A Chinese software company known as “Sailfish Games” has published a car-driving app on Google Play (formerly known as the Android Marketplace) titled “Gran Turismo”.
Although it should be obvious to GTPlanet’s readers that this is not an official title by Polyphony Digital or Sony Computer Entertainment, this fact may have been lost on the general public. Incredibly, within the first 24 hours of availability, the free app received over 100,000 downloads.
The app does not appear to contain advertisements, so the developer’s motivations for publishing such curiously titled software must be drawn into question. The developer’s website, which should be avoided, has also been flagged for distributing malware by WebOfTrust (thanks for the tip, cbabb).
It may even be a source of malware which has increasingly plagued the Android platform. Earlier this month, other apps with titles of popular video game franchises such as “Grand Theft Auto” and “Super Mario Bros.” were used to distribute a Trojan horse.
I strongly urge all readers to avoid the app, and will not be providing a direct link to see or install it. Surprisingly, as of writing, Google is still offering the app available to download, despite its obvious infringement on Sony Computer Entertainment’s trademark of the “Gran Turismo” name.
UPDATE: After eventually receiving over 500,000 downloads, Google appears to have finally removed this app from their Play marketplace.
See more articles on Android and Mobile Apps.
…China is the national equivalent of a kleptomaniac. Sad considering that for thousands of years they came up with the coolest **** the world had ever seen. Now it’s just a convenient place to rip off software and product designs without going to jail.
What the f..k.filthy copycats
i still have it lol
Why? It’s obviously malware, and even if it’s not it’s illegal.
They removed it from the marketplace because they released one with the DLC included, It’s now found under “Gran Turismo Academy version”
Poly-Phony.
Seems legit.
Lmao
You can’t trademark “Gran Turismo” can you?
It’s like trademarking “Grand Tour”.
If it was removed, it wasn’t on trademark grounds, I’m sure.
Yes, almost any word or phrase can be trademarked if you’re using it in commerce.
You’re a phony!
Atleast those scamers could give a but if effort. The cover car should be a GT-R and you should be able to choose from about 12 different versions of it…. and one other car. Then I might believe it!
LOLOLOL good call, in addition, if it was only released to select country’s and eveyone else left hanging, would also be more like the real Gran Turismo
They advertised a Bugatti on the splash screen? Wow. If they were trying harder it would have been either an R35 or an SLS AMG.
We all knew it wasn’t a polyphony title, it was released on time
Aha!
DLC out for app
have a look at the feedback from google play apps…dispicable,and worse
So you downloaded an app that most probably contains a Trojan or Spybot after reading this?
Then the “LOL” would be on you, mate.
Well I downloaded it and i must say… Its much better then polyphonys efforts LOL
Does it have a livery editor?
Yes, are you not satisfied with GT5’s?
gamerdog, GT5’s “livery editor” is nonexistant. I’m not sure if you recognize what a livery is.
Mind you, I love GT, but its flaws do need pointing out.
scarslasher, you sense of humor is nonexistant..
………lol
JUST like the Geely GT, rip off Rolls Royce
Geeley GE not GT*
Chinese governent at work, maybe planning the first mobile DDOS attacks.. they’ve been busted for this in the past.. setting up phony companies to make free software that infects and takes control of your pc.
I have something similar, its called speed car
Wouldn’t doubt it
I see that Google has learned one thing during its foray into the Chinese marketplace…Chinese ethics.
To the author of this article: All apps are Trojan Horses which sell your information to marketing companies, government agencies and multinational corporations.
To the users of the authentic and contraband app: delete both of them and invest in some books, or go outside and enjoy the beautiful planet which we have the privilege to inhabit.
Cheers.
Haha you have 3 lifes, how can that app be more chinese!?
Yeah, because everyone knows Chinese people live 3 times.
sooo, chinese are 1/3 feline??
Avoid the app u say? no worries, we saw the screen shot ;)
Google are such hypocrits xD they are trying to stop services for downloading videos from youtube without there being any infringement due to them not owning the videos posted, and then not stopping a blatant infringement of copyright regardless whether people are making money or not. Ugh
(Insert racial slur here)
I like egg rolls!!
The previous was a fact and should not be taken out of context, I really do like egg rolls.
As do I.
Awesome :)
Sailfish Games sounds like Selfish Games. If you know what I mean. :)
or Failfish Games XD
what a bunch of losers.
Typical Chinese; taking someone good and making a cheap (and frankly dreadful looking) copy.
Who would actually go and download this? Well, apparently 100,000 people; who evidently left school a bit early…
I seen this app and figured it was fake it dosen’t show GT’s logo so i looked at the info an notice PD had nothing to do with it so i didnt even bother to download it and now after reading this i’m glad i didn’t.
On a different note i just got a PSVita and was wondering if PD will be releasing GT for it soon. The thing is weird getting used to with the touch sensors so i’m wondering how gt is going to work well with that feature should be interesting.
These guys are in trouble.. When PD finds out..There wont even be a cease & desist. Not with all the money they have already collected. Its going to be a landslide lawsuit…
edit: They havent collected money.
They are Chinese. China doesn’t play by the established rules. PD can’t touch them.
For once, I’m happy I went with an iPhone.
well then, let those stupids download this app, let them suck the virus, this game looks crap anyway so even it’s free if you’re not low life and stupid, don’t download this game.
A typical response from WT… You people are disgustingly ignorant …
Good one Google. You get what you pay for.
Has anyone heard of the Gathers Driver Civic Racecar it was my first time seeing it in the ucd is it new or am I blind? (I’ve had gt5 the day it came out so im familiar with the cars)
must be new DLC,u got it somehow,well done *claps
yeah…. it has been there since day one….
It is a fairly attractive civic race car with the white and red/orange livery if i am remembering correctly no?
Anyways, you just missed it all this time, i have had one for ages.
As per this article, boo, name stealing is terrible
It’s been there since GT4 lol and it’s been in GT5 since day one.
Lol i knew it was in gt4 but had no idea it was in gt5 thanks for clearing that up guys
Honestly, it’s a shame and confusing that people do stuff like this. If you look at the logo, it does say Gran Turismo, however it’s not our beloved GT symbol that we have all become familiar with, love, and love to hate at times.
At least Gran Turismo is original that revolutionized the racing video game genre…
Everybody’s got troll’d
I knew it just with the premium look of the veyron.
Hopefully if i’m not mistaken, Apple is looking more closely at app before releasing them.
The Chinese government sensors the internet so it’s citizens can’t see the communists brutal abuse of it’s people, but let them infringe on the intellectual property rights of every other country on the planet. Great country. You reap what you sew though, and I bet the future of that country is anything but stable.
Too bad you are such uneducated white trash … Barf
He’s right. Calling him white trash makes no sense. You are clearly the one that is uneducated in this matter. The last time the Chinese really got to use the Internet was at the 2008 Olympics when china opened up the Internet. It’s being sensored again.
I’ve got an idea! Let’s rip of one of the world’s most famous entertainment IPs! There’s no way we could possibly get sued, especially given the fact that it’s published by one of the largest electronics and media corporations on the planet! Our plan is perfectly safe!
(Seriously, though, [puts on AVGN shirt, khaki pants and glasses] What were they thinking?)
Sad thing is this sort of thing happens alot with some Chinese companies and they never get punished for it. For instance, One car company blatently copied designs from one of BMW’s vehicles and despite being taken to court, they actually won the case and never got sued for it.
I wonder if the early GT series will make it to the PlayStation Classics store for Sony Ericsson Android phones. Then there is a GT for Android.
I’d even like it if GT & GT2 were added to the Playstation store… Why hasn’t this happened already? :P
Actually, if you have a CFW on your Andrioid phone you are able to play them, and most of PS1 games.
I still have my GT1 :D Still plays like new….ah those were the days…
Would love to be able to play GT1 & GT2 on my PSP.
That is the worst Photoshop job on the Veyron. The ruined the colour, added a cheesy lens flare, and went nuts with the smudge tool.
“Google is still offering the app available to download, despite its obvious infringement on Sony Computer Entertainment’s trademark of the “Gran Turismo” name.”
– My question is, Why didn’t Google do a little research like Apple does before publishing it, or better yet, deny publishing? With a name like “Gran Turismo” so widely known it’s not that hard to realize it’s a fake.
The Chinese rip off everything…not that shocking
The Chinese have a hard time understanding ‘Copyright Infringement.’ Not surprised here.
True ^
That screenshot looks like a direct port of GT5 onto Android. I bet the cars sound the same, too.
Then again it might be better lol
They’re going to get so sued they’ll have to pay double their earnings from this bullcrap.
Free = No profit
Durr
this is the PS Vita GT….. SUCKERS!!!
no, that would be very bad… if GT is to file a lawsuit against them, (i’ll have to do more research to see if there is enough copyright to the game and its logo’s) we could see either a long delay with GT6 or any other product that comes out of PD for a while, or, the game could get more attention and we could see possibly more DLC’s of the like to come out gaster..
IDK… i just want the R18 e-tron quattro, the Audi Quattro Rally from 82′ or 83′??
Gran Turismo without my wheel and surround stereo? No. Just no.
Is this gt6??
yes, it is.
This post reeks of fanboy jelousy rage. “A racing game without ads, surely thats bound to have malware if its named gran turismo”
Get over yourself.
No.
See this link from the article above. Apps which exploit the name of a popular video game franchise have already been used to distribute malware several times before. Additionally, the developer’s own website has been marked as a host of malicious content.
Why u no pick on dev?
Jordan b gud guy.
:P
Your source for proof of malware on Android is suspicious. A malware software company saying a platform has lots of malware? Android is as safe as any other OS.
The prevalence of malware in Android apps is widely documented and is the subject of both commercial and academic research, such as the Android Malware Genome Project.
The Android Malware Genome Project, spearheaded by Xuxian Jiang
he’s the cause
I saw the Veyron and though we were getting the premium conversion.
Seriously, what a rip-off. They even copy the Blue and Red “GT” symbol.
PD should learn,It’s better than than the actual gt5 XD Jk ok
It looks like crap anyway :p
Polyphony Digital should sue them and maybe then they could afford the Porsche licences.
LOOOL
well yes they should!!!!
LOL YEA BUDDY
It’s “Speed Car” or any of the other drive-fast-and-weave-through-traffic games… poorly titled and with poor graphics. That said, a lot of software comes out of China now, no avoiding it, just run antivirus and use common sense.
Pure GT-Fans
Pure GT-Fans everywhere :D
Good shout Jordan, hopefully someone gets on this.
They will claim it is called Gran Tupismo
Just like when Chinese car companies built and identical BMW the Chinese government said it looked nothing like it at all (Top Gear UK series 18)
im pretty sure that where hobanator24 got that from as well
Lol @naru
People will continue to download it until the rating gets so low and stays low and many people call it fake. But even then people will continue to ignore those ratings. Google will not take it down because there is nothing that is “wrong” or “dangerous” about it known yet. I am sure that it will be taken down unless the Chinese government says it is nothing like our GT.
It’s not that it looks like GT, it’s the use of the name that is trademark of Polyphony Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment that is the problem. But most likely the chinese developer will say otherwise; Much with the Chinese imitation of the BMW X5
I have an iPod, so… >_>
Miserable.
GTA, not academy, android.
I would suggest any form of software coming out of China should be given a wide berth.
Whoever made that is in trouble. A lot of trouble.