Mole Kart (Mario Kart ripoff) makes it's way to the iOS App Store

[Crunchwrap]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aebqrBYVq_0
Gameplay video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx2Ri5Zp1n8

This kinda reminds me of the whole "Final Combat (http://fc.xunlei.com/)" kerfuffle that everyone was talking about here on SPUF a couple months ago (TF2 knockoff). Is there anything the Chinese won't copy?

[Bearkin]

? It's been a while since I've played Mario Kart but some of those maps look like exact copies.

[Crunchwrap]

? It's been a while since I've played Mario Kart but some of those maps look like exact copies.

That's because they are. ;) They lifted every track straight from Mario Kart Wii.

[Bearkin]

That's because they are. ;) They lifted every track straight from Mario Kart Wii.

I'm really tempted to buy it... A game like this will for sure get pulled and I want to get it before it does.

[Crunchwrap]

You know, I'm not surprised. As others have said, there's a gap in the market. People love Mario Kart, and millions of people own an iPhone/iPad. If Nintendo ever released a Mario Kart game on iOS, it'd be a massive hit hands down. It's no surprise these Chinese companies are stepping in to try and fill that void for some quick cash.

[Bearkin]

Yeah, I think it's a bad move on Nintendo's part. I'm not economist so my opinion has no credibility but there's a huge of non-Nintendo fans out there that they're just ignoring. In fact, I used to be a Nintendo guy but moved away from it due to lack of games and proper hardware. Sure, I miss my Mario and Zelda and whatnot but I'm not going to buy and/or dust off an old system just for a couple games.

[Sgt.Gotee]

How often do apps like this get passed Apple's filter? This one should've set off a red flag immediately.

[Crunchwrap]

How often do apps like this get passed Apple's filter? This one should've set off a red flag immediately.

There are TONS of apps like this on the App Store. They're not doing anything illegal and they're following all of Apples rules, so I don't see why Apple would ever remove them.

[Sgt.Gotee]

I figured the tracks being identical to the MarioKart counterparts would break some sort of rules. Guess not.

[Europhoria]

Actually it reminds me of that battle between Mumbo Jumbo and a small indie company they claimed ripped of their casual game 'Zuma' where by Apple complied with Mumbo Jumbo's request to remove the game from the Appstore. Don't know what became of that story.

[STEELCITY32]

The only real difference I can see is that turtles are now moles and mushrooms are now rudabegas. Oh China, you so silly.

[Bearkin]

There was a 2D minecraft clone that took images and art straight from Minecraft (I think it was called 'Crafted'), to the point where the inventory was literally the exact same. It made #1, stayed there for a couple weeks, and then one day vanished.

[Crunchwrap]

There was a 2D minecraft clone that took images and art straight from Minecraft (I think it was called 'Crafted'), to the point where the inventory was literally the exact same. It made #1, stayed there for a couple weeks, and then one day vanished.

There are a million and one Minecraft clones on the App Store, Android Market, and Xbox 360 Community games section. It seems like everyone has made one.

[Bearkin]

There are a million and one Minecraft clones on the App Store, Android Market, and Xbox 360 Community games section. It seems like everyone has made one.

This one is unique in that all of the images were literally ripped straight from mine craft and that is was popular.

[Zodiark1593]

I understand filling the void, but the "developers" did not even try to differentiate this game from Mario Kart. The first track in the video, for example, is a near exact replica of Mushroom Gorge in Mario Kart Wii and 7.

In addition, the game looks to have been programmed by amateurs at best. I'm amazed Apple let this slip through.

[Technogeek1994]

Speaking of shameless knockoffs: This app (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wormholes/id436080350?mt=8) sold nearly a thousand copies at $0.99 before VALVe caught it, and forced the app's dev to make it free and add a disclaimer.

Seriously? The "A978 Wormhole Gun"? Try "Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device"!

I was quite surprised that Apple even allowed such an obvious ripoff to get into the App Store in the first place.

[GirlPower23]

iOS App Store is full of blatant ripoffs. I'm shocked you don't see more lawyer action. There is a Mario Ripoff on it. Super Jump World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_WUNfg3uzs&feature=player_embedded)is it's name. Even the title is a ripoff. Although apparently it was removed from the App Store.. so I'm assuming someone *Cough* Nintendo *cough* fired off some letters.

Lets also not forge Super Crate Box a SMB Clone. Then again SMB is commonly cloned.

[Bearkin]

Apparently this game is now temporarily free.