Apple support and review staff Incompetence

Note: Apparently, some developers are having problem on getting their games approved to be included to the iTunes store. Here's a letter from one of them.

To know more about Zombie Mangle visit TouchArcade Forum.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,

I'm Perry Hart, the sole developer at PHARTGAMES.

It's apparent that Apple's systems for reviewing iPhone applications and supporting developers is inadequate and down right amateur.

There has been quite a large amount of hype about my new app ZombieMangle, a first person shooter. Alot of people want to play it after seeing the videos on youtube and especially after the massive disappointment of Zombie Mansion and Cube.

I submitted Zombie Mangle over a week ago now, Which was what i though would be a perfect time to release just before christmas. However, A few days after submission apple sends me an email stating that they require  "Unexpected Additional Time For Review" with no reason whatsoever for the delay. So I do a search for any other developers who have received this email, and it appears there's ALOT of them. 

What this email basically means is that your application has joined a queue which never gets looked at and your app wont be approved, or rejected depending on apples discression for months. One developer has been on the queue for three months, and received absolutely no information about what was wrong.

The email address to get help about app reviews, as stated by apple is devprograms@apple.com. Developers can send all the emails they like to this address, they just get ignored.

Developers can call phone support however the people on the other end of the line can barely speak english, and are unable to help with anything. They say they cannot contact the review staff to one developer, to others they say they have sent an email asking for information, others they say they will call back (with no call back). Some developers are told that their application has received an "Escalated Priority" all of which seems like absolute rubbish as they still get no result after months of waiting.

One fellow developer has called numerous times trying to get a name changed on their tax information. They get told the issue has been Escalated however are still waiting months afterward for a simple name change. Apple are even in violation of their contract as they haven't been paid for some regions, even after the 45 days past the end of the month as stated in the iphone developer contract. But this is a seperate issue.

So, with no indication from apple what the issue is with ZombieMangle I figure i'll be proactive and change the game to remove the blood as it may be too extreme, change the effects to green instead of red, change the  zombies into aliens, change all the interface graphics containing red blood to green etc. I even changed the sheep to robot sheep incase they had some issue with aliens attacking sheep. Then I resubmitted under a different name Alien Mangle. In my submission I stated clearly in CAPS "IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS APP, DO NOT SEND ME AN UNEXPECTED ADDITIONAL TIME EMAIL, REJECT IT AND TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS"

Today I received the same canned email stating the requirement of additional time.

Calling out for help on the official forums has yielded nothing more than moderators canned replies stating email addresses and phone numbers.

I think it's time that all developers and potential developers know that they are working with amateurs.

Thanks,

Perry Hart.

PHARTGAMES.

-------------------------------------------------------

iPhone development online course: Calling all level of software developers. If you're not but interested to learn iphone sdk development, how to make iPhone and iPad software. You get videos, hands-on exercises, source code and more each week. Plus a private social network and Matt's eBook! Click here for more info!

Related post:
http://fauzimobile.wordpress.com/tag/iphone-developer-program/

Am i an iTunes/iPhone addict?

Top paid apps on the App Store

First off, Singapore is in a recession. Click here to read news. Although, personally, I'm not feeling the heat, but I read about it almost everyday in the papers. I did work in an American company before where they laid off some workers and although, I was new there and they were saying I was safe but when some of us was being called to be told about the laying off, I did feel a little nervous. But, that was almost 10 years ago. Since, then, I've been in and out of jobs. I can't seem to stick to a job long enough. I got short attention span and I get bored doing the same job. Life is too short eh?

Anyway, besides the economy, I think I have another personal problem and that is I'm turning into an iTunes App store addict. LoL. Everyday, when at work and at home, I keep surfing the iTunes App store for new apps especially the game section. I can't stop myself. Although, my 3G iPhone is already loaded with lot of games, I still want more!

I have already spend almost $300++ ($200 in the first month of getting the iphone!) buying games through the App store. I can't freakin' stop myself. Okay, the games might not match the DS lite and PSP but I'm still hooked to it. Even though the new PSP-3000 is on sale (is it already?) and there are tons of games but I prefer my iPhone. You can't really blame me. I think because, I bring my iPhone everywhere. Even, to the toilet! Ha ha. There's so much you can do on the iPhone. It's not just for games but, you can surf, search, read news, check your email, listen to music, watch movies, videos and so on. It's an all in one device and so far, I'm really satisfied with it. It really hadn't disappoint me in any way. Okay, maybe you still can't MMS, bluetooth files or take videos. But, I didn't really miss it. But, I do hope on that side they would offer it in the 3rd gen iPhone and beyond. I'm pretty sure, the iPhone will be improved upon more every year. It's already a powerful device right now!

One kind of game I'm still waiting for the iPhone is the FPS 0r first-person-shooter kind of game. Like the one for the game console of course. There's a couple, coming on the iPhone, but so far there's no latest updates. I read somewhere that it's coming this November. We'll see then. I really hope, the FPS on the iPhone is the kick-ass type of FPS. Then, it will really raise the standard of the iPhone as a gaming platform. Yeah, the cute puzzle and flying games is fun for the iPhone. But, only an FPS kind of game will really draw the hardcore gamers to the iPhone. Not, sissy games!

Add multiplayer capabilities to it and voila!

You'll then see hordes of gamers on the train, buses, school, gardens, cars and don't forget the toilets! LoL!

'Nuff said. I have already surveyed the iTunes Apps store a couple of times today. I'm going to have a look again, see if there's any new updates. He he!

Hmm.. maybe, I AM an iTunes or iPhone addict!

See ya all later!

Top paid apps on the App Store

P.S. Is there a clinic for the iPhone addict out there?
P.P.S. Take up iPhone development online tutorial course - Click here for more info!

Who's fault is it, really?

World shares tumble on Lehman Brothers' collapse
European and Asian stock markets plunged between three and five per cent Monday on concerns over the beleaguered world economy as Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy.
FULL STORY »

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

On another subject, the other day, I was reading 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu II. Waging War on my iPhone. Yeah, I have the book but, it's kind of cool to read it on your iPhone!

You can get it via iTunes App store. Just type "Sun Tzu" on the iTunes search. You can also definitely get it right from your iPhone too. There's also a whole lot of nice e books you can buy and download to your iphone. Check it out!

Anyway, I came to point no. 6 >
There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

As you can obviously see, the U.S. army need to pull back as soon as possible from Iraq and Afghanistan. There's no use in staying too long and prolonged the war. Billions of U.S. dollars had already been wasted on this useless war that seems to have no ends (Click here to read in .pdf format of the cost of war on terror - The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11).

They should have tried to avoid going to war in the first place and instead use the various Intelligence agency to get their man - in this case Osama.

How long have the war been going on? I remember when I first heard and watch CNN, BBC on my cable tv. I didn't see the first plane going into the World trade center of course but I did watch the second plane 'live' going straight for the second towers and also watch how both of the towers finally crumbled with smokes and debris everywhere. It was like watching the movies. I didn't really believe what I saw. I thought it was some kind of mistake. Some kind of crude joke. But, it did happen.

What happen next is of course the current and still the U.S. president George W. Bush decided to go to war in spite of what others think. Yeah, the crude speech, "either you're with me or againts me" I guess every one is againts him now eh?

And still, Osama is at large!

Well anyway, here's another excerpt from Sun Tzu no. 7 >> It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

I wonder if George Bush actually knows what de heck he's doing!

'nuff said!

Just showing you some of the things you can do or read on your iphone. Check out iTunes iPhone App store for more reads.

That's it for now. Good night and sleep well. Oh yeah, happy fasting!

Note: I know in some other countries others are suffering terribly in this month of Ramadan. But, there's always a reason right? Look up my man ..look up and pray for mercy!

It ain't nothin' compared to Hell!