Does Ketchup apps have a monopoly on apple or something or did they cut a deal with them?

http_gamesalad

Some of ketchup apps big apps are stolen ideas ... amazing thief, dont touch the spikes, zig zag and so on. They've made at least like 15 different spin offs on flappy bird ... it kinda seems very unfair to developers like you and I who are trying very hard to come up with fresh ideas and just because there bigger they steal smaller developers ideas .. put new graphics and change the name and call it theres.. I just want know if anyone knows anything about this company ... or marketing. It just seems very shady. Is anyone else noticing this also?

Socks

@http_gamesalad said:
I just want know if anyone knows anything about this company ... or marketing.

Not sure there was any need for the sarcasm (joking / '...')

Ketchapp (rather than Ketchup, it's a pun, Ketch + App).

http://gamepolitics.com/2015/04/29/indie-ios-developer-accuses-ketchapp-outright-theft/

http://toucharcade.com/2015/04/28/is-ketchapp-stealing-games-that-developers-submit-to-them/

http_gamesalad

@socks I knew it ! Seems odd how they keep coming up with "new ideas" everyday and it'll be the next big thing the next day ... its not that easy to come up with a new idea and especially one that works. People send them in ideas and they just rip them off and market it as there own. Apple shouldn't be letting them get away with that... its very unfair to developers who actually come up with original ideas. I would sue that company if they stole one of my ideas and not even given me credit or at least 50% of whatever they made. Companies like this make me sick. Plus isn't ironic how almost every app they've made people have accused them of stealing their ideas. I knew I saw zig zag some where else before ketchup laid there paws on it.. Amazing thief is such a blatant rip off of flappy bird .. (no wonder they named the app that), and Dont touch the spike is a rip off of they're own app.. they're ripping off they're own app.. thats how much originality they have. If you're going to steal ideas and when asked how you came up with the ideas and they cant explain it at least give those people you stole the idea from 50%

Approw

@http_gamesalad Thats not entirely true. As a matter of fact, I believe they don't create anything! I did some research about a year ago, and the only thing they're doing is reviewing games that are submitted to them, and they pick one of them, give the developer sound effects and some UI guidelines. I thought they make a 50/50 kindof deal with the developer. And thats it! They always appear in new games because they have such a massive user base.

Approw

I just read one of the articles posted above, and they are indeed a bit shady. But I don't believe they always rip off the developers who submit their games, since they always mention a 3rd party developer below their own name on the splash screen.

Hopscotch

@Approw said:
I just read one of the articles posted above, and they are indeed a bit shady. But I don't believe they always rip off the developers who submit their games, since they always mention a 3rd party developer below their own name on the splash screen.

Not always, but they are known to take the submitted idea from one developer and then commission one of their standard developers to make the game.

All the dirt aside, there are some lessons to be leant from them. Their games are always polished (even the simple ones), they are excellent at cross marketing, and they are in touch with what players want. Even if it means stealing a better game and simplifying it for a broader audience (eg. Threes vs. 2048).

I do not condone their ethics, but admire their gal.

Lovejoy

It's all business, apple gets their nice 30% cut so it works out for both companies.

Appz

Ketchapp has a relationship with Apple to the point where they have sit down meetings to discuss up coming games to be featured. He used to develop his own games until he (the owner who is one guy) decided distribution was the way to go. Now he has a backlog of submissions, chooses the best ones and cross promotes them in all his games. The revenue share differs depending on the developer, but typically it's 50/50. Apple recognizes his klout hence the close relationship. As for shady practices, even the AAA companies do it. Everyone rips off everyone, there are rarely any original ideas in gaming.
A few people I know have had deals with Ketchapp. It's not easy however, your game has to be polished and in line with their core one-touch demographic.

http_gamesalad

@appz I knew they had to have close ties with apple. It just seemed a bit odd how every app they make hits the top charts over night. They're basically rigging it .. because they have the inside. A bit unfair but I can't blame them.. that's business for them.

supafly129

I think it's just that since they have a relationship with Apple, they pretty much get featured every single week for "Best New Games" which is pretty much guaranteed to get you on the top charts.