So I'm interested to know views on what is acceptable and what isn't as an IAP. For instance, are extra tracks ok? Are instruments ok? What isn't ok?
So, what's the problem with IAP's?
I've seen quite a few comments in recent weeks about IAP's (in-app purchases) and that people just don't like them.
So I'm interested to know views on what is acceptable and what isn't as an IAP. For instance, are extra tracks ok? Are instruments ok? What isn't ok?
So I'm interested to know views on what is acceptable and what isn't as an IAP. For instance, are extra tracks ok? Are instruments ok? What isn't ok?
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28 comments:
I have no problem w/ them.....
I think purchasers would be happier if they were told beforehand that the app they were buying contained IAP's
Often apps are advertised as 'free' when actually they are not.
Yes, there's something very odd about the fact that the top grossing apps in the store are actually listed as free, then proceed to rip off the customers with in-game 'currency'
From experience I've found that free music apps that have IAP's are using them to sell the core functionality - i.e. the app is pretty much useless until you spend some money - not cool.
No problem when it's something extra, keyword extra, like more tracks or instruments. But if it's something that should be basic given the type of app, not cool.
Nickel and diming to hide the true cost has been the primary use of IAP's in my experience.
It does not seem like the kind of move, a dev who is working a labor of love, would do. It suggest to me that support and future development will be spotty, especially if sales aren't what the dev had envisioned.
I rely on iApps for work and the dev's attitude and motives are important. Dropping support on a critical app can cause real problems. This is especially true as the rapid update cycles of the os and hardware frequently break old apps that may never see another update, simply because the app wasn't the golden goose of the masses.
All sorts of apps get discontinued, but I have far more faith in devs who are clear about what they expect and don't try to fool me into downloading a free app knowing full well that I will need to fork over an obscure sum to get the software functioning as expected.
Bjork gets a pass on this for being Bjork.
If something is "free", and then requires in-app purchases to flesh it out, I have no problem at all. It was free!! It costs me nothing to simply delete it.
If I like what I see enough to spend $$$, how is it different than a "lite" or demo version? If anything, it saves me the headache of having to download a second app (full version) later.
So, in short, fee apps w/ IAP's are fine. PAID apps that promise something, then require extra IAPs to make it useful... those suck.
@Michael Aldridge:
"Yes, there's something very odd about the fact that the top grossing apps in the store are actually listed as free, then proceed to rip off the customers with in-game 'currency'"
That's not the case at all with music apps. If you check out the 20 top grossing iPad music apps then only four of them are free.
Out of 20 top overall apps, 8 are free.
Freemium just works, but good apps still sell, even if they aren't offered for free.
"I've found that free music apps that have IAP's are using them to sell the core functionality - i.e. the app is pretty much useless until you spend some money - not cool."
Then just don't download the app... or cough up what usually amounts to the change in your pocket if you want it that bad.
I've made two IAP's one was the track add-on for nano studio, which was well worth it.
The other was the compressor in Meteor, again $3, I like it and use it. Again, for $3 I find it hard to complain about anything.
If an app is being crippled due to the lack of said "addition" then I can see how some might get upset if it was added as an after thought and then asked to pay for it.
If the app was designed for a different purpose and then community pressure caused the addition then I see no harm in IAP. It takes time and effort to code and if the app is worth it I will pay for additional content.
If the developer is just trying to scrape a dollar bill out of nothing then I will just pass. I have never been against them I just need to get my monies worth out of them.
PS-this goes for lower priced apps though. If I am dropping a large(for the app store) amount of $ on an app I am assuming 1-the app is powerful and it's worth it
2-I am buying into the developer and the updates to better the app are going to be included.
The new buyers will see that the app has these updates and attention along with the features added and therefore fork out the dough to add themselves to the owners list and buy into the developers app.
Although in audanikas sound prism apps case; I only own the free version. If he adds copy/paste or export to the pro I will most likely buy the "pro" version and spend the money. If I find that I need to buy the pro and then immediately after pay for that function I might think twice.
It's a slippery slope IAP. When your dealing with a community so engrossed in our passion everything gets noticed and everything gets talked about.
A quick answer for sound prism app:
Free version- I WILL pay for copy/paste or export support
"pro" version-I would be upset if the above addition is charged for.
If the addition is added as an update to the pro version. I WILL just buy the pro version and delete the free.
This would make everyone have a chance to own the features he/she needs. Keep the free,pay for copy paste. Or step up to the pro and get all inclusive. Either way money is made from the free buyers of the feature or the free owners that if they are going to spend money will go to the pro. The customers that bought in from the start they get a update.
@freesoulvw
Yeah, those are the options available to us.
AudioCopy is definitely going to be free in SoundPrism Pro. Not sure if we want to add it to SoundPrism (even as an iAP).
The reason why developers choose the free + iAP way is piracy. This is the only way to solve it.
My gripe is what Casey said, I don't like being nickel and dimed! I guess a lifetime in an ultra-capitalist society has given me a gut reaction of pure hatred to anyone who comes on with, "oh it is just a $1 here and a few more if you want the premium experience."
Fuck that. If you want $x, charge $x. Don't dick me around with some kind of half-broken experience that needs "just a few bucks more!"
Ngghhhh it's a bit painful for me to repeat this over and over and over again but nobody is forced to buy anything. In fact, offering a free version of a product does not mean it's a preview or stripped down version at all.
Sometimes it's a full product that the developers just don't want to charge money for it because they're happy with it being spread around by people liking it.
Try to wrap your brain around this, please.
Wrap your brain around that copy paste update to SP pro
With IAP I fear that if I ever have to re-install the app and it is no longer available/supported I'm out of luck getting the (paid for) content back.
@Anonymous
AudioCopy is going to be part of SoundPrism Pro 2.2
It's going to be free.
SP Pro 2.1 is going to be released next week btw. with some minor bug fixes and a non-audio related feature.
A 'restore previous purchases' feature should be part of every App that offers IAP once older purchases can't be accessed through the in-App store anymore.
I think Apple should actually make sure of that and not developers since inexperienced devs might not know about this (somewhat justified) fear of users.
I agree with Sebastian in that "nobody is forced to buy anything"
also
"If you don't like America, why don't you just leave?"
further
"If you don't like the food why don't you just starve"
finally
"If don't like this post why don't you just die?"
We are responding to the topic of the thread. We don't need a reprimand for expressing the opinion that was requested of us. Think of all the "Ngghhhh... pain" you'll spare yourself and the rest of us alike.
I prefer free+IAP to paying for an app, only to find out it's not my cup of tea. It's also nice if you only want part of the functionality of course. On the other hand, too many IAPs will piss off some users for sure. I wonder if Apple allows something like this:
app 1 has functionalities abcd
app 2 has functionalities abef
app 3 has functionalities abcdef
In other words, does Apple have guidelines for feature overlap?
for some people having trouble getting to know whether / how many IAP inside an app, I think the IAP options is listed out clearly in both iTunes App Store & iOS App Store?
And for the question of whether Apple has guidelines about feature overlapping in different apps, I don't think they have any. Just take a look at terrible Amplitube app series..... However these apps with overlapped feature doesn't cause any problem at all (just occupies a lot of home screen seats in your device).
What cause real problems is that the same IAP feature is provided in different apps... (like different version of Amplitube, or same app but different version for iPad/iPhone, which is much more common) It will really makes customers go mad.....
I hope IKM should consider this problem seriously and just don't release iOS SampleTank series (if they do have such "app series" plans) in such a messy way and btw of course don't release iPad/iPhone separated versions anymore (especially for apps with very high price tag..)
@Brian:
I'm not sure if ALL in-App purchases of an app are listet on the App Store. I think only the top 10 are.
From my conversations with developer support I can only add that Apple considers iAP to be a very new product and they're still learning how to deal with them.
As a developer who creates, sells and manages iAP in our apps I can confirm that. iTunes Connect (the web interface that is used to configure iAP in your apps) is a bit messy.
Many integral features are still missing from this framework.
@Sebastian:
Thanks for your kind correction. Only Top IAP items are listed. However It shall be enough for customers to be notified that the app do have IAP items in the app.
I am also a app developer too and I can totally agree with you that iTunes Connect is not a friendly interface for sellers in many aspects. However, I think the true philosophy in Apple is to maximize their benefit as the top goal, so they would obviously concentrate on what needs to be done greatly first. Therefore we can just easily know that these bad parts is just the things which they just don't want to pay a lot of attention so far...especially the ones which just doesn't matter in terms of effects to their profit ;-)
Maybe the market just need some strong competitors so customers and app developers can get the real benefit.
Their top goal should be to make life as easy as possible for developers since they are the force behind iOS being such a great success.
Android, Blackberry, HP or Apple tablets don't differ much in hardware and operating system.
The difference between iPad/iPhone and all the rest is the quality of apps available on iOS. Quantity as well but that's going to be even out between Android and iOS sooner or later.
Sure, there's the lock in effect for people having spent monies on iOS apps already. But the only mechanism that might draw them to other platforms is better apps.
At least that's how I see and experience it.
So Apple should listen very closely to what developers are saying and watch what they're doing because apps have the power to decide which platform wins and which one ... doesn't win as much.
Hi, I have to say that for the most part IAP are fine as long as the app has some use before getting them, and that the IAP are fairly priced. I think people are just feeling a bit suspicious and like to know price up front.
An app I think that does IAP well is hipstamatic, app is fully functional without them more enjoyable with them, well priced, and also offer free ones from time to time
even if an app is crippled, it's basically a modern version of shareware. what's the big deal? at worst, you've wasted 30 seconds pressing download and 30 seconds pressing delete.
If you buy an app and your device breaks, I know you can download it again for free, but what about IAP? Would I have to purchase it again?
@ Brian Ping-Yao Wang
'Just take a look at terrible Amplitube app series..... However these apps with overlapped feature doesn't cause any problem at all (just occupies a lot of home screen seats in your device).'
a lot of IAP dollars as well, looking at the app store page.
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