[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
Grindshift is a Unity Asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", Dystopian Edge Publishing/GRINDSHIFT TEAM, took the [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/snowboard-game-starter-pack-template-186097]Snowboard Game Starter Pack[/url] Unity Store tutorial/demo/game asset pack from the real developers, Denis Lapiner, changed the name, reskinned it and laid out a few skateboarding leveles, and dumped the result onto Steam. They're attempting to scam people into buying this, so they can get your money for someone else's work.
It gets worse... "Snowboard Game Starter Pack" has also been shamelessly dumped on Steam by other asset flippers apart from Dystopian Edge Publishing/GRINDSHIFT TEAM:
[list]
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1547500]Snowboard[/url]", asset flipped by Aztech/Azerbaijan Technology
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1734610]Robosnow[/url]", asset flipped by Vitok/Vitok
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1659170]Snowboarding[/url]", asset flipped by INFINITE BRIDGE
[/list]
Take a look for yourself... these are all [i]exactly the same game![/i]
Because this is an almost exact 1:1 copy + paste of the original Unity asset, it's in violation of the [url=https://unity.com/legal/as-terms]Unity Asset Store Terms of Service and EULA[/url]. Specifically, Section 2, Subsection 2.2.1a:
[quote][i]Subject to the restrictions set forth in this EULA, Licensor hereby grants to the END-USER a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide, and perpetual license to the Asset solely:(a) to incorporate the Asset, [b]together with substantial, original content not obtained through the Unity Asset Store[/b], 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, [b]such that the Asset does not comprise a substantial portion of the Licensed Product[/b][/i][/quote]
Because the developer misused the asset pack such that it comprises the vast majority of this "game", the developer has unethically and deliberately breached the license agreement. Worse, this intellectual property violation was done in an attempt to profit from their illicit actions. Why is this permitted on Steam?
If you try to take this asset flip as a serious game, you'll quickly be disappointed... locked controls and resolution, low poly art stolen directly from the asset pack... the only real difference is that the colour palette is changed a fair bit. The character moves just like a snowboarder, even though the "developer" tried to sell this asset flip as a skating game. This kind of thing really isn't okay.
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, "Snowboard Game Starter Pack" is just a Unity starter kit to teach people how they can make a snowboarding game, 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 like this are harmful to the gaming industry and to Steam because they reduce the visibility that sincerely made indie games should have, and make it harder for gamers to find real games from genuine developers. They give indie developers a bad name.
Don't reward this morally bankrupt, unethical behaviour from Dystopian Edge Publishing/GRINDSHIFT TEAM.
[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]
