Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[nenjin]

The closest thing to evil is their constant theft of other games. Not just borrowing ideas, they straight up copy every element of smaller games.

I remember an article from probably 2 years ago, that described Zygna's development environment. Basically, people developing original ideas for Zygna were told to stop designing their own stuff and instead incorporate popular designs from other web-based games. Their manager at the time was quoted as saying something to the effect of: "Innovation doesn't make money. What makes money is what's making money right now, so that's what we produce."

They are using skinner box methods as much as they can, as to make you keep playing without ever entertaining you, but they are also using your friends and family as their primary advertising method. Nothing about their games are good, just addicting. Some what like cigarettes.

Zygna actually employees a Behavioral Scientist as a contractor and consultant.

[TherosPherae]

Zynga. I once played one of their Facebook games, before the money-grubbing crap got really annoying and you could play decently for free. It was kind of fun, considering that I was my naive, stupid, 13-year-old self. Probably would still be sorta fun, if it hadn't been changed so much.

But they decided to make it into a money-grub. And it started being a laggy POS because of all the random "BUY X STUFF" in-game popups. So I stay away from it (and all of Zynga's other crap) now, and am currently still wrestling with Facebook's website to find a way to get rid of it for good.

Kind of sad, even if the games were stolen, they had a lot of potential to be decent at least.

[Tilla]

http://techcrunch.com/2009/10/31/scamville-the-social-gaming-ecosystem-of-hell/ On the links to scams and malware in their past.

[Criptfeind]

From the view of a game dev, they are some what evil.
They are using skinner box methods as much as they can, as to make you keep playing without ever entertaining you, but they are also using your friends and family as their primary advertising method. Nothing about their games are good, just addicting. Some what like cigarettes.

Yes. They may use psychology to addict you to their games. But that is not evil, because no matter how much you wish it was not so, they do give some form of pleasure, of they would not it would not be addicting. And really, who is someone to say that what ‘true’ pleasure is?

I mean, obviously if they were blocking receptors in your brain to make it so you can not live without it it would be a differing story. But since they use purely psychological means, I do not see the issue.

For a example, I am addicted to DF. But the last time I have had fun playing it was three years ago. Ever since then I have only played for the idea of it, and not the reality.

[Neonivek]

They may use psychology to addict you to their games. But that is not evil, because no matter how much you wish it was not so

Taking advantage of people isn't wrong now?

Goodness... Grey is iffy. This isn't iffy, there isn't a question if what Zynga is going is right.

Wrong for the sake of money isn't right. Sure they arn't shooting people, but do they really have to? Do we really need pitch black coal eating evil in order to see the shades of black?

Goodness next thing you know you will say Akuma from Street Fighter is Neutral.

[Criptfeind]

Taking advantage of people isn't wrong now?

Nice job cutting the quote.

Anyway, no taking advantage of people isn't wrong if they wish to be taken advantage of.

Or to put it another way, they are not taking advantage of anyone because it turns out people really do want what they sell.

[Tilla]

How could I forget about FarmVillains, probably the most comprehensive article ever written on the subject of why Zynga are evil.
http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-09-08/news/farmvillains/

And of course there's this

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/zynga-ceo-to-employees-steal-competitors-ideas-until-you-beat-them-2010099/

[Max White]

I would say crafting something for the sole purpose of getting people addicted to it is evil. You can be addicted to all sort of things, but most of them were not made solely to make you play more without ever really enjoying yourself while playing.

[Neonivek]

Nice job cutting the quote.

Anyway, no taking advantage of people isn't wrong if they wish to be taken advantage of.

Also I love Zynga, their prices are totally fair. I think that anyone who doesn't at least spend 20 dollars on Zynga obviously is poor or stingy.

I know! It is like I alter the information in quotes.

Taking advantage of people who want to be taken advantage of makes you a "User". It is a rare childhood lesson but just because someone is willing to do something it doesn't mean letting them is right.

Also I doubt they "want" to be taking advantage of... They just don't realise it. Plus you forget that you can GROOM people to want to be taken advantage of.

[nenjin]

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/zynga-ceo-to-employees-steal-competitors-ideas-until-you-beat-them-2010099/

Yep. That's related to the article I was talkin' 'bout. Pincus makes Kotick look like a fucking saint.

[Criptfeind]

GOOD JOB AGAIN MAN! YOU TAKE AWAY THE RELAVENT PART OF MY QUOTE, REPLACE IT WITH SHIT, THEN RESOND TO THE REST! NICE GOING!

Seriously, if you don't want to have a actual discussion and would rather have a lolcoperations are sooooo evil lolo circle jerk you don't even have to respond to me.

[Neonivek]

YOU TAKE AWAY THE RELAVENT PART OF MY QUOTE, THEN RESOND TO THE REST!

I only show the part of the quotes I am responding to, this post doesn't NEED to keep all the quote (it also helps for HUGE posts). I don't know what you think I use the quotes for...

Actually why do you think I quote?

-Also your the ONLY person who even mentioned when I altered their post as a joke. I've done it like 10 times on this forum and no one notices.

[Criptfeind]

Actually why do you think I quote?

To straw man me.

I only show the part of the quotes I am responding to

Good for you.

kind of evil in this world... JUST Murderous intent

So anyone who does anything evil at all is trying to kill some one?

I ripped people off to make money.

Now I am confused, did you fail at killing them?

[Neonivek]

Actually why do you think I quote?

To straw man me.

Well compared that I am responding to you, I'd be a pretty impressive debator. 

"So anyone who does anything evil at all is trying to kill some one?"

Not exactly, not sure how you drew that conclusion from what I wrote.

[TherosPherae]

Okay, you two, the quote-screwing is getting quite annoying and is probably leading into an unnecessary and inflammatory derail. Let's try and stick with the original topic for once.

But, just in case, I am donning the honorary asbestos underpants.