3 ms·

> why the developer would bother with their own store if the App Store now allows emulators The keyword is now allows emulators. They didn't allow it 3 weeks a

by troupo 3y ago

> why the developer would bother with their own store if the App Store now allows emulators The keyword is now allows emulators. They didn't allow it 3 weeks ago. Or a year ago. Or 10 years ago. Only now, with alternative stores launching and offering this, Apple has finally allowed emulators. Perhaps the developer doesn't want to be beholden to Apple's whims? Especially after investing a lot of effort into setting up an alternative store?

nicolas_17 3y ago
Could you point at what part of the old rules was forbidding emulators?
- afiori 3y ago
  Technically they were not forbidden, but it was impossible to play copyrighted ROMs. The rules forbid running arbitrary/user-loaded code and copyright forbids bundling the ROMs people wanted to use. The new rules have an exception for specifically emulators
- troupo 3y ago
  Ask the author of this emulator whose app was rejected multiple times in the past six years
- oarsinsync 3y ago
  I can’t point you to rules, but I can point you to news articles talking about the rule change from ~10 days ago: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/05/app-store-guidelines-emulators-music-app-links/ https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/05/app-store-guidelines-em...
- saagarjha 3y ago
  Which part of the App Store makes you think that the rules are ever applied as written?
- kalleboo 3y ago
  Until now, emulators have been rejected under this rule > 2.5.2 Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps I.e. "all the code this app ever runs has to be there when the app goes to app review" This rule change on January 29 allowed for mini games and streaming games > 4.7 Mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins: Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically mini apps and games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. And then specifically this addition on April 10 > 4.7 [...] Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games is what allowed retro game emulators. Source: https://www.appstorereviewguidelineshistory.com https://www.appstorereviewguidelineshistory.com

by troupo 3y ago

nicolas_17 3y ago

Could you point at what part of the old rules was forbidding emulators?

afiori 3y ago
Technically they were not forbidden, but it was impossible to play copyrighted ROMs. The rules forbid running arbitrary/user-loaded code and copyright forbids bundling the ROMs people wanted to use. The new rules have an exception for specifically emulators
troupo 3y ago
Ask the author of this emulator whose app was rejected multiple times in the past six years
oarsinsync 3y ago
I can’t point you to rules, but I can point you to news articles talking about the rule change from ~10 days ago: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/05/app-store-guidelines-emulators-music-app-links/ https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/05/app-store-guidelines-em...
saagarjha 3y ago
Which part of the App Store makes you think that the rules are ever applied as written?
kalleboo 3y ago
Until now, emulators have been rejected under this rule > 2.5.2 Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps I.e. "all the code this app ever runs has to be there when the app goes to app review" This rule change on January 29 allowed for mini games and streaming games > 4.7 Mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins: Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically mini apps and games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. And then specifically this addition on April 10 > 4.7 [...] Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games is what allowed retro game emulators. Source: https://www.appstorereviewguidelineshistory.com https://www.appstorereviewguidelineshistory.com