It's not from within the game, it's the store page.

They're not offering anything for good reviews.
They're not menacing against the bad ones either (I checked some of those who were answered by the devs.)
It doesn't look like they bought reviews.

I don't think this post qualify as review manipulation... They're begging a bit, true, but they're asking for positive reviews "if you enjoyed the game".

So, uh, I'd say you went a little too far here.

Originally posted by PriNcE oF SpAcE:

scumbag is known from way back in the greenlight days for scummy behaviour and garbage games...why Valve insist on having business relations with shitheads like this is beyond me.

Well...
Partly because they want their platform as open as possible;
Partly because they're so big they know any actual move they do can, and will, be documented by a vocal minority;
And, IMO, partly because they still feel guilty about not believing in the japanese game having no public on PC, back when they curated the store themselves.

Since Valve don't look at those games, it's not really like they're insisting on having those business relationship either. It's more like having some (bad) rats in the basement : they'll be here no matter what, and as long as people don't go in there looking behind the furniture, they won't notice the vermin.

Originally posted by Occular Malice:

Originally posted by MUTANT SPOOKLORD:

I wonder when Valve will allow us for easy report on abusive Steam forum moderators

While this might be nice, the existing mechanism for reporting games doesn't seem to be very effective since I've seen and reported on games that are still shovelware/stolen assets/asset flips/etc.

Well, if you're using the report tool for that, it'll be ignored for sure.
Keep in mind that :
- Shovelware in itself isn't illegal,
- Asset flips aren't illegal either,
- Stolen stuff is illegal but have to be reported by the legitimate owner.

I know, all of that is a pain in the ass, and doesn't help to have a better, more exploration-friendly store, but that's how it is and will stay unless Valve (finally) impose some standards on their storefront.

Wanna do some more efficient reporting? Then have a look at the devs behaviour : how they handle reviews, or if they're abusing their users in one way or another, or if they're abusing the devs they're publishing, and so on.
Then report them and maybe spread the word, if the story's big enough.

Be careful to not overreact on stuff, and don't expect Valve to react quickly, ever. They do act fast sometimes, but it's more the exception than the rule. Usually they wait for the complaints to pile up.

Originally posted by MUTANT SPOOKLORD:

snip

Please keep the thread on rails, the topic isn't about you getting banned from different places.

I don't really know what to make of it.
To me it looks more like an overhaul mod than just a rip-off... And I actually like the idea of a nuclear themed tower defense where you grow you defensive plants, to be perfectly fair.

However, It does seem the game is overly drawn from Stardew Valley to a point it could be illegal, but unless somebody can prove it - as in, showing some assets or a good bunch of code lines ripped off, then the game is in the clear.
And that will be mostly between ConcernedApe and them.

As for the reviews, some could be from developers' alt accounts, or from some random users recruited outside the usual steam group. Then again, there's no proof either way AFAIK.

Let's keep an eye on that game and see how it goes.
Thank you OP for pointing it, but be careful not obsessing too much. Yes, they did a similar illustration in their description, but it's not like that "Band with aligned sprites" was unique in the first place.

That's a strange decision from Valve, true.

If they want to, they can have the image (along with the whole game, temporarily at least) taken down by filling a DMCA request.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/dmca/create/
Obviously, they'll have to fill the request themselves, and maybe they just won't bother to.

@JohnRomeroHD
Pointing out asset flips is part of the group activity and curator.
Also, asset flips tend to be a symptom of people doing other shady stuff on steam, so there's no harm in putting them on SoS' radar.
Please refrain from jumping on people trying to help.

I disagree.
EA works fine if
1) the game is in a playable and enjoyable state
2) the dev keeps the players informed and update the game regulartily
3) there's some buzz about the game at EA launch.

Early access has gained its destestable reputation from idiots who just threw around some barely started games (or asset flips) and promised they're going to finish it later.
Blame them, not the system that has been used to actually make some games better.