Sure...but I just want to make sure the addons aren't something people expect to be in the game from the beginning. So in other words, they have to be something totally extra or unique. Or a new concept like what Eliminate is doing with energy. It's actually a really smart idea that they're implementing...they're using the addictive factor of the mafia type games (recharging with "points" versus a time limit of sorts) and applying it in a better way. I expect to see more games follow this model if the iPhone community is receptive to this idea.
yea thats what you'd have to be careful of is making sure the DLC isnt stuff ppl expect to be in the paid version. Pocket God is adding like diff skins or somethin like that. and yea ngmoco got creative with Eliminate..i suspect players of those online mafia/whatever kind of games are g2b drawn to Elim. bravo ngmoco u clever bastards lol
Well for devs to be able to sustain a profitable business, they need to find some sort of "evergreen" property. One way is to just release small 99 cent titles. The other is to use DLC or a subscription based model. If Pocket God didn't take off the way that it did and become the huge success that it is today...Dave would never be able to update with new (free) content on such a regular cycle. The dev costs would add up and exceed what the app was bringing in.
yea true, thats why i love PG the devs are so creative. im glad ive owned it since it first came out hopefully u can figure out a way to make the DLC work tho
I think that Tweetie 2 debacle had more to do with marketing than anything else. It's just a matter of how people perceive things. Same with all the silly pricing discussions that rage here sometimes. Someone should write a book on AppStore psychology
I think you are head on with that one. Long as its not something they expect they can't complain. Some of the others with DLC like Mr Mahjong have more of the actual game to add and I think (if I can get into their minds of cheapness) those that complain think it just should have had a higher price to begin with and then they would have had a "complete" game - now the description describes it that way and they should read that etc so I dunno the problem. But the Mafia points and stuff for games like that are really popular based on how many are out there. If you can do stuff like that I think it will work. Hmm just thought of this too - if you release "point packs" (for lack of a better word right now - ha ha its a word game!) at regular intervals on the iTunes store instead of in game then the game itself, via these add-ons, keeps returning to the new release page of the category sections. You will keep the name fresh to people and then people will see the "point pack" wonder what game that is and then go back and purchase the game. Keeping it as DLC only will only be seen by those that have the game already - no new publicity or exposure.
I hope you're not suggesting that I stoop to the level of those mafia apps (and other crappy apps for that matter), where I release a zillion versions of the same things just to flood the appstore.
No no NOOOOOO - I am sick of seeing those things on the list all the time - they take up too many new release spots. Just trying to think of ways to make DLC without a fuss, upgrade the game, keep the name of the game on people's minds, keep it fresh etc. Some kind of upgrade that way would not just be to those that have the game. I guess I am not saying this right. It's so hard to express an abstract idea in words on a post. How to say what I mean? It was an idea that hit me while I was writing so it wasn't exactly well thought out let alone put it in words. Let me try and rethink this a bit. NOT suggesting that!!!!!!!!!!! Please don't get the wrong impression!
Hehe no worries!! I know how hard it can be to word something right on the internet. I've had my share of misworded posts!
Ok the game (series) Saqqarah. There are seven temples, each needing to be purchased separately. Each are only 99 cents. Comes with its own set of complaints (that saying - you can't please everyone - is no where more apt than on the app store!) But somewhat of what I was trying to say - if you want to get the whole experience you have to purchase separate apps - then it is available not only to those that have already purchased the game but to those that have not yet discovered it. (once someone sees THIS game I bet its an instant purchase is why I say that!) So this will NOT work with an RPG considering its linear but say you had, as I said another time, a basic version and a premium type version - but upgradable so that if you got the basic and wanted to upgrade to the premium you could. Both would be separate purchases from the start. But the upgrade part (almost like a separate app) could be available a few weeks later then it gets to be a new release again somehow. I don't know if that is even possible - to stack an app onto another one so to speak. So that is kind of what I meant - you have two complete games - one say at 2.99 and the other at say 4.99 (just to throw out prices) and people can pick which one they want to play. And then a little bit later an upgrade to the premium for 1.99 (not 2 dollars since they love to do things at .99 intervals). Samurai Puzzle Battle has this kind of system. Aurora Feint has something similar as well with their Beginning vs Arena vs Tower Puzzles (free). Neither of those games to my knowledge can you upgrade if you bought one vs the other. Also this doesn't eliminate the possibility of DLC either! But that would give you more options for DLC since it could be skins, characters, areas, maps, etc and people won't think they have to keep paying for more of the original game as opposed to add ons. They already had the choice in the various game options. Is that clearer? Did I make it clearer that I do NOT approve of the MMORPG system of points and that spamming of stuff?
I still haven't bought Saggareh, because I'm waiting for a compilation similar to what IUGO did with the Toy Bot series. Regarding the upgrade path when involving rpg's...I view it similar to Guild Wars where you can buy expansion packs that each are their own complete games, but if you own both it adds to the gameplay.
So the expansion packs - would they be DLC or actual apps? I think there is room for both. But I agree, I think an expansion pack could include whole new areas, bosses, etc.
