May 16, 2011

Despite the record-breaking activity resulting from the release of Zynga's CityVille on Facebook in December 2010, the leading social network has seen its gaming userbase swiftly settle back into the mature groove heralded in the second half of last year. One record left untouched by CityVille's immense touchdown is that of average engagement of the top games, which stubbornly holds firm.

Despite the record-breaking activity resulting from the release of Zynga's CityVille on Facebook in December 2010, the leading social network has seen its gaming userbase swiftly settle back into the mature groove heralded in the second half of last year. One record left untouched by CityVille's immense touchdown is that of average engagement of the top games, which stubbornly holds firm.

Wheras Zynga may have successfully expanded its position on Facebook in the past quarter, performance isn't as rosy for some of 2010's major companies, as increased competition and other factors take toll, and newly released games become essential for combating churn, offering little growth.

Further, we offer closer looks at the numerous alternative networks to Facebook that are presenting opportunity to European operators, such as V Kontakte, Tuenti and Nasza Klasa. Three prominent Facebook titles of various note are also examined in greater detail: Bejeweled Blitz, Ravenwood Fair and Millionaire City.

Highlights:

• Zynga ups its share of Facebook's total gaming activity to 38.1%, compared to 33.9% in Q4 2010
• A total of 18 funding and acquisition deals are charted, five of which are worth $20m or over.
• Ubisoft's CSi: Crime City gives the publisher some much-needed traction on Facebook, while Sega and Square Enix struggle.

In this report:

• Facebook's monthly active users
• Engagement values in Facebook games
• Zynga Q1 11 performance
• Disney Playdom, Q1 11 performance
• Electronic Arts, Q1 11 performance
• Traditional game companies on Facebook
• Funding and acquisition activity
• Games activity on other key PC social networks
• Game profile: Bejeweled Blitz
• Game profile: Ravenwood Fair
• Game profile: Millionaire City

Tables and charts included:

• Monthly active users of Facebook games, Oct 10-Mar 11
• Engagement values for Top 40 Facebook games, Jan-Mar 11
• Zynga portfolio details, Q1 11
• MAUs and engagement for Zynga's Facebook games
• Disney Playdom portfolio details, Q1 11
• MAUs and engagement for Disney Playdom's Facebook games
• Electronic Arts portfolio details, Q1 11
• MAUs and engagement for Electronic Arts' Facebook games
• Ubisoft, Facebook portfolio MAUs
• Other traditional companies, Facebook MAUs
• Funding and acquisition activity
• Gaming MAUs on other PC social network, Mar 11
• Top games on other network, Mar 11
• Bejeweled Blitz, MAUs and engagement history
• Ravenwood Fair, MAUs and engagement history
• Millionaire City, MAUs and engagement history

Pages: 11

Tables & charts: 16

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