'New Releases' gone on new App Store

TouchTiltGames

Unless I couldn't find it, I did not see new releases for Games on the new App Store using iOS 6. It makes it even harder to get noticed although their new search engine might help there...

RacetotheMoon

Yes. They are gone.. and yes this makes it now next to impossible to get noticed.

TouchTiltGames

Google Play Store does this too...As a Dev I hate this.

RacetotheMoon

Yes. My sales on the Google Play store are stellar.
/sarcasm

In fact, the first sale of my latest game was returned. Later that evening I saw the *.apk available for download on a pirate site..

TouchTiltGames

Yup that's inevitable on that 'store'. Oh we'll look at it as free exposure

tenrdrmer

My comment on this from another thead.

Unfortunately its the nature of the beast I think. They probably don't want to lose the massive numbers of apps they have available but they probably also don't want people to to see the massive amount of crap and clones available out there either. It may get harder to get a win but in the long run when you do I would bet its a far more rewarding one.

floydianspiral

I have a hard time believing a game could hit huge sales only because someone saw it on a new release tab. I like the iOS 6 iPad store but absolutely despise the iPhone one as it seems like they tried to cram the iPad one in a tinier package with too many swipes in different directions + hardly seeing the names of apps...Still, to me it's always been about making a game that stands out, and if it does and gets reviewed by the big 3-4 websites you can still gain exposure. I think weeding out a lot of the crap is necessary now that the store is so big.

greenrhyno

New release lists are important and better than anything else to gain some initial exposure for your app. I think the reason both Google Play and now iOS got rid of them is because since you could always count on a bunch of sales at release time even if you released a not so great app. Maybe this is there way to cut down on gaming the system. I think a better way (at least for apple) would be to tighten app reviews and not let as much through. That is hard to do though since app quality and value is somewhat subjective.

Anyways I guess new releases were for some a way to game the system so they are gone even though for most developers they were and important and even necessary tool to at least make some money on that app you worked so hard on. I for one am very sad to see the new release lists go away on google play and now on iOS.

zombiesdrule

This just seems like another road block, darn you apple.
How long before there is an app that list all the new releases to replace this missing function? Everyone I know finds there new apps by looking at the new release section.

I feel like I will be very sad when I check appannie in the morning.

entersimon

It's there, but it's essentially hidden away.

On the iPad:

Click featured.

Click on any category of games.

New Apps will show up here.

greenrhyno

@entersimon- Sorry to burst your bubble, but "New" in the catagories section of featured is not the same as new releases. Those are still apps featured by apple. I'm not sure if it is the same as the old category "New & Noteworthy" that existed on desktop iTunes. It will be easier to be featured there than in the main New & Noteworthy, but that is still controlled by Apple and not every app will get into there.

New Releases let everyone in regardless of Apple features or anything else.

TouchTiltGames

It appears the App Store refresh is now pushed back 1 day too. So it's Wednesday evening instead of Thursday (on the east coast).

ironDan

Did anyone really think "New" meant Dev's games would have an advantage because it's new. Sure it gave a place for all of us to see our game/app in the iTUNES store without having to sort through 1 million pages. But if it really helped out sales then any one of us with a game/app out there would be considered successfull and justify a reason to care it's gone. Think?? I just dropped a "New" turd in the toilet this morning, but I highly doubt anyone would want to buy it cause it's fresh...so just keep trying to come up with something you feel people are willing to spend some ca$h on and hope Apple thinks it's New And Noteworthy to get the extra notice....Or, try marketing your app in a way that people will seek it out in the search bar. Just my 2 cents.

Dan

JamesLewis

I was horrified to see a 50% drop in my sales yesterday upon the release of ios6. This may have been because of people updating to ios6 and downloading etc. but I think the updated App Store could be the problem...

Potential problems I've noted from around the web...

- No new releases listed.

- Upon searching for an app you're presented with 1 large image a details for the top search. Are people really gong to scroll through many pages to find your app?

http://searchengineland.com/apple-app-search-shows-only-one-result-at-a-time-133818

- less apps per page. Icons appear larger.

- algorithm for charts seems to have been changes significantly.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57517241-37/app-store-rankings-rejiggered-in-move-to-ios-6/


It's going to be harder than ever for people to find our apps...

Look forward to reading your comments.

James

JamesLewis

Another interesting link....

http://ipad.about.com/b/2012/09/21/do-you-like-the-new-app-store.htm

James

JamesLewis

I'm on a roll now. Another link...

http://appadvice.com/appnn/2012/09/did-apple-break-the-app-store

IsabelleK

- No new releases listed.

I can see new releases list on my iPad (iOS 6). Just go to Featured, choose Games/Category - there are New games. All new, and good games are featured there - all of my games were there.
You can click See All to check more New games.

- Upon searching for an app you're presented with 1 large image a details for the top search. Are people really gong to scroll through many pages to find your app?

This is great that your first screenshots is showed - this can bump your sales. You just need to make a really good screenshot, and choose good keywords.

less apps per page. Icons appear larger.

That's cool, because if you have a good icon, it will be better visible.

- algorithm for charts seems to have been changes significantly.

It is changed. Someone has posted a link in the forums - now the longer users play the game, the higher it is in the charts. You just need to make a good game, that users want to play.

Oh, and BTW I didn't notice ANY sales drop.

It's all about good games now, and not poor, fake, or rip-offs apps.
I like the new changes.

Manto

My sales were the same. But after reading through the pages you linked (Thanks for them, btw), I also feel that the App Store is worse than before. Really disappointed if there's no more new releases listed.

JamesLewis

I agree that all seems good with the iPad. I love the large screen shot with the icon. But check the iPhone. This is the problem.

It's very difficult to view apps through the new search .....

There is no new releases list. There's New & Noteworthy for each category. I checked some of the release dates in the education category (I make educational apps). There are apps dating back over 6 months.

I'm glad you saw no drop in sales. I'm eagerly awaiting my figures for yesterday. But I've been scanning other app developer forums and many are experiencing problems.

I agree it's about good games/apps. I make quality apps.

But I believe the App Store is becoming a harder place for the independent developer to make money...

And please forgive the poor English in my original post. In a rush ... Using the iPad.

J

IsabelleK

I really don't know how many people buy apps directly on their devices (it would be great if Apple provide us such info), but as a player (I used to spend a lot of money for iOS games), I didn't buy any app on the device.
I just prefer doing it on my computer - it's much more comfortable, especially since we can synchronize our devices wireless.

Apple simply wants to put an end to fake, poor, and just stupid apps, which managed to get through their review system.

And BTW, you can't say about sales drop after few days - you have to wait at least few weeks to be able to tell that your sales are lower.

The_Gamesalad_Guru

Heck a drop of 50% could mean instead of 6 a day he got 3 who knows.

IsabelleK

Heck a drop of 50% could mean instead of 6 a day he got 3 who knows.

Yeah, it depends on average sales. If you sell 5000 games everyday, your lowest sales were 3000, and now you sold 2500 in one day - there is something to worry about.
You need to find the problem (icon, title, keywords, screenshots, etc.), and improve it.

JamesLewis

@themoonwalls

I agree. One should wait some time for making such sweeping judgements re app sales. But it's a dramatic fall. One I've never had before. And I've noticed a 15% drop in sales since Apple changed the search algorithm in July.

But I thought you'd all find the research I'd uncovered interesting. Wouldn't appear to be just me who's been affected.

@fryingbaconstudios

I make a good income from apps. I've been developing on and off for 2 years with Gamesalad. Not on the forums often I'm afraid.

Just thought this might be an interesting topic for discussion.

Looking for some honest, friendly feedback.

J

JamesLewis

@themoonwalls

Thanks for the heads up re the algorithm change discussion.

Check out this link

http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/kolinko/new-rules-in-app-store-search

J

IsabelleK

@JamesLewis I know I'm repeating myself, but good icon, with good screenshots, and keywords can make miracles.
I used to work at least few hours (personal record is two days) just choosing the right keywords for each game.

JamesLewis

@moonwalls. Couldn't agree more re icon, keywords etc.

It's going to be interesting what works as your first screenshot now, baring in mind it's there with the icon.... Another chance to 'sell' with a decent choice of image etc.

AcceleratedGames

This new design of the App Store is actully working in my favor. I had double the sales of two days ago yesterday. It's probably because I have iPhone 5 screen shots, orange (the main color of my app incon) on black always pops, and my first screen shot is descriptive of what the app is. You guys should do the same.

JamesLewis

Now it looks like the AppStore has crashed on my iPhone?! And reverted back to the previous version. All v strange.

@acceleratedgames Good for u re sales. Yes, I'm getting onto the screenshots tomorrow....

lycettebros

Hmm I have noticed a drop too. Only in revenue at the moment not actual d/l.
This could be an aberration...too early to tell as said above BUT if many people are seeing it then there well may be something happening.

More time will tell.

AcceleratedGames

This new design of the App Store is actully working in my favor. I had double the sales of two days ago yesterday. It's probably because I have iPhone 5 screen shots, orange (the main color of my app incon) on black always pops, and my first screen shot is descriptive of what the app is. You guys should do the same.

Here's the screen shot that I mentioned:

greenrhyno

@ironDan - Nice Metaphor. The new release list has helped me many times get an app up the charts at launch. I'm not sure why you think people will magically search for your new app and that will create sales. And no, getting in "New & Noteworthy" is not a valid launch strategy, it is just not something anyone can or should count on but it is an awesome bonus if it happens. Have you actually had an app in the main "New & Noteworthy" (not category but the main one)? If you have then congrats, but I think the advice to just get your app on "New & Noteworthy" is naive and unrealistic. Just my two cents.