Offerpal Launches Cross-Game, Cross-Platform Currency

Social media and gaming ad company Offerpal Media announced the beta launch of GamePoints.com, a site where users earn points for taking part in offers redeemable for virtual currency in hundreds of games and different social networks. The site works similar to current systems, in which players earn free virtual currency in a specific social game by completing surveys, signing up for trial subscriptions, and taking part in other ad offers. GamePoints.com, however, adds an extra step that allows users to redeem Game Points in more than 1,500 games and apps across various social networking platforms, virtual worlds, MMOs, and other gaming sites. Users earn Game Points by shopping from participating retail partners like Macy's and The Gap, taking advantage of coupons or discounts from advertisers like Netflix or Disney. They can also complete online surveys from market research firms, trading in unwanted gift cards, recycling used electronics through Gazelle, purchasing music through iTunes, buying movie tickets through Fandango, subscribing to magazines, and buying virtual currency. This cross-game virtual currency system comes as Facebook prepares to launch its universal and possibly mandatory virtual currency Facebook Credits. The social network's own system, also currently in beta, will allow gamers to buy Facebook Credits, which they can then spend on buying virtual currency in Facebook games, a two-step process that at least one virtual payments company disagrees with. Several major social game developers have already incorporated GamePoints.com into their games, including Zynga (FarmVille, Mafia Wars, Cafe World, etc.), Playdom (Mobsters, Sorority Life, Tiki Resort, etc.), Digital Chocolate (MMA Pro Fighter), Offbeat Creations (Be a Tycoon), and many others. While Game Points is currently compatible with Facebook applications during the beta phase, Offerpal says that after its general release, users will be able to spend their Points on MySpace, Bebo, Hi5, and other social networks, as well as standalone MMO and virtual worlds sites. "Virtual currency has become an integral part of the online gaming experience, enabling consumers to purchase everything from clothes and accessories for their avatars to functional items that confer some type of advantage within the game," says Offerpal CEO George Garric. He adds, "We continues GamePoints.com to empower online gamers with ways to earn virtual currency for free rather than having to pay for it, and to give them the choice of spending that currency wherever they'd like within our vast network."