New Android permissions with 0.10.1 update?

Syflux

I noticed a lot more permissions were added to published Android APKs with the new update. Many of these seem unnecessary for a simple Gamesalad game and makes your app look a bit malicious.

0.10.1 permissions:
android.permission.INTERNET,
android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE,
android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE,
android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE,
android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE,
android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION,
android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,
android.permission.SEND_SMS,
android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION,
android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE,
android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
android.hardware.location,
android.hardware.location.gps,
android.hardware.location.network,
android.hardware.telephony,
android.hardware.touchscreen,
android.hardware.wifi

In the previous version (0.10.0) only these permissions were required:
android.permission.INTERNET,
android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE,
android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE

So what's the deal here?

Syflux

Bump. I would really like a response on this.

LiquidGameworks

Let's tag @SaladStraightShooter, as this seems to be a legitimate concern.

RacetotheMoon

The best part about this is you have absolutely NO control over these permissions being used, and further more have NO access to any of what's being collected; that all goes straight to GameSalad HQ. It's disingenuous at best, and I honestly fear GS is collecting this data for other purposes..

At the end of the day it's just another reason to move development to another platform.

RacetotheMoon

@uptimistik

As someone who has been working in game development for fifteen years I can tell you that things of this nature don't just magically appear in the code base, they are added/turned on.

GameSalad has had it very much in their power to allow these to be turned on and off by the user, if they chose. They could have also disclosed why they need to turn them on as a blanket function for any Android app that's published using their system, but again even going back to the beginning of the year when Android was added to the docket, they have not. I had to personally add some internet connectivity to my games as both Amazon and Barnes & Noble rejected apps of mine because I was asking for a permission, but had no visible reason for why it was being used.

GameSalad also doesn't have a very good track record when it comes to being open and honest about the how or why they do things. Case and point, the way they've handled PlayHaven reporting and/or allowing users to manage their own relationship with the service has been severely lacking and has been expounded upon by dozens of users.

Ignorance is bliss and all, but please don't think this is a simple oversight.

RacetotheMoon

@StraightSaladShooter

I really don't care to spend time debating with you as it's my right to call out things that to me seem unscrupulous. Just as it's your right to nuke my posts or account from orbit if you so deem it necessary.

In the past I've even been complimentary to you as an individual stating that I feel you do an excellent job keeping malcontents like me at bay. However, your latest post is bordering on bating.. and for that I am sad.

I don't think there's anything wrong with attempting to keep you guys the least bit honest in your practices. Especially as 'oversights' such as these do impact us, the end users, as a whole. There's little that's worse then thinking you're releasing a game only to get kicked back for something you didn't know was an issue, or have no control over why it's there.

Remember, indie devs only get paid by what they release, there's no one above us to ensure we get uniform bi-weekly paychecks. So when week and month long delays happen it severely impacts how we pay rent, buy food, and the other general necessities for life.

As I've stated countless times.. I really wanted nothing but the best for this platform and for GameSalad as a whole, however, I feel my efforts in using this software have been continually rebuffed.. especially seeing as I was the first to find a number of issues with Android publishing over the last year, only to be at first told it's either not an issue, or a problem with with how I'm using your software. Not to mention the time it took to get those answers, and then also to get fixes for the problems that did in fact exist.

I'm not actively using this software anymore, but I do come to read the threads from time to time when I have a moment. I have nothing but the sincerest hope that someday I'll arrive and learn that all my concerns with this software have been fixed.. and that's where I'll leave things.