[casual_games] RE: Copycats -- What Can Be Done?

[Adam Martin]

Daniel Kinney wrote:

> On 7/20/06, *johns at worldwinner.com <mailto:johns at worldwinner.com>* 
> <johns at worldwinner.com <mailto:johns at worldwinner.com>> wrote:
> 
>     i think the 'industry' is what makes money the primary consideration. or
>     maybe i am just hopelessly cynical [experienced] ... 
> 
> 
> Repeatedly farm without replenishing nourishment and it will become a 
> barren wasteland, profitable for no one.

Making money doesn't imply only chasing the lowest-risk buck - it's 
about balancing many things, and not being too precious about any of them.

Separately, I don't think it's fair to characterise this as a debate 
between anti-artistic, selfish taking (making clones for money) and 
long-termist creatives (never cloning). If a clone is not creatively 
done, it's generally going to do poorly - it's not easy fighting an 
incumbent successful product with one that lacks USPs.

Unless, of course, the incumbent is not handling their business side 
particularly well - in which case, more power to the newcomers, if they 
do things better. That's how our society works at the moment, the 
stronger (albeit smaller, and building on what their predecessors 
already invented) businesses regularly supplanting the weaker (albeit 
dominant / original) ones.

-- 
Adam Martin
CTO, Mind Candy Ltd

tel: 0207 501 1904 - fax: 0207 501 1919
www.perplexcity.com - www.mindcandydesign.com