[quote][b][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/b]
"Cybernetica: fallen city" is a Digital Homicide style asset flip, or what Valve calls a "Fake Game". The "developer" paid for/pirated a few Unity asset store packs, dumped them all in a blender, and submitted it to Valve as if they're real game developers.[/quote]
Two notable criteria for what makes an asset flip instead of legitimate use of stock assets are whether those assets comprise the majority of the game, and whether the "developer" properly credited the people who created most of the assets in the game. This game fails both of those tests. The "developers" here didn't credit any of the artists and real, actual game developers who created the assets here, so this is plagiarism, as well as cash grab shovelware.
In this case, the Russian asset flipper took two asset packs, the [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/slug/177135]RPG/FPS Game Assets Industrial Set[/url] and [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/slug/91023]Tower Defense Toolkit 4 (TDTK-4)[/url], with very little changes, to make an absolutely minimum functioning, bare bones tower defense asset flip direct to Steam Direct with a ridiculously inflated price... a cash grab to scam gamers for a few roubles. It has no value or merit as a real game.
An interesting bit of trivia about the Unity Asset Store is that 1:1, unedited publications of the assets is in fact in breach of the Standard Unity Store EULA. Specifically, this asset is in breach of the agreement under Appendix 1, Section 2, Subsection 2, that says the "developer" may only [i]"incorporate the Asset, together with substantial, original content not obtained through the Unity Asset Store, into an electronic application or digital media that has a purpose, features, and functions beyond the display, performance, distribution, or use of Assets ("Licensed Product") as an embedded component of that Licensed Product, such that the Asset does not comprise a substantial portion of the Licensed Product".[/i] Since this "game" contains no content other than the asset packs, it's in breach. Breaching commercial licenses to scam PC gamers. Why is Valve okay with this on Steam?
Kedexa have shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab, through this account or through closely linked/alt accounts. Here's some examples so you can see for yourself:
[list]
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1019040]Smash team[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/unitz-battlegrounds-117945]UnitZ Battlegrounds[/url] developed by Hardworker Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1206870]Pinball Universe[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/pinball-creator-74772]Pinball Creator[/url] developed by Tropical Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1218440]Tanks 2020[/url]" = [url=https://learn.unity.com/project/tanks-tutorial]Tanks Tutorial[/url] developed by Unity Technologies
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1227580]Trasta[/url]" = [url=https://forum.unity.com/threads/released-ultimate-survival-the-complete-survival-template.442016/]Ultimate Survival[/url] developed by Winterbyte
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1308060]Craft city[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/easy-building-system]Easy Building System[/url] developed by Easy Systems
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1431620]Cybercube Battle[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/unitz-unet-33494]UnitZ UNET[/url] developed by Hardworker Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1450530]Allotropy[/url]" = [url=https://www.gameassetdeals.com/asset/142383/darktree-fps-v1-4]Darktree FPS 1.4[/url] developed by HabTeam
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1580960]The Trigger[/url]" = [url=https://www.gameassetdeals.com/asset/142383/darktree-fps-v1-4]Darktree FPS 1.4[/url] developed by HabTeam
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1709950]Lounge Zone[/url]" = [url=https://flippednormals.com/downloads/dice-board-game-starter-kit/]Dice Board Game Starter Kit[/url] developed by Adam
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1767610]Super Gunfight[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/polygon-city-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-95214]Polygon City Low Poly 3D Art[/url] developed by Synty Studios
[/list]
Taking this shovelware seriously as if it was a genuine attempt to make a game, it doesn't meet basic minimum requirements that most PC gamers expect as standard.
There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks. There's no way to ensure this is running at the native resolution of your display. There's no guarantee this game will look right on any PC as a result of this hamfisted design decision.
The controls can't be customised because the game has such a dumbed down, simplified interface that it's just point and click stuff like a browser/Flash game. The fact that the interface is this dumbed down might be seen as a problem in itself, however... this is a fairly shallow experience if you're the kind of gamer that likes to play games with deep, rich control schemes and interaction. You'll get none of that here.
These technical defects push this game below acceptable standards for any modern PC game.
The poor quality of this game is reflected by how many people spent time with it. At the time of this review, SteamDB shows the all-time peak player number was only 2 players. This is a remarkably low number, and now, the only player activity occurs once or twice a month, presumably someone loading it up to see what it is then quickly uninstalling it. Considering there's over 120 million gamers on Steam and well over 100,000 games for gamers to choose from, the overwhelming lack of interest in this low quality game is to be expected.
It's also important to note the "developer" here has connections to a number of shady Russian asset flippers and review manipulators who show an organised pattern to scam and defraud gamers with fake reviews and asset flipping the work of others for profit. While reviews are about the games, gamers should be informed when developers act unethically. Whether these connections are the same developer using multiple accounts, or just working closely with other unethical developers, gamers should be warned about the harm to gamers by this developer and their associates. Buying games from unethical developers puts your money at risk.
So, should you buy this game? Is this one of the best of the 100,000+ games on Steam?
"Cybernetica: fallen city" has the greedy, cash grab price of around $5 USD, it's not worth it given the defects and shortcomings with the product, especially considering the unethical nature of the developer. For comparison, the $5 asking price for this game could get you games like "The Forest", "Hellblade: Sensua's Sacrifice" or "Civilization VI". Quality, professionally made games like those are frequently on sale cheaper than this.
[quote][b][url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/marketing/profile]Profile Features Limited![/url][/b]
Valve have marked this game as "Profile Features Limited" at the time of this review. This is usually caused by poor sales figures and low community acceptance for the game (to date). Until this status changes, this game will not give you +1 to your Game Collector badge count, appear in profile achievements or any other Steam meta-accomplishments, nor can it be displayed in some profile showcases. If these factors are important to you, it may be worth holding off before buying this game.[/quote]
