Inside Social Games

It’s no surprise noe to see more mainstream console developers moving in more social directions, but the number of international developers integrating with Facebook seems to only be growing by the week.

Tokyo based game developer Konami (maker of hit titles such as Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill) is the latest to join in on the social gaming trend, but rather than just bring a game to the social space, they have, in a way, brought the social space to them.

Konami, earlier this month, released a brand new casual and social games portal by the name of Konami Play. Unlike other gaming portals, however, this particular web site brings more than just Flash games to the table, but also takes a trip down memory lane with web enabled renditions of classic Konami titles.

Of the games currently available, players can play games that range from old titles such as Double Dribble and Track & Field to Flash only games such as Bumper Stars or Loco Roco 2. In addition, visitors are also able to play some web versions of Konami’s more current, not to mention successful, games as well, such as Metal Gear Solid 4, inFAMOUS, and Dance Dance Revolution (“dancing” is done with the arrow keys for anyone raising an eyebrow, and it is surprisingly addictive).

Suffice to say, most of the games are quite fun (though a rating system would be helpful for the lesser known games), be it through nostalgia or simply presentation, but what takes them beyond being “just fun” is the Facebook integration. Konami Play allows players to register on the site, yes, but anyone with a Facebook account can also authenticate through Facebook Connect.

Every game on the portal is Facebook enabled and comes with all the social network’s highlights. Regardless of where the games are played, players are able to compete with and challenge other users, view leaderboards, embed widgets, participate in contests, and post game achievements to their feeds.

Certainly, this is a big step into the social realm for the Japanese company. The fact that a console developer from another country decided to make use of Facebook in such a significant way is what is impressive, but Konami is unlikely to be the last. Overall, the games on Konami Play are quite fun to play, and given the company’s track record, more are undoubtedly on the way.