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Yesterday Bootant, developers of BreakClassic ($0.99 – Free Demo) and BreakTouch 3D, posted at the TouchArcade forums that Atari told them to remove their game from the App Store. Another developer, Spiffyware, also posted on their blog that Atari had told them to remove their game, Super Pong 2 ($2.99 – Free Demo), from the App Store as well. Super Pong 2 will be removed from the App Store this Friday.
It looks like Atari is going after all the Breakout and Arkanoid clones available for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Usually, when this happens, the publisher eventually release their own games, without worrying about competition. The Tetris Company did this for Tetris (by having Tris removed), inXile Entertainment did this for Line Rider iRide (by having Flying Rider removed), and First Star Software did this for their upcoming Boulder Dash Rocks! game (by having Rockfall removed.)
All of the removed games were done by small, independent developers that don’t have the financial strength to stand up for themselves. Don’t be surprised to see an official Breakout, Pong, or Arkanoid game for the iPhone and iPod Touch from Atari in the near future.
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