by KingCroc
A couple of points:I don't find it "immoral" for someone to "clone" a game, just as I don't find it immoral if someone were to check a book out of the library, transcribe it, and then keep that transcription for itself. It's a bit weird to go to that much trouble, but as long as someone is not intending to sell the copy for profit, I'm fairly neutral toward it.
But I agree with several of the counterpoints:
You aren't just paying for the material components of the game but for the time spent designing and creating the game. Just as when you buy a book or a painting, you aren't just buying the paper and ink or the frame and canvas.
Secondly, King of Tokyo isn't a rip off of Godzilla. It is an homage to the kaiju genre which existed long before Godzilla or even movies if you go by mythology. As such, the notion that the game designers don't deserve respect because they're basing their work off of previously established ideas basically means that NOTHING is of any value, since I guarantee EVERYTHING is influenced and partly based on some previous idea or concept.
In other words, claiming that the creators are guilty of cloning themselves is absurd and a weak justification at best.
King of Tokyo is a great game, and I've gotten more than my money's worth in terms of hours of enjoyment I've gotten out of it. If you appreciate the game too, it's strange to dismiss the work of the creators.
Finally, if you just like making clones as a hobby, then go for it. But there's no need to justify it beyond that.