Seems a sense of humour wasn't in the new app approval guidelines
StusApps
Member, PRO Posts: 1,352
Hi all,
Thought it was worth a post about this now as it has been officially rejected.
A couple of months ago I made a great new game to teach users new and exciting ways to hold their iphone 4 called 'Avoid holding it that way'.
Having been in review for 7 weeks it was finally rejected (surprisingly). Apple have refused to reply to emails about it and I have received no reason for the rejection.
I kinda figured that having a sense of humour in the face of adversity was always a good policy.
Thought it was worth a post about this now as it has been officially rejected.
A couple of months ago I made a great new game to teach users new and exciting ways to hold their iphone 4 called 'Avoid holding it that way'.
Having been in review for 7 weeks it was finally rejected (surprisingly). Apple have refused to reply to emails about it and I have received no reason for the rejection.
I kinda figured that having a sense of humour in the face of adversity was always a good policy.
Comments
Instead of 'bing' every time you hit the back button, you should have put Steve Jobs saying 'boom!'
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
Gizmodo pissed him off...
Flash pissed him off...
the media pissed him off...
Maybe resubmit it and see what happens, can't hurt to try.
if it fails again, perhaps wait till they've fixed the antenna problem in iphone 5 then release it.
The only things I can think of that they might have an issue with is:
1) Using a device image in the game.
2) They didn't understand the game and mistakenly thought it lacked point.
3) Took issue with "threats" or invasive statement's such as "...we'll know you did it..."
4) They thought the app was "hazardous" and may cause people to drop their device
5) The app makes reference to a phone in the instructions (what about iPods).
6) Had a problem with the word "Avoid" in the title.
Not saying they are why...just some possibilities.
Perhaps try repackaging it in a "positive" light. Avoid the negativity as in issues 3 and 6 above. Remove the ipod from the icon/splash and refer to the phone as an "iDevice" or remove those references altogether.
I know why it was rejected. Nothing to do with any of those reasons. Simply because it is poking fun at Mr Jobs rather silly email reply to one of the first antenna issue emails he received. They just won't come out and say that to me.
Just got a call from Richard Chipman at apple regarding this application. Sadly I didn't get to record the conversation but I'll transcribe the good bits below, sorry if the order is not quite correct Richard.
RC: Obviously there are some functionality issues with your application.
Me: How so?
RC: Well we have guidelines on the functionality of applications that are submitted
Me: Can you expand on what exactly you mean by that?
RC: Why don't you explain to me what your app does
Me: Ok, it is a game where you have to press on the fingertips with your fingers and move them to new positions for each level. The game calculates how many positions you do in a set amount of time. It's a little like some of the finger twister games already on the app store.
RC: And what are you avoiding holding that way?
Me: The aim is to avoid holding it wrong.
RC: So you don't see that the title is trying to suggest different functionality (words to that effect).
Me: Why don't you tell me what you think?
RC: I think you are trying to move this conversation in a certain direction.
Me: Not at all, I think maybe you didn't like the title.
RC: I think with the title you are trying to make fun of one of our recent responses.
Me: So it is the title you don't like.
RC: No, but when you take the title and functionality they don't match up.
Me: But with a different title then it might get approved?
RC: If the functionality matched the title that might help.
Me: How about I change the functionality to match the title then, that would be better as well?
RC: We think you are trying to make fun of something we said and the functionality isn't the same as the title.
Me: Well which is it? Functionality or title?
RC: Changing the title might help.
Me: **Bit of a rant about poor communication**
RC: I have a job to do and we are trying to help you get your app approved.
Me: So it is the title this was rejected on?
RC: All I'm saying is change the title and resubmit
**General niceness and goodbyes**
Gonna resubmit with a new title, seemed to be the general message.
We all blame Steve for anything bad we experience with iTunes Connect.
Think that all new apps. are put in a pool, and it is the luck of the draw that affects the outcome.
(Peoples have told me that they didn't use 2 screen orientations and still got accepted.)
Would like to think that at least 2 testers try our apps.
Stu...you got picked by someone who knew Steve had said that...
Unfortunately, the testers are underlings who's motivation -- to please the Big Boss.
I think the fact that your game reviewed for 7 weeks shows it was under serious consideration.
What we learned from your experience: Avoid using Avoid in title
(Farts is okay; but not Avoid)
New Game: Farts to Avoid!
you know, where the farts chase you through mazes all over the screen!
MH
"The F Arts to A Void"
Mike
"Dextwist"
Good work man!
"Hey, we don't like you making fun of us."
They didn't need to wait so long to say that.
I mean, you advice the player by showing the fingerprints, how to hold the phone, then you can't tell them to avoid to hold it like that.
If you understand what I mean.
And of course I know, what it is about, but what I understand from that conversation, the reviewer wanted to tell you exactly this.
If you make a game, where you instruct the player to hold it in one way, then it must be titeled "hold it that way"
If you want to title it "Avoid that way" then you have to take the backward direction. Show the player, how to hold the device and he can hold it in any different way, just not THAT way, you told him.
For example they can touch it anywhere, just not on the marked spots.
I don't know, if it even makes sense gameplay wise, but I think this is, what they were trying to say.
PS: if this whole text doesn't make sense to you, I am sorry, but it's late here, I am tired and english can be a difficult language sometimes :-P
BTW: Nice game and vid.
It's funny.
Try to put it into the cydia store. They will love it :-P
Yeah I get what you mean. This was why I said to the guy at apple about changing the actual game so you do have to 'avoid holding it like that', he didn't like that idea and said that wouldn't be helpful.
I am going with synths Finger Flex name I think, thanks for that!
Wanted to ask you, why they called you after days of rejection.
Do you have a phone number from that Richard guy? Or anybody else from the review office?
They don't talk to me per email and I can't reach them.
I am afraid that my app will be in review for years too, just because they don't get it, what it is about and how it works.