A Super Meat Boy clone?

[Rin D. Pryde]

It's a bit disappointing, not gonna lie. The art is still fantastic, however, Brutal Orchestra was one of the most creative titles in a long time gameplay-wise, not sure this would have the same impact =\

[Tromble]

When Swallow the Sea was announced there were folks that were worried it was a "Spore Cell Stage Clone". When Perfect Vermin released there were folks worried it was a "Garry's Mod Prop Hunt Clone". When Pit of Babel released there were folks worried it was a "Physics Tetris Clone". When Brutal Orchestra released there were equal measures of people worried it was a "Lisa: The Painful" or "Darkest Dungeon" clone.

I can assure you that aside from the most basic genre conventions Clown Meat doesn't play like any Precision Platformers you have played before (The End is Nigh, Celeste, Meatboy).

I would strongly recommend withholding judgement especially if you have enjoyed any of my previous work. This Trailer (and Steam Page) is only a surface level glimpse of what we have cooking, and believe me Clown meat is going to be a Wild Ride.

-Talia (Game Designer/Game Artist)

[Rin D. Pryde]

Fair enough. However, 3 out of those 4 games were free, and I don't think Brutal Orchestra looked too much like Darkest Dungeon in its trailers (haven't played LISA though).

Originally posted by Tromble:

I can assure you that aside from the most basic genre conventions Clown Meat doesn't play like any Precision Platformers you have played before (The End is Nigh, Celeste, Meatboy).

I'm all for to be proven wrong, of course. My biggest concern in this case, to be honest, is that Clown Meat's trailer/Steam page — and even the title with "meat" in it — is perhaps underselling/misrepresenting the whole thing, which is sad if true.

[Tromble]

I'm not entirely sure what the relevance of those projects being free are as their reception was similarly crucial to our livelihood at their time of release.

The Darkest Dungeon, LISA and even Slay the Spire comparisons/clone accusations were plentiful for Brutal Orchestra around launch, even from some reviewers at the time (hell Olexa's latest roguelike flowchart video directly compares Brutal Orchestra and Darkest Dungeon for its entire section). They only started to dissipate around the release of the "Egg of Incubus" content update.

Something I do think is relevant to note is that Super Meat boy is a 13 year old game, which is older than a lot of the games Super Meat boy took inspiration from at its launch. (There was super Meat Boy Forever released recently but it doesn't play like the original since it is an endless runner and was VERY poorly received).

If you enjoy platformers, you will be pleasantly surprised, the Meat Boy influence is not nearly as strong as you are imagining.

-Talia (Game Designer/Game Artist)

[Winblows]

The game adds more to the super meat boy gameplay. A game being like an other game isnt a bad thing, to be honest super meat boy is just a difficult precision plat former with wall jumping and sliding. super meat boy is basically just super mario 3 cbt edition

[grihajedy]

Originally posted by Tromble:

When Swallow the Sea was announced there were folks that were worried it was a "Spore Cell Stage Clone". When Perfect Vermin released there were folks worried it was a "Garry's Mod Prop Hunt Clone". When Pit of Babel released there were folks worried it was a "Physics Tetris Clone". When Brutal Orchestra released there were equal measures of people worried it was a "Lisa: The Painful" or "Darkest Dungeon" clone.

I can assure you that aside from the most basic genre conventions Clown Meat doesn't play like any Precision Platformers you have played before (The End is Nigh, Celeste, Meatboy).

I would strongly recommend withholding judgement especially if you have enjoyed any of my previous work. This Trailer (and Steam Page) is only a surface level glimpse of what we have cooking, and believe me Clown meat is going to be a Wild Ride.

-Talia (Game Designer/Game Artist) :Mung:

so "Swallow the sea" exacly a clone of the Spore, but this does not make it bad, but making a platfromer with micro maps is really boring, no matter what kind of lore they put in there, and the title uses the word meat for a reason

[Jboyx]

i just want a badge

[Tromble]

Originally posted by grihajedy:

Originally posted by Tromble:

When Swallow the Sea was announced there were folks that were worried it was a "Spore Cell Stage Clone". When Perfect Vermin released there were folks worried it was a "Garry's Mod Prop Hunt Clone". When Pit of Babel released there were folks worried it was a "Physics Tetris Clone". When Brutal Orchestra released there were equal measures of people worried it was a "Lisa: The Painful" or "Darkest Dungeon" clone.

I can assure you that aside from the most basic genre conventions Clown Meat doesn't play like any Precision Platformers you have played before (The End is Nigh, Celeste, Meatboy).

I would strongly recommend withholding judgement especially if you have enjoyed any of my previous work. This Trailer (and Steam Page) is only a surface level glimpse of what we have cooking, and believe me Clown meat is going to be a Wild Ride.

-Talia (Game Designer/Game Artist)

so "Swallow the sea" exacly a clone of the Spore, but this does not make it bad, but making a platfromer with micro maps is really boring, no matter what kind of lore they put in there, and the title uses the word meat for a reason

Unfortunately the word exact, means "exact".

Even when viewed through the lens of hyperbole, all you have identified is one of many inspirations. I have complete confidence in saying this as I have seen ex-Maxis devs play Swallow the Sea at in person events and genuinely praise it and I have had play-testers of Super Meat Boy also play-test Clown Meat and note that it brings mechanically interesting ideas to the table of the precision platformer genre. I feel the folks we are "cloning" themselves would take more issue with the games in question if your points were genuine.

Feel free to not play my games if they are not your thing. On Steam there is little to no reason to force yourself to play something you don't enjoy

-Talia (Game Designer/Game Artist)

[Mortar420]

badge time

[grihajedy]

Originally posted by Tromble:

Originally posted by grihajedy:

so "Swallow the sea" exacly a clone of the Spore, but this does not make it bad, but making a platfromer with micro maps is really boring, no matter what kind of lore they put in there, and the title uses the word meat for a reason

Unfortunately the word exact, means "exact".

Even when viewed through the lens of hyperbole, all you have identified is one of many inspirations. I have complete confidence in saying this as I have seen ex-Maxis devs play Swallow the Sea at in person events and genuinely praise it and I have had play-testers of Super Meat Boy also play-test Clown Meat and note that it brings mechanically interesting ideas to the table of the precision platformer genre. I feel the folks we are "cloning" themselves would take more issue with the games in question if your points were genuine.

Feel free to not play my games if they are not your thing. On Steam there is little to no reason to force yourself to play something you don't enjoy

-Talia (Game Designer/Game Artist)

My only thought is that if almost every game you maked is very similar to some other one, then it’s stupid to deny that you are copying, I didn’t say that this was bad, but it doesn’t need to be done for every game, and `Perfect Vermin` stood out for its social aspect, and not for its gameplay, if you want to make a unique gameplay, then you definitely need to do something of your own from scratch, but it’s up to you, personally i, after the masterpieces (perfect vermin) waiting for more masterpieces, the bar was too raised

[Tromble]

Originally posted by grihajedy:

Originally posted by Tromble:

Unfortunately the word exact, means "exact".

Even when viewed through the lens of hyperbole, all you have identified is one of many inspirations. I have complete confidence in saying this as I have seen ex-Maxis devs play Swallow the Sea at in person events and genuinely praise it and I have had play-testers of Super Meat Boy also play-test Clown Meat and note that it brings mechanically interesting ideas to the table of the precision platformer genre. I feel the folks we are "cloning" themselves would take more issue with the games in question if your points were genuine.

Feel free to not play my games if they are not your thing. On Steam there is little to no reason to force yourself to play something you don't enjoy

-Talia (Game Designer/Game Artist)

My only thought is that if almost every game you maked is very similar to some other one, then it’s stupid to deny that you are copying, I didn’t say that this was bad, but it doesn’t need to be done for every game, and `Perfect Vermin` stood out for its social aspect, and not for its gameplay, if you want to make a unique gameplay, then you definitely need to do something of your own from scratch, but it’s up to you, personally i, after the masterpieces (perfect vermin) waiting for more masterpieces, the bar was too raised

You've misunderstood/misinterpreted what I said. I don't believe any of my games are copying and never have. The people I am referring to in that post I believe wholeheartedly are wrong for a variety of reasons, yourself included.

Feel free to respond further, but I feel like there is nothing more to be said here beyond bickering so I'll be ending this conversation here.

-Talia (Game Designer/Game Artist)

[Tem]

"My only thought is that if almost every game you maked is very similar to some other one,"

It seems like you've confused the existing of genres and inspiration for "copying." It's not "copying" Super Meat Boy to make a platformer focused on moving quickly and precisely through short, brutal levels; that's a natural emergent genre, with space for more than one game to explore. The idea that once we had Super Meat Boy, or N++, or Dustforce, or Celeste, etc., we couldn't have any more games in that space with any new game being only a "copy" of the earlier games is ridiculous.

What exactly is being copied from Super Meat Boy? The physics are unique, there's a unique mechanic in the ball form, the aesthetic is substantially different, there's way more focus on narrative. What's left? Short levels, zippy physics and an emphasis on speedrunning? A jump button? Super Meat Boy doesn't and shouldn't hold a monopoly on those. Similarities and comparisons don't make something a copy.

I think you consider how hurtful it is to dismiss a game that isn't even out yet just because it wasn't what you were expecting. If precision platformers aren't your thing, that's fine, but consider the impact you have when you frame your disappointment as a failing of the developers who have put both their time and themselves into making something that's clearly important to them.

[ShellShock]

Originally posted by Tem:

"My only thought is that if almost every game you maked is very similar to some other one,"

It seems like you've confused the existing of genres and inspiration for "copying." It's not "copying" Super Meat Boy to make a platformer focused on moving quickly and precisely through short, brutal levels; that's a natural emergent genre, with space for more than one game to explore. The idea that once we had Super Meat Boy, or N++, or Dustforce, or Celeste, etc., we couldn't have any more games in that space with any new game being only a "copy" of the earlier games is ridiculous.

What exactly is being copied from Super Meat Boy? The physics are unique, there's a unique mechanic in the ball form, the aesthetic is substantially different, there's way more focus on narrative. What's left? Short levels, zippy physics and an emphasis on speedrunning? A jump button? Super Meat Boy doesn't and shouldn't hold a monopoly on those. Similarities and comparisons don't make something a copy.

I think you consider how hurtful it is to dismiss a game that isn't even out yet just because it wasn't what you were expecting. If precision platformers aren't your thing, that's fine, but consider the impact you have when you frame your disappointment as a failing of the developers who have put both their time and themselves into making something that's clearly important to them.

exactly correct, and very eloquently put. I hate seeing people put down indie games like op.

[Magmatic]

having played and disliked super meat boy, this game is fantastic and not anywhere near a clone. it's a precision platformer with meat in the title and that's where the similarities end.

it's got completely unique dialogue, lore, artwork, level design, game concepts and physics. and it's execute very very well. try not to let comments like these ever get you down Talia, for every person who doesn't appreciate your hard work and beautiful art there's 10 people like me who do :)

[Marman Myth]

super meat boy clone is when game has jump and is hard.

[Sugardotfive]

People really out here forgetting what a genre is