A former Zynga employee has spilled the beans on boss Mark Pincus, alleging that he encourages the theft of ideas and going so far as to call the FarmVille developer evil.
The ex-worker claims that Pincus said these exact words when talking about game development: "I don't f*cking want innovation. You're not smarter than your competitor. Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."
He also states that the company's unofficial motto was "Be evil," which is a play on Google's "Don't be evil" corporate message. The anonymous developer also says that Zynga is "one of the most evil places I've run into, from a culture perspective and in its business approach" and that he does his best to make sure "friends don't let friends work at Zynga."
Mark Pincus and his cloak-and-dagger operations have come under fire in the past, so this is a case of more fuel on the fire. Still, you don't become one of the most successful developers in the world by playing Mr. Nice, I reckon.
FarmVille boss 'doesn't f***ing want innovation' [CVG]
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
12:20 PM on 09.09.2010 | 
They are actually evil. Farmville is an extremely simplified, micro transaction run rip off of Harvest Moon.
/shrug
So, Kotick was right all along?
Villain
Is
Lemons
Yes.
Even if you're just ripping off someone else's product.
Also, what Occams said.
And lastly originality is a myth and innovation is a buzzword. Nice to see someone is owning up to that.
Kinda wish he wasn't a dickface about it but hey. When you're on the unpopular side of two opinions (we need innovation v. we don't need innovation) you take what you can get.
I want my girlfriend back, mr. Pincus!
The opportunity to make out with your sister.
@Patriot Snake: dunno, cookies? Or was it the Dark Side again?
Okay, I actually LOLed at that. +1 internets to you.
oh, Jim <3
Nope, not entirely. Corporatism sees people as nothing more than a sea of people who are numbers and nothing more. Capitalism is about any one of those "numbers" getting a shot in the process, and if you fail, then you fail.
Now don't get me wrong, both corporatism and capitalism can be good and bad. However, as a whole, global corporations, many of whom are run out of places like China (not too capitalist, eh?), are run by complete monsters who are out to crush and destroy smaller businesses that make it in a capitalist system.
Some nice swamp front property
"Evil will always win, because good is dumb."
-- Spaceballs? :)
Anyway I read this article because the title made me laugh. You should have added ..."and strangles kittens too."
Don't be nice. Don't be evil. Be productive and do good stuff. And always remember: it ain't really your space station.
The fact that you say this AND it's true scares me beyond my darkest nightmares.
Bullshit. Capitalism is about being responsible for and profiting from your own risks. Corporations were founded for the sole purpose of dodging legal responsibility and corrupting the law enough to out maneuver genuine innovation.
Corporatism = Communism for the rich.
"And lastly originality is a myth and innovation is a buzzword. Nice to see someone is owning up to that."
That's only true if you believe the only way to be original or innovative is to completely start from scratch and ignore everything that has come before you every time you attempt to create something. If you define such concepts that way then yeah, you're bound to be disappointing by "originality." But why would you set yourself up to be disappointed?
Innovation and originality are both about taking what worked before and adding something that improves what you started with. No need to set up magical levels of expectation.
Corporatism = communism for the rich? Have you ever even studied basic economic theory? Corporatism is welfare capitalism for the rich. Communism is a dictator-less, classless society, where labor benefits societal needs rather than profit gains. Capitalism is about finding a realm of exploitation and creating monetary gain. Risks at the expense of others is not for free people.
You need to study, son.