The App Store is a big deal. My immediate thoughts went something like, “prior to this day, there was no way to make something that you could get out to giant amounts of people without having someone censor you.” Does this signify the end of that?
I wonder if there is any limit to what you can do, or if developers are going to push the limits of what will be legal, such as with this:
I also wonder…if any of us start making some really “objectionable” stuff with Unity, will we get backlash from Unity Technologies? I mean, imagine something ridiculously obscene, with the “Powered by Unity” logo in front of it… :?
(Just to be clear, I have zero interest in making a rape game. But I do love the idea of complete artistic freedom.)
That’s some good news! I heard that some games with lots of blood were blocked. I have a few game ideas that would have lots of blood and was fearful that any app like that would be blocked from the App Store.
But, with parental controls, maybe we won’t have to worry about what content is deemed OK by the Apple Gods.
It’s not terribly surprising. Any app serving off-device content is entering into a contract of good faith, written or not. An easy way to break that is to go from bikini-clad girls to full nudity without going through the proper channels. Nudity’s nothing to blush about, but if they can do one step the next time they might feel brave to go to the next level.
But otherwise I’m all for whatever so long as no damage is done. I saw plenty porn as a kid - can’t beat porn in the 70’s! - and I’m ok. IMO cough.
Apple are constantly nervous of things they don’t control anyway. They’ll shake it over time I’m sure.
It’s Apple’s app store, they can do what they like.
If you don’t like that they censor what can be published therel, don’t go there - go buy a crappy Nokia device and visit Ovi or the MicroSoft me-too app store when it launches and see if they allow material of this sort. I bet they won’t.
We’ve actually discussed the topic of whether content-type limitations are appropriate or not internally, more as a mental exercise than anything else. I’m generally against those sorts of things myself but I think it’s healthy for us to have had the conversation (note that as of today the license sets forth no such restrictions!). Many times throughout history people were labeled as obscene in their day, only to be hailed as true and great artists by later generations. Imagine those pioneers not having the ability to push the envelope… (bad IMO)
Interesting historical fact: Macromedia back in the day was primarily supported by Director sales, and when folks made content it was part of the license to send us copies of that. Guess what? The vast majority of content was CD-based interactive porn… :shock:
I have an app in my head which would contain some “adult words” (so no pictures or anything… and not something immature either). When I read the original post in this topic yesterday, I decided to go for it and start learning Objective-C (wouldn’t be able to do it with Unity because it uses standard gui items). I spent hours last night reading and trying to figure it out. I’m finally starting to get it now, and setting up the structure of my app, and now I read this…
Now I have to make a choice: going for it and take the risk of wasting my time, or let it go, and focus on my Unity projects instead.
Higgy, by "us" did you imply that you used to work at Macromedia back in the day? I still use Director (but infrequently). I started with Director 4 and remember that license requirement. I also remember using Flash (futuresplash?) before Macromedia bought it.
Yeah I remember talking with the developer of “Virtual Valerie 2” a Director based adult title ages ago and the amount of money that made for them. Its good money if you can do it. I’m not morally against things like this but its a uphill battle getting this stuff published/in front of people. As with Apple in this case. Id honestly rather make a kids title that gets in front of a mass audience myself. Then I don’t have to explain anything to my family.
