What info / permissions does Gamesalad request from our apps? Getting negative reviews....

DigiChainDigiChain Member, PRO Posts: 1,288
in Working with GS (Mac)
Hi, it would be nice if I could respond to the bad reviews I'm receiving due to my app requesting/harvesting user data.
My game is currently Amazon's Free App of the Day. Here are a couple of reviews received:

This app doesn't inform you that it gathers your telephone number. Only my security so informed me that of this issue. Very disappointed by Amazon putting out security risks in their faotd.

Amazon..another questionable faotd ...this one as adware in it. Detected by armor. ..developer you sell this app normally..you should be ashamed of yourself


So, can anyone in the know tell me what is being requested from apps developed with Gamesalad so that I can hopefully address the issue?

Comments

  • jonmulcahyjonmulcahy Member, Sous Chef Posts: 10,408
    check out this thread:
    http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/55326/important-gs-team-read-this-please

    basically these security apps falsely flag some of our stuff as being bad. there's nothing out of the ordinary in what permissions they use. it's pretty standard stuff.

    Send and Receive Data using your own Server Tutorial! | Vote for A Long Way Home on Steam Greenlight! | Ten Years Left

  • DigiChainDigiChain Member, PRO Posts: 1,288
    @jonmulcahy - Cheers. What a shame people are being so alarmist and writing bad reviews as a result :-(

    On a positive note - the game is now number 2 overall app on the Amazon App Store!
  • jonmulcahyjonmulcahy Member, Sous Chef Posts: 10,408
    @jonmulcahy - Cheers. What a shame people are being so alarmist and writing bad reviews as a result :-(

    On a positive note - the game is now number 2 overall app on the Amazon App Store!
    that's awesome. when talking about your app always include a link! :)

    Send and Receive Data using your own Server Tutorial! | Vote for A Long Way Home on Steam Greenlight! | Ten Years Left

  • DigiChainDigiChain Member, PRO Posts: 1,288
    Here's the link:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CKU2S8A/ref=mas_faad

    Unfortunately those bad permission reviews keep coming! Grrr
  • jonmulcahyjonmulcahy Member, Sous Chef Posts: 10,408
    nice thing about amazon is you can reply to reviews.

    Send and Receive Data using your own Server Tutorial! | Vote for A Long Way Home on Steam Greenlight! | Ten Years Left

  • FallacyStudiosFallacyStudios Member Posts: 970
    edited August 2013
    First, amazon's reviews suck cause you don't even have to download the app to review it. Second, people are moronic with reviews. They see permissions and freak out. Things like data are used to save content. Others like internet, geo location, and so on are used for ads and occasionally other things. Android's permission displays really do suck though. They don't detail what it is used for and the name is so vague to users it sounds like you are hacking their phones.

    Just put a small part in the app description section explaining the permissions you can to let people feel more comfortable.
  • harshhsrahharshhsrah Member Posts: 7
    Is there a different way for developers to respond to comments on amazon?..because I tried responding to one review for my game and it says that I need to buy the app first.
    I agree with amazon reviews being moronic as I have seen people leave reviews for a completely different app from a different developer in my apps !!!

    @digichain - If you don't mind sharing what does #2 free on amazon mean in terms of downloads?..just want to get a feel of the numbers relative to the other stores
  • imGuaimGua Member Posts: 1,089
    How did you make your app to show as free app of the day on Amazon? Google only describes the costumer side of this.

    Shadows Peak is an atmospheric psychological horror that explores the dark side of a player.

  • mataruamatarua Auckland, New ZealandMember Posts: 854
    Maybe do something like this - in a reply

    "It's built with Gamesalad and there are no risks. I made the game and here's our community discussing it >>> http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/58868/what-info-permissions-does-gamesalad-request-from-our-apps-getting-negative-reviews#latest

    You can also see here - as a developer using Gamesalad we have no control over these permissions >>> http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/55326/important-gs-team-read-this-please

    We as Gamesalad users, hoping they will sort these issues with Norton out.

    Sorry for any alarm.

    Regards, Digi-Chain Games."



    Maybe that will help! All the best - this really sucks!

  • DigiChainDigiChain Member, PRO Posts: 1,288
    Yeah, the review system does suck - and there's no way to respond directly to the reviewer.

    @harshhsrah - I don't have final download figures for yesterday yet, but will share them with you when I do.

    @imGua - Amazon approached me about it being the Free App of the Day. I had to agree to it, and then they decided when to feature it.
  • DigiChainDigiChain Member, PRO Posts: 1,288
    @matarua
    Yes, thanks - I think I will have to put something in the app description along those lines.

    I haven't been able to do it yet though because amazon lock any changes to the description etc. during the promotion period.
  • mataruamatarua Auckland, New ZealandMember Posts: 854
    @DigiChain - Comment on all those negative reviews if you can.

    I feel for you - Gamesalad have to do something about this.

    I hate Norton - McAffee - they affect your computer, make it disfunctional - more than a virus.
  • Bad wolf GuyBad wolf Guy Member Posts: 206
    @DigiChain Thanks for bringing it up. Seems like an issue that should be put at the top of the list.
    Although GS needs to collect data, it makes me wonder if its needed, after all they choose to implant amazon Iap rather than google play :D
    If they can re code thier data collecting then everything would be sweet. It's such dishearting when your given a golden chance to make a successful promotion but its ruined by things out of your control.
    By commenting and responding to those comments is very professional since it will show you actually care.

    All the best
  • DigiChainDigiChain Member, PRO Posts: 1,288
    Cheers all.
    Unfortunately I can't reply to the negative comments because I haven't bought the app myself - and don't own a android device to buy it on.
  • harshhsrahharshhsrah Member Posts: 7
    @digichain - do you have the download numbers to share with us ?
    btw did it help in driving the paid sales the next day ?
  • imGuaimGua Member Posts: 1,089
    Cheers all.
    Unfortunately I can't reply to the negative comments because I haven't bought the app myself - and don't own a android device to buy it on.
    How did you test the game without a device? oO

    Shadows Peak is an atmospheric psychological horror that explores the dark side of a player.

  • DigiChainDigiChain Member, PRO Posts: 1,288
    @imGua - good question! I build and test my games on an iPod touch & an iPad but don't have any android devices. It's always been a bit of a leap of faith publishing to android, but figure that even if I have a android device I've tested it on there are still another couple of thousand I wouldn't know about anyway!

    @harshhsrah - There was a increase in download figures of my other games, and an increase overall the following day, but i don't think it'll continue. Downloads when featured were in the region of 55,000 for the day.
  • MillionairAppsMillionairApps Member Posts: 110
    @DigiChain Thats an impressive amount of downloads on your first day. Hope it keeps up similar results in upcoming days.

    On a side note, you don't happen to be the same DigiChain that developed that fun little Invert game I played on my ipad a while ago?
  • DigiChainDigiChain Member, PRO Posts: 1,288
    @MillionairApps - It was just featured for one day, so downloads are back to normal now. Overall I think the extra exposure has been a good thing though, despite a load of bad reviews due to the permissions GS bundles in when we publish our games!

    And yes, Invert is one of mine. Was just trying something different with that one.
  • MillionairAppsMillionairApps Member Posts: 110
    I feel your pain with those bad reviews, its fair enough if it wasn't a good game, but when it's out of your control its a real shame. But hopefully, like you said, it pays of well enough with all you other games.

    Invert I saw someone playing and it looked pretty strange, so I grabbed it. Gotta love poor Dave the chicken at the end. Good work with something cool and unique.
  • The_Gamesalad_GuruThe_Gamesalad_Guru Member Posts: 9,922
    The simple solution is to incorporate a transparency statement in your game. Inform people what data is collected and who is responsible and explain you do not collect any data and pledge your company will not collect or use data.

    Guru Video Channel   | Lost Oasis Games | FRYING BACON STUDIOS  

  • mataruamatarua Auckland, New ZealandMember Posts: 854
    @FryingBaconStudios you, more than most, should know that people never read that stuff - but they will get Norton throwing pop up warnings that scare them into relying on their product and keep spending - living in fear.

    So how high up in the description does the disclaimer come you think to get noticed and not be a double put off - I would not want to be talking that sort of stuff early - even mentioning it could be damaging.

    This is a very interesting and unfortunate subject and I think Gamesalad need to sort this out with Norton.

    Or, they need to change the way the apps for Android get published - including all the ad services and collecting information on games that do neither is not on. They are aware of that I know, but to me personally, it makes Gamesalad useless for Android publishing, with these issues.

    I wish people were smart, educated and trusting enough to see past it but I don't have much faith!

    Keeping a very close eye on this one.
  • kidwithoutradiokidwithoutradio Member Posts: 56
    edited August 2013
    I too am having issues with my game getting negative reviews because AVG says my game is a virus! this needs to get sorted out by gamesalad soon!!!!!
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