[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
Poltergeist Prodigy is a Unity Asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", Peacock Pie Productions/Greg Giddens, took the [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/humanoids/humans/polygon-city-characters-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-106757]Polygon City Characters[/url] Unity Store game assets, and several other asset packs (Polygon Dungeons, Explorers, Farm, Kids, City, Office, Town) from the real developers, Synty Studios, changed the name, rearranged them a bit, 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.
Because this is an almost exact 1:1 copy + paste of the original Unity assets, 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 packs such that they comprise [b]the vast majority[/b] 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, "Polygon City Characters" is just a selection of Synty asset packs all cludged together badly, Digital Homicide style, and while there are some narrative elements stapled onto the Synty assets, this is a blatant and creatively bankrupt attempt from the developer to pass off Synty's assets as his own (yeah I checked the credits).
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.
Don't reward this morally bankrupt, unethical behaviour from Peacock Pie Productions/Greg Giddens.
[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]
