3 posts and columns on Mob Wars

News Byte

Call the Consigliere: Digital Chocolate Sues Zynga Over Mafia Wars Name

in News on August 25, 2010 at 1:33 pm PT

One of the hits that has propelled Zynga to the top of the social-gaming heap is Mafia Wars, which gives users the chance to participate in the warm embrace of an extended crime family. But before there was Mafia Wars, there was, well, Mafia Wars, a similar game made by Digital Chocolate. Now DC is suing Zynga, alleging trademark infringement. Zynga–which in 2009 paid several million dollars to settle a lawsuit with David Maestri, creator of the game Mob Wars–pronounced itself “surprised and disappointed” at the suit and said it planned a vigorous defense.

Voices

Adknowledge Buys Virtual Currency Company

in News on July 22, 2009 at 7:27 am PT

Adknowledge, one of the largest independent online ad networks, announced Tuesday that it has acquired KITN Media, owner of Super Rewards, a virtual currency monetization platform for online games and social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, for an undisclosed amount.

Virtual Goods + Mobile Payments = Small Market Worth Fighting For?

in Media on June 16, 2009 at 4:00 am PT

The promise of “virtual goods”–pretend things you buy with real money in cyberspace–has lured entrepreneurs and venture capitalists for years. Same goes for mobile payments–using your iPhone instead of your Amex to buy stuff. But what if you combined the two? You’d have a market that barely exists yet is worth fighting over. At least that’s what Zong and Boku are doing.
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