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The Mafia Digs Deeper Into Moscow
8:20AM Mike Fahey | The Mafia Wars escalate in Russia this Thursday with the launch of Mafia Wars Moscow Episode 3: Bragadir and Episode 4: Avtoritet. More »
Lord of the Rings Online Going Social
10:59AM Seamus Byrne | The next step in the evolution of the MMO species? Or just a gimmick? Eurogamer has noted Turbine’s Jim Crowley is talking about the launch of a genuine social networking site for LOTRO players before year’s end. Live news from the game world, character profiles, friends lists, and sharing screens and videos from the game.
“Turbine believes that a closed eco-system will have to become an open eco-system,” he said. “The MMO needs to learn… to adapt itself to the ‘born digital’ generation. The MMO needs to step out of its shell and start reaching a much broader and deeper audience.”
I think this is a great idea. Virtual worlds need to move beyond the game client, particularly if it can let players do their MMO chores during convenient downtime during the day. If WoW had a mobile phone version of the auction house, for example, I don’t think I’d have left when I did. I’d have just kept playing that market to gain some gold between the times I could actually jump in and spend more genuine time playing the game. Allowing friends and guilds to interact as part of a world-specific social network can only be a good thing. Anyone see a downside?
LOTRO to get social network site this year [Eurogamer] More » 
Facebook a ‘Major Community Tool’ for APB
4:00AM Owen Good | Also in Realtime Worlds’ newsletter for fans, which went out this week, is word that Facebook will play a large role in building the community for APB, the long-awaited cops-and-robbers MMO. And APB’s closed beta stage is upcoming, with alpha testing completed in the middle of September, says Realtime Worlds. “Initially this will be a very core, select number of trusted friends of employees, but does mark the start of what can be considered the ‘Closed’ Beta stage of APB,” said Chris Dye, community relations manager. There were no specifics given on exactly how Facebook will be a part of this. Develop Magazine points out that APB will use social music site Last.fm for its in-game audio, Realtime Worlds has shown a willingness to use existing online services rather than create its own. The release date is still TBA. APB to Use Facebook as ‘Major Community Tool’ [Develop] More »
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