0 XP: the Zynga Counterrevolution

A crushing look at Slots, a game as close to Cow Clicker as Zynga is ever likely to produce.

What’s still needed is a code of ethical game mechanics that provides a yardstick to measure which games and which game designers can be trusted not to unduly manipulate their audience. Probably the most important standard for such a code would be: “The machine does not use the brevity of the user’s precious mortal life as a stick to beat him with.”

Amen.