Over 50 puzzles?!

[Fury]

Originally Posted by Harald B

That's all nice and well, but you should keep in mind that "ripoff" is not a neutral term. It's a very derogatory qualifier implying inferior quality and a complete lack of originality. We would hardly be having this discussion if you would use a more neutral word like "clone" instead.

Still means the same thing. If you had actually read my posts and not just gone "Ooo he said ripoff, he's such a troll" like a bunch of idiots, we'd never have this problem, now would we.

[doodinthemood]

It's curious, because you're saying the same things as me in terms of "we have no information yet", but come at that from the point of "it's a ripoff until proven otherwise".

[Fury]

Originally Posted by doodinthemood

It's curious, because you're saying the same things as me in terms of "we have no information yet", but come at that from the point of "it's a ripoff until proven otherwise".

Only because of a few things:

- Same gameplay (A puzzle was shown on gamespot)
- Same Hint System (Chewing Gum, 3 Per Puzzle = Hint Coins From Layton)
- Same Puzzle Screen Layout (Buttons in exactly the same positions as Layton)

The only original things I've seen is the art design, everything else I've seen is from Layton. So although I haven't seen much, what I have seen I've already seen in Layton.

[Harald B]

Originally Posted by Fury

Still means the same thing. If you had actually read my posts and not just gone "Ooo he said ripoff, he's such a troll" like a bunch of idiots, we'd never have this problem, now would we.

No it doesn't. Using a word like ripoff implies harsh disapproval. You're getting people riled up because your use of the word ripoff suggests you're saying it sucks before even seeing it finished yet. It's true that the rest of your post shows you don't mean it like that, but that kind of thing gets into people's minds (also harsher and more negative stuff gets remembered better, especially on the internet).

[SHODANFreeman]

Originally Posted by Fury

Only because of a few things:

- Same gameplay (A puzzle was shown on gamespot)
- Same Hint System (Chewing Gum, 3 Per Puzzle = Hint Coins From Layton)
- Same Puzzle Screen Layout (Buttons in exactly the same positions as Layton)

The only original things I've seen is the art design, everything else I've seen is from Layton. So although I haven't seen much, what I have seen I've already seen in Layton.

Every modern MMO is an "Asheron's Call 2 ripoff" then, including World of Warcraft, since they all use the same basic screen layout, game mechanics, and quest systems.

Every real-time strategy game is a "Dune 2 ripoff" because they all use a similar control style and gameplay style.

Every point and click adventure game is a "Deja vu ripoff" because they use the same gameplay and a similar interface.

Using a tried and true interface, gameplay mechanic, or the like does not make a game a ripoff. It would be a ripoff if it were called "Professor Clayton: The Furious Pillage" and the entire storyline and character designs were derivative in every way. The mechanics of a game have nothing to do with the game being a "ripoff" or not, they're just mechanics. Sure, it's cool when a game comes out that makes its own rules, but those are few and far between.

[Wapcaplet]

I prefer the term "loving tribute".

[Avistew]

Exactly, it's an homage! Fury, you just don't get it.

[LuigiHann]

Fury is right and you people are crazy. It's clearly a clone of Professor Layton. The Layton games aren't perfect so there's a lot of room for Puzzle Agent to improve on it, but I'd personally probably use the word knock-off.

Layton didn't revolutionize gaming, but it did come up with a so-far unique combination of elements, and Puzzle Agent seems to be replicating all of them. It's not a point and click adventure, it's not even a variation of a point and click adventure, it's a riddle game with a frame story. Puzzle Agent may prove to be less similar than it seems, but all the evidence so far suggests a very straightforward clone.

[Fury]

Yeah!

And Warcraft 1 was out before Dune 2.

It's like saying Word Coach isn't a ripoff of Brain Training, even though they're both exactly the same and both give you a brain age. But you could classify them both as "Brain Training Genre" and suddenly it's not a ripoff. But it still is.

Your loyalty to TellTale is blinding you to the fact it's a ripoff. It should still be awesome, but they're 90% identical.

[SHODANFreeman]

Originally Posted by Fury

And Warcraft 1 was out before Dune 2.

No, it wasn't. Dune 2 was out a full 2 years before Warcraft 1.

Originally Posted by Fury

It's like saying Word Coach isn't a ripoff of Brain Training, even though they're both exactly the same and both give you a brain age. But you could classify them both as "Brain Training Genre" and suddenly it's not a ripoff. But it still is.

Your loyalty to TellTale is blinding you to the fact it's a ripoff. It should still be awesome, but they're 90% identical.

Storyline and art style are the key differences. Saying it's a ripoff for using similar/the same gameplay style is like saying Davinci's paintings were ripoffs because he didn't invent painting. Games aren't about the interface you're using or the mechanics behind the gameplay, they're about the game design and the art style. These things are vastly separate from each other.

[prizna]

Sorry Ive never played Professor Layton so can someone tell me why puzzle agent keeps getting compared to it.

[Fury]

Originally Posted by prizna

Sorry Ive never played Professor Layton so can someone tell me why puzzle agent keeps getting compared to it.

- Same gameplay (A puzzle was shown on gamespot)
- Same Hint System (Chewing Gum, 3 Per Puzzle = Hint Coins From Layton)
- Same Puzzle Screen Layout (Buttons in exactly the same positions as Layton)

Art style doesn't mean a game isn't a ripoff. When it comes to gameplay, this game is 100% unoriginal, and it's a ripoff. Sure, it has a different atmosphere but come on, you'd have to be blind to not see how small these differences are.

[prizna]

Originally Posted by Fury

- Same gameplay (A puzzle was shown on gamespot)
- Same Hint System (Chewing Gum, 3 Per Puzzle = Hint Coins From Layton)
- Same Puzzle Screen Layout (Buttons in exactly the same positions as Layton)
Art style doesn't mean a game isn't a ripoff. When it comes to gameplay, this game is 100% unoriginal, and it's a ripoff. Sure, it has a different atmosphere but come on, you'd have to be blind to not see how small these differences are.

Where did you see the Puzzle screen layout for Puzzle Agent?

[SHODANFreeman]

Originally Posted by Fury

Art style doesn't mean a game isn't a ripoff. When it comes to gameplay, this game is 100% unoriginal, and it's a ripoff. Sure, it has a different atmosphere but come on, you'd have to be blind to not see how small these differences are.

Art style, story, and atmosphere is the only difference between Simon the Sorcerer and Monkey Island, does that make Simon the Sorcerer a ripoff of Monkey Island?

[Fury]

Depends if it has exactly the same screen layout...

[The Highway]

Originally Posted by prizna

Where did you see the Puzzle screen layout for Puzzle Agent?

He said a puzzle was shown on Gamespot.

[SHODANFreeman]

Originally Posted by Fury

Depends if it has exactly the same screen layout...

[Fury]

They're pretty darn similar.

http://au.gamespot.com/wii/puzzle/pu...nt/images/0/9/

http://au.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/lay...ow%3Bthumb%3B3

There are some very small differences. The "What" button on Puzzle Agent just gives you the description which is on the top screen in Layton, so it's a necessary extra. The clear button isn't present in all puzzles, but it lets you draw on the screen. I imagine Puzzle Agent will have that feature in later puzzles, as you need to draw somewhere. But Agent has shown only one puzzle so far, and it looks the same as Layton.

[Fury]

Originally Posted by Pale Man

Is it Scumm?

It's a ripoff if it isn't Scumm. Sure, different game, but it's ripping off the layout of Monkey Island.

[SHODANFreeman]

Originally Posted by Fury

But Agent has shown only one puzzle so far, and it looks the same as Layton.

They showed another puzzle where you have to put some videos in the correct order that the people left the building in.