Ask HN: What do you think of the Wordle guy not monetizing it?

187 points

4 years ago

I have to admire the guy for sticking to his guns and his vision and not monetizing it. It would be so easy too- keep the existing version free but create an iOS/Android app with some bells and whistles like longer words and boom rake in the cash. Being so hell bent on your vision commands respect. But I can't help but feel that the guy is about to let someone else benefit from his creation and am not sure how to feel about that (see https://twitter.com/zachshakked/status/1481345622938685443).

Apple is cracking down on blatant Wordle clones in the appstore right now but there is demand there, there is going to be a different app with a different name with a different ui with some added features like multiplayer that is probably gonna make some good money for a few months.

If someone is gonna inevitably end up benefiting from it, I'd rather the guy who made the original rather than an app cloning team in China or some bay area tech bro. I am putting myself in his shoes and even if I had the vision that he has, I would not be able to stop myself from monetizing it even if just to not let the copycats make as much of a windfall.

What do people here think of this situation?

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