Social Network Gaming: A History



Social Games Info graphic

 Social network gaming may be a relatively new concept, but social gaming has been around for millennia (That's thousands of years!). Starting out as your basic stick and ball games, to complex games like Backgammon, social games have been around longer than the Big Mac and that Jesus guy.

Social gaming itself is simply playing games as a way of social interaction with others. It is generally something done with friends and neighbors. Card games, guessing games like Charades, and board games.

Only recently with the boom of the Internet and social media networks like Facebook, MySpace, and Friendster (Yep, I went there) have we been able to really expand our understanding of friend as being your buddy from around the block, to your buddy from around the world.

Social network games provide a combination of elements; The social aspect of a social network alongside the logic and skill aspects of social games come together and allow for a wholly new experience.

In general, Social Network Games share some or all of the following elements:

• Asynchronous gameplay: Players are not required to be logged-in or playing at the same time.
• Community: This is the most obvious element of social network games. The ability for the game to interact with a players social network or community and leverage them for quests or goals.Whether its recruiting game allies or linking social media activity, it relies on community for both gameplay and for growing its user base.
• No victory conditions: A common element of social network games is being design to be unable to defeat. Not that the game is too hard, but there are no bosses, or defined story line that comes to an end.
• Virtual currency: Since most social games are free to play, many social network game developers incorporate micro-purchases into the game. Instead of purchasing the game, you purchase "virtual currency" with real money that can be used to purchase in game items to enhance your gaming experience.

There are 3 main genres within social network gaming that are most popular:

• Asynchronous Competitive Game: These are a mash up of social network and your average everyday board/social game. Its like taking scrabble or hangman and putting it on the Internet. Players take turns and then must wait for their challenger to complete their move before they can go again.
• Simulation: Whether you are maintaining your own farm or a little puppy, simulation social network games are ruled by virtual currency that allows you to purchase upgrades and widgets to make your farm or little puppy the fastest or prettiest amongst your friends.
• Casual Role Playing: These games take your standard console RPG and strip away everything except the bare minimum. Usually setup with basic picture or text based interface, you perform quests by spending action points to obtain virtual money that allows you to level up or purchase stronger items. You can attack other people, and by inviting friends to join your party you increase your overall strength.

Generally social networking games are compatible with a single social network such as Facebook, MySpace or Friendster. You will only be able to play with people who use the same social networking site. Some Asynchronous games will allow you to import your contacts from a social network from which you use to start games with.

I believe the one word you will find in common with all social networking games is "casual". Each game is designed to be able to be played by the average social network user. Although most gamers detest social network games, that is not the desired audience for such games. The ability to pop on the Internet and play a game for a couple minutes and still feel satisfied makes these games very powerful for people who are not hardcore gamers but still want a challenge or competition.

From stick and ball to FarmVille, its hard to imagine what the next step in the evolution of the casual game will be. Maybe one day, social network gaming will evolve to a point where you do not know where the social network beings, and the game ends.