In 2014, Nguyen Ha Dong became a household name not only in Vietnam but also worldwide. The unexpected success of his game, Flappy Bird, landed Dong on The Richest’s list of “10 Internet Millionaires Who Started With Nothing.”
Flappy Bird marked a turning point in Nguyen Ha Dong’s life.
Self-Taught Programmer and Game Developer Since His Teens
Born in 1985 in Van Phuc, a village renowned for silk production, in Hanoi, Dong took an early interest in technology. At the age of 15, he began learning programming and, by 17, had taught himself game development. During his second year of university, he started working for a game company while pursuing a degree in Information Technology, specializing in Information Systems, at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. After graduating, he ventured out on his own in 2011.
In 2012, Dong established .GEARS Studios and began publishing arcade-style games for smartphones, mainly designed for iPhones. Over four years, he created nearly 30 games, all characterized by their simplicity, pixel art graphics, and influence from Japanese comics.
“I tend to favor a minimalist approach in my game designs. Each game features a single scene and gameplay style. Time is a limited resource, so I focus on refining the details, both visually and in terms of gameplay,” Dong once shared about his creative process.
The Unexpected Rise of Flappy Bird and a Life of Seclusion After a Surprising Decision
In May 2013, Dong quietly released Flappy Bird on iOS 5 with a simple description on Twitter: “a new simple game.” Eight months later, it had transformed into a global phenomenon, with people everywhere frantically downloading it.
The game sparked a worldwide frenzy, reaching 50 million downloads and reportedly earning its creator up to $50,000 per day. Flappy Bird was also one of the top 10 most searched terms on Google in 2014 and was named by CNET as one of the 25 most influential apps of the past decade.
However, in February 2014, Dong unexpectedly removed Flappy Bird from app stores. He explained that he felt people were spending too much time playing the game, and he couldn’t bear the guilt.
In a rare interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, Dong shared that he often received emails from people who had lost their jobs or parents who no longer talked to their children because of their Flappy Bird addiction. The backlash, criticism, and accusations took a toll on him, affecting his sleep and making him reclusive.
On February 9, 2014, Dong announced his intention to remove Flappy Bird, and the next day, it was gone.
When asked about this decision, he replied, “I couldn’t take it anymore. It had to be taken down.”
Despite Dong’s decision, Flappy Bird’s fame endured. In 2016, it was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first mobile game to be removed from app stores while at the top of the download charts.
In early 2015, Forbes Vietnam recognized Nguyen Ha Dong as one of the 30 most prominent people under 30 in Vietnam.
Little is known about Dong’s current life. The 38-year-old engineer leads a secluded life, rarely making public appearances or sharing details about his work or personal life. While the specifics of his current endeavors remain unknown, there is no doubt that he is both talented and wealthy.
The company dotGEARS, founded and represented by Nguyen Ha Dong, continues to operate successfully, focusing on mobile gaming.
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