32 bit apps don't work on Mojave and purchases don't make sense

[Tech198]

Apple to Clean Up App Store, Eliminate Outdated and Non-Functional Apps

Apple today notified developers about some upcoming changes to the App Store, which are designed to make it easier for customers to find high-quality...

www.macrumors.com

Going via the above link, Apple stated removing apps from app store (I reckon 2013 and below) as would be "outdated"

However, it makes no sense in leaving alone "purchased apps" where all Apple is concerned with are "users will freak out if they are not listed only" regardless of whether they actually work or not.. which is kind of a silly approach from Apple's perspective to take.

This tells me Apple has two separate Databases and copies of each, as if the item is removed from the store, why can i still download if they were linked ?

For eg.. allot of games on the App sore my purchase list are from 2013... Doom 3,, Cal of Duty 4 etc...

I haven't tried all of them yet.. but Doom 3 fails on Mojave... it "partially" works (which is probably why Apple treats these different), but fails after the intro screen, so i can only assume similar for others from this era...

Is there any way to get these to run on Mojave? as going by the relevant forums clearly state they will run.. Not Mojave specific, but in relation to Catalina is mentioned "These games will still work if you don't upgrade" etc.. However, i will question that.

 

[ActionableMango]

This tells me Apple has two separate Databases and copies of each, as if the item is removed from the store, why can i still download if they were linked ?

Many times I've had to download something on "computer A" that was really meant for "computer B". It was just more convenient or faster to download it on "computer A".

So maybe you want to download app that isn't compatible with the current computer, but is compatible on some other computer.

 

[Tech198]

Well this is Mac specific version, and i used to be able to play before using Mojave (ie, Yosemite, Elcap etc) not on this Mac but previous Mac's i owned... However since i can no longer access description page i cannot check to see if this app is "Mojave compatible'

When i search "Doom 3" nothing comes up as, so to me, it's removed.

All i get when searching Google is "Doom 3" for PC not Mac., However did ind this:

Doom 3 - Macintosh Repository

The ruins of an ancient Martian civilization have unlocked the secrets to teleportation, and the UAC will stop at nothing to harness this...

www.macintoshrepository.org

It doesn't say specially though.


I assume this it crashes its not, but cannot verify it on Mac app store since i can't get to description to check.

 

[Tech198]

I was on the phone to Apple just now, and since the app is removed from App Store it won't work with Mojave.

I always thought in the same way Apple doesn't list prior-OS's to download that are imcompatible with with current Macs, Apple should have done the same for eveyting else... But i guess not.. There's probably very good reason behind that.

 

[Ritsuka]

You can download apps that were removed from sale in the "Purchased" secant of the App Store. In Mojave or Catalina click on your account name at the left-bottom.

 

[Babygotfont]

iApple screwed these pouch on the server side AppStore crapola

 

[Partron22]

There exist compilers that target multiple processor types.
Why is there no decompiler/recompiler that I can feed my purchased 32 bit Apps into, and have it poop a 64 bit compatible version out the other end?
I bought the App after all, shouldn't this exist as part of my "right to repair"?
I'd be willing to pay for it, even with the full knowledge that it could not possibly work on all Apps.

 

[JoeInMilwaukee]

You would need source code for the 32-bit apps. But even if you had the source code, there's MUCH more involved in going from 32-bit to 64-bit than simply recompiling.

 

[Partron22]

Yes, I know It's a bit complicated. I've written parsers and compilers myself. Decompiling is not that tough. Apps written in multiple languages could pose an interesting problem, but likely not insurmountable.
It's not as if Apps and their internal data stores are randomized structures. It should be doable without source code.

 

[NoBoMac]

Re: decompile/recompile: yes, probably some difficulty, or more to the point, might not work the same in a new 64-bit environment (read: APIs fixed, changed, bugs being exposed), but big issue is licensing. What type of license is the program under, what copyrights in place, etc. Probably getting into lawsuit territory decompiling some other person's code. And especially if re-publishing.

 

[Partron22]

Lawsuit territory for sure. But I think one that needs to be explored.
A minimal 10-15 year lifetime does not seem unreasonable, nor does the creation of tools that give people the right to repair the software they own.

-Likely heresy, I know, but yearly OS updates pull a lot of money out of people's pockets, with AFAICT, minimal payback in useful features.