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Mafia Games Rule Social Networking Sites Like Facebook and Twitter

by Caleb Johnson on July 4, 2009 at 04:10 PM

With the rise of social networking sites, it has become a little easier to join the Mafia. Your college roommate, little brother, or (God forbid) even your dad might send you an invite to join his or her 'Mob.' While this virtual 'organized crime' lifestyle won't cost you your life, it could cost you plenty of time, grief, and money, too.

According to CNET News, sites like Facebook, MySpace, and now Twitter are making tons of money from users playing Mafia-inspired multiplayer, online role-playing games developed by third parties. The names might vary ('Mobsters,' 'Mafia Wars,' '140 Mafia'), but the games stay pretty much the same. You either create or join a 'Mob' with your friends on the social network. Then, you carry out criminal activities, which include 'killing' and 'stealing,' against rival mobs. These activities earn you points, which are then posted for all your friends to see on the social network's news feed.

As you earn points, the game developers make money, from both display ads and from players who spend real-life money on in-game goods and health. For example, '140 Mafia,' which was developed for Twitter by LOLplaying, allows users to more quickly recover health by asking the 'godfather' for a 'favor,' a request which costs actual dollars. As long as folks are willing to pay and play, these apps will continue to grow, and much to our dismay, 'Mob' invites will continue to clog inboxes. Mafia Wars, which was developed by Zynga, has 15 million users across different social networks. For these developers, at least, it looks like crime does pay. [From CNET News]

Tags: facebook, money, multiplayer, myspace, online gaming, OnlineGaming, rpg, social networking, SocialNetworking, top, twitter

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