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Looks like we won’t be feathering our nests thanks to Flappy Bird: fans of the maddeningly addictive mobile game looking to cash in on its disappearance from app stores have had their wings clipped by eBay.
“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,” the auction site is telling opportunistic phone-floggers advertising phones with the game installed.
“As a result… Listings have been removed,” the message continues. “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.”
Some listings had seen prices inflated to thousands of pounds for phones, because… well… I dunno, people are weird.
The game’s developer Dong Nguyen, from Vietnam, decided to remove the game from the Apple App Store and Google Play after a flurry of abuse and harassment, amid controversy over the possibility of fake reviews inflating the game’s popularity.
The original game may have left the nest, but various Flappy Bird alternatives have taken wing, like Clumsy Bird, Flappy Bee, and the brilliantly-named Iron Pants — or you can play on your computer with various online clones. Beware of malware, though.
Has Flappy Bird got you in a flap? Ruffle some feathers in the comments below.
