After a brief but extremely popular run, the flyaway hit app Flappy Bird is now no more. According to separate tweets, from the game's creator, Dong Nguyen said that while he can call Flappy Bird a success, "it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it," and "I cannot take this anymore." According to other tweets, Nguyen's reason for removing the game wasn't related to criticisms or accusations of ripping off other games, but rather, because fans "are overusing it." An inexplicable reason if there ever was one, especially in light of how much money the game was making. Reports had the game earning anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 a day, thanks to in-game advertising and an enormous amount of players.
Following the removal of the game, a number of clone games have popped up on both the App Store and Google Play Store to fill in the Flappy Bird void.
Eurogamer is reporting that two such games currently available are Fly Birdie - Flappy Bird Flyer, and Fluffy vs. Flappy Birds, but the gameplay seems to be the only thing the two games copy. One such factor that surely helped lead Flappy Bird to its short-lived sucess was the fact that it was utterly free. However, both of these newcomers charge players to purchase in-game currency, as well as for ad removal. Despite the charges, both games are doing quite well in terms of popularity on the iTunes charts.
But replacement games have done little for the fans, some of which who have been more than disappointed with the game's removal. Illustrating the very best that gamers have to offer socially, some have even gone so far as issue death threats at Nguyen. CNBC's Social Media Manager Eli Langer compiled a number of "fans'" lovingly worded threats. For example, consummate master of the written word kyle jake moore lovingly penned, "I will kill you mother fucker."
Despite the app's takedown, the game is still playable provided you've already downloaded the game, so if you're fiending for some Flappy Bird, your fix isn't far away, though actual help may be well out of your reach.
