While we're on it, a couple more questions about iScore if you don't mind.
First - I know a little about the rank to sales in the Sports category (*cough* check out the #6 app in the category *cough*) so I have to ask - how close are you to recouping your initial investment in iScore? It looks like a fabulous app, but if I had to guess, I'd say a whirlwhind honeymoon in the top ten of its category isn't quite going to cut it.
In order for an app of iScore's caliber to be considered a commercial success, you're going to need sustained sales at least to some degree - right? I'm trying determine whether or not a well developed app (meaning an app requiring significantly more engineering/design/marketing effort than a 99 cent quickie) selling at four or five times the minimum price can be profitable without being a *hit*.
Also, what kind of marketing did you do around the iScore product - anything special? If so, what was effective?
Thanks,
F.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ftm
Thanks Fritzer -
iScore Baseball is actually our flagship product, and has been VERY well received by the users. As you noted, it is a very deep application, and the higher price is more than justified. We even have users saying they can't believe it is ONLY $4.99 - they think it is worth much more. 
Real applications like that are a much different user base (thank God!) than the users that are buying games and getting mad they spent 99 cents (or in some cases they downloaded a free game and say how awful it is) and leave a bad review after a developer has spent countless hours developing something. People spend more than 99 cents on a small soda at McDonalds that is gone in 30 seconds... how is a game not worth 99 cents if someone gets 10 minutes or more of enjoyment from it?
Sure, there is pure crap out there... but I think some reviewers of 99 cent games are overly critical. The iPhone game economy is quite strange that way.
Anyway, I posted the numbers for Bug Squash because I feel it is what most developers are going to be capable of creating. There are a lot of better games out there, and a lot that are not as nice, so I think these sales number are going to be a lot more typical for people than the 1% (or less) of games that really make a lot of money.
I'd still be curious to see some specific numbers from other "average" games... not many people willing to step up I guess. |
