Unauthorized Flash Game Cloning
As a Flash game developer, I routinly get requests to port or make derivatives of my games. Depending on the situation and agreement, I usually have no problem. However, what I don’t like is when authors completely DUPLICATE without permission and slap their name on it.
My most popular game, Boomshine, was recently duplicated by some author and posted onto Facebook where over 20,000 users have now added it. The game is called Chain Rxn.
My inbox has seen multiple emails from a variety of people who noticed the rip-off. I requested (and I request the same for my visitors of this site) to report the application to Facebook as it violates intellectual property. I’ve reported and requested the removal of Chain Rxn to Facebook multiple times but it doesn’t look like any action has been taken.
I normally would not be this upset; there are simply unoriginal poeple out there who feel that it’s easier to copy a game 100% then to even change it a little bit. However, out of all the clones of Boomshine that I’ve seen (even large companies such as T-Mobile have duplicated Boomshine without my permission), this one in particular just sets off my nerves. The worst feeling comes from reading a comment from a player asking if Boomshine ripped off Chain Rxn instead of the other way around!
If the author simply put credits, I probably wouldn’t be making such a fuss. But this guy is making money off advertisements off my game.
Other bloggers have already noticed.
So please, next time you’re on Facebok, please report the application to Facebook. Maybe if enough users complain Facebook will remove the application.
17 comments to “Unauthorized Flash Game Cloning”
April 30th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Hey,
I have reported the issue to facebook, along with a couple of screenshots, comparing the two games.
If facebook have ignored your previous reports, have you considered escalating things; maybe talking to a solicitor?
Anyway, good luck with getting things sorted.
dt
May 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I also reported the rip to Facebook. I hope they remove the game or at least change credits. I love the principle behind it and you earn the credit to this.
Hannes
May 5th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
What would actually be the best way to report this ?
May 6th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
The first time I saw Chain Rxn I was SO angry. I even commented on someone’s wall going, “I was playing this game when it was Boomshine, not some blatant ripoff.” I was actually at the moment looking for some place to inform you about it, apparently I’m late to the game, hah. As soon as Facebook isn’t down for me I’m reporting this. Boomshine has been my go-to destressor for a while.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
I just saw the application seconds ago and googled “boomshine chain rxn” to see if anyone else had noticed.
I remember playing boomshine when it was first released.
It’s a marvel of simplicity and ingenuity.
And I will definitely be contacting facebook on your behalf.
May 16th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Any plans to bring Boomshine to Facebook? I suspect that would be the most effective way to combat this particular clone.
May 16th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Bryan,
I feel that at this point, if I launched Boomshine on Facebook, many people would just call it a clone of Chain Rxn… The game’s hurt my reputation…
I do want to release it on Facebook though at some point… I just don’t know how receptive it will be right now. I feel like the damage done is irreversible.
May 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
When my four year old daughter saw me playing Chain Rxn on Facebook she said, “That’s the game on your iPhone, Daddy!”
Even she recognized that it was a total Boomshine ripoff. Can’t you just sue them?
PS – your link to the other blog isn’t working.
PSS – When can we expect an iPhone sequel?
June 15th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I have written Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, and requested that this rip off be removed immediately. I have also extended the invitation to complain to all of my friends on Facebook.
Unbelievable.
ce
June 15th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
You can file an official complaint to Facebook — more information here:
http://www.facebook.com/copyright.php
July 1st, 2009 at 9:45 am
Chain RXN does have better scoring though, so it isn’t copied 100%. and the fact that the points build up completely changes the objective of the game
July 20th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Another thing Chain RXN has that’s nice is that the dots move at different speeds, which makes the game more interesting.
July 24th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
[...] AddictingGames are just a few examples of this) as well as onto the social games platform (e.g., the cloning of Boomshine for Chain Rxn). Mass audience appeal can be proved relatively cheaply through Flash games metrics, and the simple [...]
August 9th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I developed a version of Boomshine2x for the GP2x and the Wiz handheld consoles (with Danny’s permission) and it annoys me when people do things like this without permission.
How would the author of this clone like it if people did it to his original work without permission?
What is seems like is some sort attempt to make money fast from an already well known game via the advertisements.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I have also reported the app to Facebook and requested that they remove it. Additionally, I have posted my status to request that my friends immediately remove and report it.
I’m sorry this has happened. It’s rude. I have enjoyed Boomshine for a few years now, and I wish you luck with this and all the best.
November 21st, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Danny, you need to sue their asses. There’s nothing they are going to do about it, short of a lawsuit. Believe me, you’ll win. You’ll win big, considering all the ad revenues and lost profits that Chain Rxn is responsible for.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
David, and everyone else reading my blog.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=115480