Pocket Devil – And You Thought Google Wave Was Confusing

Pocket God Ouchie Our beef with Pocket God is no secret … it’s a bit too PG-13 for us. All this sadistic gameplay leaves us yearning for more. Throw in some South Park, mix in a little Beavis and Butt-Head … why can’t we tear off a pygmy’s arm with a shark? Heck, we got so worked up over this, we even ran an article last April called … A Better Pocket God.

So imagine our reaction when checking out the Top Paid Apps and discovering our “Better Pocket God” came to fruition … and better yet, holding the #2 spot in Top Paid Apps ($ cha ching $). Needless to say, our jaws hit the floor and we thought … “bunch of fargin iceholes at Bolt Creative – they finally got the boils to release a Pocket God sequel” … Pocket Devil.

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Well needless to say, we are stoked for the Pocket God sequel. The pygmies are perfectly transformed into little devils … they bear a striking, yet sinister resemblance.

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The splash screens are spot on … both incorporating their game’s characters and respective logos … even the loading indicator is duplicated.

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Both games take place on an island and have awesome erupting volcanoes spitting out fiery lava that rain down upon the inhabitants.

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And genius of Bolt Creative to leverage their well established and successful brand Pocket God by simply giving the name a polar opposite and evil twist … God becomes Devil – strong! Heck, Pocket Devil could become a case study for perfect marketing execution … extending one’s brand to create immediate value and recognition when establishing a new product line. Bravo!

Whoa – hold on a second! WTF … this ain’t no freaking Pocket God sequel. This is a curiously similar game, made by a totally different publisher, Eyedip LLC. Huh? Very confusing!

Now before all the Pocket Devil fan-boys get their panties in a bundle … let’s be clear, we have NO problem with developers taking the Pocket God concept and running with it. That is awesome! The more the merrier – competition breeds excellence which ultimately benefits us, the consumer. And there are plenty of applications influenced by Pocket God that achieve their own uniqueness. For example, the Malevolent and Knights Onrush apps … both inspired by Pocket God, yet remain different.

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But Pocket Devil is annoying as Paris Hilton. It’s the way Eyedip went about creating their Pocket God inspired app. Too close for comfort bro … like kissing your cousin … totally freaking creepy. For example, those sinister devils which bear a striking resemblance to Pocket God pygmies … kiss kiss cousin Lola Rose … ewww! The evil twist of the title God to Devil … kiss kiss cousin Daisy Boo … ewww!

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All these similarities beg the question – are unsuspecting Pocket God fans purchasing Pocket Devil thinking the game is a Pocket God sequel from Bolt Creative? And if so … is Pocket Devil riding the coattails of Pocket God’s success and thus not succeeding on their own merit?

Now slow down fan-boys … these questions are not whack. Just look at Pocket Devil’s user ratings – 2½ stars, the lowest rating in the Top 10 paid apps. And what, you think everyone is as sharp as surgeon’s scalpel (especially considering the majority of Pocket God’s customers are young kids who can be easily confused)? Read these examples of Pocket God fans who purchased Pocket Devil thinking a sequel was released by Bolt Creative.

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Of course you can argue stupidity on the buyer’s part … but it still begs the question … is Pocket Devil succeeding on their own merit or is their game so close in resemblance to Pocket God, that consumers think it’s an actual sequel from Bolt Creative?

And by the way … all you cousin-kissers … cut that shit out … it’s freaking gross!

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November 6, 2009 | Filed Under Games, News | 35 Comments 

Ravensburger Lowers Ban Hammer On Apple For Trademark Infringement – Developers Beware!

So have you noticed the ton of memory match games available for download in the App Store? From the “vanilla” titled Memory app to more “exotic” titles like Beer Memory, Sexy Memory, Christmas Memory and Monsters Memory … Apple sells just about every memory game flavor.

Ban-Hammer Uh, make that past tense … Apple SOLD just about every memory game flavor. Seems there is a big ol’ German company called Ravensburger who owns the registered trademark “Memory”. A year after the App Store went live, the bad ass folks at Ravensburger finally decided they had seen enough and sent Apple notice. Dated 8/13/09, Ravensburger Digital GmbH (a subsidiary of Ravensburger) sent Apple a 4-page letter informing them of the trademark violation, requesting Apple remove the offending applications … and on a final note, inviting Apple to explore a possible partnership with Ravensburger.

Ravensburger – “You will certainly understand that our company cannot and will not tolerate the unauthorized use by third parties of its trademark Memory®, for designating games and toys as being offered, inter-alia, in your company’s highly popular iTunes store. We therefore kindly invite you to take the appropriate measures to remove from your platform those products offered under the designations which interfere with the trademark rights of our parent company and to confirm that his has been effected in due course.”

(complete letter can be downloaded HERE)

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Similar to the app approval process, it seems Apple did not act quick or effective enough for Ravensburger. Two months after initial contact, on 10/15/09, Ravensburger emailed Apple that they found a large number of sellers who are still offering apps using their registered trademark “Memory” and new “illegal” memory apps being approved by Apple. Ravensburger even attached an Excel spreadsheet of sellers who were still in violation.

Ravensburger – “In accordance to German law you are obliged to make sure that products offered on your internet platform are not infringing our rights in the trademark “memory” … You have not complied are you are still not complying with your obligations under German law … As a final attempt to avoid a legal conflict, we hereby ultimately ask you to remove from your platform all applications using our trademark “memory” as listed in the file attached hereto no later than October 22, 2009. Should we still find one of the infringing applications after October 22 on your platform, we do not see any other possibility than to immediately take the appropriate steps.”

Well that finally got Apple’s attention. Emails from AppStoreNotices@apple.com went flying. The initial email requested sellers to fix the problem because pursuant to the agreement with Apple, sellers are responsible for any liability to Apple because of a rights infringement claim. A second email, dated 10/29/09, served as a blunt reminder to sellers who did not previously comply:

Apple – “Ravensburger has advised that this matter is still not resolved … Please contact Ravensburger immediately regarding this issue … If the matter is not resolved shortly, Apple will pull your app from the App Store.”

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Developers we spoke to were surprised by their infringement (they had no clue such a common word as “memory” was a registered trademark), but will comply by changing there app’s name. There was concern amongst developers that they would also not be allowed to use the keyword “memory” … however after a brief delay, Apple communicated that this keyword technique will continue to be acceptable.

On final note, seems developers need to be extra careful with this Ravensburger thing. Not only were apps cited with the term “Memory” in their title, but Ravensburger reported apps such as … Jirbo Match – Mem – Monkey Preschool Lunchbox – Twin Tiles … as being in violation as well. Ravensburger made it clear they also do not want sellers using “Memory” in the descriptions of app. Ouch! … fair warning – piss off Ravensburger, bet the ban hammer. Play it safe … just stick to developing fart apps.

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November 3, 2009 | Filed Under Games, News | 32 Comments 

Crazy Cool Halloween Costume Alternatives From MouthOff

You poor iDork (term of endearment for individuals who are obsessed with the iPhone … like us) … Halloween is just three days away and you got nothing. No costume, no pumpkin, no love – nothing. Sure you could dress up as Dr. Richard Head or Nurse Connie Lingus … but come on, you’re an iDork … go large or go home! Plop down $1,000 … rig up a 42-inch LCD TV and be a giant working iPhone.

 

costume-7 Now we understand if a grand is a bit steep … and if the cash doesn’t kill you, the weight of this puppy will. Each giant working iPhone weighs 85 pounds … not exactly mobile friendly. So you could be cardboard cutout iPhone dude. It’s cheap, lightweight …. but unfortunately looks like total crap.

So if you’re still in that Halloween costume rut, turn to ustwo … the developers of the MouthOff [iTunes] app. As the video below illustrates, these guys are completely insane … but there is a method to their madness. With the 99 cents MouthOff app and two rolls of toilet paper, you’ll be transformed into an uber-cool MouthOff Mummy.

 

Plus MouthOff includes a Hell-oween update which includes four new Halloween-themed mouths for your ghoulish delights.

Now if rain is in the forecast for your area on Halloween, obviously the toilet paper MouthOff Mummy will look crappier than cardboard cutout iPhone dude. But no fear … there’s a safe alternative that’s equally crazy cool … MouthOff Pumpkin-Head.

 

October 28, 2009 | Filed Under Entertainment, News | 1 Comment 

Once Banished I Am Rich Returns To The iPhone As You Are Rich

(excuse us while we pick our jaw up off the floor)

jawdrop WOW – we are completely speechless! (well, not really … but it’s a cool figure of speech) It’s well documented that Apple’s App Store and Approval Process are completely jacked up … but not since the Baby Shaker incident last April, have we been completely floored by a 110% bonehead move made by Apple.

Back in August 2008, the infamous I Am Rich app was launched by developer Armin Heinrich. For a mere $999.99, users … errr … idiots could download I Am Rich and flaunt their wealth and/or stupidity on their iPhone’s screen in form of a glowing red garnet. Apple quickly removed I Am Rich from the App Store (although eight morons had already purchased the app), while critics proclaimed the app a scam, utter crap and an insult to all well-meaning developers. I Am Rich is a historic app and arguably the #1 KRAPPS of all-time.

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Flash forward approximately 14 months … late last night, “I Am Rich – The Sequel” made its red carpet entry into the App Store with You Are Rich (clever name) by 15-YEAR-OLD developer Mark Gurman. As with most sequels, You Are Rich sucks … a total rip-off of the original version … title, description, color palette and red glowing garnet. Only difference between I Am Rich and You Are Rich is $900 … comparatively, You Are Rich is a bargain at $99.99 (guessing it must be the weakening economy).

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Last time we checked, it’s not April 1st. We gave ourselves a painful pinch – nope, not dreaming. Eyesight – all good, we still can hit a fastball. So either Apple’s calendar is whack or there are some serious mind-altering drugs going on at One Infinite Loop. Heck, maybe it’s the handiwork of an over-worked and under-paid Apple employee? 

An email has been sent to developer Mark Gurman requesting a promo code so we can download You Are Rich at no charge and provide our viewers an in-depth review. Uh yeah … we ain’t rich, but we also ain’t stupid.

October 17, 2009 | Filed Under Lifestyle, News | 18 Comments 

Eco-Friendly Ass Wiping – Blog Action Day 2009

bad-180-150 Today is Blog Action Day … an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. While not as trendy as those cool days like Valentine’s, Mother’s or Thomas Crapper Day … Blog Action Day certainly has its place among the 365 days of the year. This year’s Blog Action Day topic is Climate Change. Joining in on the virtual discussion are 8,000+ blogs in 141 nations … that’s a lot of peeps and is the largest-ever social change event on the web. KRAPPS is stoked to be a part of Blog Action Day 2009.

So what exactly is climate change and why should you give a shit? Well without getting to techie geek on you … think of the awesome Threadless t-shirt that states – “Stop Destroying Our Planet. It’s Where I Keep All My Stuff”. Climate change is basically global warming … certain human activities which increase concentrations of greenhouse gases, thus damaging our planet. And it’s very serious stuff as climate change threatens to cause famine, flooding, millions of refugees and more … not to mention … say goodbye to baseball, skiing, pinot noir wine, french fries, etc.

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Anyways, the good news is we can all very easily become eco-friendly. Got iPhone? Excellent … then check out the tons of eco-friendly apps that will help save the planet.  Awesome lists of green apps can be found at The Apple Blog, Eco Salon, Tree Hugger and Planet Green.

And what about us at KRAPPS? With the hundreds of eco-friendly apps available for download, which one do we find the most “interesting” (in a good “KRAPPS” way) … the toilet paper guide free from Greenpeace, of course!

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Charmin-Toilet-Paper-FINAL You know it … a handy guide to finding eco-friendly toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towels and paper napkins. The Greenpeace Tissue Guide app lists various well-known brands and rates their products for environmental friendliness. The brands are then categorized by the results: Recommended, Could Do Better and Should Be Avoided (aka Evil). And surprise, surprise … well known brands like Kleenex, Charmin and Scott are evil – sorry – Should Be Avoided … while Green Forest, CVS Earth Essentials and Trader Joe’s are among the Recommended brands.

So consider it being Blog Action Day and we’re discussing Climate Change … do Mother Earth a favor … download the free Greenpeace Tissue Guide [iTunes], purchase and wipe with eco-friendly toilet paper. Of course if you’re really gung-ho, you can take Gizmodo-reader bosskev’s advice …

I find you can’t get much greener than wiping with handfuls of sawdust. It really scrapes you down good and leaves your ass smelling all pine-y fresh. Just watch out for the splinters.

October 15, 2009 | Filed Under Education, News | 6 Comments 

O Canada, Get Your Mind Out Of The Gutter! Government Censors Cornhole All-Stars

cornhole-FINAL As a preamble to our story, per Wikipedia:

“Cornhole is a lawn game in which players take turns pitching cornhole bags at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point. Play continues until a player reaches the score of 21.”

The folks over at JUFTi Games are big Cornhole fans and thought it would be cool to make a virtual version of the game. On August 1, JUFTi Games launched the Cornhole All-Stars iPhone app. Now read carefully between the lines … see what JUFTi Games did? Similar to the way “Football” is incorporated in Backbreaker Football or “Boxing” in Super KO Boxing … JUFTi Games used the word “Cornhole” in their app’s title – Cornhole All-Stars. Those BASTARDS!

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Seriously, it really pisses us off when developers give their apps such clever and sensible names. Why couldn’t JUFTi Games name Cornhole All-Stars something stupid like … Pink Hippo Farms. Using the word “Cornhole” in the title of a virtual Cornhole iPhone game is simply offensive. Yeah you heard us JUFTi Games … SCREW YOU … you’re Cornhole All-Stars name offends us!

What? You think we’re crazy? SCREW YOU TOO! We’re not crazy and the Canadian Government agrees, Cornhole All-Stars is offensive, thus censoring the game in Canada.

Yup … cruise over to the Canadian App Store, type in “Cornhole All-Stars” and you’ll find nothing. As we said, the brilliant Canadian Government censored this clever and sensible title to … C*****e All-Stars. In essence, halting Cornhole All-Stars sales in Canada – if consumers can’t find it, they can’t buy it. LOL at JUFTi Games … maybe next time you’ll think twice about cornholing O Canada.

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So we really wanted to get to the bottom of this dumbass move by JUFTi Games and contacted co-founder Jon Meyers. We asked Jon WTF was he thinking naming his Cornhole-themed iPhone game, Cornhole All-Stars. Jon gave us some weak reply saying … “incorporating the word Cornhole into the app’s title would provide potential customers a clear message to the premise of the game and a convenient method of locating a virtual Cornhole iPhone game amongst the nearly 100,000 iPhone applications”. Ha – not in Canada bitch!

Anyways, Jon and his business partner, Chuck Hootman, are prepared to “be heard” in Canada. They take issue with seemingly arbitrary Canadian Government standards and a lack of consistency throughout the Apple App Store.

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“That the government in Canada wants to keep us from using the word Cornhole speaks volumes about its priorities – which seem to be limiting freedom of speech and trade between very close neighbors.” Chuck said. “We want Canada to free Cornhole and lift these harsh sanctions. We demand that the Harper regime free Cornhole.” Jon said.

americashat In hopes of freeing Cornhole from censorship, JUFTi has filed formal letters of protest with the Canadian Government and will travel to Toronto … staging protest rallies throughout the City on Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16. For more protest information, visit  SayCornhole.com.

Whatever JUFTi. Just remember … Canada may be America’s hat, but you’re their bitch. Hopefully next on O Canada’s agenda is censoring other offensive apps like Nut Sizer, iScrew and Cockadoodle Inc, eh?

October 13, 2009 | Filed Under Games, News | 4 Comments 

Boobies For A Cause – 25¢ Peep Show Takes A Swing At Breast Cancer

As you probably noticed, we often talk about those sexy bikini girl boobie apps. Why? Well we’re not exactly sure. Maybe because there’s like thousands of them in the App Store and they always seem to provide an “interesting angle”.

Take for example the 14 different Busty Buxom Curvy Cuties apps … gynormous boobies gracing your iPhone for your viewing pleasure. Or how about the Asian Boobs app (yes, that’s the actual name of the app) … gee, take a wild guess what that one’s about. For those of you who like to play with boobs, check out Boob Stack … think Tetris, but with falling boobies. Maybe you just like to sit back, relax and watch bouncing boobs … Gym Babes will satisfy your Peeping Tom hots for hooters. Of course most geeks like to build stuff … so similar to Build A Bear, Wobble and iJiggles allow you to Build A Boob.

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What’s with all this random tata talk? Hey, come on … nothing we do here is random! October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) highlighting the importance of early detection. More and more women are getting mammograms to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. As a result, breast cancer deaths are on the decline.

So with the thousands of boobie apps, coupled with NBCAM, wouldn’t it be cool to have some sort of a tie-in? An answer to the equation … Boobie Apps + Boobie Month = ??? Yes it would be cool and that’s why the developers at More Blu Sky and their 25¢ Peep Show Hot Girls and Sexy Guys apps are freaking awesome.

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In honor of NBCAM, More Blu Sky has joined the 8th Annual Boobie-Thon – an effort in which bloggers worldwide send in photos of their boobs (covered and uncovered) to help create awareness and raise money for breast cancer research. Boobie-Thon kicked off on October 1, running one full week, ending at 11:59 pm on October 7. More Blu Sky is generously donating 25¢ from each sale of their Peep Show app – a nifty little boobie app where you stick a quarter in the slot, screen raises and you get to check out hot chicks (or dudes).

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breastcancerribbonGIF For more information about Boobie-Thon and how it started, check out The History Of Boobie-Thon article. And of course, download the 25¢ Peep Show Hot Girls [iTunes] or Sexy Guys [iTunes] iPhone apps knowing part of your purchase will go towards the fight against breast cancer.

So up’s to More Blu Sky for leading the Boobie Developers charge of leveraging the month of October for a great cause. While Boobie-Thon concludes this Wednesday, hopefully other Boobie Developers will get creative and contribute to the fight against breast cancer … because boobies are all good and worth fighting for!

October 6, 2009 | Filed Under Entertainment, News | 18 Comments 

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