4 ms·

Okay, here goes: FarmVille isn't intended to provide entertainment, it's only intended to addict you (to Zynga's benefit). That's an absolutely ridiculous sta

Okay, here goes: FarmVille isn't intended to provide entertainment, it's only intended to addict you (to Zynga's benefit). That's an absolutely ridiculous statement, and I'm shocked that it has gotten so many upvotes on Hacker News. Slashdot, sure, but not here. Do you have any insight into Zynga's development of the game? If not you have no grounds upon which to make that hyperbolic statement. ...Unless you're arguing that anything you don't find entertaining was therefore designed solely to be addictive. Farmville, in particular, was designed to be addictive at the cost of being entertaining. Are you saying that its entertainment value is lessened by its addictive aspect, or that it's not entertaining at all? If the former, your original statement needs modification.

philwelch 16y ago
"Do you have any insight into Zynga's development of the game? If not you have no grounds upon which to make that hyperbolic statement....Unless you're arguing that anything you don't find entertaining was therefore designed solely to be addictive." That's a false dichotomy. Please stop throwing around universal quantifiers like that, it's quite reckless. "Are you saying that its entertainment value is lessened by its addictive aspect, or that it's not entertaining at all? If the former, your original statement needs modification." I think it's pretty clear what I'm saying. I also think you're engaging in message board gamesmanship here, which is tiresome and boring for others to read. If you want to keep this one-on-one going, my email address is in my profile.
potatolicious 16y ago
Just about everyone I know - including people who play FarmVille - agree that it's really not very fun, but the app (I hesitate to call it a "game") compels them forward with a number of addictive mechanics. No offense, but it really sounds like you have a horse in this race - do you work for Zynga?
- WalterGR 16y ago
  Just about everyone I know - including people who play FarmVille - agree that it's really not very fun, but the app (I hesitate to call it a "game") compels them forward with a number of addictive mechanics. Few people I know classify watching TV as "fun," but it passes the time and is entertaining. No offense, but it really sounds like you have a horse in this race - do you work for Zynga? None taken. I absolutely have no relationship whatsoever with Zynga. Consider the argument Television isn't intended to provide entertainment, it's only intended to addict you (to the networks' benefit). I can't imagine it would be so uncritically received by Hacker News. Clearly FarmVille has addictive elements, like any game. I'm shocked that Hacker News so enthusiastically accepts that "FarmVille isn't intended to provide entertainment", and is punishing me for saying so.
  - chc 16y ago
    A similar statement about TV (or most other games for that matter) wouldn't match our experience. Most of us have been entertained or know someone who has been entertained by TV. FarmVille does not share this quality. Most of us know at least one person who has played it, but no one who actually seems to be entertained. My girlfriend used to play it a lot, but she spoke of it in terms of fulfilling a need or obligation rather than deriving enjoyment. I suspect a lot of people have similar experiences, and that is why they find your comparison to TV to be specious.
  - philwelch 16y ago
    Few people I know classify watching TV as "fun," but it passes the time and is entertaining. Bad argument--few people classify any form of passive entertainment as "fun". That word seems to be reserved for active forms of entertainment, like games. When there's an extremely popular game out there that no one characterizes as "fun", we have an interesting situation.

philwelch 16y ago

"Do you have any insight into Zynga's development of the game? If not you have no grounds upon which to make that hyperbolic statement....Unless you're arguing that anything you don't find entertaining was therefore designed solely to be addictive." That's a false dichotomy. Please stop throwing around universal quantifiers like that, it's quite reckless. "Are you saying that its entertainment value is lessened by its addictive aspect, or that it's not entertaining at all? If the former, your original statement needs modification." I think it's pretty clear what I'm saying. I also think you're engaging in message board gamesmanship here, which is tiresome and boring for others to read. If you want to keep this one-on-one going, my email address is in my profile.

potatolicious 16y ago

Just about everyone I know - including people who play FarmVille - agree that it's really not very fun, but the app (I hesitate to call it a "game") compels them forward with a number of addictive mechanics. No offense, but it really sounds like you have a horse in this race - do you work for Zynga?

WalterGR 16y ago
Just about everyone I know - including people who play FarmVille - agree that it's really not very fun, but the app (I hesitate to call it a "game") compels them forward with a number of addictive mechanics. Few people I know classify watching TV as "fun," but it passes the time and is entertaining. No offense, but it really sounds like you have a horse in this race - do you work for Zynga? None taken. I absolutely have no relationship whatsoever with Zynga. Consider the argument Television isn't intended to provide entertainment, it's only intended to addict you (to the networks' benefit). I can't imagine it would be so uncritically received by Hacker News. Clearly FarmVille has addictive elements, like any game. I'm shocked that Hacker News so enthusiastically accepts that "FarmVille isn't intended to provide entertainment", and is punishing me for saying so.
- chc 16y ago
  A similar statement about TV (or most other games for that matter) wouldn't match our experience. Most of us have been entertained or know someone who has been entertained by TV. FarmVille does not share this quality. Most of us know at least one person who has played it, but no one who actually seems to be entertained. My girlfriend used to play it a lot, but she spoke of it in terms of fulfilling a need or obligation rather than deriving enjoyment. I suspect a lot of people have similar experiences, and that is why they find your comparison to TV to be specious.
- philwelch 16y ago
  Few people I know classify watching TV as "fun," but it passes the time and is entertaining. Bad argument--few people classify any form of passive entertainment as "fun". That word seems to be reserved for active forms of entertainment, like games. When there's an extremely popular game out there that no one characterizes as "fun", we have an interesting situation.