Promo Codes can't be rated, reviewed and don't count as purchase anymore!

Discussion in 'Public Game Developers Forum' started by slewis7, Apr 29, 2011.

  1. I was able to review yesterday.
     
  2. Therealtrebitsch

    Therealtrebitsch Well-Known Member

    Mar 2, 2010
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    I ran Promo Dispenser, which was giving away Promo Codes for reviews and users reported that they get an error message if they try to review promo code downloads.

    They emailed to Apple and they all received the same message:

     
  3. schoolmate

    schoolmate Active Member

    Mar 22, 2011
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    I received same answer from same concern.

    Can't scoring redeemed app
     
  4. Therealtrebitsch

    Therealtrebitsch Well-Known Member

    Mar 2, 2010
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    Maybe codes, which were claimed before the update, still can be rated and reviewed, but the new ones can't be anymore...

    I don'T know.

    I only know, that we received these messages and our users reported this permanently in the last 2-3 weeks.
     
  5. rogerchiu

    rogerchiu Well-Known Member

    Jan 12, 2010
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    If we cannot rate the app, it is hard to know did we own that app before. I used review and rating to test the test best I press BUY to re-download it.
     
  6. ReventonX

    ReventonX Well-Known Member

    Jan 13, 2011
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    I have The problem unable to review the app also. It's been a while now since last week. Problem only happen for using promo code redeemed app :(
     
  7. strivemind

    strivemind Well-Known Member

    Weird, cause I just tried it and it worked for me.
    I just won a promo code for a game yesterday, redeemed it, and then today was able to successfully write a review in the Canadian app store.
     
  8. adamjones

    adamjones Well-Known Member

    Feb 12, 2011
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    #28 adamjones, May 2, 2011
    Last edited: May 2, 2011
    I also got the same alert but from another user, i really want to know if apple has announced this officially or may be selected ones only got this mail. :confused:
     
  9. awp69

    awp69 Well-Known Member

    Oct 30, 2009
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    This is bad news. Developers who pressured those who got promo codes to give 5-star reviews are probably to blame for Apple's decision to do this, but people who gave honest feedback either in these forums or in a review only helped developers make improvements to their games.

    Now, there will be little incentive for developers to even bother with promo codes. There are so many developers (mostly ones that don't come here looking for feedback) that either gave the codes to friends and family or just had them purchase it to put up "shill" reviews to boost sales. I don't think this will stop those kind of reviews.

    Promo codes -- at least those from developers who want honest feedback -- were a way to get a game noticed and help make updates to make a game better.
     
  10. kzwen

    kzwen Well-Known Member

    Jun 25, 2010
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    I agree, they were particularly good in helping indies devs.
     
  11. ColeDaddy

    ColeDaddy Silver Supporter<br>Moderator
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    Mar 20, 2010
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    I successfully submitted two reviews over the weekend.
     
  12. Marcus70

    Marcus70 Well-Known Member

    Dec 7, 2010
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    Of the ten or so promo codes I've received over the past few weeks, only 2 allowed me to post a review. All of the other ones, I'm unable to post a review. I have tried multiple times to post reviews (on different days and even yesterday) and it still says I can't because I didn't purchase or download the app. Looks like Apple's new policy still has a few kinks to iron out.
     
  13. bem69

    bem69 Well-Known Member

    Oct 20, 2010
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    this is bad, looks like we're heading for a big change in the way we can help the devs with reviews here.
     
  14. mianpi

    mianpi Well-Known Member

    Feb 14, 2011
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    I was able to rate and review all promocodes I received. Still haven't this problem in the spanish store.
    I agree that the review is a great tool for small developers to promote his apps.
    I don't give reviews and rates to any app I sincerely don't think it deserves.
    Also, promocoeds allow developers to have users to give them impressions about the app and bug or features they think can improve the app.
    Perhaps apple must "mark" review made using promocodes. I think this solution will be good for customers and developers. What do you think?
     
  15. slimothy

    slimothy Well-Known Member

    Dec 5, 2009
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    Has anyone thought that maybe it's just the newer codes from (x) date - present? As in, before this new policy was put in place, those codes will be fine for reviewing, but from (x) date onward, the codes that devs get disallow ratings/reviews.
     
  16. secondtime

    secondtime Well-Known Member

    Oct 19, 2009
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    I thought the same. Even though some folks are just getting promo codes, it's possible they were generated prior to the cutoff date.
     
  17. Eli

    Eli ᕕ┌◕ᗜ◕┐ᕗ
    Staff Member Patreon Silver Patreon Gold

    Isn't this sort of a good change? I mean sure, some people claimed codes, played games, and left honest reviews... But more often than not this just seemed like it gave ammo for promo code beggars and shills to go hog wild both pestering developers and saturating the App Store with bogus 5 star reviews.

    I can totally see where Apple is coming from with this. The purpose of the review system is for crowd sourced feedback from people who bought the apps... Not to dupe people into buying your app because you found a few dozen people to give you a 5 star review in exchange for a promo code.
     
  18. koyut

    koyut Well-Known Member

    Jan 18, 2010
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    I agree to some extent. There are some sites that would reward you points for reviewing an app.

    Any feedback or user rating system can be gamed. Just a shame for honest reviewers or developers wanting quality feedback.

    Alas, the devs could still do a very short free price drop though. Not the same but a good work around.
     
  19. blitter

    blitter Well-Known Member

    #39 blitter, May 3, 2011
    Last edited: May 3, 2011
    This does need stomping out, but not really this exact way as now the abusers just have to pay for the priv.

    When did the change take effect...maybe there's only 1 way to find out...fight! 2 codes - WARHKH6AW44W (generated 23rd April) and FTH7KRTYLT49 (generated 1st May)...now, as a developer I get perhaps a small reward of a review for taking time out for this experiment, plus a couple of folk get a free app...those are what is being taken away from us, I hope we can replace this feature without all having to find cash for gift codes, which gives the advantage to the bigger teams.

    edit: ok so I messed up there by somehow reading the word promo as the sub-forum name, well I still think it's a valid experiment...and yes Sinecure Industries, having again been through PM feedback and links it is clearly a great reward to be in contact with the end-user! It did however seem like a nice idea to get an app started by hearing new feedback on the store, that would be my inexperience sorry, these forums have much more detail.
     
  20. Sinecure Industries

    Sinecure Industries Well-Known Member

    This is only as bad as all the promo codes I've given out and heard nothing in return. Now I KNOW I won't hear anything back, hahaa. Seriously though, the people around here provide fantastic feedback which is worth more than a review on the app store any day.
     

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