Ninja Pig Pulls The Plug On Wii U eShop Title Jumpy Cat

It's interesting that instead of replacing the stolen art with original artwork (and maybe a little name change), the devs will just let it die.

@EaZy_T Because he can't make original work. Nothing he's ever made had a lick of original artwork in it

@EaZy_T so after being criticised (by a large majority on this site) for being too lazy by releasing a game like this, you're going to criticise him because he isn't releasing the game due to legitimate reasons.

Another good news in an already perfect day for WiiU players!

Haha.

Maybe this will be a wake-up call for him to start being more original. Eh, probably not.

@TeeJay I bet the Ninja Pig logo is original, it's too horrible to have been stolen from somewhere else

No mo MLG and dankness? Where else can I find my air horns and triple collaterals?

Pulling the game (and possibly reworking/renaming) is the only reasonable option. That said, people don't always follow reason, so good on Ninja Pig Studios for making the right move. Confirm that the name is ok and change (or give credit for) the assets, and there is no reason this game couldn't be re-released later!

Hopefully the code won't just be abandoned - building on and modifying things you've done in the past is a normal part of development. Despite some negativity, Ninja Pig Studios will learn from what happened and develop and/or publish more games in the future.

(Edited for clarity.)

I think the guys in this comment section now are just pushing it...

@TheGreatBrawler Just now?

We have been reading the same comments correct?

@CapeSmash
Seeing his response to Meme Run's negative reviews,I'd doubt that will be happening soon.

GOOD! I don't want another game from Ninja Pig

I knew this was going to happen, and i'm happy that it did.

@TheGreatBrawler @Aviator Eh, I'm not following either of you. Were a bunch of comments deleted that I missed?

The funny part about all the people who are like "good, I don't like that dev" is that their opinions don't matter. Enough people do like his work, and even if nobody did he's still got every right to develop and release games anyway. (Just as long as the games and assets are actually his.)

@ejamer ...and people would still have the right to criticize it.

Good. This leaves more room on the eShop for my upcoming release, Fire Emblem. It's a Frogger clone that uses the assets from Super Mario Bros.

As controversial a developer as he is, I hope that NinjaPig's actually learned the many lessons he can take away from this. Having a game infringe one person's copyright, another person's trademark, and potentially getting you into some form of legal trouble -should- drill the most important of those lessons into him, mind you.

Well, I say "should", but if he's still at it with his next game, I think it's time to give up on his part.

@Philip_J_Reed frickin' golden right here.

@Philip_J_Reed Does it use music from Animal Crossing? I'll get it day one if it does!

Good riddance.

Oh well, I can stick to playing meme run at least. Deal with it.

@VIIIAxel It probably uses Animal Crossings most memorable tunes, such as "Mute City" and "Gaur Plains"

@ricklongo
People have every right to criticize, but it's more constructive to criticize the work and encourage the person in most cases.

Also worth noting that criticizing is much easier than creating, so until people speaking out actually create something they should be careful with their words.

@Philip_J_Reed Oh yeah, Fire Emblem. Doesn't it also feature music from Sonic Colours, and box art from Mega Man?

@Drobotic

What was his response to the reviews to that pile of crap?

Good. Maybe now Ninja Pig will start using original assets...yeah, right.

Honestly, the way you guys handle this whole thing with ninja pig is disappointing, it just seems like you guys are going out of your way to slander him now. I read this site on a regular basis, but lately I've felt that you guys are just capitalizing on this nonsense for more clicks. You guys are supposed to be a reputable news site, but all I see is childish behavior anymore. And as for the rest of you commenters, you guys are the most whiny, vindictive bunch I have ever seen, and I've been on 4chan before. You guys are a bunch of spiteful asses. I think I'll be better off finding a different site from now on. Later.

@swampertdude

Are you a Ninja Pig dummy account?

@ejamer but he stole others creations in every game he has made. Don't you think that's a bit worse?

@Quorthon
He said the NL review wasn't even an actual review and criticized them for giving him criticism.

@faint
Worse than what? He is new at this. He is still trying to create something - and even if it is starting out with stolen assets there is work involved. Maybe what he's creating isn't valuable now, but surely he's learning some important lessons and (if his attitude and work ethic improve) then he'll only end up creating better content in the future.

I guess it just feels like some people make things more personal than they need to be. Some of that is brought on by his work, some by his poor attitude in response to the criticism... but some is also uncalled for pile-on.

@Drobotic

Ahhh, gotcha. The Phil Fish approach, but applied toward reviewers instead of his harassers. Or is that the Denis Dyack approach?

@ejamer

Him "being new at this" is part of the problem. He shouldn't be releasing crap and expecting people to like it just because it exists. He shouldn't be churning out brainless, creatively bankrupt, half-assed student projects as actual games and charging money for them. His piss-poor attitude didn't help things. Honestly, how Nintendo fans can go from championing Nintendo as one of the highest quality developers while simultaneously defending bottom-scraping garbage is incomprehensibly confusing to me.

I'm all about giving indies the benefit of the doubt and championing their efforts, but when they prove there's nothing there to champion, it's time to turn our backs. Nintendo fans deserve better than to see the eShop clogged with this kind of crap.

I figured this would happen. I say good riddance. Everyone's Wii U's are allowed the opportunity to remain a little healthier. Junk food is bad for you.

@tudsworth Of course, I agree that people should offer criticism on a constructive manner.

I do disagree, however, with the notion that someone has to be able to "do better" to criticise, when they're criticising as consumers, not as professionals of the same area. I certainly wouldn't be able to program something like Meme Run, for instance, but I am invested in the game industry as a player and as a consumer, and I have every right to speak my mind on its shortcomings from that point of view.

(Not that this is necessarily what you're hinting at, but it's a line of reasoning I see all too often.)

@ricklongo

I believe you could make something like Meme Run very easily. A lot of these no-talent companies are, unfortunately, just punching at the Construct2 engine to churn out tutorials that they want you to pay for. I called Rcmadiax on this as his Spikey Walls nonsense is quite literally this.

Construct 2 simplifies so that it helps to understand some programming logic, but doesn't require programming skill or expertise.

Here's the runner tutorial Ninja Pig likely used: https://www.scirra.com/forum/how-to-make-an-endless-runner-tutorial-video_t75941

I bet you could do that. Hell, I bet almost anyone here could.

@ricklongo I am, personally, of the opinion that there's no pre-requisite to criticism. In other words, I do not believe that -only- other game designers can criticise games or anything like that, and anybody who implies such things is a blithering idiot (since I kind of did imply it... time to go blither, I guess). Any remotely committed gamer will have at least some degree of understanding of game design and will be able to articulate their opinion on a game; usually to a better degree than most actual game designers, to be honest.

However, regardless of your opinions on Ninja Pig's games, his general lack of regard for even the most rudimentary understanding of copyright law is kind of disgusting. The onus is on the developer or publisher to ensure that all resources used in a game are 100% safe for use in a commercial work, assuming they want to sell their games for money - and Ninja Pig self-publishes, so he cannot really shift the blame on to anybody else, here. Sure, he didn't get into any real trouble, but that's beside the point. The point is more that he came dangerously close to getting into very real financial and legal trouble, and if that's not enough for him to at least ensure he no longer steals (intentionally or otherwise, ignorance is -not- a valid defence) other people's resources, then I really do not know what is.

@Quorthon Ha, I wasn't aware of that. Doesn't surprise me, though.

@tudsworth Yes, I can agree with that.

I think in this case pulling the game entirely was the only choice. The game had issues with both the art assets and naming issues. Better to let it die and try again.

Hopefully the developer will do more than attempt a predatory cash grab mobile game. I shudder to think what would have been had Nintendo been lax on advertising in games.

There is no prerequisite to be able to criticize, but it's good practice to consider if what you are saying has value before saying it. When criticism turns into an attack against someone, either personally or professionally, it's worth questioning if the act of sharing that criticism is worthwhile.

Also, although tudsworth has some valid points I disagree with his claim that most committed gamers could articulate their opinions better than most game designers. Sometimes yes, usually no. It very much depends on the specific people in question.

Finally, although I suspect that Quorthon is right about where the bulk of the code is coming from that still shows the ability to work and get something done. Actually setting up a company and publishing a game digitally on the Wii U is something that very few of us have done, and takes some effort/commitment. Hopefully that experience and base of knowledge builds, and hopefullyhis ambition to create something more unique and interesting will increase as well. (If not then I'll continue to not buy - no skin off my back.)

@swampertdude You're hilarious. Far too sensitive for the internet.

@ejamer @tudsworth

True, setting up the company, getting something to market does take work--my note is that he squandered the opportunity, was disrespectful to consumers, and particularly lazy in his end products. He did only the most basic work to release a game and it shows.

I also agree with your point of designers vs gamers. There is something to be said for anyone being able to criticize anyone else, but the value of the criticism rises exponentially by the knowledge and experience of the critic. Roger Ebert, for instance, was a noted film critic and I think was involved in making just one film. But he understood the technique of filmmaking, the subtleties, and the nuances. He could apply his technical and design understanding to his personal opinion when deconstructing a film.

People familiar with game design in some aspects are going to have more technical critiques of games, perhaps, than consumers, who may focus more on fun, function, graphics, and presentation.

Generally, a lot of this simply comes from playing a lot of games and a larger variety. This is why it irks me when stereotypical Nintendo fans lambast games like Call of Duty or Elder Scrolls or Assassin's Creed, what-have-you--particularly when many of them are more than willing to admit they only play Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and the occasional other Nintendo whatever. They're entitled to their opinion, but they have elected to form it more on ignorance than experience. There are valid criticisms for any Call of Duty game, and those that actually play the games will understand them.

I've noted this before, but when I was testing for Activision, I had the (dis)pleasure of testing 4 Kinect games. However, it helped highlight a good Kinect or motion-controlled game versus a bad one. In a good one, I would spend little or no time fighting the motion controls themselves--they felt like a natural part of the experience and generally worked. Perhaps surprisingly, the bizarre and abstract Rapala for Kinect was one of the good ones. But then there was Cabela's Adventure Camp, and when the game didn't just sit and play itself, it was a constant struggle to accomplish anything therein. It was the only game I tested that actually made me angry.

The big part of this is just experience--play more games, experience more games, understand more games. The more you understand, the more valuable your critique, regardless of whether it's from playing games, writing about games, testing games, or making them. To that, the opinion of someone who only plays Mario and Zelda is no more valuable to me than someone who plays only Call of Duty and Madden. They can have their opinion, but it's probably not very well informed.

Games are an equal part artistic design and logical organization, and most development studios have people focused on those different parts, and not everyone understands both equally. I'm terrible at programming and it confuses the hell out of me. But art and design choices, I get that far better. My critiques will always be stronger from that point of view.

@Tarrazu

You are grossly over-simplifying and missing the point.

So classy.

@Tarrazu

The criticism leveled to Ninja Pig appears to be focused largely on releasing a completely terrible, artistically bankrupt piece of crap, and expecting people to pay for it.

The other part of it was his lack of integrity in stealing assets to make another creatively devoid game. The criticism is not that he "didn't release the game," it's about his stealing of assets. A few people may think he should've just corrected the graphics issue and forged ahead, and that's fine, but that's not the core problem here.

Ninja Pig has proven themselves to be a greedy, artistically barren developer more interested in thrusting crap onto an unsuspecting public, and then becoming angry or childish when called on it. This is another valid criticism--his dreadful behavior toward the very consumers he is targeting.

It's more than "mad because he released game" and "mad because he didn't release game." It's a disturbing pattern of questionable ethics and business practices spliced with a bitter attitude of a contemptible individual.

This is the third such greedy and lackluster developer on the Wii U, and there's something to be said for giving indies a chance, but we shouldn't forget the old mantra of "fool me once..."

What a Witch Hunt. What's the agenda Nintendo Life?

Take a look around folks, there are plenty of clones on the console. The Spikey Walls game for one, and here another developer is stating in this thread he is releasing a clone:
#17
Philip_J_Reed said:
"Good. This leaves more room on the eShop for my upcoming release, Fire Emblem. It's a Frogger clone that uses the assets from Super Mario Bros."

Its funny how no one jumped on the bandwagon to attack Phillip telling him he should be creating something original.

Several months ago, my kids were showing me that the IQ test was on the front page of the plaza for multiple days/weeks in a row. Maybe there is more than meets the eye. Whether you like the studio, hate the studio, or are indifferent, there must be some draw, otherwise that age group wouldn't be buying the product, thus sending it to the front page.

Kind of figured that might happen.
Granted I'm not a fan meme run since I dislike those type of runner genres and IQ Test was meh for the sale price I brought it at. I hope this can serve as another learning experience to grow from and to develop a game that is not the subject of negative criticism even if Ninja Pig itself is the face of controversy.

As a gamer have the right the play any game he/she wants, a developer have the right to make any games he/she want (within ESRB and other regulation). Just as long as the gamer is willing to pay for whatever game made.

@Tarrazu

Per the assets, a misunderstanding or a mistake? When you copy art from somewhere else to put it in your product, that is not a misunderstanding. That is a deliberate choice to use something made by someone else, and stolen is fairly accurate as the original creator of said art called the developer on it and asked Nintendo not to release the game.

I think there's also a very good case to call him lazy--he's releasing bottom-of-the-barrel software that barely qualifies as "video games" and charging money for them. He put almost no effort into his work, but expects you to pay for it. That is greedy.

I'm not sure what the "not criticizing skilled developers" even means. Every product that is released is open to criticism, be it skilled, unskilled, indie, professional, etc. There is always room for improvement in almost everything, and most things have some elements worthy of a criticism or critique.

He didn't harm anyone? Nobody died? I sincerely hope these are nothing more than jokes. So does he have to murder someone to be criticized? I'm sorry, but these are useless statements.

Maybe I'm an indie dev and I don't want to see the eShop filled with brainless crap like this, because it's just going to burn consumers and make it harder for me to find an audience. Maybe I'm a Wii U owner that doesn't want the eShop to be turned into the kind of gaming wasteland we see with the iOS store or Google Play. Believe it or not, this kind of thing can be damaging--damaging for other developers, damaging to Nintendo, damaging to the eShop.

It's one thing to stand up for the little guy. It's another thing entirely when the little guy is a leech looking to make you his next victim.

@weirdwonz

I know sarcasm is difficult to come across the internet, but what @Philip_J_Reed said is pretty clearly sarcasm. Anyone "attacking" him for that would be making themselves the joke.

@duddy that is MS Paint work at its finest!...

@Quorthon my post was intended to bring awareness to the fact that clones on the Nintendo platform exist, and are going to exist as long as the platform allows it.

It is ultimately up to the audience to pick and choose what they want to play and purchase. The audience will dictate demand no matter how much developers wish otherwise. If everyone hates the Ninja Pig Studio brand, then why does it end up on the front page of the Plaza?

@weirdwonz

The plaza is usually populated by new games, not necessarily good games. On the other hand, people being taken in by a $1 or $2 price tag does not mean the game is good or of any amount of quality. Just because a lot of people were fooled into buying something does not magically make it good.

A billion people can believe something, but that doesn't make it right. After all, a lot of (extremely naive) people believe vaccines are somehow bad, but the reality is that vaccines are one of the best things modern science offers a society. Granted, these idiots have been much more harmful than a few people who wasted a couple bucks ensuring crap games have a home on the Wii U.

http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_27418073/measles-outbreak-disney-park-origins-grows-95-cases

@Quorthon so then what you are saying is that the sales of sub par games is the fault of Nintendo since they populate those games on the Plaza to generate interest.

@weirdwonz

Nintendo can be partially to blame, but I don't think they deliberately populate the plaza. I'm sure Nintendo populates the plaza with some stuff they want shown (like Bayonetta), but the rest of it would make sense to simply be a coded algorithm to pick from a selection of new titles. I've had the Wii U since launch, and for the most part, the games seen in the plaza are recent releases, and the occasional straggler. If they have somewhat higher sales, that might help, but that's something to which I am completely ignorant, and can only speculate based on what I've seen.

Now, is Nintendo partially to blame? Yes, of course, but this goes back to the discussion as to whether or not Nintendo should step up a bit in the quality control department for the Wii U.

I get the feeling right now that Nintendo is desperate for content, so they'll let anything in. Ultimately, this risks making them look bad as a whole. A few years ago, MS quietly removed several poorly reviewed, low selling games from XBLA, and this stirred a bit of a controversy. On the one hand, Microsoft doing this to clean up the shop only serves to benefit them, make the library look better, make searching for games a bit easier, and lowers the risk of consumers buying regrettable software. On the other hand, well, maybe they shouldn't have accepted them in the first place, and it can seem like kind of a jerk move to the developers--who, granted, maybe should've done better to begin with.

At the end of the day, the Wii U is struggling for games and content, and allowing this kind of "wouldn't even be a good free game" content comes off as desperate and ultimately harmful to the image of the Wii U. I didn't buy this console to play a bunch of half-assed throwaway crap, but people spending money willy-nilly on these games is gradually turning it into a combination Nintendo box/shovelware pile. This is not a particularly rosy legacy--and in the bigger picture, may even harm Nintendo's potential with the next console.

Remember the Casual/Shovelware image the Wii garnered? That left a poor image of Nintendo burned into the minds of consumers--and they remembered than when another product entered the market with "Wii" emblazoned on the front.

@Quorthon I was under the impression that games that are trending/popular with users are the ones that end up on the Plaza. If this is not true, then I stand corrected.

I can sympathise with trying to come up with a half decent name for your game that hasn't already been taken by someone else.

I heard Meme Run was the scourge of the eShop the week it came out, so I passed. Guess I'll pass on this guy forever while I'm at it.

@Quorthon This guy right here, I like him.

@swampertdude Sorry, dude, but I read all of that in Hank Hill's voice.

I hope they go under.

#ActuallyIt'sAboutEthicsInJournalism

Ah, I see. I can't say I was ever looking forward to playing that. Take the time to make original stuff.

@Tarrazu

Ha, indeed we may be. I think you're bigger issue is the number of people seeming to attack the developer himself, which I can see. I feel a little iffy having said harsh things about him, but in my view, being able to develop games for a console--at the level that he's at (a nobody indie that has no skill or background)--should be taken as a point of unbelievable pride, and one he should want to celebrate. One he should want to apply himself to. I see him as throwing away a valuable opportunity, and having an acidic attitude towards players concerning it.

I find it reprehensible. And I place Ninja Pig, Treefall, and Rcmadiax in the same category. These are "indies" who make other indies look bad, flood the eShop with crap, have no artistic merit, and are proud to be churning out low-scoring shovelware. Rcmadiax actually stated, on this site, "this is the new normal, deal with it" concerning the low quality of this software.

No sir, I will not accept that. I would rather set fire to that money than support this kind of attitude.

@weirdwonz

I'm not saying you're wrong or I corrected you, I'm saying in my experience having the Wii U since launch, the plaza is usually new or relatively new releases. I'm not discounting that current high sellers might be part of it, or that Nintendo might work to ensure some of their bigger titles are featured, only that it has always seemed dominated by whatever is newest.

o3o I saw this coming a mile away.