File this one under “it’s a damned shame” category: iPhone developer Manomio has crafted what appears to be the mother of all mobile Commodore 64 emulators – - the appropriately named Commodore 64 for iPhone – - only to have Apple shut the door, lock it, and turn out the lights. The app, which has been in development over the past year, wasn’t rejected because it’s unlicensed; quite the contrary, Manomio got official support from the Commodore rights holders. The reason?
…it violates the iPhone SDK Agreement; “3.3.2 An Application may not itself install or launch other executable code by any means, including without limitation through the use of a plug-in architecture, calling other frameworks, other APIs or otherwise. No interpreted code may be downloaded and used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple’s Published APIs and built-in interpreter(s).”
If you have the burning desire to cry bullocks, we fully support your outburst. Check out what we’re missing:
- Full speed, Commodore 64 emulator
- SID sound emulation
- Auto-save, to continue exactly where you left off
- Realistic joystick and beautifully crafted C64 keyboard
- Portrait and landscape play
- Vertical and fullscreen gaming (with auto-rotate)
- Runs Commodore 64 BASIC
I’m typically not one to get swept up in Web-rage, but the idea of having an excellent, mobile version of one of my favorite 8-bit computers of all time dangling just out of reach fuels my nerd-fire. Granted, we shouldn’t expect anything else more out of a massive corporation; Apple probably sees a full Commodore 64 for iPhone as a sales threat as retro-nerds are continually expanding the C64′s library with free homebrew games and applications (free items in the App Store act as gateway drugs as there are typically paid versions that offer additional features). Plus, Apple wants the games downloadable through the App Store (not through an individual company’s/homebrewer’s site) to keep you coming back.
Unlike the infamous baby-shaking app, I don’t see Apple reversing the decision on this one, although I’d really, really, really hope the online outrage sparks a second look at the approval process. Hopefully, Manomio can make the Apple-friendly tweaks needed to get through the gates, so we can all get to gaming. Until then, check out Commodore 64 for iPhone in action.
[Touch Arcade via Digital Press]
