[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Fake Game![/url][/quote][/b]
Star Runaway is a shovelware "asset flip" (in this case almost certainly just AI generated), what Valve calls a "fake game". This is just a very simplistic avoidance game, something trivial for an AI LLM code generator to use
Don't believe me? Here's some other asset flips from exactly the same template, all shamelessly dumped on Steam as nasty cash grabs:
[list]
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3207050]Marauder Knight[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by MsGlobal
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3206600]Artifact Run[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by Rawi Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3207070]Richest Thief[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by MsGlobal
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3200830]Cave Ghost[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by MsGlobal
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3190870]Knight's Shadow[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by Rawi Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3192540]Deep Sea Pursuit[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by Rawi Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3206370]Island Treasure Chase[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by Rawi Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3390080]City Heist[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by Rawi Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3390060]Dino Dash[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by Rawi Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3382830]Zombie Escape[/url]", copy + pasted from the same template by Rawi Studio
[/list]
Look for yourself... these are all exactly the same game!
This unethical behaviour should be no surprise, as the Russian guy behind Rawi Studio (AKA Hede) is a known asset flipper who continues to take the work of real developers, changed the name and put their own name on it, so they can sell it on Steam and try to scam gamers and get paid for someone else's work.
Take a look at this:
[list]
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3079460]3D PUZZLE - Deserted Village[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/historic/deserted-village-86290]Deserted Village[/url] developed by Triplebrick
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3120300]3D PUZZLE - Pizza Shop 1[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/pizza-shop-kit-131579]Pizza Shop Kit[/url] developed by Brick Project Studio
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3079410]3D PUZZLE - Sun Temple[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/sun-temple-115417]Sun Temple[/url] developed by Sandra T
[*] "[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/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
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1576790]FPS Tactics[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/tools/terrain/r-a-m-2019-river-auto-material-2019-145937]River Auto Material landscape pack[/url] developed by NatureManufacture
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2703270]GTH 3033 - Grand Theft Hunter 3033[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/polygon-apocalypse-low-poly-3d-art-by-synty-154193]POLYGON Apocalypse - Low Poly 3D Art[/url] developed by Synty Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2703200]Hidden Western Top-Down 3D[/url]" = [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] developed by Synty Studios
[*] "[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/2703240]Scream or Die - Virtual Circus[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/creatures/cursed-toys-100431]Cursed Toys Pack[/url] developed by Serhat Yucekaya
[*] "[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/1502730]Street Football[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/street-football-game-159255]Street Football Game[/url] developed by noureddine naceur
[*] "[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
[/list]
The products that result from asset flips (and AI generation) aren't "real" games. They lack depth and content, because they're just simplistic copies of demos or tutorials. In this case, "Star Runaway" is just a basic reskin of a simple AI generated Unity game that Hede has been spamming onto Steam as more cash grab scamware, and doesn't have any merit as a proper, fully fledged PC game, so this copy+paste of it can't be recommended.
To cement the position of this asset flip as nothing but a cash grab, it was dumped onto cheap DailyIndieGame shovelware bundles very shortly after launch. Don't reward this morally bankrupt, unethical behaviour from Rawi Studio.
Star Runaway 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. Given the defects and quality issues with the game, coupled with the unrealistic price, this is impossible to recommend.
It's also possible the pricing here is intended to "insulate" this fake game's reviews from being tampered with... except either Hede didn't get around to his fake reviews yet, or the fake reviews got banned. Who knows?
Ultimately, this isn't a "real" game and was never intended to be. Don't waste your money.
[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]
