The social gaming company behind FarmVille is seeking the spotlight. Some analysts sense an IPO.
If ever a company had a moment, this is Zynga's. The small, privately held company that makes games for Facebook and other social networks is getting publicity and attention companies many times its size would love to have.
The force behind the FarmVille sensation has appeared on the front page of the New York Times, and been featured in Time, a BusinessWeek cover story, The Economist, and this website's magazine. During a recent trip to New York, Zynga's spunky CEO Mark Pincus was scheduling meetings with reporters until he reportedly lost his voice.
Then there are the billboards on Highway 101 in Silicon Valley. Both showcase animated characters from Zynga's games and attempt to lure employees. Earlier versions showed a black silhouette of a bulldog against a red backdrop (Zynga is named after Pincus's deceased American Bulldog, Zinga).
The promos - and the flood of (mostly) positive press - have gotten more than a few tongues wagging: Is Zynga priming the public for a stock offering? More
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