May 21, 2009
Inexplicable content decisions continue to be made by the people running the iTunes AppStore.
In the latest example, Apple has banned a new version of Metaversal Studio's Hot Dog Down a Hallway game due to sexual innuendo. However, an earlier version was previously approved and remains available - double entendres included - for $0.99.
As reported by the Boston Globe:
In the game, players try to launch a hot dog down a corridor lined with various hazards. Players earn "achievement" awards, which are described using suggestive slang terms.




Comments
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
kinda remins me of Dungeon Keeper, most creatures shot a screaming red suage looking thing in FP mode.
I am a criminal because I purchase media,I am a criminal because I use media, I am a criminal because I chose to own media..We shall remain criminals until Corporate stay's outside our bedrooms..
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
---
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
Oh my dog! Sexual innuendo! What are we gonna do?
Does this trend ever stop? It's like this is a race to beome the worlds most prudish bunch. And everyone's a winner untill they all have blue tennisballs or tingly tummies.
Seriously, this overly prudish act is not healthy.
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
*snicker*
Blue tennisballs...
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
Why did someone not stop them and say "At least it's not about shooting people"? Or better question...what would be the average response to that statement, when said in the context of being offended by sexual material? We should carry out this experiment.
GameSnooper
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
Hold the man-ase!! -- ZippyDMSlee
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
I guess the popular Apple phrase "It just works" does not apply to the app store's content approval system.
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
I don't think there is an "approval system", just a complaint based afterthought moderation system.
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
There is.
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/21/218213&art_pos=2
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
If my ex had any money to buy an iPod touch, I'd send this to her as she could relate to the game no problem. Hmmm... maybe have the dirty old man she shacked up with buy it perhaps?
"The Good, the Bad, and the Videogame" Reviews on the best, worst, and controversial issues of Videogames. gryphonosiris.blogspot.com/
"The Good, the Bad, and the Videogame" Reviews on the best, worst, and controversial issues of Videogames. gryphonosiris.blogspot.com/
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
Here's an idea Apple, create a policy on content, and stick with it. If you want, you can come right out and say you won't have 'adult' themed content on your system. But to just randomly ban certain apps that happen to catch your eye is only going to encourage more 'hidden' content and more user backlash.
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
Onec again the Bipolar process of iTunes App store approval. They need to stop all this. First it was the on again off again baby shaker and now the denial of the sequal for issues present in the first.
What the crap?
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
Here's a more "What the crap?"
Ebook application rejected because it can download the Kama Sutra off of Gutenburg.
As can several others that have been approved, as well as Safari itself.
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
Link about the EBook application, Eucalyputus, being rejected because it can read the Karma Sutra:
http://www.blog.montgomerie.net/whither-eucalyptus
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
They're only doing this for people with no sense of humor.
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
This is happening and will continue to happen until they can admit the need for a content rating system, hell, any "system" at all would help them to look less like mindless idiots.
The reason this probably happened is because when the 2nd version was banned, there was no call to review the system to see if other games under the same title were available.
I'm not in any way saying the 2nd game deserved it's ban, i'm just offering suggestions. The Apple store looks more every day like a comunity driven website, with tonnes of opinionated moderators and no administrators keeping them on the same path.
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
people should know by now if you go with apple you will be beholden to arbitary restrictions on what you can do as determined by apple and how it currently feels now.
When was the last time microsoft, nokia, google or anyone like that told you what you can and can't do with your product?
apple is the nanny state of technology companies.
Re: Apple Bans "Hot Dog Down a Hallway" Game
NO! No content rating system! If there's a content rating system, then there's a clearly defined set of rules. If there are rules, someone will bend them without breaking them. If that happens, then the same things that are happening to games will happen to iPhone apps.
---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.