'Baby Shaker' game pulled from iPhone store after public outcry

Apple Inc. pulled a 99-cent iPhone game called "Baby Shaker" from its iTunes store yesterday after its premise – quiet a crying baby with a vigorous shake – prompted outrage by the public.

According to screen shots posted on several websites across the internet (and some youtube videos), "Baby Shaker" displayed black-and-white line drawings of a baby. The iTunes description included this line: "See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!" Once the iPhone owner finishes shaking the device, the onscreen baby is depicted with large red X's over its eyes....um...what? This is supposed to be some sort of fun game?

Public outcry ensued, with organizations including the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation condemning Apple for approving the game's sale.

The application was designed by Sikalosoft, which also makes a 99-cent "Dice Mosaic" iPhone program that converts digital photos into black and white mosaics made from dice.

Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said "Baby Shaker" went on sale Monday, and confirmed that Apple removed it yesterday. She would not comment on why the program was initially approved for sale nor say how many people downloaded the game. Apple itself screens each iPhone application, a process some prospective iPhone application developers have complained can take weeks or months. Others have said Apple gives little feedback when it accepts or rejects a program.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has rejected apps that let iPhone users throw virtual shoes at President George W. Bush or watch clips from South Park. It has accepted numerous programs that simulate flatulence.

I wasn't able to find the website for Sikalosoft, but I did find an email address for contacting them, What I would urge, is for my readers to do, is contact them and express your disgust over this very stupid game... WHO at the company actually thought designing it was a good idea? WHO at the company gave the go ahead? WHO allowed it to be released? and while you're at it and have your email open, contact Apple, and ask them HOW they could have approved the game for sale on Itunes, when things normally take weeks, sometimes longer to get approved for sale on there...how did this one slip through??