this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2025
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What makes a game a rip-off? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago by droning_in_my_ears@lemmy.world to c/letstalkaboutgames@feddit.uk
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I'm not a game developer but if I were to make a game, the only ideas that come to mind seem to be "I'm gonna remake my favorite game but change these things I didn't like about it!" but I heard that's a bad idea usually.

I'm wondering how much change, and to which aspects (gameplay, mechanics, theme, etc), do you think is needed to make a game inspired by something instead of a rip-off?

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[–] Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

The setting doesn't matter for me - I determine a severe letdown initially by how many game breaking bugs it has. If the intended path cannot be followed. If the game cannot be completed. Then I look at the gameplay, mechanics, engaging systems - if it is all repetitive or the solution is too simple, e.g. for a puzzle pick up A, slot it in B, press C, repeat; for combat stand still and spam A to win - then there is little engagement and no catharsis for completion.

Sometimes a pretty landscape is all that's needed for catharsis - there may be shit mechanics, but breathers in between sections and cool distance art will probably be all it takes to please me

[–] droning_in_my_ears@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Would you be upset if you found out for example that a game you liked turned out to have copied the majority of the gameplay mechanics from another game?

[–] zo0@programming.dev 8 points 1 week ago

Not really, that's usually how games evolve actually. I would personally consider a game a rip-off if it poorly mimics another game, without bringing anything new to the table.

[–] Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It depends - if it was enjoyable but I found that it was a carbon copy afterwards, I'd feel betrayed, but only if the original company was wholesome would I be upset, and I'd probably buy the original. If it was kind of copied, but mostly in spirit or inspiration, or it was revitalising an archaic game, then no harm no foul. If it were a dime-a-hundred game like those fort building MMOs or three-lane infinite runners on mobile, very insignificant. If the original company was a greedy anti-consumer corporation like Nintendo I'd gladly pay the knockoff company to help fund their legal fees.

I've always been an ethical thief - steal from the rich and the evil, support the small and well-meaning.