Google TV adds Zynga Poker to its application lineup, part of its plan to get users to spend more time using the Web TV service.
Zynga, which is preparing for a $900 million-plus initial
public offering, has made its popular Zynga Poker gaming application available
for Google TV.
Available on Sony TVs, Blu-ray players and the Logitech Revue companion box, Google TV is Google's fledgling platform for wedding Web and
channel surfing. The search engine, trying to coax more consumers to purchase and use the Android-based platform,
recently made Android Market apps accessible via Google TV.
That app store is where online poker players can
download for free Zynga Poker, Zynga's first game title before the
immensely popular Farmville and Mafia Wars. Zynga Poker has roughly 30 million active players.
Players may play others from around the world or join
friends for a game of Texas Hold 'Em. There are casual tournaments or VIP
tables. For those who haven't played Zynga Poker before, the players chat
online and send each other poker chips and other gifts.
Players win across multiple platforms, including Google+
and Android devices And now Google TV strives to make the experience even more social from the big screen.
"Especially optimized for playing poker from the
comfort of your own couch, Zynga Poker for Google TV features custom graphics
and a new way to control the game with the Google TV remote,"
the Zynga team said in a blog post published by Google. "Up the ante and
play Zynga Poker from just about anywhere, whether you're commuting to work or
taking a break to connect with friends."
Google, which invested more than $100 million in Zynga,
added Zynga Poker to its Google+ Games tab this past August as one of its 16
initial launch titles.
The addition of Games was a calculated move to boost the
amount of time users spend on the social network as Google seeks to pry users
from Facebook, which with Zynga and others sets the stage for the popularity of online
games.
Facebook and Zynga spiced up the action by letting users purchase
virtual goods to boost their game status or add additional levels.
Thanks in large part to its success on Facebook selling
virtual products, Zynga has rocketed to stardom and is planning to go public
next week. Zynga CEO Mark Pincus said his company can double the number of its
paying players, according to
Reuters.
Email
Print
