Google pulls an Apple on Kongregate

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By Joel Brodie
Jan 21, 2011, 1:23pm

File this story under strange by true.

We have heard many stories of how Apple has rejected or not approved apps because they did not meet Apple’s terms (code for, not fit with Apple’s business requirements), but never Google. With Android, Google has an open system and everything, including adult-entertainment, gets through, until now. And, the first app to get removed from Android by Google is…a flash game app by Kongregate?

According to Gigaom, Google removed the Kongregate Arcade app because it violated Google’s non-compete terms. Kongregate Arcade acts as a web browser that connects to the Kongregate web site, allowing users to access hundreds of free games and cache those games for offline play.

That, apparently, is the rub, according to Google’s public statement. Because Kongregate’s Android app allows users to cache hundreds of flash games for offline play, and makes it a competing software distribution platform to Google.

So, for all the talk by Google about how Android is superior to Apple and the AppStore because it’s open and allows for flash, at the end of the day, Google can reject any app as it sees fit with its loose terms of service, just like Apple. In which case, Android is not so open after all.

Which begs the following questions:

How is Amazon Kindle Reader for books any different or non-competitive than what Kongregate is doing with games? Surely, Kindle is competitive to Google Books? I see the distinction but it’s a bit quibbling.

If Kongregate’s Android app is competitive since it lets you play the games cached offline, can we assume that is part of Google’s plans for games on their site (whenever they ever get around to launching something)?

Finally, Google is fine with all the porn and scammy like apps that are released daily in their marketplace, but a flash game app is where they draw the line? Is it fair to say that the only way Google would object to porn in the Android Market is if they launched their own competitive porn project?

Google’s Android system may more open than Apple, but Apple’s rules do make more sense, at least in regards to this bizarre matter.

Read more: Kongregate, Android

Comments (3)

mattcalled
Jan 23, 2011, 8:04pm

Too bad this excellent article is not on a more publically visible forum (GameZebo is great, but it is obviously a game player's attraction). If I had a popular website, I would put it there, no matter what my theme. Folks, business is mercenary and all the talk of “green”(“Get your bills online! Save the rainforest, whales, etc.) is green trash. Actually, it is a cry: Save more of our bottom line by helping us save the costs of processing, mailing and paper! Also the “Open” theme (especially by $oogle) is just a sound bite. The only things open on the net are the Open Source Forum and Initiative (You know, the people who bought you Linux, MySQL, Apache and PHP – all free to both individuals and companies for use). Remember that especially American business is mercenary, and should be. When they talk of any virtues outside of their profit making mission, smell the air – yeah, that’s what you smell.

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Kellie Cardwell...
Feb 9, 2011, 4:24am

Excellent Article with some very solid points. :)

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johnnierock
Feb 18, 2011, 11:28pm

The thing with android is you can install the app from Amazon'.s store or from a web site, or well from anywhere. when apple rejects your app your dead in the water.

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