Super Rewards started as a project for monetizing Facebook applications, and the company is expanding outwards to now include Twitter. The virtual goods and currency platform that works for online games and social networks has created a way to generate revenue for games that have been designed to work exclusively with Twitter, including 140 Mafia.

So how does it work? Users earn points redeemable within the game by recruiting new users via Twitter. It’s yet another exchange-based system that has proven successful, to certain degrees, on Facebook. In exchange for a user participating in certain offers and actions, they earn points and other benefits to be used in the game or social network. As Twitter continues to prove useful as a distribution platform, taking advantage of its cross-device access and usability, there are other “platforms” that are cropping up in order to build on that spreading reach.
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When SGN’s iBowl game was released for the iPhone and iPod Touch, we noted that there’s a lack of social interaction for this Wii-like game. That’s all changed, with SGN’s current update to the popular mobile game. Users can now play a live bowling match against up to four people, making his game much more social and engaging.

This is a big step in the right direction for SGN’s iPhone-specific games, as Apple’s platform doesn’t provide an inherent social network for connecting users across various applications, including games. Because of this missing component on Apple’s platform, we’ve been waiting for SGN to release an update that could provide a more social means for interacting with other users on some level.
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Mpowerplayer, the mobile game arcade that lets you try before you buy, has launched its MySpace application. Similar to the Facebook app launched just two weeks ago, the Mpowerplayer app on MySpace lets you discover mobile games and try them on for size. With a mobile interface directly in the application, its easy enough to get a well-rounded simulation of how the game will actually work on your cell phone.

Aside from the need to click on the mobile phone buttons instead of being able to use your thumbs, the simulation works pretty well. For each game (and mpowerplayer has a number of fun and popular games to try out), there is a link for purchasing that game and having it sent to your mobile phone.
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Like to play basketball? Then you probably won’t like the new iPhone app from SGN, called iBasketball. Even though it’s a fun game, it’s Wii-like movements with your iPhone aren’t good substitutes for the real game. I know that could be said about the majority of the Wii-like games made for the iPhone, but in testing the game out myself and speaking with a few other seasoned game players, the movement of shooting a basketball with the iPhone is a little more drastic than say, bowling.

Are mobile game makers over-doing the apps that require movement mimicking the real sport? Is the mobile market really the best venue for such games, seeing as there are a limited number of places in which most people will feel comfortable “throwing” their phones around in the act of playing basketball?
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