Social games are multiplayer games on social network platforms. They are generally free to play and use a business model based on purchasing of items within the game for small amounts. Their distilled repetitive gameplay and integrated viral advertising make these games extremely popular and profitable.

• Social Cause Mechanic
• Gifting Mechanic
• Notification of New Features Mechanic
• Notification of Reward Mechanic
• Newsfeed Update Mechanic
• Help My Friend’s Space Mechanic
• Lotto Mechanic
• Buy/Sell Mechanic
• Battle Mechanic
• Comments Mechanic
• Show off on Profile Mechanic
• Trading Mechanic
• Tournament Mechanic
• Passive Play Mechanic
• Exploration Mechanic
• Build My Team Mechanic
• Quiz Mechanic
• Meme Quiz Mechanic
• Leaderboard Mechanic
• Gambling Mechanic
• Auction Mechanic
• Collection Mechanic
• Rating Mechanic
• Donate Virtual Coins Mechanic
• Social Tycoon Mechanic
• Hire-A-Friend Mechanic
• Mastery Mechanic
• Griefing/Prank Mechanic
• Story Mechanic
• Game Photo Album Mechanic
• Harvest Mechanic
• Mini-Game Mechanic
• Friend Data Mechanic
• Internationalization

• Claim an Item Mechanic
• Interact With An Item Mechanic
• Viral Collection Mechanic
• Funny Content Mechanic
• Tagging Mechanic
• Gifting Mechanic
• Rating Mechanic
• Scratch Off Mechanic
• Help a Friend Mechanic
• Friend is Playing Right Now Mechanic
• Help a Cause Mechanic
• Trivia Question Mechanic
• Quiz Mechanic
• Take a Job Mechanic
• Social Curiosity Mechanic

• Dual Currency Mechanic
• Limited-Time/Quantity Item Mechanic
• Blue Light Special Mechanic
• Donation to a Good Cause Mechanic
• Need a Refill Mechanic
• Gift to a Friend Mechanic
• Achievement Accelerator Mechanic
• First-Time Buyer Bonus Mechanic
• Repeat Buyer Bonus Mechanic

• Jesse Schell, essential viewing http://fury.com/2010/02/jesse-shells-mindblowing-talk-on-the-future-of-games-dice-2010/
• http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/content/cultivated-play-farmville
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihUt-163gZI

• http://developers.facebook.com/
• Principles and policies: http://developers.facebook.com/policy/

• red leaf