From scanning this thread, the main points I am seeing are:
Facebook will use targeted adverts based on users interaction inside virtual world
Well, maybe, but the same would probably happen without Facebook. It isn't like Facebook invented or have control over performing this. It has been going on for ages, and will be going on for a long time to come. Also, if we are living in a world that adverts are being bombarded upon us (sad as it is) surely it is better to have them somewhat targeted? I know Facebook adverts are probably something that no one on this board ever clicks on, but people somewhere are clicking on them, because they are interested in them, and presumably are happy to be told about said product/service rather than completely random adverts of no interest to them?
Facebook may sell submitted user data
Same as above; sure Facebook could do this, but so could anyone else? This is just a classic case of devil you know versus the devil you don't.
The OR team might have to change direction or decisions to meet Facebook demands
It seems unlikely to me that a deal would be signed that causes major problems, however if it really does break it completely, so what? It will be doomed, someone else will make a better one with out all the broken stuff? Ultimately Facebook want to back a success product, I believe the OR team feel that working with Facebook will help make the best product possible. This is just my opinion, there is always the chance the share holders have voted to just grab the cash
Games will be interrupted to display random junk/adverts/spam
At this point it is just supply and demand, if Facebook were to enforce this, developers of high profile titles will probably say "we do not want to ruin our IP that we have spent 10's of millions developing by inserting this crap every checkpoint, we don't make a OR version of our game, instead we will target product X/Y/Z which has since been developed to overcome the crazy policies that has been enforced on the OR". This doesn't bode well for anyone. The worst type of user a company can have is a de-active one...
At the end of day Facebook offers service for free, people sign up, it is pretty well publicised that they track users data, target adverts, sell certain information. They have dealt with security problems, privacy problems, been around long enough to be expected not to make rookie mistakes (like happen constantly with so many other companies who are attempting to store user data securely and failing). If you need a Facebook account and don't like Facebook, then create a fake account? Who cares about the T&C's? I appreciate this is a somewhat niche forum, but I suspect if there was an honest poll on here, the majority of people would have Facebook accounts.
My overall opinion is 'meh', Facebook might screw thing up, if they do Sony have already announced their ambitions, and I'm confident there are other players in the market still to show their hand. OR has a few key players in the team that give them a lot of credibility in my opinion. We don't know the exact terms, but if OR started going in a weird direction, I imagine we may see a bunch of resignations followed by a new venture being started.
So, overall, is OR doomed? Maybe.
Would OR be doomed without Facebook? Maybe.
Would OR be doomed with Facebook? Maybe.
Will some cool VR stuff really kick off in the next years (regardless of the player behind it)? It seems very like the answer is yes, which is exciting.
