Social Gaming Roundup: Sibblingz, Fantasy, KISS, & More

Sibblingz Launches In-App Payments for Mobile -- Sibblingz has announced the launch of in-app purchases for the PC, iDevice, and Android for the CrowdStar title Happy Island. Users will now be able to use Facebook Credits, iTunes, and Google Checkout respectively to make purchases in game. Michael Eisner Invests in Social Games -- Michael Eisner, former CEO of Disney, is investing a good bit of coin in social startup Diversion and their upcoming Facebook title, FameTown, says TechCrunch. Based on an SEC filing, the funding was at $300,000. Zynga Files for Virtual Currency Patent -- Titled "Virtual Playing Chips in a Multiuser Online Game Network," the abstract for Zynga's patent application is broad but seems to cover all virtual currencies. TechCrunch first noticed it. Fantasy University Enters Open Beta -- The Facebook RPG tailored to the "hardcore gamer," Fantasy University from Simutronics, is entering open beta this week. Now, all players will be able to access the game in its "near final" form. Zynga Expands to Europe -- In other Zynga news, it appears that the company is also making its presence known in Frankfurt, Germany. A recent job post on the Zynga Job Boards, have noted the need for a Javascript Developer its recently acquired German outfit, Dextrose AG. KISS Rocks Nightclub City -- A few weeks ago, rock legends KISS performed a live streaming concert within Booyah's Nightclub City. Promotions for the concert garnered 3.3 million impressions with a 73 percent click-through rate in just two days. Additionally, during the event, a special "Video" promotion was clicked 1.35 million times with a 73 percent CTR as well. As for KISS, the digital concert spiked the KISS Facebook fan page with a 750 percent increase in user fans, while Nightclub City saw a 16 percent, week-over-week, increase in daily active users. Intel Invests in OpenFeint -- Intel Capital has invested $3 million in mobile social gaming network OpenFeint. according to The New York Times. OpenFeint has most recently been testing out virality, and its Android release. EA Acquires Chillingo -- Mobile game publisher Chillingo, most famous for publishing Rovio's Angry Birds, was purchased by Electronic Arts earlier this week. According to Reuters, the price tag was $20 million. Microsoft Could be Going More Social -- Xbox.com is getting a bit more social this week. The site has not only received a new design, but an Avatar editor, a message and request center, and the ability to play games right from the website, according to Xbox Team's Major Nelson. Additionally, new, unannounced web games will be playable across Xbox Live, the new site, and Windows Phone 7. THQ Working on UFC Social Games -- THQ has singed an extended agreement (until 2018) with sports promoter Zuffa LLC, according to the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. Along with this, Games.com notes that THQ will be expanding "UFC experiences" for both social and mobile extensions. Andrew Trader Leaves Zynga -- In yet more Zynga news, former Zynga vice president of sales and business development, Andrew Trader, who left in March, has joined venture capital firm, Maveron, says VentureBeat.

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Social Gaming Roundup: Sibblingz, Fantasy, KISS, & More

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