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[Shai-Tan]

I don't mind clones like Grid Wars 2 (Geometry Wars 2) when they are free and have unique gameplay (Bizarre Creations had the developer of it take it down) but companies like this want to bleed some money off established properties. Luckily most of these are games that won't even control well on touch and I'm not buying their PSP minis because there are much better games to play there.

 

[Peterthumpa]

I completely HATE Gameloft's strategy on iDevices.

Yes, they're smart because they earn money (a lot) with those shitty-ass clones, but for the hardcore gamer (not that hardcore actually), it's pretty clear how pathetic their games are, ranging from technical issues (FSS, some of their games have framerate problems on the iPhone 4) to completely broken plots on history-driven games.

Games like ZenBound, Galaxy On Fire 2, Real Racing, Rage: MBTV and so on are examples of good efforts on the iDevices.

Gameloft just cashes on established formulas, and do it really badly, and are still doing it just because the majority of iDevices owners are casual and can't see a difference between Hero of Sparta and God of War.

 

[Ocho]

I completely HATE Gameloft's strategy on iDevices.

Yes, they're smart because they earn money (a lot) with those shitty-ass clones, but for the hardcore gamer (not that hardcore actually), it's pretty clear how pathetic their games are, ranging from technical issues (FSS, some of their games have framerate problems on the iPhone 4) to completely broken plots on history-driven games.

Games like ZenBound, Galaxy On Fire 2, Real Racing, Rage: MBTV and so on are examples of good efforts on the iDevices.

Gameloft just cashes on established formulas, and do it really badly, and are still doing it just because the majority of iDevices owners are casual and can't see a difference between Hero of Sparta and God of War.

This.

I don't mind the clones, but their push to do 3D games on a platform that's certainly not ready for that kind of "hardcore" games. Look at id: They know their tech, and how to do a game, and they even know the limits of the iOS platform and how they need to work with it (in making an on rails shooter, for example).

 

[MAtgS]

Suddenly I'm morbidly curious how they'd do a KH knock-off. Or MvC or any other crossover based franchise.

 

[Mooreberg]

Gangstar: Miami Vindication for iPad (aka GTA Vice City)

Subtlety seems to be their second greatest weakness after originality. How blatant can you get? :lol

 

[gogojira]

I've stated my distaste for Gameloft numerous times, but most people don't seem to mind. To each their own, I suppose. I actually bit on NOVA one day when it was $1, but I won't be doing that again -- I felt bad for even giving them a buck.

 

[AlexM]

whoa I heard but I didn't they copied the games that much. That's a little low.

 

[Nuclear Muffin]

didn't Nintendo sue Time Warp Production's Giana Sisters for looking exactly like SMB? I don't see why it wouldn't happen here

Funnily enough, that game is actually available on the App Store and the DS now :lol

Anyway, this kind of strategy is hardly unique to Gameloft. Games history is absolutely riddled with this sort of thing (and not just video games, look how many Connect 4 ripoffs there are for instance!)

 

[Fafalada]

Exactly.

That's like saying Sony/Ms/Nintendo should start releasing cheap built-in LCD replicas of their consoles in China to eliminate the shady clone market.

The reason you don't see many games from bigger studios on iTunes is because there's no way for them to make money unless they lower-themselves to ~shovelware budgets that Gameloft uses.

 

[EmSeta]

My problem isn't that Gameloft makes this ridiculous tripe - it's that people actually buy it. In droves.

 

[SappYoda]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4efYfPNv-k&feature=fvst

 

[Freak]

And now it looks like they want some uncharted style action too even down to the slowmo knockout punch...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CqO4t7y_3I&feature=player_embedded

 

[SmokyDave]

Y'know, I like Gameloft.

Yeah, their games are unoriginal, that can't be argued, but at least they actually put some effort in and release a decent number of titles on the app store. If other devs feel that they're being 'ripped off', there is nothing stopping them from launching competing products and relying on the strength of their IP to outsell the appropriate Gameloft clone. Outsource them (to Gameloft :lol ) if costs are an issue.

 

[Rolf NB]

Impressions, huh? Well Hero Of Sparta is unmitigated trash. Not even worth a laugh. Glad to be of service.

 

[samus i am]

A couple of the games that I've played were actually pretty good. Plus they release them on a format (mobile) that doesn't get as much attention. I see nothing wrong with this.

 

[Diablohead]

I do wish Gameloft could be a bit more original but they are filling a slot on the iOS that no one else has really done, some of the bigger fuller games are from gameloft and because of that they sell well and make them money.

EA have battlefield coming but it's not out yet, Real Racing from firemint is as close to a good racer as you get while gameloft's GT racing is an obviously spin/rip off from gran turismo and forza.

RE4 mobile looks bad and is sort of average, gameloft's zombie game feels much better compared to capcom's own efforts.

Some companies hire gameloft to make them games like tom clancy's hawx.

 

[Superfrog]

My god, that Uncharted clone is indeed shameless.

"Half-tuck" is included too :lol

On a side note, thanks to the most recent price cut I'm currently playing Let's Golf 2 (Everybody's Golf rip-off), and it's actually not bad.

 

[LCfiner]

My god, that Uncharted clone is indeed shameless.

http://i52.tinypic.com/eim5uw.jpg[img]

[img]http://i54.tinypic.com/o03q0k.jpg[img]

[B]"Half-tuck" is included too :lol
[/B]

[/quote]

I think I actually have more respect for Gameloft now :lol

 

[Diablohead]

One thing for sure is that gameloft are good at pushing the limits of the old devices, some of their latest games compared to the ones they released a year ago have a nice visual increase yet still run on the first gen iphones, how much longer that will last no idea.

 

[John]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D71z7LLPbE Don't let Ash Ketchum see this.

i love how the "catch over 160 monsters!" section is mostly just palette swaps

 

[poppabk]

Probably the same reason movie studios don't sue over this.

The difference is that the clone movie is probably very different from its parent, movies like this rely more on confusing consumers when making the purchase than accurately emulating the movie they are copying. The gameloft games rely on the person being familiar with the original and recognizing the similarity to the derivative work. If NOVA was a PS3 game you better believe that MS would be gunning for them - and might win.

 

[scotcheggz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D71z7LLPbE Don't let Ash Ketchum see this.

Oh my god I loved the cusomisation with the camera :lol :lol :lol

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!?

 

[FoneBone]

That's like saying Sony/Ms/Nintendo should start releasing cheap built-in LCD replicas of their consoles in China to eliminate the shady clone market.

The reason you don't see many games from bigger studios on iTunes is because there's no way for them to make money unless they lower-themselves to ~shovelware budgets that Gameloft uses.

This. You'd think from some of the reactions here that devs were sitting on a veritable goldmine, but AFAIK the kind of money Gameloft makes is pocket change compared to a successful console product. (Much less risky, obviously...)

 

[John Rabbit]

how do activision, ea, thq, and ubisoft get away with the same thing?

 

[Datschge]

While their output is definitely shameless I'm getting the impression they have the correct priorities, the games are playable. No idea how many people work there on gameplay design, but in an industry where that knowledge is too easily thrown away a company like this must be a great training place.

 

[Nikashi]

They're not technically doing anything wrong unless they actually steal assets from the games they're copying. It's like how there are a bunch of weird off-brand soft drinks that taste SORT of like Dr. Pepper, and they even have "Dr." in their names, but they're not Dr. Pepper.

http://academic.marion.ohio-state.edu/schul/dox/dr.html


I love this place

 

[out0v0rder]

how do activision, ea, thq, and ubisoft get away with the same thing?

they put their games on the 360. 360 gamers don't give a shit what comes through their systems, or if their system is even going to work a week from now.

 

[RuneFactoryFanboy]

I have no problem with what Gameloft does. No problem at all.

They step up to the plate where others won't. If big developers are angry that Gameloft is ripping off their game formulas, perhaps they should come in and show them how it’s done. I find it sad that a smaller developer like Gameloft can outdo a big boy like Capcom at their own game (Zombie Infection vs RE4).

Ultimately, at the end of the day I don’t care who had the idea first, I care about who puts together the most polished fun game. Copycat or not that’s what I want to play and will spend my money on.

 

[rollingstart]

A lot of the gameloft defense boils down to their games cruising just above the low standards people have for those platforms. That isn't a bad attitude considering the games are cheap and are playable on your phone. The games are good for what they are. It's like how Wii fans like The Conduit because it is an FPS game on a system that (at the time) didn't have much competition; if you put that game on the 360, it would be lost with games like Legendary The Box.

Actually, Gameloft is expanding the systems they put their games on. The PS3 is getting the Diablo-like game and the Modern Warfare-like game on PSN.

 

[Tobor]

I have no problem with what Gameloft does. No problem at all.

They step up to the plate where others won't. If big developers are angry that Gameloft is ripping off their game formulas, perhaps they should come in and show them how it’s done. I find it sad that a smaller developer like Gameloft can outdo a big boy like Capcom at their own game (Zombie Infection vs RE4).

Ultimately, at the end of the day I don’t care who had the idea first, I care about who puts together the most polished fun game. Copycat or not that’s what I want to play and will spend my money on.

Exactly how I feel. Gameloft is making decent games at reasonable prices on the platform I want to play them on. Don't like it? Hire some iOS developers and get busy.

Has any developer ever gone on record complaining about Gameloft?

 

[Dark Octave]

I bought all theae games for my phone except for the Guitar Hero one.

They are actually all decent titles and are not in violaton of any IP as far as I can see.

What pisses me off is they are starting to poke their toes into the Xbox Indie Games section. I'm afraid that if the blood is good, they will decide to flood and spam it like they have with the phones market.

Imo, indie games need to be for small teams amd companies trying to make a name for themselves. Not multi-million dollar corporations trying to dig in wherever they can. I remember when XBLA was for indies. Boy has that changed.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Well Rockstar (GTA Chinatown Wars) and Activision (CoD Zombies) are officially on the iOS app store so they're not exactly ignoring the market, but Gameloft's titles are closer to the console versions of those games.

Well, most of them are ignoring the Android market for sure so Gameloft has free reign there.

 

[Kuran]

Wow, gameloft apologists.

 

[Oni Jazar]

Just bought the Lets Golf 2 game for 99 cents.

 

[manueldelalas]

Looks like Tomb Raider with a dude.

Quoting your awesome post so it doesn't go unnoticed.

Also I don't see the problem with this, so this is the same as: Copy one person and you are plagiarizing, copy a lot of people and you are making an investigation.

In this case it is the same; they copy only one game, thus we criticize the, but if they copied more games to do a single one we would love them.

I agree that some games, took something from others, but the mix was a really original game (take Zelda for example); but most games that are praised this generation are just copies of other games and done better.

 

[Lone_Prodigy]

Haha at the GH clone. "GH uses circles, RB uses rectangles, what shapes are left? I know, 4-sided flowery things!"

 

[Oneself]

Actually, most of those clones aren't bad at all (for casuals). I am amazed at gameloft's ability to produce so many games in so many different styles in no time. I wish they'd use that talent to do an original IP using all that's good about what they've copied in the past.... next gen maybe.

 

[Peterthumpa]

Actually, most of those clones aren't bad at all (for casuals). I am amazed at gameloft's ability to produce so many games in so many different styles in no time. I wish they'd use that talent to do an original IP using all that's good about what they've copied in the past.... next gen maybe.

That's basically why they all suck. Each. One. Of. Them.

 

[Oneself]

That's basically why they all suck. Each. One. Of. Them.

Yeah but I mean, check out the physics in that GTA Vice clone for example, it's pretty spot on even if the game is boring or whatever.

 

[jonnybryce]

I'm pretty surprised at some of the responses here. I wish the NOVA/HALO breakdown post was in the OP, it's more than "we made a game in that genre too!" it's really blatant piece-by-piece copying. Yeah, the games play well. And sure, these IPs aren't on iOS anyway. But bottom line is that this is pretty shameless and disgusting.

There's no doubt that Gameloft is talented. Even back in highschool I remember playing games like Ghost Recon on N-Gage by them. Killer graphics and real fun on a platform that made that almost impossible. I wish they'd make some more original stuff to show us what they can do, not what games they like.

Actually, most of those clones aren't bad at all (for casuals). I am amazed at gameloft's ability to produce so many games in so many different styles in no time. I wish they'd use that talent to do an original IP using all that's good about what they've copied in the past.... next gen maybe.

When I was in the iOS circle all the games I played from them used the same engine. They all feel the same because they are the same. I can't imagine it's too time consuming to create handheld games when you have the engine and premise already done. Skin it and go.

 

[Oneself]

You can't say this isn't amazing :lol

 

[Dark Octave]

My god, that Uncharted clone is indeed shameless.

"Half-tuck" is included too :lol

On a side note, thanks to the most recent price cut I'm currently playing Let's Golf 2 (Everybody's Golf rip-off), and it's actually not bad.

:lol Uncharted Cell?

This game looks really good for a cell phone game. What's the name of this?

 

[manueldelalas]

You can't say this isn't amazing :lol

That was amazing, played like shit, but was amazing

 

[Takao]

The difference is that the clone movie is probably very different from its parent, movies like this rely more on confusing consumers when making the purchase than accurately emulating the movie they are copying. The gameloft games rely on the person being familiar with the original and recognizing the similarity to the derivative work. If NOVA was a PS3 game you better believe that MS would be gunning for them - and might win.

NOVA is actually headed towards the PlayStation Minis platform, so it will be on PS3...

 

[neojubei]

That's basically why they all suck. Each. One. Of. Them.

I have to disagree there. Star Battalion was a damn good Star Fox copy that i wish was on consoles but i will take what i can get. I played a bit of NOVA lite free and the controls were very good.

 

[ChunderMan]

Not only do the publishers not seem to be that upset by it, many now hire Gameloft to make official games, because Gameloft's were so good:

UNO
Oregon Trail
Assassin's Creed
Splinter Cell
Brothers in Arms
Shrek Kart
Avatar
Spider-Man
Iron Man 2
Driver
The Settlers
Terminator
HAWX
Rayman 2
Prince of Persia
etc

 

[Cromulent_Word]

Not only do the publishers not seem to be that upset by it, many now hire Gameloft to make official games, because Gameloft's were so good:

UNO
Oregon Trail
Assassin's Creed
Splinter Cell
Brothers in Arms
Shrek Kart
Avatar
Spider-Man
Iron Man 2
Driver
The Settlers
Terminator
HAWX
Rayman 2
Prince of Persia
etc

Just FYI, for a while Ubi owned a big chunk of Gameloft (which, coincidentally, was founded by Mr. Ubi's brother). Now they have a partnership. The fact that they make all of Ubi's mobile stuff isn't just a coincidence.

 

[Dark Octave]

I had a Palm Pre and it seemed like a flood of their titles were on it, but I've since switched to a Droid and it's pretty dry of Gameloft games.

Any good ones for Droid worth trying out?

 

[Eccocid]

Just FYI, for a while Ubi owned a big chunk of Gameloft (which, coincidentally, was founded by Mr. Ubi's brother). Now they have a partnership. The fact that they make all of Ubi's mobile stuff isn't just a coincidence.

If i didnt know that i would assume that Gameloft is a Chinese company lol

 

[Takao]

If i didnt know that i would assume that Gameloft is a Chinese company lol

I do believe they actually have a few studios in China...