Comments on: At The Mercy of Apple’s Whim http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim Living the indie life Tue, 15 May 2012 19:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Games from Within | All About In-App Purchases Part 4: iTunes Connect http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-4884 Games from Within | All About In-App Purchases Part 4: iTunes Connect Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:38:38 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-4884 [...] used to going through the approval process for binaries, but in-app purchases are a bit different. Here’s some of what I learned going through this for [...] [...] used to going through the approval process for binaries, but in-app purchases are a bit different. Here’s some of what I learned going through this for [...]

]]> By: Robert http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2950 Robert Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:54:30 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2950 The new developer guide from itunes connect includes info on not using app names as keywords. The new developer guide from itunes connect includes info on not using app names as keywords.

]]> By: Brad Parks http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2947 Brad Parks Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:01:16 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2947 I've had similar experiences, and realized that whenever I submit an app to apple that references online content, I simply make those webpages and urls it hits show very simple content until the app is approved, then after that, I enable the full content. I'm sure this isn't an "apple approved" approach, but it seems to avoid the potential wrath of an arbitrary reviewer. I've also been attaching a version number to my url's so I can have the content enabled for older versions of the app, and disabled on for the version that's currently in the update queue. I’ve had similar experiences, and realized that whenever I submit an app to apple that references online content, I simply make those webpages and urls it hits show very simple content until the app is approved, then after that, I enable the full content. I’m sure this isn’t an “apple approved” approach, but it seems to avoid the potential wrath of an arbitrary reviewer.

I’ve also been attaching a version number to my url’s so I can have the content enabled for older versions of the app, and disabled on for the version that’s currently in the update queue.

]]> By: Garry Seto http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2936 Garry Seto Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:00:22 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2936 Hey Noel, To add to this, our app, TweetCapz, v1.1 update just got REJECTED. The reason? "Inappropriate keywords". You are apparently not allowed to reference other applications in your keywords. For us, it was "Flickr" and "Tumblr" for which our users can email their photos to. This was after 15 days and we had to email the App Review team before they responded with the rejection. Seems like a coincidence that the day we emailed them, they immediately rejected our App update? We'll never know, I guess. Of course, I don't recall ever reading this restriction for the keywords or any sort of guideline whatsoever - we just have to learn the hard way? They've asked us to resubmit the binary and wait even though the Keywords in the iTunes description has NOTHING to do with the App itself. We've emailed them back and said that we've removed the offending keywords and if they could please continue with the app review. Somehow, I am not optimistic that it will be that easy. Hey Noel,

To add to this, our app, TweetCapz, v1.1 update just got REJECTED. The reason? “Inappropriate keywords”. You are apparently not allowed to reference other applications in your keywords. For us, it was “Flickr” and “Tumblr” for which our users can email their photos to. This was after 15 days and we had to email the App Review team before they responded with the rejection. Seems like a coincidence that the day we emailed them, they immediately rejected our App update? We’ll never know, I guess.

Of course, I don’t recall ever reading this restriction for the keywords or any sort of guideline whatsoever – we just have to learn the hard way? They’ve asked us to resubmit the binary and wait even though the Keywords in the iTunes description has NOTHING to do with the App itself. We’ve emailed them back and said that we’ve removed the offending keywords and if they could please continue with the app review. Somehow, I am not optimistic that it will be that easy.

]]> By: Robert http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2935 Robert Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:26:19 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2935 Noel, Wow, thats about all I can say. I have an app in line for the big black Apple box too! I am only on day 9 and gritting my teeth already after reading all the reports on their approval process. I had one approved back at the end of may after 8 days so I was hoping for something around that this time. Maybe its faster for non-game apps. Although lately it looks like there are a whole lot more non-game apps being sent in. I saw just yesterday a publisher with 191 pages of apps. That means they have 2,292 apps on the store! If they were legit apps I would not have a problem with it but they are like the book apps that came out when the store first opened, ie one piece of info per app instead of having a lot of different info in one app. How much does this clog up the black box I ask? How does apple go through 2,292 apps from one developer? I saw yesterday how convertbot was rejected for having a symbol close to the recents/history symbol for the tab bar. He was using it to mean time, but Apple said it was confusing to users!! I think it is surely ridiculous to have to wait 2-3 weeks to find out you have a minor issue and have to wait again 2-3 weeks for them to find something else minor. They should inform you of things they care about and allow you 1-2 updates to fix them. If you do not fix them then they pull your app. It seems this way we could get our apps up and running and they could request as many things as they please. Its win-win! I really do not mind them telling us to do little things to make the user experience solid, but to make us wait without knowing after spending beaucoup time on the app is just plain cruel. Cool website and Apps by the way! Thanks Noel,

Wow, thats about all I can say. I have an app in line for the big black Apple box too! I am only on day 9 and gritting my teeth already after reading all the reports on their approval process. I had one approved back at the end of may after 8 days so I was hoping for something around that this time. Maybe its faster for non-game apps. Although lately it looks like there are a whole lot more non-game apps being sent in. I saw just yesterday a publisher with 191 pages of apps. That means they have 2,292 apps on the store! If they were legit apps I would not have a problem with it but they are like the book apps that came out when the store first opened, ie one piece of info per app instead of having a lot of different info in one app. How much does this clog up the black box I ask? How does apple go through 2,292 apps from one developer? I saw yesterday how convertbot was rejected for having a symbol close to the recents/history symbol for the tab bar. He was using it to mean time, but Apple said it was confusing to users!! I think it is surely ridiculous to have to wait 2-3 weeks to find out you have a minor issue and have to wait again 2-3 weeks for them to find something else minor. They should inform you of things they care about and allow you 1-2 updates to fix them. If you do not fix them then they pull your app. It seems this way we could get our apps up and running and they could request as many things as they please. Its win-win! I really do not mind them telling us to do little things to make the user experience solid, but to make us wait without knowing after spending beaucoup time on the app is just plain cruel.

Cool website and Apps by the way!

Thanks

]]> By: Noel http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2934 Noel Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:24:10 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2934 I did get an email from Apple: "Thank you for uploading a new binary. We will notify you if there are any further issues." In other words, no idea what the status is. If nothing else, this process would benefit from some amount of transparency. I did get an email from Apple: “Thank you for uploading a new binary. We will notify you if there are any further issues.”

In other words, no idea what the status is. If nothing else, this process would benefit from some amount of transparency.

]]> By: Scott Elder http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2933 Scott Elder Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:56:26 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2933 I take it no new email from Apple yet today? I hate to say it, but I think you are once again on the bottom of the stack. There are just WAY to many ways to improve on this review process to even talk about... -Scott I take it no new email from Apple yet today? I hate to say it, but I think you are once again on the bottom of the stack. There are just WAY to many ways to improve on this review process to even talk about…

-Scott

]]> By: Noel http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2923 Noel Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:16:35 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2923 Actually, I didn't make it clear that the two rejections were for two different apps: The first one was for the latest update of the full version of Flower Garden, and the second update was for the first submission of Flower Garden Lite. So it's not like they got back to me two days after the first submission with a new problem. For all I know it's going to take another 3 weeks. I hope not though! Everything was re-submitted (to keep the approval process happy even though the binaries were completely unchanged) and I emailed Apple explaining the "fixes" and hoping for speedy approval. I'll keep you all posted. Actually, I didn’t make it clear that the two rejections were for two different apps: The first one was for the latest update of the full version of Flower Garden, and the second update was for the first submission of Flower Garden Lite. So it’s not like they got back to me two days after the first submission with a new problem. For all I know it’s going to take another 3 weeks. I hope not though!

Everything was re-submitted (to keep the approval process happy even though the binaries were completely unchanged) and I emailed Apple explaining the “fixes” and hoping for speedy approval. I’ll keep you all posted.

]]> By: Matt Martel http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2921 Matt Martel Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:26:38 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2921 I fear the review process is like a build that stops on the first error. Unlike seeing all the errors at once, they will iterate over the reject/fix cycle causing an absurd waste of time. I always put extra comments and instructions in the "Demo Account - Full Access" section of iTunes Connect, but it sounds like in your case they didn't even bother to read it. Hope the third time work for you! I fear the review process is like a build that stops on the first error. Unlike seeing all the errors at once, they will iterate over the reject/fix cycle causing an absurd waste of time.

I always put extra comments and instructions in the “Demo Account – Full Access” section of iTunes Connect, but it sounds like in your case they didn’t even bother to read it.

Hope the third time work for you!

]]> By: Kieran http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2920 Kieran Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:07:02 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2920 Whilst I agree its a pain about the localisation, the thing Apple have enabled within the community is trust, as someone who saw the devastating effects miss use of this trust can have with crazy frogs in Europe, whilst irritating I fully support keeping the general user happy by Apple forcing us the developer community to jump through what sometimes seems silly hoops Whilst I agree its a pain about the localisation, the thing Apple have enabled within the community is trust, as someone who saw the devastating effects miss use of this trust can have with crazy frogs in Europe, whilst irritating I fully support keeping the general user happy by Apple forcing us the developer community to jump through what sometimes seems silly hoops

]]> By: Billy Zelsnack http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2919 Billy Zelsnack Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:03:22 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2919 My apps have now been consistently taking 3 weeks for releases and updates. The solution to this problem is not to create an exclusive ( expensive ) club for faster turn around. That still does not scale. The only scalable solution ( IMO ) is for Apple to switch to a community review process. My apps have now been consistently taking 3 weeks for releases and updates.

The solution to this problem is not to create an exclusive ( expensive ) club for faster turn around. That still does not scale. The only scalable solution ( IMO ) is for Apple to switch to a community review process.

]]> By: Twitter Trackbacks for Games from Within | At The Mercy of Apple’s Whim [gamesfromwithin.com] on Topsy.com http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2918 Twitter Trackbacks for Games from Within | At The Mercy of Apple’s Whim [gamesfromwithin.com] on Topsy.com Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:58:47 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2918 [...] Games from Within | At The Mercy of Apple’s Whim gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim – view page – cached #Games from Within RSS Feed Games from Within » At The Mercy of Apple’s Whim Comments Feed Games from Within Book review: Slack: Getting Past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency iSimulate: A Great Add-On For The iPhone Simulator — From the page [...] [...] Games from Within | At The Mercy of Apple’s Whim gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim – view page – cached #Games from Within RSS Feed Games from Within » At The Mercy of Apple’s Whim Comments Feed Games from Within Book review: Slack: Getting Past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency iSimulate: A Great Add-On For The iPhone Simulator — From the page [...]

]]> By: Paul http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2915 Paul Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:28:40 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2915 I've also observed incredibly coincidental timing. I think when you submit, it doesn't actually leave the gate to a human until after a "cooling" period to make sure the developer isn't going to reject their own app while they're reviewing it. It seems this period is at least a week. I think they should do cursory technical checks (or automate them) and let stuff hit the App Store. Then monitor reviews/ratings for red flags that may require further review. I’ve also observed incredibly coincidental timing. I think when you submit, it doesn’t actually leave the gate to a human until after a “cooling” period to make sure the developer isn’t going to reject their own app while they’re reviewing it. It seems this period is at least a week.

I think they should do cursory technical checks (or automate them) and let stuff hit the App Store. Then monitor reviews/ratings for red flags that may require further review.

]]> By: The App Store Approval Process is Officially FUBAR | The Portable Gamer: iPhone, PSP, & DS Gaming Magazine http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2914 The App Store Approval Process is Officially FUBAR | The Portable Gamer: iPhone, PSP, & DS Gaming Magazine Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:14:35 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2914 [...] Apple gets even more asinine with their rejection of Snappy Touch’s Flower Garden Lite. First, it was rejected because the “More Games” page in the app listed prices for [...] [...] Apple gets even more asinine with their rejection of Snappy Touch’s Flower Garden Lite. First, it was rejected because the “More Games” page in the app listed prices for [...]

]]> By: Garry Seto http://gamesfromwithin.com/at-the-mercy-of-apples-whim/comment-page-1#comment-2913 Garry Seto Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:31:52 +0000 http://gamesfromwithin.com/?p=642#comment-2913 Noel, I feel your pain - although I haven't had something as outrageous as this happen with our apps, we did get an app rejection based on including a price in our Product Summary on iTunes. This forced us to re-submit a binary and start over even though it took my less than a minute to remove the offending line from iTunes and it wouldn't have anything to do with the actual app itself. Luckily, back then apps only took 7 days(!) to approve. Now we've been waiting 15 days and counting for our latest update. Hearing that Flowers 1.7 took 24 days is extremely disconcerting. :( Noel,

I feel your pain – although I haven’t had something as outrageous as this happen with our apps, we did get an app rejection based on including a price in our Product Summary on iTunes. This forced us to re-submit a binary and start over even though it took my less than a minute to remove the offending line from iTunes and it wouldn’t have anything to do with the actual app itself. Luckily, back then apps only took 7 days(!) to approve.

Now we’ve been waiting 15 days and counting for our latest update. Hearing that Flowers 1.7 took 24 days is extremely disconcerting. :(

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