[quote][b][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/b]
Shape Boxed 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]
This is your usual Quickbobber/DIG Games asset flip, the developer stole someone's game sample/demo code and changed the name in a direct and deliberate attempt to scam PC gamers into paying them money for someone else's game. This is highly unethical, and part of an ongoing pattern of fraudulent behaviour.
DIG Games 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/1853720]Timings[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/sky-jump-66321]Sky Jump Pack[/url] developed by SgLib Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1907620]Gamma Space[/url]" = [url=https://marketplace.gamemaker.io/assets/8516/gmsasteroids]GMSAsteroids[/url] developed by FiveSprites
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1605530]Upside[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellanycode.com/item/1295/rise-up-unity-source-code-admob-unity-ads]Rise Up Unity Source Code[/url] developed by SellAnyCode
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1646600]ReBall[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/ballx-infinite-brick-breaker-complete-game-template-87125]BallX - Infinite Brick Breaker - Complete Game Template[/url] developed by App Advisory
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1265130]iMemo[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/memory-game-starter-kit-19589]Memory Game Starter Kit[/url] developed by Eikester
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1863990]Stapel[/url]" = [url=https://github.com/telecoda/stack]Stack[/url] developed by Telecoda
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1623220]Ball Twist[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/zigzag-endless-runner-complete-game-template-54018]ZigZag Endless Runner [/url] developed by Mario Ostwald
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1653400]GraveRunners[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/infinite-runner-engine-3d-60326]Infinite Runner Engine 3D[/url] developed by Denvzla Estudio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1235480]Abst Clicker Farm[/url]" = [url=https://marketplace.gamemaker.io/assets/4936/bit-clicking-engine]Bit Clicking Engine[/url] developed by Mfzz99
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1842130]Blinky[/url]" = [url=https://github.com/GambusinoLabs/Vlinky]Vlinky[/url] developed by Gambusino Labs
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1814100]In Shape 2[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/shape-change-complete-game-142295]Shape Change Complete Game[/url] developed by Ragendom
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1604370]Garden Magic[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellanycode.com/item/3461/farm-link-complete-game]Farm Link Complete Game[/url] developed by CodeLover
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1618000]Monkey Hit[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/kong-hero-platformer-complete-game-template-66709]Kong Hero – Platformer Complete Game Template[/url] developed by ADDPGAMES
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1832230]Color Flash[/url]" = [url=https://www.codester.com/items/24956/colorbattle-complete-unity-game]ColorBattle Complete Unity Game[/url] developed by Hacel
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1512320]Yabgits: Haunted Cemetery[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/block-breaker-template-63173]Block Breaker Template[/url] developed by Daniel Buckley
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1647280]ChicScape[/url]" = [url=https://gleygames.com/mobiletools/]Mobile Tools + Complete Game (Jumpy)[/url] developed by GleyGames
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1781330]In Shape[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/shape-swipe-complete-game-template-ready-for-release-66747]Shape Swipe Complete Game Template[/url] developed by App Advisory
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1769390]Lack of Water[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellanycode.com/item/297/happy-glass]Happy Glass Source Code[/url] developed by SellAnyCode
[/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.
While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality. Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lacklustre 2D visuals.
The game features simple, cartoony 2D graphics, of the type you normally expect to see in low effort mobile apps. 3D graphics programming does require a degree of skill and competence and unfortunately not all developers have the budget or talent to deliver this, despite 3D graphics cards hitting the mainstream in the 1990's. Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.
The controls can't be customised because the game has such a dumbed down, simplified interface that it's just point and click stuff like a browser/Flash game. The fact that the interface is this dumbed down might be seen as a problem in itself, however... this is a fairly shallow experience if you're the kind of gamer that likes to play games with deep, rich control schemes and interaction. You'll get none of that here.
These technical defects push this game below acceptable standards for any modern PC game.
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 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 130 million gamers on Steam and well over 140,000 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.
Let's talk about price and what this asset flip is actually worth. Is this significantly better than any of the 140,000+ genuinely made games on Steam? Of course not!
Shape Boxed has the almost comically optimistic (if it wasn't so sad) price of around $4 USD, it's not worth it given the defects and shortcomings with the product, especially considering the unethical nature of the developer.
The quality problems and defects with this game makes the asking price totally unrealistic. It's impossible to recommend this to gamers here on Steam, especially considering the unethical stuff going on. Because this is just a fake game/cash grab scam, and due to the sheer unethical nature of the developer, you should avoid this completely. Don't reward this morally bankrupt, unethical behaviour from DIG Games.
