iOS 14: 'Phoenix 2' Space Shooter Delivers Playable Demo via App Clips

[Starfia]

What in the world? That works beautifully, and I don't think I even heard it mentioned at WWDC as a potential use case. Developers and users have been hoping for just this kind of thing forever, haven't they?

 

[symphony]

This is kind of cool. I noticed that it leaves an app icon in your App Library even though there's no app on your phone (correct?). Removing the app clip and icon is not intuitive imo. I'd expect to remove it like any other app -- through jiggle mode. But you have to go in to settings > app clips > Phoenix 2 > delete.

Yeah, but you shouldn’t really need to manage your apps since they get automatically deleted when they haven’t been used within 30 days. You only need to delete apps if they are adult pron or something embarrassing

 

[LeadingHeat]

I wonder how long until advertisers lock focus on this and ruin the experience.

There’s a requirement for app clips in that they have to load things almost instantly, and cannot contain any ads. So hopefully you’re wrong! But I thought the same thing.

 

[jinnj]

This is kind of cool. I noticed that it leaves an app icon in your App Library even though there's no app on your phone (correct?). Removing the app clip and icon is not intuitive imo. I'd expect to remove it like any other app -- through jiggle mode. But you have to go in to settings > app clips > Phoenix 2 > delete.

I don't see it. I played through and finished. Never went to the App Store to download it yet no icon or anything on search.

 

[jinnj]

What in the world? That works beautifully, and I don't think I even heard it mentioned at WWDC as a potential use case. Developers and users have been hoping for just this kind of thing forever, haven't they?

App Clips was in the Keynote.

 

[smwl]

Deleted

 

[bollman]

Oh, this is gonna get shut down by Apple faster than fast. This was not their intended use case, so it has to go.

 

[Starfia]

App Clips was in the Keynote.

And a few sessions were devoted to them during WWDC. I'm saying I'm not aware using them for game demos was even suggested – it took till the release of iOS 14 for that particular application to occur to me.

 

[-DMN-]

Pretty cool, really engages you without all the fuzz, I think what makes Apple’s implementation of existing ideas (ie widgets) stand out is its quality and smoothness... and developer commitment, which might be the most important factor...

Just to go a bit off-topic regarding gaming in Apple devices:

Some people dismiss Apple Silicon coming to macs (and windows going away) as a blow to gaming in macs, I, to the contrary, think this is the biggest thing to happen to macOS gaming, because now you can develop a single binary to target iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, AppleTVs and Macs, every current game designed for iOS will be playable on the Mac. Hopefully a stream of triple A, keyboard/controller supported games will make their way to Apple Silicon/Metal Macs with the performance Intel IG havent been able to deliver...

We essentially have that same concept with the Apple Arcade and we see how well that’s going.

 

[JKAussieSkater]

I wonder how long until advertisers lock focus on this and ruin the experience.

Could you elaborate? I can't imagine what you're describing.

 

[farewelwilliams]

How is this different than playing a flash type game?

it's more secure for one.

 

[NightFox]

It would be nice to think this might mark the start of a move away from IAPs and back to paying for games up front. Previously, the free/IAP model has been the only way for devs to effectively allow people to demo a game for free before committing any money to it.

Sure, there's still a place for IAP-supported games (especially where it's genuinely optional and not pay-to-win) and some of the big devs will still try to milk IAPs, but hopefully the chance to demo games before purchase could see more indy games returning to one-time purchases.

 

[bLackjackj]

Looks like this (but not dimmed)

You can't in Private Browsing Mode,..its blocked,..FYI 🙂

 

[PickUrPoison]

Oh, this is gonna get shut down by Apple faster than fast. This was not their intended use case, so it has to go.

What are you talking about? This is exactly their intended use case.

 

[mazz0]

It would be nice to think this might mark the start of a move away from IAPs and back to paying for games up front. Previously, the free/IAP model has been the only way for devs to effectively allow people to demo a game for free before committing any money to it.

Sure, there's still a place for IAP-supported games (especially where it's genuinely optional and not pay-to-win) and some of the big devs will still try to milk IAPs, but hopefully the chance to demo games before purchase could see more indy games returning to one-time purchases.

I dunno man, I suspect a lot of games couldn’t fit a demo within the appclip size limit

 

[D-Man18360]

Does the icon go away automatically? Thought it was a cool idea but now I have the icon in my App Library with no way to delete.

 

[hagar]

Does the icon go away automatically? Thought it was a cool idea but now I have the icon in my App Library with no way to delete.

long press it and choose Hide Clip

edit: that’s how it works on the iPad, where it appeared in the Dock.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Mind-blowingly generic game but nice to see the whole "App Clip" feature in use.

 

[TiggrToo]

Oh, this is gonna get shut down by Apple faster than fast. This was not their intended use case, so it has to go.

Huh? You've statex the exact opposite of what Apple have stated:

What on earth possessed you to say that?

 

[kesennnnn]

I dont see any banner. And yes Im in Safari in iOS14 and I dont have the game installed.

Take Safari off private browsing and you should see the blue play tab visible.

 

[ilujon]

Impressive!

 

[gnipgnop]

Given the well established reputation of iOS gaming, well, I wonder if some devs would take a break from it and actually do something different, like porting RTS game into iOS. It’d be cool to play RTS on iPad with mouse and keyboard.

There are some good iOS/iPadOS ports of older RTS games like Company of Heroes, Tropico, Rome: Total War, Xcom: Enemy Within, and Civilization VI.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Does the icon go away automatically? Thought it was a cool idea but now I have the icon in my App Library with no way to delete.

A tip up thread posted by @80s Fan:

Removing the app clip and icon is not intuitive imo. I'd expect to remove it like any other app -- through jiggle mode. But you have to go in to settings > app clips > Phoenix 2 > delete

 

[pm534]

I dont see any banner. And yes Im in Safari in iOS14 and I dont have the game installed.

 

[Cosmosent]

TouchArcade wrote about the experience and thought the "frictionless experience" for game demos held a lot of potential for App Store game discovery.

I can see this becoming BIG with NON-Game Apps !

Specifically, by providing Lessons / Tutorials to try to help get Users Up to Speed ASAP !

Just maybe, App Clips will break AAPL's Stranglehold on App Discovery !