Garriott teams up with Zynga for Ultimate Collector release

Zynga has partnered with MMO icon Richard Garriott for the launch of his studio’s new social game Ultimate Collector.
The title is already available on Facebook in the form of a Limited Beta. It is developed by Portalarium, the studio founded by Ultima Online Tabula Rasa creator Richard Garriott.
The game will be made available to the userbase of Zynga’s own publishing portal Zynga Network, which the firm claims has a user base of some 306m players.
“Ultimate Collector is really three games in one,” Garriott explains. “It’s a collecting game where players go on a major hunt for collectibles ranging from toys, gadgets, historical weapons, novelties and famous art and display those collections in their homes.
“It’s a shopping game where players can visit shops and stores in our game, some of them from national retailers, to purchase items and add to their collections. And it’s a world building game that allows players to outfit a home, show off their collections to their friends, sell virtual items to other collectors and make in-game money to upgrade their house and grow it even larger.
“It’s a hybrid — a unique style of social gaming that appeals to all ages, both males and females. With extensive questing and role-playing elements, it is testing very popular with those newer to social gaming but looking for a deeper play experience, as well as those who consider themselves veteran gamers but have been waiting on the sidelines for a more immersive play experience. Ultimate Collector really appeals to that rapidly growing mid-core gaming audience.”

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