Popular social gaming developer Zynga has just released Mafia Wars on Apple’s App Store, bringing the company’s incredibly popular game, which has over 9 million monthly users on Facebook alone, to the iPhone. You can grab the free game here (iTunes Link).
The game revolves around building up a virtual mafia family with other members, earning virtual cash to buy weapons, and performing ‘jobs’ to earn more. While the gameplay is primarily text based, Mafia Wars has an impressive interface and array of graphics that make it feel more polished than some knockoffs, which often are filled with clunky text fields. And as I’ve said about other similar games, while Mafia Wars may not look like much fun at first glance it can become very addictive.
One apparent omission in the iPhone app that will frustrate veteran Mafia Wars gamers is that there’s apparently no way to link to mobile game to your profile on social networks. This is a bit odd given that Zynga has previously used Facebook Connect integration on its Live Poker application, and I’ll be surprised if we don’t see it as a feature in a future release (though Zynga may have purposely omitted it to start with a new level playing field).
Mafia Wars is one of a handful of primarily text-based games that have become very popular on sites like Facebook and MySpace, and have also had more than their fair share of drama. The trend kicked off with the release and huge popularity of Mob Wars, which was built by a former employee of SGN named David Maestri as a side-project (a lengthly legal battle ensued as SGN tried to lay claim to the game, with the two parties finally settling in December). Zynga also got in on the action with Mafia Wars, which now garners a whopping 9,209,083 monthly active users on Facebook alone. In an attempt to defend Mob Wars (which only has a fourth of Mafia Wars’ user base on Facebook) Maestri is suing Zynga for copyright infringement.
Other mob-based games on the App Store include SGN’s Mafia: Respect and Retaliation and iMob.
They’ll make a killing on this =)
How do you “make a killing” with a free game .. ?
Google has been making a killing on a free “search” service that they provide (in case you didn’t know).
Now that Apple is going to allow micro-transactions, it is possible for apps to be given away free (and build user-base fast), and still make money on virtual items.
not possible… you have to charge for an app to take advantage of that.
Career games are addictive. And habitual user can fight with hardcore makes such games popular, like Pokemon.
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Peoples just like to mention some thing “killing” some thing, Weird
@Joseph
“How do you “make a killing” with a free game .. ?”
iPhone SDK 3.0
….
..
.
When they begin selling the reward points update apps that will eventually be available through the app store, or their own websites, they do make a killing. You can’t get certain abilities or skills unless you do the sponsors reward gimmicks on Facebook, and you can’t get respect points on iMob without buying the app upgrades. Come on you people know this by now. Unless you don’t have an iPhone or Facebook account, but by god, you have a MySpace page right???? any way MAKING A KILLING in real MONEY! It’s a FACT!
I’ve paid $100 so far for the facebook version, to get extras. I know others that do the same. Virtual good DO make money…
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very good game i play it on yahoo.i just wished their was an easier way of growing your mob family
Now, I need to buy an iPhone. Btw, check this out http://bit.ly/lw4VQ…here are dates/wives for Mike Arrington.
Okay, here’s the right link http://bit.ly/lw4VQ
Why would you want an iPhone? No cut and paste, no physical keyboard, no Flash support, you can’t even keep track of who you call the most. Plus you have to pay for nearly every iPhone app.
Why not get a G1 instead and get all that for free plus auto sync, and a faster browser?
Why is so cool too pay way too much for an inferior phone? Apple will nickel and dime you to death.
You are thinking of it as a phone. It’s more like a mini Mac that also calls people and with a killer interface. My old phone did most of these things too – but nickel and dimed me on everything. I actually USE all the features on my iPhone because I can and not have to worry about the charges. And the interface rocks – it’s not some kludge like all the other phones out there were before the iPhone. Look how the market has reacted – now everyone is following the iPhone.
My bill went up by $10 (after I dropped my $20/month unlimited texting and added $30/mo for unlimited internet) and I use this thing WAAAYY more than any other phone I’ve ever had, and even more than my computer. It’s a life changer – not just another phone.
actialy it will get cut copy and paste in the software update this summer and the internet speed is to do with the network not the phone! DUMBASS!
Two thumbs up for mafia wars on iPhone! @Tim, if those four women are real, this is just too funny!
Pretty solid Mafia game. I created a google doc for easy friend code finding: Friend Codes
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good game on a very good platform
I’m sure this iphone app will be very successful.
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