Developer's Roundtable - Helping each other with downloads

Hopscotch

Hi all,

@Basement_Studios‌ and I have been toying with the following idea -

could there be enough camaraderie among the GS developers to make a developer's roundtable feasible?

To gain traction upon the release of a new game is hard but not impossible. A few hundred downloads per day and some positive ratings, over the first three days after release, is enough to give a decent game a sporting chance on the app stores.

Considering that we are all at this juncture at some point in time, would it not be cool if fellow developers jump in and support the birth of a new app? Supporting with downloads, and if they feel it is reasonable, to include some social sharing.

For this purpose we have launched a free blog/platform on which you can now promote your games and hopefully subscribe to, to be informed of new games in need of your support.

Follow the 3rd link in my signature if you are interested. Twitter is gaining followers fast, but we need some apps on the front page (other than my own ;-) ), so please submit your apps.

I believe this can work if we rally together and I would love to see some more GS developers topping the app store charts!

Braydon_SFX

Great idea; and even better if it works! I've seen these threads before and unfortunately they quickly sink. Personally, I'd love to do this.

jamie_c

At the very least it's an idea worth trying out. I'm on my way to the link now...

3DMA

I really like this idea. I had a look at your Page... maybe it could be a bit optimized but it looks promising.

From the description within the page it is not 100% clear so i ask:
Is this limited to GameSalad created Apps only? I have a few that i´ve made with Xcode.
And are only Games accepted? I create mainly utility Apps.

I really hope that a lot devs participate in this.

Good luck

Hopscotch

@Braydon_SFX, this is my fear also.

It is understandable, during development we are usually heads down in our own soup, then when we want to release our app we wonder where is everyone? :-)

I think the key is to have a system where fellow developers get informed of new releases, not hoping that they stumble upon it on the forums.

If developers follow the twitter, facebook, and/or subscribe to the newsletter, then chances are they should see it. Goodwill forthcoming, it should then be little effort to support our fellow developers.

Hopscotch

@jamie_c, thank you Hope to see your apps on there.

Hopscotch

@3DMA, this is why it is a real plea to the GS community, the site has been active only today and I have had numerous emails from "foreign" developers. I would like to see a bit of fire/initiative/solidarity from inside the GS community.

3DMA

Well, as long as it is for us and to help each other, i am happy to help you with this website. i am also Webdesigner and developer. Any question you may have feel free to ask ;-)

Hopscotch

@jamie_c, congrats and thank you, your app is up

unbeatenpixel

I have an idea about that,now I'm little busy,in 2 days I will open new topic,I hope this can help each other,we are indie developer,we must hold tightly to each other!

If we don't? Big guys will continue kick our ass with ads budget.

bjandthekatz

I'll submit my game in a week or two when its published. I love the idea.

colander

For something like this to last it would have to be run by someone (Maybe @Hopscotch as he has already made a start) who would put in time which means it would probably have to be paid and incorporate some sort of points system. And make it available to GS Pro users only so it is kept within the community.

You could put one app or multiple apps up at a time for review. When an app reaches x number of reviews it is removed and the next one in the queue is put up.

A Reviewer earns points for each review and when they reach a set number of points they can pay a small fee and put their app in the queue. If they earn a much larger number of points they can join the queue and not pay the fee. This way each subsides the other depending on their circumstances.

For example a developer who wants their apps reviewed quickly and has earned x points can pay to get their app in the queue earlier while still providing reviews. It'll cost them in time spent writing reviews and money. Where as a developer who doesn't have a lot of apps or money can write a lot of reviews which is what the service is about. And they get their apps reviewed for the cost of their time spent, no dollars to pay.

Of course this would be a lot of work for someone and if the critical mass and support is not there it would't be worth their time. But if someone with the expertise wanted to put in the effort and take a shot I'd support it.

If people are earning something, even if it's just points they are more likely to do it. Anyway this is just a thought bubble.

Hopscotch

@colander, just to be clear, this is not a review site. It is purely an attempt to present new games easier to fellow developers, who in turn will help with downloads.

Hopscotch

@onelasttime‌ , that's the spirit!

Hopscotch

Good stuff @bjandthekatz‌, keeping a space for you

colander

@Hopscotch said:
colander, just to be clear, this is not a review site. It is purely an attempt to present new games easier to fellow developers, who in turn will help with downloads.

I got that it is just my 2 cents on what I think might work over time. As was said earlier by @Braydon_SFX they get forgotten.

gingagaming

Hi @Hopscotch‌ I wish you the best of luck with this. Its great to see you spending the time to do something that is greatly needed inside the indie dev world. I have just submitted my latest game MR BIT™ and I look forward to seeing it live on your new website! Thank you in advance!

jamie_c

@Hopscotch, that was a quick post! I went to bed and woke up to find it already posted on the site, thanks!

I'll probably submit my other two games later today as long as you don't mind posting things that have already been available for several months?

ookami007

I think this is a great idea. I love community helping community but I am a little confused as to exactly how it would work.

I do have 3 games I could submit.

I like the idea of a point system... but, how could it ever be verified. I doubt you can write an API into the play store to verify.

Hopscotch

@jamie_c, the more the merrier!

Hopscotch

@gingagaming‌, thank you for the wishes! You submission is up

Hopscotch

@ookami007‌, thank you! Bring your games on!

@ookami007 said:
I love community helping community but I am a little confused as to exactly how it would work.

I do have 3 games I could submit.

I like the idea of a point system... but, how could it ever be verified. I doubt you can write an API into the play store to verify.

I am hoping that fellowship alone will drive this, I hope I am not too naive.

The reason why I want to steer clear of any kind of incentivised system is because it is not allowed by the app stores and endangers our developer account. As fickle as the app stores are, I don't want to even go near any grey lines.

Surely we would all at some point like to call on the support of the community when our new game is done? Surely it is not too much to expect a mere follow to the blog, react when someone publishes a game and supporting it with a download. The favour will be returned when it is your turn to launch your newest game.

I hope the trend (84 people have read this thread, but only a handful have shown their support by following the blog) turns positive now that a few games are posted on the blog.

Please spread the word, and yes, older games are welcome too.

jamie_c

I'll be downloading the listed games to show my support for sure, along with offering ratings and/or reviews.

Hopscotch

119 views on this thread, and only 2 GS users subscribed to the blog.

On the other hand there are almost daily questions about marketing, how to promote your app or get more downloads.

I am not going to give up so easily on you!

The blog is for mutual support,
promote your games on it
and subscribe to help out your fellow developers.
They will do the same for you!

No costs, no monetisation, help grow this into a great promotional tool to get that first boost in downloads.

Have a look at the awesome "Game of the Month" submissions, there are quality games being made with GS.

GameSalad is not a toy, it is a user friendly and accessible way of creating fantastics cross platform games.

It is time that you take your marketing just as serious!

OK?

Hopscotch

CriticalGames

@Hopscotch - I think this is a great idea and applaud you for getting it started. I've just followed the website and twitter account, and plan to submit my apps in the near future (one of them has an update coming very soon). I'll also definitely be checking out everyone else's apps on there.

Hopefully it will become a wonderful resource for the GS community!

Hopscotch

@CriticalGames, super and thank you, that's the spirit!

PhilipCC

@Hopscotch said:
colander, just to be clear, this is not a review site. It is purely an attempt to present new games easier to fellow developers, who in turn will help with downloads.

This is terrific and I'm in.

I'm glad this is not an "exchange reviews" idea because Apple have cracked down hard on the people participating in them.

I participate in a few App Developer Facebook Groups. In one in particular some developers with hundreds of Reviews and Ratings had them all wiped off by Apple in one fell swoop. Some were participating in an organized review exchange and others were even buying reviews! In February I asked them what did they think Apple would do when it came to their attention.

I posted the release of one of my apps in one of these FB groups and four participants gave me 5* Ratings and 2-3 word Reviews such as: "Great app" or "Love it".

This app only had 13 reviews in total, 9 legit and the 4 bogus ones, but guess what happened when Apple cracked down? They wiped the 4 bogus reviews!

How do I know? When you first review an app, Apple ask you to choose a nickname which is automatically applied to every review you give thereafter. Of course this nickname is tied to your iTunes Account. It is not that difficult for Apple to match up Developer Accounts with iTunes Accounts via software that trawls the databases looking for matches of names, email addresses etc. If a developer's nickname turns up on dozens of reviews, and that developers's own app reviews come from a similar pool of developer nicknames it's a good indication that something sneaky is up.

Those that lost all their reviews had multiple apps that virtually had reviews from the same big pool of participating developers or those who used Rating and Review services.

A member of another FB Group, who did use a Rating and Review service, posted that he lost all his reviews on all of his company's apps and also got a warning notice from Apple that they would terminate his account. Some of his apps had hundreds of reviews! Serves him right.

So, tread warily people.

phamtastic

I'm in... I will signup and help our GS games.

angrywookie

Great idea! I just submitted and will help out.

Hopscotch

Thanks everyone, all support is welcome. Remember this is for you!

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