Mouse-hunting a hit on Facebook

2008-12-11 12:07

Palo Alto, California - Facebook on Wednesday threw its weight behind virtual mouse-hunting and communal card crafting applications touted as rising stars at the hot social networking website.

GroupCard and MouseHunt are among five software creations that won top honours in an annual fbFund competition to find innovative applications that will enchant Facebook users.

"I think people were blown away by the creativity and the thoughtfulness of the applications," Facebook vice president of platform marketing Elliot Schrage said as 25 finalists showed off their work at the firm's office in Palo Alto, California.

"This competition was created to make sure that the great ideas have the opportunity to reach Facebook users."

Facebook members cast more than 180 000 votes in balloting that determined the winners. Each finalist gets $25 000 in cash and the five top finishers are awarded an additional $225 000 apiece.

Developing games

"We already spent the $25 000," said Richard Vanner of finalist Social Arcade, which built software letting Facebook users create their own computer games to play and share.

"Developing is not a cheap thing. On YouTube you see people making videos; we are trying to do that with games."

Arcade's tools let people customise heroes and enemies in shooter, role-playing, racing, casino and other types of games.

Britain-based Arcade wasn't among the top five finishers, the list of which was rounded out by Wedding Book, Wildfire, and Kontangent.

True to its name, Wedding Book software helps Facebook members plan nuptials. Wildfire's application enables firms to run online contests while Kontangent scrutinizes business data for useful trends or other information.

GroupCard creates an internet version of passing a card around an office for co-workers to sign. GroupCard's application lets people communally create "e-cards" by adding pictures, drawings, or remarks online.

'Incredible'

"No matter how spread out across the country people are, they can still add their sentiments to a card," said Bob Ralian of GroupCard. "It's incredible, and touching, to see what people put together."

MouseHunt players use virtual cheese to lure mice into high-tension spring or tacky glue traps.

Silicon Valley venture capitalists were among those checking out applications presented by the 25 finalists.

"There are a hell of a lot of angel investors here who may be hoping these companies don't get funding because they want to invest in them, or acquire them," Schrage said.

"The competition is a fun way to identify great applications."

Runner-up applications included a Pongr mobile comparison shopping service; a fantasy cricket league by IBT Games, and FaithFeed software designed to let Christians send Twitter-style updates about their blessings and temptations.

- AFP