Mafia Wars is a multiplayer browser game created by Zynga. It was the 2009 Webby Award People's Voice Winner in the Games category.[1] It is on several social networking sites and on the iPhone.
Mafia Wars is set in New York City and Little Italy, with the option for players to travel between New York (or Manhattan), Cuba (level 35+), Moscow (level 70+), Bangkok, Las Vegas (level 18+) and Italy. In 2010, Paris, London, South Africa, Mumbai and Dublin are introduced as challenge missions (which are available for a limited time). The game revolves around doing and mastering jobs to earn cash and experience, with the goal of establishing and advancing one's criminal empire.[4] Players create mafias by recruiting players and using reward points to hire extra mafia members. Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Friendster and Yahoo! allow players to recruit from friends to build their mafia and fight against other players.[4][5] Players can also improve their stats by visiting the Marketplace (i.e., making a micropayment).[4]
Gameplay revolves around timers: players have limited energy (for doing jobs), and health and stamina meters (for fighting other players), in a manner similar to an RPG (role playing game),[6] which slowly recharges over time. With the help of other mafia members that have been recruited, players can eventually fight other players, which may or may not result in the theft of cash, "icing", or "death" of the other player. The game operates on a level up basis. The player earns experience points by completing jobs. Players who manage to complete special tasks (for example, winning fights against bigger mafias or winning fifteen fights in a row) are labeled as having accomplished an "achievement", resulting in a bonus for the player. As they level up, more jobs and features become available, such as the ability to visit Cuba to expand their criminal empire.
After a significant in-game marketing blitz, Zynga added a new city, Moscow, on September 24, 2009.[7] Once a player reaches level 70, they are granted access to Moscow, and they get to choose between the Thieves in Law Vory or the Russian Mafiya. On January 20, 2010, Bangkok Beta was released with some players being granted access to it, but some not. This is to prevent too many people from going to Bangkok which may cause the system to crash.[8] In Bangkok, players will be able to choose from the Triad and the Yakuza. The region Las Vegas, came out June 23, 2010 as a beta, and July 21, 2010 out of beta.[9]In October 2010 Mafia Wars released Italy with 5 playable regions with 3 being released later.
Mafia Wars also has special events such as Valentine's Day, Easter, the 4th of July, Christmas and others.[10]
[edit]Updating and server issues
Mafia Wars' parent company, Zynga, has worked to adapt multiple changes within the game, introducing various "beta" features into the game, such as robbing (wherein players can rob each others' property). These features are often removed without warning, and older players have reported that the property and task interface is substantially different between that of newer players and those who have been playing for a time.
In October 2009 Rackets was added to New York and replaced the old properties method. New players had the new version while older ones retained properties. At first rackets appeared to be inferior to properties but has additional attack and defense bonuses that make it just as good, if not better.[11] In spring 2010, New York rackets were abolished and properties relaunched. Two non-cash generating properties, the Weapons Depot and Armoury were subsequently added. At the same time, businesses in Bangkok, Cuba and Moscow were replaced by properties. Properties across all cities can now be looted by opposing players.
Zynga reports that a game release on 5/21 at midnight (PST) may have affected players’ stats for anyone playing between 12-3am.
Among the possible errors include
Reset of various Episodes’ Mastery (in multiple cities)
Rollback of Property Levels
Rollback of Faction Levels/Points (Yakuza or Triad)
Lost Marketplace item (typically Hydrofoil)[12]
[edit]Lawsuit
The makers of a similar online game, Mob Wars, sued Zynga over their launch of Mafia Wars, accusing Zynga of copyright infringement. Zynga made some changes to Mafia Wars so it did not resemble Mob Wars as closely, but Mob Wars creator David Maestri moved forward with his lawsuit.[13] In September 2009, Maestri and Zynga settled the case for about $7–$9 million, less than the $10 million Maestri had originally demanded.[14]
[edit]Trademark disputes
Zynga filed its trademark for the stylized version of Mafia Wars with the U.S. Patent & Trademarks Office on July 1, 2009, months after it first launched the Mafia Wars game on the internet through Facebook.[15] The Zynga trademark application for Mafia Wars sought to cover games for computers and wireless devices. David L. Kelejian, however on June 15, 2009, just two weeks prior to the Zynga filing, filed an intent-to-use trademark application for a stylized version of Mafia Wars which covered clothing and apparel.[15] Zynga later began selling Mafia Wars branded clothing through Zazzle.[15] By or before late November 2009, Zynga noticed Kelejian's pending trademark application for Mafia Wars, and filed a trademark opposition proceeding against Kelejian's trademark on December 1, 2009.[15]
In August 2010, Digital Chocolate sued Zynga over allegations that Zynga falsely claimed it had coined the "Mafia Wars" trademark. Digital Chocolate had previously created a cell-phone game by the same name. According to TGDaily, Zynga agreed to stop using the "Mafia Wars" trademark but failed to follow through.[16]
[edit]Advertising
A promotional campaign for Mafia Wars occurred in San Francisco in August 2010. Davis Elen Advertising ran the campaign, which consisted of fake $25,000 bills glued to the sidewalk promoting "Mafia Wars: Las Vegas." Deputy City Attorney Alex Tse called the campaign "illegal and actionable."[17] Davis Elen has taken full responsibility for the promotion.[18]
[edit]Charity
On December 16, 2009, it was announced on the official blog that 50% of the sale of limited edition - Haitian Drum, will be donated to FATEM, a non-profit organization that works to provide economic advancements for the Haitian community of Mirebalais.[19][20]
On January 14, 2010, it was announced that 100% of all contributions to Zynga's Haiti Relief Fund - provided by purchasing new limited edition item "Haitian Relief Drum", will be donated to help the people of Haiti who are suffering from the devastating consequences of the January 2010 earthquakes.[21][22]
On March 11, 2010, it was announced that 50% of all contributions to Huntington’s Disease Society of America’s Coalition for the Cure - provided by purchasing new limited edition item "Exploding Teddy Bear"[23], will be donated to help annihilate Huntington’s Disease. On October 15, 2010 a new limited edition item "War Wagon"[24] will donate 100%.
On Friday, May 28, there was an announcement that there would be a special Memorial Day Weekend sale. Of the five items that were sold, Mounted Mini Gun, WWI German Armor, B-52 Bomber, Desert Storm G2, and the H-13 Med Evac, 50% went to the Fisher House Foundation charity, who help make it possible for families to visit their injured relatives who are in service. Players are encouraged to spend even more money to get the WWII M4 Sherman Tank through buying ten memorial day items.[25]
Later On 5 items were placed on sale which would help the rebuilding of Haiti.
On Memorial Day of 2009 a set of Dogtags could be purchased for 25 RP, with the money going to Fisher House. In 2010 the Item was a Deep Six sold for 35RP.
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