Social Network Games: Friend or Foe to the Video Game Industry?

Social Network Games have become an increasingly hot topic of debate and conversation over the past few years, especially as sites such as Facebook skyrocket in popularity. Facebook-based games, called "apps" or "applications" on the site, are offered from a variety of developers with several connections in the video game industry.

Many of these Social Network games are available on multiple sites; MySpace, Facebook, and similar networks have their own individual availabilities. I reviewed the top 5 Facebook games for summer 2010 earlier this year, based on reported amounts of users and popularity. Many game developers offer access to their Social Network-based games on independent websites; Superpoke! Pets can be accessed via Facebook and MySpace apps in addition to on their official website.

Social Network Games Benefit: The introduction of non-gamers to video games through peer pressure. Communities such as Facebook are full of non-gamers just ripe for the picking with only the tiniest application of peer pressure. Just pester Aunt Sue to tend to your garden or join your mafia, and before long she'll be hooked on a video game without even realizing it!

Social Network Games Benefit: Frequent updates. Outside of MMORPG style video games, most titles are set in stone after release with only minimal downloadable or purchasable updates. App-based Social Network games typically feature monthly or even weekly updates, with new content, challenges and prizes. This doesn't detract from the appeal of MMO or console games enough to lure fans of those alternatives away, while providing a unique perk to this style of gaming.

Social Network Games Benefit: Seasonal events and activities. One perk to Social Network games is the presence of seasonal or holiday-based activities, new items and other events. Whether it is a contest, free "gifts" to send to those on your friends list or unlockable treasures to use, seasonal updates are almost impossible on console games and are limited in MMOs.

Social Network Games Benefit: Access on mobile phones with minimal loss of content. If Xbox and Playstation could offer full-length video games on the iPhone and other top-end cell phones then this feature of Social Network Games would be a greater threat to the gaming industry. However, such titles are limited in their mobility, allowing these types of video games a niche in the industry previously untapped, as many of the "apps" are fully functional and available in near-entirety via mobile phones.

Social Network Games Benefit: Minimal cost or purchase-reward systems. Most Social Network Games are 100% free-to-play and require no up-front cost associated with gaining access to the app. This prevents any direct influence of sales to console or MMO games other than the risk of gamers devoting their time to the free app-based alternatives rather than investing in pay-to-play video games. However, most true gamers are unlikely to abandon the latest sequel in their favorite franchise to sit online on Facebook tending to a farm-I hope, at least.