App Rejected - not iOS enough?

Solar2D iOS
#1

Hi,

I’ve received a rather general rejection from Apple:

We found the following issues with the user interface of your app:

  • Did not include iOS features. For example, it would be appropriate to use native iOS buttons and iOS features.

  • Improved graphics is needed.

Additional iOS interactive features and elements are needed within the App.

I’ve asked them for more clarification, but was wondering if anyone has experienced something like this before might be able to give me some suggestions?  You can see a few of my screen shots at the google play store:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sportspunter.bestcricket

thx!

#2

that seems pretty harsh from apple.

Did you contact them in the resolution Center to ask them what screens or features exactly were not ok for them.

Especially for the part with the “improved graphics” you are providing assets for the retina display properly right?

#3

I think if you make our game less green (like, both background and the game main area are green), use different font styles (could be size or font type) for titles and add some iOS features like Game Center, you can pass it.

But I would recommend you to go to oDesk.com and open a project paying $50-$100 to improve the graphics of your game. It will not became super mega beautiful but can do a great improvement.

#4

Think you may have got a reviewer who probably doesn’t understand cricket :slight_smile:

Complaining about visuals is a slippery slope for Apple’s reviewers - a great game doesn’t necessarily need great graphics… Although I’m not undermining their importance as users will often make a decision based on the screenshots.

Renato’s advice above is sound - but if you’re not prepared to go down that route, you could try re-applying and hope to get a different reviewer.

#5

Who wants to use native iOS buttons in a game?

And why pick on you for what they perceive to be poor graphics, when there’s a million games with worse graphics?

Apple can be utter bleeps. 

#6

I’d also like to point out the poor grammar in that e-mail from Apple:

“- Improved graphics is needed.”

“…ARE needed…” when it’s plural - but then again I am a Grammar Nazi and it probably won’t win you any merit if you point that out to them…

Having reexamined the Google Play listing you mention Achievements - I presume you’ve ported this across to Game Center for iOS? In which case, I think that would (as Renato states) classify as iOS Features.

Pah… Apple can be so inconsistent on the review front, I’m even more convinced that you should just re-submit and hope whoever gets it doesn’t have “Arse Mode” activated.

#7

thanks for all your comments. 

I decided to ‘appeal’ (howzat for a pun) the decision, on the basis that the reviewer had a few silly points, and too many slips (ups).

Well they didn’t let my comment go through to the keeper and I’ve hit a six because they sent the app up to the DRS and he’s disagreed with the umpire and sent the app in to bat!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-best-cricket-game-ever/id834929207?ls=1&mt=8

Over.

#8

Congrats!

#9

Congratulations!!! 

#10

I received pretty much the same rejection, i.e., “it would be appropriate to use native iOS buttons.”

I have an aesthetic problem with this: the new iOS 7 buttons are just text with no edge or any way to see that they are buttons. I have seriously had a demo tester say “What do I do? There aren’t any buttons on this screen!” To which I answer, “Sure there are, right there.” And then the tester says “That’s not a button! It’s just text!”

This is why I went to widget.newButton (defaultFile = “myButton.png”) to get buttons with what I thought were subtle, tasteful edges. But I guess they are too “edgy” for the Apple reviewers.

Sigh. Buttons looked like buttons on Macs and iPod/iPad/iPhone from 1984 through 2013; now they don’t look like buttons any more. (By the way, I have been an Apple fanatic since 1983, starting with the Apple II, so it’s not like I am an Apple Hater.)

Oddly, some built-in Apple apps (like the lock screen and the phone) have buttons with edges! But they won’t allow my app to have buttons with edges? Do as we say, not as we do.

The key question: how can I make my buttons look like buttons without getting rejected again? Is there some middle ground?

#11

This is a little scary.   All my menu buttons are custom images, and I’m using checkbox and slider widgets.    Should I expect a rejection?    

#12

I dont understand how Apple can enforce this in games - where UI is specific to each, individual game. I can understand if they’re trying to unify a style for apps - but games? Seriously???

#13

Yeah, I can’t believe this is a new policy.   Every game would have to change.  

When I see Angry Birds using standard iOS buttons, I’ll believe it.       

#14

You might want to post some screen shots because it may not just be the buttons.

Rob

#15

that seems pretty harsh from apple.

Did you contact them in the resolution Center to ask them what screens or features exactly were not ok for them.

Especially for the part with the “improved graphics” you are providing assets for the retina display properly right?

#16

I think if you make our game less green (like, both background and the game main area are green), use different font styles (could be size or font type) for titles and add some iOS features like Game Center, you can pass it.

But I would recommend you to go to oDesk.com and open a project paying $50-$100 to improve the graphics of your game. It will not became super mega beautiful but can do a great improvement.

#17

Think you may have got a reviewer who probably doesn’t understand cricket :slight_smile:

Complaining about visuals is a slippery slope for Apple’s reviewers - a great game doesn’t necessarily need great graphics… Although I’m not undermining their importance as users will often make a decision based on the screenshots.

Renato’s advice above is sound - but if you’re not prepared to go down that route, you could try re-applying and hope to get a different reviewer.

#18

Who wants to use native iOS buttons in a game?

And why pick on you for what they perceive to be poor graphics, when there’s a million games with worse graphics?

Apple can be utter bleeps. 

#19

I’d also like to point out the poor grammar in that e-mail from Apple:

“- Improved graphics is needed.”

“…ARE needed…” when it’s plural - but then again I am a Grammar Nazi and it probably won’t win you any merit if you point that out to them…

Having reexamined the Google Play listing you mention Achievements - I presume you’ve ported this across to Game Center for iOS? In which case, I think that would (as Renato states) classify as iOS Features.

Pah… Apple can be so inconsistent on the review front, I’m even more convinced that you should just re-submit and hope whoever gets it doesn’t have “Arse Mode” activated.

#20

thanks for all your comments. 

I decided to ‘appeal’ (howzat for a pun) the decision, on the basis that the reviewer had a few silly points, and too many slips (ups).

Well they didn’t let my comment go through to the keeper and I’ve hit a six because they sent the app up to the DRS and he’s disagreed with the umpire and sent the app in to bat!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-best-cricket-game-ever/id834929207?ls=1&mt=8

Over.