Apple Rejects Seal Hunt Game For App Store, Canadian Designer Perplexed
Posted April 29, 2010 10:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Canadian software engineer who designed a seal-clubbing video game can’t understand why Apple deemed its content objectionable and rejected it.
Matt Smyth, 28, of St. John’s, N.L., says the computer giant has chosen not to post iSealClub on its App Store.
His cartoon creation is no more violent than other games that involve stalking bears or deer, he said in an interview Thursday.
“I was careful not to make the game graphic or have any gore or anything. It’s very light-hearted. It’s all cartoon based.
“It’s not what you would consider a very violent game. I know it involves clubbing seals, but (it’s) no different than the way people get clubbed in Mickey Mouse or Looney Tunes.”
Smyth said he specifically designed the game to block any killing of white-coat seal pups. The adorable pups still featured in anti-sealing campaigns have been off-limits for hunters in the province since 1987.
“Because it’s been illegal to hunt baby seals, I made it illegal in the game,” Smyth said. “You can’t club baby seals. You can try, but you lose points and they just run away.”
A spokesman for Apple couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Smyth wonders if Apple is morally opposed to the contentious seal harvest that annually pits animal rights activists against communities that rely on related income.
More violent games such as Grand Theft Auto are readily available yet he received a note from Apple on Tuesday rejecting his game, he said.
He had worked on the design off and on since October, and tried to double-check with Apple in January about any content concerns.
“They said submit the full game. We don’t do any pre-approvals.”
As of Thursday, Smyth still had not received an explanation from the company.
The game, if approved, would have been available to download for 99 cents.
Smyth has had media outlets calling since his story went public, but says the last thing he wants is to draw negative attention to sealing.
“I’ve seen a few comments that people think it’s offensive, but I don’t know if they’ve played it.”
iSealClub, the first game Smyth has designed, would have been less interesting if it featured the rifles most hunters now use, he said.
“The iPhone is turned into a clubbing action.”
