Zynga Acquires MyMiniLife, Looks To Expand Virtual World Portfolio (Updated)

Zynga announced today the acquisition of MyMiniLife, a virtual world which enables users to create their own spaces and homes “through stylized economic activity involving the building of properties and neighborhoods, uploading and selling of useful and fun items, and the buying of objects using MyMiniLife money”. Users start off with a set amount of virtual currency and then can purchase more to add items.

According to Compete.com, the site currently attracts only around 30,000 users per month. Despite the small amount of traffic, the team has built a robust platform. In search of top talent, the company found a match with the guys at MyMiniLife. MyMiniLife is a destination site and doesn’t currently exist on Facebook or other social platforms. Zynga on the other hand has a dominant portfolio of games including YoVille, a virtual world with over 11 million monthly active users.

As the company expands it will continue to search for top talent even if that means acquisition. Zynga has also been investing in smaller gaming companies by providing traffic in exchange for ownership, according to industry insiders. If the games grow, Zynga will acquire the team and the game. It’s not a bad model for finding those games that work best.

I’m sure we’ll hear about additional acquisitions over the coming months and years as Zynga looks to expand its gaming portfolio. So far the company appears to be on a pretty good streak. It will be interesting to see how large a portfolio the company can build before they get snapped up by one of the larger gaming companies.

Update
One correction. MyMiniLife has been on Facebook since soon after the Facebook platform launched in 2007. We actually covered their launch. Currently the application has around 2,000 monthly active users.

Update 2
I’ve spoken with Sizhao Yang, the CEO of MyMiniLife, who has told us that MyMiniLife is being used to build out Farmville, the leading game on Facebook.

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710136 Comments2009-08-07+20%3A51%3A34Nick+O%27Neill »

so… that's why MML is shutting down— =(

Comment by sky — August 9, 2009 @ 4:57 am
Is MML closing down ?

Comment by Facebook User — August 12, 2009 @ 11:22 am
it's nice that zynga & mml are merging… i am an avid fan of both! i hope to see things get better for both… =)

Comment by Cierlo Zie ? — August 15, 2009 @ 6:18 am
i spent alot of time on mml,

when will the site be up again? wondering if all my houses will still be there

Comment by ken — August 30, 2009 @ 3:17 am
Please don't tell me they are closing down MML for good! I love that game and haven't been able to get on for a couple of days now.

Comment by Facebook User — August 30, 2009 @ 6:48 am
What the heck is going on? MML was sold to Zynga, the people who bring you the crap known as YoVille and Farmville… The main site does not work anymore. No word to customers, paying and otherwise. What is the deal? Do I get a refund for the gold bars I just bought? What about the buildings and neighborhoods that people have put time and sweat into? Some of the neighborhoods have been worked on for more than a year, perhaps even two. This isn't fair. You guys have at the very least a MORAL responsibility to keep us informed and to let us continue to access our hard work. If not, it shows Zynga and the talent at MML don't care about customers and aren't worth our time and effort.

Comment by NR Davis — August 30, 2009 @ 10:15 am
wtf?

Comment by Susan M Keefer — August 31, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
well… MML didn't shutdown, that's good! But the thing is.. it's not working like it used to be before, perhaps, they're in focus of building Farmville that's why.

Hope it will go back to normal.

I am an avid fan of Farmville too, but MML entertains me more.

Comment by Adrianne Sy Kim — September 17, 2009 @ 7:30 am
MML has closed down i hate Zynga MML was a great game farmvile is crap

why get MML To close it down whats the point

Zynga

DON`T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT THEM SELFS

Comment by becks — September 21, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
so does it mean that MML will not exist anymore?

Comment by LiANGY — September 22, 2009 @ 6:10 am
This is completely crazy. If you're going to take down a site that people have dedicated a lot of time and energy to, then why wouldn't you inform them? This whole thing is pretty F'd up. Even though my mom thinks MML is awesome and loves all my houses I have made on the site for more than a year now, she does that YoVille crap cause she's not really creative enough for MML, which comes off a little too complex for her age group. There's no way I would join that dinky-ass site. My mom's sent me things from it and I've tried it and it's stupid as hell. Nice business move guys.

Comment by Brittany — September 23, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
Sure they will ruin this just like they did yoville.

Comment by Cindy Beveridge Wright — September 23, 2009 @ 8:02 pm
hahahahah this is hilarious. zynga will never sell they are going to try and monopolize the industry. watch they’re games tank when the people give up on them!how many games ruined now? 3-4 more?the hackers used to account for a huge chunk of “monthly” users and now (finally) they are cutting those users down to size, but watch the change in they’re numbers as well. not to mention the users who are pissed about recent changes to a couple games thats driving players away in droves.

they HAD a good thing going….

Comment by Robyn B. Holmes — October 1, 2009 @ 9:38 pm
hello

Comment by Ardit Murtezani — October 16, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
So Zynga bought MML to shut it down on its users with no warning?

Preposterous.

Comment by star — November 22, 2009 @ 11:23 am
please return the minilife as soon as possible please

Comment by clarissa del rosario — December 8, 2009 @ 1:36 am
wtf i havent been on my minilife in a long time i was looking forward to go on their and finish my projects thats some old Bull SH!T ZYNGA buys mml and closes it down with no warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Philip — December 23, 2009 @ 11:08 am
Noooooo!!!!Mini life shut down!!!!nooooooo>i have still alot of things!zygna y you shut it down??????……….

Comment by Joey Ang — December 29, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
please return the minilife as soon as possible please

Comment by Facebook User — February 11, 2010 @ 5:26 am
I've been on mml on and off especially when I think of new designs for my possible future home structure. Usually after sketching out a floorplan, I will log on to MML and design my virtual home to see how it looks like. I was starting to like the new MML features and without warning it shut down… I just has an inspiration for a new floor plan….

Comment by Munirah — February 12, 2010 @ 3:54 am
I've been on mml on and off especially when I think of new designs for my possible future home structure. Usually after sketching out a floorplan, I will log on to MML and design my virtual home to see how it looks like. I was starting to like the new MML features and without warning it shut down… I just has an inspiration for a new floor plan….Ahhhhhhhhh

Comment by Munirah — February 12, 2010 @ 3:58 am
eu nunca joguei um jogo como o MML é simplismente sensacional, é divertido ,e estimula a criatividade, eu penso que a synga deveria repensar e ativar o MML,tenho certeza que eles se surpreenderiam.

Comment by ANA LUZ — March 9, 2010 @ 6:39 am
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY MINI LIFE IS IT COMIN BACK I REALLY LIKED THAT GAME N WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL THE MONEY I HAD

Comment by leeanne — March 20, 2010 @ 9:18 am
pls bring it back

Comment by carla — May 8, 2010 @ 12:41 am
that's my favorite game =(

Comment by carla — May 8, 2010 @ 12:42 am
minilife is better than any other games in fb

Comment by carla — May 8, 2010 @ 12:43 am
Please bring MML back! I had so many more designs I wanted to bring in! Stop the maddness & bring it back!

Comment by Dereka Heath — May 14, 2010 @ 12:00 am
Zynga the people you brought you CrapVile or anything with the word "vile" in it. Zynga should make REAL games and not picking up animals shit or farming shit or making games for fucking retards. Zynga is a insult to gaming.

Comment by MyAss — July 31, 2010 @ 9:13 pm
GIVE ME BACK MYMINILIFE!!!

Comment by L. A. — August 25, 2010 @ 11:13 am
WE WANT IT BACK!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT MY MINI LIFE!!!!!!

Comment by Ishvi — October 19, 2010 @ 1:11 am
But But.. I missed my own designed HOMES! Urgh.
BRING IT BACK PLEASE?!

Comment by Abby — December 14, 2010 @ 5:53 am
I loooooved that game! Please bring it back And what will happen to all the money I had?

Comment by Phil — January 6, 2011 @ 1:23 am
please return MML.. i love that game!

Comment by pril — March 17, 2011 @ 7:12 am
PLEASE bring back MML..

Comment by nel — June 21, 2011 @ 3:38 pm
i can't believe there shutting down mml wtf they dont even care how many people like that people dont give this away we want it to stay and not get sold im about to cry because your fckin selling it to some other place show some respect and get a life dont give it away! hope you learned your lesson and you better be happy

Comment by Mackenzie — January 20, 2012 @ 7:20 pm
sooo sad cant believe there shutting down MML. At least the two internet things are combindning, maybe they will start it up again. i'm just guessing on that, but i think it should happen

Comment by Mackenzie — January 20, 2012 @ 7:26 pm

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so… that's why MML is shutting down— =(

Comment by sky — August 9, 2009 @ 4:57 am

Is MML closing down ?

Comment by Facebook User — August 12, 2009 @ 11:22 am

it's nice that zynga & mml are merging… i am an avid fan of both! i hope to see things get better for both… =)

Comment by Cierlo Zie ? — August 15, 2009 @ 6:18 am

i spent alot of time on mml,

when will the site be up again? wondering if all my houses will still be there

Comment by ken — August 30, 2009 @ 3:17 am

Please don't tell me they are closing down MML for good! I love that game and haven't been able to get on for a couple of days now.

Comment by Facebook User — August 30, 2009 @ 6:48 am

What the heck is going on? MML was sold to Zynga, the people who bring you the crap known as YoVille and Farmville… The main site does not work anymore. No word to customers, paying and otherwise. What is the deal? Do I get a refund for the gold bars I just bought? What about the buildings and neighborhoods that people have put time and sweat into? Some of the neighborhoods have been worked on for more than a year, perhaps even two. This isn't fair. You guys have at the very least a MORAL responsibility to keep us informed and to let us continue to access our hard work. If not, it shows Zynga and the talent at MML don't care about customers and aren't worth our time and effort.

Comment by NR Davis — August 30, 2009 @ 10:15 am

wtf?

Comment by Susan M Keefer — August 31, 2009 @ 4:37 pm

well… MML didn't shutdown, that's good! But the thing is.. it's not working like it used to be before, perhaps, they're in focus of building Farmville that's why.

Hope it will go back to normal.

I am an avid fan of Farmville too, but MML entertains me more.

Comment by Adrianne Sy Kim — September 17, 2009 @ 7:30 am

MML has closed down i hate Zynga MML was a great game farmvile is crap

why get MML To close it down whats the point

Zynga

DON`T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT THEM SELFS

Comment by becks — September 21, 2009 @ 6:19 pm

so does it mean that MML will not exist anymore?

Comment by LiANGY — September 22, 2009 @ 6:10 am

This is completely crazy. If you're going to take down a site that people have dedicated a lot of time and energy to, then why wouldn't you inform them? This whole thing is pretty F'd up. Even though my mom thinks MML is awesome and loves all my houses I have made on the site for more than a year now, she does that YoVille crap cause she's not really creative enough for MML, which comes off a little too complex for her age group. There's no way I would join that dinky-ass site. My mom's sent me things from it and I've tried it and it's stupid as hell. Nice business move guys.

Comment by Brittany — September 23, 2009 @ 1:37 pm

Sure they will ruin this just like they did yoville.

Comment by Cindy Beveridge Wright — September 23, 2009 @ 8:02 pm

hahahahah this is hilarious. zynga will never sell they are going to try and monopolize the industry. watch they’re games tank when the people give up on them!how many games ruined now? 3-4 more?the hackers used to account for a huge chunk of “monthly” users and now (finally) they are cutting those users down to size, but watch the change in they’re numbers as well. not to mention the users who are pissed about recent changes to a couple games thats driving players away in droves.

they HAD a good thing going….

Comment by Robyn B. Holmes — October 1, 2009 @ 9:38 pm

hello

Comment by Ardit Murtezani — October 16, 2009 @ 1:56 pm

So Zynga bought MML to shut it down on its users with no warning?

Preposterous.

Comment by star — November 22, 2009 @ 11:23 am

please return the minilife as soon as possible please

Comment by clarissa del rosario — December 8, 2009 @ 1:36 am

wtf i havent been on my minilife in a long time i was looking forward to go on their and finish my projects thats some old Bull SH!T ZYNGA buys mml and closes it down with no warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Philip — December 23, 2009 @ 11:08 am

Noooooo!!!!Mini life shut down!!!!nooooooo>i have still alot of things!zygna y you shut it down??????……….

Comment by Joey Ang — December 29, 2009 @ 7:59 pm

Comment by Facebook User — February 11, 2010 @ 5:26 am

I've been on mml on and off especially when I think of new designs for my possible future home structure. Usually after sketching out a floorplan, I will log on to MML and design my virtual home to see how it looks like. I was starting to like the new MML features and without warning it shut down… I just has an inspiration for a new floor plan….

Comment by Munirah — February 12, 2010 @ 3:54 am

Comment by Munirah — February 12, 2010 @ 3:58 am

eu nunca joguei um jogo como o MML é simplismente sensacional, é divertido ,e estimula a criatividade, eu penso que a synga deveria repensar e ativar o MML,tenho certeza que eles se surpreenderiam.

Comment by ANA LUZ — March 9, 2010 @ 6:39 am

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY MINI LIFE IS IT COMIN BACK I REALLY LIKED THAT GAME N WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL THE MONEY I HAD

Comment by leeanne — March 20, 2010 @ 9:18 am

pls bring it back

Comment by carla — May 8, 2010 @ 12:41 am

that's my favorite game =(

Comment by carla — May 8, 2010 @ 12:42 am

minilife is better than any other games in fb

Comment by carla — May 8, 2010 @ 12:43 am

Please bring MML back! I had so many more designs I wanted to bring in! Stop the maddness & bring it back!

Comment by Dereka Heath — May 14, 2010 @ 12:00 am

Zynga the people you brought you CrapVile or anything with the word "vile" in it. Zynga should make REAL games and not picking up animals shit or farming shit or making games for fucking retards. Zynga is a insult to gaming.

Comment by MyAss — July 31, 2010 @ 9:13 pm

GIVE ME BACK MYMINILIFE!!!

Comment by L. A. — August 25, 2010 @ 11:13 am

WE WANT IT BACK!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT MY MINI LIFE!!!!!!

Comment by Ishvi — October 19, 2010 @ 1:11 am

But But.. I missed my own designed HOMES! Urgh.
BRING IT BACK PLEASE?!

Comment by Abby — December 14, 2010 @ 5:53 am

I loooooved that game! Please bring it back And what will happen to all the money I had?

Comment by Phil — January 6, 2011 @ 1:23 am

please return MML.. i love that game!

Comment by pril — March 17, 2011 @ 7:12 am

PLEASE bring back MML..

Comment by nel — June 21, 2011 @ 3:38 pm

i can't believe there shutting down mml wtf they dont even care how many people like that people dont give this away we want it to stay and not get sold im about to cry because your fckin selling it to some other place show some respect and get a life dont give it away! hope you learned your lesson and you better be happy

Comment by Mackenzie — January 20, 2012 @ 7:20 pm

sooo sad cant believe there shutting down MML. At least the two internet things are combindning, maybe they will start it up again. i'm just guessing on that, but i think it should happen

Comment by Mackenzie — January 20, 2012 @ 7:26 pm

Welcome New Reader!

Zynga Acquires MyMiniLife, Looks To Expand Virtual World Portfolio (Updated)

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Welcome New Reader!

Zynga Acquires MyMiniLife, Looks To Expand Virtual World Portfolio (Updated)

Recommended Articles

Inside Social Apps 2012 is Less Than Two Weeks Away

710136 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.allfacebook.com%2Fzynga-acquires-myminilife-2009-08Zynga+Acquires+MyMiniLife%2C+Looks+To+Expand+Virtual+World+Portfolio+%28Updated%292009-08-07+20%3A51%3A34Nick+O%27Neillhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.allfacebook.com%2F%3Fp%3D7101 »

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710136 Comments2009-08-07+20%3A51%3A34Nick+O%27Neill »