I'd much rather buy 10 games at $0.99 than 1 game at $9.99. The lower the price, the better the chances for more people to buy the game. I think it works better when the price actually fluctuates, and AppShopper does a good job at monitoring the price point. If you realize that that one game you've been eyeing is $1.99 instead of $6.99, you'd probably be compelled to buy it at that price because the price can go up any time.
That said, demand goes up when price goes down. If you keep the price unbelievably low, you might see a higher return on that investment than if you kept the price up at $10.
Make something useful and I'll happily plonk down money for it. I paid for Zagat's, Beejive, Documents To Go, Air Sharing, GV Mobile, CityTransit and Now Playing (among others). I have never regretted buying any of them and felt I got my money's worth from each one.
Of the $100 in apps I've bought over the past year, I've wasted about $5. And the apps that make up the bulk of that $100 have been worth it. I've wasted more money on bad music and bad movies than on bad apps.
For example, Zagat's is $10. So is the book. The app is more portable and user-friendly. Beejive was also $10. It delivers what it promises: universal chat with push notifications with an iChat UI.
Apps are like mousetraps. Build a better one and the world will beat a path to your door.
I'm sure the nice apps are there and more will be made, perhaps it's just that they aren't as visible as they should be. I just wish they separated them a bit more from the average ones (like a premium app store). But that is the problem opening up the app store to people. Of course opening the app store to people isn't totally bad though, but a lot of bad comes with it.
@snoop_dizzle: See there were rumors about that at one point.
I think it just creates more questions then it serves as an answer.
The original rumors was that it was just going to be the established game companies that get in but that seems like BS when you compare whats already in the store. The traditional developers are putting out little more then advertisements for the console or computer version of the game while its the smaller guys really making the waves. Would they eventually get a crack into the "premium" store or would that even end up being a waste?
@tande04 mile island in the sun: Yeah you do have a point. Having a separate app store might cause more issues.
At the very least they should have a top rated (not just a "what's hot" section because crap apps get up there) section and maybe being able to search by rating.
Also, someone needs to make a serious gaming controller attachment that turns the iPhone into a screen with gaming buttons. The touch screen interface is great for $2 "novelty" games like Flight Control but really doesn't work for intense action games.
All you'd need is a well known developer to get the ball rolling. Say if Nintendo made a Mario iKart for example. Some game that already has wide appeal, and nails the execution for the platform. I think lots of people would buy something like that. After that, the field would be a lot more open.
Everyone knows it's the developers that make or break the consoles.
@admoseremic: Like Sonic? or Crash Bandicoot? or Brothers in Arms? or Assassins Creed? or Metal Gear Solid? To a certain extent I think they've shown that you need more then just that.
I agree on one hand. I think that people are willing to pay for quality, its just that the quality isn't there. The flip of it is that when developers at any level see stats like this they've got less incentive to put any effort into it. Just put half the effort in and charge half the price.
So yes I do think that a true "killer app" will gain attention at the same time you've got people downloading a mirror the developer tells them not to download.
@tande04 mile island in the sun: The problem with some of these games is that they are too simplified (in the case of Metal Gear Solid Touch) or are to involving for a simple phone game. They need to keep gameplay in quick bursts to fit the demographic well, which is why games like Flight Control or Peggle do better. I just think the nature of the device will prevent games from being too complex.
@tande04 mile island in the sun: I'm saying developers actually need to take time and develop the games rather than plopping out a piece of crap with a highly recognizable brand on it. Super Monkey ball was cool, but only for like 5 mins. Perhaps Mario iKart was a bad example. Maybe some sort of RPG with easy to use touch controls or something would be a better example.
@The Red Comet: If developers were creative (like they used to be), I don't think it would be much of an issue.
@admoseremic: Right, I knew what you were getting at. I also think that to a certain extent thats what the games I mentioned tried to do. They may not of always worked but I think the major developers have been approaching it from a view point that they are putting out a premium product.
I just think the overall bubble of the app store causes the whole thing without a good answer out there. The big developers have tried (I'm assuming they tried) and they didn't have much luck in the current format. The people putting out the crap are the ones that are having the luck because they can put 10x less work in and still get the same or similar results of the companies putting in 100x the work.
I just don't see the benefit in putting out quality games at this point. I've always thought that a quality "return" system would address some of it but maybe not.
Isn't this the "race to the bottom" they've been talking about for awhile with the app store?
It is a problem. I'm still concerned about one of the rumored solution where the big boys like EA get a "premium" app store of their own. If its open to all I'm fine with it. If you've got to be a major old school publisher it defeats the allure of the app store in some regards. As long as people like subatomic studios, ngmoco :), and the such get a fair shake and the games actually live up to a "premium" price point it could work.
I know there is a lot of people out there with IPhones, but there are also a lot of people out their with Instincts too. I see at least 3 post about the IPhone everyday and the Instinct gets no love. I starting to feel Gizmodo is prejudice.
@iwishiwasjeff: I don't know how much prejudice there is. It seems like iPhone, Blackberry, and G1 are the tech-head phones. I'm not trying to say there are better than the Instinct (though I'm sure there are those that would argue as much), this is still a tech blog with a demographic. It doesn't so much deal with the most popular phone as it does with the techiest tech. Does the instinct improve or better itself in any categories of tech compared to the big three? I'm not being sarcastic, I really don't know.
That said, are there more iPhone articles than most other phones? Sure...you gotta write what you know. The truth of the matter is I wouldn't be able to write an op-ed piece on the instinct because I don't have an opinion on it. Everyones got an opinion on the iPhone, especially people that own one (which I'm sure most of the giz guys do). If something important instinct related comes up (evernote support, cool new feature, whatever), I'm sure they will post on it.
@Azraeus: I have used both the IPhone and the Instinct but as of yet never owned an IPhone. Many of my friends own one and yes there are a lot of cool applications that come along with it, it almost has too much. Obviously the IPhone has more apps. than the Instinct, but I did not buy my phone for the additional apps. I bought i for functionality, bc it had one of the best gps applications out there, and at least with the 2.0, a great way to browse the internet.
If you do not have an opinion on it, then fine. I am not one of those fan boy bashers, I just wish attention was put on more than just the IPhone. You even brought up that there are articles on the Blackberry and G1 and I would say the Instinct is defiantly up to par with them. Regardless, all I see every night before I go to bed, is visions of IPhones dancing through my head. This is do to the fact that one fourth of Gizmodo is made up of it.
I'm actually surprised at the quality of games like Assassin's Creed and Brothers in Arms. Games are getting cheaper and more advanced.
I think as long as there are people to play the games, developers will create them. The more people able to download the games, the cheaper they can be while still being profitable and with the success of the the iPhone, it seems there will be people to play the games for a good long while.
@KronikFpLiOnYkD: Well I think thats what the point is. The profitability is questionable. The developers that aren't in it for a get rich quick purpose are showing some interesting things. The half life of their games, the price ceiling, and the true cost vs benefit.
I think thats part of the problem. The developers that would of brought new innovative things to the store are starting to look at some of these other issues and maybe think twice. Now you could risk being left with the flashlights/fart apps and the "big boys" or the major developers.
@tande04 mile island in the sun: The store and smart phones in general are still relatively young. when they advance and start "catching up" to computers and applications start becoming more then a novelty, you'll notice the "price ceiling" start to rise.
@KronikFpLiOnYkD: Its debatable. I'm starting to think you'll see the iPhone bubble burst before you see that.
I agree in someways that the future is with the smartphone or a similar market but I think that this price ceiling and some of the other data the developers have put out point to the apple store not sustaining the growth that it has now.
I'm not saying the iPhone bubble wont burst (although I own one, I sort of want it to, I much prefer the idea of android), just that until it does, and through the next stage of phone/personal computing, the prices of applications will go up when they can do more then play Paper Toss while waiting inline at the grocery store.
Wowses. I was hoping for a nice feature/price matrix. Not:
Model MAP
LN19B360 $299.99
LN19B361 $299.99
LN19B650 $349.99
LN22B360 $349.99
LN22B460 $399.99
LN22B650 $469.99
[etc]
Inasmuch as I'd like to scroll up and down up and down up and down to figure out what I'm getting for my money, I'll just skip the Samsungs altogether.
Not because of this, but because I don't like their brand in general (bad personal experiences abound).
neat idea, but as already said...camel^3 and other sites already have this one beat. Too bad they got rid of a beneficial use of Comic Life (comes bundled with OS X)
they really should update what they feature. Highlighting VCR's and portable CD players just seems a bit Radio Shack-ish
07/21/09
That said, demand goes up when price goes down. If you keep the price unbelievably low, you might see a higher return on that investment than if you kept the price up at $10.
07/21/09
07/24/09
07/21/09
Of the $100 in apps I've bought over the past year, I've wasted about $5. And the apps that make up the bulk of that $100 have been worth it. I've wasted more money on bad music and bad movies than on bad apps.
For example, Zagat's is $10. So is the book. The app is more portable and user-friendly. Beejive was also $10. It delivers what it promises: universal chat with push notifications with an iChat UI.
Apps are like mousetraps. Build a better one and the world will beat a path to your door.
07/21/09
Really, though, I've got to agree with you. Make it worthwhile, and you'll get people buying it, generally regardless of the price.
07/21/09
07/21/09
07/21/09
This just had me rolling on the ground in tears, it really did. Don't know why.
07/21/09
07/21/09
"midgetsecks.c"
07/21/09
"innocentfunforthefamily.com"
Edited by OMG! Penguins! at 07/21/09 7:01 PM
07/22/09
in all the time i've wasted on the internet, i've never seen someone do that. i dont care if it's unintentional - that was fucking brilliant.
07/28/09
07/21/09
07/21/09
I think it just creates more questions then it serves as an answer.
The original rumors was that it was just going to be the established game companies that get in but that seems like BS when you compare whats already in the store. The traditional developers are putting out little more then advertisements for the console or computer version of the game while its the smaller guys really making the waves. Would they eventually get a crack into the "premium" store or would that even end up being a waste?
07/21/09
At the very least they should have a top rated (not just a "what's hot" section because crap apps get up there) section and maybe being able to search by rating.
07/21/09
07/21/09
Otherwise you have to make it up in volume, and I just read that iPhone sales increased by seven times.
07/21/09
Everyone knows it's the developers that make or break the consoles.
07/21/09
I agree on one hand. I think that people are willing to pay for quality, its just that the quality isn't there. The flip of it is that when developers at any level see stats like this they've got less incentive to put any effort into it. Just put half the effort in and charge half the price.
So yes I do think that a true "killer app" will gain attention at the same time you've got people downloading a mirror the developer tells them not to download.
07/21/09
07/21/09
@The Red Comet: If developers were creative (like they used to be), I don't think it would be much of an issue.
07/21/09
I just think the overall bubble of the app store causes the whole thing without a good answer out there. The big developers have tried (I'm assuming they tried) and they didn't have much luck in the current format. The people putting out the crap are the ones that are having the luck because they can put 10x less work in and still get the same or similar results of the companies putting in 100x the work.
I just don't see the benefit in putting out quality games at this point. I've always thought that a quality "return" system would address some of it but maybe not.
07/21/09
It is a problem. I'm still concerned about one of the rumored solution where the big boys like EA get a "premium" app store of their own. If its open to all I'm fine with it. If you've got to be a major old school publisher it defeats the allure of the app store in some regards. As long as people like subatomic studios, ngmoco :), and the such get a fair shake and the games actually live up to a "premium" price point it could work.
07/21/09
07/21/09
That said, are there more iPhone articles than most other phones? Sure...you gotta write what you know. The truth of the matter is I wouldn't be able to write an op-ed piece on the instinct because I don't have an opinion on it. Everyones got an opinion on the iPhone, especially people that own one (which I'm sure most of the giz guys do). If something important instinct related comes up (evernote support, cool new feature, whatever), I'm sure they will post on it.
07/21/09
If you do not have an opinion on it, then fine. I am not one of those fan boy bashers, I just wish attention was put on more than just the IPhone. You even brought up that there are articles on the Blackberry and G1 and I would say the Instinct is defiantly up to par with them. Regardless, all I see every night before I go to bed, is visions of IPhones dancing through my head. This is do to the fact that one fourth of Gizmodo is made up of it.
I will still never quite you Giz.
07/21/09
I think as long as there are people to play the games, developers will create them. The more people able to download the games, the cheaper they can be while still being profitable and with the success of the the iPhone, it seems there will be people to play the games for a good long while.
07/21/09
I think thats part of the problem. The developers that would of brought new innovative things to the store are starting to look at some of these other issues and maybe think twice. Now you could risk being left with the flashlights/fart apps and the "big boys" or the major developers.
07/21/09
07/21/09
I agree in someways that the future is with the smartphone or a similar market but I think that this price ceiling and some of the other data the developers have put out point to the apple store not sustaining the growth that it has now.
07/21/09
I'm not saying the iPhone bubble wont burst (although I own one, I sort of want it to, I much prefer the idea of android), just that until it does, and through the next stage of phone/personal computing, the prices of applications will go up when they can do more then play Paper Toss while waiting inline at the grocery store.
06/25/09
06/25/09
06/25/09
06/25/09
06/25/09
03/26/09
Model MAP
LN19B360 $299.99
LN19B361 $299.99
LN19B650 $349.99
LN22B360 $349.99
LN22B460 $399.99
LN22B650 $469.99
[etc]
Inasmuch as I'd like to scroll up and down up and down up and down to figure out what I'm getting for my money, I'll just skip the Samsungs altogether.
Not because of this, but because I don't like their brand in general (bad personal experiences abound).
03/16/09
they really should update what they feature. Highlighting VCR's and portable CD players just seems a bit Radio Shack-ish