Do you love to tend your farm on Farmville? Well then we have one huge factoid to toss at you right now: you are just a microscopic portion of the estimated 80,000,000 other users that can’t wait to sing “High Hoe the Dairy-O” on any given day of the week. In Farmville, users find delightful knacks by tending to their own farm. They are tasked with managing and expanding the farm, planting and growing crops, buying the necessary supplies and ultimately selling the fruits of their labor. Who ever thought that doing grunt work would evolve to the mobile games platform and become such a hit? Apparently Zynga – the maker of this game – saw the possibility for greatness out of the simplest of American homeland occupations. And 80-million gamers are telling of that.

Wholesomely Wowing Facts About Farmville that Most Players Don’t Know

• The famers on Farmville outnumber real farmers in the US, 80:1.
• It only took five weeks to design this 8-bit mobile game.
• According to NY Times, many real farmers play and love this game.
• About 1 in 5 Facebook users has played or regularly plays this game.
• There’s a Facebook group that hates Farmville, called I Hate Farmville; it has 218,000 likes as of last check.
• Indiana has a real town called Farmville.
• North Carolina has a real town called Farmville.
• According to Bradweek, 90% of the women who play Farmville never click on ads; the 10% that do, however, purchase big ticket items.
• The CEO of Zynga initially used dirty tricks on Facebook to promote the game. “I did every horrible thing in the book too, just to get revenues right away. I mean we gave our users poker chips if they downloaded this Zwinky toolbar which was like, I don’t know, I downloaded it once and couldn’t get rid of it.”
• In November of 2009, the company removed any cash offers from the game.
• 500,000 tractors sell on the game daily; John Deer only sells about 5,000 tractors annually

You can get into the same routine as Old McDonald by checking the official Facebook page for Farmville Here.

There are two super popular mobile games on Facebook – mobile games in the sense that you can play them from your mobile device if you so desire; and many people do. However, it’s also important to keep in mind that these games can also be played when logged into any Facebook account from any computer that has an internet connection. A lot of people prefer to play these types of social games on their mobile handset or tablet device. The two games in question have quickly ascended the ranks of popularity and are easily two of the top bread winners on Facebook these days: Farmville and the newest competitor, Café World.

Café World easily showed the rest of the world that people are fonder of cooking and serving food in a virtual setting as opposed to merely cultivating it in a rural farm setting. Telling of that notion is the first week numbers from the when the game was released to eager gamers, back in September of 2009. During the first week it experienced explosive growth and was up more than 500% for users, capturing about 16-million players, many of which still play the game today.

Zynga was the masterminds behind this happy-eating sim game, and it’s like a taste of Farmville with a shot of espresso. For example, both games share some similarities that make the choice really come down to this: do you want to farm crops, or cook food and serve it?

QUICK COMPARISON

Café World:

• In Café World, you have to purchase ingredients for each dish,
• You have to manage your restaurant, ovens, staff and customers.
• You have wait for each dish to cook, and serve it in a timely manner.
• Run out of food, or the wait gets too long, and customers become tireless and frustrated.
• Your goal is to manage and run your restaurant to the satisfaction of guests, so you can expand it.

Farmville:

• In Farmville you have to buy the seeds to grow the crops.
• You have to plant the seeds and tend the crops.
• Pests and other elements can affect the crops.
• Your goal is to produce sellable crops to make money to run your farm and expand it.

You can start your own virtual café on Café World Here. That is unless you fancy yourself as a farmer John.

Rarely, and we emphasize that notion – RARELY – do my video games come out that we are this giddy about. But every once in a while, there are games that catch our eyes. This time around, this game is not a PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii game. It’s not an online game, either. It’s the much anticipated arrival of the new Speed Racer game, which comes out for all iSO powered devices in just a few days. We have the information you want to know about this game, including where you can find it and when, in today’s coverage.

The Scoop on New Speed Racer Game – Speed Racer: The Beginning

We caught wind of this from a recent press release that was issued regarding the April, 2012 launch of this game. Social Games International has partnered with Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc. to create a serious tribute game to the original Speed Racer Cartoon.

• Will be available for all iSO powered devices in April, 2012.
• Will feature clips from original Speed Racer episodes in between races.
• Players will be tasked with avoiding obstacles like falling rocks, rain, hazards and more.
• Before and after races, gamers can add power-ups like turbo booster, improved tires and others to the Mach 5.
• Gorgeous animation and fast frame rates ensure a five-star gaming experience.
• Learn more about the Speed Racer Game on Facebook.

WATCH: Speed Racer: The Great Car Wrestling Match

Can cars really have a wrestling match? Of course not. But in destruction derby, it’s anything goes. So what happens when Speed is thrust into a cat and mouse game of destruction derby with his life on the line as a ransom? Well you have to watch this classic episode of the Speed Racer cartoon to find out, as we would never spoil it for you by telling you what happens. Much like the aforementioned game, which is based off these original episodes, relive your joy for the Speed family and his capable Mach 5 as you get geared up for the best Speed Racer game to ever be released.

To set the record straight, we are not naysayers over here. Rather, we actually were quite delighted to play the numerous editions of Crash Bandicoot that are out for the next generation video game consoles. They are like a unique version of Mario or Sonic, with its own flare. And yes, Crash Bandicoot is rather playable on these game consoles. For your smartphone, however, your dollars are perhaps better saved for another title.

You get to basically play some mini games with Crash and his best buds, like Coco, Cortex, and so on. But the games are repetitive and boring, and they can make your thumbs (and mind) go numb in a hurry. For example, one game called Cow Shoot tops the cake for lame game. Basically, you press the “OK” button any time a crosshair lines up with an innocent cow in the pasture so you can shoot it. Infernal Tower bores and reminded us of a bad take on Tetris (you drop blocks on top of other slide blocks). Good Sight is another uninspiring mind game where you memorize shapes and colors. Case and point: even toddlers would soon lose interest with games that clearly lack any substance such as these. Our take: save your dollars for better smartphone games, as the only party you will want to attend is one that saves you from the wretched throes of boredom that this game presents.

WATCH: Crash Bandicoot Mobile Games

This video can give you a really good idea of what you can expect when playing Crash Bandicoot Party Games for mobile phones. While there are several editions of these mobile phone games, this video montage covers them all with vibrant screen shots. Know what to expect before you spend your coin in the download store. Our final verdict is that this game is great on next-gen consoles, but fails to equally deliver the expected adventure on a mobile phone.

Easily, the game of “Monopoly” is one of the most playable and timeless of all games that have been distributed by the gargantuan game maker, Hasbro. Most of us recall playing this awesome game as children while growing up. It helped us to learn about the innate value of real estate, investing money and management of our finances. It also meant that on any given weekend day, we could be besting our siblings or pals by bankrupting them in a true fashion that’s eminent of Wall Street. Now, thanks to EA Sports, you can enjoy playing this game on your smartphone with “Monopoly Tycoon” for Mobile and own bragging rights this year.

EA Takes Game to New Level

You will find some similarities between this new version and the older one. However, don’t let that confuse you, it’s mobile goodness at its finest. The easy to use interface is quick to learn and fun to play. Grow properties that you purchase and expand them as you populate entire city blocks with prime real estate. Create businesses that generate positive cash flow or detract from profitability, and manage them as they expand. Explore the empire you have built in several views that make it more real to life than ever before. You can learn more about this mobile game Here, which offers details, screenshots and download information.

WATCH: Video Review of “Monopoly Tycoon” for Mobile

Check out this interesting and very detailed review of “Monopoly Tycoon” for mobile. In an unbiased approach, an avid gamer delivers the details about how you can setup, download, install and start playing this game on your smartphone today if you so desire. The blogger also provides an in-depth and very helpful gamer’s strategy guide in this first of many series of how-to videos that covers this popular game crossover by Hasbro.  It’s your favorite childhood board game…on your smartphone!

We can’t recall being this anxious and impatient for a video game to announce downloadable content expansions than ever before. We are, of course, talking about the biggest game to ever be created for any console: “Skyrim.” A game that was nearly five years in the making, and truly more like 15 when you count the other three titles that preceded it. It is the largest free world board ever created, and there are more things to do and more hours of gaming offered than found in any other game. And, four months after its release (November, 2011), we politely say/ask two things: easily one of the best my video games ever… and can we get some DLCs already, pretty please?

First New DLC Will More Than Likely Will Be Called “Dawnguard”

We have some cool news about one of the two promised timed exclusive Xbox 360 DLCs for Skyrim. Yes they are timed, as in Xbox 360 gets them 60 days before everyone else; you sneaky bugger Bill Gates. This add-on will feature the Mythic Dawn cult that was in Oblivion. It’s likely that they suddenly come into Skyrim and you are forced to quell an insurgent uprising.

Other Rumors Speculate There Are Two More DLCs in Works for Skyrim

The first one may be called “Morrowind DLC.” It will more than likely center around a werewolf quest line with some animals and other historical characters from the “Morrowind” game. The second one may be called “Riders of Hammerfell,” where you ride in a guild called the “Dragon Riders,” and learn how to ride dragons as mounts and use magic while mounted (we can’t wait for this).

As far as release dates go, your guess is as good as ours. Hopefully soon.

WATCH: Journey Across Tamriel in HD

The good folks over at CVG (Computer and Video Games) apparently love Skyrim as much as we do. This adroit and highly detailed video (in HD) is one of the coolest fan dedications to the Elder Scrolls franchise that we have yet to see. It follows the early days of Morrowwind on the Xbox through Oblivion on Xbox 360 and up until Skyrim, the most recent version. All of the maps from these stories actually connect, and a person realized that by capturing video from all three games, one could actually travel across one MASSIVE map. Enjoy watching this one-of-a-kind video that merges all three maps and games into one behemoth offering.

My video games asks: What will the new Xbox 360 be called? When will it be released? How much money will it burn from your checking account, and how powerful will it be? Furthermore, what fantastic innovations and advancements will it usher in that forever change the world of video gaming for the better?

To be clear here, as we just heard all of this come barreling straight from the rumor mill: It will cost about the same amount of money. It is prospectively being called “Lite” or the “360 Lite.” It may be portable. It won’t have any new technology, except slimmer versions of the already scaled down slim-line 360 technology. And no, it’s not the next edition of the 360, rather a last ditch attempt by Microsoft to do two things: delay the launch of the forthcoming 720 a tad bit, and sell more units in the final days of 360 while maybe – and we emphasize maybe – competing with the new Sony Vita. (Not that there is much to compete with on that front, Vita sales are hurting early on, and Sony may ultimately can that project after PS3’s day is over).

According to rumors that were released by MS NERD,

“At some point after [the Xbox Lite], we’ll see a Xbox Next, a true successor to the 360,” it writes. “Details about it are very hazy, except that, like the 360, it will do games for core-audiences and the same media apps as the other device, also with Kinect.”

Many speculate this would be an arm-based model, which means that it could be portable like the Vita. This also means it would offer similar features and maybe even hook up to your Kinect.

We think it will just be a thinner Xbox console. As MS NERD released this info as well that came, purportedly, right from anonymous sources at Microsoft.

“It will be cheaper than the 360, further enabling Kinect adoption. And it will be far smaller than the 360. It will also demonstrate how Windows Phone could possible implement Win9′s dev platform on the lower end.”

So what is Microsoft’s stance? Totally Hush-Hush.

We quote, “There will be no talk of new Xbox hardware at E3 or anytime soon.

Guess that leaves us all free to speculate to the high heavens.

Careful, there’s a train coming that’s painted a bright, crimson red. It’s a dead train. It’s thundering down the designer tracks. Narratives are being penned as you read this very article. Key voice over actors have already been contracted to fill the vocal shoes of the story board. And there is indeed a concept that’s strong and unwavering. The train we are talking about is the one we have had our ears pressed to the desert since 1911 (date in Red Dead Redemption) for quite some time. Two years to be exact, since the release date of the blockbuster sequel to the title that brought the Old West alive on the first Xbox console (Red Dead Revolver), and that was beautifully followed up by equally as engaging sequel (Red Dead Redemption; Xbox 360). And now, 7 million plus copies later, a “Game of the Year” award and a viral online fan following that’s cult-status and has made this one of the most beloved, celebrated and consistently played multiplayer gems is about to finally – and we mean finally – get a much deserved sequel.

Rockstar and Take Two have not mentioned any plausible or anticipated release dates for the Red Dead Revolution, but we are happy to speculate all day long.

A popular gamer online destination, Trade Bible, coyly hinted at that working title after speaking to a developer who is reportedly working on this game. “One employee of a services provider currently working on some early technical work for the game casually referred to it as ‘Red Dead Revolution,’” they said in their write-up.

This leaves many things to be pondered, indeed. A trailer from Red Dead Redemption may even play into the storyline a bit more.

Our speculation on Red Dead Revolution:

• Rockstar will more than likely make the setting in the late 1800s, just after the American Civil War, when the real cowboys ruled the land for about four decades and the Wild West had yet to be tamed.
• More Cowboy-appropriate weapons and settings will be prominent; more barebones and realistic weaponry will dominate the game, adding a high sense of realism to the cowboy experience.
• The multiplayer will have larger boards that hold more gamers than the 16 gamer limits of the current boards.
• The game more than likely will be one of the last games Rockstar releases for the Xbox 360 in lieu of the Xbox 720 being released in 2013.
• John Marston won’t be featured in it.
• The game will offer at least 100 hours of single player gaming time.
• The multiplayer will also incorporate the huge free roam.
• Two players will be able to cooperatively play the single player together like Saints Row features.
• There will be lots of downloadable expansion and desirable add-ons.

What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments and let us know.

There are actually – counting the next forthcoming installment in this franchise – five Assassin’s Creed games. They just have some offshoot titles that they did not name in the number sequence, like Brotherhood or Revelations. Much like the storied history of Grand Theft Auto, which has about seven titles, but only names ones here and there as sequentially numbered, in that same spirit of video gaming greatness is the embodiment of this epic saga that basically allows you to become a seasoned assassin as you trek back in time through some of the most historically notable periods in mankind to do one thing: assassinate targets of high importance to alter the course of history. This seemingly noble concept of savagery is brought brilliantly to life in a video game, one that enters its third edition (actually fifth) come October of this year, when it’s set to be released internationally.

Assassin’s Creed 3: This time around, you will be facing the American Revolution during the 1700s, as the unstoppable 18^th century British Empire daunts the struggling, fledgling US colonies, and a major war of epic proportions brews. And it will be you alone who is tasked with taking down high profile targets and becoming their denizen thorn in the side, one that ultimately must sway the favor of the revolution to the hands of the colonial dwellers, led by George Washington, as they fight back against the woes of an Empire that’s gotten too big for its britches. It will be bloody. It will be gory. It will be high definition. It will feature massive boards, fast frame rates and a super intense multiplayer that you’ve never seen the likes of before. Oh and one more thingy, if you preorder a copy now you get a totally sweet steel case for the game that’s one-of-a-kind (well, as in different from the boring plastic cover all other gamers will get).

WATCH: Assassin’s Creed 3 Teaser HD Trailer (UK)

The YouTube definition offers enticing synopsis of this epic saga and its third, ahem fifth, edition…

18th Century North America. After more than 20 years of conflict, the 13 American colonies and the British Crown are on the brink of all out war. Battle lines are drawn. Bloodshed is inevitable. Out of the embers of his burning village, a new assassin will rise. Born of Mohawk and British blood, his fight for freedom and justice will be forged in the flames of revolution.

Racing games don’t get much better than the awesome ones that currently populate the shelves at your favorite destination to find top my video game picks. Thanks to much innovation in game design, in combination with the rapid advancement of the technology that fuels the advanced next-gen gaming consoles of the present day, racing games have never truly been better than they are now. Knowing which ones to invest your loot in, well that’s a whole different story. We aim to ease the selection process by presenting you with three top picks for your my video games collection.

Race for the Sprint Cup in NASCAR The Game 2012

Introducing NASCAR in a video game like you have never seen before folks! Drive every single official car. Be any driver you want, as this one has all of the drivers in the pro leagues. Or create your own rookie driver and start from square one. The most realistic crashes, on the track grit, and superb graphics make this a my video game treasure worth keeping.

Pit Bikes Against Dirt & Terrain in MX vs. ATV Unleashed

Get your jumpsuit on and be prepared to eat a mouthful of dirt and rocks. This game will have you putting every ounce of racing talent you can muster into the front end of your 600ccc outfit. Depth defying tricks, marvelous animations and frame rates, and tons of drivers and vehicles to choose from, as well as lots of highly detailed tracks spell easy WINNNER.

Rally Your Inner Rally Racer in RalliSport Challenge 3

Bring the inner rally racing star in you as you tackle robustly and vividly detailed courses in some of the best dirt and rock hoppers that currently grace the rally racing circuit. Find out if you have the navigational and steering prowess to win races against other formidable contenders in this action packed racing game.