I recently decided to create a new word game called Word Search Flip Frenzy. I love word puzzles, and I’ve found that AI can be really helpful in generating the type of text-based content these games need. So, I looked at some popular word search apps on the market, then experimented with ChatGPT to come up with my own twist. The result was a grid-based game where entire rows or columns flip, briefly hiding the letters you need to find. Through user testing, I decided to add an extra layer of challenge by having the tiles weaken and explode if they got flipped too often—if a tile in your target word blows up, you lose. It was a fun idea that ended up taking quite a bit of work, especially generating the word lists for different categories.
Despite all this creative effort, I hit a snag when I submitted the app to the App Store around New Year’s Day. They rejected it for allegedly being a “copycat.” That was quite frustrating because I never tried to copy anything. I just used AI to brainstorm ideas, tested those ideas with friends and family, and refined the game’s mechanics. When I tried to get an explanation, I felt like the reviewer was just sticking to a checklist. It’s not the first time I’ve had to go back and forth over something that seemed like a misunderstanding.
I ended up appealing to the app review board, which has been more reasonable in my past experiences. But the wait was painful—three weeks with no confirmation or progress updates. Then out of the blue, I got a note that they’d finally reviewed my appeal and approved it. It went live a couple days later, which was both a huge relief and a pleasant surprise, because I was really starting to wonder if it would never happen.
Now that Word Search Flip Frenzy is officially in the App Store, I’m moving forward with the next steps: adding ads, refining the gameplay, and seeing what kind of feedback I get. It feels good to have a resolution, and I’m excited to keep experimenting with AI-driven mechanics in future projects.
https://apps.apple.com/np/app/word-search-flip-frenzy-game/id6739945911
Jake
52 Apps in 52 Weeks 
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