[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
Math in Space is an asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", Atomic Fabrik, took the [url=https://www.sellanycode.com/item/346/space-numb]Space Numb[/url] game assets from the real developers, Virgil Source, 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.
Squadroni Cacciatori/belucio/Atomic Fabrik 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/2862050]Spaceship Driver License[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/x-racer-35344]X-Racer[/url] developed by Deer Cat
[*] "[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/3055300]Spin or Die[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/rotate-fighter-merge/]Rotate Fighter Merge[/url] developed by Julia Cornwell
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2833830]Gas Gas Rocket![/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/hovershift-107789]Hovershift[/url] developed by SgLib Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1034160]Extreme Racing On Highway[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/highway-racer-50866]Highway Racer[/url] developed by BoneCracker Games
[*] "[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/1721050]Office Strike - Multiplayer Battle Royale[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/shooter-io-pun2-112153]Shooter IO - PUN2[/url] developed by SURIYUN
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2862030]Lunatic Taxi Driver[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/offroad-taxi-driving-city-taxi-sim/]Offroad Taxi Driving Sim[/url] developed by Sim Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1971730]Put Your Brain On[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/farming-puzzle-original-game/]Farming Puzzle Original Game[/url] developed by Game Polygon
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2805620]Zombodesert[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/animal-racing-complate-game-racing-game-support-unity-5-5/]Animal Racing[/url] developed by SplayGame Official
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/535260]Save Home[/url]" = [url=https://forum.unity.com/threads/released-ultimate-survival-the-complete-survival-template.442016/]Ultimate Survival[/url] developed by Winterbyte
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2124660]Fix My Cat Doc[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/kitty-cat-doctor-pet-vet-doctor-game/]Kitty Cat Doctor Pet Vet Doctor Game[/url] developed by Fast Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2805650]Diamonds Collector[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/city-car-driver-street-racing-game-64bit-source-code/]City Car Driver Street Racing Game[/url] developed by The Armor Gaming
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1054930]Mine the Gold[/url]" = [url=https://unityassets4free.com/goldmine/]Gold Miner Century[/url] developed by SplayGame Official
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2085500]Restaurant Manager Simulator[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/idle-restaurant/]Idle Restaurant [/url] developed by Fox Game Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1988990]Animals Transport Simulator[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/city-farm-animal-transport-truck-2022/]City Farm Animal Transport Truck[/url] developed by Zoobs Man
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2101630]Coins Collector Sport Car[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellmyapp.com/downloads/turbo-max-drift-car-racing-game-64bit-source-code/]Turbo Max Drift Car Racing Game 64 Bit Source Code[/url] developed by The Armor Gaming
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1058500]Muscle Car Robot[/url]" = [url=https://gamening.com/muscle-car-robot/]Muscle Car Robot[/url] developed by GameNing
[/list]
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, "Space Numb" is just a simple asset pack for making an arithmetic based mobile app with pixel art for children, 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.
[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 Squadroni Cacciatori/belucio.
"Math in Space" has the completely insane price of $50 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.
Also, because this developer has already been banned from Steam, it's highly likely this game will suffer the same fate for the same reasons.
[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]
