I have a feeling some might enjoy this topic. Non-so-subtle clones on the app store. (There's the obvious ones Mario/Sonic, anyones similar to something like Contra also?) Here we go: Polyroll -> Sonic Order & Chaos -> WoW
The most blatant ones: Temple Run and its 47,315,667 clones. Puzzle & Dragons and its 5,330,121 clones. Canabalt and its 1,884,518 clones. Infinity Blade and its 609,413 clones. Super Hexagon and its 1 clone.
Oh! Cube [$0.99] is actually a very good Picross 3D clone and is recommended to fans of Picross/Picross 3D. Touch Arcade thread. Gamezebo review. 148 apps review.
Super Crate Box has a lot of clones too. Ridiculous Fishing got a clone too (a polemic one). The latest I can remember is the Super Hexagon clone (got a refund), released not so long ago.
For some shameful "true" clones, check out the games by varaprasadu potugunta. I have no idea how they have stayed up so long. It appears his Merchant to the Stars clone has been removed at least, but I know the Super Lemonade Factory dev has contacted Apple about that clone and it's still there. His other apps are direct copies too.
I think this is a thin line and tough to differentiate between clone and inspired Ninja Fishing, Woven, maybe even GV are clones Now the many games that use the swipe combat seen in IB, I would not call those clones. Helicopter had a touch control scheme that worked, are Badland and WingDot clones for using the same controls, a scheme that has proven it works on mobile? Canabalt clones? Do you mean games that are also 2D one-tap auto platformers? How are those clones? Just because they have the same controls and general idea doesn't make them clones. That just means they were inspired and influenced by the games, in the same way roguelikes were influenced by Rogue If a game is blatantly copying an art style or is an obvious copy (ie those Patapon games), I'd define those as clones. But if they're just using the general gameplay concept or a control scheme that had proven effective, that's just being inspired or influenced by that game, jusing it as a foundation and taking it in a new direction. Those kinds of games are not clones
I think people could do with learning the difference between a direct clone and an homage, a game very much inspired by another. Many of the games listed here as having been cloned were hardly original ideas in the first place.
Based on the original post, I think the intention had been to list iOS clones of games in genres that are primarily represented outside of the iOS library. Most of what's being posted are genres that are over-represented on iOS and other devices but barely at all on consoles or computers.
Yes, I too think people are often too eager to use the term clone in a negative light. For example, a cloned sheep is an exact replica, ripped assets and music is a big no no, but just having similar styles is not in my book.
Wikipedia: "A video game clone is either a video game (or series) which is very similar to or heavily inspired by a previous popular game or series. The term is sometimes derogatory, implying a lack of originality; however, clones can be anything from a pure "ripoff", to a legitimate derivative or improvement on the original or even a homage." As for Canabalt it has had many clones i.e. "ripoffs" that have been removed from the App Store.
Yep, whoever varaprasadu potugunta is, they are a scumbag. I can't believe Apple won't do anything when it's word for word copied in the description. It's a drag, but my sales are down to nearly zero, and I wonder if they are scalping some of them. Oh well, live and learn.
