How Apple took nine weeks to arbitrarily reject our app

This was a made-to-be-rejected-and-whined-about app:<p>"We built an iPhone game in just under two days and submitted it to Apple for approval. The concept was a little iffy, but we figured it was worth the gamble. If nothing else, it could attract some attention to our web RPG, Forumwarz."<p>Mission...accomplished.<p>For what it's worth, anyone reading the introduction to the 9/2010 app store guidelines would expect the rejection:<p><a href="http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/engadget/files/app-store-guidelines.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/engadget/files/app-store-guide...</a><p>* We have over 250,000 apps in the App Store. We don't need any more Fart apps. If your app doesn't do something useful or provide some form of lasting entertainment, it may not be accepted<p>* If your App looks like it was cobbled together in a few days, or you're trying to get your first practice App into the store to impress your friends, please brace yourself for rejection. We have lots of serious developers who don't want their quality Apps to be surrounded by amateur hour.<p>* If your app is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to. If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps.<p>kb

Their own pre-emptive attempt at exculpation "So you’re upset that Apple wouldn’t approve your money-grubbing stupid idea?" is pretty much my sentiment.<p>Come back when you have a legit gripe. Just because others get away with something is no reason you should get away with same. "Hey, officer, I saw other people speeding too and you didn't cite them, not fair!"

The idea was worth the try, but I'm not surprised it was rejected.<p>As an iOS developer myself, I respect Apple's power to police the app store as they see fit. It's their platform and they have every right to set the precedent on what content is allowable. Approving your app would spawn numerous clones and obviously Apple doesn't agree with your utilization of in-app purchases.

&#62; <i>Even if your App is built in accordance to every policy, Apple can still reject it.</i><p>I think we reached this conclusion a while back. While many developers may consider it unfair, I should point out that I have never seen a non-gimmicky, high-quality, and polished app face this same predicament of arbitrarily getting rejected. These types of things just don't happen to those stellar apps that have been through a long development process (unlike the one mentioned in this article).<p>The truth is that arbitrary rejections aren't so arbitrary. You won't see an app like Doodle Jump be rejected, but you may see it happen to a fart app. While Apple doesn't necessarily point out the particular reasons of a rejection every time, most of us can agree that there is a clear distinction between those that are arbitrarily rejected and those that aren't. This goes to show that there is some reasoning behind Apple's decisions.<p>People need to realize this and understand that there is probably a pretty good reason why their app got rejected - even if Apple doesn't point it out for them.

Didn't Apple say something along the line of "No more fart apps anymore" when they updated their App store approval guidelines last time around?

So you’re upset that Apple wouldn’t approve your money-grubbing stupid idea? Give me a break.

I don't know about you, but I am <i>glad</i> that POS "app" got rejected. There is enough crap out there already.

I LOVE the idea behind this app!<p>If released, there's a small chance it could become a running joke, especially if you'd promise to donate 50% of profits to charity or something. (Maybe iDonate would be accepted?)

Luckily, there is a great alternative out there selling just as well as iOS.