The dangers of relying on startup steroids (opens in new tab)

(theverge.com)

30 pointscienrak13y ago11 comments

11 comments

I don't know if OMGPOP integrated with Open Graph, but there story is certainly similar.

A mobile app powered largely by Facebook interactions takes off like a rocket ship. In less than month is adds so many millions of users that it gets bought for $180 million dollars.

A company that was in the red is suddenly worth a ton of cash. Cut to a few weeks later, and Draw Something is shedding users like water off a duck's back.

http://www.betabeat.com/2012/05/02/draw-something-decline-om...

cube1313y ago

Honestly, I wonder what would have happened if any other company bought them instead of Zynga. I imagine that it wouldn't be dropping users quite as quickly.

It still would drop users, because the game itself isn't that deep. But I don't think it would be shedding users nearly as much as they are currently.

marcusf13y ago

I think I miss the part where Pinterest got burned by Facebook? Seems like engagement just dropped off (and to far higher levels than pre-FB). How's that Facebook's fault in any way?

vergent13y ago

Facebook shut down a big component of their Open Graph integration: the spammy auto-publishing. The decline followed shortly after. https://twitter.com/#!/rabois/status/194259967816105984

marcusf13y ago

I must've completely missed that. Thanks!

benologist13y ago

TheVerge writing content for HN is not a good sign.

brooknam13y ago

Why is that?

benologist13y ago

Because they're a rag and if they're allowed to get a foothold here we'll get more of their sleazy summary spam too. If cloning Engadget's not enough for them tough shit.

3 more replies

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11 comments

vergent13y ago

I don't know if OMGPOP integrated with Open Graph, but there story is certainly similar.

A mobile app powered largely by Facebook interactions takes off like a rocket ship. In less than month is adds so many millions of users that it gets bought for $180 million dollars.

A company that was in the red is suddenly worth a ton of cash. Cut to a few weeks later, and Draw Something is shedding users like water off a duck's back.

http://www.betabeat.com/2012/05/02/draw-something-decline-om...

cube1313y ago

Honestly, I wonder what would have happened if any other company bought them instead of Zynga. I imagine that it wouldn't be dropping users quite as quickly.

It still would drop users, because the game itself isn't that deep. But I don't think it would be shedding users nearly as much as they are currently.

marcusf13y ago

I think I miss the part where Pinterest got burned by Facebook? Seems like engagement just dropped off (and to far higher levels than pre-FB). How's that Facebook's fault in any way?

vergent13y ago

Facebook shut down a big component of their Open Graph integration: the spammy auto-publishing. The decline followed shortly after. https://twitter.com/#!/rabois/status/194259967816105984

marcusf13y ago

I must've completely missed that. Thanks!

benologist13y ago

TheVerge writing content for HN is not a good sign.

brooknam13y ago

Why is that?

benologist13y ago

Because they're a rag and if they're allowed to get a foothold here we'll get more of their sleazy summary spam too. If cloning Engadget's not enough for them tough shit.

3 more replies

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse