Clampett Alert! Zynga Launches First Original Online Game: FrontierVille.

The fast-growing social games start-up, Zynga–which recently penned distribution deals with Facebook and Yahoo (YHOO)–rolled out its first original online game today, called FrontierVille.

According to the San Francisco-based Zynga, most social games are iterations on other games already out there. Its flagship game, FarmVille, for example, wasn’t the first farm game.

The Wild West-themed FrontierVille is also the first game from well-known game designer Brian Reynolds, who has previously created Rise of Nations, Civilization II and others.

“FrontierVille is Oregon Trail meets Little House on the Prairie meets FarmVille,” said Reynolds in a statement about the game, where you start with a covered wagon and a plot of land.

There are also varmints to rassle with.

Someone go down to the cement pond to fetch Granny, Elly Mae and Jethro, stat!

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Cocoa, Flash and Safari

A great deal has already been said about Section 3.3.1 of the latest iPhone SDK Terms and Conditions, and the apparent standoff between Apple (AAPL) and Adobe (ADBE) over the Flash platform. Adobe has launched an aggressive PR campaign last week in support of their position. Both companies continue to argue over who is more “open.”

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Zynga Buys Austin-Based Challenge Games

Zynga, the online gaming powerhouse, has acquired Austin, Texas-based Challenge Games.

The social game start-up will be renamed Zynga Austin and be focused on product development.

Backed by Sequoia Capital and Globespan Capital Partners, Challenge focuses on virtual goods games, such as Warstorm.

Zynga did not reveal the terms of the deal.

The San Francisco-based Zynga has been on a bit of a deal tear of late, inking partnership agreements with both Yahoo (YHOO) and Facebook recently.

Here’s the official release:

ZYNGA ACQUIRES CHALLENGE GAMES

San Francisco–June 3, 2010–Zynga today announced the acquisition of Austin-based social game company Challenge Games. Effective immediately, the Challenge Games office will become Zynga Austin, a game studio focused on product development. Today’s announcement expands Zynga’s studio operations adding to locations already in San Francisco, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Bangalore, and Beijing.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

“Austin is an ideal location to extend our studio operations with its rich talent in the games business,” said Mike Verdu, senior vice president of Games at Zynga. “We look forward to building out our Zynga Austin studio with the best and brightest in the industry as we continue to bring social games to more users worldwide.”

Challenge Games’ Co-Founder CEO, Andrew Busey, will become Zynga’s general manager and vice president of the Austin studio. The Challenge Games team of 35 employees will be immediately integrated into Zynga’s workforce.

Challenge Games, backed by Sequoia Capital and Globespan Capital Partners, launched in 2007 to focus on immersive Web game development built on a virtual goods business model. Two of the company’s most popular games, Warstorm, a collectible card game set in a fantasy universe, and Ponzi, a tycoon game, will be further developed by the Zynga team.

Today’s acquisition along with Zynga’s recently announced partnerships with Facebook and Yahoo! continues to extend the company’s footprint worldwide, creating more opportunities for Zynga to connect the world through games. Recently, the company announced a promotion with 7-Eleven where stores across the United States and Canada are offering special promotional game gifts with Slurpees® and other items.

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Yahoo Display Ad Boss Bill Wise Lands at MediaBank

Yahoo veteran Bill Wise, who left his job running the Web giant’s display ad platform unit this spring, has a new gig: He’ll be CEO of MediaBank, a Chicago-based ad technology company.

Wise is still technically a Yahoo employee, but says he’ll be at his new job “in weeks.” He replaces Brad Keywell, who also co-founded Groupon, the crazily hot online shopping/coupon startup.

Wise joined Yahoo in 2007, when it bought Right Media, the ad exchange he was running. So it makes perfect sense for him to land at another ad tech play. The difference between MediaBank and other ad tech startups is that up until now it has specialized in analog media, not digital: It sells technology that helps buyers of TV, print and other media plan and track their purchases.

That industry is dominated by Donovan Data Systems, and Wise’s first priority is try eating into his competitor’s marketshare.

But MediaBank also works with digital media, though it’s a much smaller part of their business. The thinking behind Wise’s hire is that he can merge all of that together, and help create a sort of mega-media marketplace: Think of Google’s AdX (GOOG) exchange, but one that buys and sells Web display ads alongside TV spots, magazine pages, etc.

Wise, who lives in New York City, will stay there and open up a MediaBank outpost.