Paid -> free = ★ ?!

[Carlos]

Toucharcaders have *always* been notified first when I made Libra Balance (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/libra-balance/id329758637?mt=8) free. (Also this is the place where I give away nearly all promo codes.)
http://libra.nyisztorkaroly.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Libra12Classic.jpg
Unfortunately this proved not to be a too smart move. I was happy to see that there were over 2000 downloads / day when the game was free, however I've got many 1 star reviews after this action.
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The game was 4 and 3+ stars before, but now it's only 2.5!
I've updated the game 3 times, trying to implement all the requested improvements.
However, due to the poor ratings, sales dropped drastically.

My other game, 3D Jingle Balls (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/3d-jingle-balls/id345606804?mt=8) got only 4 and 5 star ratings.
It has never been free.
http://jingleballs.nyisztorkaroly.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/XMasOutside21.jpg
Based on the same engine as Libra Balance, the only difference is that it has seasonal themes (Christmas trees, snowman, teddy bear, etc.). Check out the user review here (http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=39262).

All I ask you is to support me with some honest ratings, or even a better, a review. :)

The best reviews will be rewarded with a promo code for our upcoming game (top secret right now ;), will be published in february). Just don't forget to PM me.

Thank you in advance!

Cheers,
Carlos

[drelbs]

I can't tell you why, because I know they're the same game engine, but I have a lot more fun with 3D Jingle Balls than I ever did with Libra Balance (and you have definitely improved on the original version...) I think the Christmas theme fits the game very well.

Might be a little late for Valentines Day, but maybe a green, shamrock and leprechaun-laden version might to well for ya...

What else could you do, billiards? :confused:

[bleeper]

The concept and graphics are great, but the accelerometer calibration issue makes the game more difficult than it should be, IMO.

My guess is that when you made the game free, the downloads were mostly from casual gamers who wouldn't put in the time and effort necessary to overcome the lack of calibration before giving it a bad rating.

[Carlos]

@drelbs: Thanks for the feedback. Indeed, I must admit, the gameplay is way easier in 3D Jingle Balls (it was mainly intended for kids ;). The holes are bigger, the balls are flyweight, and the plate meshes provide lot of help by not letting the balls fall down easy off the edges.

@bleeper: I think you are right regarding the bad ratings. Same happened to another dev who made his game free for Halloween.
Regarding the calibration issue: I assume that most players don't get it that you actually do not control the balls like in Labyrinth-style games.
Actually you control the platter by tiliting / turning / shanking your iDevice, and not the balls directly. Once I explained this to a guy he managed to get into the top 10 instantly.

[Drkdstoyer]

i've been trying to leave u a review :) but itunes is messin up :( So ill post when i leave u one:)

[New England Gamer]

I have said this before and I think the same applies here too. When a game is free many people download it for the heck of it - just because its free and it might interest them. They might play the game for a bit, decide for whatever reason that they don't like it, then delete it off their device. The problem there is that whenever you go to delete an app, apple puts up their little - would you like to rate this app before you delete it screen. That is the WORST time to have someone rate an app! They are in the process of deleting it - of COURSE they will rate it a 1 or 2 just out of spite! People won't be deleting an app if they think its 5 star worthy! I think many ratings get skewed that way because of the impulse buy and delete. When someone has to pay for the app they have something invested in it, even if its only 99 cents. I think apple has harmed devs in their quest for more ratings in that way.

[Drkdstoyer]

Hey man i rated it finally :) my apple reviewer name is Hunt.14 :D check it out!!!!!

[Carlos]

@New England Gamer: Indeed, that sounds logical.

@Drkdstoyer: Thank you! Hope will show up shortly. :)

[Drkdstoyer]

I hope it helps :( sry your game is biting the dust :( I have been trying to convince all of my friends to get it sooo i hope it helps :)

[Gravity Jim]

The more you pay, the more it's worth.

[Stroffolino]

It's true that the rate on delete feature caused the average rating for many apps to plumet. It has a particularly harsh effect on free apps. But despite this, there are still many free apps that manage to hang on to mostly 5 star ratings. The game has to be mainstream and appealing enough to not have people impulsively deleting it.

I have said this before and I think the same applies here too. When a game is free many people download it for the heck of it - just because its free and it might interest them. They might play the game for a bit, decide for whatever reason that they don't like it, then delete it off their device. The problem there is that whenever you go to delete an app, apple puts up their little - would you like to rate this app before you delete it screen. That is the WORST time to have someone rate an app! They are in the process of deleting it - of COURSE they will rate it a 1 or 2 just out of spite! People won't be deleting an app if they think its 5 star worthy! I think many ratings get skewed that way because of the impulse buy and delete. When someone has to pay for the app they have something invested in it, even if its only 99 cents. I think apple has harmed devs in their quest for more ratings in that way.

[Carlos]

I hope it helps :( sry your game is biting the dust :( I have been trying to convince all of my friends to get it sooo i hope it helps :)
Thanks! Fortunately this is not my only income, however it would be nice to at least get back the initial investments. No problem, the AppStore is still the best place for indie devs imho. I want to believe! ;)

[da shiz wiz 19]

IMO it's the PEOPLE who are doing the rating. The cheap-skates who dont buy anything and dont understand the work the devs puts in, and what an app is REALLY worth.

[Carlos]

The more you pay, the more it's worth.
This is an axiom. (I will rise the price! ;) )

[Carlos]

It's true that the rate on delete feature caused the average rating for many apps to plumet. It has a particularly harsh effect on free apps. But despite this, there are still many free apps that manage to hang on to mostly 5 star ratings. The game has to be mainstream and appealing enough to not have people impulsively deleting it.
Hard to anticipate: sometimes the best intentions turn against the dev. In my case, the simplistic process of creating an offline (or online) user profile made some people angry. However, this was actually a feature, which allowed more players to play and manage highscores on the very same iDevice. Lesson learned...

[Carlos]

Thank you very much for the help so far!

[bleeper]

@bleeper: I think you are right regarding the bad ratings. Same happened to another dev who made his game free for Halloween.
Regarding the calibration issue: I assume that most players don't get it that you actually do not control the balls like in Labyrinth-style games.
Actually you control the platter by tiliting / turning / shanking your iDevice, and not the balls directly. Once I explained this to a guy he managed to get into the top 10 instantly.

I always knew that you control the platter and not the balls... However, after reading your reply I revisited Libra Balance and focused on the platter a lot more than on the balls, and there was a subtle shift in the gameplay experience for me. The game simply became very challenging, rather than frustrating. I guess I couldn't see the forest for the trees. Mea culpa. :o

I still think a bit of accelerometer sensitivity calibration would be nice, but I no longer think it's a necessity. You might want to include a tip to focus on the platter in your help screens in-game... I think it would help a lot. I hadn't rated the game before, so I just gave it a 5 star rating.

[Carlos]

Thanks, bleeper! Especially for shedding some light on the importance of emphasizing that you actually control the plater. PM'd you.

[minorpane]

Notice how free games are always lower rated?

[PhagoCychotic]

Mostly all free games have low ratings, it's straight bullcrap. Especially for games that are challenging but fun. Freeloaders don't get the challenging part and rate it as such. Especially when the game isn't from a big name publisher.

Libra Balance is FUN!

[Carlos]

Mostly all free games have low ratings, it's straight bullcrap. Especially for games that are challenging but fun. Freeloaders don't get the challenging part and rate it as such. Especially when the game isn't from a big name publisher.

Libra Balance is FUN!

Thanks! :)
I submitted updates for Libra Balance and 3D Jingle Balls (just a few minutes ago for the latter).
Improvements:
1.) The annoying highscore popup has been removed completely.
2.) Initial profile creation is also not required anymore.
The Agon guys improved the framework (a default profile is ready made and available right upon startup - later on you can customize it, or even promote it to an online profile).

So two pain-points have been eliminated, let's see how people will rate the improvements. ;)
Besides, some additional visual effects have also been added, and the highscore management became also more balanced :D in the case of Libra Balance.

I expect both updates will be available within a week or two from now on.

[jen12323]

I think anytime there is a learning curve in a game, especially if you really need to learn the controls, people tend to delete it if it's free, and rate it low when prompted at deletion. Often I find low ratings but the reviews are excellent. I tend to believe the reviews not the ratings.

[The prez 12521]

the app store is crazy, TTR3 had like 4 stars on the paid list, then went free and its got like 1 and a half!!! Everybody who gets the free game expects more out of a free game, they dont like full free games, but they love lite free games?!?! Super Ramen BROTHers deserves to be number 1. forever.

[thevagrant]

As bad as I feel for you, I think this is a lesson that all devs should learn : if you value your work, the efforts you put in and the quality of your product, don't make it free.

Hard work is worth money, and making an app free tends to dismiss this very simple fact. People don't care about things they didn't pay for and probably don't really value something that was free for them.

10 seconds of download, 20 seconds of uninterested play, 1 star rating.