Hidden Pirates Top-Down 3D

Warning: Asset Flip!

Hidden Pirates Top-Down 3D is a Unity Asset flip, what Valve calls a "fake game". The "developer", Hede/Top-Down Games, took the Polygon Pirates Low Poly 3D asset pack Unity Store game assets from the real developers, Synty Games, changed the name, and dumped the result onto Steam. They're attempting to scam people into buying this, so they can get your money for someone else's work.

It gets worse... "Polygon Pirates Low Poly 3D asset pack" has also been shamelessly dumped on Steam by other asset flippers apart from just Hede/Top-Down Games:

• "Hidden World 10 Top-Down 3D", asset flipped by Top-Down Games/Hede
• "Factory Pirates", asset flipped by Big Black Bear/WhackAKey Games

Take a look for yourself... these are all exactly the same game!

Hede/Top-Down Games has shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab. Here's some examples so you can see for yourself:

• "Old Retro Shooter" = Hellish Battle 2.5D Retro FPS developed by Tiny Slime Studio
• "Ero Tennis" = Tennis Mobile - full game developed by Codeer Studio
• "Scream or Die - Virtual Circus" = Cursed Toys Pack developed by Serhat Yucekaya
• "Bow & Crystal Tower Defense" = Archery Simple Demo - Complete Game Template developed by Easy Game Studio
• "Hidden Farm Top-Down 3D" = Farm Life developed by beffio
• "Hidden Build Top-Down 3D" = Polygon Construction Low Poly 3D Art developed by Synty Studios
• "Fears of Glasses o-o World War" = Polygon War Map developed by Synty Studios
• "Save and Survive" = Survival Engine developed by Indie Marc
• "Snowboard" = Snowboard Game Starter Pack developed by Denis Lapiner
• "Ero Snooker" = Snooker 3D developed by Hammad Baig
• "3D PUZZLE - Harbor" = Toon Harbor Pack developed by SICS Games
• "GTH 3033 - Grand Theft Hunter 3033" = POLYGON Apocalypse - Low Poly 3D Art developed by Synty Games

Because this is an almost exact 1:1 copy + paste of the original Unity asset, it's in violation of the Unity Asset Store Terms of Service and EULA. Specifically, Section 2, Subsection 2.2.1a:

Subject to the restrictions set forth in this EULA, Licensor hereby grants to the END-USER a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide, and perpetual license to the Asset solely:(a) to incorporate the Asset, together with substantial, original content not obtained through the Unity Asset Store, into an electronic application or digital media that has a purpose, features, and functions beyond the display, performance, distribution, or use of Assets ("Licensed Product") as an embedded component of that Licensed Product, such that the Asset does not comprise a substantial portion of the Licensed Product

Because the developer misused the asset pack such that it comprises the vast majority of this "game", the developer has unethically and deliberately breached the license agreement. Worse, this intellectual property violation was done in an attempt to profit from their illicit actions. Why is this permitted on Steam?

The products that result from asset flips aren't "real" games. They lack depth and content, because they're just simplistic copies of demos or tutorials. In this case, "Polygon Pirates Low Poly 3D asset pack" is just an asset pack including a series of "pirate" themed 3D low poly characters and assets, and doesn't have any merit as a proper, fully fledged PC game, so this copy+paste of it can't be recommended.

Asset flips don't involve any professional game development. Sure, sometimes they may change a few cosmetic things, swap out different assets etc, but at heart it's functionally identical to the asset they're ripping off.

Asset flips like this are harmful to the gaming industry and to Steam because they reduce the visibility that sincerely made indie games should have, and make it harder for gamers to find real games from genuine developers.

Don't reward this morally bankrupt, unethical behaviour from Hede/Top-Down Games.

Hidden Pirates Top-Down 3D has the completely insane price of $200 USD, which is incredibly suspicious, higher than AAA pricing for an asset flip shovelware scam game. Why would the "developer" put such a high price tag on an asset flip with no true value as a game? There's no direct proof for this, but it's entirely possible this game is priced this way for money laundering or other criminal purposes. Higher prices allow more money to move with fewer transactions. Valve have previously banned developers for running money laundering scams. While there's no direct evidence in this case, it's highly suspicious and gamers should be wary. Given the defects and quality issues with the game, coupled with the unrealistic price, and the questionable ethical nature of the developer and/or their associates (as outlined above), this is impossible to recommend.

Profile Features Limited!
Valve have marked this game as "Profile Features Limited" at the time of this review. This is usually caused by poor sales figures and low community acceptance for the game (to date). Until this status changes, this game will not give you +1 to your Game Collector badge count, appear in profile achievements or any other Steam meta-accomplishments, nor can it be displayed in some profile showcases. If these factors are important to you, it may be worth holding off before buying this game.

10/10 wouldn't play this eh.... game(?) again, extra bonus level called Uninstall looks nice too play though.

100% achievements in a few minutes. Finding the hidden objects was not so easy. Still looking.........