Quote:

Games designed or made with special features similar from other local video games. (2) Games that are made to look similar to other popular video games in appearance, gameplay, and so on, but have different titles.

This is the definition taken from GDN's dictiionary. However I have trouble seeing when a game is considered a clone. I'm currently working on a game where the hero has to go to different dungeons where he is presented with puzzles he must solve to obtain his objective. The games "idea" is inspried by the old 2d top view Zelda on the SNES but in no way do I want to recreate Zelda. So where is the line? When does a top view adventure/puzzle game become a zelda clone?

When I think of clone, I think of another "Asteroids" or "Pac Man" type game. This is just to give you a mental image.

If someone is talking about your game and they call it "that Zelda game", then you've gone too far.

Otherwise, it's fine to borrow game elements from other games, people do it all the time.

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources" - Einstein

Oh okay,

So as long as I don't dress my hero in green, have him save a princess after pulling a sword free from stone, I'll be fine? :)

Thanks for the feedback guys, I didn't want my game to be known as a clone since it takes out so much out of it. I am trying to come up with innovative ideas to make it original and fun.

I would see a 'clone' as a game that sets out with the intent of recreating, as accurately as possible, the gameplay of a previously released title.

A 're-make' would a clone that alters significant chunks to provide a new 'look and feel' or push gameplay in a slightly different direction.

Your game is imply 'inspired by' but will no doubt get called a 'Zelda clone' many times. I wouldn't worry about it.