In a surprising turn of events, Bloomberg reported that Apple has pulled the highly publicized app recently debuted by Big Fish Games. The iPad app integrated a new model of game distribution that was set to usher in a new era of iOS gaming. Apple had approved the app and made it available on November 18th, only to swiftly remove it days later.
Apps being pulled from the App Store with little or no explanation is not uncommon but the circumstances leading up to this app’s removal are different from previous situations. Big Fish Games founder Paul Thelen said that his company had worked vigorously with Apple’s team to make sure all requirements were met to properly implement monthly subscriptions. When all the prerequisites were met, Apple had given the company permission to release the app on the iTunes App Store.
“It was officially approved,” Thelen said. Apple had even seen the app’s press release before it went out earlier today, he said
Apple was apparently going to take the standard 30% from the monthly subscription fees making the deal mutually beneficial for both parties involved. Removing the app without communicating with Big Fish Games points to the possibility of a miscommunication or a misinterpretation of the how the game actually worked causing Apple to quickly back out on the agreement. The business model that was designed for digital periodicals will apparently stay that way for the time being but Thelen seems determined to follow up with Apple and hopefully get some answers as to why the app was pulled.
