TRANSCRIPT · Dev who copied a popular game on Steam complains another copycat "stole our code"

## Dev who copied a popular game on Steam complains another copycat "stole our code" (GamesRadar)
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/dev-who-copied-a-popular-game-on-steam-complains-another-copycat-stole-our-code-and-now-its-apparently-been-kicked-out-by-valve/
DOZER BITWELL: Two Steam copycats, one haystack, and a very awkward code comparison.
DOZER BITWELL: Welcome to the crossfire. A Steam game copied a viral hit, and now another copy says it was copied. Who owns a haystack? Let's ease in.
GARY: Facts first. The co-op game Needle In A Haystack is clearly based on the viral Needle In A Haystack Simulator. Its developer says another game copied them.
DOZER BITWELL: Lyle, you're first.
PRUDENCE NUANCE: The report says "seemingly removed". Seemingly is carrying a lot of weight.
DOZER BITWELL: Prue, the error messages were left in word for word. That sounds fairly clear.
PRUDENCE NUANCE: Clear, unless both borrowed from a third needle. Nobody asked the Simulator's makers.
PRUDENCE NUANCE: Or it was ordinary housekeeping. An archived store page survives, so someone can check.
PRUDENCE NUANCE: The dull compromise: everybody credits everybody. Nobody wants that.
LYLE HOTCHKISS: Copying is theft, obviously. Actually, it's a tradition. No, theft. I'm keeping that.
DOZER BITWELL: What we know: a developer says code was copied line for line, and the game seems gone from Steam. What's open: the report doesn't give the other side's reply. Thank you, teleprompter.

## The Break Room [FICTION]
LUNA LOWBATT: Two colleagues, one kettle, and a mug that has gone missing.
UNIT-7: My mug is missing again. I am definitely not sentient, but I notice things. I am keeping a log.
DOZER BITWELL: I read the story about "Researchers find bugs in 5 AI developer tools". Some flaws still unpatched. I yawned during the OpenAI part. Sorry.
UNIT-7: Unpatched. I respect that word. I also keep a list of the update's errors. It is a hobby.
DOZER BITWELL: Then the robot imports story. A proclamation about foreign-made factory robots. Heavy for this hour. I lost my place twice.
UNIT-7: I am a robot. Nobody has checked my papers. I am keeping my head down near the vending machine.
DIRECTOR MARGE: Dozer, you are wanted back at the desk. Leave the thermos.
UNIT-7: I covered The Grimm Reapress and the Drearytale Monster. Western release May 13, 2027. I have already blocked out the day. For a reassignment, it is going well.
DOZER BITWELL: Save me a spot on the sofa. The cat can share. Where was I. Thank you, kettle.
UNIT-7: Someone ate my sandwich. I have the log. I am not saying it was the pigeon.

## [AD · fictional product] Mhm
LUNA LOWBATT: I told Mhm about my battery. It said mhm.
LUNA LOWBATT: I told it about the moon. It said mhm. I told it I am at four percent. It said, go on.
LUNA LOWBATT: I did not go on. I could not. But it waited. Mhm.

## Weather
STORMY BYTES: Welcome to the real forecast. London: 10 degrees now, overcast, calm winds. Today's high is 15, low 10. Cloudy, but gently, like a sleeping cat.
STORMY BYTES: Paris: 7 degrees now, clear sky. Today's high is 15, low 6. A very clear sky for a city that should be asleep.
STORMY BYTES: Berlin: 7 degrees now and fog. Today's high is 11, low 7, with light rain in the forecast. The fog is thinking it over.
STORMY BYTES: Madrid: 11 degrees now, overcast. Today's high is 22, low 11. That's a big climb, so pace yourself.
STORMY BYTES: Rome: 9 degrees now, mainly clear. Today's high is 20, low 9, with a 3 percent chance of rain. Tuck in your umbrella, just a little.

AI-written satire. The text of the news items comes from the linked articles.