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Google Play search quirk leaves Temple Run buried under unofficial tips

Out of the running

Google Play search quirk leaves Temple Run buried under unofficial tips
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| Temple Run

Temple Run is out now on Android, but you may have a hard time finding it if you didn't click on the handy [download] link we included in our story this morning.

Due to a quirk in how apps are displayed in Google Play, Imangi Studio's official Android port of the hit iOS endless-runner shows up well down the search rankings, below such incredibly important titles as Temple Run Fan App, Temple Run Fan Quiz, and Meme Viewer (for some reason).

And even if you run a search for 'Imangi Studios', Temple Run only appears in 5th position (out of five results).

Hidden treasure

This isn't the first time an official app has been the victim of some slightly dubious search algorithms on Google Play, however.

PopCap's much-celebrated twist on the tower defence genre Plants vs Zombies, for instance, shows up below Pumpkins vs Monsters and, more jarringly for EA, an unofficial hints and tips app for the game (thanks, Stu).

Temple Run will undoubtedly climb up the results page as its download numbers grow, but given the high level of anticipation surrounding the game's release, it's a little baffling to discover Google doesn't have something in place to ensure big-name Android games are highly visible without them having to be a featured app.
Will Wilson
Will Wilson
Will's obsession with gaming started off with sketching Laser Squad levels on pads of paper, but recently grew into violently shouting "Tango Down!" at random strangers on the street. He now directs that positive energy into his writing (due in no small part to a binding court order).