[b][quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_flip]Warning: Asset Flip![/url][/quote][/b]
ZAP Master is a Unity Asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", DIG Games/Zapping Studios, took the [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/battle-zap-87301]Battle Zap[/url] Unity Store game assets from the real developers, RuneFire Studios, 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.
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?
DIG Games/Zapping Studios 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/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/1842130]Blinky[/url]" = [url=https://github.com/GambusinoLabs/Vlinky]Vlinky[/url] developed by Gambusino Labs
[*] "[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/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/1807920]Breakdown[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/packs/stack-ball-template-editor-142697]Stack Ball Template[/url] developed by Watermelon Games
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1819280]Hot Roads[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellanycode.com/item/1225/biker-stars-racer-gold-edition]Biker Stars Racer Gold Edition[/url] developed by William
[*] "[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/1785280]Word of Kitchen[/url]" = [url=https://www.sellanycode.com/item/519/word-search-puzzle-game-source-code]Word Search Puzzle Game Source Code[/url] developed by SellAnyCode
[*] "[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/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/1630270]Death Moon[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/tutorials/2d-game-kit-107098]2D Game Kit[/url] developed by Unity Technologies
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1786570]Driftence[/url]" = [url=https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/templates/systems/extreme-drift-88601]Extreme Drift[/url] developed by Mehdi Rabiee
[*] "[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/1669120]Go Rocket[/url]" = [url=https://craftpix.net/freebies/free-space-shooter-game-objects/]Free Space Shooter [/url] developed by Craftpix
[*] "[url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1161660]Puzzlection[/url]" = [url=https://github.com/♥♥♥♥-Just-Got-Real-Studios/Jigsaw]Jigsaw[/url] developed by Sh*t-Just-Got-Real Studios
[*] "[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/1652940]HopHeaders[/url]" = [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_TerzLwx0A]Bighead Run Run[/url] developed by SgLib Games
[*] "[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/1832230]Color Flash[/url]" = [url=https://www.codester.com/items/24956/colorbattle-complete-unity-game]ColorBattle Complete Unity Game[/url] developed by Hacel
[/list]
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, "Battle Zap" is just a complete game asset pack to show people how to make reflex type mobile apps, 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.
Now on to pricing and value for gamers. So, should you buy this game? Is this one of the best of the 140,000+ games on Steam?
ZAP Master is relatively cheap at $1 USD, but it's not worth it. This is also competing with over 14,000 free games available on Steam, many of them far better than this paid product.
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 5 players[/b]. This is a remarkably low number, and 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. 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.
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.
