Controversy and criticism edit
Nguyen stated that he had not utilized any promotional techniques in the Flappy Bird marketing when questioned at the time by Chocolate Lab Apps, a website for app developers. He said that perhaps “luck” was to blame for the game’s abrupt surge in popularity at the beginning of 2014. [10] Nevertheless, internet marketer Carter Thomas believed the developer had employed bots to boost the app’s popularity. [40] When The Daily Telegraph questioned Nguyen about this, he said he respected other people’s beliefs and didn’t want to comment, adding, “I’d like to make my games in a peaceful environment.” [41] Nguyen wrote, “If I did fake it, should Apple let it live for months?” in response to Newsweek’s inquiry [42].
Kotaku criticized the game, calling it “ripped-off art,” for what it said was an open use of Mario-style graphics [43]. A correction was subsequently published, elucidating that the green pipe used in the game was “a new albeit unoriginal drawing.” [44].
Some Vietnamese newspapers, such as Thanh Niên and BBC Vietnamese, claim that Flappy Bird is almost exactly like the 2011 game Piou Piou vs. Flappy Bird, which was released two years prior to Flappy Bird. From the gameplay, which involves tapping the screen, to the main character’s design—a small yellow bird with a large red beak—to the obstacles—green cacti and pipes—Cactus is all about cactus. [45] Several French newspapers, including Metronews and 20 Minutes, reportedly claimed that Flappy Bird was a clone. [46] A Thanh Niên Online reporter attempted to play Piou Piou vs Cactus and verified the startling parallels between the two games. [47].
The French developer of Piou Piou vs. Cactus, also known as Kek, informed Pocket Gamer that Flappy Bird is “quite similar” to his previous game. When Kek got in touch with Nguyen, he was informed that “he doesnt think he knew about” Kek’s game when he was making Flappy Bird. [48] Technology editor Patrick ORourke of Canada. com also claimed that Flappy Bird “almost rips off” Piou Piou vs. Cactus, that its main gameplay element is a “rip off” of Helicopter Game, and that it heavily appropriates Super Mario Bros. sound effects. games. [49].
Gameplay edit Faby after passing the first pair of pipes
In the arcade-style game Flappy Bird, the player controls Faby, the bird that keeps moving to the right. The objective is for the player to guide Faby through pairs of pipes with randomly positioned, equal-sized gaps. Faby descends automatically and only rises in response to a touchscreen tap from the player. The player receives one point for each pair of pipes they successfully pass through. Colliding with a pipe or the ground ends the gameplay. The player receives a bronze medal during the game over screen if they score ten points or more, a silver medal after twenty points, a gold medal after thirty points, and a platinum medal after forty points. [5][6][7][8].
Discontinuation edit
Nguyen stated on Twitter on February 8, 2014, that the game would be taken down from Google Play and the Apple App Store. He wrote: “I apologize to Flappy Bird players; in 22 hours, I will remove Flappy Bird.” I cannot take this anymore. [18] He continued by saying that there was “nothing to do with legal issues” with banning the game. [19] To the dismay of many fans, the game was promptly removed from the Google Play and App Store. [22][23].
According to a local technology expert quoted in Tuoi Tre News, the English-language version of the Vietnamese newspaper Tuổi Trẻ, Nintendo may have filed a lawsuit to remove Flappy Birds because of alleged visual similarities to the Mario games. [24] A Nintendo representative refuted this claim in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. [25] Attorneys in Vietnam refuted claims that Nguyen was forced to take down the game because it violated the nation’s Internet usage laws. [23][25].
Many media outlets reported after the removal that a number of eBay sellers were charging US$1,499 or more for phones with the app pre-installed, with some sellers receiving bids of over US$90,000;[2][3][26][23] however the listings were taken down for breaking eBay’s policy that smartphones must be reset to factory settings before being sold. [27].
Nguyen blamed the game’s addictive qualities for its cancellation in an interview with Forbes, saying, “Flappy Bird was designed to play in a few minutes when you are relaxed.” But it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem. The best solution to that issue is to remove Flappy Bird. Its gone forever. Nguyen claimed that his conscience was eased after winning the game and that the guilt he felt over it was interfering with his ability to sleep. [28].
Nguyen declined to rule out the possibility of re-releasing Flappy Bird in an interview with Rolling Stone from March 2014, provided that the song included a warning to “Take a break.” [9] He tweeted on March 19 that the game will be rereleased on App Stores, but it won’t happen anytime soon. [29] Nguyen revealed to Kelly Evans on CNBC on May 15 that the game will return in August with multiplayer support and be “less addictive.” [30].
August 2014 saw the exclusive release of Flappy Birds Family, an updated version of the game, via the Amazon Appstore for the Amazon Fire TV platform, as Nguyen had promised. [31] In addition, the updated version has new challenges that weren’t in the original and a multiplayer option. [31].
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