Party like it’s 1981!

By Nigel Wood, UK
for www.iphonegamesnetwork.com

Published: January 3, 2009

Developer Mobile 1UP have created an iPhone based homage to the classic Nintendo Game & Watch titles with the release of their GW series of games. Currently available are Helmet, Chef, Parachute, Octopus and Fire. Helmet is free with others retailing for $1.99 on the AppStore.

So, is this copyright violation? On their blog, Mobile 1UP say: “It definitely is a grey area - one has to ask: what is a clone or ripoff? Are color/gem matching games infringing someone’s intellectual property? Is an emulator or simulator illegal? It is a long heated debate that echos through the gaming industry and always will.”

Apparantly Nintendo have been in contact with them in the past specifically requesting that IPs such as Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr and Mario Bros are not to be used. With GW Helmet currently enjoying the top spot for free games in the Japanese AppStore. It seems there’s certainly a market for this kind of game, and it can be only a matter of time before the bean counters at Nintendo spring into action once again.