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Friday, February 29, 2008
Thanks to everyone for testing out the early versions of iBlackjack. Your insightful feedback, encouragement and generosity has helped me create a great game. Since all efforts are now focused on making iBlackjack a great commercial game developed under the official iPhone SDK, we had to deactivate the old unsupported versions.
By now I was hoping to know more about when the final version of the game would be available. We originally planned to get it out ASAP in March, but are at the mercy of Apple and their SDK timelines. Since we wont know details of that until late next week, I will have to provide updated details and a date at a later date.
For the past two months I have spent all my time working on improving iBlackjack. Lots of effort has gone into creating a great new polished game. A game that really reflects well of the iPhone/iPod Touch platform. I think it looks great now and I can't wait to get it into everyone's hands ASAP. Until then, here is a screenshots of the game as it stands today.
I can also tell you, the amount of flexibility of game options and variations has more than doubled since the last public version. You blackjack aficionados are in for a real treat! I'll save those option details for another update.
Feel free to send me feedback in the comments below, I'd like to know what you think and what you'd like to see in the final game. And thanks again for the great support, it's been much appreciated and will not be forgotten.
Patrick McCarron
iBlackjack Development Lead
95 Comments:
first of all I am so appreciate to you to make such interest game and give me so happy time to enjoy it.and I would like to say will you open a Chinese version because I am a Chinese with no bad English but most Chinese people do not know English well so thank you
6:44 PM
I like the game. I am Chinese. Black jack is very popular game in china(we call it 21 points).if I could play real money in the iPhone,I like to try very much.
10:18 PM
wrbxtphThis probably my daily saviou...when will the new verion be avalible for down load ?
awsome game and have made my dontaion...good work.
11:34 PM
when will it be out? Can't wait... :p
1:21 AM
guy me iblackjack alpha expired.. any idea what we can do since you're only in dev on a real ask version now ?:(
1:27 AM
Are you going to be able to split in the next version? And when are you releasing the update? I can't live without it in my iphone
5:17 AM
iBlackjack is really an awesome game n its d only game i can play for hours n hours in ma iPhone. Please add the split tab inthe next version n get it to us asap.
7:39 AM
I'm guessing it won't be free anymore. It was a great game - it's too bad it had to "expire".
I wasn't aware that it was a trial version only.
11:45 AM
Very good game in iPhone! This is the only game I play a lot with my iPhone. Keep up the good work, I be waiting for your new Ver.
12:38 PM
Discontinuing the version before a 1.0 is released was a severe disappointment. Even if it became a commercial app I would have bought the new version. But now I have nothing. overall this is the most polished game on the iPhone and I feel sad at such an abrupt ending.
12:43 PM
It is a great game, and I wish you luck. However, not disclosing that this app was trialware was rather bad form. I think you could have handled the transition to a commercial app better, and you now risk alienating all those who help you test earlier versions.
4:35 PM
What I fail to comprehend is why couldn't you leave the trial version of the game until you released the 1.0 version. You left us with no available options and seeking another game that might become our favorite. I just don't get it.
5:50 PM
Wish you would have told us that this was crippleware. You could have at least allowed us to keep playing the awesome game until you could release the final version. Not only bad form but sneaky and leaves us with the feeling of being used!
Already deleted from phone.
6:49 PM
this is soooooo weve been played,used,and then dropped by the McCarrons.....why did u do this to your loyale Fans of your game....why do this to us....why???
8:13 PM
I also thought that iblackjack was a great game and the only one I played on the iPhone. But what the heck is the story on "deactivating" the program?? Especially when the replacement is not even ready. That is whack. If I like the alpha version, why should someone be able to deactivate it? Its not like there is something to replace it.
9:11 PM
me parece un exelente juego entretenido y divertido me gusto mucho, saludos
9:12 PM
the author of this game suck, tricked us user to update to disable it. What the heck is he thinking? Trying claim apple for that too? F*ck that. If you wanna make $ make it from new user. I will never buy this now
9:44 PM
Thanks..... Wow a lot of people who painfully
couldnt go a short while with out black jack
on phone. Loved it..Will buy it when done
10:44 PM
Apple has probably approached Patrick wanting this to be one of the first apps made available for download through apple for a regular non Jail-broken iPhone/iPod Touch. As part of the agreement they might have asked him to disable the one through the Installer.app
11:49 PM
hard too stop
1:37 AM
Guys.. you are a bunch of whining bitches. Good game and thanks for the free plays all along. Used? All of you got months of free gaming, and this guy has worked very very hard, obviously. Fuck the lot of you! Worthless unempathetic assholes. That's how I feel.
3:03 AM
why?!
If the new version not ready why we have to stop playing.
I can't purchase the new version because its not available yet.
I'm a marketing strategies consultant and its not a right move to do.
4:31 AM
i too was one of iBlackjacks loyal fans & supporters... It is a great dissappointment, not to see the game vanish from my iPhone, but vanish so abruptly and without warning. This was one of the first games I installed and clearly the game that i played the most... I too feel that its sudden disappearance should have been handled much more professionally... I hope this isnt a sign of future behavior to come from other iPhone app developers
8:02 AM
hey thanks for all that free gaming.
but I don't understand why would you leave us with nothing until the next new version comes out?
and thanks for all the kindness and support of making such a addictive game.
It kills time alot!
You should make this also a game where you bet real money :p
8:28 AM
ciao my name is massimo I'm very
happy for you good job
11:30 AM
I agree that this was not handled very professionally. Seems like somebody sold out to Apple. I'm about to delete it, would never pay a cent for it, and honestly won't miss it that much anyways. Good luck!
3:27 PM
Damn that sucks! You lost another " customer"...
4:08 PM
I love this game!!! I will definitely be looking on Itunes to purchase 1.0.
12:21 AM
whoever is handling your marketing has a tremendous and vast quantity of alienated brain cells. Time to get some real marketing guidance or switch firms. You made a multitude of blunders that could have been avoided by studying some simple marketing books and reviewing historical past disasters, which caused product failure and the eventual demise of the related companies. Use your brain! There are still actions you can take to save this.
12:53 AM
What a great game it was, in my opinion your preview shots look like crap. It's like you went down a few versions.
Even if this game appears on iTunes, you're not getting a cent from me. Now im going to have to find an earlier version, and I encourage other to do so.
1:47 AM
Yeah, pulling the plug on the older versions is rude and borderline evil, especially when none of us had any idea you would do such a thing. What a way to thank those of us who've apparently been beta testing it for you.
What a frustrating experience to click the icon and find it demanding I update to v1.0 which not only doesn't exist and will be a pay product, but also prevents me from playing the existing beta iBlackJack.
So now we find out it's going to be commercial software. Ugh. What a shame. Was a good game while it was free and beta.
11:12 AM
Mate, that is crap! You can't call us beta testers when we donated to play it. We were all tricked and cheated in the end. Handled completely unprofessionally and rudely.
11:46 AM
you fucking ass clown !!! How are you gonna make the best game for my Ipod Touch and then make it suddenly stop working. You fuck head ! I guess a thank you is in order. Can't wait to see the full version. Asshole :)
- Ackshun
www.asonofjack.com
6:38 PM
Well, if and when 1.1.4 gets JB so that people have the option to have both the apps from iTunes and the apps from free, third party repos out there, then I MIGHT think about of buying blackjack back because it really was one of the best out there while it was free... Sorry, but I the fact that I have to pay for what was once free kinda ticks me. Also, I hate how apple is constantly trying to get more money out of an already expensive product... If I can get it free, then I will... So, if someone develops another game that is like yours and is out in the repos, I'd get that rather than have to pay... Unless it was dirt cheap on iTunes, which is HIGHLY unlikely...
Too bad... At least have comfort that my friend would buy it for his touch since he's updated to 1.1.4 and doesnt see reason to JB...
8:43 PM
there is no Uninstall on my installer!
SHIT...what should i do?
i tried to erase it using WINSCP but i could not find the exact paste...
anyone?
thanks
9:45 PM
We loved you before, but this is just pure evil man, coming from you. Tricking us into believing there was a new update then locking our version. You get your money you son of a bitch, but I'll say that you lost all that support and good reputation you built up. Time to start giving our gratitude to sean, who actually cared more about us...
12:36 AM
Poor form mate. Regardless of any selling of the app to anyone else, just pulling the app from use, is a bizarre and baffling decision, esp with NO NOTICE.
I'm glad I did not donate, and I certainly will not be purchasing any 1.0 release, no matter how good it is, just from principle.
The only possible way you could repair SOME of the damage and bad-will the recent events have created, would be to offer those who did donate a "free" upgrade to the 1.0 version... If not, then I would imagine you've lost most of your most valuable and (previously) supportive Tier #1 users.
You should use some of your money to hire someone with even half a clue about marketing and PR.
Thanks for the GREAT game while it lasted. Sorry it had to end this way.
4:16 AM
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
9:17 AM
To Fernando:
You should just be able to remove the directory:
/Applications/iBlackjack.app/ via SCP
As to those 60 people who donated, you know who you are, and you will be taken care of. We just can't reveal how yet due to the unknowns of the SDK situation. By week-end we should know more.
Thanks again for understanding and stay tuned for more information!
9:28 AM
I think he sold out to apple not getting one cent out of me and I feel bad cause I donated . Hell now I am not gonna recommend or install any thing u come out with , and I sell and jail brsek iPhones . U going down
11:06 PM
Wait, so I donated money because I liked playing your game, but it turns out I was paying you to beta test a game you're now going to charge money for, AND you've disabled my current copy of the game? What was that "donate" link doing on your page, man?
Poor f*cking form.
2:17 AM
ok
2:43 AM
Patrick, I have to say that what you did was absolutely horrible. I understand that you spent time developing this game and as a result we have no right to complain for something which we got for free - yes fair enough. My issue however is with the way you went about doing what you did. Basically you lied to us. You made us believe we were updating to 5.2 when infact all the "update" ever did was cripple our 5.1 version. In addition to this, you left us hanging without a version of iBlackjack to play, even though at the time of writing, Apple still have not released their SDK. Even if they did release it, it would still take time for you to sort iBlackjack through the SDK process, get it approved by Apple and get it into iTunes for sale. So with this in mind, why were you so quick to disable it and leave so many people without a chance to play it? At least disabled it once Apple release your 1.0 version in the iTunes store.
At no time did you ever tell us that it would be for a limited period and never did you say that the application would go commercial. The bottom line is what you did was pretty rude and dishonest and as a result you have alienated and angered many people who have followed you from day one. What you did was the text book example of how NOT to piss of potential customers! It is really sad to see such a bad end to a game that gave many people so much joy. Even if I liked iBlackjack enough to pay for it - I wouldn't now, simply because of the way you handled this matter and angered so many of us. Your developer skills may be good, but your public relations needs serious work. The storm you have created with this has meant some people have put 5.1 back into private repos, which means all you have really done is damage your own reputation.
And I agree with what is said above, from the screenshots - it doesn't look better than the alpha version. You've taken a step back.
10:51 AM
this is the only game that i have on my iphone
I wouldn't mind donating for such great game
7:27 PM
Return all donations. Just go ahead and do it.
People donate to support those who spend time providing them with a wonderful service asking nothing in return (like developping a wonderful, free, game). EA is developping some new game, isn't making anything from it yet, but they intend to. People don't make donations to EA, and wouldn't have made them to you had you been honest with them.
You've joined EA in the ranks of commercial iPhone app developpers, and should be held to the same standards (like not commiting fraud).
10:39 PM
I feel cheated! So much unselfish developers done so much great stuffs for the community just like you initially. Now, you betrayed everyones' trust and lock the game by tricking everyone to update it. What have you got to say? Just because you are not getting enough donations? I might be poor but I still donate within my means to those great applications which I'd used. Not all at a time but bit by bit cos I need to save. One example is Steve who created tons of stuffs! You only created one game and now you wanted to suck the juice out of it! What about those unselfish developers? Please wake up from your mistake. My comments to you are very frank and if it offended u, sorry. One thing for sure, I'm not going to buy it but will DEFINITELY wait for others to crack it and I'll install it. If this game is not going commercial, you'll definitely going to get my donations! But just too bad, not a cent to you and apple!
11:50 AM
Think about it and put yourself in our shoes. You created this game for everyone to use initially. But out of a sudden, it had been crippled. The feeling is just like you came back home one day and find that all your valuables gone! What would u do if u had use an application for sometime, love it so much and out of a sudden, you found out that it's no longer available for you to use in your iPod touch or iPhone?
If u had no intention to share it, then don't upload it in the community source in the first place. Wake up dude, wake up!
12:08 PM
Too bad, deactivated versions and now for paid...
well, powerful lord Mr. Money.
Donation and now only for paid :P
too bad
2:35 PM
OK, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS YOU WILL HAVE TO BE WITHOUT iBLACKJACK UNTIL JUNE WHEN APPLE RELEASES FW 2.O AND WHICH WILL COST MONEY FOR IPOD TOUCH USERS. SO IM NOT SURE WHY YOU WANT US TO WAIT 3 MONTHS TO USE YOUR APPLICATION WHEN YOU COULD MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO US RIGHT NOW? IF EVERYONE AGREES WITH ME PLEASE STATE SO, THEN M-A-Y-B-E PATRICK WILL GAIN HIS COMMON SENSE BACK AND NOT BE SO UNPROFESSIONAL.
8:38 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
8:38 PM
OK, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS YOU WILL HAVE TO BE WITHOUT iBLACKJACK UNTIL JUNE WHEN APPLE RELEASES FW 2.O AND WHICH WILL COST MONEY FOR IPOD TOUCH USERS. SO IM NOT SURE WHY YOU WANT US TO WAIT 3 MONTHS TO USE YOUR APPLICATION WHEN YOU COULD MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO US RIGHT NOW? IF EVERYONE AGREES WITH ME PLEASE STATE SO, THEN M-A-Y-B-E PATRICK WILL GAIN HIS COMMON SENSE BACK AND NOT BE SO UNPROFESSIONAL.
8:39 PM
Hi Patrick,
I wanted to install the iblackjack 1.0, but after added your sources "http://patrickmccarron.com/irepo/" & "http://www.patrickmccarron.com/iphone/repo" to my installer, I still can't find the "iblackjack 1.0", please help!!!
9:09 PM
Your SW was very good and actually the only game other than solitare that I'd play on the touch. How can we donate? If we donate, will we get 1.0 or have to pay again? Any idea when 1.0 will be ready?
It would have been nice to let people know that the alpha version was going to expire...
6:53 AM
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
3:01 PM
Thanks for making everyone eagerly wait for the splitting feature only to screw us all over. Gee isn't splitting an essential part of Blackjack? You should implemented it LONG ago so it's a real BJ game. Anyways I was checking for updates every day until I found out you destroyed the app and didn't inform ANYONE that you'd be doing such a low down dirty handed move that you did. A popup message upon first install saying that this is only a demo would have been nice, but hey why not just throw courtesy, manngers, and ethics right out the door? Nice approach. I'm sure it will serve your failure in business well.
8:59 AM
First for "free" and then "commercial" good luck.... You lose this game....
7:52 PM
Thanks for luring me with you update that destroys a GNU free license game from my iphone. Hope you have changed the hole code for this new version, once you have released it as GNU and cannot commercialize it.
4:32 PM
you made everyone think it was free and now you want to make it comercial... You blew it dude! I'm not buying it!
8:13 PM
Surprise, an Irish backstabber.
12:31 PM
Dick move. You should probably take the advice of so many here and find some half decent marketing advice.
Epic fail.
1:52 PM
Murilo is right, you need to release the source code under the GNU GPL.
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html
please see clause 3, #a
"You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange;
you are in clear violation of your own licence.
4:19 PM
To those commenting about the GNU license. Sorry for any confusing the Google Code page but it's inaccurate, the Google Code page was used simply to maintain bug reporting nothing more.
For those still waiting a updates. Stay tuned for news soon, we're still trying to work some things out.
4:25 PM
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
7:48 AM
google inaccurate? Um... Does anyone else see something wrong here????
1:50 PM
You cannot use google code site for commercial applications. If so, you breached their TOS.
Furthermore I see on the website clearly states:
License: GNU General Public License v2
(have a screenshot just in case the site disapears).
You can be sure this will be brought up when your app goes commercial.
What you did is just not cool. Not at all.
3:17 PM
I agree with Robert, very uncool. even if a free version is available I will not put on my iphone.
6:14 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
3:24 AM
anyway I will remove this app from my iphone. Is no big deal for me stop to playing this little game in my iphone....to all iphone user...there have so many Nintendo's game d/l for free such like Mario / PacMac / 1943...etc ..just install the NES application then d/l those file and use scp send to ur iphone is much funny than playing this game. I feel surprised need to pay for the game. Shocked.
3:31 AM
no one will pay for an app you released for free then fooled us all into losing. You need to learn a thing or two about business. Had you handled this with more tact I can gaurantee you would have made more money for such a likeable app. What are you planning to do for all the people that already donated?
4:39 PM
heyy, loved the iblackjack.. when will the new one come out?? please release it soon, cause I just can't live without that game! Anyway I'll probably forget to check back on here so can you please send me an email to:
d-tricks47@hotmail.com, thanks :)
2:22 AM
I came here to see if I could find out what was going on with the game since it had expired some time ago.
I'm speechless.
Frankly, I find it a bit unethical that someone would publish software, ask for donations, and then disable said software.
Thankfully, I didn't donate. I realized early on that the software was "alpha" and clearly was going to be commercial. I WAS planning on purchasing a copy, but after reading what's happened here, there's absolutely no way I'm going to now.
Seriously... what's to say you won't disable the game after we've purchased?
3:26 AM
Sheesh guys, I donated, too, and sure I'm gonna miss the game until the "official" version comes out, but I think you're being rather harsh on Patrick. I don't know about the rest of you, but I DONATED toward the development of quality applications for my iPhone (did you catch that Steve Jobs? MY iPhone, not yours), and Patrick continues to work on giving us just that. Development takes time and money, and I doubt very much that any if us who are posting comments here could accomplish what Patrick has. He deserves our kudos, and our patience.
12:19 AM
I was an early donor and also spent a fair amount of time beta testing this. I can understand making the app expiring and always expected this to become a commercial venture.
However, the absence of a roadmap and any real communication about the plan is frustrating, and makes users (especially donors) feel duped and abandoned.
A better course would be to re-release the old version until the App Store is active and change the expiration date until June or July. Presumably there will be some kind of demo mode available on the commercial version. It would be a show of good faith to release that to the donors and testers prior to the Store.
2:16 PM
Hey, isn't it great all those whinny little moochers. They get it free for months, then bitch about the game getting better in the future. By far the best game on iPhone EVER! Keep up the good work. I'll buy it later. And all you cry-babies, make sure you read all posts before posting a duplicate question, or a stupid question, or both.
6:32 PM
After playing with a non-expiring version off Google Code, I don't think I will be buying this when it officially goes on sale. The dealer is WAY to difficult to beat even when playing basic strategy. I've had better luck at the blackjack tables in Vegas than in this game. What's up with that?
5:58 PM
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
Very lame pat, very lame. Hopefully people will just distribute this cause it was freeware.
3:16 AM
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
Very lame pat, very lame. Hopefully people will just distribute this cause it was freeware.
3:16 AM
I had your blackjack on my cell.. but suddenly it disappeared..
what do I do to get it back
what is the website i put in the installer resources
is ther eanyother way of putting the game
i have 1.1.3
4:05 AM
hey patrick! I just want to thank you for the opportunity to play a small role in helping you polish this game. you sacrificed long hours to get this game from one that one reviewer said was the best example of everything wrong with the platform to one that has such a strong following that they have become violent without it. I know it will all pay off soon.
To all of those who so rashly turn on him:
You cannot possibly think you can know all that is involved. Be grateful that you could play for free for so long. Realize that he will work hard and fast to resolve this within the constraints he must work just as he always did to resolve bugs or bring requested features. Have faith that he shut down the application in the manner he was required to. There must be numerous forces outside his control and we should offer him encouragement as he rushes to that moment when he can finally earn something from all his hard work.
Patrick:
Thanks again for all your hard work. I will be waiting patiently to see all that you have accomplished since the last free release.
Aaron H
12:51 PM
The ethics are the issue. Free or pay doesn't matter to me except getting free testing that he couldn't have gotten and wouldn't be where he is today without and then deactivating and charging is ethically wrong.
11:20 PM
well capitalism it is! And i dont blame u for tryin make some $$$ out of your work, but u got realize this game has become an every day habit for most of the people who are playing it, and u cant just take that away from them without any warning or immediate replacement and then finally come back in a month or so and try to charge them for it!!! Considering all the available free games and how u ve dealt with the issue regardless of your arrangements with apple, your concept is a failure! So good luck with all the angry people...if i was u, i would be already workin on a new application knowing this is a death end! Try pocker for example, i m sure that would work
1:05 AM
I like this game.
4:28 AM
I like this game
4:29 AM
I like this game.
4:30 AM
This game was fantastic, and Thank You for releasing it for free.
However, you originally did release this under GNU Public Licence. You made a post on MacRumors to that effect on August 30, 2007 as shown below:
:Native iBlackjack for iPhone
I have begun to port my web-based AJAX Blackjack game to the iPhone. The source will be open soon, just needs to be cleaned up.
http://code.google.com/p/iphoneblackjack/
It should be available via installer.app soon, just waiting for Ste to package it up for me.
I should have a few bugs fixed this weekend and soon a betting system in place along with more of the standard blackjack rules related to the bank."
So, please, don't lie and tell us that it was never meant to be on Google Code, and that it was never open. Because there it is in your own words.
It is unfortunate that you have decided to not support the unofficial releases. It really kind of feels like you are selling out. You never did make mention that this was trial software, and that you would be making the commercial move.
Well, I can tell you, that when Apple does finally decide to release the SDK, I will choose not to support you based on these actions.
SHAME ON YOU! Seriosuly. Very disappointing.
8:55 AM
Here is the original thread where Patrick introduced iBlackjack for FREE, detailed that it would be open source, and more fun facts!
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=348269
9:02 AM
Ouch
3:31 PM
HOW DO I DOWNLOAD THIS GAME ON MY iPHONE...
CAN YOU TELL ME.. DHARMESH0506@GMAIL.COM
1:46 AM
how can i download this game.
can you please help me?
amiswaps@gmail.com
5:01 AM
FULL DISCLOSURE: I've known Patrick for around 7-8 years now. I've gotten drunk with him, but I've also had no problem letting Patrick know when I thought he was being a fuck-up. I call shit as I see it, sometimes in a "less than polite" way. We've definitely had our differences. Sometimes I think he's a fucking know-it-all and wish he'd shut the fuck up. I also know if there was something I wanted to learn more about, I'd seek him out, because, well, sometimes he does know it all. There's also something about him I do know: it's not in his blood to intentionally screw people for his own personal gain.
To recap the story so far:
Dude codes game not legit for iPhone, releases game to wild. Posts code.
People get unlegit game onto their iPhones using another unlegit app, play cool game for free, volunteer bug info and suggestions.
Dude thanks all for help.
Cool game gets attention in press.
Dude asked to work for some company but give up control of game and code.
Dude accepts offer and chance to code other cool things.
Beta versions of game disabled.
70 or so whiny douchebags complain on blog.
Acquaintance of Patrick's reads whiny douchebag complaints, replies to douchebags' complaints in following screed...
Dear Whiny-assed, self-absorbed, useless fucking douchebags who are whining about how Patrick screwed all of you,
I am really sorry your pathetic lives have taken a turn for the worse with the loss of a FREE VIDEO GAME for your personal pathetic pleasure!!!
iBlackjack was developed and released for free by Patrick, but was not (and still is not) an approved iPhone third-party application. To load this unapproved, third-party iPhone application on your darling iPhone. you, the precious iPhone owner, had to use *another* Third-Party app (Jailbreak), also unapproved by Apple, to load iBlackjack, a free, unapproved by Apple, third party application onto said iPhone.
Test: If after reading the prior paragraph you snarl all indignant-like "Yeah, so???", you're definitely a douchebag. Just thought I'd let you know. How big a douchebag? You own a ~$400 gadget no one in their right fucking mind really needs. It's a fucking toy. But you think you're *entitled* to this game on your needless gadget. Bonus points: If your mommy and/or daddy bought an iPhone for you and you think you *deserved* it from them, then your a *selfish* douchebag.
So after releasing the code and application to all y'all, some of you decide to help him out and report bugs. Guess what that made you once you reported a bug? We in the IT biz call you a TESTER! You got to test a free game. Yes, you helped out with the development of the game with your bug contributions and suggestions. Kudos to you. Last I looked, Patrick, in his blog, expressed many a great thanks to you people. Last I checked though, no one held a gun to your heads. You did it on your own. You *volunteered*. When you volunteer for something (Habitat For Humanity, dangerous Navy S.E.A.L. op behind enemy lines, playing wingman/wingwoman(?) for a bud when the "friend" is absolutely hideous, etc.) most people go in full well knowing they may *never* see any recognition for their hard work. Their reward is their own personal self-satisfaction for a job well done. In this case, you volunteered to test a FUCKING VIDEO GAME. Kee-rist, the way some of you are reacting, you'da thunk y'all took a bullet for Jessica Alba so she could make the next Fantastic Four movie for your geek viewing pleasure ("Maybe we'll get to see her entire bare ass this time!!!" Aside: I hope they do too. A nice bush shot would also be nice (landing strip? heart-shaped? bald eagle?), but I think that's asking for a bit much.).
"Yeah, but, he said it would be free!! He released it on Google Code! He PROMISED!!!" Oh jeez YES!!! THAT'S what Patrick set out to do when he started this whole thing: keep a bunch of useless whining bitches happy!!! News flash: life ain't fair and TANSTAAFL. My old man promised to take me minature golfing once when I was 10. Instead, he got drunk and passed out in his favorite chair for the afternoon. Maybe growing up in a dysfunctional family like mine prepared me better for life's harsher realities than most, so sorry if I say STFU and get over it. YOU GOT TO PLAY A COOL GAME FOR FREE BEFORE ANYONE ELSE DID. Nothing lasts forever. I wish it did, because then I'd still be single and nailing a redhead with huge cans who liked chicks, but that's another story for another time...
Back on topic... let's face it, a game this good had to be noticed by someone who thought "We could make a mint off this thing!" I wouldn't doubt maybe that thought entered Patrick's mind every now and then as well. And that happened, the part of it getting noticed, that is. I'd be willing to bet a nice pile of money was thrown at him by the software company, but part of the deal was they take ownership of the code and they license it, and part of their licensing, not Patrick's, was to disable all the free versions. So now Patrick has two options:
1) Take the job and the pile of money and give up control of the game, but now his game will be considered legit by Apple for iPhone. And if the game is popular enough, this could lead to bigger and better things for him (This is called forward-looking thinking.).
2) Keep the game free, the code open source, hoping no one would try to steal the code, make it their own and then sell it. How many of you would pony up for Patrick's legal fees that he'd run up taking said code thief to court to recoup his losses/damages? Huh? And how long would the lawsuit take? Meanwhile, how much money would they code thieves make with HIS CODE? But a bunch of whiny, freeloading douchebags would be happy! *Sigh!*
Patrick opted for #1. Most people would opt for #1. And I'm willing to bet a few beers some of the whiners here would also, if in Patrick's position, would also opt for #1. For those of you who'd opt for #2, you are either altruistic or stupid/naive/ignorant/lying to yourself. I admire and respect you altruistic ones. You at least have a code by which you live. You most likely adhere to a set of morals which might be RMS-like in nature. You probably donate some of your free time writing Linux source code. You are looking at things from the perspective of what's good for the *community,* and Lord knows we could use more of that overall in this world. The second set will learn some very hard lessons in life, and hopefully learn from them. Those who don't, remember this phrase: "Would you like to Super Size that?"
There was a comment made that is a valid point: what about those who donated actual cash to the cause? Patrick needs to man up and take care of those people in a righteous way. But to quote Patrick "As to those 60 people who donated, you know who you are, and you will be taken care of. We just can't reveal how yet due to the unknowns of the SDK situation." So that has been addressed by Patrick, and he's pretty much a man of his word. Of course, Patrick's definition and a whiny bitch's definition of "being taken care of" will probably greatly vary (free version of the game and cash back vs. "Where's my fucking Ferrari?").
You can't make everybody happy all the time. You had your time to be happy by being able to PLAY A REALLY COOL GAME ON YOUR IPHONE FOR FREE. That time is now over. Suck it up, there's worse things in life. Count yourself really lucky if this is the worst thing to happen to you in a long time. All your attention to this is just fucking stupid and just plain silly.
Wanna put this much passion into an argument and make it useful? Then argue with that same passion for or against something useful, like gun control, animal testing, a woman's right to choose, McCain vs. Hillary vs. Obama. Not something fucking small potatoes like a iPhone game.
In other words GET A FUCKING LIFE, people.
11:45 AM
All I can say is great game and excellent time waster. Please tell apple to get off their ass and approve ur program. Its really missed!! I can't wait for the new version.
JP
6:35 AM
CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO DOWN LOAD THE GAME ON MY IPHONE
12:12 AM
Well i want to start off by saying this is a very well put together game that i enjoy very much it is my favorite on the iphone so Thank You for creating it...but i did have one question. with the release of the 2.0 firmware and the Appstore will it still be a free application or will you be charging a fee to download it ?
7:35 PM
how do i downlad the blackjack
1:07 AM
Just wanted to say thanks, Patrick, and congratulations. I'm glad I didn't upgrade to the offending version, though ;)
I really hope you get some money from every download through the Apple repository because you deserve every penny. I'm a little shocked you sold the game, however, as I would be willing to bet you would have made more keeping the rights to the code and you probably could have delivered an entire suite of card games based on the same code and made a hell of a lot of money. Of course, I understand if you were tired of the project and just wanted to get what you could from it. I'm just betting that whoever you sold the game to will do exactly what I just said, create a bunch of cookie-cutter card games from your code and take it to the bank.
1:59 AM
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