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Comment by njsubedi

4 years ago

This happens so many times and some people posted it on HN before. The most common reply is that you should not put all your eggs in someone else’s basket. I’m amused no one has posted that comment yet.

By the way, Google will most probably not restore the account, but I’d be interested to know whether it does because our startup is also similar to yours, and half of our eggs are in Google’s basket too. Please keep us (the community) updated.

27 comments

njsubedi

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josephcsible  4 years ago

So if you want to write a mobile app, what are you supposed to do? Aren't your only choices to put all of your eggs in Google/Apple's baskets?

  • ipaddr  4 years ago

    The answer is simple don't make a mobile game. Write a web app or desktop application.

    It is the same as console games or anywhere someone else controls the platform.

    • terrortrain  4 years ago

      I am generally following that advice.

      IMO the fact that this is the best path is clear evidence that we need mobile app store reform. It's mind boggling to me that people still defend this status quo

      1 reply →

  • ant6n  4 years ago

    To what extend could one use a website instead of an app?

    • 2cb  4 years ago

      Depends on the app in question. OP is about a gaming company so using a website isn't a serious option.

  • techrat  4 years ago

    > So if you want to write a mobile app, what are you supposed to do?

    Not hire someone who had been banned before due to ad fraud.

    • Thorncorona  4 years ago

      This is some next level victim blaming for something that we don’t know happened, and can easily be handled by adults with communication channels.

      It’s not as if devs go around with a visible scarlet letter for any malfeasance they get into. Nor is it reasonable brand people permanently.

      2 replies →

    • tremon  4 years ago

      In some parts of the world, that would be discriminatory against ex-convicts. If a person has been convicted and has served their penance, you are not allowed to use that fact in decisions concerning them.

      Besides, why should we allow corporations to run their own private justice system?

      5 replies →

    • busymom0  4 years ago

      Google isn't even telling you that that's what happened. Also as a developer who used to use ads until 5 years ago, I got a wrongful 1 month suspension claiming I was clicking my own ads even though I never did. It's obviously my words vs theirs but I know what my truth is. Yet Google claimed I was clicking my own ads and therefore gave me a 1 month suspension. That convinced me to stop using ads all together and since then, I have become even more reluctant to build Android apps. I just work on iOS apps instead. I hadn't built any android apps for past 5 years except last month when I finally built one because I was getting many user requests to have one.

      2 replies →

cblconfederate  4 years ago

> I’m amused no one has posted that comment yet.

It s probaly because it has become impossible not to put your eggs in the same 2 baskets. How else are people going to make an app / how are they going to launch a startup without an app? (I know it s possible to go web only, but they 'll probably not be taken seriously by investors)

  • VLM  4 years ago

    Very handwavy most of these stories seem to revolve around Google tying ad accounts and play store accounts, and having a VERY EXTREMELY heavy hand on ad accounts, which results in the banhammer smashing distantly related play store accounts.

    The safest way to handle this is probably to not use both google play store and google ads. Going to be pretty hard to make an app without Play Store so I guess that means no using Google Ads. Too dangerous and Google will not support.

    If you used, say, Facebook "audience network" ads, then no matter how angry Facebook gets, regardless if they're correct or not, at least your app would remain up.

    Also if you're launching a startup you're probably not making much from ads and as using google ads is a HUGE existential risk for any app developer, you'd best not use ads. Its not like any end user ever used a startup's app because they like how well they implemented the ads.

  • busymom0  4 years ago

    I am not the author of the article, I just posted it. The article is about game development so webdev isn't a serious option for the author either.