While players of Flappy Bird spent the weekend trying for double digit scores and smashing their phones in frustration, the game’s maker shocked the world by announcing that he would be pulling the game.
As of last night, Dong Nguyen removed the #1 game from the iTunes and Google Play Stores after being bombarded by press inquiries and offers to buy his game.
The straightforward and addictive game was brilliantly summarized by The Atlantic:
“Flappy Bird is a stupid game. You control a bird so cute as to signal deformity. Tapping the screen causes the bird to flap, making it rise slightly before quickly falling. The game asks only that you pilot the bird through narrow passageways between two green, Super Mario-style pipes that issue from the top and bottom of the screen. A point is awarded for every pipe you pass. But touch anything and the cute bird tumbles beak-first into the ground: game over.”
Nguyen took to Twitter to announce the apps removal:
I am sorry 'Flappy Bird' users, 22 hours from now, I will take 'Flappy Bird' down. I cannot take this anymore.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
I also don't sell 'Flappy Bird', please don't ask.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
Many were puzzled by the news especially after it was revealed last week that Nguyen was making US$50,000 per day from banner ads within the game. Based on his comments, it seems like Nguyen simply disliked the complexity it was bringing to his life:
Press people are overrating the success of my games. It is something I never want. Please give me peace.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 4, 2014
I can call 'Flappy Bird' is a success of mine. But it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
But fear not, if you’ve already downloaded the game, it’ll stick around on your device and if you haven’t, some have joked (?) about selling their phones with the app for exorbitant sums:
Selling my iPhone 5 with Flappy Bird installed. $3,000 only.
— Nghia Nguyen (@dnghia) February 10, 2014
It’s unclear if Nguyen will pull his other games including Super Ball Juggling which currently ranks #5 in the iTunes Store.
