[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
ROOM FOOTBALL - Sand Storm is a Unity Asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", Hede/Top-Down Games, took the [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/historic/polygon-military-pack-art-by-synty-176304]Polygon Military Pack[/url] Unity Store game assets from the real developers, Synty Games, 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.
It gets worse... "Polygon Military Pack" has also been shamelessly dumped on Steam by other asset flippers apart from Hede/Top-Down Games:
[list]
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1930140]FREAKFIELD 2042[/url]", asset flipped by Game for games/Atomic Fabrik
[/list]
Take a look for yourself... it's [i]exactly the same asset![/i]
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?
Hede/Top-Down Games 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/2973580]Hidden FPS Shooting Top-Down 3D[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/fps-shooting-mobile-game-optimized-environment-213745]FPS Shooting Mobile Game Optimized Environment[/url] developed by Mubasher Amer
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3571650]ROOM FOOTBALL - 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/2878360]Save and Survive[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/survival-engine-crafting-building-farming-178160]Survival Engine[/url] developed by Indie Marc
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3517270]ROOM FOOTBALL - Royale Lands[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/polygon-battle-royale-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-128513]Polygon Battle Royale[/url] developed by Synty Studios
[*] "[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/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/2630820]3D PUZZLE - Harbor[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/industrial/toon-harbor-pack-188250]Toon Harbor Pack[/url] developed by SICS Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3009770]3D PUZZLE - OldHospital[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/the-old-hospital-12995]The Old Hospital[/url] developed by Triplebrick
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2878310]Hidden Pirates Top-Down 3D[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/historic/polygon-pirates-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-92579]Polygon Pirates Low Poly 3D asset pack[/url] developed by Synty Games
[*] "[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/2244840]Fears of Glasses o-o World War[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/historic/polygon-war-map-wwi-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-169085]Polygon War Map[/url] developed by Synty Studios
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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 Military Pack" is just another Synty low poly asset pack, this one with a middle eastern military scene, 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 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-rue]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.
Due to the 2024 FTC ruling (16 CFR Part 465), these fake reviews are a violation of US Federal Law.[/quote]
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.
ROOM FOOTBALL - Sand Storm has the completely insane price of $200 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.
