As "Flappy Bird" soared to its height in popularity earlier this year, its maker Dong Nguyen decided to shoot it down from the Apple and Android markets. However, unlike the game character that falls down to the ground face flat and with a big thwack, "Flappy Bird" might just have another life.
In an interview with the Rolling Stone, the 28-year-old mobile game maker said that the hit game that topped game charts in multiple different countries might soar high again.
"As for the future of his flapper, he's still turning down offers to purchase the game. Nguyen refuses to compromise his independence. But will Flappy Bird ever fly again? 'I'm considering it," Nguyen says. He's not working on a new version, but if he ever releases one it will come with a 'warning' he explains: "Please take a break," reported the Rolling Stone.
Nguyen initially warned fans that he was taking the game down on the morning of Feb. 9 Hanoi time. In just hours, "Flappy Bird" was downloaded 22 million times. He kept his word and killed the game later that same day.
The world was puzzled why the creator would pull a game that was earning him $50,000 a day.
"It is not anything related to legal issues. I just cannot keep it anymore," tweeted Nguyen that Sunday when he decided to stop other people from downloading his app. There were reports that the quiet programmer who was clearly inspired by the classic Super Mario Bros. Nintendo game just did not like all the attention.
Upon discovering the identity of the game designer, throngs of press people trooped to stalk Nguyen. He also received tons of text messages blaming him for making a game so addicting that it actually led to people being fired from their jobs, destroying their gadgets, or not finishing their homework, Nguyen told Rolling Stone.
He also showed the publication three mobile games that he is working on. All show the trademark old graphics and torture-like difficulty that Nguyen became famous for. He will be releasing one of the titles before the end of March.
While his game was copied, imitated, and ripped off by game designers who want to ride the success of his effort, Nguyen is confident that there is only one Flappy Bird.
"People can clone the app because of its simplicity but they will never make another Flappy Bird,'" he said.
After the game was taken down, the reaction of fans was generally considered crazy. People tried to sell smartphones with the game already installed in them for prices on par with luxury sports cars and even petitioned that President Barack Obama intervene to bring back the game.
With the possibility that the hit game will make a comeback, perhaps addicted gamers can ready their fingers to once again begin to untiringly start tapping their screens.
