tatiangMember, Sous Chef, PRO, Senior Sous-ChefPosts: 11,949
Apple knows about it. For whatever reason, they are okay with it. I received several responses from an Apple rep when I complained about Mateen's other apps and they basically said "we'll look into it." Personally, I'm tired of worrying about why some scam artist is making a fortune but to each his/her own.
Did anyone download the game? The apptopia listing says it's objective c for the framework. I'm at work on only have my Note so can't verify it's actually a GS game.
I'm pretty sure they verify the framework when a buyer is found.
If Apple was smart, they would allow Mateen to dump all his money into getting these apps to the top. Then just prior to paying him they confiscate it all. I would probably die from laughter if they did.
Hi all, this is Frank Templeton, the CEO of John Temple Group Pty Ltd. We are an Australian based app firm who are midway through the purchase of the Fox Rescue app from Mateen through Apptopia. Firstly, I want to thank you all for alerting us to the issues with Mateen. Apptopia last night advised us of the issue at hand. They messaged Mateen and he in turns declares he 100% owns the rights to the design. We, of course, are now reluctant to proceed with the final stage of the sale unless we can verify that he does indeed own the rights or that there is no issue from any other developer in relation to this app. I would like to know if there is some way we can prove Mateen has scammed this app even if that means we incur a loss, just think its important that if this is true, that this type of action must be stamped out in the industry to give investing app companies like ourselves the confidence to invest/trade apps. Looking for suggestions about how we can solve this - cheers
tenrdrmerMember, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-ChefPosts: 9,934
Read the descriptions look at the screenshots. this is not the first time Mateen has ripped off other developers. he has been doing this crap nearly as long as GameSalad has been around. I strongly urge you to NOT buy from this guy. As soon as we can convince firemaplegames to not let this app go you will have lost out on your money.
@DeepBlueApps said:
Nice of you to let him reskin it Joe I'm sure he will do well with your game.
Darren.
Ah, the irony... let me point you to this game, an unchanged template of yours that was, let's be honest, not exactly entirely different to my game codestorm (I think quite a few of the people here have read THAT thread):
@Socks said:
And even if people do build on the core mechanic, add a few bells and whistles, new sounds and a different title, these clone games are still largely riding on the coat-tails of someone else's creativity, craft and hard work.
^^ THIS!!!!
Braydon_SFXMember, Sous Chef, Bowlboy SidekickPosts: 9,273
@BBEnk said:
I agree you both ripped off Super Hexagon, lol.
Then you clearly haven't played both games. That's like saying Sonic is a ripoff of Mario. Apart from the Avoid'em up aspect (that's a genre, you know), there is nothing even REMOTELY similar between codestorm and Super Hexagon. Different graphics, different mechanics, one is 2D, one is 3D, TOTALLY different controls.
Anyway, back to the subject... Joe should do something about this. I did with "Deep Vortex". Google removed it quickly, though thanks to Darren's templates, I'm in overdrive getting all the crappy clones (actually, not clones, they don't even change them) removed from both iOS and Android stores. This is why templates for anything more than basic game mechanics are a BAD idea.
Joe, put your foot down. The more devs who don't put up with this sort of crap, the better. And if this idiot Mateen is making money from YOUR creation, you really can't let it slide.
Is it illegal? The same gameplay with diffrent graphics.
There are many game on App Store already especially, the clone games.
tenrdrmerMember, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-ChefPosts: 9,934
Is what illegal? Stealing someone's app that is not available as a template and swapping art? No that's not exactly illegal.
If your referring to @polygame issues it's not different art. It's been made to look identical. Dba claims not on purpose but it still looks nearly 100% identical.
@BBEnk said:
I agree you both ripped off Super Hexagon, lol.> @tenrdrmer said:
Is what illegal? Stealing someone's app that is not available as a template and swapping art? No that's not exactly illegal.
If your referring to polygame issues it's not different art. It's been made to look identical. Dba claims not on purpose but it still looks nearly 100% identical.
To be fair, I am giving Darren and Wayne the benefit of the doubt on that one. Whilst I'm not convinced they started their game "8 months ago", coincidences can happen, and I can't prove 100% that they did rip me off, hence I am not getting apps removed that use the newer version of the template, which they have changed to be different from codestorm (and ironically, made it more like Super Hexagon, gameplay wise).
I'm more upset that now there are other very similar games being churned out by the use of these templates.
BUT. Downloading someone's complete project and publishing it without their consent IS illegal. Even if they change the visuals, all that code is JOE'S. Code is no different from art, it is still a person's intellectual property.
@RThurman said:
Looks like it sold on Apptopia today for $4,500.
Sad, sad, sad.
That REALLY irks me. Those of us who spend months on a title often never see that kind of cash. Then some idiot comes along, STEALS someone else's game and profits. Joe, you gotta follow through on this!
@POLYGAMe said:
I did with "Deep Vortex". Google removed it quickly, though thanks to Darren's templates, I'm in overdrive getting all the crappy clones (actually, not clones, they don't even change them) removed from both iOS and Android stores. This is why templates for anything more than basic game mechanics are a BAD idea.
>
I can't agree more, I've said this for a while now (this is not aimed at Darren, it a general comment on the template market).
I've said it before but it bears repeating, I hate the idea that someone can pour a year or more of their blood, sweat and tears into a project, graphics, animation, working out the complex logic and the mechanics of gameplay, designing the logos and the feel of the text, the way the menus arrive on screen, the music and sound design, the intro screens and the look of the level section page . . . . and everything else that goes into a well designed game, months and months of late nights, spending your 2 week holiday not on a beach but sat doing custom fonts for the score and redesigning the walk cycle of your hero to match your new background . . . and so on, day after day, night after night, week after week . . .
. . . and as soon as your masterpiece is complete, something you might feel rightfully proud of, your little baby is sent off out into the world only to be instantly hoovered up by the template makers who basically steal your work, rip off the look, feel, sound, design and mechanics of your game, often right down to the typeface, and present it for sale to anyone willing to pay. They will literally help themselves to all your hard work, and use it to make themselves some quick money whilst handing the rip-off merchants a working counterfeiting kit of your intellectual property.
The result is your game - if even mildly successful - is swamped by rip-offs and clones, and undoubtedly the chances of you making a decent return for your efforts is damaged.
@POLYGAMe said:
This is why templates for anything more than basic game mechanics are a BAD idea.
>
I think they are worse than bad ! I think the whole idea is immoral, it's industrial theft.
Unfortunately @socks, its not just a problem with Gamesalad.
Apple and Google should burden some of this blame with their (in all honesty) pretty poor app ecosystems. Its probably 20% creativity and innovation, and 80% clones.
But i digress, that doesn't mean you can nearly litteraly re-publish/sell someones work.
@Tinpot said:
Unfortunately socks, its not just a problem with Gamesalad.
>
Agreed, it was a general comment aimed at the mobile games world rather than a specific SDK.
@Tinpot said:
Apple and Google should burden some of this blame with their (in all honesty) pretty poor app ecosystems. Its probably 20% creativity and innovation, and 80% clones.
I suppose the problem is that companies like Apple make money from a sale whether it's an original work or a blatant rip-off, so there's no real (commercial) impetus for them to do anything - but yes, they are as much to blame as the people who make clone templates.
@Socks said:
I suppose the problem is that companies like Apple make money from a sale whether it's an original work or a blatant rip-off, so there's no real (commercial) impetus for them to do anything - but yes, they are as much to blame as the people who make clone templates.
Exactly why our next "big" game is being built with the intention of selling on Steam. We have a few ideas for smaller game that could potentially do really well but I'm really not that keen now as no doubt they'll find themselves being made into "templates".
To be honest though, I'm not going to be telling the GS community when I release games that are easily replicable... much less likely they'd be stolen if I didn't post here... Sad but true
Comments
We will all hate you, so I am pretty sure you don't want that :P
Lump Apps and My Assets
If this guy follows his normal pattern, @firemaplegames should be able to buy his games back on Apptopia soon, So don't worry.
This guy should have his own reality tv show.
Apple knows about it. For whatever reason, they are okay with it. I received several responses from an Apple rep when I complained about Mateen's other apps and they basically said "we'll look into it." Personally, I'm tired of worrying about why some scam artist is making a fortune but to each his/her own.
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Yep..
http://www.apptopia.com/listings/7700-high-revenue-300-sales-a-day
I reported it to apptopia
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Now App is under this name " John Temple Group Pty Ltd." May be app sold or this account also belongs to Mateen.
https://itunes.apple.com/no/artist/john-temple-group-pty-ltd./id317856073
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fox-rescue/id846585885?mt=8
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Apple has to take more responsibility for this sort of thing, they should earn their 30%.
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apptopia is working on handling it.
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Did anyone download the game? The apptopia listing says it's objective c for the framework. I'm at work on only have my Note so can't verify it's actually a GS game.
I'm pretty sure they verify the framework when a buyer is found.
If Apple was smart, they would allow Mateen to dump all his money into getting these apps to the top. Then just prior to paying him they confiscate it all. I would probably die from laughter if they did.
Hi all, this is Frank Templeton, the CEO of John Temple Group Pty Ltd. We are an Australian based app firm who are midway through the purchase of the Fox Rescue app from Mateen through Apptopia. Firstly, I want to thank you all for alerting us to the issues with Mateen. Apptopia last night advised us of the issue at hand. They messaged Mateen and he in turns declares he 100% owns the rights to the design. We, of course, are now reluctant to proceed with the final stage of the sale unless we can verify that he does indeed own the rights or that there is no issue from any other developer in relation to this app. I would like to know if there is some way we can prove Mateen has scammed this app even if that means we incur a loss, just think its important that if this is true, that this type of action must be stamped out in the industry to give investing app companies like ourselves the confidence to invest/trade apps. Looking for suggestions about how we can solve this - cheers
@JohnTempleGroup
Look at this game which was originally created by @firemaplegames
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/danger-cats!/id344925240?mt=8
Read the descriptions look at the screenshots. this is not the first time Mateen has ripped off other developers. he has been doing this crap nearly as long as GameSalad has been around. I strongly urge you to NOT buy from this guy. As soon as we can convince firemaplegames to not let this app go you will have lost out on your money.
Ah, the irony... let me point you to this game, an unchanged template of yours that was, let's be honest, not exactly entirely different to my game codestorm (I think quite a few of the people here have read THAT thread):
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/deep-vortex-pro/id851759619?mt=8
^^ THIS!!!!
Sigh...yep
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I agree you both ripped off Super Hexagon, lol.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/super-hexagon/id549027629?mt=8
Then you clearly haven't played both games. That's like saying Sonic is a ripoff of Mario. Apart from the Avoid'em up aspect (that's a genre, you know), there is nothing even REMOTELY similar between codestorm and Super Hexagon. Different graphics, different mechanics, one is 2D, one is 3D, TOTALLY different controls.
Anyway, back to the subject... Joe should do something about this. I did with "Deep Vortex". Google removed it quickly, though thanks to Darren's templates, I'm in overdrive getting all the crappy clones (actually, not clones, they don't even change them) removed from both iOS and Android stores. This is why templates for anything more than basic game mechanics are a BAD idea.
Joe, put your foot down. The more devs who don't put up with this sort of crap, the better. And if this idiot Mateen is making money from YOUR creation, you really can't let it slide.
Is it illegal? The same gameplay with diffrent graphics.
There are many game on App Store already especially, the clone games.
Is what illegal? Stealing someone's app that is not available as a template and swapping art? No that's not exactly illegal.
If your referring to @polygame issues it's not different art. It's been made to look identical. Dba claims not on purpose but it still looks nearly 100% identical.
To be fair, I am giving Darren and Wayne the benefit of the doubt on that one. Whilst I'm not convinced they started their game "8 months ago", coincidences can happen, and I can't prove 100% that they did rip me off, hence I am not getting apps removed that use the newer version of the template, which they have changed to be different from codestorm (and ironically, made it more like Super Hexagon, gameplay wise).
I'm more upset that now there are other very similar games being churned out by the use of these templates.
BUT. Downloading someone's complete project and publishing it without their consent IS illegal. Even if they change the visuals, all that code is JOE'S. Code is no different from art, it is still a person's intellectual property.
Maybe Mateen has another name, I'm not sure but he is not doing this alone.
He bought a lot assets from us and did very well to the Blocky bird
checkout here apptopia.com/listings/7689-blocky-bird-2-games-10-revenue-month-1k-downloads-month-gamesalad#apps/details/order/downloads
See all of his games on Appstore
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blocky-bird-free/id834762126?mt=8
✮ FREE TEMPLATES, ANIMATIONS ✮ ✮ GAME PRO MARKET BUY & SELL ✮
Looks like it sold on Apptopia today for $4,500.
Sad, sad, sad.
That REALLY irks me. Those of us who spend months on a title often never see that kind of cash. Then some idiot comes along, STEALS someone else's game and profits. Joe, you gotta follow through on this!
>
I can't agree more, I've said this for a while now (this is not aimed at Darren, it a general comment on the template market).
I've said it before but it bears repeating, I hate the idea that someone can pour a year or more of their blood, sweat and tears into a project, graphics, animation, working out the complex logic and the mechanics of gameplay, designing the logos and the feel of the text, the way the menus arrive on screen, the music and sound design, the intro screens and the look of the level section page . . . . and everything else that goes into a well designed game, months and months of late nights, spending your 2 week holiday not on a beach but sat doing custom fonts for the score and redesigning the walk cycle of your hero to match your new background . . . and so on, day after day, night after night, week after week . . .
. . . and as soon as your masterpiece is complete, something you might feel rightfully proud of, your little baby is sent off out into the world only to be instantly hoovered up by the template makers who basically steal your work, rip off the look, feel, sound, design and mechanics of your game, often right down to the typeface, and present it for sale to anyone willing to pay. They will literally help themselves to all your hard work, and use it to make themselves some quick money whilst handing the rip-off merchants a working counterfeiting kit of your intellectual property.
The result is your game - if even mildly successful - is swamped by rip-offs and clones, and undoubtedly the chances of you making a decent return for your efforts is damaged.
>
I think they are worse than bad ! I think the whole idea is immoral, it's industrial theft.
Unfortunately @socks, its not just a problem with Gamesalad.
Apple and Google should burden some of this blame with their (in all honesty) pretty poor app ecosystems. Its probably 20% creativity and innovation, and 80% clones.
But i digress, that doesn't mean you can nearly litteraly re-publish/sell someones work.
>
Agreed, it was a general comment aimed at the mobile games world rather than a specific SDK.
I suppose the problem is that companies like Apple make money from a sale whether it's an original work or a blatant rip-off, so there's no real (commercial) impetus for them to do anything - but yes, they are as much to blame as the people who make clone templates.
Exactly why our next "big" game is being built with the intention of selling on Steam. We have a few ideas for smaller game that could potentially do really well but I'm really not that keen now as no doubt they'll find themselves being made into "templates".
To be honest though, I'm not going to be telling the GS community when I release games that are easily replicable... much less likely they'd be stolen if I didn't post here... Sad but true
@gsanimator.com, you should keep privacy of your customers.
We should learn and figure out how he brings his app to top paid.
Here is another one.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ringside-rps/id851038202?mt=8