Clone Wars

http://www.1goodgame.com/blog/

It actually took me some time to finally run into this blog, maybe I missed a post announcing the blog, or maybe I missed the subtle question mark but once I read about it elsewhere I've really enjoyed this website and would like all other developers to take heed, erm read.

Of course there have been many debates on the topic of game cloning, and because we're in a fast moving world I feel that game cloning is a little more dangerous than it once was.

Most of the games mentioned over at the blog of 1goodgame are blatant clones and its more than obvious that they are developed for one reason: money.

My take on this is that as long as people are willing to purchase a cloned game, more clones will come out. Personally, I do enjoy Gem Shop better than chuzzle, so even if they call Gem Shop a clone, I say its what chuzzle should have been. Luxor is like Zuma but you stay at the bottom, overall, I dont care much for shoot the color ball at the other colorball stuff.

I think its great to see independant development flourish though, and cloning must be a bad side-effect.

Savant's website is needed on the internet to balance out this cloning madness. I hope that his influence moves across development and into the gamer, so that the gamer knows that there is a cry for change in the independant gaming world. I also feel that portals are either greedy for sales or desperate for sales, either one would result in clones populating their pages when there are plenty of games out there that aren't direct clones.

lol, what a meanie. I'd love to make more interesting non-clones too (like finishing my free games) but ... they won't sell. That's either the fault of the portals or the buyers. This was my first commercial game and I wanted it to be a success so I could feel proud ... and I do feel proud, because so many people like the game. Shame the blogger didn't play beyond the first level to see all the different bonuses in action which give you a "feeling of control over the board" - inaccurate info, nice. Also I spent a long time testing and balancing the levels to ensure value for money.

In business you either have to follow the crowd but make yours a bit different and do it well (mine is Xmas Based and has unique bonuses (which Jewel Quest doesn't) and a non-square playfield) or do something radical which may well fail (not to keen on this approach as a first commercial game!). I was waiting for someone to slate it as a clone etc, but I wonder if this guy has made any games, or anything apart from a stink in fact? :-p He was mean to Indiepath too who has been really helpful and supportive to me, an independant developer.

At the end of the day, I think it's a neat game and lots of people like it a lot. Lets see how it does on Reflexive anyway.

actually, ignoring the fact he's using a copyright image, it is PR!

Heh, he forgets that his recent game was remarkably similar to Collapse.

isnt xmas bonus Grey Aliens ?

yup! read my post dude :-)

yea I saw your post but it doesnt say you made the game :P anyway arnt you a little ticked about that?

well someone was bound to say it eventually. I'm not a faceless corporation though, I'm a dad with two kids, mortgage, stress etc, and I was doing something I enjoy. I'm simultaneously pleased with Matt for bringing the article to my attention and peeved because it's basically an indirect diss of a forum regular (me) who has finally achieved his life's dream and released a game, shame really.

Gotta take the rough with the smooth, grey - not everyone is gonna blow smoke up yer ass! :P

well the way I look at it all games are clones of some other type of game. Thats just how things are done and my guess is the person who wrote that blog probebly just got jelous because they couldnt ever complete their own game.

Yeah that's fair Tim. It only has you logo in it but says Grey Alien Games on the splash screen and on the Reflexive site.

[edit] Well he's removed the Indiepath reference but the link is still to Reflexive.

Now read the blog again :D

im not 100% sure but I do believe he can get into some kind of trouble for posting false info on a business.

big10p: But I like having a smokey arse :-( Of course you're right, it's good that it's taken 7 days for the first negative stuff to come out.

ckob: It's changed now, although he has still got the (inacurate) stuff about the net in Big Kahuna. I always thought that Big Kahuna didn't have enough bonuses and got a bit boring so I added in more in mine, that's why it's called Xmas "Bonus" but the blogger has missed that point because he obviously quit the game after dying once in a disgusted rage lol. Never mind.

[edit] I don't wanna post here any more so this thread can hopefully die like it oughta.

I agree, however in this case the author apologised and removed the information. Anyway, my (indiepaths) next game is not a clone, is it Jake :)

No, the next game is original, never been done before, but with tried and tested gameplay elements to make it addictive - if that make's sense. (oops I posted again)

Like it's Grey Aliens fault he sucks at the game. IMHO Xmas Bonus is a good game for what it does. So what if it's not entirely original? I think I can count the number of original games released this decade, on one hand.

And what about "cashing in on the holidays"? Surely any extra sales gained from seasonal timing, is going to be balanced out by games not sold once Christmas is over? Swings and roundabouts and all that?

Ok, this is not directed at Grey Alien, but this is directed at those who clone games and come up with excuses. I mean seriously you dont need an excuse :) Finishing a game and making money off of it is a GOOD thing not a BAD thing :)

What annoys me is when people clone a game and then say they aren't cloning anything, or when someone says "All games are clones one way or another, I'm just the same" :P -That's true, but it doesn't excuse soemone who clones a game that just came out a month ago. Instead just embrace the cloning behavior and be proud of your accomplishments and be proud that you are making money. Afterall, that's what business is about is it not?

New Graphics and sound are enough to make the game excluded from copyright infringement in my humble opinion, and I dont think game mechanical changes are required to make a sellable clone - wait, they aren't ;)

If you think about it though: This is what happens in free-market industries though, you see it happening in the music industry, the car industry, and the movie industry, etc, etc, etc.

As Flameduck says, I'll lose out after Christmas big time, unless it becomes really popular, so it's only a short term gain.

But..says garion smiling wickedly, yoo could make separate Easter, Halloween and happy <insert Holiday/occaion here> packs and make money all year round.

Someone is bound to buy it, so milk it for all its worth and ignore the Slobber Bloggers :)

Coz I would if I could :)

and a belated Gratz on releasing yer first game, Kudos to yoo :)

Cheers
Garion

Garion: Thanks for the Gratz. OK you've got me, I AM going to release Easter/Halloween and summer versions then the blogger will go so insane he'll explode. Now the engine is in place it makes sense to keep on improving it with ideas (I have stacks) and changing the graphics/music and levels.

@#!*ing that blogger off as much as possible is almost incentive enough to do more versions, I'd say. :)

Go for it: Wohahahahahahaahh

Manic Cackle (somewhere in Scottish COuntryside) :)

Cheers

Garion