NOV
01
2011

Laying iPokédex to rest

Categories: App Dev
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日本語版はこちらです!

Hey guys.

I thought I’d quickly let you know what’s gone down with iPokédex over the last few weeks.

When I originally received the first email from the Pokémon Company counsel for the first time, they had mentioned that even though the majority of Pokémon fan productions aren’t licensed, there are a few that had made it through the process.
Not skipping a beat, despite the fact that they also said that they don’t have the resources to license many more, I asked the counsel if they could perhaps check with licensing and see if there was any potential for iPokédex to be officially licensed.

I didn’t really broadcast this information too much (I mainly just kept saying ‘man it would be nice IF it got licensed’ spacer ) as I didn’t want to come off as ‘counting my chickens before they hatched’, so to speak.

Anyway, after a little while, about 2 weeks ago, I received the following email from the counsel:

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I chased up our licensing people. Right now unfortunately we’re not going to be putting an app on either of iTunes or Android. I can tell you though that they definitely appreciated your approach(*) and if we do decide to go into those spaces, you will definitely be considered to play a role in that.

Sorry I’m not bringing better news. Please do stay in touch though.

(*)This isn’t a brushoff. They specifically wanted me to make sure I mentioned it to you.

And sadly, that’s how the cookie crumbles folks.

As far as working out an official solution for getting permission to re-release iPokédex online, I was pretty much hedging all of my bets on that one.

So, on that note, I’m really sorry to say that there’s nothing furthur I can do from my end. iPokédex is going to have to remain offline… most likely permanently. spacer

Since finding out the app had been pulled, I’ve been getting a lot of messages from people suggesting ‘hack’ solutions to get around this. Things like putting the IPA up on my site, releasing through Cydia, or even getting rid of the iOS component and rebuilding the app as a mobile web site that runs through Safari.
Unfortunately, I don’t think any of these solutions are actually viable. Aside from the fact that re-distributing the app outside of the App Store is a violation of my Apple Developer contract (also, the counsel specifically asked me not to re-upload it anywhere else), I should also point out that the Pokémon Company now knows who I am, and that I’ve been personally informed on their position with regards to this subject matter. They’ve been very kind to me up until this point, but if I start trying to cheat around their wishes like that, I’m sure all the good faith would go straight out the window. Sorry guys.

On a bit of the bright note, I am considering it a distinct honour and privilege that actual licensing people from the freaking Pokémon Company itself liked my approach. That’s really awesome in my books. spacer

Either way, this is the end of the line for me at this point… at least, temporarily. I’m hoping the Pokémon Company might decide to build an app at some point (I think we’ve definitely demonstrated that it would be a rather popular thing), and I’d be very eager to donate all of my resources to that, should it ever come about. spacer

I’m still thinking about what I’m going to do with the iPokédex code. When I received the notice, I was halfway through version 1.3, and there are a lot of cool new features that are sitting in there half-finished (All of the items, in-game sprites, and capture locations to name a few). For the sake of closure, I’m considering finishing them off. But just remember I can’t actually release that still. spacer

In any case, I’m still going to write blogs on all of the cool little iOS bits n’ bobs I learnt while building this thing. spacer

Finally, if you’re still disappointed about the Pokémon Company’s decision here, there are a few things you can do to help out. spacer

  • Firstly, there’s a petition out there to representing the users who loved having a mobile Pokédex app on their smartphones. Go sign it.
  • On a bit more of a direct note (if you’re up for some writing), contact the Pokémon Company directly and tell them that you are disappointed in their decision to shut down all of the fan-made apps.
    If the feedback I’ve heard is anything, they definitely take fan feedback seriously. Just remember, BE POLITE. They extended a very nice courtesy to me, and they deserve the same in return. The email address is feedback[AT]pokemon[DOT]com
Anyway, from this point on, I’ve got the design and protoype for my next app more-or-less down now, so I’m going to be focusing on that. This one’s going to be a paid one, so I plan to do all of my homework this time. spacer
  • nolanlawson.com Nolan Lawson

    Sorry to hear it ended this way, Tim.  We both tried our best, but I think in the end Nintendo is just not comfortable with fan creations like your iPokédex or my Pokédroid.  Like any large company, they’re slow-moving and risk-averse, so they’re necessarily going to treat new technologies with suspicion.

    But on the bright side, I’ll bet that plenty of Nintendo fansites had to deal with problems like this back in the early days of the Internet, before the idea of third-party websites became a fait accompli.  Maybe in a couple of years Nintendo will view third-party apps on iPhone and Android in the same way.

    You did great work on iPokédex, so I hope this experience doesn’t sour your passion for app development.  Find a new project to latch onto and keep up the good work!

    • www.tim-oliver.com -=TiM=-

      Hey Nolan! Good to hear from you again!

      Haha thanks a lot man. We definitely tried our best, and I hope in our efforts we at least got a few gears to start grinding over there. Haha no kidding. But given they were testing out that Pokémon card game app on the app stores earlier, hopefully that’s sooner than we’d think. spacer Hmm, yeah I’ve been thinking about that too; ie, how much of a contrast between apps and sites there really is (And if sites went through this phase too). Either way, it’s a lot easier to shut down apps than sites since they all go through a central authority (iOS more-so than Android). Haha yeah I guess we’ll find out. Every time I search for ‘Pokémon’ on the App Store, more and more fan apps are popping up all the time. spacer

      Haha thanks a lot Nolan! Hats off to Pokédroid as well. I think that one was the king of Pokémon apps on Android. :DHahaha it certainly hasn’t soured my experience of app dev (On the contrary, given the feedback I received, I want to do more. spacer ). But that being said, I do think iPokédex will be my final contribution to Pokémon fandom for at least a little while…. spacer

  • ppy.sh Dean Herbert

    I know I’ve suggested a lot of gung-ho approaches (my style :p) to keep things living on, but I’d still highly recommend you consider the web app approach. If you can operate under similar conditions to that which other fan-sites do, you could easily pull off what you already had via a safari based app.

    It might even be worth getting back to TPCI and asking about the viability of this approach, so you can sleep at night.

    • www.tim-oliver.com -=TiM=-

      Bahaha oh yeah I know all about your style. spacer

      Yeah? Yyyyyeeeeah I dunno. If the conversations I’ve had with the counsel are any indication, TPCI don’t really approve of the websites as well. There really is no difference between web sites and the apps, just that TPCI wants to take more action over the apps.

      So that being said, I don’t think I really want to spend the time and resources building this thing, only to have TPCI swoop in and ask me to pull that one as well. Also, no matter how hard I try, it’ll never feel as nice as a fully native iOS app. spacer

      There’s still potential that TPCI might want to actually produce their own/license iPokédex in the future. I’d rather hang out for that and develop other (non-infringing spacer ) apps in the meanwhile.

  • Blue_85butterfly

    Is there any way I can get this on my phone I have it for my tablet but I would really like it for my phone

    • www.tim-oliver.com -=TiM=-

      Hi Blue_85Butterfly!

      Hmmm… if you have it for your tablet, there should be a way to move it to your phone through iTunes through syncing the two.
      Unfortunately, I can’t help out from my end. spacer Sorry!

  • Worried

    Wait… Does this mean no more updates, or will my iPokédex completely disappear from iPod?

    • www.tim-oliver.com -=TiM=-

      Officially, it means no more updates, and if you end up the deleting the app (either manually, or it gets wiped in an iOS update) without backing it up, you won’t be able to get it back. spacer

  • Joeystatic

    Your lucky the didn’t sue your ass. You would have had to pay thousands of dollars plus the profit you made off the pokedex app. Make sure you get the proper license for your work and the proper copyright material and above all get permission from the Pokemon company.

    • www.tim-oliver.com -=TiM=-

      Hi Joey. Thanks for the candid reply mate lol. spacer

      Alright. Let’s get a few things straight here. 

      iPokédex has been free from the very start; no profit at all (Not sure where you heard that spacer ). Secondly, I wasn’t trying to operate in bad faith, so they really had no need to escalate it to the courts (Especially for a free fan production like this. I highly doubt it would be worth their time/money).

      As for actually securing permission, that’s a bit tricker than I think you realise. I went and checked the legal guidelines on their website, but I saw that they have a flat policy of denying all applications, purely because they cannot cope with the number they receive (eg, coming out of the blue and asking for permission will NEVER work spacer ).
      So, I basically went with the same method as all the other fan-sites/productions online; that they ensure the production is free, and is clearly stated that the content is under ‘fair use’. Given I hadn’t seen or heard of any instances of the Pokémon Company shutting those entities down, I figured as long as I trod lightly and didn’t do anything in bad faith (like make profit off it), they wouldn’t see fit to acknowledge it.

      My app is no different to any of the other unauthorised Pokémon fan productions out there. The only distinction is the Pokémon Company decided this year that they really, REALLY don’t want Pokémon fan apps on smartphones, and that’s it. 

      Either way, I’m hoping that by having the chance to interact with them directly, we’ve let them know how popular Pokémon apps on smartphones actually are. Here’s hoping they might consider an official one soon. spacer

      • Alan-miller831

        That’s really a shame because the Pokemon company is supposed to release an app for iOS in Japan this year. you would think they would be more open to it now.

        • www.tim-oliver.com -=TiM=-

          Wait. Really? That’s the first I’ve heard of an official iOS Pokédex app. Where did you see that?

          I dunno… if they’re making an official one (especially if it’s paid), it would make sense to shut down all of the other ones…

  • Josie

    I just wanted to say thank you for an awesome, quality app. My daughter has Aspergers and Pokemon is her passion (or, obsession may be a better word!). I was quite shocked that there aren’t official apps on iTunes and the unofficial ones are mostly, to be frank, crap. We loved your app and a smartphone pokedex just makes sense. Thanks for your hard work and for bringing some happiness to my daughter spacer good luck with future apps. I admire your decision not to go against the company and release an illegal version.

    • www.tim-oliver.com -=TiM=-

      Hi Josie!

      Wow…. I’m so glad that my app was able to help bring a bit more joy to your daughter! Just from this post alone, I think it was all worth it. Thank you very much! Yeah a Pokédex app on the smartphone makes total sense doesn’t it. Much easier and dynamic than a book!
      Haha thanks. Well it was supposed to be all in good fun. Trying to defy the company or get away with an illegal release would have way more repercussions than would ever make it a good idea.

      Thanks! I’m just about to announce my next app. ;D

  • Alan-miller831

    Damn I’m so sad could you please at least make it compatible with iOS 5? If I had known that it didn’t work with the update I wouldn’t have updated. It was the best pokédex on the app store. I prefer your app over pokédex entries in actual guide books.

    • www.tim-oliver.com -=TiM=-

      Hey Alan!

      Haha dagnabbit. I wish I could. It took all of 3 seconds to fix the iOS 5 bug, but unfortunately I was asked to take it down before then. :’(

      I’m glad you like iPokédex. spacer Haha, yeah I think an interactive iOS app will outdo physical books any day. ;D


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