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