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Apple to Open $19.99 Premium Games Section in App Store?

Giving big developers a VIP area of their own is not going to help us weed through the crap in the app store.

The problem is the iTunes interface itself, which is horribly designed. Finding something in the jungles of Amazon.com is a joy and yet the exerpience of finding anything in iTunes - whether it is a game, a song or a movie - is always a chore.
 
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Those app that we are buying for $9.99 are the companies who normally charged their games for premium prices. The common problem I noticed from these developers that their games are not stable. If these games is playable on iTouch/iPhone as well as in our computer then I'm in. If they're start selling games for $19.99 they shoud have a demo version so I could try first before wasting my 20 bucks. IF
 
aaronsullivan said:
How about tiers for the rest of us indie developers.

Top 20 $1 and up
Top 20 $5 and up
Top 20 $10 and up
Top 20 $15 and up
Click to expand...
I like this idea better, I don't see a lot of people paying $20 for an iPhone game. If they had done this right at the start it might have worked, but the precedent has been set that, basically, iPhone games are under $10, and in many cases under $5. $20 is going to be a tough sell now, I think it's too late. Personally I would pay $20 for a really good game, but for many people that takes it well out of "impulse buy" category, or "it's less than the latte I just bought".
 
There are some games on my iPhone that are worth $19 to me--they give me as much value as the $19 games on my desktop. Of course, I was glad to only pay $7 or $3 :)

SOMETHING probably needs to be done about the race-to-the-bottom pricing in the iPhone app market, or talented developers will be scared of being lost in the roar and unable to make rent, while quick-profit shovelware will keep proliferating.

I'm not sure this premium section would be the answer though. Maybe the rumor is only partly right (if that!) and the plan will become more clear.
 
plumbingandtech said:
Apple needs to raise the developer program fee to $600.

higher dev fees would cut a lot of crap out of the store.
Click to expand...

They should keep it at $99, BUT charge an entrance fee for each paid app submitted.

That would cut down on the guys submitting 100 apps with a different name, like the "Amy is calling", "Andy is calling", "Arthur is calling"! Charge them $100 each and see if they don't create a new app that lets you customize it instead!

Don't hate the playa... hate the game.
 
chameleon said:
Come on, Apple. NO ONE wants $19.99 apps except you and the big name publishers like EA.

It's a phone, not a PS3. $1.99 for a watered-down version of a game is fine. $19.99 for a watered down version of a game just doesn't fly.



The difference is that the PSP is a full-fledged gaming system. The iPhone is a phone. It has no joystick or control pad that are needed for serious gaming. It also doesn't have the same graphics processing power of the PSP, which limits how far you can push "modern" gaming.

Look, I love playing games like Wurdle and Trism on my iPhone, but I'm not going to sit down and play Call Of Duty on a phone. That's the level of game that justifies a $20 price, and I don't see the iPhone being capable of running them.
Click to expand...

Unless of course the iphone 3.0 (2.0 in my mind cause the 3G iphone was just a bump up in specs) is really a powerhouse device that can do some incredible graphics. Hopefully it will include some extra controls besides the touchsceen. Notice the timing. This new app section for games should debut at around the same time as the new iphone.
 
ryanrul said:
Giving big developers a VIP area of their own is not going to help us weed through the crap in the app store.

The problem is the iTunes interface itself, which is horribly designed. Finding something in the jungles of Amazon.com is a joy and yet the exerpience of finding anything in iTunes - whether it is a game, a song or a movie - is always a chore.
Click to expand...

Amazon is well ordered and easy to navigate. Its itunes thats the jungle. Your right. Its an absolute chore.
 
olternaut said:
Amazon is well ordered and easy to navigate. Its itunes thats the jungle. Your right. Its an absolute chore.
Click to expand...

When you buy music at most stores/sites, you don't just have "Entertainment", you have Rap, R&B, Soul, Pop, Dance, Country, Broadway, Soundtracks, Vocals, etc.

When you go to a video game store/site, you have First Person Shooter, Puzzle, Singing, Dancing, Fitness, Arcade, Strategy, Card games, etc.

But for apps, it's "Entertainment" and "Games".

Regardless of implementing a premium store or pricing strategies, they simply need more sub-categories.
 
In my opinion, to make the iPhone/iTouch a viable gaming platform, they'd need to make some sort of gamepad that would envelope the device and connect with the dock connector, so that there are 2-4 buttons on the right side of the screen (holding horizontally), and a directional pad on the left. Then gaming would be practical, and $20 games (if they'd rival DS) would be worth it.

Spending $20 on a game and trying to play it on the damn touch screen is not going to cut it. It works for a cutesy little .99 cent app to kill time while you're waiting to catch the train, but as a serious contender to the DS and PSP? No.

olternaut said:
Unless of course the iphone 3.0 (2.0 in my mind cause the 3G iphone was just a bump up in specs) is really a powerhouse device that can do some incredible graphics. Hopefully it will include some extra controls besides the touchsceen. Notice the timing. This new app section for games should debut at around the same time as the new iphone.
Click to expand...

I agree. All the rumors of a dual core iPhone, enhanced graphics, etc. would kind of point to this. It still doesn't negate the fact that the iPhone needs a tactile interface for the game play, not the touch screen.
 
I have tried a few games on my iTouch and find it .... silly. If you want to game, use your PC, console or get a PSP. Gaming on this devices was just not viable to me.

$ 20 for a game on a 3" screen? Come on, use some sense. This is getting ridiculous.
 
Price

Everyone is balking over price but if any of you ever bought any games for the plam, or other apps for any handheld, the $20 is cheap in comparison. For instance pocket quicken for my palm was $29.95, I have business apps, movie players, and password vault software, and so on that cost between $15 to $25 dollars per app. We all know the controls on a palm aren't even half as great as the ipod touch, or iphone so to me $20 is nothing.

Personally I think you guys are spoiled, cause pocket pc apps cost a bundle too, I have some doctor friends who think nothing of buying an app over $20. The iPhone made it too easy....so don't whine about price when you don't have to deal with conduits, or other crap....You should be applauding that apple made handhelds intuitive and simple....finally.....!
 
They need to do this for other apps, not just games. It seems like Apple stepped away from focusing Macs on gaming to the iPod Touch and by extention the iPhone.

It'll at least be interesting to see how this develops.

ryanrul said:
Giving big developers a VIP area of their own is not going to help us weed through the crap in the app store.

The problem is the iTunes interface itself, which is horribly designed. Finding something in the jungles of Amazon.com is a joy and yet the exerpience of finding anything in iTunes - whether it is a game, a song or a movie - is always a chore.
Click to expand...
Quoted for truth.
 
ridddder said:
Everyone is balking over price but if any of you ever bought any games for the plam, or other apps for any handheld, the $20 is cheap in comparison. For instance pocket quicken for my palm was $29.95, I have business apps, movie players, and password vault software, and so on that cost between $15 to $25 dollars per app. We all know the controls on a palm aren't even half as great as the ipod touch, or iphone so to me $20 is nothing.

Personally I think you guys are spoiled, cause pocket pc apps cost a bundle too, I have some doctor friends who think nothing of buying an app over $20. The iPhone made it too easy....so don't whine about price when you don't have to deal with conduits, or other crap....You should be applauding that apple made handhelds intuitive and simple....finally.....!
Click to expand...

You're talking about business apps and utilities... things that will be used ongoing and indefinitely. I think the concern is, with the smaller platform, watered down games are likely to be completed in days if not hours...or minutes. Since there is no trial period, it's a leap of faith and $5 is reasonable but $20 is a big leap.

On the flip side, re business apps, my dad was just complaining because he went from a Treo 700w to an 800w and Zagat went from $20/year to $5/month ($60 with no annual discount). Yet Zagat is $10 for the iPhone, probably because Urban Spoon is free! It might get him to make the switch! So Apple benefits from more apps, and lower priced apps as it sells more iPhones. They might be doing this Premium thing to placate the game developers, but we'll have to see if it really sells apps.
 
I get the gaming aspects of the iphone, but come on, Maybe we can start expanding the iphone in other areas as well. Why does it have to be marketed to the sheeple of the world or teenagers. Sorry if I offended anyone, but it could do so much more than KOI pond, ifart, and "where I parked my car". I'm worried apple will change its name to Crapple and offer its all new Crap store. What is worse, is with its new patent filings awarded, they can crush other companies from creating iphone like phones thereby limiting development of such devices and forcing everyone to settle on the revolutionary high priced, two year contract lock gaming console.
 
rockosmodurnlif said:
Why does the iPhone have a Contacts app when Contacts in the Phone app does the exact same thing?
Click to expand...

Because they did NOT initially and people wanted to get into their contacts quickly, and not always for phoning but email, address, texting, etc. Plus the iPod Touch doesn't have the Phone app yet has a use for Contacts (email, etc.). So why should the Touch get a Contacts app and not the iPhone?

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/features/contacts.html

Likewise, you can get to your pictures from the camera app, so you could ask why have both? Because people want to get to their pictures without an extra step (or vice versa, getting to their camera without going to pictures first).
 
branjosef said:
I get the gaming aspects of the iphone, but come on, Maybe we can start expanding the iphone in other areas as well. Why does it have to be marketed to the sheeple of the world or teenagers. Sorry if I offended anyone, but it could do so much more than KOI pond, ifart, and "where I parked my car". I'm worried apple will change its name to Crapple and offer its all new Crap store. What is worse, is with its new patent filings awarded, they can crush other companies from creating iphone like phones thereby limiting development of such devices and forcing everyone to settle on the revolutionary high priced, two year contract lock gaming console.
Click to expand...

This reminds me of our good friends at KRAPPS! Check 'em out at www.KRAPPS.com

On a related note, remember when everyone complained that iFart and Pull My Finger were the top selling apps? People asked what does that say about our society. Now the top three are shooting apps. What does that say?
 
the most expensive application I have bought for ipod touch was Netters Anatomy Flash Cards. (40.00).

This is the rare circumstance I think it was worth it to me. I havent seen a game yet worth over 10 dollars in the store. I think folks are just going to end up charging more money for the same crap we have been getting. they can go ahead and put 50 dollar games in there if they want. Doesnt mean im gonna waste my money on them when its not worth it. looks like i will just buy less games
 
MacToddB said:
This reminds me of our good friends at KRAPPS! Check 'em out at www.KRAPPS.com

On a related note, remember when everyone complained that iFart and Pull My Finger were the top selling apps? People asked what does that say about our society. Now the top three are shooting apps. What does that say?
Click to expand...

Awesome site, thanks for the link. It only fuels my cynical views :cool: Not sure if that is a good thing.
 
I love it!
Just a few years ago folks were lined around the block for the psp but now...
The iphone and the touch are becoming the device that the psp could have been if them tired ass suits at Sony would have listened to their customers. Now, Apple just has to add the right controls and BOOOOYA! Bye bye psp!
No really, this is a significant step in the right direction that a lot of us have envisioned for a long time.
I also predict that the touch will get a camera one day.
 
kas23 said:
There are definitely apps that I would pay $20 dollars for, but games are not amongst them. I just don't think this is a viable gaming platform. The accelerometer is fickle and game controllers need more buttons (on-screen buttons just don't do it for me).
Click to expand...

this is the 100% truth.

After many months, I have to say, the iPhone/iPod Touch is NOT a viable gaming platform, not in any way, shape, or form.
 
carmenodie said:
I love it!
Just a few years ago folks were lined around the block for the psp but now...
The iphone and the touch are becoming the device that the psp could have been if them tired ass suits at Sony would have listened to their customers. Now, Apple just has to add the right controls and BOOOOYA! Bye bye psp!
No really, this is a significant step in the right direction that a lot of us have envisioned for a long time.
I also predict that the touch will get a camera one day.
Click to expand...

Yup. All Apple has to do is add some extra controls to the 3rd gen iphone (of course the design would have to be a Steve Jobs approved, Jonny Ive envisioned seamless masterpiece) and indeed have that seperate $20.00 an app section (to keep separate the ifart type apps) and you would have have a winner!

The combination would absolutely destroy the psp and put the ds against the ropes.
 
Most DS and PSP games are priced over $20. If those 'premium games' for iPhone are similar to DS/PSP games, then I have no problem with higher price. If customers want to have a Silent Hill game for iPhone with price tag under $10, then we get the simple and short game like current Silent Hill Escape. If customers are willing to pay $20, then we might get a proper game similar to PSP's Silent Hill Origins.
 
I wouldn't mind $19 games as long as it was possible to try before buying, such as a demo or trial. Or even get your money back if you thought that the game was rubbish.

I paid $14 for Brothers in Arms, but found that while the graphics were really good, the control system was abysmal. Or more to the point the control system didn't properly respond to what you were telling your character to do.
 
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