Zynga launching Words With Friends on Facebook

By Mike Flacy August 1, 2011

Words-With-Friends — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Makers of the extremely popular FarmVille, Zynga is bringing the mobile gaming hit Word With Friends to audiences on the Web. Extremely similar to Hasbro’s Scrabble, Words With Friends is a relaxed version of the word game with built-in chat functions similar to the recently launched Hanging With Friends. The mobile version of the game allows players to sync Facebook accounts to the in-game friend list and players can challenge people on the list to play a quick match. The Web version of Words With Friends allows for cross-platform play as well as trading comments about the game on the Facebook wall.

Players also have the ability to send notifications to other players when waiting on a player to take a turn in the game. Players can be involved in up to 20 games at a time simultaneously as most matches typically take ten to fourteen days to complete. While Words With Friends hasn’t launched on the PC platform yet, it’s rumored to roll out within the next two weeks. It’s also likely that another update to the mobile software of the game will roll out to allows for Facebook notifications. Anyone interested in the game can “Like” the official Words With Friends Facebook page to receive a notification of launch.

It’s possible Zynga will come under the same scrutiny as another company that built and launched Scrabulous on Facebook on 2006. Before FarmVille was launched, Scrabulous was often referred to as the most popular game on Facebook with over 500,000 active players each day. During the height of its popularity on Facebook, the game was generating $25,000 a month in advertising revenue. The popularity caught the attention of Hasbro, the makers of Scrabble. After a lawsuit in 2008, Scrabulous was forced to shut down. The owners of the application and website relaunched under the name Lexulous, but didn’t regain the massively popularity of Scrabulous.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Gaming

3 retro classics to play on Nintendo Switch Online this weekend (May 3-5)

Kirby and his friends post in Kirby and the Amazing Mirror art.

With rumors of a new Nintendo console heating up, it's once again time to accept that the Switch's long lifespan is coming to its end. 2024 will likely be the system's last full year before a successor steals its thunder. That's apparent in Nintendo's recent first-party offerings, as the system is getting a lot of remasters and niche curveballs this year. As exclusives like Endless Ocean: Luminous underwhelm, you may have found yourself looking for reasons to fire up your Switch.

Thankfully, you have a lot of great excuses to do so if you're subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online. The service is home to plenty of classic games from the NES up to the Nintendo 64. Even if you're a game historian, there's a good chance you haven't played everything Switch Online has to offer. This weekend, I have three recommendations for anyone looking to fire up some great, old games. These aren't random picks; I've chosen three games that feel spiritually linked to some of this spring's biggest games.
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror

Gaming

Helldivers 2 PC players are furious over this controversial change

A Helldivers 2 player fires a laser canon.

Helldivers 2, February's surprise multiplayer hit from Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment, is now getting bombarded with negative reviews on Steam. That's because the game will soon require all PC players to link their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account.

Anyone who plays Helldivers 2 for the first time after May 6 will have to link a PlayStation Network account to Steam. Those who already own the game will also be required to do so by June 4 or they will no longer be able to access the game.

Gaming

The best games on PlayStation Plus, Extra, and Premium

A person plays Crash Bandicoot using a PS5 DualSense controller.

PlayStation Plus has undergone several iterations and changes since its introduction. Originally, the service wasn't required for online play at all and rewarded subscribers with extra discounts and free monthly games. Once the PlayStation 4 generation began, it was required for online play, but still offered those same benefits.

Now, PS Plus is divided into three different tiers of subscriptions. The basic tier, PS Plus Essential, still gets three games per month added, while the Extra and Premium tiers will have a varying number of games added to their catalogs. With hundreds of games already and more coming and going all the time, even the most dedicated gamer won't be able to play everything on offer. To help you get the most bang for your buck and so that no hidden gems fly under your radar, here are all the best games to play on PS Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium right now.
Best PS Plus Essential games
As is usually the case, everyone with the lowest tier of PS Plus gets three games this month, two with PlayStation 5 versions and one with a PS4 version. Here's what you can play this month: