Why Zynga gave up on gambling
Social game maker Zynga surprised investors with news that it will give up plans to seek a license to offer gambling in the U.S.. According to one source, the plan may have been a longshot all along.
Zynga and NewSchools Venture Fund create accelerator for educational gaming startups
Zynga is partnering with NewSchools Venture Fund to launch an accelerator program for educational gaming startups.
Why Nevada’s first online gambling license is more symbol than substance
Casinos and social gaming sites have a lot riding on new laws and licenses that will turn on the taps to online gaming revenue. One company is set to finally open shop as soon as May — but its license strictly limits where it can operate and what it can play.
Social sports betting: market is huge but big payout is unlikely
A social gaming site called Fanhood invites players to buy tokens and make sports wagers with their friends. While they may entertain sports fans, sites like this have little hope of being part of recent moves towards legal online gambling.
What stays in Vegas: how Nevada’s online gambling law will — and won’t — change social gaming
Nevada became the first state in the country this week to legalize online gambling — but don’t expect this to change the fortunes of companies like Zynga anytime soon.
Can a new database help get Zynga back on track?
Zynga has deployed nearly 100 nodes of MemSQL, the hot new database from two former Facebook engineers. It might not be a magic pill for Zynga’s woes, but it could help the company boost revenue and even build new types of games.
How the cloud helped social gaming firm Wooga prepare for its Android invasion
Berlin’s highly successful games studio is moving into Android, starting off with a new version of the hit Diamond Dash. It seemed like a good time to get a snapshot developer perspective on coding for the big two mobile platforms.
Derby Jackpot is off to the races with real-money social gaming
Bridging the gap between hardcore horse-betting and social gaming, New York-based Derby Jackpot is beta testing an online game that lets players bet real money on live horse races. The launch comes as social gaming giant Zynga also makes inroads in real money social gaming.
Lessons from Zynga’s continued struggles
For starters, don’t build your company on a platform you don’t own, accept the low retention rates for social games, and narrow your focus.
Facebook works on game quality, social to keep users from calling it quits
For Facebook, the name of the game is getting more social gaming hits, using word of mouth and the new App Center to recommend games to friends that will turn users to players to payers, as company executives said Thursday to reporters in Menlo Park.