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Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

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Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#21

Post by paulddraper »

johndhi wrote: post #15

As someone who makes decisions like the one Google made here at work, sorry, dude, but arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much. Almost certainly Google has received pressure from these countries on this issue and their business there is more important to google than your single app. Google likely isn't being unreasonable - but the governments of these countries are. Sorry.

> arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much

Okay fair enough. What is going to change much?

Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#22

Post by Spivak »

tspike wrote: post #18
johndhi wrote: post #15

As someone who makes decisions like the one Google made here at work, sorry, dude, but arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much. Almost certainly Google has received pressure from these countries on this issue and their business there is more important to google than your single app. Google likely isn't being unreasonable - but the governments of these countries are. Sorry.

Why is there not even lip service paid to consistent enforcement?

Because running a global service in multiple sovereign jurisdictions makes it impossible to have consistent enforcement. Would you have it so only the laws of the country of the company's HQ matters?

If you mean why isn't Google bringing the banhammer down on every app that fails to meet the criteria isn't that what you want? Allow as much as possible until a government complains?

Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#24

Post by ceph_ »

tspike wrote: post #18
johndhi wrote: post #15

As someone who makes decisions like the one Google made here at work, sorry, dude, but arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much. Almost certainly Google has received pressure from these countries on this issue and their business there is more important to google than your single app. Google likely isn't being unreasonable - but the governments of these countries are. Sorry.

Why is there not even lip service paid to consistent enforcement?

It's a slot machine game. Seems like it's being enforced properly in this scenario.

Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#25

Post by fishtoaster »

johndhi wrote: post #15

As someone who makes decisions like the one Google made here at work, sorry, dude, but arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much. Almost certainly Google has received pressure from these countries on this issue and their business there is more important to google than your single app. Google likely isn't being unreasonable - but the governments of these countries are. Sorry.

Historically, it seems like "arguing publicly, getting public outcry, and getting the notice of someone higher up the chain" is pretty much the only way to effectively appeal these sorts of decisions at Google.

I don't know if it'll work in this case, since google's argument ("this contains a slot simulator and some countries don't like that") isn't too egregious, but I can't really fault the dev. When the faceless review process fails, this sort of public appeal has worked before.

Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#26

Post by graypegg »

paulddraper wrote: post #21
johndhi wrote: post #15

As someone who makes decisions like the one Google made here at work, sorry, dude, but arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much. Almost certainly Google has received pressure from these countries on this issue and their business there is more important to google than your single app. Google likely isn't being unreasonable - but the governments of these countries are. Sorry.

> arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much Okay fair enough. What is going to change much?

I guess on the other side of the argument: why does a game developer in one country feel obliged to change the content standard set by another country? It’s a pretty minor variance all things considered. Maybe you just can’t “change much” here?

(Also: I don’t agree with the obviously silly content rules.)

Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#27

Post by janoc »

tspike wrote: post #18
johndhi wrote: post #15

As someone who makes decisions like the one Google made here at work, sorry, dude, but arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much. Almost certainly Google has received pressure from these countries on this issue and their business there is more important to google than your single app. Google likely isn't being unreasonable - but the governments of these countries are. Sorry.

Why is there not even lip service paid to consistent enforcement?

Because they enforce when someone complains. They aren't going to proactively ban stuff unless they really have to (e.g. something that is very obviously illegal/scam/etc.)

So if nobody complained about the other apps, they didn't get banned. It is that easy.

That someone else does something that violates those policies/laws too doesn't mean that you get a free pass, unfortunately.

Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#28

Post by AustinDev »

hyperhello wrote: post #19
notacoward wrote: post #16

> A literal clone of my game, which raised $6,000,000 in venture capital Ding ding ding! There's your explanation for you.

Are you saying the Google reviewer is on the take?

No but their VC's probably have people to talk to in order so sort out these sorts of situations.

Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#29

Post by nxjwixisuxh »

> "Apps that simulate gambling, or games of chance or skill that are conducive to gambling are prohibited in the above locales.”

The outrage is unwarranted imho. The app in question looks like a slot machine and that’s the core game mechanic.

Re: Luck be a Landlord is now banned in 13 countries on the Google Play Store

#30

Post by cmdli »

paulddraper wrote: post #21
johndhi wrote: post #15

As someone who makes decisions like the one Google made here at work, sorry, dude, but arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much. Almost certainly Google has received pressure from these countries on this issue and their business there is more important to google than your single app. Google likely isn't being unreasonable - but the governments of these countries are. Sorry.

> arguing about it publicly isn't going to change much Okay fair enough. What is going to change much?

Probably changing the laws in those countries, which only the citizens of those countries can really do. Google isn't the cause here, just the middleman.
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