Zynga, Facebook and Casual Gaming.

(Now that I have written the title, it really is grandioso)

As a farmville user of myself and other player of several of their game, I was already familiar with their game's style, and other common characteristics. Reading this NY Times' article helped me clarify some of the statistics as well as answering some other questions previously I had in my mind.

First of all, as we were studying casual games, I have always thought that Zynga/Playfish's games are suited perfectly for the description of being 'casual games'; it does have every elements that defines casual games, namely some 'juiciness', not-so-easy but seems easy, amiable characters (I do not recall if it is a part of the definition, but I do believe those kind of cartoon-ish graphics that they offer are certainly the characteristics of many other casual games as well) and other features that were mentioned by the authors.

As for a future growth, however, I do not see them as growing as NY Times' particular article's writer of Miguel Helft or Mr. Pincus's ambition allows. First of all, their only platform offered so far is a facebook, and as the article points out, they had strong argument over share facebook takes by providing the platform Zynga's user can enjoy.

It is my strong belief that in order for the internet companies to flourish in a level of Google, Microsoft and others, they must create a platform that others can play on, not to create a feature that is being played on someone else's platform. As a great example of Microsoft proves, their success is largely based on their ability to create a platform, not additional features, such as Age of Empires game series, or other projects they have ran.

I, however, believe that casual game's future is so much brighter, then even some of 'Triple A' titles. As casual games have broader, wider audiences and more appealing to the general audiences that has a purchasing power of small amount, but in more frequent terms. As Mr. Pincus himself clarified, they earn money not by advertising (you can't really find one other than their games), but the players' infrequent (or frequent) purchase of items that are available.

Am I only one who sees their future as not-so-bright?