure that it was really fun to play”.

Be the one to help Noah’s family prepare before the flood arrives. Try out Noah’s Ark, the game is free and is available at www.facebook.com/NoahsArkGame or you can click the link below: