It’s pretty wild to just take a step back and realize how insanely huge mobile has gotten in such a short amount of time. When TouchArcade started back in 2008, we were amused by simple tilt-controlled maze games. Not more than seven years later, and mobile gaming has grown to the point that ads for games are played during the SuperBowl. Well, add the NBA and NHL finals into the mix, as Blizzard just sent over what they’re going to be airing during commercial breaks of each of those series:
Yes, Hearthstone has been around for quite a while now as a Mac/PC/iPad game… But Blizzard seems to be focusing its marketing efforts on the mobile version of the game, which makes sense as basically everyone watching the NBA/NHL Finals likely has a device in their pocket capable of playing the game. Exciting times, these are.
Anyway, keep your eyes peeled for this commercial while the Blackhawks inevitably win the Stanley Cup.
everyone cheats at this game, so it's not much fun
YES! Way too many cheaters. It's so obvious. Whenever I feel like I'm playing a cheater, I pretty much just hand them the easy win, I don't want to waste my time. Why cheat? How is that fun?
I've only played one game where I thought the other player was cheating. Maybe you're just playing people who are good at the game.
I have a great winning record, but some people play words that are very obscure. It's really obvious that they are cheating.
Some people are avid Scrabble players and know those words. The only time I've thought someone was cheating was when they suddenly started playing obscure words once they were losing badly.
I agree that there are far too many cheaters. I have moderately impressive vocabulary but some of the words that get dropped on me are beyond obscure. One bizarre word a game? Sure, I can see that. Every single play? Not a chance. If they want to improve the game there should be a play timer that starts when you start your turn.
I don't consider it cheating. Using tools to help you find words is just a part of the game, and you will surely expand your vocabulary in the process. And no tool can help you choose exactly what word you should play - that's the strategy part.
People who use a computer to find words are certainly cheating. What's the point of playing then? The strategy is simple. The challenge is knowing words which utilize the letters you need to play.
No kidding. nimble quest is a great game but it isn't a game type where people spend constantly for a game currency. Should have at least had a coin doubler (well, just be a paid game). Cap is a great game too, but huge IAP for a social game doesn't work either. If this had a single player mode I would be all over it.
The red gems in NQ are a coin doubler.
Free customisation? I only paid for this yesterday!!
Refunds are easy gotten via ITunes support. Anyone who purchased the 5 Lives Cap item will get upgraded to Infinite Lives at no extra cost.
You guys make great games. You deserve financial success. I hope you are able to implement FTP in a way that can make you some money. Just do like Crossy Road. You'll be millionaires. 😝😝😝
So if I buy 5 extra lives now I'll get the infinite lives?
Also I wish you gave the option to pay extra for more than one customization for those who share the same iTunes account. I'd gladly pay.
And it cost you a buck. No biggie. Think of it as a tip!
I did the same thing and am actually thinking of buying more as I am really enjoying the game!
hey, thanks to the tips you guys gave me I jumped from 0-6 to 15-8 w/l, so, yeah, I'm playing a lot of capitals these days xD I was always trying to build te biggest words and forgetting about the strategy itself xD anyway, thank you, guys =)
I feel like this will die if there is no life regeneration.
Instead of having to wait an hour if you're out of lives you can watch a short video to start a new game.
I don't think I like this model as well--I'd happily pay for customization (I've just been waiting to see how the game shakes out). And making customization "exclusive" made it all the more desirable. Whereas watching a video for a single life turns me off. (Of course, that doesn't necessarily matter, depending on the price for playing without limits.)
It's still a great game, and I have encountered only a single blatant cheater. I look forward to seeing Capitals--and the business model--evolve, and I hope they can fine tune it further. I know getting income from an app is hard, and I understand the need to experiment.
Meanwhile, don't forget Letterpress. It's not at all the same game--you should own both!--but it appeals to me in a similar way.
Thinking out loud--what about a hybrid model?
- Earn 1 game every 30 or 60 minutes. (Ditch the confusing term "lives.")
- Set a cap on how many accumulate, but higher than 3. An extra "perk" to be inviting to people who have not been playing and then return. Maybe 5 or 6 cap. (No IAP to get a slightly-higher the cap: it fights with the "infinite" option in the buyer's mind.)
- Watch an ad for one more game any time.
- Pay once for infinite games.
- Pay for customization (that seems like the perfect thing to NOT be free). Or at least, limit customization: give people a choice of icon, but ONLY give colors to those who pay.
That seems a lot harder to explain to someone than "watch a video or buy more lives when you run out" :)
True - but they wouldn't have to explain it "the long way" to the user: the timer countdown would show what it already does, and add a new button to watch a video. The other Shop stuff could remain as it is.
Free customization? It was only .99¢. With only three lives I still had about 20+ games always going at once. I don't understand what the complaints were about?? How is it supposed to make money?
It's sad that the two Nimblebit games I like are the two that make the least money.
But then again neither game made me feel like I needed to spend any money.
I'm not sorry that I paid for the customization and I picked it up when it was three dollars. Still, it would be nice if they would go ahead and do something for the people who have already purchased.
A sincere thank you!
I can get that by giving to any musty old patron account. What about something with exclusive value
Patreon
Oh I hadn't noticed the customization went down to a buck! I wish I had picked it up at $3. I guess I'll be buying a max 5 lives as a thank you!
The monetization is tricky for a game like that, you either go the evil F2P way and make the timer about the TURN and not the NEW GAME, or you go the kind way and the infinite lives IAP is kinda useless in the end.
I hope you'll find a way to support the game guys, having a lot of fun with it, playing with native and non native speakers.
I got an italian buddy from TA who was so excited by a weird word he found to be accepted that he tweeted at me after his turn today lol.
it was the same with lives as it is with Trivia Crack, someone explain to me how this was confusing again? You can start a new game every 60 minutes once you have used your three. You go to bed, you can start three more... I don't wanna watch any stinking videos to get new lives... I'm confused now
Capitals has really killed my enthusiasm for NimbleBit. Don't get me wrong I love capitals and played furiously up till now but the whole thing reeks of dirty tactics.
Release a game with about $30 in IAP only to turn around and shit on those early adopters by reducing all the IAP after a few weeks. I'd forgive that if it was $10 in IAP originally but they obviously planned to rake the shit out of their loyal fans then turn it back down after the money stopped flowing.
I'm not saying I'm right, but it sure as hell feels this way and I don't think NimbleBit are stupid enough to believe their pricing was fair.
You're not right.
It turns out that making a fun game is hard and picking a payment model that players feel is "fair" that ALSO makes money is REALLY hard. There's no magic formula. I seriously doubt NimbleBit's plan was to "rake the shit out of their loyal fans". They have loyal fans exactly because they don't do that. They are making changes based on player feedback to improve the player experience and hopefully make the game more profitable. I have no doubt they will figure out what's best for the game and its players. If you are unhappy about a purchase you made, feel free to get a refund from Apple. I, for one, think they are doing their best to treat their customers with respect and I wish them luck with the upcoming changes!
Dueler is right
After the update, I will gladly pay for a three lives and wait an hour option.
I dont know, but this seems like it will alienate the gamers that bought the previous IAP.
But you are the ones that know how many people bought it, so... Hope it goes all well for ya guys, i played a lot the first week it released, but i figured the hold the first contact tactic on my second game, and was too easy (92% win rate). And the fact that you dont give the lose to the people that forfeit the game was a real deal breaker. Congratz on an original game though. Hope all goes better now.
Wins / losses are now awarded on forfeit.
Maybe if a timer were added for turns it would cut down on the cheating?
It would also kill the game for a large number of players who like to study the board and make sure they're making the best move. If anything we would add it as a separate game mode.
imo, they should have just sold this for $1.99 ... i'm inclined not to play because of no regeneration and having to watch an ad. burdensome free vs. ludicrously expensive in app purchases = no play from me.