Zynga CEO: "Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers."
To me this sounds like Zynga just took an idea that was already out there, improved upon it, and executed the marketing/business side of things better than their competitors.The blatant art rip-off is evil, but the methodology of "taking something proven, and making it better" is not.Apple does this all the time, and I don't fault them for it.For the HN crowd who "can't find an idea for a startup", maybe this is a really good method of finding one.  Look at what's successful out there, and emulate to make it better.