A month ago it started my journey from have a game idea that seems nice and appealing, to excitement, to hard work and ended with my play store developer account being terminated and rejections from app store…
[https://medium.com/@adrianomarabuco/the-forbidden-app-how-i-get-from-an-game-idea-to-a-google-play-termination-663ef4b1c536] (https://medium.com/@adrianomarabuco/the-forbidden-app-how-i-get-from-an-game-idea-to-a-google-play-termination-663ef4b1c536)
I would argue that trying to profit from a global pandemic isn’t a “nice and appealing idea”.
It is also important to take a hint when the app stores literally tell you why your app won’t be accepted.
What. The . Hell. Literally made an account to reply.
The same things happened to me, I have this game called “Stop The Germs!” where you tap on viruses to stop them and you can buy different skin (diff viruses) but the PRO version of my app was called “Stop The Germs: COVID-19” cause it came unlocked with a COVID skin. It wouldn’t be accepted on play store for the same reason, I’ve made changes, made the skin unlockable only by playing and changed the name to “Stop The Germs: Pro Edition”. After also removing all covid-19 skin featuring that I put in the description and stuff, I recreated a new release and this one got published. I am scared that another suspension and my account will be done though, cause I have other games and apps…
Be careful. Dangerous times to be an app developer. Corona is killing in real and virtual.
Labs researching and developing equipaments and medicines or vaccines against covid-19 are making charity? I dont think so. They want profit with the pandemic situation, huge profits. Everyone who is selling more apps because a heavier mobile usage are making money as well. So I dont buy this argument. There are a lot apps in store with the same theme and no big deal, but now it is crime to publish it, the older ones are fine. Have you tried plague for instance? I call this unfairness.
I was making a Global Warming simulator a few months ago but after seeing this, maybe its a good idea not releasing this lmao
The app stores have always looked out for their interests (and the interests of their users). Google, Apple and Amazon have been very clear about stopping all apps related to Covid-19 from being added to their stores unless said apps come from long-established and reputable health or news organisations.
There are always people who develop distasteful or plain predatory apps to cash in on natural disasters or other tragic events, like this pandemic, so instead of going through all submissions from every random developer, it’s easier, cheaper and safer for the app stores to just block them all.
Nameless indies looking to create a Covid-19 themed game never had a chance. Unfair? Sure, but life is never fair.
And @JoePringles, feel free to create your global warming simulator. It has nothing to do with this matter.
Apple and Google are knowingly punishing developers for this reason.
Google has a reputation on deleting accounts fast and is also implying this policy on YouTube.
You can’t put the words corona or covid ANYWHERE in your app.
@TicGames if you still have references to the virus in your game remove them immediately. They can see it as if you are trying to deceive them by changing the app name while maintaining the content and give you an account ban.
Exactly what happened to the guy above
Yeah but I am thinking global warming is a sensitive issue for Google so they may see my game as tone depth or innapropriate.