Hi all, Our first game ever has made the Apple New & Noteworthy list in the Apple UK Store but I had a question regarding this which I am unable to find the answer for. Essentially, before we found out that we were on the list, we were prepping our 1.1 update. However, now we are on there, I am afraid that submitting an update will put the app back into the approval process and remove the app listing from New & Noteworthy? Does anyone have insight into the impact of updating your app while it is being featured by Apple?
No, an update is a separate approval process. Your app will stay in the store while the update is being approved. Updates while being featured is better, more visibility.
Thanks for the awesomely quick response Zincous. Phew! Good to know that updates will not affect our Featured listing
There is also the school of thought that says "While being featured, don't touch ANYTHING!" I've heard many stories from developers, including me, who changed something and it had a negative effect on sales. Sometimes it is hard to tell if it was from what you changed or just coincidence though. App Store superstition at its best.
My game is featured in Germany's new and noteworthy starting today. Does is stay on this list for a full week? I changed an image.
We were fortunate enough to have Pig Rush featured in New and Noteworthy in the US, Mexico, Canada, and Japan last week. I read somewhere that Apple refreshes the New and Noteworthy list every Tuesday, so I'm assuming something will change by the end of today. I'm just curious what happens after the one week. Does an app move up in the list, or is it no longer considered "New"? Will it go to "What's hot" if it did well?
No each category is completely separate. Flickitty never made it to "New and Noteworthy", but it was featured under "What's Hot". Some apps move from one category to another, but it isn't a guarantee. I agree with MindJuice, that it is often best to leave things alone. Unless your app has a fatal bug that needs to be fixed right now, leave it alone. Some developers say 'but I have new features that I want to show off'. It doesn't matter, people are already buying it and it is featured, LEAVE IT ALONE until the feature wears off. Nothing could be worse than an update that INTRODUCES a fatal bug, then your reviews and sales will immediately plummet.
Doh! I didn't see the later replies and had our app prepared for a 1.1. Just managed to see Flickitty's note and I am totally undecided now! I see MindJuice and Flickittys points but I think our 1.1 update has a very significant bit of features added. Actually there are no major bug fixes at all. However, now I am worried that just the mere act of submitting an update will drop it out of the featured apps section. Back to limbo land
I've noticed that Eggbot's Irish Adventure has made New & Noteworthy today and has also been updated today. Of course, I don't know which came first in time. However, the game is still there. Maybe you should PM the dev for his opinion. acakebread. Just an idea...
You can definitely do an update while you're featured. I did one while Super Juicy was featured in "Hot New Games" a couple weeks ago.
Hi Greg, Thanks for this. I just wanted some real world experience. I am between both opinions. I can see why it's not good to "rock the boat" but we KNOW that the updates we have are super awesome and will help playability. Hearing it from someone who has been there gives me comfort that atleast some of my opinion is based on experience
The sooner you do the update, the more people will get to see it. There are people who will get your app and delete it before the update comes out. There are people who never download updates. Your update could give you the extra burst of power you need to take your game even higher than it is now. Be careful that you aren't releasing something with bugs, but don't wimp out on being as awesome as you can just because a few extra bucks are rolling in from a feature. The feature is a reward for your game being good, don't repay that reward be being afraid to be better. That said, I have never had a feature, so take my words with a grain of salt.
as my experience, update will not effect the "New and Noteworthy" status. We update Watermelon! after 3 days it was featureed, and nothing changed at all.
If you're submitting an update which adds a feature, why not put a brief note at the end of the current description to say there's an update coming and what you're adding?
@shen - Amen. I agree. @baldong - Thanks for sharing @Astra - I was actually going to do it but thanks for the hint