A local arcade operator, The Arcade People, has recently apologised for using artwork without proper approval for an SG60 carnival game at City Square Mall. The artwork in question was from a popular local board game called “Kopi King” by a company named Origame.
On Monday (July 28), Origame took to Facebook to accuse The Arcade People of “ripping off” their “most celebrated Singaporean game.” They stated that the artwork and even the overall look of their “Kopi King” game had been “lifted wholesale” for this new carnival game.
Origame, known for making card and board games with local themes, explained that “Kopi King” was developed over many months with an artist. However, a lot of the features in the carnival game, which is called “Kopitam Hero,” look really similar to “Kopi King.” This includes the fonts used, the colour schemes, the drawings of famous local drinks, and even the “Sejak 1965” tagline.
Origame didn’t hold back, calling out The Arcade People for “ripping off another one without any acknowledgement whatsoever.” They also pointed out that they are “always open for collaborations” and the company could have simply “asked nicely.” “Kopi King” itself is a tribute to Singapore’s hawker and coffee shop culture and is still a bestseller here.
A spokesperson from Origame told MS News on Tuesday (July 29) that they made a conscious decision to work with other Singaporean illustrators to create games like “Kopi King” and “Chope!”. This made it even more frustrating for them: “So we couldn’t wrap our heads around why another Singaporean company would directly lift and use/misuse our artwork, and then smack an SG60 label on it.”
Arcade operator apologises
The Arcade People issued their statement on Facebook on Tuesday, saying they were “deeply sorry” for what happened.
They explained that the design elements were taken from Origame’s website and “wrongly used without permission.” The company admitted it was a “lapse in due diligence,” adding, “We take full and unequivocal responsibility for this failure.” They apologised to Origame and everyone else, expressing regret for the harm caused.
Later that same day, The Arcade People also told MS News that they had reached a “mutual understanding” and a “positive resolution” with Origame.
A spokesperson for The Arcade People wrote, “We value and support the local arts and culture scene, and we’re genuinely sorry for the oversight.” They emphasised,
“This was never something we wanted to happen, and we’re taking it seriously to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
