How Zynga cloned its way to success
We chart Zynga's track record of copying the works of others.
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Tiny Tower dev hits out at Zynga clone
Indie studio Nimblebit has written an open letter to Zynga pointing out the striking similarities between iOS hit Tiny Tower and Zynga's upcoming mobile title Dream Heights. Posted on Twitter by Nimblebit's Ian Marsh, the letter contains side-by-side screenshots of Tiny Tower and Dream Heights which suggest Zynga has lifted not just the concept, but much of its execution as well. Players build skyscrapers, fit out individual floors as shops to be restocked and apartments for workers to live in, and drop off visitors at the floor of their choice. Tiny Tower's twin currency mechanic also appears to have been lifted. More >
3Apple names Tiny Wings iPhone game of the year
Apple has named Andreas Illiger's one-button iOS game Tiny Wings as the iPhone game of the year. Runners-up were NimbleBit's life-stealing time management sim Tiny Tower, and physics puzzler To-Fu 2. The Chillingo-published Contre Jour was named best iPad game, ahead of Shadowgun and Gesundheit HD. More >
Out There: Why is Sergey Brin so good at Angry Birds?
Plus, finding the soul in free-to-play, and the big list of documentaries about videogames.
Daily links: August 9
Crunch psychology, the pleasure of killing a great enemy, RPG stats, and the beauty of Brink: the first of our link log series.
Opinion: Levelling up in Tiny Tower
The iOS skyscraper builder shows old-school RPGs new free-to-play tricks, says Jason Killingsworth.
Tiny Tower review
Nimblebit has us looking to the skies - while it empties our wallets.
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