The Godfather is returning to a gaming platform again, but don’t expect something that’s on par with console The Godfather games. The Godfather: Empire is an iOS game that has more in common with the Zynga Mafia Wars browser-based game. I guess that’s what you get for free.

In The Godfather: Empire, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch owners become members of the Corleone family…

Facebook has already become a viable gaming platform, filled with all sorts of casual, browser-based games players can add to their profile and account and play as they wish. But what happens when Facebook users become bored of the casual games they’re playing? The casual games on Facebook are quite entertaining and all, but after a while their simplicity can cause their users to become tired of following the same routine to succeed.

That’s where console, handheld and computer games can step up. Many of the Facebook casual games, like YoVille, Mafia Wars or FarmTown, are incredibly similar to existing major releases. Facebook users can easily transition to the game that corresponds to their favorite Facebook applications, and hopefully find something that will hold their interest and perhaps even help them find other games they may enjoy.

Gamertell is taking look at some of the most popular game applications on Facebook today, and pairing them up with comparable major releases, in the hopes of expanding the horizons of casual, Facebook gamers…

It’s not personal – it’s business. It’s a concept from the original Godfather movies that holds true even in EA’s Godfather games. You think strategically and take actions that will put the family in the best possible position. When The Godfather II is released April 7, 2009, PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 owners will be called upon to take care of business again – moving up in the ranks and becoming a dons who leads their own crime families in New York, Havana and Miami.

Well, maybe perhaps players will start taking things personally once The Godfather II’s out. After all, it will be the first entry in the series with multiplayer, and your friends may take it personally if you whack them…

Gamertell was fortunate enough to get the chance to talk to John Salera, the EA Redwood Shores Senior Development Director, about the studios’ work on The Godfather II game…

EA Games is working on a Godfather II videogame. Apparently the first Godfather game was really that successful. The sequel, Godfather II, will be released on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in February, 2009. The official unveiling of the game will be August 15, 2008 on Spike TV during a GameTrailers TV show dedicated to the game. The official first trailer will also appear on the official website on August 18, 2008, in case you don’t get cable. The site isn’t open yet, so try visiting in a few days (as of 12:28pm CST, August 8, 2008).

Like the first game, Godfather II will be based on the movie The Godfather: Part II and have a sandbox approach where you take part in and run a mob during the 1960′s. The scope is larger in Godfather II though, as your empire extends outside of New York to Cuba and Florida. The BlackHand control scheme will remain, but the ability to build a family of Made Men, manage all of your empire at once in a strategic overview of the game referred to as “The Don’s View” and the ability to take part in battles or actions with men who have specialized criminal skills.