[JoeAltmaier]

I'm sure there are folks like those you describe. There are also many addictive personalities in the world, spending the grocery money on a farmville threshing machine.

I aslso suspect Zinga isn't at all concerned with the difference, makes no effort to distinguish, and for the larger part is preying on the sick and weak.

[chc]

I agree that Zynga disproportionately targets that demographic, and it is a shame. I just don't think it's fair to equate Zynga with any game that has a pricing model that scales.

[JoeAltmaier]

If the 'scaling' depends on 'whales' (read: suckers) then yes, its fair. In fact, the article makes it clear the model only works because of whales.