Flappy Bird remains a huge hit online, but people looking to find a copy of the discontinued game won’t be able to turn to eBay
The simple game became a viral sensation in recent weeks, reaching the top of the app download charts before crashing back to earth when creator Dong Nguyen announced abruptly that he was taking the game down.
Gamers who still wanted to get their Flappy Bird fix and those interested in seeing what the fuss is all about have turned to other means, including not-so-legal downloads and expensive eBay sales.This week an iPhone 5 that included a download of the game sold for a reported $94,000 .
But doubt was cast on whether the auction was genuine, and those doubts intensified when the posting vanished form the website without an explanation or proof that the transaction was completed.
Reports later on Tuesday confirmed that eBay was deleting listings of Flappy Bird from the site. The auction site requires all smartphones and tablets to be restored to factory settings, which meant sales with games installed were invalid.
One user shared with MacRumors the email that eBay sent him when it removed his listing:
After reviewing your eBay account, it appears that you have not followed eBay’s guidelines to list a device that can hold media or software. As a result, we’ve taken the following action:
– Listings have been removed. – We have credited all associated fees except for the final value fee for your listing(s).
Smartphones and tablets must be restored to factory settings before they are allowed to be sold on eBay. Please remove all content from your device, including the game Flappy Bird, before you attempt to list your item again. Please be sure your current and future listings follow these guidelines, keeping in mind that additional listing violations could result in the suspension of your account.
We understand that you may have been unaware of these guidelines, and we encourage you to learn how to keep your experiences on eBay successful.
We appreciate your cooperation. Thanks,
eBay
Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen said his game became an “addictive product” and that he removed it to protect users from the game. So while people looking to find Flappy Bird online may be out of luck, those who have already installed it can continue to play it.