Virtual Goods News

FarmVille Launches On MSN Games

Today social game developer Zynga announced that its smash hit FarmVille would be launching on the MSN Games platform. The MSN Games version of FarmVille uses Facebook Connect to manage the game's social aspect, so MSN players will need to have registered Facebook accounts. MSN Games will be the first games-oriented online destination for FarmVille, joining MySpace, Bebo, Tagged, Friendster, Yahoo!, and the FarmVille Web site.  

Kwedit Launches Pay-By-Credit Service For Virtual Goods

Today the pay-by-credit start-up Kwedit announced that it was going into business, offering unbanked users a new method of paying for virtual goods and other digital items without using a credit or debit card. Kwedit allows users to instead pay for virtual items using Kwedit Promise, which lets users get items instantly. Users can then pay off their Kwedit Promises later using a variety of different methods later using Kwedit Direct. 

"Kwedit gives online gaming publishers the ability to tap into the U.S. customer base through convenient cash-based payments solutions," said Vikas Gupta, founder and CEO of Social Gold, in a press statement. “It’s an ideal partner for Social Gold because together we can provide a seamless payment experience for the end user." 

Hi-Media Payments Launches US Branch

Today the global payment services provider Allopass announced the official US launch of its Hi-Media Payments platform. Initial US partners for Hi-Media USA will include Artix Entertainment, Boomerang Networks, Gambit, gWallet, Merscom Games, OLX, Peanut Labs, Quepasa, Sometrics, Sonico, TheBroth, Viwawa, Viximo, and Wadja. Allopass states that Hi-Media Payments will shorten settlement time for merchants while also increasing conversion rates. 

City of Eternals Enters Open Beta

Ohai's Flash-based social MMORPG, City of Eternals, moves into its open beta phase during this week. The game entered closed beta roughly three months ago. As part of the move from closed to open beta, City of Eternals has launched a suite of new features as part of a major content upgrade. Now players each receive their own virtual house as part of the game. This virtual home can be decorated with virtual items acquired or purchased with virtual currency. 

Star Trek Online Launches With Virtual Goods

This week also sees the release of the new Cryptic-developed, Atari-published subscription MMORPG Star Trek Online. Players were surprised to discover that the game would feature microtransaction purchases at launch, in the form of two special races that can only be used by players who buy them. Players make purchases from Star Trek Online's in-game C-store using Cryptic Points, the same virtual currency players use to purchase virtual goods in Cryptic's Champions Online. The Star Trek Online virtual items are Federation-aligned Klingon and Federation-aligned Ferengi avatars.

Federation Klingons cost 240 Cryptic Points ($3), while Federation Ferengi cost 80 Cryptic Points ($1). Cryptic Points can be purchased in minimum increments of 500 ($6.25). Certain pre-order and special edition bundles of Star Trek Online come with 500 complimentary Cryptic Points. Players can create Klingon characters in the game without spending Cryptic Points, but only after reaching level 6 in-game and unlocking the PvP-oriented Klingon Alliance campaign. Klingons created through this method cannot be affiliated with the Federation, the default campaign. 

White Knight Chronicles To Feature Virtual Goods DLC

This week Sony Computer Entertainment America shipped the Level-5 developed RPG White Knight Chronicles for the PlayStation 3 platform in North America. While most of the game is a conventioaln console RPG adventure, the game features an unusual online mode designed to help generate extra revenue through sale of virtual goods. White Knight Chronicles's online mode is called the GeoNet, a full-featured social network that is completely separate from the PlayStation Network that all PS3s connect to online. GeoNet users can create avatars and custom virtual environments for use in interactions with other players.

The GeoNet allows White Knight Chronicles players to use their in-game accounts to blog, send messages, and play online with each other. Users are also allowed to crate their own GeoRama, essentially a user-created town that can serve as a hub or lobby area for congregating groups of players. Players can unlock pieces to use in their town's design by playing the game, with special pieces available only through purchase for real money. Players can also design avatars, but cannot completely redesign a character without playing the game over again or paying for a $4.99 virtual item through PSN.

Zynga Announces New LA Dev Studio

Today Zynga confirmed that it would open a new development studio in the Los Angeles area, according to Gamasutra. The new studio will be located in Marina Del Rey. While there has been no head announced for the studio, Zynga states that it will be similar to the Zynga East studio spearheaded by Brian Reynolds in Baltimore. The LA studio will be tasked with developing new titles for Zynga, rather than maintaining any extant games. 

Playfish Developing New Social Game Based On EA IP

Playfish will release a new social game based on a well-known Electronic Arts brand this year, according to statements made by Playfish President and General Manager Kristian Segerstrale to the Wall Street Journal. He believes that tremendous maturation will occur in the social gaming sphere in the next 12 to 24 months, resulting in a more mature marketplace where established gaming brands can compete effectively with start-ups by publishing across multiple platforms.

Slide: Most Revenue Now Comes From Virtual Goods

This week Slide CEO and co-founder Max Levchin stated that most of the social app developer's revenue is now generated by direct sales of virtual goods to users, in an interview with TechCrunch. Levchin also announced that Slide is working on a platform that would allow users to create and sell their own virtual goods in Slide's products.

Moshi Monsters Launch Printable Trading Cards

Mind Candy announced today that it was launching a line of printable trading cards for its kids world, Moshi Monsters. The cards, while free, are a nod towards connecting the real world from the virtual. Currently, Moshi exists solely online and monetizes through memberships and virtual goods sales.

Mind Candy announced today that it was launching a line of printable trading cards for its kids world, Moshi Monsters. The cards, while free, are a nod towards connecting the real world from the virtual. Currently, Moshi exists solely online and monetizes through memberships and virtual goods sales.