The image below comes from Ian Marsh of Nimblebit, a small, three person company who developed a mobile game called Tiny Tower. Despite rudimentary graphics, the game was fantastic and went on to become Apple's iPhone Game of the Year. A huge honor for a tiny company.
Enter Zynga, corporate raider of creativity and devourer of dreams. They've announced that they're releasing a game called "Dream Heights," which looks and plays EXACTLY like Tiny Tower, but with upgraded graphics that a billion dollar IPO can buy.
Marsh took to Twitter and posted this image @Zynga, which expressed *sincere* congratulations to them for the launch of their new game, complete with side by side screenshots that showcase just how much of a rip-off Dream Heights really is. Zynga has done this with almost every popular title they've produced, including their flagship hit Farmville. This does however, mark the first time a rival company has called them out in such a public and pointed way.
I've said it before, and it's a mantra that can be proven with ease by looking below - Zynga is a creatively, and I would argue morally, bankrupt company, and the sooner investors realize this, the faster they can fade from prominence.
(click to enlarge)
Update in response to this: If you've played Tiny Tower, you know that it's really not like SimTower or Corporation Inc, wheras Dream Heights is almost identical to Tiny Tower. It's not a matter of "inspiration" in this case, it's almost entirely the same game.
