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Flappy Bird Creator Deleted Game Because It Was Too Addictive

Flappy Bird Creator Deleted Game Because It Was Too Addictive

He said he wanted his 'simple life' back

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

The creator of one of the world's most popular free apps, Flappy Bird, said he deleted the game because he knew it was too addictive, saying it ruined his 'simple life'.

If you're old enough, you'll remember the game - despite it being really simple, you just couldn't put it down. But it seems the man who made it - Vietnamese developer Dong Nguyen - regretted ever creating it.

It was taken off online stores in 2014, after being made in just a few days. Although it was simple, it made the creator an estimated $50,000 (£30,480) a day from advertising.

PA

At the time, Nguyen said the removal of Flappy Bird from the app store was not due to any legal issues, instead saying he decided to bin the game because of how addictive it was.

Speaking to Forbes, he said: "Flappy Bird was designed to play in a few minutes when you are relaxed.

"But it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem.

"To solve that problem, it's best to take down Flappy Bird. It's gone forever."

Since he removed it, he not only walked away from his game, but from the fortune it was making him.

In other tweets he sent during the app's brief moment of fame, the creator of the craze said: "Press people are overrating the success of my games.

"It is something I never want. Please give me peace."

When he was wondering whether to pull the game, Forbes reported that for Nguyen, it was the guilt that made his decision.

He told the news outlet that his 'life has not been as comfortable' as it was before. He told them he couldn't sleep with all the attention the game brought him.

He said of the decision to delete the app: "I don't think it's a mistake. I have thought it through."

PA

But some positives did come from it. He added: "After the success of Flappy Bird, I feel more confident, and I have freedom to do what I want to do."

The game had people so hooked, that once it was no longer available to download, phones that had the game on were selling for huge amounts of money.

After the game was suddenly withdrawn, sellers were putting them up for sale for anywhere between $300 to $5,000 (£219 to £3,600).

Although most of the time, second-hand phones were sold with all the data removed, the sellers managed to wipe the phone, then put an existing copy of the game on from their desktops.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: GAMING, Entertainment