[toadstone]

Current Zynga games aren't that bad. The production values and gameplay are a lot better than the werewolves/vampires style games that they started with. Given a few more years, their games might even be comparable to traditional, non-social games.

I think the HN set is unfairly hard on companies like Zynga. The entrepreneurial of mind should know that a start-up can't always afford to act nobly or to invest in quality. Sometimes the right strategic decision is to make cheap crap and spam now, and reform later once you're out of mortal danger.

[clobber]

Unfairly hard huh? Have a look at this and be sure to watch the video: http://techcrunch.com/2009/11/06/zynga-scamville-mark-pinkus...

[toadstone]

I know they did shady things in the beginning. A lot of businesses have to do that, and many don't stop. That's just how the game works.

As a user, of course you don't have to take it. Just don't buy what they're selling. There's no reason for outrage. Let them scam people dumber than you, and with that money maybe they'll develop something you like.

[clobber]

A lot of businesses don't HAVE to do anything. Why try and justify this? Ethics be damned, I guess.

[jsavimbi]

> can't always afford to act nobly

No, they cannot in all cases. But they can afford to not steal from their customers or direct them into a trap where they'll be stolen from on a recurring basis. It's not about the quality of the apps as the majority will be shite anyways, it's about the ethics of the people involved.