Comments on: Thoughts: Desktop Dungeons.

By: Hentzau

Hentzau — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 09:24:36 +0000

Here is a short version of my take: if there is *any* reasonably simple game concept which is even remotely popular, even if it’s a freeware web browser game like Cookie Clicker (in fact especially if it’s that, since they’re less likely to have legal firepower), somebody will make a clone of it for mobile in an attempt to make a few low-effort dollars.

But yes, League of Epic Heroes was unusual in that the guy who made it sent a letter to the developers of DD saying “Look what I’ve done!” and they sent a letter back saying “Uh, what the hell dude,” before getting Apple to take it down from the app store. It was a blatant ripoff, but usually they’re not that polite.

By: Darren

Darren — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 14:02:16 +0000

If I ever get a PS4 or a better PC I’ll get Black Flag. I’d pick up the PS3 version, but after the performance of the earlier PS3 games I don’t know that I can grit my teeth and bear it.

But God, Enemy Within is fantastic. I don’t know if it’ll do much for the replayability issues we’ve discussed here before, but it really pumped a lot of life into the game. Hope you do a writeup.

By: Janek

Janek — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:22:03 +0000

Turns out it was forcibly taken down for being suspiciously identical to Desktop Dungeons.

Actually Hentzau I’d be interested in your take on plagiarism in the mobile gaming market at some point, assuming it doesn’t cause any conflicts of interest or anything. Seems a bit of a scourge at present.

By: olio

olio — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 04:36:53 +0000

When I read these thoughts I had to browse through my iPhone games. I was sure there was something similar to Desktop Dungeons for iPhone and – for once – my memory served me right. It’s called “League of Epic Heroes” by Lazy Peon, but unfortunately I couldn’t find it in the app store anymore.

It doesn’t have the Kingdom part and dungeons are smaller, but there are 6 unlockable races you can combine with 12 unlockable classes and the dungeon crawling/puzzle mechanic seems to be pretty much identical to Desktop Dungeons.

By: Hentzau

Hentzau — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 22:51:47 +0000

Enemy Within just devoured a terrifying quantity of my weekend, and there’s Black Flag on the horizon next week. Such is the October/November madness that afflicts the gaming industry.

By: Hentzau

Hentzau — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 22:50:15 +0000

If it ever gets cut to half price it’s a must-buy. Some people might think £12 is a lot for a fifteen-minute puzzler like DD, but for £6 it’d be a bargain.

By: Feet

Feet — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:25:42 +0000

I loved the free alpha demo thinger from 2 years ago. I will pick this up at some point I suspect.

By: Darren

Darren — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 14:40:31 +0000

This is sitting on my laptop waiting for me to have a little free time, but it also has to compete with XCOM Enemy Within and my ongoing Pokemon X addiction. It’s been a great Fall for games.