Electronic Arts executive Peter Moore finds no joy in seeing rival social gaming company Zynga fall, as the company closes several studios and lays off several hundred employees.
The creator of Facebook game Farmville announced yesterday it was planning to can thirteen games, will close Zynga Boston and was preparing for closures of Zynga Japan and Zynga UK.
Yet, despite EA's civil suit against Zynga for allegedly copying The Sims Social, the publisher is disheartened by the company's collapse.
"We always feel bad when people lose their jobs," says Mr Moore.
The industry executive believes that while social gaming was "overhyped", it's still an important aspect for game development.
"I think it just got a little overhyped. And now the demise is being overhyped the opposite way," he says. "I still think there's a strong place for social gaming. I think a lot of social gaming is moving mobile. We feel well positioned to take advantage of that."
EA's primary focus, Mr Moore explains, is that it offers diversity.
"The idea of linking your game experience across all of those platforms from your iPhone to your PC to your 360 or your PS3 back to your tablet, that is the future. It's a service. It's not a standalone game."
Source: EuroGamer
By Gaetano Prestia