Similar game to one I'm working on released - any advice?

Good luck. We had the same situation once where we were already months into development, and even though our product had MUCH higher production values, the core gameplay was the same and since the other guys came out first, they got the acclaim whereas we got labelled as "ripoff" and sold very poorly.

There's always the possibility that the competitor does not get much notice and if yours is a better product it may still do very well.

I got the same punch-in-the-gut today with a game that is using a very similar art style to our next game. It's a completely different game, but the art style is almost exactly the same and this one has been called out on its art style. Sigh. What can you do.. 500k apps, there's inevitably going to be comparisons... just release it and hopefully it does well on its own merits.

 

what have thoose titles in common..

angry birds, tiny wings, minecraft, call of booty 24.. ?

they are not unique.. they use game mechanics used before.. it does not matter..

if your product is better than your competition use that as leverage.. if its not.. well study your competition and try to make it better than their offering..

we have this situations many times before and now you got a chance to see how other would create a game with a similar feature set..

also in all honesty.. i would not break down a game into a lousy list of features.. and that its.. i assume there is more to a game that its feature list because if you only compare by a few characteristics i assume tons of games would be the same..

 

wouldn't really worry about it, if anything look to this as a positive. See what works about the existing/already released game, and what people like vs. what they don't like, don't understand, use this to tweak your own experience a bit. As for being called a ripoff, remember there are soooooo many flash-in-the-pan apps being released these days and memories are extremely short; that is, if something even registered in the collective subconsciousness to begin with! Just go make the best game you can, try to zig a bit where the other guy has zagged, get your app out, and support it the best you can while moving on with your life.

It does suck and I have experienced it as well, such a surreal day when I saw a game with "my unique mechanic" also using the same damned name got announced (and immediately) just as we were into heavy production. You know what happened, their game faded into the ether and ours (with a different name, of course) is still selling & relevant, a couple of years later Buck up!

 

That's what I would do too. You really cant stop making your game just because someone comes out with something similar before you, so you might as well use the opportunity to learn what works and what doesnt and apply the knowledge. This will help you refine your game and avoid possible mistakes.

 

First, if you're only working on it part-time, will anyone remember this other game by the time yours is out?

Second, what makes your game fun? Do more of that. If it's those things, that's fine. You're not making the same game. What's wrong with being like Flipship, only better? You can learn from their mistakes.

There's a reason people lump games into genres, most of them are pretty similar to at least one other game. It didn't sound like you were going down a unique path, so you should still follow it.

 

Well now you know what the bar is... exceed it. What are their shortcomings? How are their graphics? If you can't put out something BETTER... then change gears. If you can, you're good.

 

Put it out there and try and do better than the opposition!