Devs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase change
It was just yesterday that Apple announced they would allow free apps to enable in-app purchases, and developers are already jumping on the "get the app for free, buy the content later" business model as quickly as they can. ngmoco came out swinging, as Touch Arcade reports, with both a free intro version of Rolando 2 out for purchase, with later chapters of the game as add-ons. They've also been working on a shooter called Eliminate, and we're now told that title will be free as well, with extra content to buy later. The creators of Urban Rivals, an app that is based on a virtual trading card game, have let us know that they too plan to go the free-with-microtransactions model as soon as their app is released, and though we haven't actually heard from Tapulous, Andrew Lacy told us outright that the only reason Tap Tap Revenge 3 had a 99 cent price tag on it was because of Apple's limitation, so we'll expect that app to go free as soon as it can.
Clearly, there's a drive for this model on the developer side, but the question will be just how much this echoes with consumers -- certainly the "download a trial, buy more later" model has worked well on other platforms, so we can expect it to work here on the App Store as well. But on the other hand, just as when the App Store first opened for business, it's a very "wild west" moment -- everybody and their brother is offering up in-app transactions, and they're all of varying prices and quality.
My guess is that we'll see a few "hits" -- a few free apps that everybody buys content for (Tap Tap Revenge 3 is a good guess; considering that because you know most of those songs, there's much less guessing on what the quality of the transactions will give you). At the same time, there will likely be apps that everyone agrees aren't worth the in-app purchase (it's the old story of "horse armor" when Xbox Live started doing microtransactions). Until we find a good balance, where quality meets price, odds are that it'll be tough for consumers to know just what's worth it, and thus tough for developers to convince them that their content is.
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Analysis / Opinion Gaming Software Odds and ends Freeware Apple Developer iPhone App Store iPod touch
It was just yesterday that Apple announced they would allow free apps to enable in-app purchases, and developers are already jumping on the...
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This only works if all your customers are on 3.0+ (or your app requires 3.0 features). If you want to reach all the Touch users on 2.2.1 you still have to have a Pay and a Lite version. If you have two versions and the lite one has in app purchasing to unlock the Pay features your product differentiation gets messed up.
Sadly, until Apple makes 3.0 free for touch users (most of which are not upgrading) this is of no benefit.
You guys know nothing, absolutely nothing about how the iPhone app store works or else you wouldn't be talking this dribble. I'm korean war veteran and you young punks disgust me with your sass talk. [Comment edited: Please don't shout with all caps.]
October 17 2009 at 10:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMore like The Unofficial iPhone Weblog.
October 17 2009 at 8:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe Unofficial iPhone Weblog That Sometimes Talks About Macs
October 18 2009 at 12:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe Unofficial iPhone Weblog That Posts Semi-frequently About Apple and Loves Steve Jobs Too Much.
TUIWTPSAALSJTM
Boxcar is also free, but I think the price for extra services was raised.
October 17 2009 at 7:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyANY developer that has both ads and micro charges in their games will have the app removed and a bad review on my phone.
God forbid you try and nickel n dime me. I have a jailbroken phone with absolutely 0 pirated games/apps on it. I've probably spent £200 - £300 on apps since I bought it I do know where to find them, and if the majority of developers start doing an XBL, I WILL go looking for them.
I'll pay over the odds to remove adverts from a game / app. I'll pay sweet fvck all for content that should have been in the paid game from the beginning.
This model is great. BUT, I like the lack of ads in TTR3. If TTR3 goes free, it wont bug me that I spent a dollar on it. Its gonna bug me that they are gonna have ads in it again. I would of paid a dollar or two to have TTR2 have no ads. All of my free apps with ads in them...I'd gladly pay a dollar to have a no ads version.
October 17 2009 at 2:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI think it's likely that TTR3 would still be ad free. They wouldn't make any money off the app itself, but I'm sure they'll more than make up for that with their in-app purchases. Especially since dropping the price to free would greatly increase the number of people who download it, thus increasing the chance of in-app purchases occuring.
October 17 2009 at 4:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIn App purchases are great for developers, but bad for consumers. Free apps are no longer free, as developers can simply place an in-app purchase along with the advertisements already plastered all over free apps. When Apple announced that FREE apps will remain completely FREE, I was glad to see they put some thought behind it. After thousands of nagging developers, they caved. It's a sad day.
October 17 2009 at 1:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI couldn't agree more, welcome to the flood of greed driven developers as they nickel and dime their customers to death!
October 17 2009 at 2:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply@David I don't think you can really call iPhone Devs greedy. It is the only gaming platform where games like Tiger Woods and Need For Speed cost $9.99.
@AndreyCo I disagree that this move is bad for consumers. It is bad for cheap/greedy consumers but for consumers who understand that many devs work extremely hard on their applications it is a good move. Devs will offer LITE apps without ads (most probably. I have removed the adds from my in app purchase apps) and they will also probably offer more features in the free version so that the consumer gets an even better 'demo' of the app before purchasing the extra content.
Call me crazy, but I think Apple's motivation was based more in dollar signs than download counts. People are always more likely to throw down cash for something once they've had a chance to try it out.
October 17 2009 at 1:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNightSand has had in-app purchases for weeks. Anyone who jumps on it now is going to have to submit a new binary and wait 2 weeks for Apple to approve it.
October 17 2009 at 1:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyInteresting screenshot. "One Night Stand Glow", eh? I demand that this be 17+ rated immediately!
October 17 2009 at 1:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
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