On February 8 2014, Dong Nguyen, the creator of #FlappyBird, a game which was holding number one position both on iOS and Android, declared that he is taking the game down.
I am sorry ‘Flappy Bird’ users, 22 hours from now, I will take ‘Flappy Bird’ down. I cannot take this anymore.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
Post this tweet, the news went viral with all the leading media houses picking it, analysing and reporting it in their own style. Everyone was keen to know that what suddenly made Dong come up with such a thought. Even Nguyen himself denied selling the game, only thing he said was he couldn’t take more.
I also don’t sell ‘Flappy Bird’, please don’t ask. — Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
It is not anything related to legal issues. I just cannot keep it anymore. — Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
The fans of the game were not too happy and Twitter was abuzz with mixed emotions. We gathered a few tweets here which describe how people reacted to it.
Somehow I don’t think killing #flappybird was a good way to avoid publicity.
— Peter Lee (@petersnlee) February 9, 2014
☹ @leifro: RIP flappy bird you were the best viral flapping retarded bird app of all time, thanks 4 all the memories #RIPFlappyBird”
— Atha Zastha S (@athazastha) February 9, 2014
#dontdeleteflappybird #DongNguyen Please don’t remove it from our play store! It’s an awesome game! — Jimmy Duong (@BigAznJimmy) February 9, 2014
the creator of flappy bird is a total idiot for throwing all the money away he could have made from that app, silly man — abi (@mermxids_) February 9, 2014
you may be off the market but we’ll still be tapping you like crazy un-updated… #RIPFlappyBird pic.twitter.com/w318NVI091 — (@frantangel) February 9, 2014
Waiting for the creator of #FlappyBird to get sued by Nintendo. — Mr. Wala (@MrWala) February 10, 2014
@dongatory Please Return to the Game Flappy Bird! It is really an annoying game, but addictive! Return Pleasee! #flappybird #BackFlappyBird — WE LOVE YOU NIALL (@AleneHoran_1D) February 10, 2014
I bet the App Store reviewers will have hundreds of #flappybird clones to review tomorrow — Steve Schauer (@steveschauer) February 10, 2014
It’s crazy how #flappybird was taken down and people are selling phones with it installed for like $800 — eddie bello (@Edddiiieee182) February 10, 2014
People say ‘flappy bird’ ruined their lives.. I think they over exaggerate and now there is no more flappy bird.. #RIPFlappyBird — Brittany (@brittanylaurel_) February 10, 2014
According to a report by Forbes, Dong’s Twitter fan following increased by 45,000 followers since he tweeted about taking the game down. Also the reviews of the game skyrocketed after the announcement.
Though no one is sure that why one of the most famous mobile games is being shut down, but I am sure that the negative publicity coupled with the right media attention has brought Dong the fame he was fading away from.
