The battle to become a mafia kingpin has hit the iPhone.  Zynga (www.zynga.com), the largest developer of social games, announced a new iPhone version of Mafia Wars that lets players enjoy the same exciting strategy game play competing in a virtual underworld of organized crime that has more than nine million monthly active users on Facebook and more than 11 million monthly active users on MySpace.  

“Mafia Wars on Facebook and MySpace has a cult following and now players can compete in social gaming’s most popular crime-based game on the iPhone with the mobile version,” said Mark Pincus, CEO, Zynga.  “We are excited about our growing slate of games for the iPhone which allows us to deliver our highly social games to mobile so players can connect with friends anytime, anywhere.”

The new mobile version of Mafia Wars was designed specifically for the iPhone and contains rich, high-quality graphics and interface including original animations and sounds, creating a fun and addictive gaming experience.  With other iPhone hits such as Zynga’s “Live Poker” and “Scramble Live,” Zynga’s premium iPhone games continue to turn the iPhone into a social gaming platform.  Mafia families are built up with cash, health, energy, and stamina, and equipped with attack and defense items as well as vehicles, to fight with other families in the game.  Players can also track their friends’ progress through a ranking ladder and real-time newsfeed.

Mafia Wars is available on any iPhone with EDGE, 3G or Wi-Fi access as well as the iPod touch.  Mafia Wars is free and premium versions ranging from $10 to $40 will be available soon.  The game is located in the iTunes store at:

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