Why is this "Warning: Highly Addictive" thing catching on?

[MasterChief3624]

It seems that lately, for every five apps out there, 3 of them have in their description a "disclaimer" or "warning" about the game being highly addictive.

The first time I noticed this was Doodle Jump, and it didn't bother me to see one or two other games along the line using it, but now it seems to be catching on way too fast, and is being put on way too many games lately.

Does putting that "disclaimer" really boost sales that much? I don't see why it would, but people are strange, so who knows :p

[YouAllEverybody]

doesn't really do anything for me at all. they all copied from Doodle jump eh

[MidianGTX]

I don't think I've ever been addicted to a game that claimed to be addictive to be honest.

[tzual]

GeoSpark has the same thing...

[YouAllEverybody]

I don't think I've ever been addicted to a game that claimed to be addictive to be honest.

neither have I, not even Doodle jump.

[starmonkey101]

neither have I, not even Doodle jump.

yea, doodle jump is overrated

[Hodapp]

I believe the developers of Doodle Jump posted somewhere saying that their sales really started to take off when they added the addiction warning, and like most things in the App Store as soon as someone heard that something was successful it got duplicated over and over and over and over... ;)

[TheProxy]

I guess it sort of is like when a game boasts about being very addictive, I want to dislike it more since I'd rather have modest developers instead of braggart ones. Some sort of psychological thing. Either that, or my expectations increase into a skeptical sort, and I end up disliking what other wise might have been a solid game. I love Canabalt, but if it bragged about being addictive in it's title, I probably wouldn't find it all that great. Just my two cents anyway.

[madmud101]

I sort of take it literally and so when it says 'Warning: Highly Addictive' I just think 'well, OK then, I won't buy it' and move on.

They are trying to do some sort of physiological thing where a man says to a kid 'don't press that button' and kid is then curios of why he should not press the button and ends up pressing it just to find out what happens.

For me it just puts me off the game.

[YouAllEverybody]

I believe the developers of Doodle Jump posted somewhere saying that their sales really started to take off when they added the addiction warning, and like most things in the App Store as soon as someone heard that something was successful it got duplicated over and over and over and over... ;)

and now it doesn't work anymore :D

it looked okay on Doodle jump but on the other games it's just been blatantly copied

[Hodapp]

and now it doesn't work anymore :D

it looked okay on Doodle jump but on the other games it's just been blatantly copied

Well I think what developers who are copying them have failed to realize is that Doodle Jump is an amazing game and that's why people are buying it, not because they're looking for some kind of new addiction.

[MidianGTX]

I guess it sort of is like when a game boasts about being very addictive, I want to dislike it more since I'd rather have modest developers instead of braggart ones. Some sort of psychological thing. Either that, or my expectations increase into a skeptical sort, and I end up disliking what other wise might have been a solid game. I love Canabalt, but if it bragged about being addictive in it's title, I probably wouldn't find it all that great. Just my two cents anyway.

I do something similar... when I see that label I assume it basically means the game is highly repetitive. It seems like most games calling themselves addictive actually have quite shallow gameplay, but gameplay that goes on indefinitely like Doodle Jump or any game where you have to avoid objects for as long as possible.

It's almost as though "Warning: Highly Addictive!" could translate directly to "There's not much to this game, but it goes on for aaaaages!".

[Grumps]

I believe the developers of Doodle Jump posted somewhere saying that their sales really started to take off when they added the addiction warning, and like most things in the App Store as soon as someone heard that something was successful it got duplicated over and over and over and over... ;)

It's just a little thing that will spark your attention. You'd probably go, ya right I doubt it but would try out the Lite anyway.

Then again, same goes for Memory Card :)

[Boardumb]

You guys can make fun of those warnings all you want, but they're there for a reason. Trust me, if it wasn't for warning labels I would have drank my bottle of Windex ages ago. It looks delicious.

Maybe when you guys are popping car stereos out of dashboards or B&E'ing homes just to make a quick buck to pay your energy bill, so you can charge up your device for your next fix, you'll take this stuff a little more seriously.

[ChaoticBox]

These are usually the same games that are "Easy to learn, hard to master!". It's just marketing bullshit, but apparently it works on some people.

A note to devs: Putting marketing hype in your app title can leave your actual app name up for grabs. E.g. I just checked on iTunes Connect, and the app name "Doodle Jump" is free to be used by anyone. Apple might reject it, and I'm sure Lima Sky has the dough to protect the name, but devs with less clout might not.

[TheSeldomSeenKid]

Doodle Jump was deleted when I realised it was as addictive as a kick in the crotch. Honestly, it's boring. The best bit about it was the spring noise...

[YouAllEverybody]

I don't think Doodle Jump is boring, it's fun when I don't feel like playing anything else or if I just have two minutes. but I don't play it nonstop..

[derek420]

I never really payed much attention to it, just kind of laughed. I've only seen Doodle Jump & geoSpark have that tag; but imo, I think both warrant the use of that tag, because they are rather entertaining.

[Whosatm]

The sad thing is, a lot of games using the "tag/label" are actually quite boring.

[YouAllEverybody]

I never really payed much attention to it, just kind of laughed. I've only seen Doodle Jump & geoSpark have that tag; but imo, I think both warrant the use of that tag, because they are rather entertaining.

feels like I've seen it on a lot of other games, but now that I'm trying to think of some I can't come up with any :rolleyes:

[bobz56]

I don't think Doodle Jump is boring, it's fun when I don't feel like playing anything else or if I just have two minutes. but I don't play it nonstop..

That's more or less what I do too

[MidianGTX]

That's more or less what I do too

Are you gonna be another Random_Guy and only ever make posts of one sentence or less? :p

[nattylux]

I believe the developers of Doodle Jump posted somewhere saying that their sales really started to take off when they added the addiction warning, and like most things in the App Store as soon as someone heard that something was successful it got duplicated over and over and over and over... ;)

Yup, we did it with geoSpark because Igor swore Doodle Jump took off after the name change. And given that I've seen my sister forego food to play geoSpark, it's pretty accurate ;)

Of course, that does leave us open to "clever" reviews saying something like "Warning - you suck," but hey, can't please everyone.

I'm not sure this is exactly a "trend" yet, though. The only other app I could find that's doing this is Gravulous.

[zamansimba]

Canabalt is highly addictive??

[one f jef]

I don't like that word, to me addictive means damaging, harmful, bad, and to be avoided. So, games that have that word associated with them, I avoid.

I don't know about you guys but I don't particularly feel like being addicted to a game ...

[SunriseMoon]

When I see "Warning: Highly addictive" it makes me think that the game is an endless survival challenge with no levels and the object is to get a highscore, so it's kind of nice.

[MindJuice]

yea, doodle jump is overrated
I agree. I think if it got released today it wouldn't even make a blip on the app charts.

They got in early and got lucky.

Then again, maybe I'm just saying that because I'm jealous! ::p

[funkynubman]

All started with Doodle Jump. geoSpark I can understand why they did it since it's true, but other than that it's just a stupid corny thing.

[sid187]

another thing that bugs me is when they put quoted reviews in the very top before you even get to the description of the game/app. like i care who X says. laughs. i do read the reviews for the app from the regular joes. i do not really care about cherry picked reviewed quotes.

chris.

[ChaoticBox]

another thing that bugs me is when they put quoted reviews in the very top before you even get to the description of the game/app. like i care who X says. laughs. i do read the reviews for the app from the regular joes. i do not really care about cherry picked reviewed quotes.
I admit I'm guilty of that, but it's mostly 'cause a lot of the regular joes' reviews are retarded rants on how the game should be free, and/or how it's stupid, and/or how I'm stupid for not making it free, and/or how they got it when it was free for a day and how you're stupid if you pay for it - I could go on :p

[Bluellama1]

I admit I'm guilty of that, but it's mostly 'cause a lot of the regular joes' reviews are retarded rants on how the game should be free, and/or how it's stupid, and/or how I'm stupid for not making it free, and/or how they got it when it was free for a day and how you're stupid if you pay for it - I could go on :p
Please go on, those are the kind of reviews I love! "Ges wat aal wurld, your dum for paying for thes app, i got it for FREE!"

[ChaoticBox]

Please go on...
Here's a review for my app flOOid on the Canada store:
Stupid - How can you charge money for this crap?

I wish I could reply to this guy 'cause the answer is simple: No one wanted it when it was free, so now you gotta pay. :p

FYI: flOOid (formerly Flux) was an internal R&D project originally released as an experiment, and has since become a bit of a running joke. I know it's pointless and I know it's useless, but I keep updating it with more useless crap just to see what happens. The punch line is that it sells more copies than my games. I'm now seriously thinking of adding "WARNING! HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!" to the app store name :D

[nephilim apps]

because everyone wants people their game might be somewhat related to doodle jump? idk i hate it when people do shit like this