Stardew clone

[Thelightingking9000]

Will Eric report zoo story and why I'm asking its like a 100% stardew clone.

[Amberbaum]

Doubt it.

At first look I wasn't even aware what the problem si, but then I see the eerie similarity of some of the trees and other fauna.

This screenshot right here made me go "What the..."

https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1631920/ss_b27d7b35984a4b617a370ef85ef975f5dd006446.600x338.jpg?t=1661280557

[Raraldor]

is we're talking art assets it's similar but it's undeniably different, to the point I don't think he would have a case even if he wanted to. Like Amber said though I doubt he even would.

At least that's what I can get out of the screenshot posted above

[no1schmo]

Assets aren't all that matter. At most, maybe he could force them to change some of images, but if the gameplay is different enough with all writing, he can't say the whole game is a rip off.

[ChrillBill]

No, he has no reason to report it as there is a clear difference between these art styles. Zoo Story is a lot more polished. Some of the trees and bushes has similar shapes to the ones present in Stardew Valley. Like the oval shaped trees for example. But no one can forbidd someone else from drawing oval shaped trees lol. If you look at the leaves and the actual tree stem you can see a clear difference. I was actually impressed with the images on their store page seeing how detailed everything is. Looks like a fun game! Case closed.

[esturias]

It's basically the same or at least a very similar artstyle (acually, that game looks a lot nicer) and judging from the pictures, a lot of the content is a direct copy. But then again, this SW is a direct copy of Harvest Moon as well, with just a bit of new content.
That said, I wouldn't call that a clone.

[Necrius]

Stylistically it's a rip-off, but in general it's not too much of a clone.

[Prometheus]

Strong words being used here. Doesn't take much looking to find other sources of art similar to these two games. Its almost like artists mimic each others styles as a basic matter of course. No...no...that would be so obvious if it was the case then people using words like "clone" and "rip-off" would look absolutely stupid.

[Queen Droxxanna]

its not even available yet, so difficult to compare.

[ChrillBill]

Originally posted by soaringfreedom:

its not even available yet, so difficult to compare.

Not if you own a pair of functioning eyes.

[GamingWithSilvertail]

Originally posted by no1schmo:

Assets aren't all that matter. At most, maybe he could force them to change some of images, but if the gameplay is different enough with all writing, he can't say the whole game is a rip off.

He cant do anything about it wether its a 'rip off' as you described or not. He has to patent for it first and that only can be applied under certain circumstances.

[z3r0t3n™]

Originally posted by GamingWithSilvertail:

Originally posted by no1schmo:

Assets aren't all that matter. At most, maybe he could force them to change some of images, but if the gameplay is different enough with all writing, he can't say the whole game is a rip off.

He cant do anything about it wether its a 'rip off' as you described or not. He has to patent for it first and that only can be applied under certain circumstances.

That is not correct. Copyright does not depend on a patent. But even though the layout of the town seems very familiar, it is imho not close enough in art style to be a copy.

[GamingWithSilvertail]

Originally posted by z3r0t3n™:

Originally posted by GamingWithSilvertail:

He cant do anything about it wether its a 'rip off' as you described or not. He has to patent for it first and that only can be applied under certain circumstances.

That is not correct. Copyright does not depend on a patent. But even though the layout of the town seems very familiar, it is imho not close enough in art style to be a copy.

Copyright only applies if assets are used from Stardew unless a patented system comes into play. LOTR Shadow of's games has patented a nemesis system which for instance cant be used even if coded differently.

[z3r0t3n™]

Originally posted by GamingWithSilvertail:

Copyright only applies if assets are used from Stardew unless a patented system comes into play.

A DMCA takedown can be filed much earlier and Steam will just do it. Yes you can maybe get out of it, but until it goes through court your game is gone from the store.

[DasaKamov]

Originally posted by z3r0t3n™:

A DMCA takedown can be filed much earlier and Steam will just do it.

No, actually, Steam will only issue a take-down if it's been proven that one developer has used the game assets of another developer or IP without permission or right to do so (or commintted some other legal violation).

And even then, it can be long, laborious process to get the game removed from the store - c.f. "Boxmaker" which wholesale stole music and sound effects from Nintendo games, was de-listed after a year, re-added to the Steam store after the Nintendo sounds were removed, de-listed AGAIN after it was revealed the devs stole OTHER sounds from Maple Story, and re-added to the Steam store a year after that. :b

[z3r0t3n™]

Loop Odyseey was taken down a few days after the publisher of Loop Hero issued an DMCA takedown. There was no (proven) stolen assets. The DMCA takedown was taken because the art style, name and titel cover in the store were similar to the one of Loop Hero (both games were created in the same Game Jam). Only after a complete rename and a new store image the game was added again to the store.