Social gaming behemoth Zynga today released its iconic title FarmVille on the iPad.
The free iPad app allows the game’s 60 million worldwide users to carry the FarmVille experience over from Facebook and iPhone platforms onto Apple’s tablet computer.
Last June, in concert with the release of the iPhone 4, Zynga released an iPhone version of FarmVille that became an immediate chart-topper. While the expanded iPad version includes custom features, it also allows users to see and connect with farms and friends originated on Facebook and other platforms. iPad players are also alerted of crops and farm status through push notifications.
Said Steven Chiang, president of Zynga studios:
“We want to reach people wherever they want to play the games they love, and deliver the most fun and social experience on every platform. The iPad is a spectacular gaming device, and the new FarmVille app leverages its larger touch screen interface and enhanced graphics. FarmVille on the iPhone was an instant hit and now we are giving people another Apple device to play on.”
More money for social gaming
Earlier in the day, Zynga and Facebook investor and elite venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, launched the $250 million sFund to invest in early-stage social media companies.
Led by former EA executive and KPCB partner Bing Gordon, who is also active in the firms $200 iFund which focuses on iPhone and mobile applications, the sFund will target best of breed companies in the social and gaming space.
“Social is just getting started and the opportunities are vast. As in the early days of the Internet, the race is on. Today every business, organization, and entrepreneur should have a social strategy,” Gordon said.
