‘AQUATICA’ iPHONE GAME: STEALING IS OK

Whoa! Aquatica is a ‘new, unique game completely in a class of its own’. Problem is? It’s a complete rip off of flOw from developer Jenova Chen. This is an obvious ripoff and the developers, Katarasoft, claim it as 100% original.. well, at least the source code. So they claim on YouTube :

“Actually, all the source code is completely, 100% written from scratch. Please check your facts before you make such baseless accusations.

Also, what’s wrong with adapting a general idea of one game to the iPhone? No one had done this before, and we wanted to play it with tilt controls. In general, most games within each class are practically the same, just different graphics.”

Jenova Chen had a few words to say as well after taking notice of this oh so familiar looking game:

“I released flOw source for people to learn. I didn’t expect to see it on iPhone without quoting the creator. I just gave out source for people who wants to learn Flash programming. However, according to them, they wrote it from scratch.

The image and animation in Aquatica is almost identical to the original web game I created. I felt maybe they are one of the many who asked me for the flOw source code. But according to the comments the creator of the Aquatica made on the youtube, they didn’t use my source code.

Anyway, I always wanted to see the original flash version of flOw ported to iPhone one day. However, there are many legal issues with the flOw IP since Sony owns the rights to flOw PS3. Though we had many request for doing the port, we didn’t end up pursuing it.

I thought the creation of Aquatica is a very flattering thing because they mimic the game I created in the university and somewhat realized my dream for a flOw game on the iPhone. It could be a very sweet thing if they did this as a fan ware and put it out for free. But the fact they didn’t mention flOw at all and call it a ‘new, unique game completely in a class of its own’ is disappointing.”

If you check out the YouTube page you’ll see some pretty brutal comments thrown their way. At first, Ketarasoft seemed to try and take a stand and claim it as their own, but now they seem to be backtracking a bit. From their website:

“Please note: Aquatica is an iPhone from-the-ground-up re-make (FAN VERSION) of the famous flOw game created by Jenova Chen of the ThatGameCompany fame. We deeply apologize for not properly crediting him earlier. Our mistakes were caused by naivety, not malice.”

Whatever it is that they claim, they demonstrate very poor judgment and I would think they’d want to try and calm this brewing storm as soon as possible. If not? Let the legal drama ensue.

Credit: PlayStationLifestyle.net

UPDATE: At Post time last night, the YouTube vid had around 300 views. This morning? It’s almost at 11,000 views. Now it looks like one of the Devs had a light bulb go off over his head. They have decided to remove the game from the App Store. Good idea guys.. in fact, that’s the best idea you’ve had yet. Now go make your own damn game!

THE POWER OF FLOWER

Sometimes as a gamer, I get tired of the same old shooters and action games. For some reason, developers think the only type of video game that sells has violence, blood/gore, drugs, sex or rock ‘n roll in it. While that does indeed sell and probably always will, it’s about damn time that other developers go against what “sells” and creates something so entirely different than what we’re used to that it sets itself apart and is defined in a brand new genre all its own. Introducing: Flower.

Yeap, that’s it. Just Flower. But what beautiful flowers they are. Flower is being developed by the same creators of flOw, thatgamecompany, and is scheduled to be released as a downloadable game on the Playstation Network on February 12. Being in a league all of it’s own is something new to the game industry. A game that can be thrown into a new genre of “healing” or “relaxing” is just not something the average gamer is used to. Sony may win me over someday as their game library slowly but surely is starting to increase in quantity and quality. With creative games like flower and LittleBigPlanet awaiting my potential PS3 purchase sometime in the future, it makes me feel like it would be well worth it now to spend the unreasonable price Sony is asking for their top of the line game console.

Ah hell, who am I kidding? I’m not going to buy a PS3 until the price comes down to something I can afford, but damnit! Flower is making it harder for me to keep making the price argument. Either way, this game should have what it takes to help sell the PS3 to hardcore and casual gamers alike. After viewing these videos, it may make gamers out of non-gamers. Who knows?

The power of Flower is strong and I’m picking up the scent of success. For the sake of creative out of the box ideas and the determination to prove critics wrong, I hope I am correct.

Check out the PS3blog’s interview with Creative Director, Jenova Chen.

Read more on flower at PS3blog.net…
Read more on flower at GamePlay Unlimited…