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What is hiding behind the bad "C"-word?

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Wikipedia says:

"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."

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THEN ALMOST ALL GAMES ARE CLONES?!?

WTF!?

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The answer isn't that easy: YES and NO

Let's start with...

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A short overview of cloning history

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- Cloning is almost as old as the video game history

- The first clone: Pong

A short overview of cloning history:

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- Clones can also lead to new genres:

1st person shooters were once called "Doom-Clones"

A short overview of cloning history:

Doom 1 Modern Warfare 4

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- Clones can be more successful and popular than the original game, e.g. Minecraft (heavily inspired by "Infiniminer")

A short overview of cloning history:

Infiniminer

Minecraft

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The 4 types of clones

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Type 1, Rip-offs: always comes with legal issues / copyright

infringements

Original: Cover Orange

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Illegal rip of iOS version or fake app

Rip-off 1: Cover Orange (Android)

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Rip-off from same company with slightly changed graphics

(AND UGLY!!!)

Rip-off 2: Cover Cherry (Android)

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Besides being illegal, low quality clones or rip-offs will never pay off or be

successful

Cover Orange

Original Fake

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Type 2: Style clones – e.g. Doodle style

Doodle Jump Parachute Panic Doodle Kart

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Type 2: Style clones – Block style

Minecraft

Ace of Spades

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Type 3: Gameplay clones

Canabalt

Jetpack Joyride

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Type 4: Pseudo-Game clones

Modern Warfare 4

Modern Combat 4

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Why you shouldn't clone EXCESSIVELY

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- Legal issues:

- Super Mario Bros vs. Giana Sister (1980's)

- Crazy Taxi vs. The Simpsons: Road Rage (2003)

- EA vs. Zynga (Sims Social / The Ville, 2012)

- Nowadays you won't be the only one to clone a certain game -> risk of even bigger competition

- You're not original! If we all would clone games without adding something new, people would get tired of games and lose interest in gaming

- If pitching your game to a publisher, it's most likely they

won't take your game, as long as it hasn't something new and original

Why you shouldn't clone

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- Besides not being original, the industry

may laugh at you. For example Tiny

Tower / Dream Heights

Why you shouldn't clone

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So, why do people clone?

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- If you're quick, you can "ride the same wave of success" as the game you're cloning (Fruit Ninja / Veggie Samurai).

Fruit Ninja Veggie Samurai

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- Current example: What's the word / 4 Pics 1 Word

What's the word 4 Pics 1 Word

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- Customers tend to go for something familiar, something their used to

- If a game is not available on a system, a clone will come and satisfy this demand

- Same applies to markets your app isn't localised for

- If you're original but ahead of your time (or too late), your game will most likely be a financial disaster

- Easy money, but probably nobody will remember you

- Almost every idea has been there before in some way

- Cloning done in the right way –> inspiration / reference

- Cloning is essential to video games

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Examples of unique games:

XCom Enemy Unknown The Room

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How our partners create games...

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Case Study: Cover Orange

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- Totally original idea

- Team said: "I wan't to make a game where players need to save something"

- Character were an orange ball and a bomb throwing airplane

- A girl playing the prototype said "what a nice orange!"

- Character was tweaked to be an orange

- The initial airplane was changed to a cloud to add more character and personality

Case Study: Cover Orange

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Case Study: Blueprint 3D

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- After having created "Starlight", Kostya wanted to make a similar game with 3D projection

Case Study: Blueprint 3D

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- During development, he discovered "Coign of Vantage", probably the first game of this type

Case Study: Blueprint 3D

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- New challange: make the game different

- Basicaly easy and rudimentary game, so polishing and presentation are even more important for a great gaming experience

Case Study: Blueprint 3D

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How we create games...

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- First, there's the idea. It often comes spontaneously in the shower, on the toilet or any other daily routine situation ;)

- Or: "we need a game in a specific genre"

- Many brainstormings with lots of people

- Prototype, tweak, prototype again, try, try, try...

- Stay focused and never lose USP out of sight

Our approach when creating new games

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Case Study: Banana Kong

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- Yes, the game is INSPIRED by Donkey Kong Country, Sonic the Hedgehog, Jetpack Joyride and Ski Safari, but NOT just cloned!

- Before starting prototyping, the game mechanics were discussed for about 6 months, with LOTS of different ideas

- We wanted to make people knowing either of the games feel comfortable immediately

Case Study: Banana Kong

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- The character is an hommage to one of the best SNES games

- New gameplay elements: dashing, swiping to change platforms, 3 different parallel locations: Jungle, Treetops and the Cave

Case Study: Banana Kong

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How to stay unique: Don'ts...

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Don't steal assets or other IP! (hopefully obvious!!!)

Dont's...

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Don't try to immitate another game

Dont's...

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Do not miss the right time!

Dont's...

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How to stay unique: ... and do's

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Play lots of games

... and Do's

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Do research

... and Do's

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Brainstorm

... and Do's

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Find your USP

... and Do's

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Mix genres to create an all

new gaming experience

(e.g. X-Com)

... and Do's

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Absolutely want to use something from another game? Get the permission, make it an hommage or even think about cross promoting each others games. Endless possibilities...

... and Do's

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Find a "gem" + find flaws and improve them + add a cool or popular theme = you may have

a winner

... and Do's

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That's it!

Thanks for listening and

be creative!

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• Contact me at:

philipp@fdg-entertainment.com

• Download presentation at:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/49813015/FDG_StayingUniqueAtTheAgeOfClones_FG_Moscow.ppt

• FDG on the web:

http://www.fdg-entertainment.com

• FDG on Social Networks:

www.facebook.com/FDGEntertainment

www.twitter.com/FDG_Games