[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
Fly Tales is an asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", Pip Plop Studios/Atomic Fabrik (the game was originally published by Atomic Fabrik but now it's showing up as this new shell account, I guess he hoped we wouldn't notice), took an endless runner template from GameMaker Studio, slapped a couple of asset flipped sprites on it, and dumped the results onto Steam as a cash grab scam.
Don't believe me? Here's another asset flip from exactly the same template, shamelessly dumped on Steam as nasty cash grabs:
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[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1841610]SkyJumper[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by Reforged Group
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Look for yourself... it's exactly the same game!
An important note: Atomic Fabrik are known asset flippers and have previously taken other developers work and put it on Steam in an attempt to scam gamers and get paid for someone else's effort. Atomic Fabrik have shown a repeated pattern of trying to scam gamers, here are some examples of other asset flip scams they've pulled:
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[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2124670]The Pizza Courier[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/pizza-delivery-van-driver-game-2022]Pizza Delivery Van Driver Game[/url] developed by Zoobs Man
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2159880]Highway Cross[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/crazy-stick-man-road-crossing-rescue-64-bit-source-code/]Crazy Stick Man Road Crossing Rescue 64-bit Source Code[/url] developed by Sim Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1938460]Masterchef Chinese Food Edition[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/cook-chinese-food-asian-cooking-games/]Cook Chinese Food - Asian Cooking Games[/url] developed by Webelinx
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1917720]Two Sedans Driving Simulator[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/dual-control-hypercasual-game/]Dual Control[/url] developed by Game Polygon
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1935410]The Smash Cars Tournament[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/smashy-drive-trending-game/]Smashy Drive[/url] developed by Game Polygon
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2126300]Fix My Legs Doc[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/foot-doctor-games/]Foot Doctor Games[/url] developed by Webelinx
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1531730]Japanese Drag Racing (JDM)[/url]" = [url=https://neo-game.itch.io/drag-racer-unity-source-code]Drag Racer Unity Source Code[/url] developed by Neo Game
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1977280]School Bus Driver Simulator[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/school-bus-simulator-driving-2022/]School Bus Simulator Driving 2022[/url] developed by Zoobs Man
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2148690]Let's Go Camping[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/camping-adventure-game/]Camping Adventure Game[/url] developed by Webelinx
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2082730]Empire of Empires[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/empire-io-build-and-defend-your-empire/]Empire.io - Build and Defend Your Empire[/url] developed by FMGames Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2100740]Save The Girl[/url]" = [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEVzzD9iMXE]Save The Girl[/url] developed by Unity Source Code
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1863650]Van Van Up[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/zigzag-infinite-runner-game-100035]ZigZag Infinite Runner Game[/url] developed by Puppeteer
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2072930]Mountain Offroad Simulator[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/uphill-jeep-driving-simulation-game-jeep-drive-car-game-2021/]Uphill Jeep Driving Simulation Game[/url] developed by Zoobs Man
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1968870]Fix Me Up - Hospital Edition[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/hospital-doctor-games/]Hospital Doctor Games[/url] developed by Webelinx
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1724020]Space Tower Defense[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/tower-defense-complete-game-144384]Tower Defense Complete Game[/url] developed by ADDPGAMES
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1856010]Eagle Simulator[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/sky-flight-full-game-template-113460]Sky Flight Full Game Template[/url] developed by Puppeteer
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The products that result from asset flips aren't "real" games. They lack depth and content, because they're just simplistic copies of demos or tutorials. In this case, "Fly Tales" is just a simple side scrolling endless runner where you move up and down to avoid obstacles, and doesn't have any merit as a proper, fully fledged PC game, so this copy+paste of it can't be recommended.
Asset flips don't involve any professional game development. Sure, sometimes they may change a few cosmetic things, swap out different assets etc, but at heart it's functionally identical to the asset they're ripping off. Asset flips are an insult to both PC gamers and to professional game developers who create genuine, high quality PC games. Asset flips like this are harmful to the gaming industry and to Steam because they reduce the visibility that sincerely made indie games should have. They make it harder for gamers to find genuine games made by honest developers.
[b][quote][url=https://mmofallout.com/valve-bans-titles-for-review-manipulation/]Warning: Review Manipulation![/url][/quote][/b]
This game features a number of fake positive reviews from accounts known to be in the business of review manipulation/paid reviews. They're all written in either Russian or broken English, appear almost immediately after the game launched on Steam, all have a direct Steam purchase of the game, and the accounts are used consistently to write fake reviews for asset flips and other cash grabs/scams. The "Positive" review score on this game should be disregarded due to this review manipulation.
[b][quote][url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/marketing/profile]Profile Features Limited![/url][/quote][/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.
One final note/warning: Fly Tales has the completely insane price of $45 USD, which is incredibly suspicious, higher than AAA pricing for an asset flip shovelware scam game. Why would the "developer" put such a high price tag on an asset flip with no true value as a game? There's no direct proof for this, but it's entirely this game is priced so high for money laundering or other criminal purposes. Higher prices allow more money to move with fewer transactions. Valve have previously banned developers for running money laundering scams. While there's no direct evidence in this case, it's highly suspicious and gamers should be wary.
