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Google tries to automate everything, so it amuses me that they have had to fall back to manual reviewers instead of fully automating the process.
I really hope this won't open the door to censorship on Android, one of the reasons why I make mobile games is exactly to circunvent ClassInd (as the article calls it).
Here in Brazil, to release any entertainment product (even live Circus Shows are included on this), you must first ask the Ministry of Justice to give you a rating, the process, specially for things that aren't a Circus Show, is very long, slow and cumbersome (example: you need to do it again every time you make an official update of your software, and the process involves writing lots of paperwork, sending the physical papers to the Ministry, and waiting AT LEAST 30 days).
Although officially they claim it is NOT censorship, the process is mandatory for all entertainment, even if free, the law allow them to punish (with 2 years in prison and fines) anyone that are distributing, storing, selling, buying or creating things without ratings, and they can deny rating you (meaning that even if you ask, if they deny the rating, you are de-facto censored).
This does have an obvious effect here:
People here create fake US accounts to buy stuff on Xbox Live and PSN, because the local versions of XBL and PSN follow the law, and has much less content.
Steam don't have official Brazillian offices, although recently they stated to charge in BRL, and have portuguese translations, the charging part is handled by Brazillian companies and credit card processors, in a way that if Brazil government go ater Steam, Steam can just cut-off Brazil (and let the CC processors take the blame and the lawsuit).
Apple for a while, got in conflict with the government here, the Ministry of Justice threatened to sue Apple for 2000 BRL for each unrated app, back then 300.000 unrated apps already existed, Apple in response just set entire categories to be hidden from iTunes users with Brazillian IPs or accounts (leading to lots of fake accounts, sometimes using stolen CCs, and iTunes access using proxies).
Eventually, some merciful judge ruled that since Apple don't have offices here, they don't have to follow our law, opening access again.
Also, like I said, I make mobile apps to avoid that law, what I do is that I have a Brazil company, a Swiss company, and then I make the Swiss company, hire the Brazil company to create software for hire, then the Swiss company that "create" the completed entertainment software, and sells it (including to Brazillian users, that frequently pay with international CC, of course this leads to lots of inefficiency, since I have to pay taxes on exchanging CHF to BRL, after users already paid taxes on exchanging BRL to CHF, beside the exchange fees, the sale tax from Brazil to Switzerland, and the income taxes on both Brazil and Switzerland).
Earlier quoted context omitted.
that's what i'm saying. i wish they did. when they suspended my app i was being contacted by another team from google, AdMob, to "help grow my business". so i thought i was fine as long as i can make them money. they got me excited, then suddenly removed my app.
> that's what i'm saying. i wish they did. Their terms weren't secret a year ago. At no point have they said "None of these apply if you make us money".
after getting 100k active users, and over 2million sessions per week, which was 1 year after submitting my app, google play suspended my app without warning, and i lost all. they were right, i didn't accurately follow their terms, but if they reviewed my app once submitted a year ago, that could've been avoided. it was a bitter experience for me, and i decided to port my app to iOS. i heard iOS provides warnings atle…
Unless you are making apple SERIOUS revenue (think high6 to 7 figures) they will shut you down without even a response.
after getting 100k active users, and over 2million sessions per week, which was 1 year after submitting my app, google play suspended my app without warning, and i lost all. they were right, i didn't accurately follow their terms, but if they reviewed my app once submitted a year ago, that could've been avoided. it was a bitter experience for me, and i decided to port my app to iOS. i heard iOS provides warnings atle…
And if you had followed their terms, it could have been avoided as well.
after getting 100k active users, and over 2million sessions per week, which was 1 year after submitting my app, google play suspended my app without warning, and i lost all. they were right, i didn't accurately follow their terms, but if they reviewed my app once submitted a year ago, that could've been avoided. it was a bitter experience for me, and i decided to port my app to iOS. i heard iOS provides warnings atle…
If you think Apple will provide a more cooperative experience you are mistaken. I've built apps for years and many times a short discussion with Google allowed me to re-post an app with some modifications. Unless you are making apple SERIOUS revenue (think high6 to 7 figures) they will shut you down without even a response.
The vast, vast, vast majority of people are not able to find a person at Google to have that discussion with in the first place.
"Unless you are making apple SERIOUS revenue (think high6 to 7 figures) they will shut you down without even a response."
Apple tells you before your app goes live.
after getting 100k active users, and over 2million sessions per week, which was 1 year after submitting my app, google play suspended my app without warning, and i lost all. they were right, i didn't accurately follow their terms, but if they reviewed my app once submitted a year ago, that could've been avoided. it was a bitter experience for me, and i decided to port my app to iOS. i heard iOS provides warnings atle…
If you think Apple will provide a more cooperative experience you are mistaken. I've built apps for years and many times a short discussion with Google allowed me to re-post an app with some modifications. Unless you are making apple SERIOUS revenue (think high6 to 7 figures) they will shut you down without even a response.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you think Apple will provide a more cooperative experience you are mistaken. I've built apps for years and many times a short discussion with Google allowed me to re-post an app with some modifications. Unless you are making apple SERIOUS revenue (think high6 to 7 figures) they will shut you down without even a response.
"I've builds apps for years and many times a short discussion with Google allowed me to re-post an app with some modifications." The vast, vast, vast majority of people are not able to find a person at Google to have that discussion with in the first place. "Unless you are making apple SERIOUS revenue (think high6 to 7 figures) they will shut you down without even a response." Apple tells you before your app goes liv…
In reality many times the first review is cursory and approved. They actually bucket you as a low-risk and wait for you to succeed before you might flag serious concerns and be removed.
As an Android and iOS user, I think this is a step in the right direction. As a player I'd rather have a curated games store that allows me to discover new games easily.