Random Weird Monday News...

Planting the Seeds of Non-Brainery:

Ever played those Facebook games? Cafe World? Roller Coaster Kingdom? Barn Buddy? If you did, you'll probably just reach a point where the currency used in these games is just not enough to meet your hefty heights for global gaming conquest. That button to buy more electro currency will just devilishly creep into your consciousness (confession: I did casually check on the prices for such currency. Only casually...) But unfortuantely for some, the temptation was too just too much. That extra currency to purchase that extra stove to make that extra few chicken tikka masalas or that extra tractor for more cabbage was too alluring to bear... Read on below taken from 'The Star'...

TAIPEI: A Taiwanese netizen plans to sue Facebook for deceiving him into spending money, according to the United Evening News.

The netizen, surnamed Hsu, spent a total ofUS$62 (RM209) in seven days on a game on the Facebook website named ‘Happy Farm’, and accused the company of luring consumers into spending more money on the game, said the report.

The game is a virtual farm run by players growing vegetables and raising livestock by themselves. Players have to spend all day taking care of the farm and prevent other players from stealing products.

Playing Happy Farm itself is free. However, Facebook users can pay through credit card, cash, Paypal or cell phone to buy virtual currency for extra functions in the game.

But such functions raised disputes with customers, including double charging on credit cards. In some cases, customers didn’t receive virtual currency after paying.

The netizen originally bought the cash loadable cards and added US$9.3 (RM31) value on it. Later, he bought four guard dogs from the website to protect his farm from other players, said the report.

However, his crops were still stolen by other players and he was asked by the website to spend more money to feed the dogs.

Hsu earlier made claims for compensation from the cash cards company, Gamania Digital Entertainment (GDE). But the company said that they are commissioned by Facebook.

They only help to sell the loadable cards and on-line currency for the games, and check for customers’ adding value. The spokesman of GDE said that they would show customers’ dealing records to the police to resolve on-line consumer disputes.

Hsu has not received any response from Facebook and he plans to sue the company.

Facebook is a free social networking website and the game was developed by Hong Kong 6 Wave and recently has become widely popular in Taiwan. Users on the websites can make new friends, send messages, play games and take informal psychological tests.

“I think what is special about the game is that it provides a good platform for office staff to kill time and relieve pressure,” a Facebook user, surnamed Chen, told The China Post. “It’s convenient and simple to play and we don’t have to download anything”.

“Besides, the game is a good way to maintain relationships with friends and you can invite them to play the game together,” said Chen.

The Consumer Protection Commission in Taipei said that they would clarify the responsibility of GDE and Facebook and gave warning to the netizens to be more cautious about online consumption.