Zenforms: The Beautiful Yet Potentially Copyright-infringing Pokemon Clone

Freddy
February 14th, 2012 by Freddy

Update: Due to potential misunderstandings on our part; Calis Projects have been contacted for clarification. We wish to apologize in advance for any negative controversy this might have aroused.

iOS developer Calis Projects is in the midst of rolling out its Pokemon-inspired RPG titled Zenforms. The premise is as follows:

“ZENFORMS: Protectors is a 2D RPG for iPhone and iPod Touch (it will also be playable on iPad). You are starting your first day at school to become a Protector, a trainer of ZENFORMS and keeper of the peace. As soon as you begin the game you can create your own look for your hero, or choose the default look for a boy or girl.”

I don’t know about you, but personally, this screams “Copyright Infringment” so blatantly that I am surprised Nintendo hasn’t yet pounced their attorneys on Calis Projects. It will be interesting to see how things develop from here on out; quite frankly, if Serebii can be threatened with litigation for leaking Pokemon information prior to an American release date, then Calis Projects is already dead in the water.

Source: Calis Projects

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  • BTT

    From reading the game’s whole description on their website, I don’t really get the feeling that it’s infringing on any copyright. Inspired sounds like the better term. Sure the high concept is “travel around catching little animals and then beating them against other little animals” but the execution is pretty different and reminds me a lot of Digimon. Besides, it actually give backstory to the ways and reasons of the world, unlike Pokemon does.

    Overall it sounds like a pretty cool game to me, yeah it does seems inspired, but by more things that just Pokemon, and I’m actually kinda digging it. It feels fresh to me. I might end up getting this when the game comes out. I hardly believe Calis Projects has to worry about copyright infringement, and while I’m glad I got to see this I’m not quite sure I understand the brazen reaction to it.

  • V4R

    i completly disagree with the “copyright infringement” statements your talking about, and i cant wait for this game and school?? u never went to school in pokemon and pokemon is about “catching them all” this isnt… According to their website this game is lookin to be its own game with its own ideas and many many people are lookin forward so maybe you should look deeper into it before jumping to the conclusion that it should be shut down.. and why are you soo eager to get this project shut down anyways… its none of you business even if it was copyright (which its not) they’ll deal with it if it was so just leave it to the professionals….

    • David Van Komen

      We never said that it should be shut down. Maybe you should avoid conclusions as well.

      We simply said that this game highly represents and looks like Pokemon, a game that we cover. We post news about this kind of stuff when we get the chance. We also said that there is a high possibility that the project could be shut down. We did not mean to offend the project at all.

  • GNR11

    i fail to see the copyright infringement, calis has its own “zenforms” (
    there is no pikachu in the game) which are completely unique to the
    game, its own storyline (different to pokemon), custom character ( no
    ash ketchum) , unique maps ( no pallet town), villain id imagine is
    unique too ( no team rocket!) hows it infringing upon pokemon exactly???

    i cant wait to play zenforms!

    it may be inspired by the series, but how many things and people have
    been inspired by other people’s creations throughout history??

  • Mike

    I dont think there are copyright infringing. They use the same school monster capture stuff, but they are different. You should really read the description on the website. Plus Pokemon is no longer just a game, it became a standar of games “pokemon like”. Just like mario did to platform games, or resident evil did to horror, and so on.

    Im pretty glad they are doing this project and since they are small company, they can receive feedback from fans and make a Wonderful Game. I have my hopes on it.

    If nintendo wants, they can release a pokemon game for IOS. They are losing money being close minded…

  • Anonymous

    Reminds me of Mizkrits, a Facebook Pokémon ripoff (even though they introduced some cool gameplay mechanics that Pokémon hadn’t

  • BTT

    In response to your edit: Perhaps reading through your source material first would have avoided the controversy in the first place. Despite clearly not having said anywhere that you feel this should be taken down, the language and general tone of the article, albeit short, implies otherwise. 

  • Fuckthissite

    Stfu

  • Facebookbox

    how is it copyright infringement? It appears to me that you didn’t do your research, saying ZENFORMS is like pokemon is like saying basketball is the same as bowling simply because there is a ball involved. 
    The evolution mechanism is unique to the game. The capture system is unique to the game. The creatures are entirely unique to the game. The maps are entirely unique to the game. Even the way battles play out are unique to the game.

    Do some research before you write your next article. http://calisprojects.com/forum/

  • Facebookbox

    how is it copyright infringement? It appears to me that you didn’t do your research, saying ZENFORMS is like pokemon is like saying basketball is the same as bowling simply because there is a ball involved. 
    The evolution mechanism is unique to the game. The capture system is unique to the game. The creatures are entirely unique to the game. The maps are entirely unique to the game. Even the way battles play out are unique to the game.

    Do some research before you write your next article. http://calisprojects.com/forum/



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