Why all the Zynga hate?

[Delusibeta]

Think about this. I set up a game development company, and for my first game I decompile the code for Assassin's Creed 2, replace Enzo with a Templar and the people he's sent to assassinate with various demons. I call the game "Massacre By Templars", and I implement a cheap red-blue 3D filter and bung a pair of paper red-blue glasses in the box, and slap an "In 3-D!" sticker on the box. I buy all of the ad slots in all the major UK and US television channels for a month and my game outsells Assassin's Creed 2. When I win a Golden Joystick, I declare that my company is the best company ever and I've got 3,000 employment oppertunities for all you game developers, who should give up because they aren't making money.

Would that make me a jerk?

 

[GoGo Yubari]

I don't hate Zynga. Just adore Valve.

 

[Ze_Reaper_Of_Zeath]

I don't hate them, I once played Farmville, in a smaller, younger age when my PC was crap. But against Valve, or Blizzard, they stand no chance.

 

[robbaz]

I still dont get why people vote on zynga. Isn't this a gaming forum?

Zynga makes games.

This site invited them to the contest as a game developer.

This forum's description includes browser games in the "gaming" thread, so obviously they think browser games are gaming.

So that's probably why people hate zynga and love them. Thanks for shedding a light.

 

[Willeus]

I think the pedastal that 75% of hardcore gamers have Valve on is (to them) being threatened by Zynga, an out of nowhere 'game' developer with a barley literate fanbase. Its just creating alot of tension and frustation. I'll be glad when it's over.

 

[thublihnk]

See, I hate Zynga due to their basic srategy--not of making casual games, but of making games that are patently addictive. I'm not talking about 'this is so fun' addictive, I'm talking about a game that rewards you for putting effort into it every day, and ruthlessly punishes you for neglecting it. The game is created for the sole purpose of getting people to play it, not to have /fun/.

CASUAL gamers, however, I have no problem with. I can dig a quick game of Bejewled, and my phone copy of Tetris probably has more hours on it than Saints Row 2, and that's saying something. There are great casual game developers, Zynga is not one of them. Go Popcap.

 

[JWW]

1. Farmville
2. Casual game developer (beating Valve wtf?)
3. Spamming facebook and making fake accounts for victory (yes I'm sure some Valve fans have done it but not at the same rate)
4. Half-Life and its offspring
5. Portal
6. Team Fortress
7. Left 4 Dead

 

[Delusibeta]

Conveniently, Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/the-farmville-diaries-article] published an article about one person's experiences playing FarmVille. Sample quote:

I asked my friend Kim, who doesn't currently play, to join the game. She was reluctant but agreed after I explained it'll only take a few minutes to sign up, and she doesn't have to keep playing the game once she's accepted my Neighbour invitation.

Um. Here's those chillies again.

Wednesday 24th March

Email from Kim: "I hate FarmVille. It has taken over my every waking moment. WHY?"

I have become a drug pusher.

 

[Dannyboy1186]

Hmm...Perhaps most of people on the Escapist forums are hardcore gamers and so having a casual company win whould annoy them. I like to believe the majority of the escapist arn't fanboys/girls or have I yet to dabble in those threads yet.

 

[kato89]

I don't hate Zynga, but I wouldn't call them game developers. Their "games" don't have much to do in them, and for most gamers are boring. I do applaud them for tapping into the casual market, but I don't think they deserve a spot on the developer showdown.

 

[Nomanslander]

I got nothing against them, but I wouldn't mind seeing them make a real game for a change...=/

 

[guardian001]

They shamelessly rip off both other developers and their own customers.

 

[NickCooley]

You know what makes me laugh? Rabid fanboys complaining about "mindless Zynga hordes". I'll be happy when the entire damn contest is over.