Do we know why the iOS version of LBA 1 is off the app store?

[TheOats]

Hello! It’s been a while since I posted here.

I’m just wondering if the developer has said anything about why the game is not on the app store anymore?

It’s weird to me because it seems to run just fine on modern devises. I just played through it on my M1 iPad without problems at least.

Just curious.

[ChaosFish]

Maybe it went against their new TOS of being a good christian with family values and being an obedient citizen.

[Graxer]

My theory on why it has disappeared (on iOS and Android) is rights issues. For LBA 3 development to begin some rights changed hands and it is a completely new company developing LBA 3. Maybe this change meant that DotEmu no longer has the rights to profit from the franchise.

[Homeless]

Here's a statement on this from Ben (Benoît Limare) of [2.21] on their official Discord:

Originally Posted by Ben

We removed the game from the Android and iOS stores a few days ago as it wasn’t maintain by DotEmu and we didn’t plan to maintain it further. We focus on PC & Consoles. Sorry for the inconvenience

If you ever got LBA from Humble Bundle while it was available you can still get it from there. It's only Android however and is no longer available for purchase. Other than alreayd having bought it there's not many legal options available. Ben also stated the code belongs to DotEmu, which no doubt complicates things.

Originally Posted by ChaosFish

Maybe it went against their new TOS of being a good christian with family values and being an obedient citizen.

That said, I want this to be the real reason.




Oh and here's a key for the new release of LBA 1 on Itch.io, grab it while it's hot: itch.io/get-rSAT99DfwpxJ

[Polaris]

The volatile nature of programs with DRM worries me deeply.

[Neko]

Originally Posted by Polaris

The volatile nature of programs with DRM worries me deeply.

drm?

do re mi?

[Phreak]

The games were pulled by 2.21 as they were nolonger being updated by DotEMU

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by Neko

drm?

do re mi?

Digital Rights Management. Basically what prevents from copying software, ebooks, DVDs, etc. that you bought.
At worse it can cripple your system due to its invasive nature, at worse, it's still a limitation to the use of your rightful property.
You can for example loose access to a game you bought, because it gets removed from the servers, and it's not possible to make any copies

Seriously though, I've been buying all my games from GoG and keeping offline installers on an external drive for a few years now. I also have an installer for Android LBA from Humble Bundle, along with a copy of the files that the game tries to download when you first launch it.

[TheOats]

Ah I see! Thanks for giving me the actual answer

That’s really sad though because it’s such a good game. I actually prefer playing it on my iPad too. The controls are way better than controls on the PC version in my opinion. And the game runs perfectly on newer devices too! The only small issue is that it’s not as wide as the screen in on my iPad Pro, but that does not bother me at all.

[ChaosFish]

Nothing sad about it, they basically just told you it's no longer sold and you can feel free to pirate it, read between the lines

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by TheOats

Ah I see! Thanks for giving me the actual answer

That’s really sad though because it’s such a good game. I actually prefer playing it on my iPad too. The controls are way better than controls on the PC version in my opinion. And the game runs perfectly on newer devices too! The only small issue is that it’s not as wide as the screen in on my iPad Pro, but that does not bother me at all.

Wait, I'm afraid I understood correctly... You bought it, but can't even access it on the store anymore ??

Originally Posted by ChaosFish

Nothing sad about it, they basically just told you it's no longer sold and you can feel free to pirate it, read between the lines

Oh good, let me upload it to the forum then

[Phreak]

I actually asked Ben from 2.21 if we were able to upload the apk file, and he said no because they didn't have permission from DotEMU... but y'know... DotEmu aren't updating it, and 2.21 have no interest in maintaining it, so I doubt anybody will care if it's posted.

[Polaris]

I thought DotEmu went bankrupt a few years ago or something...

*checks*

Huh, website's still here, still lists LBA as buyable from Google play, Apple app store, steam and Amazon app store

[TheOats]

Originally Posted by Polaris

Wait, I'm afraid I understood correctly... You bought it, but can't even access it on the store anymore ??



Oh good, let me upload it to the forum then

Sorry for the late reply, I’m not here very often.

I can access it since I bought it. I just meant that it’s sad that no one else can get it anymore.

[TheOats]

Originally Posted by Polaris

I thought DotEmu went bankrupt a few years ago or something...

*checks*

Huh, website's still here, still lists LBA as buyable from Google play, Apple app store, steam and Amazon app store

Either they took it down in my region only, or that website has not been up dated after the game was taken down.

Edit: yeah when I go to the website and tap on the App Store button, which normally opens the App Store page for the specific app you wanted, I just get a message saying can’t connect to the App Store. It’s what happens with all the apps that are taken down.

[Polaris]

I wonder if it's off the Amazon one as well though...

Originally Posted by TheOats

Sorry for the late reply, I’m not here very often.

I can access it since I bought it. I just meant that it’s sad that no one else can get it anymore.

Oh okay, that makes it somewhat better