Zynga Game Cards arrive in the Middle East

Zynga Game Cards
Now, the only people Zynga hasn't hit with its plastic cards are the pygmies of Australia. (Never say never, I guess.) The creator of FarmVille has entered 16 countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa through Gate2Play, an "end-to-end payment and value-added services platform based in Amman, Jordan," Gate2Play said in a statement. In other words, it handles payment of a number of clients' games through plastic cards and digital PIN numbers for paying players.

The cards will come available in $2, $5 and $10 increments, giving players more choices in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the UAE, and Yemen. Yep, I think that's about all of 'em. However, no mentions were made of localization, which strikes us as odd.

It hasn't been until recent that Middle Eastern social games have hit the radar, but they've been growing rapidly. Not to mention they're already doing amazing things like oh, I don't know, attempting to end the influence of extremism in the region? While this could lead to localization of Zynga games a' la the recent Zynga City (or Chinese CityVille), it more importantly points to the possibility of the Middle East becoming an important player in social games in general. Hey, if we're not going to get diversity in social game genres anytime soon, I'll gladly take cultural diversity.

FarmVille Mother's Day Special: Farm Cash 20 percent off this weekend

In honor of where you came from, Zynga is slashing prices on Farm Cash by 20 percent when you redeem a Zynga Game Card. If your mom is one of the many who appear to be so very addicted to FarmVille, why not just give her what she really wants: that shiny new Badger Ewe (when it finally releases). However, you'll have to pick up that Zynga Game Card and redeem it by 9 p.m. PST on May 8 to get that 20 percent discount. But as much as your mom must adore her collection of crop Mastery signs, be sure to give her something, you know, tangible? I hear a card and a bouquet of flowers can do wonders.

[Source and Image Credit: FarmVille Freak]

Have you already bought your mom a Mother's Day gift? Why not tell us about it in the comments (we won't tell)?