Oh wow, that's bad. I actually expected, probably naievely, that they would backpeddle and say that it was never the intention that people who paid also got the ads and that that will be fixed in an update or something like that. But I guess not. I do wonder if they can make a difference between people who paid and people who got it for free before now (I know it went free at least once before). The other games I know that added ads did that the first time the game went free, so then you know that everybody who already has the game actually bought it. I
Uggh...this is the kind of sneaky crap that puts a dev immediately on my DO NOT BUY list. I didn't even need the update (don't have iOS 5) but sometimes download just to get it off my update list. Absolutely ridiculous to add advertisements for those who already paid for the game. I've said it before and I'll say it again, unless the dev has some way to not give the ads to previous buyers, then they need to release a SEPARATE free version that is ad-supported. This kind of BS is going on WAY too much now a days.
The funny thing is they did do that. On November 5th they posted to their Facebook page that they had released a new "To-Fu: The Trials of Chi FREE". I asked what that meant, and didn't get a reply, but looking on Twitter today I see they said it meant an ad-supported version. Now, two weeks later, that version is gone from the app store and the ads have been added to the regular version of the game instead. I don't mind devs adding in ads, as long as they do it with respect for their users and especially the game's play. What HotGen did was anything but respectful. They didn't say at all that they were adding ads, but simply said it was an OS5 compatibility update, and even worse, the ads slow down the game and cause it to crash repeatedly. It's currently unplayable for me, and there's no way to opt-out of having the ads. I hope they change their mind, or at least give users the option of opting out of ads. I won't like paying again for an ad-free version, but I do love the game and would like to continue playing it, and I understand their need to monetize it. But right now I can't even get past any opening level screen without it crashing, and that's plain unacceptable!
I normally don't post comments like this, but this situation is really upsetting. Look, I understand that devs sometimes put ads in previously paid versions of games in order to increase revenue. Putting aside the debate as to whether or not THAT specific practice is sound or ethical, what happened here with To-Fu 1 is, in my opinion, much, much more egregious. Here, HotGen made two separate versions available - a paid version ($1.99 for the HD version, which is the version I bought), and an ad-supported version. I paid my $1.99 SPECIFICALLY to avoid dealing with the ads. Now, they appear to have gotten rid of the ad supported version, and put ads in the previously paid version. So, what on earth did I pay my $1.99 for?!?!? I ended up right back where I would have been had I just downloaded the ad-supported version to begin with. This is not acceptable. It's very unfortunate, too, because I really liked these games. I actually did not learn of the To-Fu series until just recently. I purchased To-Fu 2, and liked it so much I went back and bought the HD version of To-Fu 1. Again, I really enjoyed it. Now, due to this ad-situation, it's tainted my enjoyment of these games considerably. HotGen - please submit an immediate fix for this, and give me (and all the rest of us) the game that we paid for.
Active ads in game while playing and it's not a free version still have to pay to unlock levels. I do feel bad for the people whom where cheated by the developer and now they have ads in their fully paid game. Shame when Again in search of the mighty dollar the designer must butcher and cheat the very person who supported their release. Now that pure evil.
I have To-Fu 2 but never downloaded yet because I wanted to finish the first one. Now that they've completely ruined the first game, guess I'll download To-Fu 2 (they haven't added ads to it yet, have they?) and say goodbye to the original. I guess we'll never hear an explaination from the dev on why they screwed over those who bought it.
Yeah, it looks like it was a deliberate choice and it's doubtful that an explanation is coming. HotGen just removed the entire THREAD that contained my complaint/query, from Facebook rather than answer my concerns. They also removed all the links to their announcements of the free versions of their games too, so I guess this means the ads in the paid games are permanent. Wow. What a way to treat paying customers and your fans!
Well, on a slightly comforting note, I'm not sure if you picked up To-Fu 2 a few weeks ago when it was free for a day. But it still does not have ads. It goes without saying that if an update comes for it, I won't be downloading it. Either way, I won't be buying from this dev again unless they do something to correct the original game. It's bad enough to add ads in a previously paid game. But these ads are so intrusive that it also affects gameplay. Just sad.
If I'm not mistaken, the ads affect gameplay more so than just being annoying. Since the play area scrolls but the ads do not, it appears to zoom way out when you stretch the To-Fu. I don't remember it doing that before. Am I wrong?
Yeah, the irony is that I had just decided I wanted some of my Christmas dollars to go to HotGen this weekend, and was planning on doing a "buy all" IAP for To-Fu 2 on Black Friday. With the shenanigans they've pulled on To-Fu 1, that plan is toast. There's no way I'm sending any more of my money their way when they pull stunts like this that ruin gameplay and then delete posts and threads rather than answer simple questions, not to mention outright thumbing their noses at their paid users. I agree, it's just sad!
Nope. Don't think you're wrong. The ads make it difficult to even play the game properly (especially if you're trying to stretch when To-Fu is on the bottom of the screen near the ad). As I've said, unless this is corrected, they won't get any more support from me. I just don't understand devs sometimes. I think there are better ways to try to make money from a game than shoot your current customer base. If they liked your games, they'd be back to buy your next release. But not after crap like this.
Looks like HotGen just updated Spacelings as well, with the only info about the update: "Tested with iOS 5 Bug fixes" Apparently "tested with iOS 5" means they put ads in a previously paid game. I was desperately holding onto the belief that the ads in the paid version of To-Fu was a mistake, but I don't know that there's any possibility that this was a mistake at this point. To HotGen - if you are reading this, your decision to put ads in a previously paid game when you had a separate ad-supported version is unacceptable. This is very different from just putting ads in a previously paid game, in and of itself. If there was no previously ad-supported version, then putting ads in a previously paid game is simply a bad business decision. However, putting ads in a previously paid game when there was an ad-supported version available is, in my mind, outright theft. I had a choice when I bought To-Fu HD. My choice was, do I want the game for free with ads, or do I want to pay $2 to get the game ad-free. I chose to pay $2 to get the game ad-free. Now, since you have placed ads in the paid version, what did I pay my $2 for???? I am now in the exact same position I would have been in had I just taken the free ad-supported version. I have now received absolutely no benefit from paying $2 for this game. I have tried several times to reach you privately for a response to this, but since you haven't responded I am hoping this post catches your attention.
Just tried my To-Fu and it is indeed annoying ads. Deleting the game now from my phone (it stays from day one bought until now, too bad). And I've just updated this one...... well maybe I'll delete it also. If HotGen is reading this, then they will know that they will shut down the "after free effect" (that will sell more of the games) since more and more people are deleting the games from their phone and therefore less new people will envy this game. Sigh...
public service announcement: game has received a new update but the intrusive big banner ads are still there at the bottom (during gameplay). . just in case you saw an update notification in appshopper and thought about re-installing this. . btw 5 extra trials and golden to-fu is free.
I thought of a better analogy to describe HotGen's conduct here ... HotGen had two versions of To-Fu: a free, ad-supported version; and a paid version. They got rid of the free, ad-supported version, and put ads in the paid version. To me, that is no different than having a free, ad-supported version with an IAP to remove ads. Then, after purchasing the IAP to remove ads, you put them back in. Obviously, such conduct would be despicable. Well, how is what HotGen did in this instance any different? I bought the paid version to avoid ads. Now that the previously paid version has ads, I got absolutely nothing for my money. I have sent HotGen emails, sent them tweets, tried contacting them on Facebook, and they have not responded. Then, they release this latest ridiculous update on 12/1/11 that does nothing but make the Golden To-Fu free. Do they actually think that the Golden To-Fu makes up for putting ads in a paid game? Weak. Very, very weak.
