I did not have the game installed before the update, but I did have a cloud save. So I got the coin doubler and no ads. I dunno if it'll work if you didn't have a cloud save and did not already have the game installed before the update. **edit** Just installed it on a device that isn't connected to my iCloud account, and got the doubler for free (in the inventory menu, top right corner). So... YAY!!! Thank you, Touch Foo, for handling a paid to free conversion INCREDIBLY well! =oD Hope it works out for ya!
Release a free version 4 years after the paid version? Nah, not really. I think Touch Foo handled this perfectly.
Do you know? there's no argurment in your statement... release a free version after 4 years? Yes, really. Did I convince you now? Handling it perfectly would have been an other version that do not put any constraints AT ALL on their paid users.
What constraints? Name one thing that's been added to the game or taken away that you have/don't have anymore. What changed?
Nothing changed for me whatsoever. I think they handled it fine. It's a damn good game. I'm glad I paid for this game. Billy
The price. The doubler means they certainly changed the difficulty somehow download an update that brings NOTHING to me but the inconvenience of wondering how the game has changed. A possible risks that the update does show ads somehow because of a bug. A possible change in the futur that do ads for everyone. This is not what i'll call a perfect handling of a paid to freemium switch. A totally new application would have brought me none of the concerns and possible gameplay changed. so these are constraints to my eyes. If you are happy with such a system, no wonder this kind of things happen again and again.
You're really railing against the wrong devs/game here. Touch Foo has handled this as well as they could have. There are no balancing changes for those who purchased the game. Everything else you've listed is a possibility for *every single* game in the AppStore. They all have the possibility of not selling well and going free with ads to try and recoup costs. But assuming the worst instead of showing a modicum of understanding (or respect for that matter) to a small group of guys who have *obviously* supplied you with *hours upon hours* of enjoyable entertainment for a *very* small price is never the way to go about things. Bottom line - if you're that opposed to it, don't update it. It's that easy. You can even save a backup of your IPA and be able to play it until an OS update breaks it. Just like every other game...
SyntheticVoid did the "radical test", which is installing the new version of the game on a clean device without cloud save, and it worked. If they changed monetization so that the coin doubler is worth it, then there shouldn't be a problem because you're getting the coin doubler. As I see it, it's as perfect as it can be: flawless and with all the premium IAP for free for those who bought it (or as me, had it from one of those free promotions they made). I understand your point regarding two versions, since I myself prefer a premium IPA backed up on my computer rather than a F2P turned premium via IAP. The problem is Apple: they don't want two versions of the same apps. Somewhere in the Horizon Chase thread this was discussed because they did the change from premium to F2P with a premium IAP, but they had problems and not all the previous premium users as me got the IAP for free. I suggested the very same thing you want, but in the end Apple doesn't like it, so turning the app to F2P is the only option for these devs. Therefore, Swordigo devs did the migration correctly IMO, my guess is that by adding to their IAP database the info of all the users who had bought the game legally when it was fully premium. Apple keeps a record, so I'm pretty sure they can supply the list in an encrypted archive so that this can be done.
I am, and encourage all developers who wish to change their pricing models to do the same as both Touch Foo and the Horizon Chase guys. They respected paying costumers, and that's a very hard to thing to say developers do these days. Look, I get your reasons for having a problem with this, but it could have been waaaaaaay worse. We could have either not been given anything in return for being long time supporters, or they could have done the old school "Here, have some consumable coins!" which you never see again.
People complain about everything. Some can never ever be happy and look always on the worst side of everything. That's why we can't have nice things.
He is right, for those moaning and whining and complaining and what-not, the way they handled it's pretty darn good. There could have been plenty of ways to disrespect the original purchasers/supporters, instead they chose to think about what they could do to make it both right to them and attract a new base of players - by going free. Thanks Touch Foo for the way you handled it, keep up the good work!
