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Navigating through Apple’s website we’ve hit a graphic that is updated every 7 days and reflects the major reasons for rejecting an application from you. Interestingly, over 50% of the cases can be included into 10 concrete reasons. So let’s talk about them.
Note: before you send a game or an application to a store, it is always important to take a look at the validation guidelines of each platform, whether it is the AppStore, Google Play or the Tizen Store. For instance, it is important to program a function for the back button on mobile phones running on Android, Windows Phone or Tizen systems (eg. going back to the main menu of the game), something not needed on iOS applications, given its characteristics. Now, the 10 reasons:
1. Providing insufficient information
Not only the basic information is important, such as the description or the contact e-mail. You may need to provide alternative information. For example, if your game requires validation on an external server to play, you’ll need to provide a username and/or password. If your game needs access to specific device features such as GPS or the camera, you also have to report it.
2. Providing an application with technical issues (bugs)
Apple will test our game on their devices but that doesn’t mean they are our beta testers! We must polish the game enough to avoid further surprises. Moreover, a game that has passed Apple’s validation with some errors will probably be ‘rewarded’ with negative comments in the Appstore.
3. Not complying with the terms of the licensing program
Nobody reads the license terms. But then people upload applications that don’t respect them. So it seems logical that Apple uses that as a reason for rejection. Currently, the document is 55 pages and contains important points. Example: your app or game cannot download or install executable code.
4. Providing a too complex interface that does not meet Apple’s standards
Apple has a very high quality standard. If they detect that the interface is difficult to understand or contains too many elements, it is very possible that the app gets rejected. Furthermore, it seems appropriate to exploit the features offered by each device. For example, a game for iPhone does not have to be displayed just like on the iPad and viceversa. Using the characteristics of each device in our favor is a point to note that Apple values a lot.
5. Providing names, descriptions or screenshots inconsistent with the content
What? Is it possible that someone tells or shows something in a game’s description that has nothing to do with the game itself? Well, it seems that happens quite often. Bad idea.
It seems some people do not have enough words to say about their games to even complete the minimum lenght requested by Apple.
6. Uploading applications that use other applications fraudulently
They specifically talk about containing false, fraudulent or misleading representations of other applications. We assume that this is a warning for all those clones of different games or applications, or simply the misuse of registered trademarks.
7. Providing an application name in the Appstore different from that in the device
We know our game has a limited number of characters once installed. That forces us to use short names. In iTunes there is a greater freedom that we can use to our advantage, but try not to make both names totally incoherent. Some games, like the popular Deep Dungeons of Doom use abbreviations in their titles (DDD).
8. Uploading apps with dummy text
It seems some people do not have enough words to say about their games to even complete the minimum length requested by Apple. Please, no lorem ipsum.
9. Offering inappropriate scores
If your game has been reviewed by the press, got good scores and you highlight them in your description, can Apple reject your application if they consider the score is inadequate? What if you say things like “this game is a 10/10!”? You better avoid the latter. About the reviews, better get them on relevant sites (sorry for your friend’s blog, but it may not work as a reference).
10. Offering beta applications or trials
Trials, betas, demos or tests are not welcome. Only complete games. If we are to create a demo of a game that will be completed in a future, forget that it is available in the AppStore. It is always better to start with a compact but completely functional game, and then add levels, weapons or features in future releases. And yes, there is that mysterious trap called IAPs. Some people would have much to say about them. We’ll talk about that in future posts.
We have seen the most common mistakes so far. There are many other important points highlighted by Apple. Want to know more about them?: Direct information from Apple. And what about you? Have you uploaded a game to the AppStore? Did it get rejected? For any reason in particular?
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