iOS App Store Rejecting for Stupid Reasons Again

Solar2D iOS
#1

Seems like every year or two the apple app store starts selectively enforcing a guideline.  In my case I waited 14 days to get reviewed only for my app to be rejected due to the metadata.  Specifically," Apps with App icons, screenshots, and previews that do not adhere to the 4+ age rating will be rejected"  

The screenshots are attached… how silly is this?  How can they justify rejecting a simple cartoon gun app when they gladly host (and promote) Grand Theft Auto,  Modern Combat 5 etc. etc.  I don’t know why it still bothers me … this is what Apple is known for.

Thanks for letting me vent. 

#2

Your game, like you said, is a “cartoon gun app”. This categorizes its content as having cartoon or fantasy violence (suggested rating for this is 9+). Why not just resubmit your app with a 9+ rating? You can read more about app ratings here.

And come on man… age rating for the Grand Theft Auto series and Modern Combat 5 is 17+.

#3

I agree… And I did submit with 9+. Unfortunately apple contends that since the icon and screenshots are viewable by anyone on the App Store, all icons/screenshots must satisfy the 4+ rating regardless of what the app is rated. Clearly this is a new interpretation if the rule based on existing games. I hate when apple doesn’t use common sense.

#4

Funny considering “Kill Shot” is one of the most popular games right now and their icon is a scary guy looking into the scope of a sniper rifle.

#5

This is troubling to me as I have a game I am working on that also involves cartoon violence and weapons.  I’m thinking about it and don’t think that I can make a single screen shot other than the menu and leaderboard that doesn’t involve a weapon of some sort.  Please keep us updated on any further developments.

#6

@interAlia

I was under the impression that you submitted your app originally with a 4+ rating. Now your complaint makes sense.

You’re not alone in this unfair treatment. Here is an account of another iOS developer’s struggle with the app review team.

The game ‘Crime City’ has an app icon of a guy holding a pistol. The game ‘Underworld Empire’ has screenshots of several scantily clad women sporting a plethora of weapons. The level of objectionable material in your app’s metadata pales in comparison. This is just silly.

See if you can hide/obscure weapons in the app icon and screenshots. Good luck with your resubmission.

#7

Well, I argued that since guideline 3.6 has been around since 2011 and during that time they approved and even promoted apps with much more violent icons/screen shots then the guideline must not have been intended to prohibit any and every image of a gun.  Apple rejected my argument.   I’d be interested in hearing if anyone else gets a similar rejection.  

Reasons

  • 3.6: Apps with App icons, screenshots, and previews that do not adhere to the 4+ age rating will be rejected 

Hello,

Thank you for your resubmission.

----- 3.6 -----

We continue to find that your app icon and screenshots include content that is not appropriate for all age groups, as required by the App Store Review Guidelines.

Since the metadata is visible to all users on the App Store, this content must meet the 4+ rating requirement, even when purchasing is restricted by a higher rating.

#8

Is the image at the start of this post the icon that this is being rejected over?  And is the other the screenshot you submitted?  Did you include any other screenshots when you submitted this?  I’m trying to wrap my head around this as there is a game currently being featured whose icon is basically just a picture of a gun.  It seems to be a bit arbitrary.  I’ve reached out to Apple and am waiting to hear from them on this very topic as I have a game that I’m planning to submit soon that would likely face this very problem.

#9

@alanmthomas

Do you mean Shooting Showdown 2 Pro? It’s featured under the “Best New Games” category this week in the US app store.

@interAlia

Which country do you reside in? If it’s not US, then I guess it’s understandable. Gun laws may be a bit lax in US but not so in other countries. If it’s US, this is some serious nonsense on Apple’s part.

#10

@alanmthomas - yes, same images @prathapmurthy - I’m in the US Maybe I need to cover the gun with an image of a unicorn!

#11

@interAlia

Your game seems to differ from similar games out there in only one aspect – your game’s main character is holding the gun in the app icon. If you check the app icon/screenshots of the game ‘Shooting Showdown 2 Pro’ (which has been featured under the “Best New Games” category this week in the US app store), only guns are portrayed everywhere; There’s no one holding them. Maybe you can follow the same suit?

#12

Your game, like you said, is a “cartoon gun app”. This categorizes its content as having cartoon or fantasy violence (suggested rating for this is 9+). Why not just resubmit your app with a 9+ rating? You can read more about app ratings here.

And come on man… age rating for the Grand Theft Auto series and Modern Combat 5 is 17+.

#13

I agree… And I did submit with 9+. Unfortunately apple contends that since the icon and screenshots are viewable by anyone on the App Store, all icons/screenshots must satisfy the 4+ rating regardless of what the app is rated. Clearly this is a new interpretation if the rule based on existing games. I hate when apple doesn’t use common sense.

#14

Funny considering “Kill Shot” is one of the most popular games right now and their icon is a scary guy looking into the scope of a sniper rifle.

#15

This is troubling to me as I have a game I am working on that also involves cartoon violence and weapons.  I’m thinking about it and don’t think that I can make a single screen shot other than the menu and leaderboard that doesn’t involve a weapon of some sort.  Please keep us updated on any further developments.

#16

@interAlia

I was under the impression that you submitted your app originally with a 4+ rating. Now your complaint makes sense.

You’re not alone in this unfair treatment. Here is an account of another iOS developer’s struggle with the app review team.

The game ‘Crime City’ has an app icon of a guy holding a pistol. The game ‘Underworld Empire’ has screenshots of several scantily clad women sporting a plethora of weapons. The level of objectionable material in your app’s metadata pales in comparison. This is just silly.

See if you can hide/obscure weapons in the app icon and screenshots. Good luck with your resubmission.

#17

Well, I argued that since guideline 3.6 has been around since 2011 and during that time they approved and even promoted apps with much more violent icons/screen shots then the guideline must not have been intended to prohibit any and every image of a gun.  Apple rejected my argument.   I’d be interested in hearing if anyone else gets a similar rejection.  

Reasons

  • 3.6: Apps with App icons, screenshots, and previews that do not adhere to the 4+ age rating will be rejected 

Hello,

Thank you for your resubmission.

----- 3.6 -----

We continue to find that your app icon and screenshots include content that is not appropriate for all age groups, as required by the App Store Review Guidelines.

Since the metadata is visible to all users on the App Store, this content must meet the 4+ rating requirement, even when purchasing is restricted by a higher rating.

#18

Is the image at the start of this post the icon that this is being rejected over?  And is the other the screenshot you submitted?  Did you include any other screenshots when you submitted this?  I’m trying to wrap my head around this as there is a game currently being featured whose icon is basically just a picture of a gun.  It seems to be a bit arbitrary.  I’ve reached out to Apple and am waiting to hear from them on this very topic as I have a game that I’m planning to submit soon that would likely face this very problem.

#19

@alanmthomas

Do you mean Shooting Showdown 2 Pro? It’s featured under the “Best New Games” category this week in the US app store.

@interAlia

Which country do you reside in? If it’s not US, then I guess it’s understandable. Gun laws may be a bit lax in US but not so in other countries. If it’s US, this is some serious nonsense on Apple’s part.

#20

@alanmthomas - yes, same images @prathapmurthy - I’m in the US Maybe I need to cover the gun with an image of a unicorn!