Flap Back Into the Future: Is Flappy Bird’s Comeback a Web3 Feathered Fraud?

Flappy Bird is soaring back into the gaming scene, apparently this time with a side of Web3! But the Web3 part of the story comes a bit later, so be patient. 😜

Anyway, the Flappy Bird Foundation announced the relaunch last Thursday. They even blessed the game’s fans with a super flashy trailer and a brand-new website. 💥

Ten and a half years after its original creator, Dong Nguyen, pulled it from the app stores, claiming it was “gone forever”—surprise! “The fans” who decided to bring it back must have found a magic feather! 🐦Many other fans are excited to stay in their sweatpants all day, tapping away on their phones, thanks to the addictive nature of this game.

But Not Everybody’s Happy—What Gives?

Now here’s the stickler: Nguyen, the genius behind the original indie game, is sitting this one out and expressly distancing himself from the whole frenzy. He explicitly stated he does not support crypto! 😬

No, I have no related with their game. I did not sell anything.
I also don't support crypto.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) September 15, 2024

Looks like this comeback isn’t getting his stamp of approval, but who can blame him for trying to avoid a feathery mess? 🤭

Nguyen being aloof about this relaunch has some people wondering about the game’s legacy, but it seems to be chugging along nicely. So far. For some users anyway. 🤐

Avid fans still tip their hats to the original brains behind it—that’s for sure—but they’re definitely loving this comeback. And if he’s not happy about it… they’re thinking… sorry not sorry? 😁

But on the other hand, his lack of enthusiasm may actually be warranted. This part is a wee bit insane so prepare to be blown away.

A Side of Web3 or a Nostalgia-Driven Scam?

As it turns out, an eagle-eyed web developer and cybersecurity researcher named Varun Biniwale did some digging and discovered that the website for the “official” Flappy Bird is a veritable treasure trove of hidden pages filled with juicy tidbits. Not one of these made it into the trailer or the main site during the relaunch announcement! 👻

Are you ready for the craziest part? The now-deleted “3-$Flap” page on the site, which let the cat—or should I say bird—out of the bag gave him the inside track on what this project is really about. 🤨 So people are now finding out about the skeleton in the closet way before the Flappy Bird Foundation wanted them to catch on. Oops! 🤯

What’s on that page? Before it got deleted, it showed details about the game being built on the Solana blockchain—the hangout spot for some of the most notorious Web3 game developers and NFT wheeler-dealers. 😈👹

Biniwale’s report also showed early builds of the new Flappy Bird, which has fully playable levels, a main menu, and wait, what’s that now? That’s right—deep in that jungle, he found several crypto wallet references scattered like breadcrumbs. 😳 Wait, what again? But the “official” socials and website never made any mention of these until Monday, when the X account posted about its Flap-a-TON event! Why is that now? Hmm. Something doesn’t quite add up. 🤨❓

Under the original relaunch tweet of the Flappy Bird account, a context post warns users that the new version of the game “has no relation to the original creators and seems to be a crypto scam/using fans nostalgia for the game to sell NFTs.” Major yikes! 👀☠️

Trademark Drama and Unanswered Questions

The team immediately became aware of the questions and rumors going around and decided to answer them via a statement on X. Yet somehow they missed the biggest elephant in the room, which is whether or not this game is a crypto scam. 🥴☠️

If Nguyen denies any part in this remake, says he never sold it, and decries crypto, how did it end up with this new team?

Well, it turns out the Flappy Bird trademark was “abandoned” and just collecting dust somewhere so they just happily claimed it. Yes, just like that! 🤷🏻

"But why would Nguyen sell the Flappy Bird Trademark??" "Hope he got his bag"
Looks like he *didn't*.
It seems like it's been long enough that the trademark was considered abandoned, so Gametech Holdings LLC filed against him, and just. Grabbed it for free. pic.twitter.com/EwVzuOLcHm
— Samperson (@SamNChiet) September 12, 2024

Caught in the Flap: Nostalgia or Nightmare?

A couple of things to think about here:

💭 How will the Web3 components of Flappy Bird play out?

💭 Is it weird that the relaunch announcement did not mention a hint of Web3 and the creators of the new version only posted about its “Tap, Flap and Win” event when people started asking questions?

💭 Could this be a crypto ponzi scheme after all?

💭 Was the move by the Flappy Bird Foundation ethical?

💭 If a game’s trademark is “abandoned” and the creator/owner has been MIA, is taking it for yourself without their authorization a right-minded action?

At least we already know Nguyen definitely did not approve this in any way. But let this be a reminder for you to be careful if you plan on diving into this game or if you already did! ⚠️ Just make sure not to connect any wallets without thinking about it ten times! 🧐

Disclaimer: If you’re a Flappy Bird fan, before you dive headfirst into anything, you might want to do some detective work! 🕵🏼‍♂️ This saga is still unfolding and anything could happen. Game smart, play safe!

Malaya has positions in SHIB, ETH, USDT, MATIC, etc. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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