Effective July 1, Facebook will be requiring that all social games have their payments for virtual goods processed through Facebook Credits.
In an earlier report, TechCrunch, a social media news website, has reported that:
Facebook says that Credits will be the exclusive way for users to get their ‘real money’ into a game, but developers are still allowed to keep their own in-game currencies (FarmBucks, FishPoints, whatever). For example, Zynga can charge you 90 Facebook Credits for 75 CityCash in CityVille. ~TechCrunch, 2011/01/24
Facebook Credits are presently already being used in over 350 applications, which is approximately 70% of all virtual goods purchases on Facebook. It has been announced that Facebook will be offering special incentives to the companies that use Facebook Credits as their only virtual currency, but Facebook is not forcing companies to do so. Some of the incentives include premium targeting for ads, access to new co-promotions, featured placement on the Games Dashboard, and more.
What does this mean? Well, for example, if Zynga agrees to change YoVille’s virtual currency from YoCash to Facebook Credits, Zynga will be given the above incentives. However, Facebook does not require that game developers use Facebook Credits as the only virtual currency in their games. The only thing that is required is for game currencies like YoCash and YoCoins (YoVille) to be bought via Facebook Credits.
Facebook feels the transition has gone smoothly so far for companies that are using Facebook Credits such as: Zynga, Playfish, CrowdStar, Digital Chocolate, and many more. They will continue to work closely with other companies as they transition as well to make sure things continue to go smoothly.
For more information on Facebook Credits be sure to read up on them here: http://developers.facebook.com/credits
What do you think about the Facebook Credit transition? Tell us in the comment space below.
