A recipe for App Store profit: Take game idea from small devs iOS profit.

http://www.next-gen.biz/features/friday-game-radical-fishing

by doomlaser • 15 years ago

32 21 15 years ago

doomlaser2• 15 years ago

The original eveloper response here: http://www.vlambeer.com/2011/08/08/encouragement/

and there's a storm brewing about it on twitter if you look for Gamenauts (http://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%22gamenauts%22)

or #NinjaFishing (http://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%22ninja%20fishing%22).

robterrell• 15 years ago

I think the canonical example of this would be how Rovio found the inspiration for "Angry Birds" in the flash game "Crush the Castle".

Terry_B3• 15 years ago

Meh, launching objects at structures to collapse them is a pretty common concept. Catching fish, throwing them in the air and shooting them is a bit different I guess.

I find it very strange that in this crazy age of software patent mutual destruction, cloning games is such an open field.

groby_b3• 15 years ago

And vice versa, that the same crowd that is violently anti-patent (in the majority) is also perpetually upset (in the majority) when a game of lovable developer X,Y,Z gets copied.

wccrawford• 15 years ago

There are so many games that wouldn't exist today if people couldn't use the same idea... I just can't imagine ANY game developer getting their panties in a wad over it. So long as you don't use any copyrighted materials, it's all fair game. That's what competition is. Deal with it.

stephth3• 15 years ago

This is not just borrowing a few ideas, it's a blatant ripoff. And it was released while Vlambeer was developing an iOS version to start monetizing their success. You can be competitive and morally correct, they're not exclusive.

ericd• 15 years ago

I wonder if it's close enough to warrant a copyright suit. I know Zynga's been sued a few times for cloning other successful games and then using their mounds of cash to out-market the original creators, and I believe they settled with at least one of them.

enjo2• 15 years ago

When does it cross a line? A certain IOS developer has made money hand over first 100% copying Ragdoll Cannon (http://www.kongregate.com/games/Johnny_K/ragdoll-cannon-rema...) into a game that was so popular, it spawned a sequel.

Is that ok?

The original developer saw $0 from that as far as I know.

AlfaWolph• 15 years ago

Why didn't the original developer make his own iOS version? Can he really complain?

stephth3• 15 years ago

Certainly, Gamenauts gets a design that has already proved popular with audiences, but is that really enough incentive to destroy your reputation?

I think he's overestimating how much people in general care about clones. Sure, in indie game developer circles, their reputation is stained. But most people are not aware, and even if they are, most don't give a shit. Ninja Fishing is now the top #13 paid app on the App Store.

That said, maybe with this backlash the press and distribution channels will start giving a fuck.

doomlaser2• 15 years ago

It's actually #7 right now, ahead of Tiny Wings and one of the Angry Birds variations.

wtvanhest• 15 years ago

This type of activity occurs in physical products as well. If company A has excellent distribution and company B has limited distribution, but a great product, company A will replicate it and sell it across their distribution network.

Engineers and shareholders at company B will have a similar reaction that we do here in that it feels unconfortable, but it is legal (or at least no financially feasibly legal to go after) and the practice will continue.

The lesson here is that there is a lot of value in your distribution network and you should focus time there while innovating great games.

stephth3• 15 years ago

More coverage: http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2011/07/21/radical-fishing-an...

Quote: Moral of the story: If you want to support creative, independent developers, avoid "Ninja Fishing" and wait for "Ridiculous Fishing." The only way to discourage this sort of action is to hurt copycats in the wallet, so make your voice heard.

A recipe for App Store profit: Take game idea from small devs iOS profit.

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