New Competition for ED

[SkateZilla]

pretty much his entire project is a rip of other peoples IP

[Flying Penguin]

What do you call a Mancunian in a tie?

 

The defendant....

 

Check, please!

Edited May 21, 2014 by Flying Penguin

[diveplane]

Here is a concept for an advanced flight simulator on Steam Greenlight, enjoy the realistic handling and graphics of a renamed Air Strike 3D (for Android) and if you'd like pledge in the kickstarter.

 

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=260025161

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pffffffffffffff HAHAHHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA! :megalol:

 

Okay, just have a laugh, guys.

 

 

deluxe arcade fun, more quarters needed lmao.

[Haukka81]

pretty much his entire project is a rip of other peoples IP

 

Somebody should warn those people. I mean maybe this cheatter should be reported to steam.. :)

[Schnittertm]

pretty much his entire project is a rip of other peoples IP

 

That was pretty much the first thought I had, after finding his project while browsing on Kickstarter, which eventually led me to the Steam page. Naturally, realistic and flight sim did pique my intrest and the nice picture of the Yaks that accompanied it led me to click the link to the project page, but I also found it strange that it should only be 500£. There is always that ringing when some things don't fit together and sometimes I do a bit of digging.

 

So far it seems that the Deluxe Air this James Callum offers is the exact same game as the Android application Air Strike 3D made by some SCN Studios, however there seems to be no contact information for them. Air Strike 3D is free, so it might be that all the assests where just ripped and converted for PC. As I'm not programmer I don't know how hard or easy it would be to do in this case (maybe even with an Android emulator in place).

 

I also don't know if he, in fact, is a or the sole member of SCN studios or not related to them in any way. They seem to have a webpage, but it is shut down ( http://www.scnstudios.com/cgi-sys/defaultwebpage.cgi) .

 

Another thing that does raise a red flag is the comments section. Comments that are positive are the only thing you see there, but critical comments are deleted, apparently in a way to make the game more appealing.

 

My guess at this point is, that this person is someone who wants to use Steam Greenlight to get the game onto Steam, very likely as an Early Access version, in the hopes of trying to make money, without actually doing anything at all or much to the "game". I did download his development version and tried it (after looking for virii) and let's just say that this version is even further removed from reality then the BF3 + BF4 flight models. You roll, but fly on straight, so turning is only possible by pitching after rolling. The aircraft also has no change in pitch on roll and since speed is fixed you can also not play around with that. Unlimited ammo, a piss poor model of the P-47 and the F-16 and something ripped from Star Wars, a tower a gun and a desert. This put together does show that whatever he is trying is in for a very long haul, but he promised to add more views (outside and such apparently) in the future.

 

Kickstarter goals are also quite intriguing, for 60£ you can help in designing a ground object. So, all in all, I do quite strongly believe that, if he gets the chance, he'll be trying to abuse the Steam early access system for an imagined "get-rich-quick" scheme.

 

There are other projects on Steam that are quite intriguing, but ultimately only play with expectations of people. If you want to have a look at another flight "simulator" on Steam, just look at Air Control ( http://store.steampowered.com/app/295810 ). There is also a bit of controversy going on on the attached forums to that "game", as the dev was (I think he isn't anymore) banning users critical or at least deleting or changing posts entirely.

 

But I guess its to be expected that there will always be a few black sheep, trying to use assets or tools they barely understand (or don't even own) to create a "game", that is not worth be called it, much less even a simulation. I just don't know if I should feel sorry or just curse the people guillible enough to buy into those schemes. Probably a bit of both.

[Napa]

I'm surprised Kickstarter allowed this guy to create his campaign in the first place. He could easily go through Indiegogo and collect the cash no matter how much he manages to raise. With Kickstarter if he doesn't reach the goal he won't get a penny.

[Winfield_Gold]

I can see this project going straight to humble bundle on release. Probably combined with 5 or so other worthless pieces of crap for $3.00

[xxJohnxx]

Just as a side note: The game appears to be programmed in Unity

[Cali]

Wow, this looks awesome can't wait to play it. Stop posting in here before this gets locked! :D I love the sound effects, tie fighters, but best of all I love how many missiles that 16 fired!

[Schnittertm]

Well, I did ask the dev a few hard questions on his comments page (see exchange in screenshots below) and it turns out that any and all comments critical of this development are deleted and not answered. He even wrote that it apparently there are some groups working against him to stop his project and he may be right about that, because it more and more looks like a scam.

 

Also, someone else inquired at Precise 3D Modeling and it seems he did not acquire a license to use the picture that he used for his "package" shot. I believe I shall inquire, too, just to make sure.

[cichlidfan]

I hope his 'lawyers' have good lawyers.

[upupandaway]

Ouch...

[ArtMan_NL]

Still wrong, TIE Bomber has a double hull :P

 

 

 

Wouwww a new 3-rd party developer !!! Does it come out with the release of the new EDGE engine???? :hehe:

[Schnittertm]

So, I did a little more digging and got confirmation from Precise 3D modeling that he does not have the license to use the picture. I also sent an inquiry to SCN Studios regarding the similarities and they just sent me a link to the Unity engines assets store, but it was very enlightening, see here: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/13420

 

It seems that his whole simulation is just based off of an asset pack created by an Indian compay called Hardworker Studio costing 50 US$. Now he might have just bought it and modified it, as he probably is allowed to do, but it certainly is not his own work and I believe I should create a write up to Steam and Kickstarter about it, as I believe what he is doing is very close to fraud.