Mafia Wars

Mafia Wars is an online game that is played on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace. The aim of the game is to become the most powerful mobster in NYC and abroad by completing jobs and fighting other mobsters with your own Mafia Family.

As part of the game one can travel to Cuba, Moscow and soon Bangkok and the Western U.S. to complete more jobs and take over new businesses and properties.

For players level 35+ the producers have created an add on to Mafia Wars, it is very similar but the venue is Cuba. The "Island Empire" also stages fights and jobs however with new and better items which can be looted, therefore it is worthwhile to play it. Furthermore properties cannot be bought anymore, instead four different Cuban businesses can be purchased. These produce quantities of a certain product for example cigars which can then be sold for a profit. One more important point is that money can at first not be transfered from NY to Cuba, therefore the start is hard!

In Mafia Wars players can obtain several bonus items. Special items can be obtained by completing a job teir 3 times, these items will not give advantages in fights but in general game play, such as 7% less damage obtained in fights. More special items can be bought with Godfather points and some special items are offered for several days and can be bought for a low cost with a minimum required amount of Mafia Family members. Bonus items can now also be won through the lottery.

Since July 2009 Mafia Wars has a lottery open to all players. One ticket is given for free to every player who plays every day or they can be purchased for five Godfather points. The prize for five correct numbers is 1000 Godfather points, for four 20 points, for three a lotto collection prize, for two an unused lotto ticket. One correct number will get you a special item.

Is gained from the Bribery Ring business in Cuba. Fully upgraded you will get five Politico Corruptos every three hours with a total capacity of 10, therefore collectable every six hours. You will need them to complete jobs in Cuba. In the El Jefe stage 45 are needed, in El Patron 120, in El Padrino 145 so in total you will need 310.

Doing jobs is an essential part of the game. Doing a job requires energy points and some items which you must own. After completion of the job you will gain money and experience and you also have the chance to loot special items on some jobs or find collectors items which you can later put in your vault. You will need experience points to reach the next level, jobs are usually the best source of experience.

There are three options in fighting, the easiest is Fight in which you attack other mafia families with your mafia family in order to steal money from them and it also gives you a chance to loot items. Secondly you can go to the Hitlist and attack mobsters which have a bounty set on them by other players. To put a player on to the hitlist select the appropriate button on the player's profile. Lastly you can also rob other mafia members property and steal money. Through robbing much more money can be won than fighting however you do not have the chance to loot objects.

During fights players get hurt and their health decreases. For a certain amount of money a player can heal himself at the hospital, however only once in a while. Losing fights also mean losing money, therefore it is best to store your money somewhere safe while fighting or not playing, the best place to do this is in the bank. Although you pay a 10% laundring fee it is worth it. Withdrawing money is free of charge and unfortunately no interest is earned while your money is in the bank.

Every mobster needs guns, knives and bullet proof vests but also property to earn money. In Mafia Wars players can buy items in the inventory section. Some items only get unlocked after reaching certain levels and some are required for jobs. Items are also needed in fights, Some items cost upkeep money and therefore players need income, this is not only provided through jobs and fights but also by cashflow earned from properties. Players can buy lots and erect buildings such as restaurants, markets and even hotels and casinos on them.

The way Mafia Wars works is on a timer, energy for jobs and stamina for fights increases by one every 5 minutes. Health regenerates itself too but can be restored by visiting the hospital. Stamina and energy only get refilled after reaching a new level or a player can refill his energy by trading his Godfather points for an energy refill. Every 24 hours a player can also use an energy pack if another mafia family member sends one. An energy pack refills all energy plus 25% more. The gameplay is very interactive, the more friends play the bigger your mafia becomes, making it stronger in fights as you can use more weapons and cars. Constantly you will be attacked by other users or helping out your fellow family members, hence players must constantly check their profile.

In Cuba players cannot buy properties. Instead to make money players have to take over businesses. In total there are six businesses and five can be upgraded. The first business can be taken over for free, it is the Bodega which produces canned goods.The tobacco plantation, the sugar plantation, the factory and the cocoa field can all be upgraded to produce more, to hold more output and to produce a better quality, all meaning more profit. Profit from businesses is collected every three hours and is stored aslong as the business has available space, if a business is full it will not produce more until you sell of the stock. The latest addition to the Cuban businesses is the Bribery Ring which produces Politico Corruptos, these are needed to complete jobs in the last stages of Cuba, a player can only produce 10 a day.