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What is the hype about used iPhones with Flappy Bird?

D

desertman

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 14, 2008
702
38
Arizona, USA
Can somebody explain to me the hype around used iPhones with Flappy Bird on them? Since Flappy Bird cannot be downloaded anymore I see suddenly iPhones with Flappy Bird on Craigslist and eBay for thousands of dollars ...

What is this about? Why this hype?

And anyway - what value would an iPhone with Flappy Bird have for me? Would I not have to set the iPhone up as new before I can use it and therefor lose all apps that are on it?
 
1) One guy alone makes app game that is super hard difficulty but has that secret sauce of gaming where you can develop deep skills at getting good at it and taps into a really smooth yet ultra steep learning curve.

2) Somehow uses hacks to get it high up in rankings in app store.

3) The game also takes on a viral life due to various factors such as said difficulty, the campy cheap low budget feel of it, pipes and sound effects from Mario, and a distinct hyper-simplicity in a world of filled with simple games --almost mockingly so. It also has a very enraging "slap" sound (EQed in an annoying way too) when you die which is the opposite of how these games should be fun (Tiny Wings/Angry Birds) this one was just hard and cheap (yet addicting in gaming magic).

4) Gets super huge and is perfect fodder for social networks. People can either boast they did well, or boast they did terrible. Also because of that enraging factor of the difficulty+sound effects, its really funny and mass relatable to rage quit and want to express that.

5) Makes 50K a day from ad revenue.

6) Updates the app to make it easier one day and avoid mario copyrights.

7) Days later takes it down to make a new game and avoid problems due to earlier hacking.

8) After all the drama ppl joke about selling the old non-updated version of the game for thousands since iOS 7 auto updates usually most ppl lost the old version of the game without choosing to. The ebay ads are fake and no transaction has gone through. Its a joke to mythologize the game lol.
 
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Your answer is in your question. It's hype. I saw a 4s on craigslist for $3000. I almost choked from laughing so hard. What's to stop anyone putting any price tag on anything, simply because they think someone might be desperate/foolish /carefree enough to pay? Nothing. That is free market capitalism, in a nutshell.
 
desertman said:
With all due respect - that is ridiculous. And why did you answer at all, then?

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Well, I mentioned that in my original posting...
Click to expand...

Please, out of humble respect for the game originator, I respectfully ask you to stop your inquiry.
Thank you.
 
Don't get the hype either

I see it on Kijiji too but I doubt anyone in their right minds will pay the X amount of dollars (or whatever currency it is where you reside) people are asking for it. Unless... you have money to blow, of course. In that case you would probably have too much money.
 
braddick said:
Please, out of humble respect for the game originator, I respectfully ask you to stop your inquiry.
Click to expand...

Bobby Corwen said:
I also agree with this sentiment.
Click to expand...

What is wrong with you guys? The maker of this game first made a fortune with it, now generates additional publicity by the way he is withdrawing it (possibly to avoid lawsuits) - and you become preachers for his salvation?

How about respect for me and my questions?
 
Other users summed it up above. Basically "Flappy Birds" went viral and was taken day several days later.

Once the App was removed from App Stores, individuals felt they could sell their devices for ridiculous amounts. Primarily due to the hype of certain devices on eBay for selling for upwards of $100,000+ (although the bids were rigged).

You may receive a few extra dollars if you were to sell a mobile device with Flappy Bird ($10?) however with the game no longer available to be downloaded by the general public, the monetary value will not increase dramatically.

Give it a week or two and people will realize that they fell into a hole of humiliation.
 
desertman said:
What is wrong with you guys? The maker of this game first made a fortune with it, now generates additional publicity by the way he is withdrawing it (possibly to avoid lawsuits) - and you become preachers for his salvation?

How about respect for me and my questions?
Click to expand...


sarcasm_zpse35ef544.jpg
 
Besides the hype let me come back to the second part of my original posting:

What practical value would it have if someone bought such an iPhone? Is there a way to keep apps from a previous owner if a buyer wants to use the device with his own Apple/iCloud account? Is it not absolutely necessary to set such a device up as a new device without any previous apps?
 
desertman said:
Besides the hype let me come back to the second part of my original posting:

What practical value would it have if someone bought such an iPhone? Is there a way to keep apps from a previous owner if a buyer wants to use the device with his own Apple/iCloud account? Is it not absolutely necessary to set such a device up as a new device without any previous apps?
Click to expand...

Haha the idea is that it is so rare and sought after you wouldn't re-install the phone OS or log in your iCloud ID.

You would just have it, like a rare treasure preserved as it once was. A collectible in a museum. A piece of art.
 
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desertman said:
Besides the hype let me come back to the second part of my original posting:

What practical value would it have if someone bought such an iPhone? Is there a way to keep apps from a previous owner if a buyer wants to use the device with his own Apple/iCloud account? Is it not absolutely necessary to set such a device up as a new device without any previous apps?
Click to expand...


You can use the App even though its been downloaded from another individuals Apple ID, and use your Apple ID. If there were ever an update with that app (although there won't be) you'd have to sign in with the owner's Apple ID and update the App. I'm not 100% sure however I believe the activation lock may be designated to the original owners Apple ID (?).

There's practical value of buying the iPhone with Flappy Birds; strong emotions toward the game. You'll be wasting a ton of money purchasing it at the prices people are charging as the app doesn't increase the normal resale value of the phone. Unless someone is dumb enough to pay high prices.
 
desertman said:
Can somebody explain to me the hype around used iPhones with Flappy Bird on them? Since Flappy Bird cannot be downloaded anymore I see suddenly iPhones with Flappy Bird on Craigslist and eBay for thousands of dollars ...

What is this about? Why this hype?

And anyway - what value would an iPhone with Flappy Bird have for me? Would I not have to set the iPhone up as new before I can use it and therefor lose all apps that are on it?
Click to expand...

It's because the game is still in high demand among users. The game is still a fairly new game and people are still excited about it. If the developer decided months after the game became old and not cool, we wouldn't see iPhones for sale with flappy bird on it.

Basically, it's because the game is still big to the masses of people. If the developer were to take it down 2 years from now, it wouldn't have been such a big deal because it would be "old" by then.

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7thson said:
Your answer is in your question. It's hype. I saw a 4s on craigslist for $3000. I almost choked from laughing so hard. What's to stop anyone putting any price tag on anything, simply because they think someone might be desperate/foolish /carefree enough to pay? Nothing. That is free market capitalism, in a nutshell.
Click to expand...

Exactly :D
 
desertman said:
Can somebody explain to me the hype around used iPhones with Flappy Bird on them? Since Flappy Bird cannot be downloaded anymore I see suddenly iPhones with Flappy Bird on Craigslist and eBay for thousands of dollars ...

What is this about? Why this hype?

And anyway - what value would an iPhone with Flappy Bird have for me? Would I not have to set the iPhone up as new before I can use it and therefor lose all apps that are on it?
Click to expand...

Its idiots thinking they can cash in.....really...thats the best way I can put it...I'm seeing all types of phones with flappy bird game on them and priced $100s-$1000's more than their actual market value....

There is honestly no demand for it, its just people thinking they can cash in so they are "trying" lol
 
Am I the only one who didn't play this dumb game? Lol

By the way where did all the hype come from?? The game came out on Jan of last year didn't it?
 
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