Kongregate Android App Modified Slightly, Back On Marketplace

After being unceremoniously removed from the Android Marketplace shortly after its premiere last week, Kongregate's flash-based multi-game app has been modified and restored to the service today. Kongregate CEO Jim Greer announced the reposting to the Marketplace through a web video where he explained minor revisions that "make it very clear that [the app] is for playing browser-based games and it's not going to install anything on the phone." As shown on the demo video, the revised application initially loads games in a browser window with the address bar visible, then expands to Flash's standard full screen mode once the game is fully loaded and playable. Google removed the Kongregate app from the Android Marketplace last week, citing a provision in the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement that prohibits apps which distribute other apps. Greer told Gamasutra that "tens of thousands" of users downloaded the free app before it was removed from the marketplace. During the week long absence, users were still able to sideload the app directly to their Android phones via a download from Kongregate's web site. "We hope that this hopefully will meet Google's requirements that we're not creating a competing app store while still being a great gaming experience," Greer said. The app allows free access to an initial library of over 300 Flash games, with plans to add dozens more per month, Greer told Gamasutra.