Zynga co-founder 'bored with all games'

Zynga co-founder Mark Pincus says he's "bored" with games, and hasn't found one that hooked him like FarmVille or CityVille.

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Zynga has been going through hard times recently, even under the hand of new CEO Don Mattrick. That may have something to do with the games not grabbing players like they used to, as even co-founder Mark Pincus says he's gotten bored of the medium.

"Right now, I'm pretty bored with all games," Pincus said during an informal Q&A reported by The Wall Street Journal (via Eurogamer). He had been asked what his favorite game is right now. He went on to explain that he used to get hooked on games like FarmVille or CityVille, but hasn't been grabbed by a new one that way. "I want that addiction again," he said.

Yossi Vardi, who had asked the question, even gave Pincus a chance to retract his comment, and Pincus declined. He isn't explicitly criticizing his own company's games, but it's not a great sign when the head of the publisher doesn't tout its own recent titles, especially in contrast to older games that he says did grab him.

Zynga has been suffering layoffs and studio closures. Most recently financial results showed that it had lost half of its daily users, leaving new CEO Don Mattrick the unenviable task of righting the ship. He promised to "go back to basics" and focus on free-to-play social games, but warned of "more volatility" in the next few quarters.

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  • reply
    October 4, 2013 11:55 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Zynga co-founder 'bored with all games'.

    Zynga co-founder Mark Pincus says he's "bored" with games, and hasn't found one that hooked him like FarmVille or CityVille.

    • DM7 legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
      reply
      October 5, 2013 12:33 PM

      Make something new instead of copying others and maybe you won't be bored.

      • reply
        October 5, 2013 12:44 PM

        seriously, as dude who made his money by stealing other peoples ideas and rehashing them at subpar quality he needs to lay as low as possible when it comes to criticizing the current industry output.

        if you look at all the shit this sleazebag has done and said over the years, including fucking over his own employees with shit like this http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204621904577018373223480802.html he seriously needs to stfu.

        his work at his former company was so greasy that even EA managed to look like the good guys when they sued their ass.

        • reply
          October 5, 2013 4:00 PM

          I'm surprised he wasn't sued over the stock options thing. Seems like a pretty clear breach of contract. Maybe he was, or maybe he backed off?

          In any case, it was a major sleaze bag move, and one of worst cases of executive greed I've heard of.

          • reply
            October 5, 2013 6:01 PM

            I think some if them surrendered their stock but others got lawyers involved and kept more of their shares. They had to be employed when it goes public so all they have to do is fire them to get the shares back. I mean basically why give someone 20 million when they would take 500k. And millionaires don't have to work so they leave.

    • reply
      October 5, 2013 2:48 PM

      Well hell, if I was playing shitty Zynga crap, I'd probably be bored of gaming too.

    • reply
      October 5, 2013 2:49 PM

      I want to play VilleVille

    • reply
      October 5, 2013 3:27 PM

      somebody link him to the cookie game

    • reply
      October 5, 2013 3:47 PM

      hahaha

    • reply
      October 5, 2013 3:51 PM

      The cell phone market has cornered the ripping off others for profit area. Too much competition now.

    • reply
      October 5, 2013 5:16 PM

      A guy like this really should get into the "eating a bowl of dicks" line of work.

      • reply
        October 5, 2013 5:45 PM

        You have made me LOL on an otherwise drab Saturday. Thank you XD

    • reply
      October 5, 2013 5:52 PM

      This guy needs DOTA. I would love to see a Zynga MOBA. It would be so bad it would be good.

      +100dmg for 100 gems!!!!

    • reply
      October 6, 2013 2:54 AM

      They should play "Ministry - Just One Fix" when Mark Pincus gets on stage for the next meeting.

    • reply
      October 6, 2013 9:46 AM

      If you're bored then you're boring.

    • reply
      October 6, 2013 1:38 PM

      So am I. This whole next-gen is putting me to sleep. At least this gen went out with a bang. Thanks Last of Us and Beyond. As for everything else. Sleepville.

      • reply
        October 7, 2013 10:59 AM

        Give it time. The truly next gen games don't start until next year.

    • reply
      October 6, 2013 10:18 PM

      FarmVille and CityVille.... shining examples of amazing games right here, extremely not boring.

    • reply
      October 7, 2013 6:18 AM

      When you make shovelwear as a developer, you die a little inside as a gamer

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