Facebook- Mafia Wars: Cuba

Facebook is a social networking site with millions of users interacting daily. It took a few years for Facebook to open its gateways to the age 13+ populace and expand from its origins at Harvard, and now it is arguably the most popular social networking site on the Internet.

What do you do with your social networking site once you’ve mastered social networking? Why not go to Cuba? Zynga game has done just that with their new expansion to the Mafia Wars game on Facebook. Games on Facebook? Yes, when Facebook added application support to their service they opened the doors for a plethora of different games, quizzes, and pieces of flair, to name a few.

The mechanics of Mafia Wars Cuba is simple enough, advance in the standard game of Mafia Wars until you can leave New York. Then you begin anew, a unique money system, unique weapons and armor, and every gamer’s favorite – achievements. To be successful in the game you need money, and a lot of it. You can earn money by purchasing and upgrading Cuban businesses. Then you must protect your character by doing jobs to level up and fighting other characters. You can have up to 501 other people fight along side you to give you the edge over your opponents. The catch, they first must be your friend on Facebook… let the mass email adds begin!

At the end of the day, you make some money in Cuba, fly back to New York and take out some other mobsters. The game can come to a standstill when you run out of “stamina”, your energy used to fight other people, or your “energy,” which is used to complete jobs or fight mob bosses. However, if you’re in this predicament, go to the Godfather and ask him for a favor, but you better have earned some favor points first or you’ll leave empty handed.

How does this diversion tie into a social networking atmosphere? First, you can add as many of your friends as you can find to your mob to gain access to limited edition items and properties that give you cash in New York. Also, the top 501 mobsters you add will fight along side you in fights. 501 vs 20, not very good odds– unless you’re Han Solo, of course. Finally, based on your competence, other mobsters may choose to add you to one of their top mafia slots. These slots offer different bonuses for different classes of mobsters. Some offer reduction in energy costs for jobs; others increase money gained from fights and jobs, while others increase your defensive or offensive abilities.

Next time you’re on Facebook, look up Mafia Wars by Zynga and “say hello to my little friend.”