It's no secret that just about everyone has either tried or is currently playing Zynga's hit, Farmville. It is the most popular game in the world right now. But what happens when people with important jobs are playing Farmville instead of working? They lose their position.
Dimitar Kerin, City Council member for the Plovdiv City Council in Bulgaria was warned several times for his addiction to Farmville. After playing on his virtual farm during a city council meeting, a proposal to remove him from office was initiated by Todor Hristov who was quoted saying that the Kerin "needs more time for his virtual farm". The vote was passed 20-19, and Dimitar Kerin has been removed from the City Council.
Kerin is not the only councilmember playing Farmville on the job. The council was granted brand new laptops and a new wireless internet service, and many of the councilmembers have been playing Farmville instead of working. Kerin argued that he is only level 40, and other members of the council are higher in level than him - indicating that they are playing more than he is.
Farmville is a game that by design requires you to check in multiple times per day to advance quickly. Many Facebook games are designed like this, with an intention to bring players back in several times per day. This can be troublesome for people with addictive personalities who have a completionist mentality towards gaming. Farmville has been seen in a negative light for being spammy and manipulative to Facebook users, but many people truly enjoy playing the game.
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