PopCap Distressed Over 'CopyCat' Games
GamesIndustry.biz, in an interview with PopCap Games chief creative officer Jason Kapalka, reports that the company is apparently a bit miffed at 'imitation games'. Puzzle games being what they are, Kapalka finds the number of Bejewel-like titles on the market frustrating. "Very few games are developed without reference to past games. There's always going to be titles that build on a previous mechanic or game. But there's a fine line between that and very bold-faced rip-offs that aren't adding anything to the game and are just trying to make a quick buck." Over at 1up, editor Ray Barnholt points out that PopCap is a funny company to be making that claim. Several of that group's most popular games are in turn tweaks or imitations of little-known Japanese puzzle titles from the 90s.
This is like that time RedOctane sued the Ant Commandos for making guitar controllers for their games.
(RedOctane got their start making dance pads for Konami's games)
"When the atomic bomb goes off there's devastation...but when the atomic bong goes off there's celebraaaaation!"