The name Gameloft ought to be familiar to users of iOS, Android and other mobile operating systems. The company is well-known for building game app that intentionally riff on/rip off established console franchises, everything from The Legend of Zelda to Grand Theft Auto. One of its most well-known and highly received releases is the first-person shooter N.O.V.A. Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance, which finds its inspiration in Microsoft‘s Halo series. Now the popular mobile FPS has moved on to get a full-blown PC release… but not in the way you might think.
N.O.V.A. Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance: Elite is a Facebook game, and the first FPS to be developed specifically for the popular social network, a press release reveals. To play it, simply head over to http://apps.facebook.com/novafps and download/install the required Unity Web Player. The game is free-to-play, but as is always the case with such things there’s a built-in store featuring armor, weapons and accessories that can be purchased as microtransactions. Being built around Facebook, there’s also a sizable community component, including a friends list and stat-tracking.
“For over 10 years, Gameloft has established itself as the leading developer on all mass-market platforms for downloadable video games,” company president Michel Guillemot said in a press release. “With this in mind, we’ve expanded our reach to include games for social networks. This also illustrates our resolve to be closer to our fans on all platforms of their choosing.”
Elite is Gameloft’s first step into Facebook’s socially networked world. Late last year, the company launched Green Farm, a farming simulation with an eye-catching visual style and a high level of polish. It’s about as far removed as you can get from N.O.V.A., but staying diversified in the increasingly crowded mobile/social game development space is always a good thing. Plus, this is Gameloft we’re talking about. The company’s entire existence is built around a diverse portfolio of game releases.
