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There are so many games that wouldn't exist today if people couldn't use the same idea... I just can't imagine ANY game developer getting their panties in a wad over it. So long as you don't use any copyrighted materials, it's all fair game. That's what competition is. Deal with it.

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When does it cross a line? A certain IOS developer has made money hand over first 100% copying Ragdoll Cannon (http://www.kongregate.com/games/Johnny_K/ragdoll-cannon-rema...) into a game that was so popular, it spawned a sequel.

Is that ok?

The original developer saw $0 from that as far as I know.

Why didn't the original developer make his own iOS version? Can he really complain?

This was pretty early on... 2008 I think.

This is not just borrowing a few ideas, it's a blatant ripoff. And it was released while Vlambeer was developing an iOS version to start monetizing their success. You can be competitive and morally correct, they're not exclusive.

I wonder if it's close enough to warrant a copyright suit. I know Zynga's been sued a few times for cloning other successful games and then using their mounds of cash to out-market the original creators, and I believe they settled with at least one of them.

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