[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
How Much Items - Fishes is a Unity Asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", Hede/Alex, took the [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/animals/fish/underwater-life-deluxe-115733]Underwater Life Deluxe[/url] Unity Store game assets from the real developers, Janpec, changed the name, 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.
Alex has shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab. Here's some examples so you can see for yourself:
[list]
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1944970]Hidden Farm Top-Down 3D[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/industrial/farm-life-110144]Farm Life[/url] developed by beffio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3214800]3D PUZZLE - Gas Station[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/toon-gas-station-155369]Toon Gas Station[/url] developed by SICS Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1915910]Hidden Build Top-Down 3D[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/industrial/polygon-construction-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-168036]Polygon Construction Low Poly 3D Art[/url] developed by Synty Studios
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3517280]ROOM FOOTBALL - Ranch[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/industrial/polygon-farm-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-146192]Polygon Farm[/url] developed by Synty Studios
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3269630]Archaeology - Frozen Village[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/landscapes/flatpoly-winter-village-51544]Flat Poly Winter Village[/url] developed by Zololgo
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1547500]Snowboard[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/snowboard-game-starter-pack-template-186097]Snowboard Game Starter Pack[/url] developed by Denis Lapiner
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2079380]Old Retro Shooter[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/hellish-battle-2-5d-retro-fps-217578]Hellish Battle 2.5D Retro FPS[/url] developed by Tiny Slime Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2703230]3D PUZZLE - Hangar[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/industrial/fps-hangar-20040]FPS Hangar[/url] developed by Yunus Emre Yaman
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1306160]Get Over Blood[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/historic/the-big-castle-kit-75818]The Big Castle Kit[/url] developed by Triplebrick
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3244690]Save Scream and Run[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/sci-fi/zeppelin-z-25-urp-294085]Zeppelin 'Z-25' (URP)[/url] developed by IL.ranch
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1419440]Truck Truck[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/truck-physics-template-129411]Truck Physics Template[/url] developed by HitCode
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1537940]Bow & Crystal Tower Defense[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/archery-simple-demo-complete-game-template-184591]Archery Simple Demo - Complete Game Template[/url] developed by Easy Game Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3009820]3D Puzzle - Hospital 4[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/hospital-medical-office-kit-165327]Hospital Medical Office Kit[/url] developed by Brick Project Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2703270]GTH 3033 - Grand Theft Hunter 3033[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/polygon-apocalypse-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-154193]POLYGON Apocalypse - Low Poly 3D Art[/url] developed by Synty Games
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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?
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, "Underwater Life Deluxe" is just a collection of fish/underwater assets that have been combined with a completely basic hidden object game template, and doesn't have any merit as a proper, fully fledged PC game. It's just a minimum viable product, just enough to get through the non-existent quality control on Steam Direct. Not a real game.
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.
[quote][b][url=https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/federal-register-notices/16-cfr-part-465-trade-regulation-rule-use-consumer-reviews-testimonials-final-rule]Warning: Review Manipulation![/url][/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 at almost exactly the same time, very shortly 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 blatant, unethical review manipulation. This is done to deceive and scam gamers into paying for a bad product.
Due to the 2024 FTC ruling (16 CFR Part 465), these fake reviews are a violation of US Federal Law.[/quote]Don't reward this morally bankrupt, unethical behaviour from Hede.
How Much Items - Fishes has the completely insane price of $60 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 possible this game is priced this way 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. Given the defects and quality issues with the game, coupled with the unrealistic price, this is impossible to recommend.
