Zynga.com, Project Z, Zynga Direct, what have you gained considerable steam after signing on big-time traditional game creators like Contra's Konami and Aliens vs. Predator maker Rebellion. Considering Zynga stands to draw even more game developers away from Facebook proper, in a way, you'd think Facebook would feel some type of way about that.Not according to company CEO Mark Pincus, who told BusinessWeek's Charlie Rose that, in fact, Facebook had been in on it since the two companies started holding hands. "This has been envisioned in our relationship with Facebook since the beginning," Pincus told BusinessWeek. "There was no surprise, and we've collaborated on it."
Many see Zynga.com as the first step in the social game giant's attempt to distance itself from Facebook. Facebook gouges Zynga for 30 percent of its revenue on every cow, outfit or sliver of energy purchased by players, so this writer can see where one would get that idea. But since Facebook is ever present in Zynga.com, Pincus says that's simply not the case.
"No. 1, when you're playing games on Zynga.com, you are also playing games on Facebook. This is doubling down on our partnership with Facebook," Pincus said to BusinessWeek. "Go to zynga.com and you have one simple button you push to connect your Facebook identification and log on to Zynga the website, as a FB-connected website. And then you access the same games you played with us and your same friends and your profile and identity. When you purchase with us, you'll still be using Facebook payments, and Facebook will get the same revenue. It's a win for us either way."
Pincus then went into detail on how he and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg are practically besties, reminding Rose that he is one of Facebook's first investors. Check out the interview in full here.
Do you buy Pincus's response to those who think Zynga.com is Zynga's way out of Facebook? Will Zynga games always be a Facebook commodity? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.