What makes an app successful on gamesalad forums?

http_gamesalad

How many downloads should an app have to be deemed successful on here? I asked a question about zombie drop and @deepblueapps said it had hundreds of downloads ... So I'm making an assumption an app with 500 downloads plus is considered successful on gamesalad?

Armelline

If you are happy with the game you made and enjoyed the time you spent making it, it was successful.

Don't get fixated by download numbers unless you are only in this for money.

My least downloaded game had less than 10 downloads, my most downloaded had thousands. But I didn't make any of them to try to rake in money, so they were all successful in my book. My current Pro status is due at least in part to a game that had single digit downloads!

jamie_c

It all depends on what you consider 'successful' to mean, what defines a successful game to YOU?

jorkos

For me, successful apps are ones that are used by parents and educators to help children learn, period. Everything goes from there

Braydon_SFX

@Armelline‌ said: If you are happy with the game you made and enjoyed the time you spent making it, it was successful.

Completely agree. If I created a game that made a large income, but didn't have fun creating it, I'd be happy about the results, sure. However, there's something about creating a game and really enjoying it - that feeling is what keeps me in game development. My games don't get hundreds of thousands of downloads, but I enjoy reading the reviews that inform me how much fun the players are having. It's a delight to see that others are enjoying the game that brought me so much joy when I created it.

UtopianGames

I think the main thing is to have fun and be proud of your games the rest will hopefully follow.

Darren.

http_gamesalad

@Armelline‌ @jamie_c‌ @DeepBlueApps‌ @Braydon_SFX‌ @jorkos‌ the reason I started making apps is because I thought I had something to offer to people around the world. I make apps for fun! Its not about the money.. tbh I didn't even know you could make that much money off of apps. Besides, app making really keeps me busy.. If I didn't start making app I don't know what I would be doing after I'm done with my homework.

I'm asking this is because I would like my app to be part of gamesalad's featured games http://gamesalad.com/creator/featured-games . Maybe I'm getting a little ahead of my self.. I made this app and released it 4 days ago I'm just about to hit 1,000 downloads and I've had a 999% growth rate since day one! This is my second app I'm put on the app store so I'm super hyped seeing my app battle out for the 500-800 spot on the App market! So I was asking to see how I could get my app on Gamesalad's Featured Games.. To see what requirements or standards I'll have to meet to be considered to be put on there.

Braydon_SFX

@http_gamesalad‌ said: the reason I started making apps is because I thought I had something to offer to people around the world. I make apps for fun! Its not about the money..

Then you, my friend, are on the right path.

Thunder_Child

@http_gamesalad‌

hey broseph...when I saw your app on Sensor Tower and its rating I was pumped for you...and then today seeing your app by just typing "simple" in the App Store search box...I thought yep I would consider that a success on your game. I know I never have had 1000 DL in 3 days so kudos for you man ! Its cool your doing it for fun...there's no pressure that way. I started out with "oh Im going to make money"...now that bubble has burst..lol...Im having fun too.

Good job!

jamie_c

@http_gamesalad, I see. Makes good sense to me.

If you want to get 'featured' by GS, you might contact them directly and ask if you can be, they don't always watch and read every forum post. I'm pretty sure when they first added the 'featured' section there was a link you could follow to submit your game, adding screen shots, descriptions etc...

I just looked on the page, the link to submit is at the bottom, check it out.

http://gamesalad.com/creator/featured-games

Lovejoy

Im going to be a little more real with you on this topic. Just releasing an app may be a success for some, but in real world standards it is not considered a success unless it reaches a certain rank. An apps success is rated based on rank on the App Store, and/or $$ made.

Apps get a boost in downloads in the beginning after being released, around 2 weeks after either you get good steady downloads, small downloads or go into the zombie pile. Even a few downloads a day is still considered zombie app. So if you fall into this zombie app category, then your app is not a success.

(When i say zombie app I'm talking about dead apps/not many downloads)

As far a gamesalad app success, i don't see how its any different than any other app out there. It still goes through the same channels and gets rated amongst every other app out there. That is unless you count Gamesalad's GotM or GotY etc.

http_gamesalad

@lovejoy yeah, once I found out how much cash you could make it was a plus to .. I mean the app market is a $40 billion dollar industry. With my first app it never went this far. I got 30 downloads the first day (and I was so over joyed! and thought to my self this is going to be the biggest thing out!) the next day I got 15 I believe and now its struggling between getting 1 download a day. I put it on the app market since July and its not getting 124 downloads.

I posted my newest app on the 21h honestly thinking it will get 100 MAYBE 200 downloads in its lifetime. I was so shocked when I woke up the next day and seeing 102 downloads and a 999% growth rate and the downloads just kept getting higher and @Thunder_Child‌ (the person who tested out the app told me I was rated 650 on the iPhone app store) I almost had a heart attack. I never thought in a million years an idea I came up with in the shower would be anywhere close to the top 1000 apps and have a 4.5 star rating!

But I strongly agree with you! It's the figures of how much money you make that really determines how successful you are as an app maker. I'm going to buy pro next month & add iAds to the app!