This entire medium is built on iteration. Basically every fantasy thing you ever played was basically a palette swap of Tolkien or someone who copied Tolkien before them. Original D&D had “hobbits” until they were changed into halflings. Palworld is also parody, which thrives on the similarity as it calls pals bastards for breaking out of their capture, or arms them with modern weaponry. Not only that, but “survival game with a riff on Pokemon” is creating something original.
Aielman15@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Uh, didn’t know Earthsea, Game of Thrones, Wheel of Time were Tolkien clones. And that’s the most recognizable ones, I could mention a few dozens fantasy books I’ve read in the past few years that have nothing to do with Tolkien outside of a very superficial reading. People who say “everything is derivative” are those who don’t have enough imagination to create something unique themselves.
Also, “survival game with a riff on Pokémon” is unique and I’ve never disputed that, because I’m not an idiot who things that Pokémon is the only IP allowed to do the monster collecting thing. “Cinderace but green” is not.
ampersandrew@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
That’s on you.