I don't want to spend money on promotion. I have already invested enough time developing the app in the first place. Is this naive? Any free publicity is great - but at what price? Those 4000 found my app through this free promotion and bought it. Would they have paid for it had they eventually found it at it's normal price? Now I won't make a cent from them ever.
[GAME] BULBS!
(42 posts) (15 voices)-
Posted 11 months ago #
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cocos
Member"Now I won't make a cent from them ever."
Potentially you could and still can in a future. If the app had IAP some of them could buy more levels. I understand your frustration but the apps golden era is over. Now, the App Store is littered with so many apps fighting for customer attention that to get through is really tough...Posted 11 months ago # -
cocoBavan
MemberAs cocos said, the gold rush is over now. We have to do our day Job well and do this ios stuff for fun. One day you might hit the jackpot. But, the future of appstore is in the hand of those who has already built a fan base. Therefore, unless you go through a well known publisher, it is a miracle to hit the treasure. :) Don't worry be happy; atleast you have something in your appstore.
Posted 11 months ago # -
had they eventually found
Of the 4000 that download free only a tiny percentage would have paid. It's better to get it out there and get people playing it earlier rather than later. There are millions of devices out there and if 100,000 get it for free that's 100,000 people you've got to recommend it to others.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Thanks again for all the encouragement. I left it free for about 40 hours in the end. 27,000 people took it during that time. I have had it at 99c for the last 4 days and have had over 100 sales from China where the free promotion was targetted at.
I don't believe the gold rush is over. I think a lot of money can be made with the right idea. There are always new ideas. I expect I'll try another app. Something more mainstream maybe.
Posted 11 months ago # -
cocos
Member@mattWoodage Matt, It is nice to see you in good spirit! Good luck in looking for golden nugget...
Posted 11 months ago # -
cocoBavan
Memberyep! That's the spirit..
"I don't believe the gold rush is over. I think a lot of money can be made with the right idea."
However, that gold is guarded by beeg Giants. For example , look how many super polished games are published today.
Even latest indie hit "Casey's contraptions" was 24 super human months of work and lot of marketing. :D
To avoid disappointment, Lets not focus on Gold. :D
Posted 11 months ago # -
MisterX
MemberHowever, that gold is guarded by beeg Giants. For example , look how many super polished games are published today.
"Hills of Glory: WWII" has helicopters flying around in it as if it were a Vietnam era game. Last time I checked, helicopters were not used in combat by any nation, at any time during WWII. Most of the graphics don't even look like anything from WWII, they should just drop the WWII subtitle altogether.
Posted 11 months ago # -
letmeknow
MemberI have the same thought as @cocoBavan, the gold rush is over; actually I think it's already over for year.
Years ago I easily found some news from Internet such as from rags to rich, indie released a game and won a hundred grand, something like that. Now no one saying anything.
However even the gold rush in Alaska was over for a century, does not mean there are no more gold in Alaska. Same to App Store, still have people who become millionaires overnight, although it's just extremely rare. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Posted 11 months ago # -
vcnzo
MemberMy feeling about the current AppStore situation is that there are now 2 destinies :
- get noticed, and make $$$
- be part of the 99,99% other apps, and sell 10 copies a day.Is there a way to make a decent living of game programming, as an indie, nowadays ?
(Not getting rich, but just make a living of it)If so, what is the way to go ? publish many games ? focus on 1 project per year ?
Posted 11 months ago # -
letmeknow
Memberlol, if 99.99% apps could sell 10 copies a day each, every app developer would be very happy.
From what I found from app store data, about 70% app developers only release one or two apps (maybe one + lite version) and then leave forever. Not sure if any of them be successful, but more likely they give up (because there are no chances)
Posted 11 months ago #
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