PC Gamer have an article up looking at Zygna’s methods for first making a game go viral, and then milking their players for every cent they can get.
With more players logging into Zygna games every day than most Flash games ever see, Zygna’s business model is either to be envied, or feared.
Their success means more and more developers are following suit. Addiction and monetization have become the keywords for the most successful in the industry. And the most popular games in the world are utterly simple, a streamlined click-and-wait experience, where you can pay to remove the ‘wait’ part of the equation.
Is this really what casual gaming should be about, a casino type experience where you shovel your money and time in, for no tangible reward?
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
I despise that these “games” are called games at all. While elements of them can be enjoyable, and they are professionally made, the lengths at which they go to make the game not fun, just to sell something to give that fun back, is not ok. There can’t be one person at Zynga who is a passionate game designer, and not just a money hungry grunt.