|
In 2010 a combined $300 million from [[Softbank]] and [[Google]] were invested in Zynga.<ref name=become>{{cite news |author=[[Miguel Helft]] |coauthors= |title=Will Zynga Become the Google of Games? |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/business/25zynga.html?_r=1&src=busln&pagewanted=all |quote=In addition, Zynga’s $520 million in financing includes a recent infusion of $300 million through two, roughly equal investments from Softbank and Google, according to people briefed on the investments who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Zynga’s finances publicly. Google and Zynga are also in the early stages of exploring a collaboration, these people said. Zynga and Google declined to comment or confirm a Google investment. |work=[[New York Times]] |date=July 24, 2010 |accessdate=2010-07-24 }}</ref>
==Games==
{{en desarrollo}}
{{Infobox empresa
| company_name = Zynga, Inc.
| company_logo =
| company_type = [[Privada]]
| foundation = 2007
| location_city = [[San Francisco]], [[California]]
| location_country = Estados Unidos
| key_people = [[Mark Pincus]]<br />[[Eric Schiermeyer]]<br />[[Michael Luxton]]<br />[[Justin Waldron]]<br />[[Andrew Trader]]<br />[[Steve Schoettler]]
| industry = [[video juegos]], [[Servicios de red social]]
| homepage = http://zynga.com/
| revenue = [[US$]]270 millones (2009 est.)<ref>http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/03/zynga-revenue/</ref>
| num_employees = 1.000<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/business/25zynga.html</ref>
}}
'''Zynga''' ({{IPA|ˈzɪŋˌgə}}) es una empresa que desarrolla videojuegos sociales en línea, basándose en los sistemas de [[Web 2.0]], ubicada en [[San Francisco]], [[California]], [[Estados Unidos]].<ref>"[http://www.zynga.com/contact/ Contact Zynga]." Zynga. Retrieved on February 23, 2010.</ref> La compañía desarrolla juegos parecidos a los de navegadores de forma autónoma y los presenta como aplicaciones [[widget]] en redes sociales como [[Facebook]], [[MySpace]].
==Historia==
Zynga fue fundado en julio de 2007 por [[Mark Pincus]], Michael Luxton, Eric Schiermeyer, Justin Waldron, Andrew Trader, and Steve Schoettler.<ref name="zynga">[http://www.zynga.com/about/ About Zynga] from Zynga</ref> Tenía [[United States dollar|USD]] $29 millones [][venture finance]] from several firms, led by [[Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers]] in July 2008, at which time they appointed former [[Electronic Arts]] Chief Creative Officer Bing Gordon to the board.<ref name="financing">[http://zblog.zynga.com/?p=122 "Zynga Completes $29 Million Financing, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers" press release] from Zynga's blog (July 23rd, 2008)</ref> At that time, they also bought [[YoVille]], a large virtual world social network game.<ref name="financing" /> According to their website, as of December 2009, they had 60 million unique daily active users.<ref>[http://www.zynga.com/ Zynga's front page] with user statistics</ref>
As of February 2010, Zynga has over 750 employees.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/companies/167907 Zynga - Company Profile on LinkedIn<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
On 17 February 2010, Zynga opened Zynga India in [[Bangalore]], the company’s first office outside the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.zynga.com/2010/02/zynga-opens-first-international-office-in-india-.html|title=Zynga Opens First International Office in India |publisher=Zynga|date=2010-02-17|accessdate=2010-02-17}}</ref>
On 18 March 2010, Zynga confirmed that they will open a second international office in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/irish-base-for-us-online-gaming-giant-to-boost-our-smart-economy-2102828.html|title=Irish base for US online gaming giant to boost our 'smart economy'|last=Mulligan|first=John|date=2010-03-18|work=The Irish Independent|accessdate=2010-03-18}}</ref>
On 7 May 2010, [[Michael Arrington]] of [[TechCrunch]] reported that Zynga was threatening to leave [[Facebook]] altogether in the wake of Facebook's requiring exclusive use of [[Facebook credits]] for monetization in applications.<ref name="techcrunch-zynga-live">{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/07/zynga-gunning-up-and-lawyering-up-for-war-against-facebook-with-zynga-live/|title=Zynga Gunning up (and Lawyering up) for War Against Facebook with Zynga Live|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=2010-05-07|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=8 May 2010}}</ref> After Facebook negotiations for having Zynga host its games solely on Facebook fell through, Facebook retaliated by shutting off notifications for several Zynga games, including [[FarmVille]].<ref name="techcrunch-zynga-live" /> Plans have surfaced for Zynga to distance itself from Facebook by creating a new "Zynga Live" network, to be called Zlive.<ref name="techcrunch-zlive">{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/08/zyngas-struggle-for-independence-bailing-on-tagged-zlive-to-launch-soon/|title=Zynga’s Struggle For Independence: Bailing On Tagged, ZLive To Launch Soon?|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=2010-05-08|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=9 May 2010}}</ref> As of June 2010, ''FarmVille'' had 18 million fewer Facebook players than its March 2010 peak of 85 million.<ref>[http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28913/FarmVille_Sheds_Another_9_Million_Users_In_Latest_Facebook_Rankings.php FarmVille Sheds Another 9 Million Users In Latest Facebook Rankings]</ref>
On 3 June 2010, Zynga acquired [[Challenge Games]].<ref name="zynga-acquires-challenge">{{cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/zynga-acquires-challenge-games-expands-social-gaming-footprint/15272/|title=Zynga acquires Challenge Games; expands social gaming footprint}}</ref>
==Business model==
Zynga is supported in two manners: Via direct credit card payments and partner businesses.<ref name="hate"/><ref name=become/> Several Zynga games require an "Energy" characteristic to play. Engaging in "Missions", a core feature of many games, consumes a certain amount of energy. After expending energy, it slowly replenishes to the character's maximum limit. This can take minutes or several hours (energy replenishes whether or not players are logged into the game). After energy is replenished, players can engage in additional missions. Waiting for energy to replenish is a significant limiting factor in the games. Their support mechanisms take advantage of this.
Prior to November 2009, Zynga games linked to offers from a number of partners. Players could accept credit card offers, take surveys or buy services from Zynga's partners in order to obtain game credits, which would allow them to replenish their character's energy or receive premium currency that could be exchanged for other various virtual goods.
Players may also purchase game credits directly from Zynga via [[credit card]]<ref name="hate"/> or [[PayPal]]. From within the game, players can purchase the points for a fee: [[United States dollar|USD]]$5.00 for 21 game credits, for example.
In March 2010 Zynga started selling prepaid cards for virtual currency at more than 12,800 stores across the US.<ref name=Eldon2010>{{Citation
| title = Zynga’s Pre-Paid Virtual Currency Cards Have Expanded to More than 12,800 US Stores
| url = http://www.insidesocialgames.com/2010/03/25/zyngas-pre-paid-virtual-currency-cards-have-expanded-to-more-than-12800-us-stores/
| year = 2010
| author = Eldon, Eric
| journal = Insidesocialgames.com
| accessdate = 2010-04-05
}}</ref>
==Controversias==
{{criticism}}
In its first years of existence, Zynga has been criticized on various fronts.
=== Réplicas de juegos existentes ===
Zynga has been accused several times of copying game concepts of popular games by competing developers.<ref name="isg-plinga">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidesocialgames.com/2009/10/08/meet-plinga-apparently-zyngas-german-copycat/|title=Meet Plinga, Apparently Zynga’s German Copycat|last=Eldon|first=Eric|date=2009-10-08|work=Inside Social Games|accessdate=10 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="playfish-clone" />
The launch of ''[[Mafia Wars]]'' sparked a lawsuit from the makers of ''[[Mob Wars]]'',<ref>[http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/14/mob-wars-creator-sues-zynga-for-copyright-infringement/ Mob Wars Creator Puts A Hit Out On Zynga, Sues For Copyright Infringement] from TechCrunch.com (February 14, 2009)</ref> which was settled out of court for $7–9 million.<ref>[http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/13/zynga-settles-mob-wars-litigation-as-it-settles-in-to-playdom-war/ Zynga Settles Mob Wars Litigation As It Settles In To Playdom Fight]</ref>
[[Ars Technica]] noted that Zynga's ''Cafe World'' and Playfish's ''Restaurant City'' were "nearly identical"; ''Cafe World'' was released six months after ''Restaurant City''. Its gameplay, design, graphics, avatars, and even in-game items are almost identical to the ones in ''Restaurant City''. Many players who have played ''Restaurant City'' and ''Cafe World'' have noticed the extreme similarities between both games.<ref name="ars-technica-cafe-world">{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/12/cloning-or-theft-ars-explores-game-design-with-jenova-chen.ars|title=Cloning or Theft? Ars Explores Game Design with Jenova Chen|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=2009-12-09|work=Ars Technica|accessdate=15 December 2009}}</ref> In addition, Zynga's ''[[FarmVille]]'' is similar to ''[[Farm Town]]''.
Other companies have responded by copying Zynga's games as well. [[Playfish]], publisher of ''Pet Society'' (a game similar to Zynga's ''Petville''), announced the creation of ''Poker Rivals'' to rival ''Zynga Poker.''<ref name="playfish-clone">{{cite web|url=http://venturebeat.com/2009/12/07/turning-the-tables-playfish-clones-zyngas-poker-game/|title=Turning the Tables, Playfish Clones Zynga’s Poker Game on Facebook|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=2009-12-07|work=VentureBeat|accessdate=10 December 2009}}</ref> Playfish then launched a game called ''Gangster City'', which is similar to ''Mafia Wars''.
Zynga founder Mark Pincus has dismissed the criticisms, saying that competing video game makers have always released similar titles for each genre of game.<ref name="hate">{{cite news|publisher=CNN|title=The Facebook games that millions love (and hate)|author=Doug Gross|date=2010-02-23|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/23/facebook.games/?hpt=Sbin|accessdate=2010-04-03}}</ref>
=== Scam ads ===
Through 2009 Zynga made money from [[lead generation]] advertising schemes, whereby game participants would earn game points by signing up for featured credit cards or video-rental services. These were criticized as being less cost-effective than simply buying game points, and in some cases, being outright scams that would download unwanted software or unwittingly sign up for a recurring subscription.<ref name="hate"/> One ad signed up players for subscriptions to expensive and unwanted [[text-messaging]] services.<ref name=become/>
On October 31, 2009, [[Michael Arrington]] of [[TechCrunch]] said that Zynga intentionally worked with scam advertisers, and that lead generation made up a third of Zynga's revenue.<ref name="zynga-revenue-leadgen">{{cite web|url=http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/02/scamville-zynga-says-13-of-revenue-comes-from-lead-gen-and-other-offers/|title=Scamville: Zynga Says 1/3 of Revenue Comes from Lead Gen and Other Offers|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=2009-11-02|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=2009-11-04}}</ref> Arrington also alleged that Facebook was complicit in this.<ref name="scamville">{{cite web|url=http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/31/scamville-the-social-gaming-ecosystem-of-hell/|title=Scamville: The Social Gaming Ecosystem of Hell|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=2009-10-31|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=2009-11-04}}</ref> On November 2, 2009, CEO Mark Pincus announced a reform in its offers: [[Tatto Media]], a major offer provider that enrolled users into recurring cell phone subscriptions, would be banned, all mobile offers would be removed, and offer providers would be required to pre-screen offers.<ref name="zynga-remove-scams">{{cite web|url=http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/02/zynga-takes-steps-to-remove-scams-from-games/|title=Zynga Takes Steps to Remove Scams from Games|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=2009-11-02|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=2009-11-04}}</ref>
Arrington continued to question Pincus' role in the scams, republishing a video of a speech by Pincus.<ref name="pinkus-zwinky">{{cite web|url=http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/06/zynga-scamville-mark-pinkus-faceboo/|title=Zynga CEO Mark Pincus: “I Did Every Horrible Thing in the Book Just to Get Revenues”|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=2009-11-06|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=11 December 2009}}</ref> In the speech, Pincus said:
{{Bquote|So I funded [Zynga] myself but I did every horrible thing in the book to, just to get revenues right away. I mean we gave our users poker chips if they downloaded this Zwinky toolbar which was like, I don't know, I downloaded it once and couldn’t get rid of it. *laughs* We did anything possible just to just get revenues so that we could grow and be a real business.|x|x|Mark Pincus|Speech from Startup@Berkeley}}
In response, Pincus noted that after offering the [[Zwinky]] toolbar, his team of ten decided to remove it since it was a "painful experience."<ref name="to-zwink-or-not">{{cite web|url=http://markpincus.typepad.com/markpincus/2009/11/to-zwing-or-not.html|title=To Zwink or Not?|last=Pincus|first=Mark|date=2009-11-06|work=Mark Pincus Blog|accessdate=11 December 2009}}</ref>
Several days after the Techcrunch story, Zynga's most recent Facebook game ''FishVille'', was temporarily taken offline by Facebook on claim of advertising violations. According to Zynga, ''Fishville'' had 875,000 users within two days of launch. A release from Facebook on its reasons for taking the game offline read that "FishVille will remain suspended until Facebook is satisfied that Zynga demonstrates compliance with Facebook restrictions — as well as Zynga’s own restrictions — on the ads it offers users."<ref name="Fishville">{{cite web|url=http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/08/zyngas-fishville-swims-with-the-fishes-for-ad-violations/|title=“Zynga’s FishVille Sleeps With The Fishes For Ad Violations|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=2009-11-08|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=2009-11-09}}</ref> ''FishVille'' was later un-suspended at midnight November 9/10.<ref name="fishville-penalty-box">{{cite web|url=http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/09/zyngas-fishville-gets-out-of-the-penalty-box-at-midnight/|title=Zynga's Fishville Gets out of the Penalty Box at Midnight|last=Arrington|first=Michael|date=2009-11-09|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=2009-11-14}}</ref>
Several suits were filed against Zynga for promoting such offers,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/6653354/Facebook-facing-legal-action-over-unauthorised-payments.html Facebook facing legal action over unauthorised payments] from ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''</ref><ref name="ft-kcr-lawsuit">{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/058f5260-d92c-11de-b2d5-00144feabdc0.html|title=Facebook in Lawsuit over Unauthorised Charges |last=Gelles|first=David|coauthors=Joseph Menn|date=2009-11-25|work=Financial Times|accessdate=10 December 2009}}</ref> including a class-action lawsuit in the [[United States District Court]] for the [[Northern District of California]] for violation of the [[Unfair competition law]] and the [[Consumers Legal Remedies Act]], after the lead plaintiff's credit card was billed more than $200 for offers she completed to receive ''YoVille'' currency.<ref name="usa-today-swift-lawsuit">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2009-12-07-games07_ST_N.htm|title=Lawsuit says ads in social games are scamming players|last=Swartz|first=Jon|date=2009-12-07|work=USA Today|accessdate=10 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://gawker.com/5408472/facebook-named-in-federal-class+action-suit-over-scammy-zynga-ads
| title = Facebook Named in Federal Class-Action Suit over Scammy Zynga Ads
| author = [http://gawker.com/people/ryantate/ Tate, Ryan]| authorlink=
| accessdate = 2010-02-21| date = Nov 19, 2009<!-- 12:50 PM -->| publisher = [[Valleywag]]
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://valleywag.gawker.com/5408473/initial-complaint-in-swift-vs-zynga
| title = Initial Complaint in Swift vs. Zynga
| author = [http://gawker.com/people/ryantate/ Tate, Ryan]| authorlink=
| accessdate = 2010-02-21| date = Nov 19, 2009<!-- 12:31 PM -->| publisher = [[Valleywag]]
}}</ref>
Pincus later said that he had been too eager to increase company revenues through advertising, and that operating in reactive mode by taking down ads only after receiving complaints had not worked. The company removed all ads for a time, relying only on direct purchase of game currency, then began reintroducing third party ads only after they had been screened.<ref name="hate"/>
=== Other criticism ===
In September 2009 Zynga was threatened with legal action by [[Nissan]] for alleged use of their trademarks in the game ''[[Street Racing (video game)|Street Racing]]''. Zynga subsequently renamed and changed the thumbnail images of all cars that were branded Nissan and Infiniti to "Sindats" and "Fujis" with the thumbnails changed.<ref>[http://forums.zynga.com/showthread.php?t=195814 Cars FKA Nissan/Infiniti Graphics and Name Poll - Zynga Community Forums<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> At the time they also renamed and redesigned automobiles depicted as being made by GM, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Saab, and others.
Another source of criticism is non-players who grow tired of seeing updates about their friends' social gaming activity. Facebook groups created to express displeasure regarding overexposure of Zynga's games attracted millions of members.<ref name="hate"/> As a result of this, Facebook modified their application developers policy to prevent applications from sending messages to news feeds of friends or submitting updates to the notifications bar.<ref>[http://mashable.com/2010/01/20/facebook-applications-email/ Facebook App Notifications Moving to Your E-mail Inbox]</ref> As a result of this, Zynga is threatening to sever all ties to Facebook due to the "loss of users" they claim it caused.<ref>[http://kotaku.com/5536051/farmville-maker-is-hemorrhaging-players?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kotaku%2Ffull+%28Kotaku%29 Farmville Maker is Hemorrhaging Players]</ref>
In late May 2010, the Norwegian Consumer Council filed a complaint to the Data Inspectorate regarding breaches of the Data Protection Act.<ref>[http://forbrukerportalen.no/Artikler/2010/Facebook_and_Zynga_reported_to_the_Data_Inspectorate Facebook and Zynga reported to the Data Inspectorate]</ref> The Consumer Council is previously known for initiating the case against Apple's iTunes, which eventually led to the discontinuation of iTunes' DRM practice.<ref>[http://www.forbrukerombudet.no/index.gan?id=11037079&subid=0 European consumer organisations join forces in legal dispute over iTunes Music Store]</ref>
==Funding==
In December 2009, Russia's [[Digital Sky Technologies]] bought a $180 million share of Zynga.<ref name="wsj-dst">{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091216-713927.html|title=Facebook's Russian Backer, Digital Sky Technologies, Buys into Zynga|last=Letzing|first=John|date=2009-12-16|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=16 December 2009}}{{dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref>
In 2010 a combined $300 million from [[Softbank]] and [[Google]] were invested in Zynga.<ref name=become>{{cite news |author=[[Miguel Helft]] |coauthors= |title=Will Zynga Become the Google of Games? |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/business/25zynga.html?_r=1&src=busln&pagewanted=all |quote=In addition, Zynga’s $520 million in financing includes a recent infusion of $300 million through two, roughly equal investments from Softbank and Google, according to people briefed on the investments who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Zynga’s finances publicly. Google and Zynga are also in the early stages of exploring a collaboration, these people said. Zynga and Google declined to comment or confirm a Google investment. |work=[[New York Times]] |date=July 24, 2010 |accessdate=2010-07-24 }}</ref>
==Juegos==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* ''Blackjack''
* ''Café World''
* ''[[Drugwars#Zynga version|Dope Wars]]'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''[[Dragon Wars (Juegobrowser de Zyngagame)|Dragon Wars]]''
* ''[[FarmVille]]''
* ''FarmVille (iPhone)''
* ''[[Fashion Wars]]''
* ''[[FishVille]]''
* ''Football'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''[[Friends for Sale]]
* ''[[FrontierVille]]''
* ''Gang Wars'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''[[Ghost Racer]]''
* ''Guild of Heroes''
* ''[[Heroes vs. Villains (JuegoZynga de Zyngagame)|Heroes vs. Villains]]'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''[[Live Poker]]''
* ''[[Mafia Wars]]''
* ''[[Pirates: Rule the Caribbean!]]''
* ''[[Poker Blitz]]''
* ''[[Ponzi Inc.]]'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''[[Prison Lockdown]]'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''Roller Coaster Kingdom'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''[[Space Wars (Juegobrowser de búsquedagame)|Space Wars]]'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''[[Scramble (Juegobrowser de búsquedagame)]]''
* ''Scramble (iPhone)''
* ''[[Scramble Live]]''
* ''Special Forces'' (discontinuadodiscontinued)
* ''Street Racing''
* ''Street Racing (iPhone)''
* ''Sudoku''
* ''[[Texas Hold'Em (JuegoZynga de Zyngagame)|Texas Hold'Em]]''
* ''[[Treasure Isle (JuegoZynga de Zyngagame)|Treasure Isle]]
* ''Triumph''
* ''[[Vampire Wars (juegogame)|Vampire Wars]]''
* ''[[WarStorm]]''
* ''[[Word Twist]]''
| 