[quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop][b]Warning: AI Slop[/b][/url]
This game is partially or completely made with talentless, soulless AI generated content.[/quote]
[quote][b][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/b]
İstanbul Puzzle is an asset flip, or what Valve calls a "Fake Game". The "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.[/quote]
İstanbul Puzzle is another asset flip from Tero Lunkka, wearing one of his fake developer accounts that he uses to try to hide his identity from gamers while persisting with these countless asset flip scams, continually trying to get YOUR money for other people's game assets. This time, the inevitable has happened and Tero has worked out how to use disgusting, soullless AI slop content instead of just stealing content off other people like he normally does. He did however steal a basic Unity jigsaw puzzle game template and populate it with AI slop. So Tero now wants YOUR money for AI slop from Dall-E. The scamming and grift never ends with these asset flippers.
Zombie Developer 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/2975920]Candy Puzzle[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/platformer-3-chocolate]Platformer 3 - Chocolate[/url] developed by ithappy
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/768060]The Warrior Of Treasures[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/dynamic-combat-system]Dynamic Combat System[/url] developed by Grzegorz Szewczyk
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1643280]Fancy the Frog[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/2d/characters/pixel-adventure-1-155360]Pixel Adventure 1[/url] developed by Pixel Frog
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3093150]Bullet of Armor[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/bullet-95635]Bullet[/url] developed by Lucas Lopes
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3029190]Prison Puzzle[/url]" = [url=https://www.fab.com/listings/01c4e45e-93dd-4326-9811-9545b8a0bb70]Ultimate FPS Puzzle Kit[/url] developed by FirstContent
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3046850]Candy Golf[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/mini-golf-template]Mini Golf Template[/url] developed by GoFlood
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/723830]Cyborg Invasion Shooter[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/third-person-shooter-kit]Third Person Shooter Kit[/url] developed by Epic Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/989340]Aliens Dont Exist[/url]" = [url=https://craftpix.net/freebies/2d-game-alien-character-free-sprite/]Alien Character - Free Sprite[/url] developed by Craftpix
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1776540]Lawnmower Game: Pinball[/url]" = [url=https://github.com/freezy/pinball-construction-kit]Pinball Construction Kit[/url] developed by Epic Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2985190]Candy Renovation[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/renovation-simulator]Renovation Simulator[/url] developed by Manudog
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2617210]Lost Princess: Winterland[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/polygon-vikings-pack]Polygon Vikings Pack[/url] developed by Synty Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/581200]Nash Racing[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/advanced-tuning-cars]Advanced Tuning Cars[/url] developed by James Novih
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2109550]Office Racer[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/props/interior/polygon-office-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-159492]Polygon Office[/url] developed by Synty Studios
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1639090]Survival Isolation[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/easy-survival-rpg]Easy Survival RPG[/url] developed by Easy Systems
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/713580]Nash Racing 2[/url]" = [url=https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/advanced-tuning-cars]Advanced Tuning Cars[/url] developed by James Novih
[/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.
As mentioned, this features really godawful, "wrong" looking AI slop instead of genuinely and sincerely created game assets. It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to do the job of creating real game assets or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter. What matters is that this looks bad because of that decision. AI slop sticks out like a sore thumb... and it comes across as insulting.
There's also the old adage that those who lack the budget and talent to make their own game assets usually lack the budget and talent to do the rest of the job of game development properly, too, and that's glaringly obvious here.
Like all asset flips, this isn't a real game, it's just a minimum viable product made up of other, real developers work that Tero is trying to get your money for. It's not a fully fleshed out game, it's shallow and has no value for gamers.
İstanbul Puzzle didn't appeal much to the people who own a copy of the game, either. It has achievements, and they show us a very clear picture that the game didn't really capture any interest from gamers. The most commonly and easily attained achievement is "Secret Achievement!", for bothering to interact with this disgusting AI slop, trivial to get, but less than 15 percent of players bothered to get that far before uninstalling the game. Hardly a success story, even the people who own this game weren't interested in it.
The poor quality of this game is also reflected by how many people spent time with it. At the time of this review, SteamDB shows the game all-time peak player count was only ONE player. That's right, only one person ever played this at a time. When I played this for the purposes of reviewing it, I equalled the peak player count for the game. OUCH.
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 110,000 games for gamers to choose from, the overwhelming lack of interest in this low quality game is to be expected.
This kind of asset flipping isn't harmless. It makes it harder for gamers to find genuinely made games from ethical developers. It makes it harder for genuine indie developers, who put hard work into trying to make real games, to find an audience for their products. It gives indie developers a bad name.
So, should you buy this asset flip? Is this better than any of the 110,000+ genuinely made games on Steam? Of course not!
İstanbul Puzzle has the laughable 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 scam price for this game could get you games like "The Witcher 2", "Metro Last Light" or "Civilization VI". Quality, professionally made games like those are frequently on sale cheaper than this.
