Rip-Offs, Clones, and Spin-Offs - Oh, My!

[Metropolis]

You know, just because a game is a shameless rip-off doesn't mean it has to be bad. "Crazy Kong", while a blatant clone, actually made some improvements to the original Donkey Kong. In fact, a sequel - Crazy Kong Jr. - was later made. There was even a "Crazy Kong" handheld electronic game (in blatant Game & Watch style) from Grandstand! How the creators managed to avoid a lawsuit is beyond me.

"Doraemon" for the Nintendo 64 was a blatant Super Mario 64 clone, but it was approved by Nintendo, so that makes it okay, I guess.

And, of course, almost all maze games - especially those were you eat dots - owe their due to the original Pac-Man. Piranha, Mouse Trap, Lady Bug, Lock 'n' Chase, Turtles, Devil World, KC Munchkin, ect. ect. ect. - these all were clearly inspired by Pac-Man, and some are more blatant than others. Of course, Namco had their own spin-offs, including Ms. Pac-Man, Jr. Pac-Man, Baby Pac-Man, Pac & Pal, and many more.

The long-running and popular Gals Panic series is so obviously inspired by Qix. In fact, it has the exact same gameplay. The difference? Gals Panic gives the player pictures to reveal. Pictures of naked women, to be exact.

Many classic games were inspired by other classic games. I mean, it would be silly to say that Kangaroo wasn't inspired by Donkey Kong, or that Smash TV wasn't inspired by Robotron. Video games will always be highly derivative of each other.

Which spin-offs, rip-offs, and clones come to mind for you?

 

[racerx1690]

The main thing about clones is whether or not it is cost effective to go after half the planet for copyright infringment. The latest example is LAI games with the Stacker. China is pumping out as many clones as they can for 1/8th the cost of a real Stacker. But LAI is doing their best to crack down. http://www.laigames.com/news_15.html I am sure they tried back in the day with the classics, but they were pulling in so much cash back then that they probobally didnt care after some point. (quarter shortages from so much play)

 

[bradd]

hangly man

 

[Klumpy]

You know, just because a game is a shameless rip-off doesn't mean it has to be bad. "Crazy Kong", while a blatant clone, actually made some improvements to the original Donkey Kong. In fact, a sequel - Crazy Kong Jr. - was later made. There was even a "Crazy Kong" handheld electronic game (in blatant Game & Watch style) from Grandstand! How the creators managed to avoid a lawsuit is beyond me.

"Doraemon" for the Nintendo 64 was a blatant Super Mario 64 clone, but it was approved by Nintendo, so that makes it okay, I guess.

And, of course, almost all maze games - especially those were you eat dots - owe their due to the original Pac-Man. Piranha, Mouse Trap, Lady Bug, Lock 'n' Chase, Turtles, Devil World, KC Munchkin, ect. ect. ect. - these all were clearly inspired by Pac-Man, and some are more blatant than others. Of course, Namco had their own spin-offs, including Ms. Pac-Man, Jr. Pac-Man, Baby Pac-Man, Pac & Pal, and many more.

The long-running and popular Gals Panic series is so obviously inspired by Qix. In fact, it has the exact same gameplay. The difference? Gals Panic gives the player pictures to reveal. Pictures of naked women, to be exact.

Many classic games were inspired by other classic games. I mean, it would be silly to say that Kangaroo wasn't inspired by Donkey Kong, or that Smash TV wasn't inspired by Robotron. Video games will always be highly derivative of each other.

Which spin-offs, rip-offs, and clones come to mind for you?

WHen you post, try to keep it original.

http://dmrozek.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3609608

 

[Metropolis]

WHen you post, try to keep it original.

http://dmrozek.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3609608

LOL - don't tell anyone, but that was me. I'm "GameBoy Girl".

 

[mhanlen1]

LOL - don't tell anyone, but that was me. I'm "GameBoy Girl".

I knew it! You were banned from Digital Press, for this sort of thing. Well it was more like you were being an irritant, and creating new thread after new thread and being a huge attention whore. It's pretty obvious you didn't learn your lesson several times over.

And you started a thread about MAME over there.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1592684#post1592684

What I want to know is, why you make rounds at various video game themed web sites, and create threads asking the same questions over and over. Do you have an addiction to getting banned? If I remember correctly you've created quite a stir at several game sites. Have you tried GameFAQs yet?

Anyway your probably in the clear here, as this place isn't very ban-happy. Enjoy the attention while it lasts, before people here get sick of it.

By the way she was known as "Metropolisforever" at Digital Press in case anyone wants to peruse her threads to see for themselves.

 

[Metropolis]

No, I don't have an addiction to being banned. I'm just an obnoxious little prick.

 

[dek]

Klumpy, time to take out the trash.

 

[Metropolis]

Yeah, except for the fact that I haven't even done anything to merit a ban.

 

[driph]

No, I don't have an addiction to being banned. I'm just an obnoxious little prick.

You seem to have a nice chunk of knowledge, just slow down with the multiple threads and the antagonistic replies and you'll fit in fine.

 

[Metropolis]

I'm just a warped, disturbed 14-year-old with no life. Pretty soon, I'll probably do something stupid and get banned. That's how it always happens.

 

[diabolus]

At least you didn't buy a game, decide 2 days later you have no room and can't sell it, so burn it and put pictures up....that's a good way to make yourself unpopular!*

*Any similarities or resemblances to living or dead KLOV users are purely coincidental. The above is intended for educational and/or entertainment purposes only.

 

[Metropolis]

"And here, I'm going to burn my one-of-a-kind Marble Madness II cabinet..."

 

[sonnyburnett]

You seem to have a nice chunk of knowledge, just slow down with the multiple threads and the antagonistic replies and you'll fit in fine.

Yep agree with that.

Also it's not like he is burning cabs and posting pics of it like the other little bugger.

 

[FrizzleFried]

You know, just because a game is a shameless rip-off doesn't mean it has to be bad. "Crazy Kong", while a blatant clone, actually made some improvements to the original Donkey Kong. In fact, a sequel - Crazy Kong Jr. - was later made. There was even a "Crazy Kong" handheld electronic game (in blatant Game & Watch style) from Grandstand! How the creators managed to avoid a lawsuit is beyond me.

Improvements in Crazy Kong? Neah. Crazy Kong was based on an earlier build of Donkey Kong. Please describe a single "improvement"...

It was licensed BTW...

 

[endrien]

At least you didn't buy a game, decide 2 days later you have no room and can't sell it, so burn it and put pictures up....that's a good way to make yourself unpopular!*

*Any similarities or resemblances to living or dead KLOV users are purely coincidental. The above is intended for educational and/or entertainment purposes only.

Flowers for you. I might just do something now to piss you off. Now wheres that jr pacman board I had laying around.....



Also atleast I saved some parts and the boards. If I hadn't bought it, it would have been gone straight to the with everything in it.

 

[sonnyburnett]

I'm just a warped, disturbed 14-year-old with no life. Pretty soon, I'll probably do something stupid and get banned. That's how it always happens.

You are not 14 years old, can't be imo.
You have to much arcade knowledge, more like a 35 year old.
I think you are a clone.
Don't hate me for saying this cause I really like some of your post and the way you are and would not want you to get banned.

 

[Metropolis]

You are not 14 years old, can't be imo.
You have to much arcade knowledge, more like a 35 year old.
I think you are a clone.
Don't hate me for saying this cause I really like some of your post and the way you are and would not want you to get banned.

I was born on May 14, 1995.

If you don't believe me, go ask my sister and my mother on Facebook.

 

[dek]

Yeah, because that proves everything.

If it walks like a duck, and it talks like a duck....

 

[Metropolis]

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=574730413#/profile.php?id=100000224108630

Go ahead. Ask her.