Censorship in iOS games: the user can not think about serious things

Over the years, the iPhone has changed a lot, including the video game industry. Once upon a time it seemed that the game - it's a place where reign supreme PC and console, and now millions of people play a variety of toys from their smartphones and tablets. Moreover, the presence of certain programming and drawing skills, anyone can create their own game. Yes, a developer of mobile games can be a small team, and even one person. There is no need in creating a huge development department and infusion into the project of huge sums. The set of hits established talented singly and in small groups, they are excellent proof of abstracts.

Despite the fact that the industry giants (EA and company) have already mastered the mobile sector, we continue to observe the stunning the success of small companies (Rovio, HalfBrick - they started out as a tiny team), not seeking success wallet, but talent. Competition in the mobile games sector is high, but the chance to have any, in whose head there is an original idea. It would seem, here it is - the game is democracy? Unfortunately not.

Games are serious and extremely entertaining. And that's just with serious games recently was something strange. Apple systematically removes them from the App Store, and novelties simply does not allow to enter the market.

What is this game? For example, EndGame: Syria - a game on the conflict in Syria. Sweatshop HD - cartoon manager game where the player controls a "cheap production." Still there In A Permanent Save State and Phone Story - the game on the theme of suicides at Foxconn factories. The list is actually more, but you already knew what was going on.

Do you think that such a subject at all is immoral, and these games do not place the App Store? Fine, but if you thought it did not hurt that the company decides for you, if you should know and see the current problems in games? The point is not morality, we are talking about censorship.

The vast majority of people do not in the subject of how many games and why not skipped or removed from the App Store. But the developers have fallen into disfavor games collide with it, and their position on censorship is very simple and clear: the game - it is a conductor, the cultural environment, which allows in a particular form to see the serious, topical issues and Problems. Do not clean the App Store from such games. so says company-developer PolygonAnd according to another with her.

Renouncement

Apple guideline appear crisp and clear. No pornography, no hatred, aggression and violence against specific groups of people identified on the basis of certain general (faith, and so on). It is interesting that many of the games somehow violate these rules and continue to live in the App Store, but that's serious games are increasingly caught.

Thomas Rawlings - developer at GameTheNews. This independent studio just does what illuminates the significant world events and news in the games. They did Endgame: Syria.

"I watched the news and debate on the conflict in Syria, and in them I saw a completely different point of view and arguments about the actions and possible consequences. Then I decided that such a concept of non-linear events can be implemented in the game. The user decides, and see the consequences. "

The meaning of the game is to obtain the support of the population. If you are not happy, you lose. Moreover, the possibility of peace and isolation between the warring parties.

However, Apple rejected the game.

Rawlings talked with representatives of Apple, and watched some bias in their words. He received an email in which it was stated violation of the company-developer of rule, as well as screenshots, which were sealed for violations. In general, the essence was to ensure that a certain group of people identifiable in the real world, represented in the game as an enemy.

"In particular, we found that your application has a reference to a specific enemies (people) inside Syria."

It was about Assad, Palestinian factions and people's militia.

"We were told that we have violated a rule concerning a ban on the display of the game specific groups of people as enemies, but that such a ban could be interpreted in different ways. What about World War II and Nazi Germany? This is the same group of people as enemies, but these games are not acceptable. "

Rawlings Apple has taken into account the comments and removed from the game any specifics. Parties to the conflict have become the most abstract and do not have references to any real objects, but Apple rejected the game again, referring to the same rule. This time it was not even an explanation and screenshots indicating violations.

During the telephone conversation Apple representative pointed to the need to change the description of the application in the App Store, but and then followed by a refusal. By the time the game was no longer any specific groups. It came down to the nations - the US, Britain, Syria and Iran. Guideline talk about some specific groups of people, but not on entire nations.

"The only thing that could not be understood in Apple - this is the essence of the game. It boils down not to hatred of certain people. You do not have to hate them, you will not be asked about it in an application. You just try to show that there really really going on. "

As a result, the game had to be completely shoveled, and she went to the App Store already as Endgame: Eurasia (with references to the novel 1984). Nothing to do with the initial idea was not there.

"We believe that Apple just feel free to post in my store something a little controversial, and if you are going to create a serious game, then for you it will be a big problem."

removal

2010. Foxconn - a major producer, collaborating with multiple companies, including Apple's, reported 18 suicide attempts among its employees, 14 of which were successful. In one version of the reason for this was inhumane working conditions. Try 72 hours without interruption, and even for a penny salary.

For explanation of these events have been created 2 games and they even hit the App Store and successfully lived there for some time. A little later, both games have disappeared from the Market.

One of the game called Phone Story and is a 4 mini-games in which the player had to forced labor of children from third world countries, as well as to deal with suicides at Foxconn factories.

One of the developers of Phone Story tells the application is uninstalled:

"It's easy to get banned if you want to get it, but in the case of Phone Story we did not try to joke with Apple guideline. In the game there is an unacceptable abuse of graphical content, no porn, no copyright infringement. The idea is that the game is actually complied with all the rules, because it approved in the App Store, but then for some reason it ceased to comply with the same rules. Cruelty to children can be seen on the first level only, and in a very abstract way. You do not need to beat them, and the user is well aware that in this case it is not forced to take action. He only sees what is going on with the kids somewhere. Apple representative on the question of how to show people the facts of the presence of child abuse without showing any ill-treatment, the representative replied in the style: Oh... well, that's your business, seriously. "

Game In A Permanent Save State Pointer Benjamin also devoted suicides at Foxconn factories. Feature gameplay that the player takes on the role of leadership is not to deal with suicides in factories, and the role of seven workers. The number "7" was not chosen randomly, and corresponds to 7 stages of life after death, according to the Chinese culture.

"I tried to find something human in the relationship between Apple and Foxconn. iPhone, which produced it - are fine, but I would like to reveal things that are behind that beauty. The production of these wonderful devices costs lives, and need to know the real value embodied the fantasy that lies in our hands. I have tried to show, where are these devices, and the game is pretty good cope with this task, because the player takes over the management of those very simple workers who collect smartphones. "

In A Permanent Save State removed from the App Store over 2 hours after the release. Phone Story disappeared after 4 hours. I wonder what Apple's, endorsing the game, can immediately change its decision, referring to certain rules. Even the historical event and the afterlife Chinese mythology can become "unwanted content".

In fact, the guideline of the normative document converted only guide on how to make sure that your game is like Apple's, all the controversial issue will be solved completely subjective.

Our shop - our rules

Trouble and sorrow of many developers that even if you explain the essence and meaning, which has invested in the game, the decision of Apple still will not change. The second paragraph of the guideline clearly states:

"We are considering an application differently from music and books that we can not supervise. If you want to criticize a religion - write a book. Do you want to talk about sex - write a book or a song, try to create a medical app. This can lead to difficulties, but we have decided to ban certain types of content on the App Store ».

And continued:

"We really do everything in our power to create for you the world's best platform where you will be able to realize their talents and earn. Maybe it sounds like we're paranoid, but in fact we're just incredibly committed to our users and we want to make sure that they get the best experience from interaction with our products, as well as most of you also".

In the process of writing the original text of the story the author has repeatedly asked Apple to give any comment, but the company refused to talk.

Developers also have a fairly similar opinion: rules work against the game and limit what can be the game.

«Apple is trying to create some kind of exception in the software concept. They renamed the software in the application. The app is essentially a somewhat isolated, original, but in addition to the desire to reduce the price and ease of use Apple purposefully deprive the status of the culture of the product application. They do not interfere with the content of music and books, because it is a cultural object. But the application - is something else. In their understanding of the application is more like a screwdriver or a saw. It is just a tool, and the game got under the same definition. "

The question that can oppose the developers in their disputes with Apple's, was asked American Civil Liberties Union (American Civil Liberties Union). Jay Stanley, chief analyst at the ACLU, said simply:

"Platform like Apple App Store can be viewed from two perspectives. On the one hand, it is an independent publisher like the New York Times, which decides for himself that he had to publish and what not. On the other hand, is a public area where everyone has the right word for it. At the moment, company policy shifts the App Store in the direction of the first definition. Phatic, Apple in this case acts as a publisher and has unlimited rights to the exclusion of unwanted content, because the App Store - it is their private space.

Ian Bogost, professor of the Institute of Technology of Georgia, says the main problem is not itself grounds format, and its position in the industry:

"We have allowed the private corporate channel to occupy a dominant position in the software distribution."

According to him the problem for both developers and users is the limitation to distribute content. In the case of printed books, films (DVD), works of art and photography we still have the opportunity to dispose of the purchased content. You can donate or resell. In the case of the App Store and platforms with e-books like the Kindle and iBooks We strictly limited in their ability to dispose of the purchased content.

"Yes, Apple can do everything on its own territory, but the problem is that we agree with such policies and conscious We go to those who are trying to limit us to attach ourselves to tell us what we can play, and what not. That can be installed and what is not. What to buy and what not. But even bought we can not dispose of. "

The era when less and less fresh innovative ideas are born, but they are immediately under the hood of a small number of large corporations that use these ideas for the benefit of only themselves.

antitrust issues

Antitrust laws exist to protect consumers from very large companies alone dictates the market. Now in the US are proceeding on the collusion of several publishers for the purpose of artificially inflating the price of electronic books. Similar investigations have begun in Australia and in the European Union. According to Michael Peters, an expert on antimonopoly University of New South Wales, the slogan of Mantra «Apple's Rules, Apple's Way» worked before, in the 80s, when Apple was a relatively small company with a small fraction On the market. With the transformation of a large corporation has grown and responsibility, and now the company is actually on the verge of violating the antimonopoly law. We all remember the situation with Microsoft Internet Explorer, supplied with the system and killed while standing rivals Netscape and Opera.

However, according to Peters, Apple situation can be much more difficult, because Microsoft has created software only, and Apple makes both the software and the physical devices. Apple can be called structural monopolies.

"And its obligations increase with the company. Microsoft has realized it in the nineties, Goolge is aware of it now - legal proceedings involving them are in almost every country. They need to recognize that their success has nothing to do with their efforts. It is associated with market trends, and their behavior in this market. "

Even if Apple does not ulichat in violation of antitrust laws, it is necessary to remember about censorship. The American constitution has a clear position on censorship, and when issues reach the governmental level, Apple can begin much more serious problems.

"It would be much better if Apple will protect the freedom of speech in its space. When you take on the role of censor, you immediately precipitated. Every time you forbid something that should be resolved according to the people who throw themselves at you. Of course, the creation of artificial barriers and censorship - it is very difficult things in which it is difficult to stay consistent. Often, such cases are transformed into pure farce. It should be remembered that as a place to visit such a huge number of people, Apple platform should be open to them, to their points of view and their content. "

perspective

Most of the developers involved in creating the story, have released their games on other platforms. To exit on iOS, they had much to modify their creations, more and more moving away from the original ideas and insights. You can sue Apple, but also to the majority of developers it is generally not interested. All that they want - is to make games and release them. And under the circumstances they have to increasingly look towards Android and other platforms.

Question

Still, Apple's dear, why did you decide on that I can play, and what not?