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The Flappy craze lives on as Apple and Google reject Flappy-named apps

posted by Alan F. / Feb 16, 2014, 1:30 AM

The Flappy craze lives on as Apple and Google reject Flappy-named apps

Imagine giving up a $50,000 a day payday.That is what Vietnamese developer Dong Nguyen did when he pulled Flappy Bird out of the App Store and Google Play Store. Nguyen said that the game had become too addictive, especially since it was designed to be played while relaxed. Not too many people would have pulled a huge hit out of commission like Nguyen did. After all, he left oodles of cash on the table. There could have been Flappy Bird t-shirts, lunch boxes, dolls, television shows and a full-length movie.

Now that Flappy Bird is gone, knock-offs have been running up the charts. But Apple and Google have been rejecting any game with Flappy in the title. Ken Carpenter, an app developer from Vancouver, had an App Store application for a game called Flappy Dragon rejected. The reason Apple gave him was that "we found your app name attempts to leverage a popular app." Carpenter certainly has a point when he sent out a tweet asking which app his name was found to leverage, since Flappy Bird is no longer in the App Store.

Other developers trying to publish games with Flappy in the title are also getting rejected, which seems a bit arbitrary since Flappy-named games were allowed on the App Store before Flappy Bird was a gleam in Nguyen's eye. Google also has been rejecting Flappy-named games, including the Android variant of Carpenter's submission.

Apps with Flappy in the title are getting rejected by Apple and Google

source: TechCrunch

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18 Comments

1. X.E.R.O. unregistered

Nguyen should've patented 'Flappy'.

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 2:01 AM 8

6. Killua

Posts: 270; Member since: Nov 25, 2013

Sarcastic?

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 3:00 AM 3

2. jedpatrickdatu

Posts: 169; Member since: Jan 24, 2013

Did he really pull out the app because it was too popular and addictive? Isn't that a good thing?

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 2:24 AM 2

4. neops

Posts: 297; Member since: Jan 28, 2014

If you are a normal conscious person, that you don't want to make money in expense of other people's mental health, it's not

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 2:41 AM 3

10. jedpatrickdatu

Is the addiction really that bad? As in worst than DoTA or CoD? The people I see playing Flappy Bird seem sane. Some even grew tired of it. Maybe he believed the fake news that a boy killed his brother for getting a higher score, or the fake threats like people will commit suicide over the game. If so, it would be a shame for him.

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 5:16 AM 1

16. Shatter

Posts: 2036; Member since: May 29, 2013

Maybe he actually has some morals?

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 1:21 PM 0

3. ihavenoname

Posts: 1693; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

Hopely this Flappy Bird-ish games won't be next trend like endless runners were: Temple Run, Temple Run II, Subway Surf, Minion Rush, Agent Dash, Sonic, Monsters University, Angry Granny Run, Die Hard(I'm not joking)etc. etc. Really, I don't want to see "Sonic Bird".

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 2:35 AM 0

7. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

These games will be trend just for awhile, after that it will be outdated. Just like Angry Birds, it "yahooohoooohueee"ed for a year after launched then now it's a boring outdated game.

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 3:31 AM 0

8. xperiaDROID

*for few years, not a year.

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 3:40 AM 0

5. JMartin22

Posts: 2390; Member since: Apr 30, 2013

For all of this developer's complaining, he is ultimately attempting to leverage the popularity of someone else's concept, because it was a proven method; he thought he could cash in on the opportunity. I kind of see the rejection being valid. Especially when you consider the original developer's wishes and reasoning. These people need to come up with their own unique ideas to captivate an audience.

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 2:54 AM 0

9. pwnarena

Posts: 1129; Member since: Feb 15, 2013

rename your game. problem solved! if you want to associate your game with flappy bird, put it in the description. if google/apple does not want you to put it in the description, post it as a comment ... many comments. that'll make your game findable with the flappy keyword.

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 3:54 AM 0

11. androiphone20

Posts: 1654; Member since: Jul 10, 2013

Floppy Turd, close enough ;)

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 7:05 AM 3

20. good2great

Posts: 1042; Member since: Feb 22, 2012

i giggled

posted on Feb 17, 2014, 8:50 AM 0

12. GoBears

Posts: 456; Member since: Apr 27, 2012

Nguyen didn't TM the term "Flappy" in reference to games and there is no such game in the stores named Flappy Bird anymore. If Nguyen doesn't want the name then it should be free to use for those that do. Very stupid game anyway, it's the just the point of it.

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 8:32 AM 0

13. jellmoo

Posts: 2660; Member since: Oct 31, 2011

I fully expect King to trademark the term Flappy, release Flappy Candy Crush Saga, and then sue anyone attempting to use any of those words.

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 9:56 AM 0

14. NorCalNokia

Posts: 9; Member since: Jun 23, 2013

Windows phone new selling point....Flappy Birds is still alive and available in marketplace for those that care about the game that much

posted on Feb 16, 2014, 10:47 AM 1

18. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

but wait, google is all about freedom to do what you want....how can flappy not be used? It is not TM. Thanks MS? I got flappybird on my 8x, I don't see the intrigue. Fun for about 5mins then I went on to other things. Man I am old.