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App site to feature "underdogs"

(19 posts) (10 voices)

Started 1 year ago by briancps
Latest reply from adamfar

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briancps
Member

Hey Everyone,

Fellow cocos2d user here (latest game, Pochi in Space). I know a lot of us have been unsuccessful in getting the big review sites and big blogs (the BIGs) to write about our apps. It's kind of funny, actually, to see the BIGs all write about the same big-name apps, too. Many of the small review sites are simply trying to become one of the BIGs. I don't want to visit a small review site to read yet another review on Infinity Blade.

Frustrated by this, I started a site to feature (not review!) "hidden gems" or "underdogs" on the App Store. I firmly believe that there are a bunch of high-quality apps out there that aren't getting nearly the amount of exposure they deserve. Non-developers users can come to the site to read about apps that no one else is talking about, or to simply support smaller developers. Obviously, the site can't guarantee to find or make the next App Store millionaire, but it can guarantee to lend a helping hand to deserving apps and developers.

Because the site is new, readership is low for now and may stay that way for a while. Hopefully this will change for the better in time.

Check it out at http://www.appunderdogs.com. There's already a cocos2d game up there :) Feel free to submit an app to us. We promise we'll look at it and get back to you - no pompous ignoring of developers here :)

Cheers,
Brian

Posted 1 year ago #
dcthatch
Member

I think i speak for so many people when I say thank you. Does this mean that anybody can get an app on the site, or does it have to be approved as a good enough app by you?

Posted 1 year ago #
briancps
Member

Hey there, excellent question.

An app needs to meet some minimum threshold of quality to be featured. When I dig through the App Store, I look for apps that make me think, "Wow, I can't believe this hasn't gotten many downloads/reviews!" It's an admittedly subjective way to go about things with several factors involved, but that's the nature of what I'm trying to do. Quality apps are out there, but they're hidden from us because the BIG sites won't talk about them.

Posted 1 year ago #
dcthatch
Member

I am glad to see that now the quality of the app plays a greater part in getting it sold rather than being a big company.

Posted 1 year ago #
dcthatch
Member

And would you also like me to attempt to promote the site and make it known where possible?

Posted 1 year ago #
briancps
Member

That would be great if you could. Thanks!

Increasing readership is the biggest challenge facing this site, but I'm hoping we can overcome this so indie developers can get the exposure they deserve.

Posted 1 year ago #
bazcocos
Member

I support the idea, but I dont really want to label myself as an 'underdog'. Perhaps its just a terminology thing. I dont mind 'indie'.
Although you wont be reviewing games, it still might be worth letting people vote for a favorite (per week/month/whatever). You could then promote that one on the front page. Bytejacker do this, they choose a list of games then let the viewers vote.

Posted 1 year ago #
Paul
Member

I also really appreciate the idea but I'd highly recommend you to take a look at SEO and to optimize your site's appearance in search engines. Also you should maybe change the WordPress theme - in my opinion - it looks a bit empty.

Posted 1 year ago #
letmeknow
Member

(Home of) The underdogs is (or was ?) the website to download abandoned PC games. I used to download some 30-year-old PC games from that site.

Do you have the same idea? for the abandoned iPhone apps/games?

Posted 1 year ago #
briancps
Member

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

@bazcocos: Everyone loves the underdog! But on a serious note, I understand what you're saying. Featured apps are only "underdogs" in the sense that they're not well-known, not that they are of poor quality. "Indie" is a bit too generic of a term for the site. Halfbrick is an indie studio, but they are an App Store juggernaut.

@Paul: I think it might look empty because content is still low. I'm constantly working on putting more stuff up, but it's taking a lot more time than I thought it would. AppUnderdogs is a one-man operation. Hopefully the site will look more fleshed out once I get more content up.

@letmeknow: No, this site isn't for abandoned iPhone apps/games. Not necessarily, at least. The main goal of the site is to discover quality apps that the big review sites are not talking about.

Posted 1 year ago #
dcthatch
Member

if your looking for more apps, then just put a forum up on here titled "Looking for apps to be promoted on site" or something like that. you will probably get loads of submissions

Posted 1 year ago #
tinymammal
Member

Brian was kind enough to dig my cocos2d app Weather Doodle out of the depths of the weather app section and do a really thoughtful feature on it on his new site. I gotta say it felt great as a small developer to be noticed and valued. We all put so much work into these things - recognition is a great thing, both psychologically and (hopefully) traffic-wise.

I'm looking forward to trying the other apps featured on there as well. From both a developer and end user's perspective it's a really cool idea. Good luck Brian!

Posted 1 year ago #
pfg2009
Member

I LOVE this effort! Great job. Let me know if you are looking for fellow "reviewers" to ease your burden. There are a lot of apps out there that have been created with much love and care and that are seriously solid products that just went unnoticed. I think it's great that you decided to dig them out.

Kudos to you as well as the app devs whose apps you reviewed. Now I have my new favorite weather app (not to mention a sexy fish app) :)

Posted 1 year ago #
jptsetung
Member

congratulations for this site.

I don't want to be pessimistic about the success of the site but a site with a very similar concept ( http://gamesuncovered.com ) , has stopped its activity recently. The webmaster told it was taking too much time for not enough traffic.

Here is my adivce, don't spend too much time on reivews, just write a few lines to explain what is great about this game. Your value is to find hidden gems, and that's why people will read your site.

Posted 1 year ago #
briancps
Member

Thanks for the support, everyone!

@tinymammal - Weather Doodle stands out as a truly wonderful app. Finding it in "the depths of the weather app section" was like spotting an elephant hiding behind a twig. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.

@pfg2009 - I'm glad you found some apps from the site! Also, thanks a lot for offering to help. The work isn't too overwhelming right now, but if the site gets a lot larger, I'll definitely need some help.

@jptsetung - It's a shame that Games Uncovered closed shop. I don't consider it to be similar to AppUnderdogs though, because they:
1. In general, gave low ratings to apps
2. Reviewed and covered big-name apps (Monster Dash, Cut the Rope, etc.)

Regarding (1), I'm not sure what the point of giving apps letter grades of C, D, or F is - that's pretty harsh. Perhaps I'm alone on this, but why do I want a site that tells me about bad apps? I want to know what the good apps are. Telling me that an unknown app is no good only helps me if I manage to find that app on my own and want to do a little research. I don't think this is how most people go about things. Developers end up getting hurt without any benefit to consumers.

Regarding (2), TouchArcade and other big sites already do a great job covering the big-name apps. There's little reason for a user to visit a smaller site to read another A+ review.

AppUnderdogs is focused on finding the best undiscovered and under-discussed apps and highlighting them in a positive light. I also started a new section to feature developers with "interesting" backgrounds. There's an article up now about a guy who had no prior development or art experience, but put up a game on the App Store in 6 weeks. I think stories like this can help motivate people who want to get started with app development.

I went into this knowing that there's not a lot of money to be made. Luckily for me, that's not a priority for this site. I plan on hosting giveaway promotions where winners will get to pick an app from any app featured on AppUnderdogs. The ad revenues from the site will pay for the gifting of these apps. Of course, if I end up making thousands of dollars a day, I'll pocket a bit for myself :)

Posted 1 year ago #
briancps
Member

Hi Everyone,

I think there's enough content on the site now to have a little promo contest. Just follow @AppUnderdogs on Twitter and retweet this tweet: http://twitter.com/AppUnderdogs/status/24637087693144064#

If you win, you will get YOUR CHOICE of ANY app featured on http://www.appunderdogs.com! So, browse the site and enter the contest!

Posted 1 year ago #
jptsetung
Member

Hey, that works, already 30 retweets and 50+ followers. It's very cool to see how you improve your audience little by little.

Posted 1 year ago #
beyondtool
Member

Honestly, I think the site is a great idea, but from a web design point of view I think it needs more work. To be specific I think you need some kind of logo that sells the site. The colour scheme is very basic, and seriously there are some awesome wordpress templates out there these days like: http://designdisease.com/portfolio/

The square screens you have used to preview the featured apps is the wrong ratio size for iDevices and as a result each image looks like it has been cropped poorly.

Also another thing I noticed is that it's an app review site but you haven't mentioned what type of apps you are reviewing and that your platform is iPhone or iPad etc.

Not trying to undermine the solid work you have started, but in order for this site to gain traction I think a site redesign is really needed.

Posted 1 year ago #
adamfar
Member

Looks like this site is now dead?

Posted 3 weeks ago #

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