[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
Saloon King is a Unity Asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", TDSR Entertainment LLC, took the [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/historic/polygon-western-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-112212]Polygon Western - Low Poly 3D Art Pack[/url] Unity Store game assets from the real developers, Synty Studios, changed the name, and dumped the result onto Steam.
It gets worse... "Polygon Western - Low Poly 3D Art Pack" has also been shamelessly dumped on Steam by other asset flippers apart from TDSR Entertainment LLC:
[list]
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2703200]Hidden Western Top-Down 3D[/url]", asset flipped by Top-Down Games/Hede
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/848010]Find Your Way[/url]", asset flipped by LillyWelland Inc./OnBlind
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1335400]Rangers[/url]", asset flipped by Sektan
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/862990]Survive The West[/url]", asset flipped by Deverinos
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1582090]Wild Wild Chess[/url]", asset flipped by Minimol Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1486800]Chess Knights: High Noon[/url]", asset flipped by Minimol Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1442380]Book of Shadows[/url]", asset flipped by Enoopos/Bell Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1010860]Hide and Seek[/url]", asset flipped by Funny Games
[/list]
Take a look for yourself... these are all [i]exactly the same game![/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?
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 Western - Low Poly 3D Art Pack" is just an asset pack including a series of "western" themed 3D low poly characters and assets, 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.
Don't reward this morally bankrupt, unethical behaviour from TDSR Entertainment LLC.
[quote][url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/reviews]Developer Response![/url][/quote]The developer has weighed in to inform everyone they didn't read the [url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/reviews]Developer Usage Rules[/url] for Steam "partners", or they deliberately ignored the part where Valve says:
[quote]Though it may be tempting, not every review needs to be responded to. A developer response will frequently draw more attention than the original statement, potentially turning a small issue into a much larger community discussion. It's also not a good idea to use this feature to refute customer opinions. Your direct attention can be seen as validation or a defensive attempt to silence your customers.[/quote]
This is a little disturbing as the developer indicates they started stalking me and feverishly reading through my profile... either just obsession with me on their part, or desperation to try find something in one of my other reviews that would somehow change the objectively terrible quality of this failed "game". Whatever their motivation, creeping on reviewers like this is [b]not okay[/b]. This is a bizarre and sinister response to a factual review, and we must question the disturbing behavior of this asset flipper.
The developer seems to have reported the review to Valve, for no reason other than losing his crap when he got caught red handed trying to get famous from stealing Synty's assets... disgusting attitude. The mental contortions from the developer when caught breaching Unity's terms and conditions are olympic level... but one glance at this and it's obvious this is a Digital Homicide style asset flip with the vast majority of the "work" here done by Synty, not this "developer".
The toxicity of reporting factual reviews to attempt to stifle and silence gamers is utterly unacceptable.
Nothing in the developers pointless breach of Valve guidelines changes any of the objective facts of my review. My review stands unaltered. I cannot recommend this asset flip to anyone.
