you mean those games you need to spend money on in order to get the "cool" in game content. If you spend real money in order to get a virtual item in a "free" game, you deserve to get ripped off.

You don't HAVE TO give them money to play, you know. It's an option.

ManateeGag: you mean those games you need to spend money on in order to get the "cool" in game content. If you spend real money in order to get a virtual item in a "free" game, you deserve to get ripped off.

You mean like when you go to Best Buy and purchase a game to play online?

ManateeGag: you mean those games you need to spend money on in order to get the "cool" in game content. If you spend real money in order to get a virtual item in a "free" game, you deserve to get ripped off.

I know it's crazy, but even the "free" games have to make money. They don't spring from the ether and aren't run on servers powered by unicorn farts. They mostly recoup costs (and profit) by selling upgrades within the game, or by selling advertising within the game.

ManateeGag: you mean those games you need to spend money on in order to get the "cool" in game content. If you spend real money in order to get a virtual item in a "free" game, you deserve to get ripped off.

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They can't rip me off if I don't give them money.

Regulate? Baah. Capitalism at work, baby!

Here's a hint. Don't use facebook or myspace.

parting fools from their money is THE AMERICAN WAY!

Why does subby hate America?

If Zynga works this scam with the same level of detail and attention that they devote to debugging their games, we have nothing to worry about.

//former mobster who gave up dealing with the bugs

I give about $10 a month to MouseHunt. I enjoy the game, so it doesn't bother me, and I've never been scammed or given grief for it.

Now, there's a "complete an offer to get SuperBrie+" option, but the game developers themselves have noted that you're setting yourself up for a whole mess 'o Spam if you go that route, so it's better to just donate.

So someone is getting weak-minded people to pay for things in order to get somewhere faster than someone who just plays the game for fun? Preposterous!

Post continues after the jump

L@@K!!1 WoW-gold daily auctions! Dare you miss out?

I play Mafia Wars in order to have something to do at work that can easily be tabbed away from when I need to do some actual work. If it wasn't Mafia Wars, I guess I'd still be playing Urban Dead, which can't be tabbed away from as easily.

People who pay for perks in games, are the same kinds of people who think they achieve something in a game after having used every cheat code out there. They are the kind of people who actually pay for "strategy guides" to games at their local gamestore. To take their money away isn't scamming, it's economic darwinism.

All in all:

Cornwell: I play Mafia Wars in order to have something to do at work that can easily be tabbed away from when I need to do some actual work. If it wasn't Mafia Wars, I guess I'd still be playing Urban Dead, which can't be tabbed away from as easily.

People who pay for perks in games, are the same kinds of people who think they achieve something in a game after having used every cheat code out there. They are the kind of people who actually pay for "strategy guides" to games at their local gamestore. To take their money away isn't scamming, it's economic darwinism.

I consider giving $10 a month (also MW) a small price to pay to "give back" to a game I play way too much of.

R.A.Danny: I consider giving $10 a month (also MW) a small price to pay to "give back" to a game I play way too much of.

Very good point. After all, we pay for this, many people pay for WoW, and heck, look at the money people spend on real slot machines.

It's not a ripoff if you feel you're being entertained.

Arrington is just ripping Zynga cause they won't give him free shiat or advertise on his rag.

/screw you Arrington!

R.A.Danny: I consider giving $10 a month (also MW) a small price to pay to "give back" to a game I play way too much of.

Funny, I feel the same way about Total*Fark - double the entertainment of MW for half the price!

I read "Zynga" as "Zagnuts" and wondered what the hell candy bars had to do with anything.

I guess I'm mildly disappointed that Zagnut candy bars don't figure into this at all.

Here to reiterate the morans and their WoW gold shenanigans....

/terrible game
//blizzard can diaf

AC21365: Here to reiterate the morans and their WoW gold shenanigans....

/terrible game
//blizzard can diaf

You've forgotten the girl who offered "a mount" for a mount?

mr_a: If Zynga works this scam with the same level of detail and attention that they devote to debugging their games, we have nothing to worry about.

thalassatx: R.A.Danny: I consider giving $10 a month (also MW) a small price to pay to "give back" to a game I play way too much of.

Very good point. After all, we pay for this, many people pay for WoW, and heck, look at the money people spend on real slot machines.

It's not a ripoff if you feel you're being entertained.

It's the idea behind shareware. If you enjoy it, you throw some money the developer's way to encourage more development. Nowadays, it seems that the base game is free and enhancements (may be in many forms) may be a bit extra. If you derive enjoyment from it, have at it. It keeps programmers making new fun games.

R.A.Danny: ManateeGag: you mean those games you need to spend money on in order to get the "cool" in game content. If you spend real money in order to get a virtual item in a "free" game, you deserve to get ripped off.

You mean like when you go to Best Buy and purchase a game to play online?

No worse then that. When you go to Best Buy and purchase a solo game to play at home, but to get the best content you must purchase the limited edition and/or the optional additional crap. The stuff that is ready to go at launch, adds nothing to the main game, and should be part of what everyone buys instead of those willing to pay another $5, $10, or $20 dollars more.

thalassatx: They can't rip me off if I don't give them money.

Read the article again. This is about the scams run by the advertisers -- the free in-game points that actually cost you a $10 monthly fee you don't find out about until your bill comes in.

AC21365: Here to reiterate the morans and their WoW gold shenanigans....

/terrible game
//blizzard can diaf

I don't get why people buy gold in Warcraft. Do daily quests on three lvl 80 toons and buy some gems with honor points. you'll make 2k gold a week.

Zynga, a scam? They don't make you buy stuff. They might tempt you with in game Godfather Points. But, you can earn those free or even buy them outright from Zynga. In no way is this a scam. Any consumer going through these offers can read that they will be charged and voluntarily accept. The author of this article is an asshat.

I personally am addicted to Mafia Wars. My only complaint is that it's turned me into a click monkey. :click, click, click: