Flappy Bird was far from being a flop, but as it soared high in the mobile application world, its creator decided to shoot it down.
Creator Dong Nguyen from Vietnam clipped the wings of the free game that topped both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store on Sunday, Feb. 9. Flappy Bird hit the jackpot--it was downloaded more than 50 million times and reportedly earned $50,000 on advertising revenues on a daily basis.
Nguyen, who also has other titles such as "Shuriken Block" and "Super Ball Juggling" in his portfolio, warned about the demise of his hit game on Twitter.
"I am sorry 'Flappy Bird' users, 22 hours from now I will take 'Flappy Bird' down. I cannot take this anymore," tweeted Nguyen who goes by the handle @dongatory on Twitter.
"I can call 'Flappy Bird' is a success of mine. But it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it," said Nguyen in another tweet.
While fans of the game that features old gaming graphics might have a big question mark above their heads at the moment, there is a lot of speculation as to why the independent game developer pulled the trigger.
The uncanny similarity of the green pipes to the all time Nintendo classic "Mario Bros." led everyone to think that it might be due to possible legal action from the Japanese manufacturer. However, Nguyen was quick to brush aside this theory.
"It is not anything related to the legal issues. I just cannot keep it anymore," he said in another tweet.
A Nintendo spokesperson also said that the claim is just but a rumor.
"It sounds very much like a rumour, and if it is, we certainly can't comment on that," said the Nintendo spokesperson.
There are also reports that it was a marketing gambit to warn addicted Flappy Bird gamers that the application will be killed, and in turn, generate more downloads or interest for the creator's next offerings. Now that Nguyen has pulled the plug, there are those saying that he just cannot take the pressure of his overnight success or the bullying from angry mobile gamers who are frustrated with the difficult game.
"And I still make games," tweeted Nguyen. So, there will definitely be a next chapter, another attempt to take the top spot.
For those who missed downloading the game, there are other alternatives out there.
"Clumsy Bird" is actually a clone of "Flappy Bird." The creator of this game changed the green pipes of the game to logs, the urban background to trees and mountains and the main character looks very similar to the red bird of "Angry Birds."
There is also a game called "Flappy Wings," whose creator claims that it offers a better gaming experience than the game it cloned. It features catchy music and allegedly simpler controls.
Another potential heir to the throne is "Iron Pants." Just like "Flappy Birds," gamers must lead the character through a series of obstacles.
Penguin lovers can turn to "Flappy Penguin." The action happens under water and like other flapping birds on spotlight at the moment, the character needs to avoid underwater hazards.
"Squishy Bird" is the antithesis of "Flappy Bird." This can be a great alternative for those who want to take revenge to the flappy main character of the popular game. Instead of flying, the gamer controls the pipes and taps them to crush birds trying to pass through.
Goodbye, Flappy Bird. It seems the game is dead because of popularity overdose. It has been a short flight, but it has been far from tragic.
