Think developers should do a dlc version that's free & then have a paid version with everything. Like Tilt To Live would have classic mode only in the dlc version & then $1 dollar apiece for Gauntlet & Code Red. Then, they could promote the dlc version for faad, fgotd, or fac.
I would be ok with this idea since today's has made me the angriest. It is a game that has received a lot of publicity due to its history, its roots, its devs. If they can't make a successful game then who will in the future? Only the big companies. The problem with making this kind of DLC model is that it is more work for the devs. They would need to make a new version, it won't appear to the consumer they are getting something for nothing, and it goes against the - get rich quick - attitude of SOME developers (emphasis added since I don't believe this developer or many developers believe this but I do believe some do). Greedy, whiny consumers (those that ask for the sale moments after release) have made desperate devs, many of which do not want to take the extra work it takes to promote their product. They would rather put it for free as their marketing payment in the hopes that in the future they gain. So it is probably unrealistic to believe that a dev will make a DLC version for promotional purposes. To be honest I feel more secure in purchasing a new DS or PSP game these days than an iPod Touch game. I know there will be sales on those games but it won't be for a long time and they certainly won't be free soon after purchase. Programs like these have added too many developers to me "do not buy for fear of going free" list. And I believe there are many more like me out there. No worries, I still love my iPod Touch, but am being extremely more frugal in what I purchase. I have no delusions that my single purchase will affect the market in any way, but heck, if enough people begin to feel as I do out of frustration, what will happen to the appstore?
As you can see, somehow the downward spiral is speeding up with BT now free - that literary means that ANY indie game can go free. People will notice that. And indie devs? They can say good-bye to good release purchases. I already saw that the initial sales went down more and more in the last months. How come, when you remember that more and more iTouches and iPhones are sold? Well, everything is working perfectly for FAAD / ICS Mobile. They are the only winners in this game. Btw., did you people realize that Chop Chop Ninja went free for a second time? Why, when FAADs system is working so good?
Yes, my indie radar detector is now on high alert. With the large companies at least I know I can get several weeks of a game before a sale, their sales usually are around a holiday period, I can pace myself and be cautious. With indie devs now, any day at all their game could go suddenly free. I could purchase it one day and it go free the next. Why would I want to waste my money like that? And in answer to their - well it went free so it will generate publicity and sales after it goes back to paid - I check appshopper for any game that isn't a new release to see what their pricing history is. If it has been free at any point, I do not pay for it. I figure it will go again free again someday and if it doesn't well then I guess I wasn't meant to have it. There are so many other games to play anyway. Eh, what say do I have? None I know. It's my personal practice at this time. Will any devs be saved from this fate? Doubtful because of reading our opinions but hopefully they have been watching the sales numbers. What will happen is that the appstore will not be a long term entity as Apple had hoped because of the undermining of economics. (Edit: and remember what I said before about us doing the marketing for ICS Mobile - any publicity is good publicity? Revisiting this thread is just giving them more publicity. It's not helpful for those that don't agree with their practices to keep bumping the thread, my disappointment got the better of me)
We're complaining. This system stinks. Also BB 1.5 has gone faad twice. Besides, NEG, most people know about faad on this site. At first, I thought faad was good at first, but now I wish it would be done with.
I'm a Battle Bear. Battle Bears. It's more like walking out a door to fond you were in a penthouse of a skyscraper without a deck.
And I could quote more. But guys, in FAAD it's mostly only 1$ games, only some are 2$, and some have paid DLC system for those who will enjoy the game. An only very few like Twins are a bit more than 2$. So you'll regret 1$ spend on a great game because the day after it gets a one day free promotion? Myself I feel this is overeacting. It happened to me for few game like Chop Chop Ninja and quite more with price drop games where I lost more than 1$ due to price drop. But well I don't think this change my behavior about 1$ games. 34 1$ games bought in one month and I don't see the rate lowering. That point mentionned I'm not defending the FAAD system, quite many other points are quoted in this thread and they seem quite (more) valid, like normal effect of lowering the rate average (but is this important?), or generating few rather negative reviews (that seems more possibly causing damages to the game), or an overload of such free games involving players overload lowering their buy. But I don't think many developpers aren't aware of that. Most probably look at it like a lottery to take their chance to get a fame high enough to generate a mechanism giving to their game the fame and income they worth. But the truth is only few games can win such lottery, most have few chance. Those with a difficulty level higher than usual will hurt too many casual players. Those with bad aesthetic will hurt eyes of too many players. Those with original controls requiring some time to learn will hurt lack of patience of too many players. And so on. That said it's perhaps more difficult to indie games to find their fame. The ipad and iphone 4 bringing more power to the market will help bigger compagnies setup games more AAA like that will make more difficult getting the fame for indies focusing on more pure gameplay values. The number of high value indie games is perhaps increasing making it more difficult to find their way through the mass. That's the positive point of the FAAD system generating more light and more focus to indies games. But is this brings more positive points or more negative points? The question is opened. But one point worth the quote, sell games at 1$ means targeting some mass effect, I don't mean 1 million but even 50k will mean have reach some fame. I bet thzt most indie games don't sell much some month after a release and try make it lives through updates is a rude job because it's hard to get words and comments from updates. If your game isn't already among the hall of fame the effect of updates needs to be sustained by something else, like a FAAD system. Myself I consider much more crazy and perhaps, or not, negative in a mid range term, is the confusion about prices that generated the market. Some casual game like Doodle jump with no level design, basic graphics, not many features and simple controls have a clear very low production cost. But it generate confusion with games like iBlast Moki with clearly much more design and time to setup levels, build a campaign, take cade to design a progression in difficulty and new features. Without to mention when it also generates price drop to 1$ to games like Rayman 2, Toki Tori or Real Football 2010. That said I'm not sure how wrong it is or it isn't. On PC 80% or even 90% price drop happen, I'm also seeing more and more PC indie games with price drop to 2 or 3$. A possible effect of all of that could be z better spreading of money spend on games and indie games. I also quote I stop buy DS games end more perverse stop play some I pick among the ton of DS games I have but hzven't yet really played. There's also a rather obvious effect on PC games even if not as much than DS. I'd say it's an ipad effect but thanks for other consoles and other game markets not that many was sold to players.
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