A simplistic video game based off of the popular GameSalad marketplace template shot to the top of the Apple App store charts recently. The game in question, Red Bouncing Ball Spikes, was netting its "creator" upwards of $10,000 a day. The app costs $0.99 so we're talking about a whole lot of downloads here for a pretty sustained period of time. The gameplay is nothing special. Like Flappy Bird, your objective is to move an object (in this case a ball) through an obstacle ridden side-scrolling level without dying.

There are thousands of games on the App store but Red Bouncing Ball Spikes creator, a guy by the name of Mateen, was able to single handedly make his app more noticeable to perspective buyers. In order to do this he created a bunch of phony Apple IDs. Then he proceeded to use his own money and bought his own app through those multiple Apple ID accounts. In total he spent $20,000 of his own money buying his app in order to trick the app store system into thinking that his app was super popular. With the credibility his sales revenue generated, other iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch users decide to give his game a try.

As for the game, it stinks. Since it's based off of a template, it's derivative, uninspired and wholly unoriginal. In fact, other games based on this very template have been accepted in the vaunted App store! The other app is the very same game. Not even the name has been changed (except for the addition of an exclamation point). It's very likely that the free app is netting its owner money as well via ad revenue.

While none of this is illegal per say, its disheartening to hear that the App store charts can be manipulated so easily. When a game is listed in the top 5 or 10 or even top 20 people deserve to know if its sales were legitimate. Luckily the app only cost people a buck. If they were charged anything more than they'd really have been nickel-and-dimed.

What's your favorite iOS game? Let us know in the comments section below.