[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
Intelligence: Underwater Kingdom is an asset flip, or what Valve calls a "Fake Game". The Russian "developer" paid for/pirated someone else's example/template/tutorial game, changed the name/reskinned a couple of things, and submitted it to Valve as if it was their own game. This time they stole a basic tile puzzle asset from Unity and filled it stock images, also stolen off the internet and of course no credits provided to the actual developers and artists who made all the assets and the game engine.
Laush Dmitriy Sergeevich/Laush Studio/Repa Games 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/894070]Unmanned helicopter[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/simple-town-pack-91947]Simple Town Pack[/url] developed by MyxerMan
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/794190]Football Russian 20!8[/url]" = [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNoCLwRvLHs]Goalkeeper Animation: How to Make a Penalty Shoot Game in Unity[/url] developed by Grafik Ganes
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/821850]Old Factory[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/realistic-fps-prefab-7739]Realistic FPS PreFab[/url] developed by Azuline Studios
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/821910]Tower Defense Sudden Attack[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/tower-defence-template-75770]Tower Defence Template[/url] developed by Keeree Games
[/list]
This particular asset flip is a simple Unity jigsaw puzzle game pack combined with a bunch of copyrighted images stolen off the internet, so hopefully they'll get sued. IP theft is no joking matter, especially when it's done for profit.
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.
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 [b]only 2 players[/b], and the worst part is these weren't genuine players, these were the Russian fake review accounts that the developer paid to make the fake reviews. Since the fake reviews are all done, 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 130,000 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.
[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, broken English or ChatGPT AI slop, 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]
So, should you buy this game? Is this one of the best of the 130,000+ games on Steam?
Intelligence: Underwater Kingdom has the ridiculous, laughable price of around $4 USD, it's not worth it given the defects and shortcomings with the product, especially considering the unethical nature of the developer.
[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]
