Don’t thing social gaming is a big business? Think again. Zynga, one of the leading social gaming platforms on Facebook and MySpace announced at the end of the year that they were cash flow positive. Today PaidContent quotes Tim Chang of Northwest Venture Partners who says, “they’re making something like $30 million to $40 million per year mostly from people buying Texas Hold ‘Em chips on Facebook.”
Remember that million dollar application I wrote about previously? It looks like Zynga has at least one if not more than one “million dollar application”, possibly even reaching multi-millions. Also extremely popular for the company is YoVille, a large virtual world with over 3 million monthly active users.
It’s clear that social games have experienced a surge in popularity and some companies like Zynga have already figured out a way to monetize that traffic effectively. While it’s challenging to remain one of the top social gaming companies, some games have a high “stickiness factor” such as Texas Hold’em which has been extremely popular since soon after the launch of the Facebook platform.
Sticky games on social networks are a pretty solid investment as they tend to pay out for a long period of time. Mob wars on Facebook is one example of a game that continues to attract users. There are many other social gaming companies that have experience wide spread success. Playfish for example, is the 4th most popular company on Facebook in terms of monthly active users, following right behind Zynga.
Playfish has also been monetizing their games although we don’t have exact figures on how much revenue they are generating. It’s clear that social gaming is here to stay and may continue to be one of the most profitable if not the most profitable segment of social applications.
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And im not gay, I have 4 kids. You shouldn't just fling that word around, get some education.
Zynga is more concerned about making more games, getting that money from players and adding new dumb features to the games, and the added features ruin the game everytime to where it doesn't work anymore. If they would just leave well enough alone it wouldn't be so bad.
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I've gotten on the forums and bitched about things--most recently I believe it was over the shift to Rackets from Properties--but come on, this is a free game if you want it to be. And be honest, you all want to like it, otherwise you wouldn't be here (unless you're just attracted to internet chum and red-meat).
Yes, maybe it's got too much on its plate for its size, but I don't think they imagined it would get this large this quickly. I think they really should hire some new people on, if the reports about their profits are true.
But all this vitriol and hate--I know it's what runs the internet, but come on! What I see is a bunch of people over-reacting about an essentially FREE game. You act like they stole your woman and killed your puppy. If you don't like it, don't play it. Frankly, I still enjoy it for the warty, problematic game that it is.
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Zynga
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Entertainment industry)
With a max of 50 employees, which at most 10 are programmers, how could they possibly develop as well as fix as many games as they have? lol If this ever went public, beware!!
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I was hired as a contract employee to perform various tasks for the iphone team. I was stoked just to land a gig in this job market - not to mention I had been an avid gamer since duck hunt. Looking back, I guess I have been a social gamer all along.
What excited me even more was my first day on the job. I walked into an office buzzing with energy and inspiration. I got the vibe that everyone had specific roles to fill for an ultimate goal - and if they could do that, they would be compensated fairly. We all felt very appreciated.
My initial tasks were somewhat remedial, but I enjoyed doing ANYTHING in the office because of the atmosphere. I also knew that how minor the task may seem was irrelevant. The most important tasks could not be completed without the building blocks. I always tried to exceed expectations and never put my name on something that wasn't my best work. One day, I was asked if I wanted to make a game-demo video for the upcoming release of Scramble Live. Remembering a time during my childhood when Chad (my neighbor) and I would try to write down EVERYTHING you had to do to beat Donkey Kong, I accepted the task. I had already played a LOT of Scramble in preparation for launch, so I had a plethora of ideas to communicate the games features. I finished the video, editing included, in about 4 hours. Most of the shots were just one take. It turned out that the casual, one take, approach fit with Zynga culture. Shortly after the first video, I took up the alias '1 Take Blake.' Truth be told, I've ALWAYS wanted to be involved in the film and entertainment industry. I was able to blend my passion for film making with my addiction to video games. All the while I was getting paid to do what I love!
Since then, I have made 4 more videos for Zynga - and really feel like they are appreciated. My goal is to make a video for every department of Zynga - really focusing on the team dynamic. I love to include my co-workers in my work, because without them, I would not be doing it. I wake up every day grateful that I am living the dream.
I aspire to be Zynga's go-to guy for video and other creative media needs. I am proud to say I am a Zynga employee, and also believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I guess it is not abnormal that bad press about companies seem to correlate to their level of success. There will always be haters. I accept that. I have always worked my ass of to reach success while maintaining my integrity. I can sleep at night comfortable with every decision I have ever made. Despite that, I have never gone a week without hearing somebody else's negative energy. 'Blake, you can't do that because..." or "It's impossible to reach THAT level of sucess without sacrificing your morals." I shrug it off. The recent wave of negative press about Zynga - in a way - feels like an accomplishment. I realize that when society does not understand something, they will form speculations. Go ahead everybody, speculate about how Zynga continues to expand; continues to build out new departments and positions (like mine); and to remain profitable. I guess we just figured it out before the rest of you. But please RESPECT our business. We will always respect yours. We will continue to connect the world through games. They are fun as heck, you should try them! And smile.
Anyone and everyone is encouraged to link up with me online. You can friend/message me on facebook. You can follow me on Twitter (One Take Blake)
BUT!!! Please do not waste your time sending me Zynga hate mail. It will be deleted/marked as spam immediately. I am open to conversation with any open mind. I know that (deleting the messages right away) might be perceived as close-minded. But I just don't have time to deal with people who have their mind made up on something I don't agree with. I have way too much FUN work to do!
Mark Pincus - Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for making this possible. Rather, making it possible for US to make this possible.
Email me at blake@zynga.com OR 1takeblake@gmail.com
iPhone Mafia Wars
Level: 180
Mafia Size: 168
Hourly Property Income: $1,352,415
Attack Power: 2433
Defese Power: 2581
Friend Code 7501 4350 66
I also play YoVille (YoBlake), Guild of Heroes, Scramble, Live Poker, and Vampire Wars. (But I would accept a challenge to ANY Zynga Game!)
Brutally Honest,
Blake Loftus Jamieson
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Zynga apps have alot of potential, but their business model almost demands bad customer service because they need only the new and novice players to make money, Your cool job won't last long.....and I sincerely hope you have to delete tons of Zynga hate mail. That's what you get for being a tool and advertising urself.
Zynga's players are smart, savvy, and almost entirely united in wanting something better.....and it's only natural that the vacuum will be filled.
So keep making your department videos....TOOL
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As for poker, I know that they are having serious legal issues as well. Taking money for chips, its the same as real gambling on the net and its not allowed in alot of states and if you live in those states its against the law. I belive thats why they started the new gift giving chips. A loop hole. Zynga wants to get there money from players one way or the other. And most of the time the page you get when you first get on for the day to give your 1,000 chips as I get doesnt work so there loop hole isnt working lol Again a technical issue that doesnt get fixed.
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Originally Posted by Erzebet
It's a bit of a micky take though, seeing as I used a lot of my Elders points to regain my old level so that I could have at least a fighting chance against some of the newer Vamps that took a bigger advantage of the 'glitch'.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandy
Yeah it sounds like it's just part of our overall Facebook server issue. New servers are on their way so just hang tight until then!
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Originally Posted by Erzebet
Have you any idea when I'll be hanging tight till? I've said that I have other Apps running and it's getting so that Vamps doesn't have the same 'pull' as it did.
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Originally Posted by Mandy
Possibly sometime next week.
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Originally Posted by Erzebet
I would think I'll be gone then.
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Originally Posted by Mandy
See ya.
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I wonder why there is such a high demand on the Customer Service Dept when the people that are there to answer questions have this attitude?
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Blatant Disregard for Customer Input.
A bunch of Harvard kids mucking around with coding every freaking week to no avail...I mean c'mon put a couple of monkeys in front of a screen and they would most likely come up with something that contains less errors...I mean Zynga had to really work hard to make the games as un-playable as they are...
And then to upgrade their games without ....duh!!...making sure their servers could handle it?? Wow...
Zynga deserves to receive a trophy...
Their CEO's head on a plate.
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That is the way things are. Zynga's answer to problems is censorship on their forums and putting the blame on their customers.
I personally lost REAL money when they ruined VW and I have uninstalled every single Zynga application. I was a paying customer until I heard from a Zynga employee that I was really exploiting the features of the game. The features they allowed me to use because I PAID FOR IT. A Zynga employee also suggested between the lines that I kinda harassed other players and bullied them. By killing them in a killing game.
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they allow cheaters, abusers, stalkers, and vile mouthed trash continued use of their game. No matter how many people reported the above mentioned , NOTHING got done. Nothing happens no matter how many non-existent customer service tickets they issue. The only good thing Zynga does and is known for by the players is they have a blatent disregard for anything that is not lining their pockets . Zynga is a company that talks the talk but has never once walked the walk. I like many can't wait for more game apps and developers coming in and putting the old horse known as Zynga out to pasture,
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We are the customers/consumers/and we PAY their salaries. Yet they offer us nothing but regret, theft, and disapointment. I would be the first to sit down and discuss the companies need for hush tones and lock outs. Too many complaints would make the company look bad.
This company scams millions... and I for one am tired of being stolen from.
Thank you
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The most popular games on FB are swamped by racist and sexually abusive people and there is no way to block them from posting comments to your personal wall. Blatantly disgusting names go unreported and unchanged because of the difficulty in doing so - suggestions for a 'Report button' in game have been 'overlooked'.
Zynga listen to whiners and 'Twilight Tweenies' who complain about attacks in a 'War' game yet disregard the complaints of people that pay for their 'Free game'.
The business acumen shown by the public face of Zynga is astonishing - astonishing as to how they have not only managed to stay in business, but also how they have managed to make $30 - $40 profit - let alone $30 - $40 Million!
Although, there are not so many complaints on their forum - Zynga's Moderation tactic is to delete any Posts that question anything that they cannot answer with their generic phrases, lock down threads or topics that ask questions about missing or 'stolen' Elders Points and serve infractions and bans on people that are vocal and put across points of view that they find difficult to field.
When players are unable to get into their games because of the 'server problem' (not enough of them, remember) it is ignored and the Dev that was posting and fielding at least some of the questions seems conspicuous by her absence in the forum...
A rant? You bet!
Zynga take money for services (Elders Points) and then don't fix the game when it's unavailable. Then they blame Facebook and MySpace or attribute their server problems to 'java cache'.
Disappointed, disappointed, disappointed!
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They are now hacking peoples accounts while they play and deny any of this is happening, they need to be shut down by a Bureau for being corrupt within the game
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