inFAMOUS Anarchy combines CityVille and Mafia Wars on Facebook

Have you been holding out on purchasing inFAMOUS 2 for your PlayStation 3? Do you have a few minutes to spare on a new Facebook game? Did you even like the first inFAMOUS game? If you answered yes to any of those questions (specifically the second), then you'll be happy to know that Sony has partnered with Mob Science to produce inFAMOUS Anarchy, a new companion-game of sorts for Facebook.

inFAMOUS Anarchy has already been adopted by almost 450,000 monthly active users, but you might have a hard time finding the game via a Facebook search (and by hard time, I mean that it's seemingly impossible to find without a direct link). Click on this link to find it, and follow along as we give you an in-depth look at what to expect.

From the start, you'll be able to choose your character's gender, as you won't actually be playing as Cole from the main series. Zeke is back from the main game to serve as your guide this time around, and introduces you to the concept of rebuilding your home in Amp City, and saving it from the monsters that will try to invade. While in a unique theme, inFAMOUS Anarchy really plays as a fairly basic city-building experience (like, say, CityVille), but with Amps in place of Goods and crops, and monsters to fight as an additional gameplay element.

You'll start with a single Apartment building that requires Amps to produce profits. You'll grow Amps in electrical "farming" plots, with different types of Amps, like Batteries or Coal, being the game's version of Corn or Strawberries. There's a Power Plant in your town that must be staffed with friends, quests to complete along the left side of the screen, and your friends' towns to visit across the bottom of the screen. Every basic city-building element seems to be represented here (including an energy bar that dictates just how long you can play in a single sitting), but where things at least attempt to be different is in the combat.

You'll be able to click on the Map button to bring up a choice of new districts to visit. You'll unlock more locations as you level up, but are first given Amp City Avenue. These locations are crawling with Tweakers and other enemies, along with buildings that you can "Do Jobs" in for extra cash and experience points. You'll simply need to click on enemies to "beat them up," using a few energy and rewarded with a bit of cash in return. Back in your own town, monsters may appear and you'll have to defeat them via multiple clicks to bring back the peace.

In terms of other elements, you can visit Zeke's city and craft items using collectibles you'll find at random while playing. These can be anything from decorations and buildings for your city to armor for your character. You can also complete up to five tasks per day, per friend, as you'd expect. For true social elements, you can fight other players, moving your in-game karma meter either to the light or dark side, and you'll need to use things like the aforementioned armor to tilt the favor of battle your way. It's not a new element to Facebook gaming by any stretch of the imagination (see: Mafia Wars), but it does give you something else to spend your energy on should you get bored.

Gallery: inFAMOUS Anarchy Facebook


Since most of the gameplay here is already available in established titles like CityVille, it's unfortunate to not see Mob Science and Sony push for more out of the license. Still, the game is fairly in-depth, such as it is, and if you like the setting or characters, there are touches of fan service here that will keep you coming back. It's still unfortunate to not see a true inFAMOUS game being released on the Facebook platform, but I suppose this will have to tide us over for now.

Play inFAMOUS Anarchy on Facebook -->

Have you tried inFAMOUS Anarchy? Do you think the game is too much like other city-building games on Facebook, or do you just like its original theme?

NHL Superstars coming to Facebook in October

Adding to its popular brand of "Superstars" titles on Facebook, Electronic Arts has announced the production of NHL Superstars for Facebook. This new game, as reported by ShackNews, comes on the heels of EA's NHL 12 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 breaking franchise records for the biggest launch week in the franchise's history.

As for the franchise's jump onto the Facebook ice, we're told this: "NHL Superstars will bring an all-new NHL experience to millions of hockey fans by enabling players to build and manage their ultimate team of professional hockey players. With dynamic and accessible gameplay, fans can compete head-to-head in games against their Facebook friends from around the world."

While specific details are still lacking as to what we can exactly expect from NHL Superstars, we can't imagine EA / Playfish breaking the mold. We'll likely be able to collect cards that contain professional hockey players, and then trade those cards out to create the best team possible. Each player will likely have stats, and we'll be able to use those players in virtual hockey games against others for supremacy.

We don't have a specific release date for NHL Superstars, although the game is set to take to the ice sometime in October. We'll make sure to give you a complete look at the game when we know more.

Are you excited to see NHL Superstars come to Facebook? Which players will you look for to create your perfect team?

NHL Superstars coming to Facebook in October

Adding to its popular brand of "Superstars" titles on Facebook, Electronic Arts has announced the production of NHL Superstars for Facebook. This new game, as reported by ShackNews, comes on the heels of EA's NHL 12 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 breaking franchise records for the biggest launch week in the franchise's history.

As for the franchise's jump onto the Facebook ice, we're told this: "NHL Superstars will bring an all-new NHL experience to millions of hockey fans by enabling players to build and manage their ultimate team of professional hockey players. With dynamic and accessible gameplay, fans can compete head-to-head in games against their Facebook friends from around the world."

While specific details are still lacking as to what we can exactly expect from NHL Superstars, we can't imagine EA / Playfish breaking the mold. We'll likely be able to collect cards that contain professional hockey players, and then trade those cards out to create the best team possible. Each player will likely have stats, and we'll be able to use those players in virtual hockey games against others for supremacy.

We don't have a specific release date for NHL Superstars, although the game is set to take to the ice sometime in October. We'll make sure to give you a complete look at the game when we know more.

Are you excited to see NHL Superstars come to Facebook? Which players will you look for to create your perfect team? Sound off in the comments.

The Sims Social: Country meets chic with Country Kitchen items

Is it just me, or is decorating our houses one of the best things to do in the Sims Social? I know I could personally spend plenty of time rearranging furniture in each room, only to ripe it all out and start over again, and to help us do that with even more themes is a new Country Kitchen theme that has launched in the game this week. These country kitchen items bring in all sorts of shades of brown and ivory, and it's one of the most complete themes we've seen released in the game yet. Here's a rundown of what to look out for in the store to make this theme complete in your own home.

Plate Collection

    * Costs: 4 SimCash
    * Value: $600


Perfecto Fruitbowl

    * Costs: 4 SimCash
    * Value $600


Vintage Wines

    * Costs: 6 SimCash
    * Value: $900


RuralU Deluxe C (Kitchen Counter Piece)

    * Costs: 10 SimCash
    * Value: $1500


RuralU Deluxe (Kitchen Counter Piece)

    * Costs: 12 SimCash
    * Value: $1750


Antiquitate Deco (Wall Sconce)

    * Costs: 3 SimCash
    * Value: $450


19th Century Lamp

    * Costs: 10 SimCash
    * Value: $1500


19th Century Pot (Flowers)

    * Costs: 19 SimCash
    * Value: $2800


Antiquitate Oil

    * Costs: 325 Social Points
    * Value: $700


Basinuate Marble (Sink)

    * Costs: 12 SimCash
    * Value: 1750
    * Clean Stat: 5



FrancoFaux Chaise (Buildable item)

    * Costs: 225 Social Points
    * Value: $500


Cereal Shelf

    * Costs: 250 Social Points
    * Value: $550


19th Century Mat

    * Costs: 19 SimCash
    * Value: $2800


Clox Fruitful

    * Costs: 350 Social Points
    * Value: $800


RuralU Trove (Wall Cabinet Piece)

    * Costs: 600 Social Points
    * Value: $1450


RuralU Charm (Wall Cabinet Piece)

    * Costs: 800 Social Points
    * Value: $2050


FrancoFaux Tableau (Buildable item)

    * Costs: 800 Social Points
    * Value: $2050


RuralU Latch (Hutch - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 1100 Social Points
    * Value: $3100


G King Counter (Center Island - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 15,000 Social Points
    * Value: $21,250
    * Happiness Stat: 3


Normanity Chair (Living Room Furniture - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 450 Social Points
    * Value: $1050


FrancoFaux Cafe (Living Room Furniture - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 650 Social Points
    * Value: $1600


Normanity Sofa (Living Room Furniture - Buildable item)

    * Costs: 700 Social Points
    * Value: $1750
    * Sleep Stat: 3



In addition to all of these items, there's also a Cooking Skill vent hood called the SuxDelux that's available to users that have reached a Cooking Skill of 40 or higher. This item has a value of $3650.

In the Build Menu, you can also find a selection of new windows in the same matching dark wood color, ranging in price from 750 coins for the RealOak 2 Pane to 6,000 coins for the RealOak 5 Pane. If you want the window in the picture above, with the quaint ivory curtains, that will set you back a whopping 39 SimCash. Along with this, there are five new wallpapers and three new floor tiles to round out the theme.

There's no listed time limit on any of these items, so if you don't have enough Social Points or SimCash available to buy them now, you should be able to save up and purchase them well into the future. Still, if you want to get your hands on these items while they're fresh, I really couldn't blame you. I just hope your kitchen is big enough to hold them all!

[Final Image Credit: Playfish/EA]

What do you think of these Country Kitchen items? Are you more of a modern fan, or do you like country / southwestern items? Sound off in the comments.