Zynga to launch games platform, invites third-party developers
- 02 March, 2012 10:05
- Comments
Zynga will launch its own social gaming platform and open it up to third-party game developers, the company announced on Thursday.
The maker of "Mafia Wars" and "FarmVille" will soon have its own website where people can sign up and play games with their friends. Today its games are played primarily on Facebook, Yahoo and a few other websites, as well as on smartphones.
In a big change for the company, Zynga will also allow third parties to develop games that run on its platform. Initial partners include MobScience, Row Sham Bow and the Canadian company Sava Transmedia.
Zynga isn't leaving Facebook; it said its gaming platform will be "fully integrated with Facebook," allowing people to start a game on its website and pick up where they left off on Facebook, for instance.
But the move will give Zynga a bit more independence from Facebook, the network where its games first rose to prominence.
And unlike players on Facebook, players on the forthcoming Zynga website will be able to chat with friends and make game-related requests without leaving their game screens.
Zynga first disclosed plans for the website last October under the code name Project Z. It will be hosted at a revamped version of zynga.com.
"What we're really excited about is the long journey to truly building the best destination for play on the Internet," said lead product manager Reed Shaffner in a video Zynga released.
Zynga's first earnings call as a public company in February suggested how dependent it is on Facebook. Its annual revenue accounting was affected by its mandatory move to Facebook credits midyear, for instance.
Zynga also does much for Facebook. In January, Facebook's initial filing for a public offering showed that the social network relies on Zynga for 12 percent of its revenue.
Cameron Scott covers search, web services and privacy for The IDG News Service. Follow Cameron on Twitter at CScott_IDG.
Recommended
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.
- Bookmark this page
- Share this article
- Got more on this story? Email CIO
- Follow CIO on twitter
- Zynga gets more social, more violent - Zynga, online services, Mobile games, internet, games - PC World Australia
- Zynga.com: Your New Destination for Play - Coming Soon : Zynga
- Facebook files for IPO, reveals US$3.7 billion revenue < Social Networking, Internet, Facebook, Social Networking, Internet < PC World India News < PC World.in
- CScott_IDG
-
Australia suspected to have PRISM data: Ludlam
-
Australia Post’s mail business to lose $200 million this year
-
Australia Post’s mail business to lose $200 million this year
-
Microsoft's ambivalence about Office on the Web gives Apple shot with iWork on iCloud
-
3 Lessons Learned From a Failed Customer Feedback Test
-
Securing the Road to Virtualization and Beyond
Traditional security controls for enterprise don’t necessarily translate into the new world of virtualisation and cloud environments. When mapping out a secure virtualisation roadmap, click to find out about pave a more secure, risk free path. -
The Power of Cloud
Although cloud is widely recognized as a technology game changer, its potential for driving business innovation remains virtually untapped. To take advantage of cloud’s potential to transform internal operations, customer relationships and industry value chains, organisations need to determine how best to employ cloud-enabled business models that promote sustainable competitive advantage. Learn more about driving business model innovation. -
Advanced Malware Exposed
This handbook shines a light on the dark corners of advanced malware, both to educate as well as to spark renewed efforts against these stealthy and persistent threats. By understanding the tools being used by criminals, we can better defend our nations, our critical infrastructures and our citizens. This ebook will provide readers with a new understanding of the rapidly developing cyber threat landscape and practical insights into how they can protect their data and computing infrastructures. Download now.
Get exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis. 
