By Last week, we reported on a story about Asphalt 7 delivering notifications to users’ devices while the game wasn’t running. The notifications, which immediately seemed erroneous, were almost Airpush-esque. They were so similar, in fact, that a couple of different Gameloft representatives wrongly suggested the app did, indeed, use the new-age advertising service, even going as far as directing users to Airpush’s website to opt out.
Shortly after publishing, we received a statement from Airpush denying involvement in the deliverance of ads or notifications of any sort. The company even stated that it was a technical impossibility for Asphalt 7 to use the Airpush SDK as Gameloft is not signed up with them as an ad publisher, and that the behavior Gameloft’s game displayed was not indicative of Airpush’s SDK.
Confused, we sought an answer from Gameloft and we’ve finally gotten one — Airpush is in the clear, folks. Gameloft cleared things up and confirmed that Airpush is not being used in any way, shape or form. In fact, Gameloft said any notifications displayed were caused by a bug that has already been identified and fixed, and assured users that they would never see these notifications again.
We would like to apologize to our users and to Airpush for any misunderstanding, as well as the inconvenience of experiencing the bug. Our trusty crew has confirmed that our Asphalt 7 fans on Android should never receive these notifications again.
Well, that’s quite a relief for all parties involved. Asphalt 7 hasn’t received an update in the Play Store since late December, so any fixes must have been on the server side of things. Be sure to let us know if you’re still receiving any notifications, but judging by the Google Play Store reviews I imagine we’re in the clear. Read on for the full statement from Gameloft.
“Some Android fans of Asphalt 7: Heat recently got messages from the game popping up in their notification tray. Clearly the extreme speed of Asphalt 7 got our Customer Care team a little dizzy, because they mistakenly told users who complained that the messages came from the Airpush ad system.
Gameloft is not using the Airpush service, and Airpush has nothing to do with these messages. It was an internal error and a dedicated team at Gameloft identified the problem and leapt into action to solve it faster than a NASCAR pit crew.
We would like to apologize to our users and to Airpush for any misunderstanding, as well as the inconvenience of experiencing the bug. Our trusty crew has confirmed that our Asphalt 7 fans on Android should never receive these notifications again.
See you on the streets of Asphalt 7: Heat!”
I thought the power of the people ensured any apps that used airpush’s service would never see the light of day by means of rating terribly and uninstalling?
Except, in order for “the power of the people” to work, it first has to see the light of day so people CAN rate the offending app terribly and uninstall it.
Do any apps currently use Airpush? Maybe the developers are smart enough not to incorporate it because they know what will happen.
That may be the case, but then again, I wouldn’t know. I generally don’t download a whole bunch of apps (games or otherwise). I believe there was a GPS status app that had Airpush ads for awhile, but that was almost a year ago and haven’t needed it since (though I’m sure the developer wised up).
You guys still don’t get this had nothing to do with Airpush, smh. Who cares…
Now get rid of IAP in a pay for game and maybe I will consider your games again. Hell, even sell a premium version of these games without it.
I got a crap load of those notifications from Asphalt 7, it stopped about two days ago. I didn’t know what they were at first, then when I opened it I found out it was some kind of “Airpush” type of ad. If this is what Gameloft is going to be doing in the future then I will just not buy any more of their games. Ads suck!
really? i got none from A7… oh wait, i got an i5….
Hey TROLL i hope the bridge that you live under collapses on you!
Oh wow someone is trying to brag about an inferior product :0
I was wondering why my Airpush deactivation didn’t stop those pesky messages from popping up…
Thanks Phandroid for getting to the bottom of this.
I got a few of those and when I clicked on it asphalt 7 open up and I played the game for good 30 minutes and then went back to what I was doing….
As of last night I was still getting these notifications, I unistallled because of this.
ive always had this problem with all their games the reason i will never install them even worse is the content delivered in these ads for adult chat sites. personally im able to ignore it but giving my tablet or phone to a child to play a game on and have that pop up is wrong on so many levels.
Uninstalled. Problem solved.
On android 4.1+ if you press and hold any notification you get a button that link to the app that is generating the notification and then you can disable notifications for that app. Great New feature to get rid of all this spam push notifications in games. Not need to uninstall the app.
I’m glad to know that it’s not AirPush, and i can feel good about buying Gameloft games again. As of last night I was still getting the notification, however (reminders that I should play the game) and Gameloft helpdesk asked me to send them screen shots (which I’ve taken). Not too big a deal now that I can turn notifications off for each individual app.
Still… I can’t help but wonder why _two_ representatives of Gameloft told me that it was AirPush? What internal error at Gameloft happened that two (likely) unconnected employees (one on the help desk, and one a Gameloft forum admin) would think first before anything else to tell me it was AirPush. I’m guessing they aren’t going to explain that one.
Thanks to Quentyn for following this up!