Flappy Bird creator flips out and pulls viral hit from app store

THE man behind Flappy Bird has flipped out and pulled the viral hit from the app store. But don’t worry, there is still a way to flap forever.

Be careful for what you wish for ... after the creator of the viral hit game Flappy Birds was inundated with complaints, he h...

IF you were not one of the 50 million people who downloaded Flappy Bird, it’s too late.

Don’t get in a flap ... the game was a viral hit.

Vietnamese games developer Dong Nguyen has flipped out and lived up to his promise to pull the game from the Apple and Google Android app stores, even though it was reportedly bringing in US$50,000 a day through advertising.

Nguyen denied the decision to withdraw the viral hit had anything to do with legal pressures although many felt the game, which required you to fly a bird through a network of pipes, was similar to Nintendo’s Mario Bros.

In a series of tweets, Nguyen said he could not handle the pressure of the game that was such a success but also frustrated so many people.

The free game was launched in May but became a global viral sensation in the past few weeks, with fans taking to social media to complain about the frustrations of playing something they just couldn’t give up.

If you haven’t downloaded the game, ask a friend. If they have already have it on their smartphone, you can still try your hand at tapping on that puffy bird to get it through the gap in the pipes.

I also don't sell 'Flappy Bird', please don't ask.

— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014

There’s another option too. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Nguyen should feel extremely flattered as he licks the wounds from the angry barbs of frustrated Flappy Bird players.

It is not anything related to legal issues. I just cannot keep it anymore.

— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014

There are plenty of other games in the app store that have a very similar name and style.

Flappy Bird is no longer, but you can still play Fly Birdie – Flappy Bird Free, Flappy Bee or Fluffy vs Flappy Birds until you all flip out like Nguyen.

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