[ghshephard]

Except Nintendo's primary revenue stream was not derived from ripping off other people's hard work, and slapping on their own artwork and calling it their own.

Nintendo created/creates a novel hardware platform, enabling other people to deliver great and compelling entertainment.

Have you ever listened to John Siracusa's Hypercritical Podcast when he remises about Nintendo, Nintendo hardware, and Nintendo games?

I do not expect anyone ever has, or ever will, wax on enthusiastically about any of the addictive little feedback loops that Zynga has sucked people into engaging. None of my friends who work there are particularly proud about the company they work for.

Zynga is one of the few (non toxin/polluting) companies in the world that I can't wait to see walk off the stage. The sooner the better.

[jessedhillon]

While I agree with your analysis, I would add that the sheer entrepreneurial will and effort required to take Zynga from zero to IPO is incredible. Yes, a lot of stars had to line up in just the right way, but let's not discount the motivation of a person like Pincus, no matter how misdirected we think it is.

For that reason, I would not consider it a foregone conclusion that Zynga will disappear. To the extent that a rise-from-the-ashes is fueled by grit and determination, he has what it takes to do it. Despite the stock option clawback efforts, I don't buy the story that he's a soulless leech. He's still in it to win.

[ghshephard]

I agree with you pretty much on everything you're saying here. I haven't met Pincus, or spoken with him, so it's unclear to me whether he saw the intervening period of Zynga's "Let's get everyone hooked on addictive little feedback games, and let's speed up our product delivery (and justify our massive valuation) by rebranding other people's games" as anything more than a step to something truly great.

But, I can't judge Zynga on what, or who, Pincus might be, I can only judge them on their actions and behavior.

Who knows, maybe Zynga will go down in flames, but Pincus arises from the ashes to go off and do great things elsewewhere...

[mdonahoe]

Which podcast episode are you referring to? I am curious to listen to it.

[ghshephard]

He's had some amazing ones. Here's a good selection.

First, start out with Blue Ocean. If you are a geek, and you love hardware/video games/nintendo, this is a classic episode that speaks to you in so many ways. It's not so overly technical that our eyes glaze over, but it's narrated by someone who is one of us, and is entertaining, and deeply deeply loves his topic (and Nintendo).

Episodes:

Blue Ocean - http://5by5.tv/hypercritical/48

Bristling with Controls - http://5by5.tv/hypercritical/71

Pinching the Harmonica - http://5by5.tv/hypercritical/49

Maximum Deflection in all Directions - http://5by5.tv/hypercritical/50

I'm not a gamers as much as I used to be, but Siracusa brings back the wonder of it all. Seriously the one podcast I look eagerly forward to every week.