It would be theoretically and easily possible, but legally impossible to port the original C version of SimCity released under GPLv3 (called "Micropolis") to the iPad, because of the anti-Tivoization clause, it's a violation of the GPLv3 to put it on the Apple app store.
However there's nothing stopping you from running one of the versions of Micropolis that's been rewritten in JavaScript to run in the web browser (because it's distributed via the web instead of on the App store), or contributing to those projects to make it run well on the iPad.
"something like the iPad" - since an Android tablet is not subject to the same draconian and silly restrictions on installing software, so it would be possible there. It looks like there are a few versions already.
Side note: I went to college with one of the people that ported the original version to the Amiga in the late 80s. He told me the cheat codes, which was handy.
> because of the anti-Tivoization clause, it's a violation of the GPLv3 to put it on the Apple app store
Ah, I always knew there was some anti-Tivoization in there, but didn't really dig into what it truly covered. So in other words, you could have a highly successful iOS app you sell, that you release under the GPLv3, and nobody should be legally allowed to publish it under the official App Store. They could only potentially contribute bug fixes, and licensing their commits back to you sounds a bit like it would need another license from their code.
That kind of sucks that the App Store is not technically compatible, I would of thought due to JailBreaking it would of been technically allowed.
The App Store's incompatibility is by Apple Policy, enforced via digital restrictions management. See the license says that after Apple distributes it to you, they have to permit you to change out libraries and code and still have it be runnable. As this would permit you to run custom code on the iDevice without Apple strictly controlling what computing you are permitted to perform on an iDevice, Apple cannot allow this.
So Apple bans GPLv3, because they do not permit you to do what you want with your device, the device does what Apple wants and permits you to do with it.
”They could only potentially contribute bug fixes, and licensing their commits back to you sounds a bit like it would need another license from their code.”
They could also port it to Android and release it there for free, or even sell it there (while offering all buyers the source code, to comply with the GPL)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tivoization
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/6109/is-it-possibl...
https://github.com/SimHacker/micropolis
However there's nothing stopping you from running one of the versions of Micropolis that's been rewritten in JavaScript to run in the web browser (because it's distributed via the web instead of on the App store), or contributing to those projects to make it run well on the iPad.
http://micropolis.mostka.com/
https://www.graememcc.co.uk/micropolisJS/