had an update alert...now Everplay is putting ads in their games.

[Greyskull]

Originally Posted by pluto6

I back things up, but I almost never update, unless I personally have an issue with the app. This happens all the time, and is frequently done with a shady "minor update" or "minor bug fixes" or some other indication that the update is no big deal, and then you update and see ads plastered all over the app. If it ain't broke, don't update.

I used to do the same, but, when your app colection is massive, it's easy to miss critical updates for apps that later disappear from the store (which shouldn't even be an issue). Updates that allow games to run on newer ios versions, for example.

[bacon-N-eggs]

Originally Posted by Filing Cabinet

Hope that's the case. You guys make some good games (pre freemiumization)

This!!!!

Just let me pay you for a good game, no extra BS please

[undeadcow]

I wonder if there is any chance Everplay would recant their freemium titles and re-release the up front straight paid editions?

[Connector]

No ads please, just sell the game for a buck and do a lite version please.

[Bool Zero]

I like the idea of paying for the game and not having the ads. I bought Spellsword on release and it is/was an awesome and awesome game, same goes for Left 2 Die. If I paid for the game, please, no ads. The shift to freemium is a worrisome trend especially when it comes from a developer that makes really good games as it becomes frustration as a gamer who likes games, complete gaming experiences and dislikes the idea of being panhandled while playing a game they paid for. I'd venture to say I'd be willing to pay even more for a game that doesn't consist of the dual currency system and only uses an in game currency as a preferable option.


Have you guys considered perhaps a dual version release f your games? A freemium version and a FTP version of a game so that the customer base has an option? I know I personally would have loved to keep my Spellsword and Left 2 Die games modeled under their initial release versions, without the freemium dual currency shoehorned into it!


Edit: Oh, I forgot I bought Terra Noctis as well! Another one to the list. In any case with this trend, it makes me apprehensive to even consider future purchases from your studio. I saw pics of the new game and thought how fun it must be and just as quickly the dread of how soon a freemium model would be thrust in to mar the experience!

[Greyskull]

Originally Posted by Bool Zero

I like the idea of paying for the game and not having the ads. I bought Spellsword on release and it is/was an awesome and awesome game, same goes for Left 2 Die. If I paid for the game, please, no ads. The shift to freemium is a worrisome trend especially when it comes from a developer that makes really good games as it becomes frustration as a gamer who likes games, complete gaming experiences and dislikes the idea of being panhandled while playing a game they paid for. I'd venture to say I'd be willing to pay even more for a game that doesn't consist of the dual currency system and only uses an in game currency as a preferable option.


Have you guys considered perhaps a dual version release f your games? A freemium version and a FTP version of a game so that the customer base has an option? I know I personally would have loved to keep my Spellsword and Left 2 Die games modeled under their initial release versions, without the freemium dual currency shoehorned into it!


Edit: Oh, I forgot I bought Terra Noctis as well! Another one to the list. In any case with this trend, it makes me apprehensive to even consider future purchases from your studio. I saw pics of the new game and thought how fun it must be and just as quickly the dread of how soon a freemium model would be thrust in to mar the experience!

The "no ads if you paid" statement, regardless of what dev/publisher is saying this, comes with one major caveat. You only avoid the advertising IF the app is CURRENTLY installed when the update is pushed. I paid for pinch peeps. It's in iTunes on my PC, not on my device. If I install from my previous purchases, I'll have ads.

I keep hearing the following from developers and publishers: "no ads if you paid"; "existing customers will recieve free iaps" (Dead Trigger, anyone?), "paid customers will see no changes".

What I never hear is the honest truth: ONLY if it's on your device, ONLY for as long as you never delete the app, reinstalling doesn't count, etc. There is no "restore purchases" function for the purchase of the app in the first place.

Last night I was in a grouchy mood and made a post in this thread that I should have...toned down a bit, I suppose...but the sentiment remains.

Please, developers and publishers: please stop lying to us. You know how itunes, ios, in-app purchases, etc. work better than anyone (I hope). If you expect continuing support; if you want to do right by those who USED to buy any app with your name on it; there is a -very- simple solution. Release a seperate F2P version on the appstore and leave the original alone. If you can't, move on to your next project; if you can't afford another one, then fold up and get jobs as system administrators, database programmers, etc.

When you sell a product you have a responsibility to your customers. As an employee, the company you work for is to your customer. If you fail at #1, perhaps your skill set is better suited to #2.

I don't mean for that to be an insult. Me? I have more than one interest, and more than one employer. One of them is myself. I wouldn't be able to maintain my own business if I treated my clients the way some developers treat their customers.

[Nobunaga]

I have bought and deleted all the everplay releases. When ads first accidently appeared in spellsword I was pretty disappointed and went about getting rid of my everplay titles.
I understand that if I re install now I'll get the iAd versions and that's a little disappointing. I really had no intentions of re installing though.
I never hated everplay for their decisions. I understand they're not making games for charity. that said, the tactful way of dealing with the issue in the future would be to release a seperate FTP version of the game and leave the original as it was.

[awp69]

Originally Posted by Greyskull

Please, developers and publishers: please stop lying to us. You know how itunes, ios, in-app purchases, etc. work better than anyone (I hope). If you expect continuing support; if you want to do right by those who USED to buy any app with your name on it; there is a -very- simple solution. Release a seperate F2P version on the appstore and leave the original alone. If you can't, move on to your next project; if you can't afford another one, then fold up and get jobs as system administrators, database programmers, etc.

When you sell a product you have a responsibility to your customers. As an employee, the company you work for is to your customer. If you fail at #1, perhaps your skill set is better suited to #2.

I've always shared this exact sentiment. I really think there's NO way to truly turn a paid app to freemium without pissing off your early customers. And the only solution is to re-release the app under a different version. I don't understand why that's such a simple concept for developers to understand. I'm a programmer. I know you'd have to maintain two different versions of the app, but it's not THAT hard and it doesn't take that much more time.

I fully understand the need for devs to make changes to make a living, but screwing over your original supporters is going to lead to you screwing yourself in the long run -- especially when there are ways to avoid it.

*****

On the topic of deleting games from your device, when you're asked if you want to keep your leaderboard scores, shouldn't that be a way to detect that you did, at one time, have the game? That your Apple GC id is on there? (Of course, this would only apply to those games with GC).

Either way, I don't think it matters. I deleted Spellsword after the freemium conversion. No offense Everplay and any other dev that does this, but once you do something like this, your word is as good as mud and means nothing to me. It just means you lost a long term buyer.

[september]

Yeah don't mess with a base game model period, if a developer wants to change that model later then fine, but do it via a new release.

[Greyskull]

Originally Posted by Nobunaga

I have bought and deleted all the everplay releases. When ads first accidently appeared in spellsword I was pretty disappointed and went about getting rid of my everplay titles.
I understand that if I re install now I'll get the iAd versions and that's a little disappointing. I really had no intentions of re installing though.
I never hated everplay for their decisions. I understand they're not making games for charity. that said, the tactful way of dealing with the issue in the future would be to release a seperate FTP version of the game and leave the original as it was.

Charity? Of course not. But not at the expense of actual customers. We bought the DVD, if you will. Sure, you expect commercials if you watch the movie on basic cable.

I've said it a million times, but the Appstore is the only place, I've ever shopped that allows its merchants to negatively modify already puchased goods ex post facto.