Real techniques for making MONEY in the app store (LONG)

yxsjwsb

I read research that says that most iPad apps, whether successful or not, are never really dug into that far. So you have most users playing less than an hour. I think that research was pulled by the guy who wrote 'Alice', one of the best selling apps ever. So that tells me that gloss and finish is incredibly important, with catchy gameplay, but that a Dev shouldn't spend forever creating enormous depth in the game.

I think this could be consistent with the poster's message. If your audience isn't the same gamer as ps3, why try to create a game with that much depth, especially for $1 ( oh, wait, .70 cents) . As long as its quality, engaging work, you've done the right thing. And for games that are longer, make the gamer pay to unlock. We all spend alot of time on development, and should get paid appropriately. So I appreciate the poster's communication!

yemi

Even though this is a year old I think the advice in this articule is invaluble to any new developers!!

Elfizm

I think it's a load of BS from a buyers point of view. I am getting sick of trying to support the GS community by buying every game that comes out and find out they are just templates that they paid for at GShelper.com or deepblueapps.com. Honestly creating heaps of low quality is not the way to go. Templates are meant to be learnt, not to be published with the title page art changed.

Maybe it's forgotten that if people play it once your not getting any ad revenue.
I have lost trust in games selling for 99c to be good unless by big companies such as zeptolab and rovio.
Pushing games and advertising that new games just makes me go delete.

If your a money making person who wants to rip people off, go a head. Or get a real job that pays daily because it might pay better and continuous.

Elfizm

mrpacogp

And whats up if you have alot of friends than comes to app store and vote 5 starts to your app?

GraphicWarehouse

thanks for the advice, it sounds good

yemi

I think its sound advice , even if you make a solid game for 6 months because of how the appstore works you probably make as much money as a person who made a simpler game with 2 months of development. Also I noticed a mental pattern were if a game blows up everyone talks about what that game did right and if a game doesnt blow up everyone is like oh you got this and that wrong. To me personally all of the games in Gamesalads Arcade is better then doodle jump , yet everyone will claim its the best game ever. Whether people like to admit it or not the appstore isnt run but skill but by luck and those who have the biggest promotional power.

Ebreeze

A lot of the top apps in the AppStore took several months or a year to create..soon there will be no money is releasing sub par apps on the AppStore

pinkio75

Hi
about my experience, I can say that much of what said @skotleach
for me is very important and I admit that I follow many of the things that he said as in step 4.
Certainly make a "great App" is definitely the best way to have success, but today this is really hard for us small developers for many reason;
rather for us to realize many nice Apps and monetize them is possible;
I personally do this with good results, with iAd, inApp, PlayHaven
that allow me to live and pay the bills
Anyway thanks for this tips.