Why is my game posted as free on a strange website -mobile9apks.com?

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

I am researching the possibility of doing another new hidden object game.  I have found my first game hosted on mobile9apks.com (whois - Vietnam) stating they are offering it for free!!!   They even have screenshots and text from my own game website. I have never given out the APK to anyone.  And yes I did put in Google’s codes to supposedly protect the game from pirates.

I don’t have the time to put in 100’s and perhaps 1000’s of hours into a new game only to have it ripped off and given away for free.  My time is too valuable and the overhead is also too high.  I can always do something else with my programming and graphics skills. 

I am thinking about restricting my future games to countries where the game is sold.  i.e. the game would ping the users mobile ip address.  Or require some kind of simple registration to activate the game while at the same time checking the IP (country location).  There are some good suggestions from this article (toward the bottom): http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MaryMin/20160520/273132/How_to_Fight_Chinas_Mobile_Game_Pirates__Avoid_Clash_Royales_Fate.php

Has anyone else noticed this problem for indie developers?  Or does anyone have any insights on this subject before I spend time investing valuable time in another new game?

Thanks for your honest answers guys and gals.  JE

#2

I think most people wouldn’t have the idea to google and find a ripped apk. And those that would aren’t going to pay for it anyway. Hopefully there are enough honest people to make it worth your while.

#3

@jan0,

You’ve got the wrong focus.  As disheartening as it is to see your work given away fro free by some jerkwad, there is little you can do without investing very significant effort, time, and money.

I think most experienced developers will tell you:

  • Don’t worry about it.  
  • You can’t prevent it no matter how smart you are.  This is what these jerks do for fun and/or a living. 
  • These people were not going to give you money anyways.

Please note, I have direct experience with this problem (in multiple mediums).

Case 1 -  I spent about 5 years of my spare time writing two tech books.  I released them through AK Peters as print only books (initially) and within weeks of release, both books were available as PDFs for free on some seedy websites.

(Why were you looking on Seedy websites you ask? :slight_smile:  I was worried, as you are, that my work was being stolen.  I learned there isn’t any way to stop folks like these.)

Case 2 - I sold (and still sell) game templates.  Lo and behold one day I found some of my templates for sale on Chupamobile and for much more than I was selling them.  A cease-and-desist letter took about 1.5 months to have an effect.

My last bit of advice to you is:

  1. If you’re doing this to make money first and for the love of it second, maybe you should reconsider your goals or consider getting hooked up with a publisher who has more tools and clout to deal with such issues.

  2. Just do this for the fun of it first and enjoy the fact that somewhere, somehow, somebody has downloaded your game and is playing it.

PS - One more note.  If you monetize with ads and your game is re-distributed by un-official sites, you should be fine.

#4

Hey.  You should post official game link(s) so we can check it out. 

Never mind, found your site and found links to game:

#5

Thanks roaminggamer for you insightful comments.   I agree that there are people who will shamelessly rip games for free because it’s in their DNA to simply do that.  There really is no way to stop it no matter the authoring platform.  I would say I make games mostly because I like designing the game play, creating the graphics and doing the programming.  The publishing part is more work than I anticipated and was not that much ‘fun’.  I never really did much social media work either which is critical. The first game was really a test run though the entire game making process. 

From what I have found on the subject so far, there are three main ways to hinder these side-loading hacks:

1.  Develop a different monetization strategy and think over freemium.

2.  Have some game-server checks and verification methods

3.  Require some kind of activation via a registration process. 

I think for now I will proceed and concentrate on the game and not worry about the pirates.  Ironically my next game is about haunted pirates.  Hopefully with the wider audience focus and doing more social media outreach, will make the game more rewarding financially too.

 

#6

I forgot to say, “Kudos on having a game out there.”  You’re doing better than 90% of the folks who call themselves Indie developers merely by finishing and publishing something.

Oh, and I hear what you’re saying and agree.

  • Making games == Booya!  Fun!
  • All the other stuff (publishing, marketing, social stuff, achievements and leaderboards, …) == ick, do I really have to do this? Yes?  Beelzebub! 
#7

@Jan: I second all of Ed’s comments, especially the kudos on releasing. I love good point-n-clickers. The app looks great on the store listing. You’ve got my 99 cents, sir. :wink:

I’ll be sure to leave a review.

#8

I think most people wouldn’t have the idea to google and find a ripped apk. And those that would aren’t going to pay for it anyway. Hopefully there are enough honest people to make it worth your while.

#9

@jan0,

You’ve got the wrong focus.  As disheartening as it is to see your work given away fro free by some jerkwad, there is little you can do without investing very significant effort, time, and money.

I think most experienced developers will tell you:

  • Don’t worry about it.  
  • You can’t prevent it no matter how smart you are.  This is what these jerks do for fun and/or a living. 
  • These people were not going to give you money anyways.

Please note, I have direct experience with this problem (in multiple mediums).

Case 1 -  I spent about 5 years of my spare time writing two tech books.  I released them through AK Peters as print only books (initially) and within weeks of release, both books were available as PDFs for free on some seedy websites.

(Why were you looking on Seedy websites you ask? :slight_smile:  I was worried, as you are, that my work was being stolen.  I learned there isn’t any way to stop folks like these.)

Case 2 - I sold (and still sell) game templates.  Lo and behold one day I found some of my templates for sale on Chupamobile and for much more than I was selling them.  A cease-and-desist letter took about 1.5 months to have an effect.

My last bit of advice to you is:

  1. If you’re doing this to make money first and for the love of it second, maybe you should reconsider your goals or consider getting hooked up with a publisher who has more tools and clout to deal with such issues.

  2. Just do this for the fun of it first and enjoy the fact that somewhere, somehow, somebody has downloaded your game and is playing it.

PS - One more note.  If you monetize with ads and your game is re-distributed by un-official sites, you should be fine.

#10

Hey.  You should post official game link(s) so we can check it out. 

Never mind, found your site and found links to game:

#11

Thanks roaminggamer for you insightful comments.   I agree that there are people who will shamelessly rip games for free because it’s in their DNA to simply do that.  There really is no way to stop it no matter the authoring platform.  I would say I make games mostly because I like designing the game play, creating the graphics and doing the programming.  The publishing part is more work than I anticipated and was not that much ‘fun’.  I never really did much social media work either which is critical. The first game was really a test run though the entire game making process. 

From what I have found on the subject so far, there are three main ways to hinder these side-loading hacks:

1.  Develop a different monetization strategy and think over freemium.

2.  Have some game-server checks and verification methods

3.  Require some kind of activation via a registration process. 

I think for now I will proceed and concentrate on the game and not worry about the pirates.  Ironically my next game is about haunted pirates.  Hopefully with the wider audience focus and doing more social media outreach, will make the game more rewarding financially too.

 

#12

I forgot to say, “Kudos on having a game out there.”  You’re doing better than 90% of the folks who call themselves Indie developers merely by finishing and publishing something.

Oh, and I hear what you’re saying and agree.

  • Making games == Booya!  Fun!
  • All the other stuff (publishing, marketing, social stuff, achievements and leaderboards, …) == ick, do I really have to do this? Yes?  Beelzebub! 
#13

@Jan: I second all of Ed’s comments, especially the kudos on releasing. I love good point-n-clickers. The app looks great on the store listing. You’ve got my 99 cents, sir. :wink:

I’ll be sure to leave a review.