Apple Rejects Hot Dog Down a Hallway

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Apple Rejects Hot Dog Down a Hallway


Metaversal Studios [http://www.apple.com], because it contains "sexual innuendo" - yet an earlier version of the game remains on sale at the App Store.

The game is simple enough: Set the power and angle of a high-powered meat grinder, shove a pig into it and try to shoot a hotdog down a hallway as far as you can, tilting the phone to catch powerups and avoid obstacles along the way. It actually sounds like fun, but it's hard to argue there's not a certain giggling sexual undertone to the whole thing: Aside from the name itself, the game's Achievements include gems like "Scratching Won't Help," "Watch the Teeth" and "Can't Feel the Sides."

All of which added up to a big fat "No thanks" from Apple, which exercises final say over what does and does not go up for sale at the App Store [http://www.apple.com/iphone/appstore/] and has rejected "objectionable" content numerous times in the past. The problem in this particular case appears to be the fact that while the latest version of Hot Dog Down a Hallway got the thumbs down, two earlier versions of the game were approved and remain available for purchase.

A number of questionable rejections of rejected app [http://www.apple.com/iphone/] Me So Holy, which lets users paste pictures of themselves into templates of religious figures like Jesus asked why "sex, urine, and defecation don't seem to be off-limits, yet a totally non-violent, religion-based app is."

Metaversal Studios noted that version 1.2 of the game contains no change in content from the previous two versions, which were approved, and pointed out that "despite the suggestive name, still contains absolutely no sexually explicit content."

"There is nothing more explicit in this game than what can be seen in a weekly episode of The Simpsons [http://www.thesimpsons.com/]," said Ed Mathews, director of business development at Metaversal. "I'm perplexed by Apple's definition of 'Explicit Material'. When double entendre and humorous language are considered contraband, Apple opens up a Pandora's Box that the entire game industry should be concerned about."

Designer Dave Landry said the "iTunes censorship policy is still a mystery to us," but added that he hoped the game will be allowed to remain on sale at least until the iPhone parental controls become available. Apple has said parental controls will be included with iPhone OS 3.0, but no release date for that software has been set. Apple did not respond when asked why the latest version of Hot Dog Down a Hallway was rejected while earlier versions remain on sale.

Now, has anyone seen my car keys?

Source: GamePolitics [http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_12415324]


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ThaBenMan

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Mar 6, 2008
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Get the exciting new app Cruising the Hershey Highway today! It's totally just a game about an anthropomorphic candy bar driving down the road, and not that other thing, you dirty perv!
 

Internet Kraken

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Mar 18, 2009
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What's with all the news about apple rejecting i-phone apps?

On topic, I really don't see the problem. I mean, shouldn't you be more concerned about the game having you shove a pig into a meat grinder than some sexual innuendo?

I've seen childrens shows with sexual innuendo.
 

T'Generalissimo

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Nov 9, 2008
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I find it hard to object to what Apple are doing simply because I'm having difficulty understanding what they're doing or trying to do. It doesn't seem to make sense from any angle. I guess companies are just weird sometimes.
 

The Rogue Wolf

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Nov 25, 2007
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Y'see, we're only allowed to offend people when it's considered "art", and video games can never be art because they're only for children.

Do I have Apple's apparent argument right?
 

Brotherofwill

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Jan 25, 2009
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Man, for a company that tries to market itself as cool and hip with the kids and college students Apple is certainly stuck up. Almost as stupid as MS censoring the indie films produced for them.
 

JC175

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Feb 27, 2009
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This sounds like an awesome game, pretty much the sleazewink of the iPhone. Shame about the censorship though, it doesn't seem to make much sense.
 

SharPhoe

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Feb 28, 2009
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ThaBenMan said:
Get the exciting new app Cruising the Hershey Highway today! It's totally just a game about an anthropomorphic candy bar driving down the road, and not that other thing, you dirty perv!
...What other thi--
Oh. ...OH.
 

Ossum

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Apr 19, 2009
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And let's not forget that other iPhone gem, Ride the Bologna Pony, a game where you race Italian Stallions through northern Italy.
 

Fingerprint

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Oct 30, 2008
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I think Apple need to get a sense of humour then, personally I thinks it sound quite funny - maybe that's just me though.
 

PirateKing

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Nov 19, 2008
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I laughed at the shoving pigs into a meat grinder thing.
This reminds me a lot of kitty cannon. Though I bet it does for a lot of us.
 

SimuLord

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Aug 20, 2008
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What next? A pixel-hunt game where you choose the correct lunch meat out of a crowd of other lunch meats called Hide the Salami?

Maybe a trade sim set in Vietnam called Massive Dong [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_%C4%91%E1%BB%93ng]?