'Flappy Bird' Creator: Game Was Pulled Because It Became an 'Addictive Product'

[MacRumors]

Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen has publicly spoken for the first time since pulling the popular game from the App Store in a new interview with Forbes. In the interview, Nguyen states that Flappy Bird was removed because it was becoming an "addictive product," going on to say that guilt and discomfort ultimately influenced his final decision to take the game down.

Flappy Bird was designed to play in a few minutes when you are relaxed," says Dong Nguyen, in an exclusive interview, his first since he pulled the plug on the app. "But it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem. To solve that problem, it's best to take down Flappy Bird. It's gone forever."

Nguyen added in the interview that he developed the game over the course of "two or three days" and said that Nintendo did not send him any legal threats over the game's similarities to the original "Super Mario Bros." title, corroborating a report from yesterday. The developer noted that he feels there was no mistake in removing the title from App Store, also saying that he will continue to develop games due to the confidence he gained after the success of Flappy Bird.

Before being taken down, Flappy Bird was the number one downloaded free app on Apple's App Store for almost a month, generating a reported $50,000/day in revenue from in-app ads. Nguyen had also previously expressed frustration at the attention he received during the game's sudden spike in popularity on his Twitter before announcing that he would remove it.

Article Link: 'Flappy Bird' Creator: Game Was Pulled Because It Became an 'Addictive Product'

 

[DFZD]

He just needs to get a pair and admit that he couldn't face the fact that someone beat his high score.

 

[LadyX]

But it's not gone forever. Those who downloaded the game before it got pulled still have it and play it.

 

[thmsup]

Very remarkable thinking.

 

[Stickrbox]

>"I can't take all the attention, I'm going to remove Flappy Bird"
>Gives interview

 

[DrNeroCF]

Can't wait to see all the inevitable articles with the headline 'Creator of Flappy Bird Releases New App!'

 

[Frazzle]

Hmmm

For many Western audiences, his move must be totally incomprehensible. After all, earning over $50k a day is most people's ultimate goal isn't it? Great to see that different attitudes to success still exist - at least, by the looks of it.

 

[budselectjr]

Doesn't want an "addictive product" but makes it free and includes ads.

 

[flottenheimer]

Who is this guy really? Who, these days, have intentions that noble?

 

[sshambles]

Once an app is removed from the App Store, will it still generate money from all the ads via those people who continue to play it and still have it installed?

If so, he'd seemingly be raking it in still - with less of the guilt.

 

[Jsameds]

Dong Nguyen is fast becoming the Justin Bieber of the gaming world.

 

[flottenheimer]

Once an app is removed from the App Store, will it still generate money from all the ads via those people who continue to play it and still have it installed?

And will users who downloaded the game in time be able to reinstall (download from the cloud) on new devices with the same iCloud account?

 

[Frizers]

I didn't find it addictive. There's only so many times that I can crash into the first pipe before losing interest

 

[sshambles]

And will users who downloaded the game in time be able to reinstall (download from the cloud) on new devices with the same iCloud account?

Yeah I was going to ask about this also...

 

[arn]

here's an interesting tweet from him back in April, 2013 (before Flappy Bird was released)

https://twitter.com/dongatory/status/321385232408403968

A man only lives once and the best strategy is always to make most of it. Success is not the only reason for existence.

----------

Yeah I was going to ask about this also...

You can redownload the app if you have already downloaded it from the app store before.

arn

 

[sshambles]

So I assume also he continues to make money then despite it being removed?

Success might not be the only reason for an existence, but it sure makes for a nice way to exist.

 

[efktd]

This game was stupid.

 

[samonaz]

He should have added some kind of restrictions like Candy Crush. You have only 5 lives after which you can play only after 24 hours and of-course without in app-purchase.

 

[xoneo]

I don't like this story at all, doesn't worth
telling & hearing it again & again IMO.

 

[antonis]

So, according to his opinion, the problem with the game was that it was better than it should ?

Western logic or not, this guy makes less and less sense every time he tries to explain it.

 

[samonaz]

People who delete Flappy Bird after playing few times are also doing the same mistake as that Developer. Instead of deleting flappy bird from your phone you should better sell it on eBay and get 64 GB iPhone 5s (Gold) for all your family members and friends.
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/eb...nstalled-nearing-100-000-update/1100-6417630/

 

[rols]

And will users who downloaded the game in time be able to reinstall (download from the cloud) on new devices with the same iCloud account?

Yes.

But ad revenue will decrease as people get bored of the game (which will happen) and aren't replaced by new downloaders.

 

[ghettochris]

People who delete Flappy Bird after playing few times are also doing the same mistake as that Developer. Instead of deleting flappy bird from your phone you should better sell it on eBay and get 64 GB iPhone 5s (Gold) for all your family members and friends.
View attachment 460428

good luck with that. Fake bids/scam bait.

Edit: LOL, you didn't even include one with any bids on it.

http://imgur.com/VGAiq1t

 

[macs4nw]

Aren't most App store games you download, 'addictive' to a degree?

 

[Tilpots]

Sick of the Flappy Bird stories.