Kongregate Arcade mysteriously pulled from the Android Market

By Bla1ze
last updated

Here is a little tidbit of interesting albeit disappointing news. Seems as though Google has mysteriously pulled the recently launched Kongregate Arcade from the Android Market. According to an email sent to JoyStiq, Kongregate is working with Google to get the situation sorted out as soon as possible:

As reported earlier today, the Kongregate Arcade app was launched on the Android Market and was enthusiastically received by the gaming community, receiving 4.5 out of 5 stars. Tens of thousands of users successfully downloaded the new app but, due to unknown reasons, Google has pulled it from the Market. Gamers wishing to experience Kongregate Arcade will be happy to learn it is now available for download at https://m.kongregate.com/.

A rather weird situation, that's for sure. Apparently it happened because the Kongregate app is used to download other apps, and that violates the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement (opens in new tab). Whoops. [JoyStiq]

Bla1ze
Bla1ze
23 Comments
  • Google got mad because Kongegrate was propagating their own app store on Googl'es App Store. Understandable from Google's business standpoint, but not from their openess standpoint. How come spam apps are allowed on the market, but legitimate ones are pulled without warning?
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  • Probably because this particular app requires downloading products outside of the Android Market, which Google has no control over from a 'liability' standpoint.
  • Yea, that's what I was kind of trying to get at.
  • So will they have to take down Mega Jump and a lot of other games because they ask me if I want to buy points or coins with my paypal account? ?
  • lol? Whats that got to do with anything? Nothing to do with the reason google pulled this..
  • No because you're not downloading separate apps that can potentially be malicious.
  • they better take down opera mini app cause i might download something malicious with that too!!!
  • I'm glad I got it before it was pulled!
  • I would guess it is a security thing: it is not a good idea to have something named 'game' to be an application installer. The Android market is open enough so there is no need for apps to install other apps.
  • It's actually named "Arcade" which implies that it's a hub for games. And I'm sure it's just downloading flash files, not APKs or what you typically think of as applications. So I don't see what the big deal is.
  • The Googlefather "This is my neighborhood. You and your friends should show me some respect. You should let me wet my beak a little. Understand, paisan?" It's understandable from a business perspective although it just unmasks the fallacy of openness ... oh wait *sideload* never mind.
  • What about the AppBrain app? I thought that was used to download other apps, too.
  • In the current version it is just opening the Android market app. Still very helpful because of the webinterface.
  • I dl two games off that app and neither worked. Could just be an apex bug but who knows.
  • AppBrain installs Apps from the Market not from outside the market..dah!
  • SJ hacked the market and removed it, 'cause of Flash.
  • Does anyone know what happened to Skip bo game that was on the market? Was that taken down because it violated market rules?
  • I am missing it also :-(
  • There are other apps out there that do the same thing(don't remember the name but I'll look for it). I had one awhile back that opened sites that was owned by them with games on it. very odd.......
  • One of such applications I met also is Flasher - http://www.android-flasher.com
  • They really pulled it for Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement violation. It stops Apps from letting other Apps be downloaded. Kongregate's mistake was to deliver their games as a "native" part of their application. There are other similar solutions which has slightly different approach. For example Flasher app (http://www.android-flasher.com)
  • I was able to play a couple games on this last night. Everything seemed fine, glad its still available from the download link.