Dong Nguyen, creator of mobile sensation Flappy Bird, has pulled the game from online stores saying the game’s popularity had “ruined my simple life”.
It is said that Vietnamese Mr Nguyen is making $50,000 a day from the in-game advertising and he has denied the game had been pulled due to any legal challenge. Some on the internet may find this hard to believe, but Nintendo don’t hold a copyright for big green pipes.
Since the removal of the game a number of clones have zoomed up the iTunes charts. “Fly Birdie – Flappy Bird Flyer” is at the time of writing the second most popular free download, “Flappy Plane” is the fifth and “Flappy Bee” takes eleventh place. Unlike the original game, all of the clones offer in-app purchases.
Jim took a look at Flappy Bird in our regular Mobile Watch feature, I myself downloaded the game, played it four times then deleted it.
UPDATE: “While we usually do not comment on the rumors and speculations, we have already denied the speculation [regarding Flappy Bird]” said Nintendo.
Source: BBC
3shirts
It actually sounds like the poor guy couldn’t handle the sudden fame and pressure. Not sure why he didn’t just leave it up though, if he was making money and it didn’t have any real bugs (being so simple) why not just cash cow it while he works on something else or gets on with his life.
Tuffcub
Apperently such fame and wealth can cause all sorts of problems in Vietnam, and he was being hassled by loads of people for money.
GhostViper
And now he’s getting death threats from “gamers”: http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/social-media-death-threats-for-flappy-bird-s-nguyen/0127898
Starman
Very odd. Can’t understand how his game being successful could have ruined his life.
Tuffcub
See above
Starman
Ah that makes sense.
tonycawley
Take 10 days of income, buy a lovely secret house some place, continue to live simple life but with extra money. Simple!
MikLSP
I think I must be the only person who never even heard of this game before all the coverage of its demise.
TSBonyman
So PewPewDie raising this game’s popularity only lead to mental anguish for this budding young molyneaux.. Well then.. ;)
bunimomike
People issuing death threats online needs their comeuppance.
dude90
They’re just a bunch of twats, the game is so cr*p