Found a game that looks like it copied Stacklands

[CatScratched]

I don't know if it stole the look or if it's something that's available for free online, but there's a game that looks eerily similar to Stacklands and I want to know what's up. The game board, the UI, and just the look and feel are very close to Stacklands, but just rebranded to be about taking care of sheep. It's called Happy Sheepies, released on Jan 19, 2023. I just wanna know if it stole these looks or if I'm just upset for no reason.

Video for reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKY26fjx1D0

[R37ROG4M3R]

Plus this one 🤔 https://store.steampowered.com/app/2302160/StacksSpace/

[CatScratched]

Originally posted by Revolverfuss:

Plus this one 🤔 https://store.steampowered.com/app/2302160/StacksSpace/

I mean, at least they mentioned where they took inspiration from, I guess? But why does it look so close still ;-;

[stacksengine]

Hey, Stacks:Space!

I mean, at least they mentioned where they took inspiration from, I guess? But why
does it look so close still ;-;

Developer of Stacks:Space here. There's a bit more to that story :) I've been so amazed by Stacklands that I decided to write my own game of this genre. Hobby one, of course, as I can't compete with seasoned game developers like Aran @ sokpop. No budget, just some spare time to invest in coding something fun.

I wanted a few things to be implemented differently, though. Specifically: Sci-Fi theme, Linux and Android support (I am a Linux user yay), open combat (no boxes, ranged means really ranged - shoot lasers across the board), stats for astronauts/settlers like in rogue, more visitable locations (not bases, but quest-like ones), more bosses with minions, more recipes, modding support, bi-color card scheme (my vision sucks), tutorial (Sci-Fi is fiction!), multiple scenarios, etc.

I had it prototyped in about 4 months (in Oct), and I have asked Aran, the author of Stacklands, if I can have his permission to release the game. He answered this, quote:

Feel free to release it! If you don't use any of our assets we're fine with that :)
- Aran

I had nothing "borrowed" from Stacklands - my code is written in a different programming language, and my art and music assets are either commissioned from freelancers or free (CC0 license) - I was fully compliant with what Aran said :)

I had the "inspired by Stacklands" sentence in my description since day one, obviously. But, I checked with Aran again to see if he wants it to be there or not (sometimes, people do not want that). His answer was, quote:

I wouldn’t worry about it. As long as you’re being up front about the game being inspired by Stacklands, people will think it’s fine. That way you’re not pretending to having come up with the concept completely on your own.

With that blessing, I have released an "early access" version of Stacks:Space! on itch, with poor graphics, no story, and only a few recipes. Surprisingly, people found it and said it is quite playable, so I kept developing it for a few more months until I got better graphics, a better storyline, more recipes, and implemented the features I wanted to be implemented. Then I released it on Google Play. Got a few positive reviews there too, and I decided to publish the game on Steam. So, here we are. I must admit that while Stacks:Space is fully playable, it needs some performance tune-up for the late-game stage - I'm working on that. I'm not a gamedev studio, I'm just a solo developer who admires the new genre :)

[no, I am not making millions on my game, and never will - it is a hobby!]

[CatScratched]

Originally posted by stacksengine:

Hey, Stacks:Space!

I mean, at least they mentioned where they took inspiration from, I guess? But why
does it look so close still ;-;

Developer of Stacks:Space here. There's a bit more to that story :) I've been so amazed by Stacklands that I decided to write my own game of this genre. Hobby one, of course, as I can't compete with seasoned game developers like Aran @ sockpop. No budget, just some spare time to invest in coding something fun.

I wanted a few things to be implemented differently, though. Specifically: Sci-Fi theme, Linux and Android support (I am a Linux user yay), open combat (no boxes, ranged means really ranged - shoot lasers across the board), stats for astronauts/settlers like in rogue, more visitable locations (not bases, but quest-like ones), more bosses with minions, more recipes, modding support, bi-color card scheme (my vision sucks), tutorial (Sci-Fi is fiction!), multiple scenarios, etc.

I had it prototyped in about 4 months (in Oct), and I have asked Aran, the author of Stacklands, if I can have his permission to release the game. He answered this, quote:

Feel free to release it! If you don't use any of our assets we're fine with that :)
- Aran

I had nothing "borrowed" from Stacklands - my code is written in a different programming language, and my art and music assets are either commissioned from freelancers or free (CC0 license) - I was fully compliant with what Aran said :)

I had the "inspired by Stacklands" sentence in my description since day one, obviously. But, I checked with Aran again to see if he wants it to be there or not (sometimes, people do not want that). His answer was, quote:

I wouldn’t worry about it. As long as you’re being up front about the game being inspired by Stacklands, people will think it’s fine. That way you’re not pretending to having come up with the concept completely on your own.

With that blessing, I have released an "early access" version of Stacks:Space! on itch, with poor graphics, no story, and only a few recipes. Surprisingly, people found it and said it is quite playable, so I kept developing it for a few more months until I got better graphics, a better storyline, more recipes, and implemented the features I wanted to be implemented. Then I released it on Google Play. Got a few positive reviews there too, and I decided to publish the game on Steam. So, here we are. I must admit that while Stacks:Space is fully playable, it needs some performance tune-up for the late-game stage - I'm working on that. I'm not a gamedev studio, I'm just a solo developer who admires the new genre :)

[no, I am not making millions on my game, and never will - it is a hobby!]

Oh dang! This is really nice to know :> Guess I'll be checking your game out too, since I loved the Stacklands format so much.

[Fierman]

Originally posted by stacksengine:

Developer of Stacks:Space here. There's a bit more to that story :) I've been so amazed by Stacklands that I decided to write my own game of this genre. Hobby one, of course, as I can't compete with seasoned game developers like Aran @ sockpop. No budget, just some spare time to invest in coding something fun.

Next time at least take the effort to spell the name of the collective right. It's Sokpop, not Sockpop

[stacksengine]

Next time at least take the effort to spell the name of the collective right. It's Sokpop, not Sockpop

Their logo is literally a sock because "sok" is a Dutch word for a sock. That's why I nearly always make that typo. Fixed.

[stacksengine]

Well, here's another one. As the developer of Stacks:Space, I highly appreciate the trend :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2147500/Kittens_in_Space/

[M0butu]

Originally posted by stacksengine:

Well, here's another one. As the developer of Stacks:Space, I highly appreciate the trend :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2147500/Kittens_in_Space/

What is next? DOGE on Mars?

[Draktok]

Originally posted by stacksengine:

Well, here's another one. As the developer of Stacks:Space, I highly appreciate the trend :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2147500/Kittens_in_Space/

how does it feel to have created a whole genre? :)

[stacksengine]

Originally posted by Draktok:

how does it feel to have created a whole genre? :)

That would be a question to Aran @ sokpop, not me. I'm just toying with this new Survival Solitaire concept, and I really enjoy the process so far :)

[stacksengine]

OK, let me know if my second game is "too close to Stacklands" or not. This time it is a peaceful (no combat) adventure card game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2522060/StacksJungle/

[Draktok]

Guess i can't tell without playing it, but it looks fun to me! It seems similar but different, I guess is the best way to put it. Not a bad thing though, depending on the cost