App Store's search engine is ruthless

Discussion in 'Public Game Developers Forum' started by Pixelosis, Apr 11, 2014.

  1. Pixelosis

    Pixelosis Well-Known Member

    Jan 28, 2013
    157
    0
    0
    Was looking for some obscure game called Candy Crush Saga.
    But I made a mistake and what I typed in the App Store was:

    candy crus saga

    Results?
    Apps for iPad : 1, Candy Rain Saga.

    That search engine might be lacking some tolerance...
     
  2. Destined

    Destined Well-Known Member

    Aug 11, 2013
    1,063
    0
    0
    I tried and got the same.

    Blown away!
     
  3. DillweedLtd

    DillweedLtd Member

    Dec 28, 2013
    13
    0
    0
    Why the hell would you even want candy crush saga?
     
  4. optimizemyapps.com

    optimizemyapps.com Active Member

    Jan 10, 2014
    25
    0
    1
    App Store Optimization Expert
    I did search for "candy crus saga" on the App Store; I am getting Candy Crush Saga in the iPad Apps category too; this is the desktop iTunes search
     
  5. Destined

    Destined Well-Known Member

    Aug 11, 2013
    1,063
    0
    0
    They must use a different alogrithm for the desktops. It still brings up candy rain saga (and just that game) on an ipad.
     
  6. POLYGAMe

    POLYGAMe Well-Known Member

    Jul 3, 2010
    566
    0
    0
    Game Developer (iOS, Mega Drive, C64)
    Auckland, New Zealand
    I can't even find two of my games when I search for the EXACT title. That's really going to help with my sales, isn't it? LOL.
     
  7. Destined

    Destined Well-Known Member

    Aug 11, 2013
    1,063
    0
    0
    what are the games?
     
  8. POLYGAMe

    POLYGAMe Well-Known Member

    Jul 3, 2010
    566
    0
    0
    Game Developer (iOS, Mega Drive, C64)
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Bogan's Run and The Falling.
     
  9. Grumps

    Grumps Well-Known Member
    Patreon Indie

    Feb 2, 2009
    758
    0
    16
    iOS Game Developer
    As far as I understand, iTunes search is now working on a keyword search as oppose to name search. Popularity of an app takes account to the search result. This may include app title, keyword and non observable values such as the download count, reviews, rating. They are then compared with other apps and rank them accordingly.

    The Falling can be easily outcompete by "Falling Balls" (248,184 ratings) which currently rank #1 in the search result. You can imagine that how many downloads do they have. These versus 14 ratings on your app. You can imagine why Apple may view that the other apps are more relevant to the user.
     
  10. POLYGAMe

    POLYGAMe Well-Known Member

    Jul 3, 2010
    566
    0
    0
    Game Developer (iOS, Mega Drive, C64)
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Makes sense, though you'd think you'd still be able to find an app by name. NOTHING is returned when I search for Bogan's Run.
     
  11. negitoro

    negitoro Well-Known Member

    Apr 7, 2011
    57
    0
    0
    I can find your game by searching for 'bogan's run'.
     
  12. POLYGAMe

    POLYGAMe Well-Known Member

    Jul 3, 2010
    566
    0
    0
    Game Developer (iOS, Mega Drive, C64)
    Auckland, New Zealand
    That's weird... mine results with nothing. I haven't tried on my Mac but that's on my iPad... strange!
     
  13. Pixelosis

    Pixelosis Well-Known Member

    Jan 28, 2013
    157
    0
    0
    Well then the word candy I entered should have clearly triggered enough parameters to return Candy Crush Saga as the 1st result. The search engine should be able to omit typos as well when they lead to negligible or irrelevant data.
     

Share This Page