AppStore Brazil: still no Games!

[Carlos-sz]

First of all, I'm glad to join MacRumors!

I've purchased my first iMac last month and I'm really enjoying my also first Mac experience.

I got now my iPhone 3G, officially released in Brazil.

However, Brazil's AppStore does not have a Games section yet and below some of the reasons I heard (rumors):

1) Piracy concern: does not make sense because all other applications are available and Brazil is not the only country with piracy issues;

2) The game developer restricted the distribution: does not make sense at all... I can't imagine every single developer restricting Brazil... Well, in fact I talked to one game developer and he told me that he allowed his game to all regions;

3) Legal authorization: in Brazil there's no need to get authorization to sell games; there's no censorship; the only restriction is real gamble games (like a real Casino).

And the worse part is that we just don't know the reason, don't know if Games will be available some day and, well, we, that do the right thing since day one (buying a legal iPhone and so on), are totally ignored (I have tried to contact Apple, via feedback, twice).

Maybe someone here can find the answer... Maybe someone from USA can make the difference...

Anyway, I'm loving the iPhone, iMac and MobileMe combination!!

 

[spyker3292]

It seems to always take Apple a bit to release more stuff into different countries. Seems like it would be pretty annoying.... I hope you get games soon!

 

[Samarium]

Well at least you're enjoying your new Mac. Welcome!

 

[hooplehead]

Just for the record, no games in gaming-mad South Korea either. I am an American expat working in Korea and there are no games here either. Quite pissed, actually. So much so, I'm looking to jailbreak now, even though I never would have considered it before.

 

[Carlos-sz]

Thank you Samarium and spyker3292, you're very kind.

Yes hooplehead... I think I don't have to say that I know how you're feeling about it...

The local Apple here in Brazil just told me that all they know is that story about developers not allowing their programs in Brazil... But it's just a lie and I don't even know why Apple would lie in an illogical way... It's just unbelievable that such great company would not care about something like information for their consumers.

I had a chance to talk to another game developer and he told me that every time he asks why a region can't buy his game Apple simply does not reply him... Never. So he just said, like the first one, that he let his game to all regions.

What we have right now is access to some games that were not posted in Games sections like:

- 300 Bowl (Sports)
- Sudoku Party for All (Entertainment - "for all" > interesting...)
- Menzel's Word Search (Entertainment)
- Tactile (Entertainment)
- Memory Match Kids (Education)
- Memory Match (Entertainment - same game but free + ads)

Right now I just think Apple servers are not prepared enough for worldwide purchases and downloads a Games section can cause...

Oh! Dear...

 

[skubish]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

I am sure there is a good reason for this. Apple wants to make as much money as possible. My guess is there are legal or ok licensing issues. For example maybe some other company holds a patent on distributing games wirelessly to a mobile device.

 

[vegetus78]

No Games

Let's spread this, maybe they hear us at .

 

[Alxvasqz12]

is your iphone jailbroken?
i dont know if this would work but if your phone is jailbroken use a location spoofer and say that you are somewhere in the US then make an account for the US store in the app store and download games
i dont know if this would work but it wont hurt to try.

 

[vegetus78]

Use Argentina Store

Just switch to the Argentina store with your same Brazil address but a ZIP code of '9876' for example and you're good to go. The Argentina store performs no validation.

They don't have ALL games, such as id Software games, but at least you'll find Plants vs. Zombies, Angry Birds, CAPCOM Mobile games, etc.

 

[aleni]

Just switch to the Argentina store with your same Brazil address but a ZIP code of '9876' for example and you're good to go. The Argentina store performs no validation.

They don't have ALL games, such as id Software games, but at least you'll find Plants vs. Zombies, Angry Birds, CAPCOM Mobile games, etc.

is apple not allowing us to buy at store which is in another country? if you are recommending that suggestion, then why don't just buy at the US store since it's the real deal. thats what i do, i created a fake US account to buy at the US store, but please buy the real gift card, not the one that sold cheap in ebay or you will get your account disabled soon enough.

 

[kultschar]

Just setup a fake USA address in the US store (no credit card needed). Buy gift vouchers off eBay (they email the code), redeem in itunes - done!

This is what I do

 

[aleni]

Just setup a fake USA address in the US store (no credit card needed). Buy gift vouchers off eBay (they email the code), redeem in itunes - done!

This is what I do

i've been doing that for a year, but i never bought a cheap gift card off ebay, becaause my friend did that and his account got disabled a week later, all the apps can't be updated anymore. beware of cheap gift cards on ebay because it's bought using stolen credit card.

i always bought the giftcards from. pcgamesupply, it's legal but it's a bit
pricey, like u have to pay $3-5$ more dollars of the gift card value, like $23 for a $20 gift card.

 

[kultschar]

i've been doing that for a year, but i never bought a cheap gift card off ebay, becaause my friend did that and his account got disabled a week later, all the apps can't be updated anymore. beware of cheap gift cards on ebay because it's bought using stolen credit card.

i always bought the giftcards from. pcgamesupply, it's legal but it's a bit
pricey, like u have to pay $3-5$ more dollars of the gift card value, like $23 for a $20 gift card.

Ive been doing it for 6 years. Just buy from a reputable seller

 

[HairyPotter]

First of all, I'm glad to join MacRumors!

I've purchased my first iMac last month and I'm really enjoying my also first Mac experience.

I got now my iPhone 3G, officially released in Brazil.

However, Brazil's AppStore does not have a Games section yet and below some of the reasons I heard (rumors):

1) Piracy concern: does not make sense because all other applications are available and Brazil is not the only country with piracy issues;

2) The game developer restricted the distribution: does not make sense at all... I can't imagine every single developer restricting Brazil... Well, in fact I talked to one game developer and he told me that he allowed his game to all regions;

3) Legal authorization: in Brazil there's no need to get authorization to sell games; there's no censorship; the only restriction is real gamble games (like a real Casino).

And the worse part is that we just don't know the reason, don't know if Games will be available some day and, well, we, that do the right thing since day one (buying a legal iPhone and so on), are totally ignored (I have tried to contact Apple, via feedback, twice).

Maybe someone here can find the answer... Maybe someone from USA can make the difference...

Anyway, I'm loving the iPhone, iMac and MobileMe combination!!

Do you think Apple is crazy to lose revenue in games? As far as I know, there's a brazilian law in place that forces the publisher of any games to fill a form describing the game, the purposes of the game, the market and if the game involves money or not. After filling this form and waiting a few months, the government decides if you can or cannot publish a game in the brazilian market.

This is more true for those games involving game currencies or buying stuff inside games.

Now imagine Apple filling forms for the developers, waiting months and paying duties in order to have a game published on Appstore.

It is easier to disable all games in Brazil. The only thing that have to change here is the brazilian laws about games.