An upcoming indie game known as Super Zoo Story has been earning a lot of attention online, but not all of it is positive. Many are pointing out how suspiciously similar the art style and graphics are to Stardew Valley.
It's not strange to see games, especially farming simulators, inspired by Stardew Valley pop up in the indie scene. Ever since its sole developer Eric Barone proved that anyone could make a video game with enough time and dedication, many have chosen to follow in his inspirational footsteps. Coral Island, which saw a wildly successful campaign on Kickstarter, is a great example that implements the same farming sim format with Stairway Games' own art style. However, there's a difference between inspiration and imitation, say Stardew Valley fans, and it looks like Super Zoo Story may have crossed it.
Super Zoo Story's development studio has been posting updates on social media, keeping its fans updated on the game's progress. However, recently, some Twitter users have noted the eerie similarities between its graphics and Stardew Valley's. When looking at the two games side-by-side, it's easy to see where models, portraits, textures, and even dialogue text may have been not just inspired by ConcernedApe, but possibly even copied, some viewers are accusing.
What's most concerning to some is the way Zoo Story's developer has responded to the criticism on Twitter. While some responses are simply firm, stating that "inspiration isn't illegal," others are more aggressive. Responding to one user's accusation that the developer is "stealing art," one screenshot shows the developer saying, "That's bull****!"
However, not all of the attention is negative. Some are still excited for Super Zoo Story and don't see the issue with the comparable graphics. For now, it doesn't look like Zoo Story's developer has any intention of changing the game's art.
Super Zoo Story is currently in development.