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Geek Culture / Apple's worst approved app, ever.

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xCept
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 01:19 Edited at: 26th Apr 2013 01:21
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So, there's a developer who has gotten three games approved on iTunes. They are all clones of each other and use plagiarized art from Pokemon etc. The most notable thing is that as soon as you launch them, you are prompted to buy a $99.99 upgrade! One click and you'll be out $100. Each character costs $50 to $100 to unlock, and you must also buy extra bullets (30 per $1). There are other $100 upgrades too!



It doesn't say much about Apple's image when their extensive review process allows three of these apps to slip through and they've remained available for months now. Yet a free app I developed in the past was rejected because it looked "too much like a trial" for having a single upgrade option to unlock twice as many features. I feel for the parents whose kids get a hold of this game.

Edit: There are now four of these games available from the same developer.
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Chris Tate
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 01:25
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What a disgrace to the gaming industry! I guess this person got it easy through some lazy reviewer; could you not try to submit again?

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xCept
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 01:33
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Quote: "What a disgrace to the gaming industry! I guess this person got it easy through some lazy reviewer; could you not try to submit again?"

Maybe that would have worked, I guess it does depend on who reviews it and how they interpret the rules. It's just frustrating to wait 1-2 weeks and then have it rejected, and have to go in the back of the queue each time. Mine was a drawing app and I was giving away 21 free brushes and 14 backgrounds, with a one-time upgrade to unlock twice as many and all future ones that I create. I even offered real-time previews of the ones that could be unlocked and clearly depicted which were locked with a padlock symbol. It's ironic because the app of the year last year was Paper, which has only a single unlocked brush and each additional brush costs $2. Oh well... I ended up releasing it with everything unlocked but with ads. I'll probably only continue to update the full version so those who purchase it will get more for their buck than no ads.
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RUCCUS
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 01:35
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I still thing the "I Am Rich" app that got approved (twice!) several years back takes the cake. The app cost $999.99 and consisted of an image of a bright red ruby that filled the screen at launch and... that was it. Nothing else. It sold almost 10 copies before finally being taken off the store.
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Fluffy Rabbit
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 01:50
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I should make a game like this! It's absolutely brilliant! People think they're getting something for free, but then they can accidentally pay me a ton more money.
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rolfy
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 02:33 Edited at: 26th Apr 2013 09:58
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Seems to me they judge with their wallet, if your app looks like it will generate revenue, even using force tactics with annoying popups every five seconds, they will accept it.
Says a lot about the criteria and individuals they use to decide what they want in their store.

As for the "I am rich" app anyone could grab an image or even easily recreate it, stick it on their phone and how would anyone know its genuine, the fools that would pay for it, thinking its a 'status' eymbol, deserved to be fleeced if its about saying your so rich you can throw it away...in this case you actually did but no ones impressed.

I don't trip over...I do random gravity checks.
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mr Handy
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 09:22
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Quote: "I still thing the "I Am Rich" app that got approved (twice!) several years back takes the cake. The app cost $999.99 and consisted of an image of a bright red ruby that filled the screen at launch and... that was it. Nothing else. It sold almost 10 copies before finally being taken off the store."

I was thinking about it before entering here

What I want to say, this app is targeted for kids which may take parent's card and pay all those "upgrades". Good thing that nowdays court is on the parent's side.

I claim that this app was maid by fraudster.

«Just because you’re unique, doesn’t mean you’re useful»
«If you contributed to the reason for locking, you may now find yourself on moderation, or in extreme cases in the grave»
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Dazzag
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 16:32
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I've had an app rejected because it had a quit option (even though my first app went through fine with one) and they grumbled a lot because they didn't fully understand what the icons meant (I didn't put any text on them).

Biggest laugh I've had is my first iOS app was a simple slider puzzle effort to ease into things. That went through fine, but then when my wife suggested a new version replacing cute pets and the like with creative common pictures of women in bikinis then Apple didn't approve (WebOS was fine).

I got a phone call directly from America saying "Yeah, we won't be going with your app at this time". When I asked why I got a lot of flannel. I pointed out that there were apps that existed that were much more risqué, and they were all accepted no issues. She asked for an example (I did some research ) and I mentioned the Hooters app where models wash your screen while wearing not much. She said "Ah thanks for raising this issue with us, we will look into the app". Erm...

Gives me a warm glow to see such obvious scam apps get through with no issues whatsoever...

Cheers

Current fave quote : Cause you like musicians and I like people with boobs.
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Phaelax
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Posted: 26th Apr 2013 23:18
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This is nothing new really. Apple's review process has always been lazy. Look how many countless apps get approved only to be taken down later anyway. Their system is about as flawed as the US patent office.

But agreed, that is a terrible app. Nice super mario world sound effects though. Does this mean I can sell my zelda clone on the app store and force people to pay extra for the boomerang?

"You're all wrong. You're all idiots." ~Fluffy Rabbit
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Airslide
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Posted: 28th Apr 2013 08:59
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Maybe the guy's real clever and his app asks a server whether or not to prompt the IAPs - if the app has been approved, he flips a switch and anyone using it gets the prompts (whereas the reviewers did not, because the server said no or timed out).

That could be giving both parties too much credit of course.
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Phaelax
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Posted: 28th Apr 2013 10:31
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And that's another good reason I have a firewall on my iphone :p

"You're all wrong. You're all idiots." ~Fluffy Rabbit
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Libervurto
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Posted: 28th Apr 2013 18:02
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I feel like I need a brain transplant after watching that.


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Norion
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Posted: 28th Apr 2013 23:05
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I wonder if the devs actually expect to make some money with this piece of crap =/

Nec Temere Nec Timide
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Chris Tate
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Posted: 29th Apr 2013 00:50
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They would only need one fool to purchase the extras every now and then.

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Phaelax
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Posted: 29th Apr 2013 02:10
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Quote: "They would only need one fool to purchase the extras every now and then."

Probably the same reason Apple approved it. How much is their cut again?

"You're all wrong. You're all idiots." ~Fluffy Rabbit
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Insert Name Here
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Posted: 29th Apr 2013 02:15
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Quote: "Quote: "They would only need one fool to purchase the extras every now and then."
Probably the same reason Apple approved it. How much is their cut again?"


The cynical side of me agrees. The idealist in me says they probably stand to lose more from bad publicity with this kind of move than they could ever gain. What's $100 to Apple?

Quote: "What the bloody hell is going on?"

-Desmond, 'Lost'
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Libervurto
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Posted: 29th Apr 2013 02:39 Edited at: 29th Apr 2013 02:40
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Phaelax
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Posted: 29th Apr 2013 03:13
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Apple has had bad publicity since they started the app store, it hasn't really hurt them.

"You're all wrong. You're all idiots." ~Fluffy Rabbit
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RUCCUS
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Posted: 29th Apr 2013 19:13
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Apple takes %30.
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Insert Name Here
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Posted: 29th Apr 2013 19:39
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Quote: "Apple has had bad publicity since they started the app store, it hasn't really hurt them."


That's true, but if they stand to make ~$30 a pop with this 'game', I don't see why they'd even bother.

'What the bloody hell is going on?'
-Desmond, 'Lost'
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