A drivable Toyota Prius V is about to park in The Sims Social [Rumor]

Remember when we suggested that The Sims Social get a hold of some big time features as a means of getting players back? Well, ask and you shall might receive, as Sims Social Fansite claims to have learned that cars are headed to Playfish's number one Facebook game. Better yet, the first drivable car in EA's crown jewel on Facebook will be the 2012 Toyota Prius V.

The fan site doesn't cite any sources, nor does it provide screen shots, so let's treat this as one helluva juicy rumor for The Sims Social fans. Sims Social Fansite believes that EA has signed a deal with Toyota to make the heavily-branded feature happen. Furthermore, the Prius V will be introduced to the game as a quest reward after Playfish runs an Alice in Wonderland theme the week of Jan. 19, according to Sims Social Fansite, and will only be usable for two weeks.

After Jan. 19, Toyota's green vehicle will arrive in the game as a quest reward for players that complete eco-friendly tasks like recycling and checking electrical appliances throughout a green-themed week of quests, the fan site reports. As of this writing, the article detailing this information has been removed from the website. We can't confirm whether any of this real, but if it is, Sims Social Fansite certainly paints a likely picture.

[Image Credit: Toyota]

Are you excited by the idea of drivable cars coming to The Sims Social? What do you think of Toyota potentially being a sponsor for the event, and do you think this stuff is legit? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

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Social Gaming News Roundup: Google+, Rovio and Toyota

Google Narrows Social Focus - Google is now a little less social after axing Google Buzz, Jaiku and the social features on iGoogle. The move, according to an official post by Bradley Horowitz, Google’s vice president of product, is in order to allow the company to focus on Google+.

Social and Mobile Pushing up Gaming Investment -  According to a report issued by British investment bank Digi-Capital, games investment has shifted to online and mobile companies thanks to the prospects of high revenue growth and healthy profit margins. The report also found that due to the growth of social and mobile gaming, investment in the industry is increasing, with funding nearly doubling between 2010 and 2011.

Matsuyama: I Dislike Social Games - In a candid interview with Gamasutra, Hiroshi Matsuyama, CEO of Japanese developer CyberConnnect 2 heavily criticized social games, saying most social titles are “not fun at all” and that he only plays them for business reasons.

John Belushi Comes Back to Life in Social Game – Entertainment Games has signed a deal to bring John Belushi to their as yet, unannounced social game. The Pennsylvania based company has acquired the rights to use Belushi’s likeness in the game and in virtual goods, according to Entertainment Games president, Gene Mauro.

Wizardia to Make Social Games More Social - Lithuanian developer Yummi Apps is hoping that their upcoming game Wizardia, a GPS based game for both Facebook and smartphones will bridge the gap between the social and real worlds. In Wizardia, users build their kingdom on Facebook, but will also need to complete quests and track down opponents for battle in the real world using the game’s mobile app.

Fake Names OK on Google+ – In a presentation at the Web 2.0 Summit, Google+  boss Vic Gundotra said the social network will soon allow users to go by their online handles if they choose, but did not give a firm timeline as to when pseudonyms would be integrated into the network.

Angry Birds Even More Popular – TechCrunch is reporting that during the Web 2.0 Summit, Rovio’s North American general manager Andrew Stalbow updated the audience as to just how popular the franchise is now. According to Stalbow, Angry Birds is now up to 400 million cumulative downloads, 120 million MAU and 30 million DAU.

Black Rock Becomes West Pier - Five former employees of Black Rock, a studio closed by Disney Interactive Studios have reformed under the banner of West Pier Studio. According to studio’s website, the team will be focusing on online and mobile titles.

Egyptian Social Startup Gets $1 Million in Funding – Egyptian developer Nezal Entertainment has received $1 million in series A funding from Arab firms Ideavelopers and Tamkeen Capital to develop games for the growing Middle East and North African market. Nezal has released one game for Facebook thus far, tower defense title Defender of Arabia.

House of Fun Proves Popular – Earlier this week Pacific Interactive touted that over a million people had already tried its new Facebook game House of Fun. According to a press release from the developer, the game has attracted almost 700,000 MAU since its debut on September 13th. Our full review of House of Fun can be found here.

[Launch] Toyota Promotes Car with Social Game - Toyota is drumming up interest for its latest concept car with a social game on Facebook according to All Things Facebook. Social Network Racer turns a user’s Facebook page into a 3D race course, and users can compete with their friends to become the fastest racer on the social network. The promotion runs until the Tokyo Motor Show opens on December 31st and the winner receives a free trip to Japan.

[Launch] Woodland Heroes Debuts on Facebook – Florida based startup developer Row Sham Bow launched its debut game this week, action/strategy title Woodland Heroes. Row Sham Bow was founded by a group of former EA executives.

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Earn 2 free FarmVille Farm Cash in Toyota 100 Cars for Good promo

Toyota apparently likes to give things away. Most importantly of which, of course, is Farm Cash--and the Japanese car manufacturer seems to have it in spades. Zynga has teamed up with Toyota and its 100 Cars for Good charity once again to give FarmVille players a freebie.

Just click on the link below your FarmVille game screen that reads, "Vote for your favorite charity and get cash!" Now, a pop-up window will appear with a cutesy promotional video for Toyota and blah, blah, blah. Just answer the questions as the video plays, and eventually blue text will appear next to a large blue "X" in the window's upper right corner that reads, "You've earned your Farm Cash."

Click the blue "X" to close the window, and your 2 Farm Cash should post to your account immediately. If not, give it at least a half-hour before getting Zynga on the horn. Unfortunately, not all players around the world have access to these promotions, and they can expire at any time, so act fast if you're one of the lucky few.

Have you earned your free Farm Cash today? Do you take advantage of these offers, or avoid them? Share with us in the comments. Add Comment.

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Toyota Prius parks in EA's Monopoly Millionaires for one year

by Joe Osborne, Posted Apr 12th 2011 12:45PM

Your next free gift in Monopoly Millionaires could be ... a new car! More specifically, a digital Toyota Prius thanks a 12-month partnership between Toyota, EA and the game's developer, Playfish. Both the ubiquitous green car and the Toyota Prius Eco-Greenhouse, re-imaginations of two original Monopoly pieces, will be available as free gifts in Monopoly Millionaires for the next year. Players can then use these items on their own game boards.

"Monoply and Toyota are two iconic brands and I'm delighted to help bring them together," said Joy Taylor, EA's Global Director of Marketing Solutions. "Toyota, and Prius in particular, has a huge, devoted following that will get genuine value out of this partnership. We're connecting one of the world's most loved cars, with one of the world's most loved games, on the world's largest social media platform. It's very exciting."

They sure got the huge following thing right. The Prius is arguably the most popular hybrid out there and has been featured in every TV show imaginable, including South Park with its scathing if lude wit. Well, enjoy being eco-conscious for the next 12 months. This promotion might not make players rush out to buy the $23 thousand car, but maybe it will remind you to turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or turn off a light every once in a while.

Have you decorated your game board in eco-friendly items yet? What do you think of this in-game promotion lasting for 12 months? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.
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Tags: advertising, ea, Electronic-Arts, facebook games, hybrid, hybrid cars, in-game advertising, monopoly, monopoly millionaires, Playfish, prius, social games, toyota, toyota hybrid, toyota prius

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