What's the history for Facebook squashing competition?

MySpace, Friendster, Orkut, Hi5, Bebo. I'm sure there are others that I'm missing.

They have played pretty hard in the virtual currency area too (although if anyone really thought they'd be able to build a business in that area on Facebook then I've got a bridge to sell you)

Depends if you think Foursquare is more like Zynga or FriendFeed.

Facebook can help some apps, but crushes others. I don't think it's at all clear which this will be.

they partnered with FourSquare/GoWalla, actually. there will be a full read/write API. read is open today, write is in closed beta.

All these two companies have going for them now are stamps and badges...

And ironically, that's why most people use them . . .

I don't think that's irony :(

I dunno, I certainly never expected that people would want to play their lives as an MMO. :)

Seems there is a market for such a thing. EpicWin is an RPG to-do list application for the iPhone. http://www.epicwinapp.com

I take it you didn't see Chris Hecker's GDC talk? It was all about the real world gaining these MMO like rewards. It was fascinating and horrifying at the same time, but I'm hoping it will never be a reality.

www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27646/GDC_Heckers_Nightmare_Scenario__A_Future_Of_Rewarding_Players_For_Dull_Tasks.php

Once FB has their or enough data why can't they just add those features?