BizBreak Ventures, LLC Founder Marshall Haas
Washington, DC – A young entrepreneur based in Dallas, TX is furious that his upcoming iPhone app, ‘BizBreak’
The 20 year old creator of the app/contest, Marshall Haas stated “It’s amazing the inconsistencies that Apple is putting in the app approval process. Simple apps where you battle a boss are denied, yet an office environment suicide game is allowed through.”
There are a number of iPhone apps in the app store that feature workplace violence. Many in fact feature blood, and extremely crude subjects. One to highlight is Adult Swim’s 5 Minutes to Kill (Yourself), which focuses on the player having 5 minutes to run around an office environment and use supplies to off themselves. You use staplers, scissors, and even blow dries to cut or electrocute yourself, in the gradual killing of your character -- bloody scenes being common.
Studies have shown that violence in games does not correlate into violent behavior in the player. Prime time TV shows such as The Simpsons often poke fun at the struggles between subordinates and their superiors. Thus, the censorship on the app in promoting violence in the workplace is specific to Apple and in questioning the common sense of players to not know the difference between a game and the real world is an insult on American’s intelligence.
In December 2010 BizBreak iPhone app (bizbreakblog dot com) was named a Finalist in the App Star Awards which recognizes the top up and coming apps to the iPhone phone. Thirty apps are preselected and a distinguished jury, which includes high profile personalities in the technology and social media space such as Michael Arrington of Tech Crunch and Loic Le Meur of Seesmic will pick 3 lucky winners in each category (game, entertainment, utility and other).
Sadly, BizBreak truly has a great cause behind it. The app was going to run alongside a social media campaign dubbed “The Limitless VC Contest”, where half of the app’s profits during the first 60 days would be given to a winning entrepreneur to fund or further their business. On top of the cash, some top entrepreneurs would contribute their time and expertise to the winner in the form of mentoring. Andrew Warner, Cameron Johnson, Mike Michalowicz, and Yanik Silver were all involved as mentors for the winner. The funds would start out at $3,000 contributed by sponsors, and then grow daily, reported by the apps daily sales. The BizBreak team is currently making changes to get the app approved by watering down the context of the app.
Preview the BizBreak Ventures, LLC iphone app:
http://www.youtube.com/
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
