Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#41

Post by bitwize » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:47 PM UTC

mysterydip wrote: post #19

bananabat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, we've considered it and we've been approached by a couple of publishers in the "hyper casual" space to go the route of free-but-with-IAPs. First the terms of industry-standard contracts are onerous. And second...well, I personally love casual games. And I never minded paying a reasonable amount for games I play. And then there are games like Two Dots that I really, really liked but the endless monetization…

Congrats on the release! I can only say anecdotally from my own experience, but the games we had listed for a price got 1% or less of the downloads of the same game after we made it free. People complain about free with IAP, but the $ shows otherwise.

Indeed. Free with IAP is the model for mobile gaming, because nothing else makes nearly as much money.

If you want to do this as a business, free with IAP is a must.

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#42

Post by armagon » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:47 PM UTC

mysterydip wrote: post #19

bananabat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, we've considered it and we've been approached by a couple of publishers in the "hyper casual" space to go the route of free-but-with-IAPs. First the terms of industry-standard contracts are onerous. And second...well, I personally love casual games. And I never minded paying a reasonable amount for games I play. And then there are games like Two Dots that I really, really liked but the endless monetization…

Congrats on the release! I can only say anecdotally from my own experience, but the games we had listed for a price got 1% or less of the downloads of the same game after we made it free. People complain about free with IAP, but the $ shows otherwise.

Mysterydip, how do the sales compare of a game with IAP vs one with an upfront cost? (I ask as it is conceivably that fewer than 1% of people who get the IAP version pay, in which case you've made as much either way).

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#43

Post by james-skemp » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:50 PM UTC

bananabat wrote: post #9

robofanatic wrote: post #3

great story and the game looks cool from the screen shots and videos in the app store. wonder if you have plans to introduce a free version with in-app purchases. bet you will get more users.

You know, we've considered it and we've been approached by a couple of publishers in the "hyper casual" space to go the route of free-but-with-IAPs. First the terms of industry-standard contracts are onerous. And second...well, I personally love casual games. And I never minded paying a reasonable amount for games I play. And then there are games like Two Dots that I really, really liked but the endless monetization…

First thing I thought when I looked at the Apple Store version was 'good on you for charging, and for more than $0.99.'

Out of curiosity, when were you approached by publishers? After you had launched?

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#44

Post by SimianLogic » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:51 PM UTC

I've been doing it on and off for 14 years and I'm still learning how to do it. Started a new prototype last night after the kids went to bed.

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#45

Post by danielvaughn » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:51 PM UTC

This is very inspiring - I started out life as an artist and then became a programmer in my late 20's. I'm now 37 and feel that I could have been a game developer but that I'm a bit too old to start.

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#46

Post by robofanatic » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:51 PM UTC

bananabat wrote: post #9

robofanatic wrote: post #3

great story and the game looks cool from the screen shots and videos in the app store. wonder if you have plans to introduce a free version with in-app purchases. bet you will get more users.

You know, we've considered it and we've been approached by a couple of publishers in the "hyper casual" space to go the route of free-but-with-IAPs. First the terms of industry-standard contracts are onerous. And second...well, I personally love casual games. And I never minded paying a reasonable amount for games I play. And then there are games like Two Dots that I really, really liked but the endless monetization…

I meant kind of trial to buy model, not ad-supported per se. There may be a lot of users who might give a try to the trial version which may just be a skimmed down version, if they like it they'll buy! I think a lot of people are afraid to spend money (no matter how little) and then get disappointed (not saying this game is disappointing)

Just my 2 cents.

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#47

Post by eitland » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:52 PM UTC

bananabat wrote: post #38

skinkestek wrote: post #30

Cool! Can you promise no stupid trackers?

https://github.com/13Bananas/policies/blob/main/13_bananas_p...

Perfect. I just bought it just because of that. (I might have bought it otherwise to if I remembered it tomorrow, but this was enough to get me to do it now :-)

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#48

Post by bananabat » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:54 PM UTC

james-skemp wrote: post #43

bananabat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, we've considered it and we've been approached by a couple of publishers in the "hyper casual" space to go the route of free-but-with-IAPs. First the terms of industry-standard contracts are onerous. And second...well, I personally love casual games. And I never minded paying a reasonable amount for games I play. And then there are games like Two Dots that I really, really liked but the endless monetization…

First thing I thought when I looked at the Apple Store version was 'good on you for charging, and for more than $0.99.' Out of curiosity, when were you approached by publishers? After you had launched?

Yep, after. And all hyper casual (lol @ the term) publishers have a free-to-IAP business model.

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#49

Post by bananabat » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:55 PM UTC

robofanatic wrote: post #46

bananabat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, we've considered it and we've been approached by a couple of publishers in the "hyper casual" space to go the route of free-but-with-IAPs. First the terms of industry-standard contracts are onerous. And second...well, I personally love casual games. And I never minded paying a reasonable amount for games I play. And then there are games like Two Dots that I really, really liked but the endless monetization…

I meant kind of trial to buy model, not ad-supported per se. There may be a lot of users who might give a try to the trial version which may just be a skimmed down version, if they like it they'll buy! I think a lot of people are afraid to spend money (no matter how little) and then get disappointed (not saying this game is disappointing) Just my 2 cents.

I appreciate your 2 cents, seriously.

Re: Show HN: I'm 48 and finally learning how to be a game developer

#50

Post by sci_prog » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 10:56 PM UTC

Congratulations! Game development is what got me interested in programming in the first place. Once I put my first pixel on the screen and I figured out how to interact with it blew my mind, limitless possibilities. Since the pandemic started my wife and I have published one game [0] and currently have a second one [1] in a pre-release phase (probably going to make a separate SHOW HN post once it is live).

Keep up the great work! We use Unity3D for our development

[0]: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gibberish-game-against-friends...

[1]: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-setting-sun-block-puzzle/i...