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Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

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Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#21

Post by Andrew_Quentin »

Keyframe wrote: post #16
lee wrote: post #9

To me this sounds like Zynga just took an idea that was already out there, improved upon it, and executed the marketing/business side of things better than their competitors. The blatant art rip-off is evil, but the methodology of "taking something proven, and making it better" is not. Apple does this all the time, and I don't fault them for it. For the HN crowd who "can't find an idea for a startup", maybe this is a…

There is kind of a proverb related to business here, which loosely translated says something like: "In a street where there are several bakeries, it is wise to open up another bakery." edit: I remembered that I have heard another version, with a different take: "In a street where there are several bakeries, next business that will open up will be a bakery" - I actually like that one more.

It is wiser however to open a bakery in a street where there are none but a bakery is needed.

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#22

Post by ajleary »

Pincus talked on Charlie Rose a year ago about wanting to build a lasting company as opposed to being a serial entrepreneur. I actually love that sentiment, but also think it is hard to differentiate from his current goal: going public.

Wall street investors will value this company very differently if it appears to be a fad that will have momentary glory (and revenue). That said, wall street tries to value a company's current AND future revenues (with an appropriate discount for risk and earnings out in the future) -- so Pincus is trying to get them to believe it is building the bedrock of a company that will last a hundred years.

Right now Zynga is a revenue rocketship (even if you don't like the product, people, or business) that will make Pincus and all their employees wealthy. Pretty easy to get people to work there with those prospects. The sustainable business will be the work of the next generation of employees after first 1000 have vested and moved on.

I wish them the best, but wouldn't count on them being a great stable business in 5 years. Tastes change and the best employees will have long since have cashed out.

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#23

Post by Keyframe »

jashmenn wrote: post #20
Keyframe wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is kind of a proverb related to business here, which loosely translated says something like: "In a street where there are several bakeries, it is wise to open up another bakery." edit: I remembered that I have heard another version, with a different take: "In a street where there are several bakeries, next business that will open up will be a bakery" - I actually like that one more.

I like this. Can you give more information on the origins? E.g. in what country/language is this proverb? What's the original language text?

It's from Croatia (in Croatian). I have no ideas about its origin though.

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#24

Post by Keyframe »

Andrew_Quentin wrote: post #21
Keyframe wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is kind of a proverb related to business here, which loosely translated says something like: "In a street where there are several bakeries, it is wise to open up another bakery." edit: I remembered that I have heard another version, with a different take: "In a street where there are several bakeries, next business that will open up will be a bakery" - I actually like that one more.

It is wiser however to open a bakery in a street where there are none but a bakery is needed.

Right, but this relates to a business venture where you can easily spot where there is a market. Thus, it is wiser to enter the market where you are sure there is one than breaking in new markets by yourself.

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#25

Post by [deleted] »

jashmenn wrote: post #20
Keyframe wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is kind of a proverb related to business here, which loosely translated says something like: "In a street where there are several bakeries, it is wise to open up another bakery." edit: I remembered that I have heard another version, with a different take: "In a street where there are several bakeries, next business that will open up will be a bakery" - I actually like that one more.

I like this. Can you give more information on the origins? E.g. in what country/language is this proverb? What's the original language text?

[deleted]

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#26

Post by hyperbovine »

chc wrote: post #18
ellyagg wrote: post #15

I'm interested in how Zynga blatantly copying competitors is positioned as evil, but when Google promotes a software and hardware ecosphere that at heart requires the blatant copying of the iPhone, it's considered necessary and smart business. It can't be evil sometimes and not evil others. If copying is just smart business, then Zynga is proving that every shred of copying allowed by law is even smarter business.

There's a huge, mind-boggling difference between doing your own take on the general idea of a touchscreen phone with a user-friendly interface and "I don't want innovation." It's like the difference between a Cubist painting and a Picasso forgery — fundamentally they're both copying Picasso, but they're not the same thing at all.

And Picasso copied Cezanne, who copied Pissarro, who copied Corot, who copied Turner, who copied Poussin, who copied Titian, who copied Bellini ... everybody copies, so why are we talking about it? Oh right, because somebody made $500 million a year doing it. Copying is an accepted fact of life until somebody gets rich. Ditto Facebook.

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#27

Post by ketanb »

I attended a startup seminar where speakers were founders from highly successful startups. Their advice was: "First imitate and then innovate". It is a usual business practice to first copy what's working for others, then innovate to make it better and leave the competition behind. It makes sense specially in a web industry where it takes very little time to catchup with competition. Companies have to keep innovating to keep an edge over imitators. Web industry doesn't have number 2 concept. It is either number 1 or out of business. I think not having room for number 2 is what is forcing companies to copy others work and kill the competition.

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#28

Post by danilocampos »

eavc wrote: post #19
danilocampos wrote: post #7

The "social" games space is ripe for revolution. There's no fun there, nothing virtuous in what they consider gameplay. You don't even play with your friends, so much as exploit them for personal gain. It's a very cynical view of how to spend time with people. When the leading social games company is led by a guy like Pincus, what more can you expect?

The high-profile "social" games are just really, super casual games that can be attached to something like Facebook. The fact that they're not fun is part of why they are successful. You're just kind of trivially there, so you don't feel dorky and you don't feel like you're wasting too much time, only a moment. All online multi-player video games are "social" games, but most of them aren't hyper-casual and can't be b…

Yes, and that's an important observation. I'm not willing to accept that it's impossible to create a legitimately enjoyable game experience in the confines of the short attention span Facebook model, though.

Scrabble, for example, lends itself perfectly to asynchronous, light, casual play (cf Scrabulous, Words with Friends). But it's legitimately fun at the same time. You're rewarded for imaginative approaches to solving problems. You can play with no skill or lots, but either way, you'll always find ways to get better.

Most important: You're genuinely spending time with your friends. Sharing an experience that creates a memory.

This is a big deal. This is missing from almost every other pseudo-social game.

True story: I was job hunting, someone gave me a lead at Slide. Awesome guy, gave me good advice. But as soon as I found out I had to be conversant on the subject of a "game" called "SuperPoke Pets!" I vomited a little in my mouth and moved on to other options.

Social game companies: Stop making horseshit, start building something fun. It's possible. It's just a little bit harder.

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#29

Post by kluikens »

jashmenn wrote: post #20
Keyframe wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is kind of a proverb related to business here, which loosely translated says something like: "In a street where there are several bakeries, it is wise to open up another bakery." edit: I remembered that I have heard another version, with a different take: "In a street where there are several bakeries, next business that will open up will be a bakery" - I actually like that one more.

I like this. Can you give more information on the origins? E.g. in what country/language is this proverb? What's the original language text?

Somewhat relatedly to the proverb, but you might enjoy the "Emergence" episode from RadioLab. It's one of my favorite episodes and if you skip ahead to 18:56, you'll hear about 28th St Flower Market in New York which serves as a prime example.

But, I highly suggest you listen to the whole episode (hour long).

http://www.radiolab.org/2007/aug/14/

Re: Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."

#30

Post by inerte »

On a related topic, about copying and the drool over innovation, and thinking outside the box, and whatever buzzword bingo we're on:

http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2010/08/03/down-with-innovation-up...

Well turns out this article wasn't submitted (I hope). http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1676407

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