Parody game Install Fee Tycoon rips into Unity: "Scam unwitting developers: get rich, and destroy the video game industry in the process!"
Oct. 10, 2023“It looks like you’re trying to defraud developers. I’m happy to help!”
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Thebacklash to Unity’s controversial install feeshas now gone far enough to inspire the ultimate protest: a satirical idle game called Install Fee Tycoon.
TheSteampage runs down the setup better than I can: “Chaos3D, the popular game engine, has started charging developers each time their games are installed in a bid to increase their stock price. They have also reached out to you, a notorious software pirate. Why? So that they can pay you to re-install those same games, of course! Scam unwitting developers: get rich, and destroy the video game industry in the process!”
Yes, folks, this is an idle game in the vein of Cookie Clicker or Clicker Heroes, but here you’re clicking a ‘Reinstall.bat’ file in an effort to help a Unity-style game engine to scam hapless developers for piles of Unity-style install fees. WhileUnity has backed off those feesto an extent, the target of the satire is clear, and the timing of this game’s release couldn’t be more amusing given the timing ofUnity’s CEO making his departure.
It’s all very amusing, and the surprising quality makes sense given Install Fee Tycoon’s pedigree. While the listed developer on Steam, Moonstruck, doesn’t have any other credits, that’s actually an alt name for Over The Moon Games, which previously developed the beloved side-scrolling sci-fi adventure game The Fall and the more recent RPG The Last Hero of Nostalgia, which has its own very positive response onSteam.
After playing a bit of Install Fee Tycoon, I’m hooked, especially since it seems like there might be some kind of narrative ending to look forward to - at least, that’s the impression I’ve gotten from the vague promises of rewards from the emails the evil engine corporation keeps sending me. The game’s only a dollar, and it’s got a 40% launch discount bringing the price down to $0.59 this week. If you’ve got any love for idle games or any disdain for Unity’s recent actions, it’s very much worth a look.
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