Something happened to Nagual and myself during the past weeks and I thought it might be interesting to share our little story. I put it in the devlog section even if it’s more like a postmortem… Let me know it this isn’t the right place.

So Nagual and myself participated to the Global Game Jam a few weeks ago and with the help of a few friends we made “this”: http://globalgamejam.org/2015/games/do-me-love

We were pretty happy with the result and we received positive feedback. It was not very ambitious nor original, more like a joke game, but it seemed to make most people laugh and sometime hooked for a few minutes. And also, we still can’t say why, but the game had a lot of success among women

Anyway. We met the week after and we decided to make a more polished version of the game and to release it for free on the Google Store, because, eh, why not? We thought it would not be expensive and we were willing to learn the process of shipping a game on the Google Store. We immediately drew a list of TODOs, estimating it would take us 2 to 3 days to make this version, while it took us 2 weeks, no surprise. Our goal was to ship the game for Valentine’s Day.

The original TODO list was something like that:
– Touchscreen UI adaptation
– Update menus and options for mobile (savegame, encyclopedia access, end of the game…)
– Add “post screenshot on Facebook/Tweeter” feature
– Improve Score/Collision system
– Remove sexually explicit content
– Polish Solutions and Figures names (i.e. level design)
– Encyclopedia (Solutions) design + implementation
– Create Google Play account
– Monetization?
– Check Google policy regarding age rating
– Google Play stuff (icons, banners, screenshots)

During the 2 following weeks, we did pretty much everything that was on that list, plus a few extras we hadn’t thought of at the time. We focused on the game features in priority (i.e. the top of the list) and once we were almost done we decided to tackle the administrative part (Google Store, etc…). Our game is about interlocking pixel art characters in ridiculous positions in order to hopefully achieve funny, imaginary sex figures, so we knew from the very beginning that the age rating would be a sensitive point.

We opened the Google Developer account and paid the 25$ fee.

Then I decided to upload a work in progress build in order to get familiar with the process. We also wanted to explore some advertising solutions, and we needed a “Google Bundle ID” for that, and you have no choice but to upload a build and make a “publication request” in order to get this ID. You can upload a build in Alpha/Beta stage so that it’s not accessible to the public. This version had the dicks removed and women had pasties on their tits, and we were thinking about adding panties and bras before the release.

As usual with Google, everything was remarkably simple, and well documented when it was not. Really solid stuff. I uploaded a (closed) Beta build, started to fill the various forms (title, description, icons, screenshots, rating, etc…) in a draft format, and sent a “publication request” in order to get a Bundle ID.

A few hours later, the “app slot” we had created on the Google Developer Console was suspended. Not the developer account, just the app. That was quick! We received a generic email stating that the app was suspended for “Violation of the sexually explicit material provision of the Content Policy”.

I honestly didn’t imagine that they would evaluate an Alpha or a Beta version that wasn’t intended to be shared to the public. And if they did and had any issue with it, I would expect to start some kind of dialog so we can fix the issue (like, in my experience, Sony and Microsoft do… like Rating Boards do too). I was probably too naive. Also I don’t have the AAA Company leverage anymore. Fair enough.

The day after, I sent an appeal request to Google, explaining in good faith that we didn’t knew the draft material would be evaluated, and by the way your Content Policy refers to the product as the “Software, content and digital materials distributed via the Store” (here) which doesn’t quite describe our closed Beta version. I apologized for the trouble and said that we were eager to comply with their content policy. A few hours later, we received another generic email saying “we are unable to reinstate your application” because of the “Reason for Removal in the initial removal notification from Google Play”. Thanks for the tip, Google!

Ok. Lesson learned. Next time we will be much more careful. We took the day to meticulously clean all the assets, texts, we covered the 5 remaning pixels of tits with flat, unsexy underwears. We removed all the potentially sensitive words (“sex”, “orgasm”, “69”, even “missionary” and “cowgirl”) because we didn’t want to take any risk.

We created a new “app slot” and uploaded the new build and material, still in closed Beta. And guess what? A few hours later, we received the exact same email, and the app was suspended too…

I assure you that I write all this in very good faith. I’m not writing to complain, or to say that Google is evil or whatever. Actually I have a very high esteem for this company and I totally understand that they have thousands of requests every day and they have to be strict. I know there is no point to argue.

What’s frustrates me is that we weren’t given enough information to understand exactly what doesn’t comply with their policy. We thought it was the graphics, or the text, we changed both. Was it not enough? Should we cover the man’s tits too? Or is it the voice acting? Or is it just the mechanic of the game that doesn’t fit? What if we replaced the characters with Tetris shapes? Would that be ok? The line is blurry and we really don’t know what to do now, except giving up.

Interesting fact: Nagual is from Brazil and I’m French. We probably don’t have the same taboos than people in the US when it comes to nudity. In France it’s quite common to see topless women on the beach, it’s not sexual, it’s fashion. Same goes in Brazil with G-strings. It’s the context that makes a part of a body sexual, not the actual piece of skin.

Let’s have a quick look at the actual Content Policy, just the terms about nudity.

https://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html
Sexually Explicit Material: Apps that contain or promote pornography are prohibited; this includes sexually explicit or erotic content, icons, titles, or descriptions.
>> We removed the descriptions and we added clothes to the characters, right? Does our game look like pornography?
Google has a zero-tolerance policy against child sexual abuse imagery. If we become aware of content with child sexual abuse imagery, we will report it to the appropriate authorities and delete the Google Accounts of those involved with the distribution.
>> I swear our characters are consenting adults.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/188189
Apps that include sexual or suggestive references = High Maturity
>> Ok so we’ll check the High Maturity Rating box, no problem!
Apps that focus on sexual or suggestive references or include sexualized images or pornography = Not permitted on Google Play
>> Maybe the clash is here. Are we suggestive? Probably. But far less than any of the Kamasutra apps which exist on the Google Store imho.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/4450958
Pornography or sexually explicit content is not allowed on Google Play. Most nudity and crude sexual references are not allowed.
>> We removed the nudity and crude sexual references from my POV.
In general, if content is intended to be sexually gratifying, it is not acceptable on Google Play. This includes sexually explicit or erotic content, images, titles, and descriptions. Content which promotes incest or bestiality is forbidden.
>> Dude, if you find our game “sexually gratifying”, you should probably talk to someone…

Once again, I’m not saying we’re right or they’re wrong. I’m not playing dumb either. Maybe our game is totally unacceptable and/or we are totally missing the point! Still, as our medium is growing in audience and diversity, I think that’s an interesting topic. And I’m really curious to know what you guys from all around the world think about it.

In the end, we’ve learned a lot and had a lot of fun making this game and this is what matters the most to us.

Oh, and for the curious ones who own an Android device, you can download the last APK by CLICKING ON THIS LINK.
This version is much more polished than the original Flash one. Feedback welcomed, even if the game will probably never get out!

Thanks for reading!