The Rise of Social Gaming
Social Gaming is the fastest growing game market.
Social games are "built to be enjoyed and shared with friends through existing social networks and platforms like the iPhone." They are often free to play, and they heighten the sense of camaraderie and competition with other players.
Full Article on "Social Networking is next big thing for gaming"
One of the most popular games is "FarmVille" made by private company "Zynga".
Social Gaming may usher in new business models by attracting many players with a free price and then monitizing a fraction of them.
