Buzz
Before being permanently removed by the publisher himself, Flappy Bird had stirred up the gaming world for a long time.
In 2014, the youth and gaming community in Vietnam were captivated by what seemed like a 'silly' game, but turned out to be mentally challenging - Flappy Bird. Born in 2013, just a year later, Flappy Bird became the most searched keyword on Google. This game was even compared to South Korea's Gangnam Style, bringing immense wealth to its creator, Nguyen Ha Dong, and making him famous worldwide.
With a retro gaming style reminiscent of the 90s, Flappy Bird attracted players with its intense and exhilarating gameplay, especially when achieving high scores. Players had to continuously tap on the screen to control the 'bird' to navigate through green pipes. Each successful pass earned them one point. The game only ended when the bird fell or collided with the pipes. Although seemingly simple, Flappy Bird drove players to frustration, leading to phone smashing and fits of rage due to its challenging nature. However, the more players engaged, the more addictive it became.
Initially, upon its release, Flappy Bird didn't receive much marketing hype, quietly sitting on the App Store. Everything changed when a famous streamer casually played and expressed frustration while attempting to beat Flappy Bird. From then on, the 'bird' navigating through pipes caused a global frenzy, consistently topping download charts for many consecutive days. This unexpected success helped Nguyen Ha Dong earn billions of dollars daily.
However, the unexpected success was accompanied by controversies and accusations. First, rumors circulated about copyright infringement regarding the green pipe design, similar to another famous game. Then, tax authorities took notice, and there were even allegations of cheating to reach the top spot on the App Store. The peak of controversy came when Nguyen Ha Dong received frequent emails from people who lost their jobs or mothers who stopped communicating with their children due to Flappy Bird. The relentless pursuit, criticism, and accusations left the 28-year-old man exhausted, sleepless, and unwilling to leave his house.
Famous and earning billions daily, yet burdened with immense pressure, Nguyen Ha Dong made a decision that drove the world crazy once again - he personally pressed the delete button on Flappy Bird.
Currently, after terminating his brainchild, Nguyen Ha Dong continues to operate his game company. Many express regret over Flappy Bird and Nguyen Ha Dong's golden era, yet others eagerly anticipate another global sensation from him.
