It's pathetic people are disappointed at getting free games. Seriously. Some iPhone gamers have gotten way to whiny over something like this. No other market gets many games that go free for a day but still get a lot a lot of people whining over getting some free games. What do you want GameLoft to do? Make one of their big games go free for entire day, one every day for a month? Jesus. There's nothing to get disappointed over - it's free and they get advertising out of it - it's idiotic if you really are disappointed about this event.
What's kind of funny about all this is that Gameloft runs $.99 sales fairly regularly on a good chunk of their games (except their latest and greatest). So while I agree that people shouldn't be complaining that this event isn't all free games, their attempt at an Appvent calendar is pretty pathetic overall considering how much they played this up and, for the most part, their regular sales have been better.
Putting a game trailer out is a gift to us? I don't think so, they have to do it in order to attract buyers and sell their games and they will put it out anyway...and "be thankful they're even doing an event like this", really???? they should be thankful that "we" buy their games...
But it got your attention though huh? And I bet you check every day to see if there IS a free iPhone game right? What if you have Playstation and just found out that UNO is on sale for 99 cents? Then they got an extra sale from that just because people are now following their twitter obsessively not to miss anything. It's called getting exposure. And no matter what anyone is whining about it is working. There was even some mention here that they weren't interested in Asphalt as a series but that trailer made them want the next one - number 6. Bet more people than just that poster thought that as well. So to me, in just 6 days, it appears that Gameloft has set out to do what they intended - garner more attention and get more people excited for their next twitter. Sure people might whine and complain but they actually WATCH the trailer that was released, they actually LOOKED AT the wallpapers, they REMEMBERED that Dungeon Hunter 2 was coming soon - all things that were not freebies per se for an iOS user. This is marketing 101. They don't need you to be thankful actually. If people are really upset about it they can unfollow Gameloft. Or not check this thread. Or not care about Gameloft. But it appears that the potential for anything free will prevent that from happening and again, Gameloft did what they set out to do. They did not HAVE to do anything, yet they are. It's a gift, it's what they felt they could give, if it doesn't measure up to anyone's expectations, so be it. When Grandma gives you a pair of socks for Christmas this year why not whine to her you wanted something better.
Believe me, I'm not upset and maybe I shouldn't even posted what I did. I just thought it's kind of ironic that we DO get a lot of sales from Gameloft throughout the year so that's why this feels like a bit of a let down. You're absolutely right, Gameloft is getting the attention it was seeking so from their point of view, this was a success. Gameloft has been more than generous with their regular sales.
Re Asphalt 6, that was me, and I didn't bother with the intro video. I caught the gameplay video posted in the A6 thread (which also has footage of Shadow Guardian and NOVA 2). Unlike the intro video, the one I saw demonstrated actual gameplay which got me pumped for the game. And it wasn't part of the appvent calendar. I don't understand all this free PR for the most successful app store games company in the world. It's bizarre, really.
My apologies not to name you, I was on the page where you couldn't see the other responses while I typed. I guess though in answer to the PR for Gameloft and them already being successful - they need to stay successful and they don't seem to be a company to sit on their laurels. With more new iPod Touch and iPhone users who may not even know of the company they need to do something to keep themselves atop the heap of apps in the appstore. So any little bit they do to keep their name "out there" will be good for them. I dunno, it seems to me they are doing what any successful company does - maintain PR because PR is less expensive than advertising, with probably more awareness gained. For instance I didn't know they had games on consoles but now I do. I knew of some other platforms (DSi and Wii) but not of the PSN for example. I don't see what the problem is. You get a game or two, or even three out of it, while Gameloft reaches out to existing customers and attempts to get more. Looking at it your way there would be no need to have most of the commercials on TV or in magazines or on the web; no need for any PR via twitter; tons of ad execs and PR Management Companies would be left twiddling their thumbs waiting for the next start up company to hire them.
By "free PR" I meant all the attacks on people expressing disappointment over trailers and wallpapers. I'm not calling you out specifically; it is a fascinating phenomenon to me though, seeing the "you're a whiny baby with entitlement issues" posts telling people they ought to be more grateful. Some seem to think GL is doing us all a solid, giving away a game or two, and dropping prices temporarily. Actually, it's common practice in the app store for real reasons, and charity isn't one of them. I'd like any one of these posters (again, this is not a personal attack on you) to give us one example of something GL did in the app store as a favor to us, that had no practical benefit to them. It doesn't exist. Everything they do, including this appvent calendar, is a business move. Yet, some will continue to insist we ought to bend over backwards to kiss the ring of [insert publisher here] for bestowing a promotion upon us. It's silly, no? [edit/ Re those posters saying "this sucks, I'll never buy from GL again as a protest!" are ridiculous, and I offer no defense for them]
Hmmm you seem to be misreading my posts. You appear to be agreeing with me more than you think. I am not disappointed in the least with anything they have done. In fact I said: Not asking you to bend over backwards, not asking you for anything frankly. Merely pointing out the obvious which apparently you know - this is a PR move for Gameloft that has some beneficial fallout to the consumer. Whether or not anyone is grateful doesn't matter because Gameloft did what it set out to do - gain PR. NOT hand out their entire inventory for free as a goodwill act. But as an aside, I do think its juvenile to whine over whatever it is they give, just like it would be juvenile to whine to Grandma. I don't think its entitlement actually - to me it's more of a spoiled 5 year old brat crying over a gift they didn't receive. Don't parents teach their kids to be polite anymore?
I never said you were disappointed. But speaking of disappointment, I didn't expect you to miss the point. I could quote myself for effect, but... I'd rather not. You should carefully consider yourself before remarking on one's reading comprehension.
Alright, disappointed or not, maybe we can get this thread back on track and stop the pointless arguing. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Ok maybe you were totally agreeing with me. But when you say "I'm not calling you out specifically" or "not a personal attack on you" it does group me in the disappointed whiner category which I am most definitely not. I was neutral on that - not complaining nor complaining about the complaining. My points had to do with Gameloft only - they are accomplishing what they hoped it would seem. So truce?
I was actually lumping you in with the folks attacking the "whiners." I wanted you to know my beef wasn't really with you as I haven't seen you post anything obnoxious. Well besides the aside in your post before last Basically, I'm just irritated at the publisher/developer worship around here. If a forum member wants to bitch about a lame gift, why does it irk anybody? Maybe they would prefer grandmas socks to an Eternal Legacy wallpaper Gameloft will be fine; they dont need pitbulls in the TA threads. Anyway, of course we have a truce. No harm, no foul.
A nice gift for everyone who owns rayman 2 is how to get the cheat menu. If you dont believe me, in the trailer it says cheat at the top of the screen in 1 clip.
Oh yes, it was May this year, found the archive: http://blog.gameloft.com/index.php/2010/05/07/free-games-every-day-with-the-iphone-happy-hour-for-gamelofts-10th-anniversary/ Sorry for the mistake Anyway, we are still hoping for more free iOS games for this Advent Calendar.
