A computer game has been withdrawn from sale by its distributor after allegations that its designers copied graphics from other videogames.

Steve Bovis, Tim Croucher and Laurence Francis, all from Maidstone, were featured in the Kent Messenger in May after the launch of Limbo of the Lost, a PC game they created.

But their dreams were shattered when Gameplasma, a videogame news website, posted a series of comparison screen shots, claiming a similarity to other games – including the chart-topping The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (2006).

The game has since been dropped by its US distributor, Tri Synergy.

An official comment on its website said: "We would like to publish an official comment regarding recent comparisons of level design and artwork between Majestic Studios’ Limbo of the Lost and Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion/Eidos Interactive’s Thief: Deadly Shadows.

"Tri Synergy is just as shocked as everyone else is by the recent screenshot comparisons. At no point during our dealings with Majestic Studios, up until the point that the comparison was first publicly made by a third party, did we have any knowledge of these similarities. Additionally, Tri Synergy will discontinue distribution of Limbo of the Lost in both retail and online outlets.

The Kent Messenger has left messages for the three, but has had no reply.