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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

#71

Post by sirbranedamuj »

viktorcode wrote: post #48

The author conveniently forgets to mention that Luck the Landlord game is primarily a slot-machine. Instead, they provide counter examples of games that have slot machine mechanics in them to argue that Play Store policies are applied inconsistently.

It's a slot machine in aesthetics only. A klondike solitaire game is as much of a slot machine as this game - you shuffle the deck and hope that the order of the cards is just right that you're able to complete all of the foundations. You make occasional decisions along the way but it's ultimately just luck of the draw.

I would argue that this game has more agency and skill involved than your average klondike game, actually. Banning shit purely based on the aesthetics is really dumb, particularly when other games get away with having similar aesthetics in their games _including the one that is a direct rip-off of this one!_

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

#72

Post by graypegg »

sneak wrote: post #60
graypegg wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please remember the context here, we’re talking about a game on the App Store that has a slot machine mechanic. Many places have similar small variances in obscenity they allow to be published. Your country might forbid nudity on TV, or disallow gambling businesses in public spaces. I’d say WW2 featured significantly more serious issues.

We're talking about mass censorship of artistic output for which there is widespread international consensus (basically all of the global west) around being both harmless and protected. The app in question very clearly does not allow gambling! The fact that the app depicts a slot machine is a red herring. Such censorship is being carried out against millions of humans, by one of the few organizations on the planet la…

Yeah I’m sorry, even as a person living in the western world, I would not want to live in a world with a defined “morally correct” group of decision makers. Countries vary. Cultures vary. It really is OK.

You can make the argument that big tech is already that, but clearly they respect local laws.

You were comparing this to the Nuremberg trials. That’s mostly where my disagreement lies. Beyond over-exaggerated.

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

#73

Post by mcpackieh »

echelon wrote: post #49
harrisonjackson wrote: post #38

One of least effective ways to argue your case is by pointing to other apps that have the same violations. I say that having submitted 50+ apps across various categories and dealing with thousands of app review exchanges to get them released. You can find apps that violate all sorts of guidelines and laws and it is super frustrating when yours gets blocked but it is part of the business. Did they slip by a reviewer t…

This only happened because App Stores are a central point of failure (and control and undue taxation). Tell your legislators that Google and Apple need to open up to web installs. To make them first class, with no hurdles and no scare tactics. In order to help facilitate this, open up devices to other stores from the moment of device activation - Google Play should be on iPhone, App Store should be on Android, etc. A…

> Tell your legislators that Google [...] need to open up to web installs.

You're getting your talking points crossed. Google's Android permits you to install apps from third party sources, and in fact permits the operation of third party appstores. What you mention is a problem with Apple, not Google. This capability isn't just academic, I install most of my apps from F-Droid and use Play Store for only 3 or 4 apps.

And what would you have legislators do in this case? Scold Google for respecting the laws of other countries by choosing not to distribute apps which violate those laws in those countries (but continuing to sell the app in any country in which it isn't banned)? If this guy wants to sell an app in Saudi Arabia, he should make an app that's legal in Saudi Arabia, or distribute it himself if he wants to flaunt those laws. There is no rational, moral or legal obligation for Google to flaunt Saudi Arabian laws on his behalf.

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

#74

Post by graypegg »

rvnx wrote: post #68
verve_rat wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? Country X doesn't like simulated gambling mechanics, Google won't release game in country X therefore Google are Nazis committing war crimes?

Somehow, you made me wonder what phone Hitler would use, if it's Android or iOS. And what social network app he would use. But one thing for sure, he wouldn't have time to play slots machines.

There’s a sketch idea for the show Horrible Histories maybe, heheheh

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

#75

Post by mcpackieh »

TulliusCicero wrote: post #33
cmdli wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

And in many cases, they can't either, if the country isn't democratic.

Even if those countries were democratic, is there any reason to think they would choose to legalize simulated gambling?

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

#76

Post by tomjen3 »

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?

Anti trust law suit and PR campaign against Google.

Problem is that it likely cost way more than he can afford.

Anything else effective is illegal.

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

#77

Post by mcpackieh »

bakies wrote: post #50
DrFlipper wrote: post #31

What is the appeal of this game? (Beyond exploiting addictive personalities with a very thinly-veiled gambling simulator that is rightly being banned.) It looks so boring. I can't tell if the reviewers proclaiming this as an "innovation" in the "roguelike" (?) genre are trolling or not. It's an ugly slot machine game where you click a buttonn to spin. This would have been uninspired trash in 1993. What am I missing?…

You're missing the rougelike part. This game is more about deck building and rougelike elements than it is about gambling. The button to spin is indeed the least interesting part of the game.

'Roguelike' has lost all meaning. Rogue never had any "deck building". Roguelike is not meant to mean any game that uses RNG.

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

#78

Post by TulliusCicero »

mcpackieh wrote: post #75
TulliusCicero wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And in many cases, they can't either, if the country isn't democratic.

Even if those countries were democratic, is there any reason to think they would choose to legalize simulated gambling?

I looked at the list more closely and lol, what is South Korea doing on there? Yeah, I could see South Korea legalizing it.

The others...unlikely, to be sure. But you never know, I guess.

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

#79

Post by autokad »

jahsome wrote: post #41
paulddraper wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it violates the gambling policy of those countries FYI for future reference, countries' policies are more commonly referred to as "Laws."

I love it when people are simultaneously needlessly condescending and also wrong.

who, me or paul?

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

#80

Post by mrguyorama »

TulliusCicero wrote: post #37
tspike wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Making it consistent across different national laws means ignoring those laws. Does anyone think Google should just ignore national laws as a general policy?

Only the ones they don't like.
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