I have seen many apps that are based on other apps, such as a guide for a game. Is it legal for me to make an app that can help new players get a better understanding on an existing app that I do not own in anyway?
The only “legal advise” you should listen to on a game development forum is “ask a lawyer”.
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that would cost a lot more than any app would make me 
There are plenty of places you can get free legal advice. And if you somehow can’t find a web site with lawyer who answers simple questions like that for free, then you just as well decide for yourself since any advice here won’t really answer your question.
Why not contacting the creator of the app in question and ask him/her for permission?
I would say YES, if you make pretty clear that you’re not the developer of the existing app. Even guides
for operating systems or computer programs (such as Adobe ones) exist! But then again, I’m not a lawyer.
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My wife is a lawyer, and she says it would require a lot of digging to find out the answer since its not a common issue in her firm. I tried contacting the developer several ways and no reply for 6 weeks now. I thought maybe some one here has some experience with this issue.
I’d start looking in trademark law because I think you can’t profit based on the popularity of another companies brand. I don’t know for sure - this is not legal advice - but I think the information on how to get good at a game can’t be protected as long as you don’t need to break any agreement to acquire it (e.g. reverse engineer), but you can’t use the name of the game or any of the logo’s or art assets. (Possibly depending on local laws) you might not even be allowed to use screenshots from the game. So I’d say in practice it’s not feasable to make such an app without explicit permission of the IP owner.
BUT, if you are allowed to make youtube videos of the game, and teach players that way, just do that. Chances are you’ll make more money anyway. Some companies have restrictions in place, but for youtube it will be a lot easier to find the information you are looking for I think.
If you are legitimately worried about getting in trouble, the only 100% sure way to find out is to ask a lawyer. If you can’t do that, then simply don’t do it.
If you don’t really care and just want validation from people who can’t really give it to you, go for it. Of course a lawsuit will cost a lot more than asking a lawyer.
I’ll tell you this though, legal or not, trying to make money off someone else’s hard work without their permission is disgusting.
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There’s a lot of web sites out there that makes money (through adds) from creating walkthroughs, guides, FAQs and other help-related material for games. See GameFAQs. Back in the days when gaming mags were popular, they also printed a bunch of hints and guides.
The problem comes when it starts looking like you’re an official product, or you’re using the company/brand’s game to sell things. If you tried to put The Angry Birds Guide App on the App Store, that’d not be accepted.
If you throw in a big, fat “not an official product” disclaimer, and don’t use any assets from the game that’s not explicitly listed as allowable for use in third party commercial products, your chances of not getting your app taken down probably goes up.
The most general advice is of course to not take legal advice from a forum.
Pay a retainer to your wife and let her figure it out.
She’s much better qualified than anyone on the Unity forum.
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The thing is, this game already has fan-based educational apps available which are not as good as I can make it. But there is no way I can find out if they actually have taken permission from the official game. I have already released many spreadsheets etc to the community for free to help with this game, and the only thing I would use from the original game is name of weapons.
My wife is sure that her time is worth a lot more than I know this app would make and I agree with her, because this will be a free app and I do not care much for profit, but I mainly want to make it due to requested demand. the one thing I want to avoid is to be sued just to make an app that in essence only increases the original game popularity and makes it easier and more enjoyable for those who are not mathematically orientated.
Anyway, thanks a bunch for the advice, I will try to contact the app owners again, maybe they would respond this time.
Apple’s known to reject apps which are based on apps due to them being flooded by what amounts to shovelware.
And likely you’d need permission to use the original app’s images, names, branding and so on. It’s just a pretty terrible idea really, if you plan on monetizing it.
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*LEGALITY!
This is the best/safest way to do things in this regard.
Doesn’t the asset store, or unreal marketplace contain stuff like that already? I think there’s a flappy bird clone on the UE4 marketplace. They don’t address the app in question, nor use any of its images, but its a clone of something. Or did I misunderstand your question? lol
But like others have said, if you really want to mention the app, and be really similar to it, you need to consult a lawyer.