Apple Rejects App, So Dev Replaces Illegal Immigrants With Cute Animals
by Joe White
April 28, 2011
Apple recently rejected an app in which gamers had to smuggle immigrants across the U.S. border. Following this, the app's developer changed the game's name (from "Smuggle Truck" to "Snuggle Truck"), subbed immigrants for cute animals, and resubmitted the app - which was then approved.
As you can see in the above screenshot, the recently released Snuggle Truck involves an open top truck, and a group of animal passengers. Gamers have to deliver the animals to a nearby zoo, within a set amount of time. It's an "over the top physics based driving game" that looks like a whole lot of fun.
However, the game's original concept was a lot less "snuggly," and a little more "smuggly."
Previously, the app was called "Smuggle Truck," and instead of transporting animals to the zoo, gamers had to smuggle immigrants into North America. As you can see in the below image, the two versions of the game are almost identical - featuring the same truck, and the same background:
The original game, however, had the very best intentions. As outlined over at SmuggleTruck.com:
Smuggle Truck was inspired by the frustration our friends have experienced in trying to immigrate to the United States. With such a troublesome issue being largely avoided in popular media, especially video games, we felt the best way to criticize it was with an interactive satire.Unfortunately, Apple did not have the same view: Smuggle Truck was rejected from the App Store, and Snuggle Truck - with its less provocative theme - was approved. Currently, Snuggle Truck is available to download for $1.99 (iPhone and iPod touch version) or $2.99 (HD iPad version). Check out the app, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. [via Pocket Gamer]
