Tag: Newtoy »

In the least clever pun we could think of Zynga has got themselves a new toy by announcing today that they have acquired Newtoy Studios. Newtoy is most famous for producing Words with Friends, Chess with Friends, and We Rule for ngmoco:). While Zynga is of course the company which brought us Farmville. Newtoy has been rebranded Zynga with Friends and will continue working out of their Texas-based headquarters.

The new entity will also retain the same management, with Newtoy CEO and co-founder Paul Bettner assuming the role of VP and GM of the Zynga With Friends studio. "We're reinventing the way people are social on their mobile devices," Bettner. "The Zynga With Friends studio will build on the Newtoy legacy of creating approachable, highly social games that are accessible to anyone from anywhere." His brother and co-founder, David will be working as studio director, and Michael Chow will continue his role as director of operations. So it would seem that the day-to-day work around the office will remain pretty much in place and all the familiar faces will stay in place, all that's changing is the sign on the door. That's all probably for the best, as there's no reason to mess up a good thing.

So what is Zynga planning to do with the new Zynga with Friends studio? No specific plans were set but Mark Pincus, founder and CEO said, "The Games With Friends franchise is the best social game experience available on mobile today and we are excited to welcome the Newtoy team to the Zynga family. The Zynga With Friends Studio will continue to invent great mobile social game experiences for Zynga users everywhere."

Of course we'll keep you posted of any news coming out of the Zynga with Friends studio, but for now we'll just say congrats to both companies and best of luck.

I request that you get to the helicopter.

On This Episode:

Carter speaks with One Man Left's Adam Stewart and Alex Okafor about the upcoming Tilt to Live HD, and how they adapted the game from the iPhone to the iPad, including a reworking of the Gauntlet mode. Tangents are also gone off upon.

Carter speaks with Vijay Thakkar, Technical Director at Newtoy, talking about the challenges of working with server-based architecture with their games, and he sets the record straight about any alleged cheating anyone might have done in Words With Friends.

Who Are We:

Host: Carter Dotson

Guests: Alex Okafor and Adam Stewart, One Man Left

Guest: Vijay Thakkar, Newtoy

Music:

"Beatnes7 (Theme to The Portable Podcast)" by The Eternal - Download on iTunes here:

"Nanocarp" by The Eternal

How to Listen:

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Listen on WRGT Radio every Friday at 4pm Central

Listen Here: [powerpress]

Apps Mentioned on This Episode:

September 19th was national Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Newtoy, the developers of Words With Friends, decided that the day shouldn't go unmarked. Hence the new arrival of Words With Pirates on the App Store. If you're a bit too skittish to actually talk like a pirate in honor of our proud national holiday, perhaps you should download the app instead and enjoy a bit of private pirate revelry.

Words With Pirates is just like Words With Friends, but with some notable differences. First, you spell mainly with Y, A, R, G, H, and the brand-new ! character. In other words, you're just roaring "ARRRGH!" and various permutations over and over again. And the entire app is draped with a pirate theme—you challenge your friends to duels, not games, for example. It's a lot like using Facebook in Pirate English.

The game is free—for now. Apparently it won't be sticking around for long, just long enough to briefly celebrate piracy and get Newtoy some publicity. Oh, well. If you want to show off your piratey dialogue skills, sail on over to the App Store and snag the free app. Happy belated Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Words With Friends is a multiplayer Scrabble-type word game currently available on the iPhone. Info came in last night that Newtoy will be releasing Words With Friends HD on the iPad at launch. Newtoy were kind enough to send us over some screen shots. Take a look at those below. No amazing new features announced, just the same great multiplayer game we know and love, but easier to play on the larger iPad screen.

Newtoy let us know that they will also be hanging out with fans at the Stonebriar Mall in Fricso, TX this Saturday from 9am-Noon to celebrate the Words With Friends HD and iPad release. (Hint: They'll have free t-shirts and Words With Friends HD promo codes!)

More pictures after the jump.

It's hard not to love ngmoco. From Rolando to Eliminate, their catalog is bursting with App Store classics. It's exciting, then, to hear that they've got a new game in the works...specifically, a "social game" entitled We Rule.

ngmoco might be calling it a social game, but the first word that jumped to my mind was "simulation." Here's an excerpt from ngmoco's announcement:

In We Rule, you will govern your very own kingdom. You will act as a city planner and landscaper—customizing your realm with buildings, banners, and botany. You’ll decide what crops to plant and ensure they are harvested on time. You will collect taxes from your citizens and manage a variety of shops and businesses - from bakeries and inns to lumber mills and ore mines.

It sounds like the basis for an excellent simulation game, and some sort of social aspect will obviously play a key role. As to what exactly it will be, well, we'll have to wait to learn more.

Also of note is that ngmoco will be partnering with Newtoy for We Rule. Newtoy has a pretty solid pedigree—the games they helped create range from Halo Reach to Words With Friends—and coupled with ngmoco's own talent and finesse, We Rule is almost guaranteed to be great. We'll update you when ngmoco releases more information!