Send in the Clones?

[PeePo]

While I can see the side of the debate that says "indie" devs should be able to copy games etc. I think the big problem with this one is that the looks are so close that they are actively getting the game more attention and a larger reputation off the back of GW:RE directly.

That's a two-way street, though. And anyway, what's wrong with it getting attention? The idea that anyone would be put off paying THREE QUID for the real thing is farcical, even before you consider how different the two games actually are in reality.

And at least GW2 doesn't make you be online all the time...

[RayLancer]

Ok, first post, and no I'm not a troll or anything.

First thing, I honestly hope that Geometry Wars does move on to other platforms, namely PC. It'd be a nice opportunity to play something as great as that wouldnt needing for me to go out and get a Xbox360. I have my reasons for not getting one but thats not the point.

Second, clones are a good and bad thing. I think I'll just say some good things about it, since its mostly negative. (Just a headsup, dont get anything wrong about what I'm saying, I'm trying to stay neutral about the topic... so dont flame me >.>). I heard about Geometry Wars for awhile. I heard people talking about it, how fun it was. Honestly I never owned a Xbox so I never had the opportunity for to try it out. Now a few months ago, I came across Grid Wars and the various clones. I had a blast playing them. But of course, seeing as these were clones, I started building more interest in the original. Then I started watching videos and stuff, and thats when I really wanted to play the original.

Now, if it wasnt for the clones on the PC, I wouldnt have built so much interest for Geometry Wars. To me, it was just another game on another system that looked like a remake of old Atari games. But now that I played somethign like it, I honestly do hope Bizarre Creations does bring it to a PC platform. I wouldnt mind paying more than $5 for the game, assuming if we get a nice case and manual to go with it also. (Holographic covers would rock so hard.)

Anyhow just some of my comments and opinions. But just thought that would be a good start in the community. And oh yea, hi everyone.

PS- C'mon BC, bring Geometry Wars to the PC please?

[Jason Stix Buckley]

I know I haven't posted in a while (TBC, stop by GL sometime and say HI), but I just wanted to post my support in here to the Bizarre crew.

Down with the clones!

[Tyger Cheex]

I wouldnt be surprised if GW:RE doesnt find it's way to the PC as part of this "live anywhere" thing that Microsoft are hatching.

Y'know... play it on the PC and your friends will be able to see your score on the leaderboard on the 360. (While drilling in to their gamercard on their cell phone and totally being at the centre of their Geo-wars experience. I wonder if the PC version will remember your high score... like PacMan does. Mind you... thinking about it... you'd be surprised how many people DON'T want to save their high scores!)

[ReindeerCAV]

I agree with the BC standpoint on this, they made a great game and obviously the clones are going to have an impact on the game in one way or another. Its upto BC and MS what is done though.

[falcomadol]

Wow, I just have to assume that the uninformed posters above me have never played Robotron: 2084.

The mechanics in Robotron are entirely different from those in Geometry Wars.

Robotron:
*Civilians in need of rescue for bonus points
*Quarks and Spheroids: Enemies that periodically spawn additional enemies until killed
*Entire level resets on wave changes
*Enemies have projectile weapons
*Non-shootable blocking objects

Geometry Wars:
*Gravity wells that suck in enemies and explode into a gaggle of small weak enemies if not destroyed.
*No bonus items
*No non-shootable blocking objects
*Continuous waves
*Bombs that clear the entire stage of enemies
*Weapon changes and upgrades
*Enemies do not use projectile weapons
*Waves created by enemies and weapons will cause enemies to move around distinctly from their normal direction, speed, and patterns.

Totally totally different gameplay mechanics, and obviously zero similarity in the way the games look. Both great games.

[JTM]

I'm happy to see that Bizarre is going after all the "clones" of Geometry Wars. Geometry Wars is a great game and Grid Wars is almost a carbon copy in most ways. But everyone knows which is better. Obviously Geometry Wars RE.
Geometry Wars on Xbox Live Arcade will always be the best there is.

[PeePo]

I'm happy to see that Bizarre is going after all the "clones" of Geometry Wars. Geometry Wars is a great game and Grid Wars is almost a carbon copy in most ways. But everyone knows which is better. Obviously Geometry Wars RE.
Geometry Wars on Xbox Live Arcade will always be the best there is.

Do you need a torch up there?

[djjd]

(pasted from my comment on Joystiq's coverage of this forum thread)

"I definitely heard about Geometry Wars when it came out, but at the time I couldn't really justify buying a 360 for just that and PGR3 (the only two games I REALLY, REALLY wanted for 360).

I hadn't even heard about GridWars until the takedown request was publicized.

Guess what? Now there's only one game I REALLY, REALLY want for 360 and I'm that much less inclined to buy one as a result. Good move, Bizarre, good move. Idiots.

Note to Bizarre and Microsoft's legal teams: Geometry Wars may sell 360s, but telling the world that there is a free alternative they hadn't previously known about is only going to reduce sales."

[YourExWife]

(pasted from my comment on Joystiq's coverage of this forum thread)

"I definitely heard about Geometry Wars when it came out, but at the time I couldn't really justify buying a 360 for just that and PGR3 (the only two games I REALLY, REALLY wanted for 360).

I hadn't even heard about GridWars until the takedown request was publicized.

Guess what? Now there's only one game I REALLY, REALLY want for 360 and I'm that much less inclined to buy one as a result. Good move, Bizarre, good move. Idiots.

Note to Bizarre and Microsoft's legal teams: Geometry Wars may sell 360s, but telling the world that there is a free alternative they hadn't previously known about is only going to reduce sales."

Trust me - You're one of the very few who didn't know about it, either through isolation, or willful ignorance. It does little good to tell BC and MS they're idiots. That doesn't help your point. Also, the game looks WAY too similar. I noticed that everyone is comparing this to Robotron. Are you joking? The 2 games are nothing alike. Even with a similar control scheme, robotron only lets you shoot in 8 directions, GW you can shoot anywhere.

And to everyone saying that there's no law against plagiarism, what country do you live in? Korea? Although it's still only a civil matter, it's still a matter of copyright. Try writing a book titled "The Da Vinci Coded Message," have the same story line as the original, in the same order, with the same descriptions, but a different publisher (as in PC not Xbox) print it. Now, you'll likely get plenty of sales, just because you are riding the coat-tails of the original's popularity. Even if you don't charge money for your version of the book, you still hurt the potential income that could have accumulated by the original because there is no need for someone to buy it when they can get yours for free. That is NOT good for business, competition, or creativity.