Opinion: Some Facebook games can be considered mini-MMOs

Most people don’t really think of the assorted games and applications available on Facebook as full fledged games. If anything, they’d probably be sorted into the casual game category, due to the fact that the graphics aren’t always stellar, you don’t have to make a serious time investment to play and they’re all browser vased adventures. And yet, if you take the time to get involved in some of Facebook’s most popular offerings, you’ll understand how these are not only real games, but also in many cases mini-massive multiplayer online games.

First, look at Farm Town, a farming simulation game available on Facebook. Over 11,948,800 people play Farm Town as of 12:37pm CST, July 14, 2009. The goal of this casual game is to create a successful farm. As you grow more crops, you earn experience which allows you to buy new buildings, purchase more crops, acquire new animals and have more gift options to send to friends.

But it doesn’t end there. Your Facebook friends who have also added the Farm Town game application to their profile can become your neighbors. You can visit their farms to help do odd jobs for them, like weeding or watering. Plus, players can also visit the Marketplace or Inn. At these locations you can interact with other players who are on at the same time as you. You can chat, hire farmhands to do some work on your farm or offer your services as a farmhand. Due to the interaction you can have with friends who are players, or other players who are online, Farm Town becomes more than just a single player time-killer, it can be considered a beginner’s MMO.

YoVille is another Facebook game application which steps into MMO territory. Like Second Life or The Sims games, YoVille allows players to live a virtual life. You are given an apartment, which you can decorate to your heart’s content. You can work jobs in town to earn money, visit the homes of friends who also have also added the app and interact with their avatars even when they’re offline. In town you can also interact with strangers who happen to be online at the same time.

Another YoVille which adds to it’s MMO credibility is the existence of Cash Shop items. You can use real money to purchase pets, furniture and clothing, just like in real MMOs. Plus, it also has a very wide userbase of over 8.6 million monthly users as of 1:07pm CST, July 14, 2009.

Restaurant City is another Facebook game application which helps lend credence to the possibility that such apps can be considered MMOs. The basis of the game is creating and maintaining your own restaurant. For the post part it’s a simulation game where you focus on your own characters and their business.

And yet, there are still Restaurant City elements which can make it similar to an MMO. You can hire Facebook friends to work in your restaurant. Plus, you can go and visit restaurants belonging to your friends. You can also trade ingredients you have found or bought with friends to unlock new recipes or buy gifts to give to other users. While it doesn’t have the chatting aspect found in YoVille or Farm Town, it still has some of the hallmarks of an MMO.

Even Facebook game applications without fancy flash-based activities can fall under the mini-MMO heading. (fluff)Friends, Mafia Wars, PackRat, Zombies and Perfect Warrior all could be considered MMOs, due to the dedication some people put in to developing their characters and the interactions with other Facebook users.

Facebook game applications offer users the ability to take part in free, occasionally casual games, with their friends and other Facebook users. While they may not be as complex as World of Warcraft, MapleStory or other online games, they still have quite a bit to offer users in terms of adventure and socialization opportunities.

Site [Farm Town] Site [YoVille] Site [Restaurant City]