Regarding the Drug Dealer Simulator & Schedule I situation

[michal.puczynski]

Hey everyone,

We’d like to address the Drug Dealer Simulator / Schedule I situation and its factual reasons, stage, and future.

What’s going on exactly?

Due to repeated opinions that Schedule I is very similar to DDS, we were obliged to request a legal analysis from an intellectual property specialist. It has indicated that there might have been an infringement by the Schedule I developers in relation to Drug Dealer Simulator.

Now we are obliged to follow up further, but we are yet to contact the Schedule I developers. Our goal at this point is discussing the situation with them and we have an open approach.

Is there a lawsuit?

No.

So why is everyone saying there’s a lawsuit?

Probably due to misinterpreting or overinterpreting an information which was originally in Polish.

What’s next?

Like we said, we need to start a conversation. It is not our intention to prevent TVGS from selling or developing their game.

Overall, our goal is to support all devs, but we need to consider our legal obligations if law specialists determine that there are grounds to claim infringement. We even contacted TVGS via email just before the release, when the game was already huge, and wished them all the best - but that was before that legal analysis. Back then no one expected it to be needed, not to mention that it would bring these results.

This is a very serious situation for us. We’re not a big corporation, but a relatively small indie publisher. There are other drug simulators out there with very positive scores and good sales. These are A-OK in regards to DDS according to lawyers.

What we know is we have to be very careful in all proceedings.

What’s the DDS developer’s - Byterunners - role in all this?

Absolutely none, and please don’t bring them into the conversation. They manage the game, not the IP (intellectual property). They don’t make any decisions in this matter.

I hope this clears things out. If you know gamers outraged by this situation who aren’t on this channel, please share this message with them.

Have a good day, and enjoy your favorite, and your second favorite, drug dealing games, whatever the order is for you. :)

Michal from Movie Games

[Smketreez]

This isn't Japan, you cannot copyright gameplay mechanics, so you just destroyed the reputation of the developers you are representing.

If you are really unsure why that game did so much better than yours, its multiplayer. That's it. That's all you had to do, make your game multiplayer.

[Auti]

Similar doesn't mean the same. It would be impossible to create a unique project without inspiration. As long as it doesn't copy mechanics exactly then its not infringement. Also, the other guy added multiplayer and you cant be upset if your projects don't support that. Its all about having fun and even more so with friends. I simply think you need to just take this as a learning experience and move on. Someone else capitalized on friendship here and you got left out of the sales of the drug dealing sim genre. THIS HAPPENS. Remember all the battle royal games that exploded when H1Z1 was popular? PubG came out and then Fortnite. Don't get me started on Activision getting their grimy hands in on the money pool too.

Do your investigation but the damage here is done and Schedule 1 is just better. If you push for their removal I promise you it wont bring you more sales and in fact its already damaging your other games review scores. Again this will be a learning experience for your team. Sadly, it's dark in the shadows but with some creativity and partnership you can still make an interesting game and come to light. Goo'day mate.

[Alpha Casual 🚀]

*grabs popcorn* ah yes, dev's that don;'t understand how the internet works. I'm sure this will turn out great. Do yourself a favor and delete this before you make yourselves look anymore retarded.

[Smketreez]

Originally posted by Alpha Casual 🚀:

*grabs popcorn* ah yes, dev's that don;'t understand how the internet works. I'm sure this will turn out great. Do yourself a favor and delete this before you make yourselves look anymore retarded.

Ignore the Steam defined developer title, this post is from the publisher, see last line of post.

[CbzBLTN]

"Obliged to follow up further" No you are not, quit this before you cause any more damage to your reputation

[Yggdrasil Burnes]

I understand that as a publisher you are obligated to protect copyrights and trademarks or you risk losing them by default. That doesn't make this look any better from an optics perspective. A lie makes it's way around the world 3 times before the truth can even put on it's shoes. Half truths are no different. This misunderstanding has led to some completely unnecessary tension between your game's developers and TVGS and I can only wonder how this ever came to be a public matter. Usually these kinds of inquiries happen surreptitiously or behind closed doors with all parties. They aren't announced for the reasons happening right now.

[Diminutive]

This move probably ruined any chance of those who's first drug sim game was schedule 1 and may of been interested in trying others from ever coming near this series.

[psychicweaver]

you guys are idiots for provoking anything in the first place, mind your own business

[gsama.mp4]

this game old g just put the drugs in the bag bro

[D3st]

Originally posted by michal.puczynski:

Hey everyone,

We’d like to address the Drug Dealer Simulator / Schedule I situation and its factual reasons, stage, and future.

What’s going on exactly?

Due to repeated opinions that Schedule I is very similar to DDS, we were obliged to request a legal analysis from an intellectual property specialist. It has indicated that there might have been an infringement by the Schedule I developers in relation to Drug Dealer Simulator.

Now we are obliged to follow up further, but we are yet to contact the Schedule I developers. Our goal at this point is discussing the situation with them and we have an open approach.

Is there a lawsuit?

No.

So why is everyone saying there’s a lawsuit?

Probably due to misinterpreting or overinterpreting an information which was originally in Polish.

What’s next?

Like we said, we need to start a conversation. It is not our intention to prevent TVGS from selling or developing their game.

Overall, our goal is to support all devs, but we need to consider our legal obligations if law specialists determine that there are grounds to claim infringement. We even contacted TVGS via email just before the release, when the game was already huge, and wished them all the best - but that was before that legal analysis. Back then no one expected it to be needed, not to mention that it would bring these results.

This is a very serious situation for us. We’re not a big corporation, but a relatively small indie publisher. There are other drug simulators out there with very positive scores and good sales. These are A-OK in regards to DDS according to lawyers.

What we know is we have to be very careful in all proceedings.

What’s the DDS developer’s - Byterunners - role in all this?

Absolutely none, and please don’t bring them into the conversation. They manage the game, not the IP (intellectual property). They don’t make any decisions in this matter.

I hope this clears things out. If you know gamers outraged by this situation who aren’t on this channel, please share this message with them.

Have a good day, and enjoy your favorite, and your second favorite, drug dealing games, whatever the order is for you. :)

Michal from Movie Games

You know like me that what you are saying is wrong....There are game on steam who were pre DD1 which use the same concept that you took them from....If you look back at how game are created there a good hundred game who were build inspired by other games.I will give you this tho..you should be mad that a single guys made something 100% better then your 2 game with less ressources,less time and everything who were supposed to be in the game is in the game....

About your publisher,we could do the same and bring back some video of the past that you created for dd1 which showed some stuff we never had ingame.Lot of game loops were supposed to be in DD1 and you never finished it.Also,in the case your publisher go ahead and sue him over what ever reason you think its right to do...You are going to turn the whole community against you...Btw you realize that your game are promoting drug selling and crafting and you wanna sue someone in court...Your game and shedule 1 might get noticed by autority after or news and who know what going to happen after that.....A game promoting drug production and selling and crime in general available on STEAM platform.Wouldn't be a nice newspaper or TV news title?


Take your defeat like a man and improve from there....Why bashing people that are better then you?

[Pineapple]

Nintendo move not gonna lie

[slimeball]

so lets get this straight you saw there game saw what it was emailed them wished them the best then after the fact made a stink cause you saw there success and then went out of your way to hire an investigator sounded like you baited them to be honest and shame on you i hope your games income drops greatly from your overall greed and Gluttonous behavior i hope you drop these "obligations" you so desperately try to sell as a necessity

[D3st]

Originally posted by slimeball:

so lets get this straight you saw there game saw what it was emailed them wished them the best then after the fact made a stink cause you saw there success and then went out of your way to hire an investigator sounded like you baited them to be honest and shame on you i hope your games income drops greatly from your overall greed and Gluttonous behavior i hope you drop these "obligations" you so desperately try to sell as a necessity

For me,fact they have thank the other dev was more likely a move like:hey we are watching you and your game sell....We have an eye on you.

[TheAbomination]

Movie games abandoned us years ago, and this is what they get. They forget that the customer is always right. Schedule 1 is in no way shape or form related to drug dealer simulator. It is however better in every way. It does everything that movie games has failed to do, including listening to customer feedback, and not lying to the people who paid their salaries. They will find no infringements on their games intellectual property, and waste money for both parties involved in this "fit of rage" if they pursue legal action. Improve DDs1 and then we'll talk.

[Chemical Castration]

Absolutely pathetic. You see a game do well and lie about being "obligated" to see if you can get some of that pie even though you absolutely ♥♥♥♥ the bed with this franchise that had so much potential. Greed like this is what's ruining the game industry. You will see no more money from me in the future.