Facebook Timeline Apps

Facebook's Open Graph Timeline application platform has reached it's two month milestone as of this morning. Today at the SXSW conference, the social networking company announced that nearly 3,000 Timeline apps are now available. These new applications let users share a variety of actions with their Facebook friends, such as what they're reading or what they're watching. Despite the numerous vocalizations of users protesting the new format, which is unavoidable considering the human tendency to reject change. In a news release, Facebook said that businesses that have launched a Timeline app are seeing an increase in engagement and growth.

In a news release, Facebook said that businesses that have launched a Timeline app are seeing an increase in engagement and growth.

Pinterest, an up-and-coming social network, has increased the number of Facebook users visiting its site by more than 60 percent. Goodreads, a site that helps people discover and share books, and Pose, a fashion and beauty app, have both also seen significant upticks in referral traffic. The number of daily active users at Goodreads has increased 77 percent and Pose has seen a 500 percent increase in daily signups for their mobile app and website.

In addition to the news about some of its most successful Timeline apps, Facebook also announced the release of eight new ones launching this week at SXSW. These include the following:
Foursquare: Users can now add their Foursquare check-ins to their Timelines and maps, share their badges and see the top places they've checked into.

Nike: As of last week, people can use the Nike FuelBand iPhone app to find friends and see a leader board of how much "fuel" they've earned versus their friends. Facebook says Nike will make achievements and milestones available for users to post directly to their Timeline.

VEVO: Video site Vevo introduced integration that lets users sign into Vevo.com with their Facebook account, get personalized video playlists based on the artists they've "liked," discover new music through friends and post music from VEVO to their Timeline.

Fandango: The new Fandango Timeline app lets users add the clips they watch, the movies they rate and the films they want to see.

Viddy: Viddy, a mobile app for creating quick videos and adding filters, announced its new Timeline app, too. With it, people can add clips to their Timelines as they shoot them.

Endomondo: Endomondo, a fitness site, added a Timeline app so people can share their workouts, progress and favorite routs with friends.

RootMusic: RootMusic's Timeline app lets people mark their favorite songs and artists and the concerts they plan on attending from the Facebook Pages of bands. As users click "favorite," "going to go" and "wants to go," their picks will be added to their Timeline.

What do you think Facebook's Timeline platform? Have you adopted it yet? Still resistant? Do you think it is the future of Facebook or uneasy as if it sums up your cyber life for everyone to see?

First 3,000 Timeline Apps

Timeline Apps Search

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Tetris® Friends

Analysis
Challenge your friends, track your personal scores, or try to etch your name into the global leaderboard at Tetris® Friends on Facebook! Another installment in the timeless Tetris franchise. Tetris Friends has what you would expect in a Tetris game, but with some nice perks that come from being linked through Facebook such as Challenge mode, friends and world leaderboard and statistic records for some additional fun.


Content
Players can choose from six game modes:

Marathon: Complete 15 Levels to win the game.

Sprint: Clear 40 lines as fast as you can. 
The fastest game is 30.14 seconds and the replay is viewable through the leaderboard. 

Sprint 5P: Clear 40 lines faster than your opponents.
Face off  against four opponents to finish first and be the winner. If the system doesn't find enough people suitable for you to challenge it will draw from recorded games that are close to your skill level.


BlockStar: Try an old fave with nostalgic roots. 
The classic style of playing Tetris, no holding, ghost pieces and the maneuvering isn't as good as the others but with infinite levels BlockStar provides a great opportunity to really test your Tetris skills. 


Ultra: Score the most points within 2 minutes. 
It's a lot more fun than it sounds. 

Sprint 5P win

Summary
I enjoy the game and think this is a better installment over downloading one.  The ability to watch best games from anyone of any time is pretty cool. There is a lot more content on their offsite system (link included at bottom) such as achievements and 11 total game modes. Definitely work a try, even for those that haven't played Tetris before.


Tetris® Friends Facebook

Tetris® Friends Homepage 

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Risk: Factions

Analysis 
RISK: Factions is a game of world conquest! Take over the world, one territory at a time. Show your friends you are a force to be reckoned with! As someone who is a fan of the original Risk board game I've been enjoying the gaming experience of RISK: Factions. Starting off with the human race, and expansion options to zombies, cats and robots all with their own unique features.

Game Play
Like in the original version the rules are all basically the same; starting with scattered armies around the world (or which ever map is being used), take turns deploying units, attacking enemy territories and in a new twist players can deploy special units that can accumulated outside of the match environment. Another new spin I find interesting is the deployment limits, as in the original version troops are available at the beginning of every turn based on occupied territories, controlled continents and so on, but in RISK: Factions players are also required to have available troops in stock (which can be accumulated a variety of ways), if you run out of troops you will be unable to deploy troops until you acquire more. The most basic method of obtaining troops is with game gold, which is also acquired through a variety of ways, one by destroying enemy units, so its a cycle, the key is to balance your troops so you don't loose more troops faster than you gain them. With lots of freedom and game play styles you should be able to find your balance to a successful army while having a bunch of fun.

Also, the bases are pretty cool because you can decorate them but more importantly build structures that product troops every, 16 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 12 hours... which ever buildings you want, also expanding land and new bases. Note that each of the three races (human, zombie and cats) all have their own different buildings.

Content 
When you first start you have access to one single player game (against a bot) and six multiplayer games with options to play against friends, random people with turn timers ranging from 10 minutes each up to 24 hours. Three match slots are also available to unlock.

Multiplayer map called Grip

Summary
Risk: Factions is great as a multiplayer online game that you can have a lot of fun with or just a once in a while game of Risk that you don't have to clean up the pieces or can't find enough people to play a big game. 

RISK: Factions Facebook 

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SHOBO™

Analysis
SHOBO™ is an interesting multiplayer online board game by Roshumbo™ without any dice or cards. The match ends when one player either eliminates the opponents five game pieces (known as Daggers) or in the event no kills occur for five consecutive rounds the player with the least points wins. Its a sneaky way to win and brings a new level of strategy to the table.

Game Play
Games tend to last about 3 minutes, never the same and will keep you on the edge of your seat, and it if doesn't just move up a weight-class until you find that next challenge. Turns are made at the same time and not shown until both players are ready, this way neither player knows that the opponent is doing, it all comes down to prediction and a little luck. This game is simple to learn but impossible to master. SHOBO™ is an exciting game of guessing, in which every decision is critical. It is also a game of strategy and agility, intellect and domination, that bears a unique quality of drama.

                                                                  Battling ShoboRobot S. Lvl 10 Bot

Content
SHOBO™ has a good assortment of features for a Facebook game, including; leaderboard ranking,Challenge Friends/World/Computer, leveling system, game cash (play money) and as luck would have it there is no energy system requiring users to come back in twelve hours or buying refills with Facebook credits in order to continue playing.

Summary
I would definitely recommend SHOBO™ for people that enjoy games heavy in critical thinking and less focused on building character power or inviting more friends.


SHOBO™ on Facebook

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