I've just made Quake Builder full version free for 48 hours...

StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
edited November -1 in Announce Your Game!
Afternoon. Just out of interest more than an actual cunning marketing plan

I've made my game Quake Builder (the full version) free on the app store for 48 hours.

I made the game with GameSalad last summer and get a few downloads a day of the complete version, and around 800 a day of the free one. The highest it ever got in the charts was around number 89 on the puzzle UK chart.

Here's the promo vid I made last year:



The walkthrough vid I made last year:



LINK TO APP STORE
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/quake-builder/id355345146?mt=8

Take a look if your interested. Any positive reviews are always welcome.

There are numerous things I'd want to change in the game, most notably fix how the rotating blocks work with multi-touch. But I'm too busy/excited/ happy making my next game.

Comments

  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    oh and if anyone fancies bumping my Touch Arcade thread about the price reduction...please take a look and say something cool..

    http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?p=1546864#post1546864
  • UtopianGamesUtopianGames Member Posts: 5,692
    Looks brilliant and i love the video.

    Best of luck.

    Darren.
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Cheers...

    Not really sure what my plan is, just hoping it might jump up quite high in the free charts...
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Seems to of been quite successful over 6000 downloads on day one and moved in the American free charts to the following:

    Best Chart Rankings*
    #18 in Puzzle Games (iPhone) on Jan 20, 2011
    #47 in Action Games (iPhone) on Jan 20, 2011
    #87 in Top Games (iPhone) on Jan 20, 2011
    #180 in Top Apps (iPhone) on Jan 20, 2011

    Today's Chart Rankings*
    #18 in Puzzle Games (iPhone)
    #47 in Action Games (iPhone)
    #87 in Top Games (iPhone)
    #180 in Top Apps (iPhone)

    Tempted to leave it free for a few more days to see if it gets any higher, what do you think?
  • mzxmzx Member Posts: 151
    stormystudio said:
    Seems to of been quite successful over 6000 downloads on day one and moved in the American free charts to the following:

    Best Chart Rankings*
    #18 in Puzzle Games (iPhone) on Jan 20, 2011
    #47 in Action Games (iPhone) on Jan 20, 2011
    #87 in Top Games (iPhone) on Jan 20, 2011
    #180 in Top Apps (iPhone) on Jan 20, 2011

    Today's Chart Rankings*
    #18 in Puzzle Games (iPhone)
    #47 in Action Games (iPhone)
    #87 in Top Games (iPhone)
    #180 in Top Apps (iPhone)

    Tempted to leave it free for a few more days to see if it gets any higher, what do you think?

    Just helped you accomplish that goal ;)!
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Cool...

    It has made me think maybe I'll dig the project out, change the bird actor for something less 'Angry Birds', fix the rotating blocks so they work differently, maybe add another load of levels. Release with multitasking enabled...
  • RHRH Member Posts: 1,079
    stormystudio said:
    Tempted to leave it free for a few more days to see if it gets any higher, what do you think?

    How was it doing before the price drop? If it wasn't selling anywhere near as many as you would like, personally I would leave it for a few more days. I have no experience with doing this but that's a good jump in one day [assuming it wasn't ranked prior to the price drop] and it's definitely worth seeing if it picks up momentum because (I'm guessing you price dropped it due to lack of sales) you don't have much too lose?
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    it was getting around 5 paid sales at 99 cents a day....
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Yesterdays chart positions:

    after 35,337 free downloads in one day.... (which for a game I made 9 months ago is very silly)

    #8 in Puzzle Games (iPhone) on Jan 21, 2011
    #11 in Action Games (iPhone) on Jan 21, 2011
    #34 in Top Games (iPhone) on Jan 21, 2011
    #61 in Top Apps (iPhone) on Jan 21, 2011
  • quantumsheepquantumsheep Member Posts: 8,188
    Blimey! Congrats! :D

    Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
    Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io

  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    I THINK I NEED TO DO AN UPDATE ASAP!

    CHANGE THE BIRDS FOR SOMETHING LESS "SIMILAR" TO ANOTHER GAME..

    (Damn you caps lock!!!)

    Also I want to fix the rotating blocks, how best do you think I could do that as the multi touch is just not working...I tried ideas before but nothing worked quite right....you need to be able to spin them easily.

    Also do I chuck ads in?

    Or wait a while then make it paid again?
  • Hey I just tried your game and as much as I love it those rotating block are really frustrating. Maybe when you pick up a rotating block all you have to do is touch the screen and it snaps to 45 degree angles a bit like Tetris. You if you drag it and press once it goes to 45 degrees and if you hit it again it goes to 90 and so on. I don't think the birds are really a priority I really liked the idea as it's like playing the bad guys in angry birds. Overall a fantastic game and hope this goes well for you.
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    thanks eight bit remix...

    the tetris idea for the blocks makes perfect sense, will get it sorted this weekend.

    updated menu page

    http://www.stormystudio.com/images/Main-Menu---Quake-Builder-09.png
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Another sales update:
    It had 51,515 downloads esterday
    Best Chart Rankings*
    #6 in Puzzle Games (iPhone) on Jan 22, 2011
    #11 in Action Games (iPhone) on Jan 22, 2011
    #30 in Top Games (iPhone) on Jan 22, 2011
    #52 in Top Apps (iPhone) on Jan 22, 2011

    Today's Chart Rankings*
    #6 in Puzzle Games (iPhone)
    #11 in Action Games (iPhone)
    #30 in Top Games (iPhone)
    #52 in Top Apps (iPhone)
  • BreezeonholdBreezeonhold Member Posts: 187
    How are people finding the game?? DId you choose good keywords or something?
  • UtopianGamesUtopianGames Member Posts: 5,692
    Amazing results!!!

    Darren.
  • VoidedSkyVoidedSky Member Posts: 1,095
    SWEET! Congratz!!!!!
    Just downloaded twice for you.
    ~CTM
  • DreamLabDreamLab Member Posts: 2,127
    WE should leave more good reviews that way it beats bubble ball. Alot of games are starting to beat angry birds in the free category now.
    DL
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    @CowTechMan - thankyou much appreciated

    @DreamLab, will never say no to some good reviews obviously :-) . I'm just adding a button so if they complete part of the game there will be a button so they can be taken back to the app store to leave a review.

    @Utopian - Cheers

    @BreezeOnHold - not really sure where everyone was/is finding it, I guess when I did the price drop it would of gone up on all the price drop websites and apps, and then maybe had enough downloads off of that to get into the charts which helps boost itself....

    Just got yesterdays results:

    74,874 downloads, so it's ridiculously still going up steadily on the 3rd day.

    Today's Chart Rankings*
    #14 in Action Games (iPhone)

    world rankings here: (Was number one action game yesterday in a few countries)
    http://www.appannie.com/quake-builder/ranking/#view=best-ranks

    It's only in one the american charts now though, so has dropped out of Top Apps, Games, and Puzzles. So the numbers might drop drastically tomorrow. Trying to get the update done but it might be a bit too late in coming by the time it gets approved. But hopefully still get a few views from ads once they're in and working... (Fingers crossed)
  • VoidedSkyVoidedSky Member Posts: 1,095
    Wow, this is great man! I hope you break 100,000 DLs tomorrow!
    ~CTM
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Just change my itunes over to the United States, and found Quake Builder at No.40 in the free Games section.

    Still in all the charts its just TopAppCharts.com was'nt showing it earlier.

    Today's Chart Rankings*
    #9 in Puzzle Games (iPhone)
    #14 in Action Games (iPhone)
    #40 in Top Games (iPhone)
    #68 in Top Apps (iPhone)

    Just publishing an Adhoc build with the new asteroid character, iads and new controls for the rotating blocks. Had to change lots of artwork when getting rid of the birds, but at least I should have a cleaner conscience. :-)

    I wonder if I can write to apple and ask them to turn around the approval extra quick?
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Hmm.. not gonna be submitting my app update tonight Grrrr!

    GameSalad software has decided that my old game will have random problems that did'nt use to be a problem.

    Eg. the earth quake no longer comes on, on random levels.

    I'm sure there is a reason, but I've only changed images and added adverts.

    So I'm not sure if its just GS updates in the past that mean I have problems with a game made with an earlier version or not. Frustrating as I really wanted to submit the game today in the hope of cashing in on all the free downloads before the vanish...
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Ok not sure if anyone cares a great deal but sales have dropped slightly:
    to 65,077

    Making yesterdays todays U.S. chart positions:

    Today's Chart Rankings*
    #11 in Puzzle Games (iPhone)
    #19 in Action Games (iPhone)
    #53 in Top Games (iPhone)
    #91 in Top Apps (iPhone)

    I'm pretty much finished working on the update, just need to play it through to make sure all the levels work as there was a random bug where earthquakes (rotating platform) just did'nt start, making a level much much easier to complete. Some bug caused from working on a project made with GS 0.8 in GS 0.9. Turned out if I deleted a rule and remade it, it is a lot happier.

    The update brings:

    'Asteroids',
    'Multi tasking support'
    'Multi touch blocks fix'
    'Faster Loading times'
    'Animated stormystudio sting'
    'Link on completion so users can leave a review if they like'
    'Slightly easier earlier levels'.
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Finally after 3 days working on the update it is done and submitted. That has been a pretty frantic bit of work trying to cash in on its current chart position. Will it still be in the charts when the update comes out...I doubt it... but fingers severely crossed.

    It's been an age since I've actually had something to submit to the app store, but finally remembered all the steps..

    Now I just need to remake the promo video and the walkthrough one and update those...

    Then take a week off of GameSalad I think. Apart from a quick check of the forum each day and the 12.30pm check on the itunes connect app to see how sales are doing...

    Does anyone know if you get iads data in itunes connect on the app?

    Oh here's the a pic of my app icons and how they've developed over the past year... for discussion.

    image
  • IncrediboIncredibo Member Posts: 274
    Just downloaded me need to ask you something email me plaese

    bo.garza@yahoo.com

    Cheers!
  • JohnPapiomitisJohnPapiomitis Member Posts: 6,256
    stormystudio said:
    Finally after 3 days working on the update it is done and submitted. That has been a pretty frantic bit of work trying to cash in on its current chart position. Will it still be in the charts when the update comes out...I doubt it... but fingers severely crossed.

    It's been an age since I've actually had something to submit to the app store, but finally remembered all the steps..

    Now I just need to remake the promo video and the walkthrough one and update those...

    Then take a week off of GameSalad I think. Apart from a quick check of the forum each day and the 12.30pm check on the itunes connect app to see how sales are doing...

    Does anyone know if you get iads data in itunes connect on the app?

    Oh here's the a pic of my app icons and how they've developed over the past year... for discussion.

    image

    Nice! :)

    I know in your finacial report there will be a seperate listing for ad revenue, not sure about the daily sales check though
  • VoidedSkyVoidedSky Member Posts: 1,095
    Boy! The newest icon is SWEET! Great job man!!!
    ~CTM
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    Glad you like the new icon CTM.

    Would like to make the whole fame again at some point as so much of it could be made better/differently.

    Maybe an update maybe version 2 or maybe a whole new game.

    What are you working on at the mo?
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    latest sales:
    yesterday 33,530....

    so still loads but half less than a few days ago... its slowly dieing....

    Today's Chart Rankings*
    #18 in Puzzle Games (iPhone)
    #28 in Action Games (iPhone)
    #99 in Top Games (iPhone)

    I could really do with my update being approved about 2 days ago...
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    No fracking way, about 2 minutes before I posted my last post...the update has been approved...

    thats pretty quick for apple....

    Woo! finger crossed the update is ok..
Sign In or Register to comment.