Social Gaming Roundup: Acquisitions, Game Updates, Zynga Japan, & More

Zynga Japan Shuts Down FarmVille & Treasure Isle -- According to a post from Dr. Serkan Toto, and via Game Watch, Zynga Japan is sunsetting down both FarmVille (Farmvillage) and Treasure Isle (Treasure Island) on Japan's social network, Mixi. Each title was earning around 114,000 and 21,000 users each. EA Uses Debt to Pay for PopCap -- EA states that it will use $550 million in convertible debt to finance part of its recent PopCap purchase. As noted by VentureBeat, this is likely to allow for greater financial flexibility when it comes to making further acquisitions. Ubisoft Buys Owlient -- Core games developer Ubisoft has purchased web games developer Owlient. The acquisition is part of Ubisoft's strategy to expand its games onto the web, social networks, and mobile spaces. SponsorPay Launches BrandEngage to Drive Engagement & Monetization -- Social advertising platform SponsorPay released a new product called BrandEngage this week. The service allows social game and app developers to enhance user engagement and monetization in their titles by integrating cost-per-engagement campaigns on Facebook and other social networks. Kontagent Expands Analytics Platform -- Earlier this week, Kontagent expanded its social analytics platform beyond games and apps on the Facebook platform with kSuite. Now, game developers for both the web and mobile platforms will be able utilize demographic data based on location, age groups, gender, engagement, and so on in real time. Round of Funding Raised for deal united -- The payments company behind PAY.BY.SHOPPING, deal united, has announced the ending of a Series B financing round led by Tengelmann E-Commerce Beteiligungs GmbH. Also participating were Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, KFW Bankengruppe, High-Tech Gründerfonds, and Venture Incubator. Though the exact amount raised was not noted, the proceeds are stated to be used for expanding global brand awareness. EMI Signs Deal With Social Games Publisher MXP4 -- Major record label EMI has signed a deal with social games publisher MXP4 says the Guardian. Through the deal, EMI will provide music from various artists to sell within MXP4's Bopler Games app on Facebook. Sixty seconds of songs will be free, but Facebook Credits will be required to purchase full access. Sometrics Releases Virtual Currency Infographic -- Sometrics has released an infographic regarding its virtual currency services. According to the data, the majority of virtual currency purchases they've seen since has derived from the MMOG at 43 percent, followed by casual and social games at 35 percent. Additionally, credit cards make up the primary payment method at 53 percent with the most active spending day being Friday. [Launch] Kabam Releases New Dragons of Atlantis Content -- Social developer Kabam has announced the release of new content for its Facebook title, Dragon's of Atlantis. High level players will now be able to further upgrade their Fortress with new looks and abilities as well as be able to gain access to a new combat class, the Fire Dragon. Cow Clicker Runs Amusing Campaign -- Facebook application Cow Clicker is running an amusing promotion to "Save The Pigs" by clicking cows in their game. Poking fun at Angry Birds, the app provides an amusingly written "open letter" detailing the entire predicament.

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Social Gaming Roundup: Acquisitions, Game Updates, Zynga Japan, & More

Christopher Mack

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