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Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

alexc.me

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Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#21

Post by [deleted] »

pharrington wrote: post #18
Rubyred wrote: post #2

Maybe I'm over-sensitive, but the game sounds like it makes light of animal abuse. So very, very not cool.

Maybe I'm over-sensitive You are. But worse, you didn't watch the video. Why would you try to comment on something you're not going to even try to examine? As another comment pointed out, the game's just a play (haw) on the Whack-a-Kitty youtube video. The game looks only slightly less adorable. It's also showing how even any game, even those as brutally simple as this, require * ton* of attention to graphics (which…

[deleted]

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#22

Post by Rubyred »

TrevorJ wrote: post #17
TheAmazingIdiot wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Animal abuse is usually illegal, and especially to target an animal that is regarded as a pet makes it more the inhumane. However, there are plenty of games that promote violence in our culture, but do we need yet another one? I don't think so. They are free to make it, but they also take the responsibility of releasing it. Perhaps from a corporate stance, it may be about social responsibility. However, I mean person…

You are simply extending the argument to ridiculousness to make a point. What about the game angry birds? It features suicidal birds with bombs strapped to them that you fling into buildings to kill pigs.

It's a stupid, highly overrated game for sheeple.

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#23

Post by fredoliveira »

Rubyred wrote: post #22
TrevorJ wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are simply extending the argument to ridiculousness to make a point. What about the game angry birds? It features suicidal birds with bombs strapped to them that you fling into buildings to kill pigs.

It's a stupid, highly overrated game for sheeple.

That was arrogant, but to make you happy, why don't we just call this game a "highly overrated game for sheeple" too and let it slide?

Are you one of those people who believe GTA makes kids steal cars, or that sonic the hedgehog makes kids run into walls and try to loop around their ceiling?

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#24

Post by alex_c »

wtracy wrote: post #9
Rubyred wrote: post #2

Maybe I'm over-sensitive, but the game sounds like it makes light of animal abuse. So very, very not cool.

The site isn't loading for me, but I'm guessing it's a reference to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_udqEp_YR4

My server seems to be choking... not sure why, since server load isn't particularly high, I'm messing with caching to try to get it under control.

And yes, you are absolutely right - the game is based on that video.

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#25

Post by pharrington »

Rubyred wrote: post #22
TrevorJ wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are simply extending the argument to ridiculousness to make a point. What about the game angry birds? It features suicidal birds with bombs strapped to them that you fling into buildings to kill pigs.

It's a stupid, highly overrated game for sheeple.

"sheeple" Oh, you're just trolling. It's more fun if you keep it subtle.

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#26

Post by tzs »

Rubyred wrote: post #7
glhaynes wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Completely regardless of "social responsibility" or "over-sensitivity" or anything like that: what effect does that name have on sales/downloads? I wouldn't think it'd be good. And, yes, that's "unfair" since it's a play on Whack-A-Mole (which I've never heard complained about)... are moles more OK to whack than kitties? Still, that's the way the world works, and I wouldn't have used that name for my own game for tha…

Whacking any kind of animal is not cool. But I wonder, with all the creative possibilities in the universe, why would someone design a game around abusing kittens?

> But I wonder, with all the creative possibilities in the universe, why would someone design a game around abusing kittens?

They didn't. Maybe you should actually look at the game sometime.

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#27

Post by CopyrightTroll »

alanfalcon wrote: post #20
Rubyred wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whacking any kind of animal is not cool. But I wonder, with all the creative possibilities in the universe, why would someone design a game around abusing kittens?

Watch the video. It's based on a Youtube clip of someone gently prodding adorable little kittens back into a box with a very soft mallet. No abuse here, and a valid enough inspiration for a quick game.

No abuse here? It's tastefulness, not abuse.

It will be interesting to see if he releases another game called "Beat the Puppy" or "Tazer the Baby".

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#28

Post by sitmack »

TrevorJ wrote: post #17
TheAmazingIdiot wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Animal abuse is usually illegal, and especially to target an animal that is regarded as a pet makes it more the inhumane. However, there are plenty of games that promote violence in our culture, but do we need yet another one? I don't think so. They are free to make it, but they also take the responsibility of releasing it. Perhaps from a corporate stance, it may be about social responsibility. However, I mean person…

You are simply extending the argument to ridiculousness to make a point. What about the game angry birds? It features suicidal birds with bombs strapped to them that you fling into buildings to kill pigs.

At least the birds are birds and not penises. Flying penises with bombs that attack buildings full of pigs would be wrong.

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#29

Post by alex_c »

glhaynes wrote: post #6
Rubyred wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems you're not cognizant of the impact and impression a name like that can give people. Take some social responsibility. And be prepared to deal with concerns like mine as long as your game has that name.

Completely regardless of "social responsibility" or "over-sensitivity" or anything like that: what effect does that name have on sales/downloads? I wouldn't think it'd be good. And, yes, that's "unfair" since it's a play on Whack-A-Mole (which I've never heard complained about)... are moles more OK to whack than kitties? Still, that's the way the world works, and I wouldn't have used that name for my own game for tha…

Well, for what it's worth, this thread was the first "complaint" about the name. I expected that to happen on YouTube first, but it was actually HN - go figure.

It's really tough to separate the name from all other factors influencing downloads, but I haven't seen any evidence it's hurting.

I think the name is pretty effective, for a few reasons: the most common reaction when I tell people the name, by far, is genuine laughter. I'll take that over polite interest any day. The name is descriptive, anyone who knows what Whack-a-Mole is can make an educated guess about this game (although it's probably cuter than they would expect). And yes, it is a tiny bit naughty - no one ACTUALLY wants to whack a kitten! - which is what makes it memorable, without crossing into offensive or controversial for controversy's sake (at least for the vast majority of people).

Do you have suggestions for other names? I can't think of anything good - "Tap-a-Kitten" or "Tap-a-Kitty" sound a lot more bland and unremarkable. Lots of R-rated names I can think of, but that's the last thing I want to get into in this thread :p

Re: Releasing an iPhone game: Whack-a-Kitty three weeks later

#30

Post by zacharycohn »

I'm sorry that the (very creative and funny) name for your app is causing people to troll here. I think it's an awesome name, and I honestly may not have clicked through to read your article had the name not caught my attention.

I'll pass along some good advice I've heard: Acknowledge and accept suggestions, ignore the haters.

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