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Apple Adds 'Offers In-App Purchases' Disclosure for App Store Apps [Update: Now on iOS Stores]
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For some people, complaining is therapy.
LOL!!!
Point taken. I certainly wouldn't want to interfere with anyone's therapy!!
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I REALLY wish Apple would just NOT ALLOW these apps to even have in-game purchases.
I remember when Apple had an app store that allowed you to buy an app or download a free app and you actually got the app or game you downloaded.
But then Apple got greedy, like ALL OF CORPORATE AMERICA and now we get to download apps that have ads built in that 'trick you' into clicking the ads, or apps that falsely describe their product only to find that you have to purchase other things in game.
I saw a game that allowed you to buy like 1000 in game coins for $99.99 US. REALLY??? This is the crap that Apple needs to deny.
Oh how I miss Steve Jobs!!!!! I am so very sorry that your legacy is being whored out!!!
I remember when Apple had an app store that allowed you to buy an app or download a free app and you actually got the app or game you downloaded.
But then Apple got greedy, like ALL OF CORPORATE AMERICA and now we get to download apps that have ads built in that 'trick you' into clicking the ads, or apps that falsely describe their product only to find that you have to purchase other things in game.
I saw a game that allowed you to buy like 1000 in game coins for $99.99 US. REALLY??? This is the crap that Apple needs to deny.
Oh how I miss Steve Jobs!!!!! I am so very sorry that your legacy is being whored out!!!
I wouldn't mind expansions to be DLC. Banning ALL in-app purchases would be a tad extreme.
This is the crap that should be illegal. There should be rules about what sort of content you can charge the megabucks for. Whole new chapters of an adventure game? Fine. In-game currency? No frickin' way.
Actually, the whole "in app" purchase concept is flawed. Real Racing 3 is a perfect example of how IAP ruined top shelf apps.
I love real racing 3 and haven't bought anything yet
It's an awesome game designed for people who want to work at getting good at the game
DLC and other 'add ons' could easily be purchased within the App Store just like they are purchased in marketplaces like Steam and EA's Origin.
There is simply no reason why the app has to have its own transaction system built within the game. I shouldn't have to stop and verify if the 'item' I am buying in the game is using the game's fictional currency or real US dollar currency.
100% agree.
I disable in app purchases anyways.
But many "free apps" with in app purchases are geared toward kids. I know apple changed software a couple of years ago to have u put in your password.
But if free app has in app option for my kid. I won't touch it.
It's bait and switch. These developers know it. Either charge for it. Or make it free with ads.
KISS. Keep it simple stupid. I thought that what Apple's motto.
I'd love a filter but I don't want to see genuine apps and games with in-app purchases bundled with and caught up in the filter.
There are genuine and decent developers out there that use the in-app purchase mechanism to offer significant new content or expansions at very reasonable prices, while only being possible to buy each upgrade once. More importantly without it being possible to spend obscene (unlimited) amounts on virtual currencies or access to game time or a multitude of useless decorative objects.
Apple needs to come to terms with and take steps to address the blight of these apps and how they're impacting the perception of the App Store and iOS. If you hate freemium-type games I suggest writing Apple a short feedback note.
So basically, not all apps that offer in-app purchasing are problematic. The freemium-type games suffer from some or all of the following characteristics:
* the ability to spend an infinite amount of money on in-app purchases
* the ability to re-buy certain in app purchases
* in-app purchases that resemble virtual currencies like "coins" or "gold"
* game mechanisms that offer time limitations to play, limit content or inhibit advancement without spending virtual currency to speed up access to features in the app.
* the ability to spend large sums of money on virtual objects that are decorative and are little more than status symbols.
Apple please give me the ability to filter these apps!
There are genuine and decent developers out there that use the in-app purchase mechanism to offer significant new content or expansions at very reasonable prices, while only being possible to buy each upgrade once. More importantly without it being possible to spend obscene (unlimited) amounts on virtual currencies or access to game time or a multitude of useless decorative objects.
Apple needs to come to terms with and take steps to address the blight of these apps and how they're impacting the perception of the App Store and iOS. If you hate freemium-type games I suggest writing Apple a short feedback note.
So basically, not all apps that offer in-app purchasing are problematic. The freemium-type games suffer from some or all of the following characteristics:
* the ability to spend an infinite amount of money on in-app purchases
* the ability to re-buy certain in app purchases
* in-app purchases that resemble virtual currencies like "coins" or "gold"
* game mechanisms that offer time limitations to play, limit content or inhibit advancement without spending virtual currency to speed up access to features in the app.
* the ability to spend large sums of money on virtual objects that are decorative and are little more than status symbols.
Apple please give me the ability to filter these apps!
But where's the, "Don't use this app in the Shower!" disclaimer?
Oh so that's why there is fungus pouring out of my 4s!
I'm going to be a father in the next few months, and I would not dream of allowing a young child have access to an ithing unsupervised.
I view a iPad/touch/phone in the same light as a pc/imac, constant supervision needed. these devices have social networks/instant messaging apps, so you don't know who your kids could be talking to.
This in app purchasing debate has made me even more concerned over what a child should have access to so will be hiding my ipad/iPhone.
I view a iPad/touch/phone in the same light as a pc/imac, constant supervision needed. these devices have social networks/instant messaging apps, so you don't know who your kids could be talking to.
This in app purchasing debate has made me even more concerned over what a child should have access to so will be hiding my ipad/iPhone.
Child neglect is probably the most widespread epidemic. Just look at all the ****** up adults we have nowadays. Once the children get past the age of 4 and lose their "baby adorableness" so many people are in love with, they just search for a way to keep them quiet or make them "less annoying".
So many people having children they don't actually want, so many people having them out of "obligation" because that's what you're "supposed to do". But guess what, paying for your child's education, and providing food is just not enough. THe most integral and vital part of a person's development is their relationship with their parent in their formative years.
So easy to forget apparently when children start to get their own views on the world and want to share them with the parents right? You know this is a sickness, you know it is widespread. But it's easier to just ignore it isn't it? Or be defensive about it? Hmm..
What has any of this got to do with letting your child play a game on your iPad for a bit? Or are you trying to say that if a Parent isnt with the child every second of every minute, every minute of every hour, every hour of every day they are neglecting the child?
Look at the Temple Run (no tie in) games. I've been playing them since each came out and haven't spent a dime. I was able to earn what I needed in game.
Even something like Real Racing 3. I suck at racing games. Like blow myself up on almost every race suck. Mainly cause I've never really played them. Didn't want to spend $10 on a game I wasn't sure I'd like. But this one is free to play. I end up sometimes having to wait a whole day for my repairs so I can play again rather than pay to fix my stuff. But since my life doesn't revolve around games I'll read a book, take a walk etc while I wait
Apple dealt with it ages ago by putting in restrictions including one that turns off IAP. These folks just couldn't be bothered to use it. And yes in some cases parents where telling kids the passwords and so on.
I'm starting to feel like they need to put a huge warning screen the first time you open the store app that flat warns you about the presence of IAP in some apps, points out the presence of restrictions, tells you that if you proceed into the store you understand that ALL SALES ARE FINAL and that if you let a kid have access to these apps without supervision or turning on restrictions and they charge uo a huge bill you were warned so too damn bad. No refunds and no rights to file or be party to any lawsuits. And then make you in your password, run a captcha and answer both one of your security questions as well as a random question difficult enough that a young kid wouldn't get it right.
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What's the point of that? Other than to show that there are some impatient folks out there that will spend money on anything. It doesn't truly reflect anything in regards to how much you have to pay for an app. I've played some games and never spent a dime even though the top IAP was the $99 'mountain of whatever'
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That does and has always meant that its a universal app
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Incorrect. This new line appears if the IAP mechanism is present in the app. Regardless of whether anyone has used it. It's only the Top bit that requires a purchase.
The presence of this line suggests a new bit of meta data and that means filtering by the true/false of this bit is possible. Do I think Apple should be required to do this? No. Do I think they should add it into restrictions anyway? Yes.
Exactly
The app store should simply ban IAP's if they are so concerned with the "user experience" because when a game says free it should be free or subsidized with ads or just an upfront amount
Here's another idea...instead of just showing "Supports in-app purchases" why not show the maximum amount possible to spend with in-app purchases?
The nefarious "freemium" apps will be obvious because they'll be ridiculously high amounts, or in most cases, infinity. Apple could have classes such as "under $5", "under $10" and for the "freemium" apps "greater than $1,000".
I'm sure if anyone saw that it was possible to spend more than a thousand dollars on in-app purchases for an app that costs $1.99 it would raise the red flag that this is an app from greedy developers that's designed to create disappointment and the need to spend large sums of money to get the full experience.
I don't have kids, I just want a way to hide all the rubbish apps that are clogging up the App Store!
The nefarious "freemium" apps will be obvious because they'll be ridiculously high amounts, or in most cases, infinity. Apple could have classes such as "under $5", "under $10" and for the "freemium" apps "greater than $1,000".
I'm sure if anyone saw that it was possible to spend more than a thousand dollars on in-app purchases for an app that costs $1.99 it would raise the red flag that this is an app from greedy developers that's designed to create disappointment and the need to spend large sums of money to get the full experience.
I don't have kids, I just want a way to hide all the rubbish apps that are clogging up the App Store!
No. It's correct what I said. I just checked it once more: There is a new game "Fantasy Grind" (just as an example, I didn't buy it). It costs €0.89 and has In-App Purchases.
Here is the link of the app for the Austrian App Store (no IAPs visible right now, proof enough?):
https://itunes.apple.com/at/app/id587585947?mt=8
(The proof only works until somebody buys any IAP of the game in Austria.) I can see the IAPs only when I go to (without "at"—my country code—in the url) the "international" iTunes web page (the little table):
https://itunes.apple.com/app/id587585947?mt=8
Only that way I can see the IAPs (table, no line) in the iTunes web page. But I can't see them in the iTunes APP (iOS App Store) on my Mac (and the App Store app on my iOS devices)! And I can't see them via the regular app url for my country. No line and no table because nobody bought any IAPs of that app in my country.
I added screenshots as proof—I made them a few minutes ago. The first one is the international web page (non-standard for my country). The second one is the iTunes app on my rMBP with OS X 10.8.3: No hint to IAPs at all!
Compare: Here you can see the new line (when somebody bought any IAPs) in German-language iTunes App Store:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1560022/
Please ask if anything is not clear. This problem is really evident and annoying esp. in small countries. Since years (exactly since IAPs are present)! It may last weeks or months until somebody buys IAPs of an app. Nothing changed with the new line. And there are even smaller countries than Austria with iOS App Stores…
It's valid for ALL countries: IAPs will show up only if at least one user in the country has bought them. And when the user bought only ONE IAP—only ONE line will show up in the little table even if the app offers more than one IAP.
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That is perhaps nothing more than proof that this feature isn't currently present in said country's store or isn't fully finished. Why should they care about whether they have been used or not. Is it only important to warn folks after someone, or rather someone's kid, has made a buy? Not at all since the point is to keep folks from such purchases or even app downloads to protect the kiddies they aren't paying attention to
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There are a number of totally legit reasons to use IAP including even just setting up a free with ads, pay a small reasonable amount to shut them off. Don't blame the mechanism for some folks abusing its possibilities anymore than one should bedevil the Internet cause some folks use it to download photos of naked boobies or social media cause some folks are abusive jerks
It's proof for ALL countries since years: IAPs will show up in any layout (the new disclosure line and/or the little table when you scroll down in the store) only if at least one user in the country has bought them. And when the user bought only ONE IAP—only ONE line will show up in the little table even if the app offers more than one IAP.
The larger the country (exactly: the more iTunes accounts a country has) the higher is the possibility that an user buys some IAPs soon.
That's exactly the question I'm asking since IAPs are a part of the iOS App Store. Ask Apple. I have the feeling that it's a simple coding error. They have no bad faith in hiding the IAPs before somebody buys them. But Apple should fix that soon. It's more important than the silly new line.
And the app devs should describe their IAPs exactly in the text. That little table is not enough.
I wish Apple would just do away with any apps with in app purchases in the first place.