Introduction:
Apple’s decision to allow game emulators in its App Store has led to the success of the retro game emulator, Delta. Developed by Riley Testut, Delta quickly rose to the top of the App Store charts, but this newfound popularity also brought legal threats from Adobe due to similarities in their logos.
The Evolution of Delta:
Riley Testut’s journey in game emulation began with his experiments in loading games onto graphing calculators. Eventually, he turned his attention to iOS and created the app GBA4iOS, which allowed users to play emulated games on their iPhones without jailbreaking. However, Apple eventually shut down GBA4iOS, leaving a gap in the market.
Apple’s New Stance on Game Emulators:
In April, Apple changed its guidelines to allow game emulators on the App Store. This decision was influenced by regulatory pressure to increase competition and prevent alternative app stores from gaining traction. This change opened up a new market for developers like Testut, who saw an opportunity to launch Delta.
Delta’s Success and Legal Threats:
Delta quickly became the number one app on the App Store, gaining millions of downloads and holding its position for weeks. However, this success also attracted increased scrutiny. Adobe threatened legal action against Delta, claiming that its logo resembled Adobe’s own. Despite the differences between the logos and their respective markets, Delta decided to change its logo to avoid potential legal issues.
Delta’s Response:
After receiving emails from Adobe’s lawyer and Apple, Delta decided to update its logo. The new logo features a broken triangle, similar to the Greek letter delta. While some users suggested alternative designs, Testut plans to update the logo once again in Delta 1.6.
Conclusion:
Apple’s decision to permit game emulators in its App Store has allowed developers like Testut to thrive. However, with success comes increased scrutiny, as seen in the legal threats faced by Delta. Despite the differences between Delta’s logo and Adobe’s logo, the app decided to update its branding to avoid any potential legal issues. As Delta continues to evolve, Testut remains focused on providing users with the best retro gaming experience possible.