New Apple TV Gains Charts for Top Paid, Free and Grossing Apps

[rdlink]

The more I see and hear about the ATV4, looks like I'll be sticking with the 3. If I was 15 or younger again I might be tempted by these kids games but alas I'm not.

There's plenty to love about the ATV 4 without even wanting to play a game. I downloaded two games on Friday just to experience the interface. They were good for a few laughs for about 10 minutes (I'm not a game player). Regardless, I am extremely happy with the ATV 4, given the Siri universal search and interaction, the much better move controls while watching movies and the massive potential that the App store brings. It's a great upgrade, and I wiped my ATV 3 and gave it away yesterday.

But you do what's right for you.

 

[foxcub6]

It looks as if Apple have abandoned gen 3 users I thought they would have at least updated photos and Apple Music

 

[nfl46]

I hooked up my ATV4 yesterday after work, and played Asphalt 8: Airborne all night! Lol. I got really used to having the remote as the controller. Now, I'm addicted to that game!

 

[maroot]

For some reason, I am not seeing the Top Charts.

 

[blackcrayon]

They need to allow games that only work with an MFi controller, Siri remote sucks as a d-pad.
Timmy plz.

I'm a lot less worried about this than I was before I tried it. The remote works better than I thought, and I like the way it works as a D pad (reminds me of an Intellivision controller in some ways . The problem is going to be games requiring more buttons. But I no longer think it's a big deal that games have to work with the remote, I can just ignore it and use my mfi controllers.

 

[warrior2000]

Truly, apps are dying, and Apple are to blame for making it so hard to find anything. We need subcategories and filters that are permanently on-screen. And we need to be able to demo all apps, regardless of price, even if only for 30 minutes.

LOL. Who do you think you are making such demands?

Apps are doing fine. Apple's App sales are up 25% this year and its raking in BILLIONS each quarter.

You expect to demo all apps for FREE? Give me a break. Try doing that in a retail store like BestBuy. Some of you have ridiculous expectations.

 

[CentralOffice]

The biggest surprise is the entire last half of the top paid list is fireplace apps. Dozens of them.

The fireplace apps are the new fart apps of a nascent Apple App Store.

 

[meegwell]

Can anyone explain why Netflix on ATV4 doesn't stop and check if I'm still awake after playing 3 consecutive episodes? It used to ask me if I want to continue watching (ATV3). I'm guessing this is a setting thing but couldn't find it.

 

[BeefCake 15]

I have Wii controllers, PS3 controllers and soon PS4 controllers....not looking to buy a dam extra set of controllers for the TV. Can't they let me use one of the above instead?

 

[JF Martin]

How are people finding the readability of the new Apple TV? Is it an improvement over the previous generation? My elderly mother still needs to move closer to her 55" screen just to read some of the text, and this new one seems to have even poorer contrast. White text over grey? Who at Apple thought that was a good idea? Did they do extensive usability testing?

You can set Bold Text in accessibility section...

The more I see and hear about the ATV4, looks like I'll be sticking with the 3. If I was 15 or younger again I might be tempted by these kids games but alas I'm not.

There is more than games... Newsly, etc...

Still waiting to see those charts in Canada...

 

[ButteryScrollin]

I have Wii controllers, PS3 controllers and soon PS4 controllers....not looking to buy a dam extra set of controllers for the TV. Can't they let me use one of the above instead?

No. They have a standard so all the remotes work the same and the on screen instructions are relevant. Maybe there will be a jailbreak one day

 

[PS4DailyLove]

Getting mine today. Glad they got the charts going ;-)

 

[jwm]

Nothing in the UK yet!

 

[springsup]

LOL. Who do you think you are making such demands?

Apps are doing fine. Apple's App sales are up 25% this year and its raking in BILLIONS each quarter.

You expect to demo all apps for FREE? Give me a break. Try doing that in a retail store like BestBuy. Some of you have ridiculous expectations.

App sales going up doesn't mean quality is going up. The "top" lists are basically static, dominated by big brands.

Lots of people aren't happy with the quality of games, for example, that the App Store's model promotes. In many ways, the way companies use IAPs and multiple virtual currencies in their games targets people in the same way gambling does. Lots of us aren't happy with that, and would really like to see the paid-up-front model being given a fighting chance so developers who prefer that model don't need to sacrifice discoverability.

Yes, I expect to demo apps for free. Retail stores such as Best Buy do, in fact, have returns windows during which you may return a purchase if unhappy with it. It typically doesn't apply to software because it's easy to duplicate and you may have used up activation keys, etc - but when that doesn't apply (such as with console games), lots of retailers do allow you to return them.

The AppStore doesn't have anything like that - I can't try the product before buying it, and I don't have any automatic right to a refund if I'm unhappy with it.

We don't have ridiculous expectations. Actually, I'm amazed at how ruthlessly capitalist people who don't run corporations can be. Don't you live in the real world, where you occasionally buy products which have been misrepresented to you or turn out to be of unacceptable quality? Do you just fold your arms and accept it without seeing what remedies are available to you?

The fact is that this is new technology. Things are possible with it which perhaps weren't before. The nickel-and-diming of the IAP model and subscription models is real: it's not just my idea. Those of us who are saddened by it would very much like to see Apple be proactive and explore some possible solutions.

 

[DotCom2]

GAH!
With iOS it was all the flashlight and fart apps.
Now with TVos it's all the fireplace apps.

 

[Dunk the Lunk]

Apple, it's their rules all games have to fully support the remote first and foremost. Kiss games like GTA San Andreas native on Apple TV goodbye for the tv until this changes.

The first complaint should go to the company who designed the controller. Games are going to be limited to the kindergarten because of that.

You do realise the Apple TV is not a games console? The name, Apple TV, kind of gives it away. The fact that it plays games does not mean it's a console/PC replacement. If you want to play GTA there are many better devices to play it on.

Can you imagine the reaction if Apple had allowed developers to create games which were incompatible with the remote that came in the box. Or the cost of the device (not to mention hassle) if they provided a console style controller.

 

[curtisjacob]

Anyone doing a review of all these top games, or know of a blog reviewing? Would love to see game play for each.

 

[chrisbru]

How are people finding the readability of the new Apple TV? Is it an improvement over the previous generation? My elderly mother still needs to move closer to her 55" screen just to read some of the text, and this new one seems to have even poorer contrast. White text over grey? Who at Apple thought that was a good idea? Did they do extensive usability testing?

Apple is currently performing extensive usability testing. Check back after the next TVos update

App sales going up doesn't mean quality is going up. The "top" lists are basically static, dominated by big brands.

Lots of people aren't happy with the quality of games, for example, that the App Store's model promotes. In many ways, the way companies use IAPs and multiple virtual currencies in their games targets people in the same way gambling does. Lots of us aren't happy with that, and would really like to see the paid-up-front model being given a fighting chance so developers who prefer that model don't need to sacrifice discoverability.

Yes, I expect to demo apps for free. Retail stores such as Best Buy do, in fact, have returns windows during which you may return a purchase if unhappy with it. It typically doesn't apply to software because it's easy to duplicate and you may have used up activation keys, etc - but when that doesn't apply (such as with console games), lots of retailers do allow you to return them.

The AppStore doesn't have anything like that - I can't try the product before buying it, and I don't have any automatic right to a refund if I'm unhappy with it.

We don't have ridiculous expectations. Actually, I'm amazed at how ruthlessly capitalist people who don't run corporations can be. Don't you live in the real world, where you occasionally buy products which have been misrepresented to you or turn out to be of unacceptable quality? Do you just fold your arms and accept it without seeing what remedies are available to you?

The fact is that this is new technology. Things are possible with it which perhaps weren't before. The nickel-and-diming of the IAP model and subscription models is real: it's not just my idea. Those of us who are saddened by it would very much like to see Apple be proactive and explore some possible solutions.

The App Store does have reviews, though. And you can probably find demos online of almost any game in the app store. Apple doesn't need to allow you to play the game for free before spending money on it. Just do your research before, and you won't be left disappointed in your purchases.

 

[DotCom2]

How are people finding the readability of the new Apple TV? Is it an improvement over the previous generation? My elderly mother still needs to move closer to her 55" screen just to read some of the text, and this new one seems to have even poorer contrast. White text over grey? Who at Apple thought that was a good idea? Did they do extensive usability testing?

There are options in the Accessibility feature such as larger text, bold etc.

 

[PaulRustad007]

PSA: The real official Plex app is free. Simplex is a third party paid application.


Back to the topic. It means that the App Store on the Apple TV is basically a giant webview, so Apple can update the layout of the App Store on the server side without the need to update the tvOS. Good. But the part which needs updating, namely the horrible experience of typing passwords, is still outstanding and most likely will require an update to the tvOS.

I listened to the Upgrade podcast today and the host mentioned that Apple's staff told him there won't be an update to the Remote app to support the ATV4. I guess Apple really wants you to use your Siri Remote.

Then if that is the company position, I simply can not bear to buy this item. I tried it for a day. It was cumbersome, and tedious. The remote app was a blessing.

 

[Getafe]

I have force closed the App Store AND Restart the New Apple TV. I still do not see "Top Charts" in the app store. Is there something I am doing wrong???

 

[Menel]

It looks as if Apple have abandoned gen 3 users I thought they would have at least updated photos and Apple Music

Gen3 is really old.4 generations old SOC. It's silly to expect major new features.

 

[mw360]

Can you imagine the reaction if Apple had allowed developers to create games which were incompatible with the remote that came in the box. Or the cost of the device (not to mention hassle) if they provided a console style controller.

If you look at my posting history you'll find amid the bitterness and whining a post agreeing with you. Their policy is the appropriate thing to do. That's why I worded my post carefully to criticise the controller not the policy.

As for the cost, whose fault is that? Apple are charging $79 for that controller! A PS4 controller is $59, XBox and Steam Controllers are $49. This is absurd. Those console controllers are loaded with high quality buttons, triggers, joysticks, touch pads, microphones, lights and earphone sockets. Apples controller is good for navigating a menu, and they want to charge the top end price. For that money they could have included a 'remote' $30, and a high-end games controller @ $49.

 

[warrior2000]

If you look at my posting history you'll find amid the bitterness and whining a post agreeing with you. Their policy is the appropriate thing to do. That's why I worded my post carefully to criticise the controller not the policy.

As for the cost, whose fault is that? Apple are charging $79 for that controller! A PS4 controller is $59, XBox and Steam Controllers are $49. This is absurd. Those console controllers are loaded with high quality buttons, triggers, joysticks, touch pads, microphones, lights and earphone sockets. Apples controller is good for navigating a menu, and they want to charge the top end price. For that money they could have included a 'remote' $30, and a high-end games controller @ $49.

The Nimbus controller is $49 and is the one shown on the Apple website

App sales going up doesn't mean quality is going up. The "top" lists are basically static, dominated by big brands.

Lots of people aren't happy with the quality of games, for example, that the App Store's model promotes. In many ways, the way companies use IAPs and multiple virtual currencies in their games targets people in the same way gambling does. Lots of us aren't happy with that, and would really like to see the paid-up-front model being given a fighting chance so developers who prefer that model don't need to sacrifice discoverability.

Yes, I expect to demo apps for free. Retail stores such as Best Buy do, in fact, have returns windows during which you may return a purchase if unhappy with it. It typically doesn't apply to software because it's easy to duplicate and you may have used up activation keys, etc - but when that doesn't apply (such as with console games), lots of retailers do allow you to return them.

The AppStore doesn't have anything like that - I can't try the product before buying it, and I don't have any automatic right to a refund if I'm unhappy with it.

We don't have ridiculous expectations. Actually, I'm amazed at how ruthlessly capitalist people who don't run corporations can be. Don't you live in the real world, where you occasionally buy products which have been misrepresented to you or turn out to be of unacceptable quality? Do you just fold your arms and accept it without seeing what remedies are available to you?

The fact is that this is new technology. Things are possible with it which perhaps weren't before. The nickel-and-diming of the IAP model and subscription models is real: it's not just my idea. Those of us who are saddened by it would very much like to see Apple be proactive and explore some possible solutions.

Geometry Wars cost $10. Its doing great. So games that you have to pay up front can be successful on iOS/AppleTV. Look at Minecraft also. Bottom line is those games need to be WORTH $10.

There are tons of resources on the web to read about a game BEFORE you buy it. Giving free demo's is dumb. Just research before you decide to buy a game.

 

[springsup]

Geometry Wars cost $10. Its doing great. So games that you have to pay up front can be successful on iOS/AppleTV. Look at Minecraft also. Bottom line is those games need to be WORTH $10.

There are tons of resources on the web to read about a game BEFORE you buy it. Giving free demo's is dumb. Just research before you decide to buy a game.

Geometry Wars has done really well, as has Minecraft, for sure. That's great.

Rollercoaster Tycoon tried to go the freemium, IAP route and got roasted by fans of the series and ended up putting RC3 out there paid-up-front.

That's all great news. Just because a few games are successful doesn't mean we shouldn't keep pushing for more, though - all of those examples are big brands with established fanbases who know what they're getting. It's harder for indie developers to get in to the same market; they just don't have the brand recognition of Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy or Rollercoaster Tycoon.

The fact is that we already have demos - they're just labelled as 'free' with a single 'pro version' IAP. The 'free' versions of these Apps are typically pretty crap, full of prompts to upgrade in addition to ads because it's hard to get conversions in to paying customers. It's not really sustainable for developers and isn't nice for customers, who would probably rather the app not be labelled 'free'.

What would be better is if the App showed its full price, along with a 'Try' button. Some functionality could be locked out, in the same way iBook previews end with a 'Buy full book' page. Alternatively, you could have the full functionality but the developer could limit it to an amount of time. That gives the Apps a chance to persuade you to buy them by letting you use their full feature-set; encouraging more complete Apps with a sustainable development income.