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Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

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Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#21

Post by uribs »

jayfuerstenberg wrote: post #15
uribs wrote: post #12

It's a girl! And a nice game! But why release exclusively on a platform controlled by an evil monopolist, considering you are apparently not seeking to shear the easily-parting-with-their-cash sheep that use it?

Please ignore the above commenter. The more constructive way to comment... ------------- Nice game! Do you plan on only releasing for iOS? I use and would love to try your game. I'm not a fan of Apple and can't see myself buying an iPhone anytime soon so I fear I'll be left out of the fun. In any case thanks for sharing! -------------

But your way is no fun at all.

Also, girls are lovely, sweet and cuddly, with rainbows, unicorns, pink ponies and lots of other delicious stuff like that.

And they are rare as developers, so it's awesome there's some.

Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#22

Post by jayfuerstenberg »

sephine wrote: post #17
jayfuerstenberg wrote: post #9

Congratulations on your first iOS game! Have you considered taking it further and monetizing your hard work? You deserve to be rewarded for the entertainment you're providing.

Thanks for everyone's nice comments! I just made it to be a fun project not sure it's worth charging anything for :)

It is of course your choice what to charge customers, if anything.

I often have the same thought when designing apps: "Is this worth paying even 99¢ for?" I then try to improve the app design to the point where it is worth paying for, if I would end up spending a lot of time developing it that is.

Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#23

Post by verelo »

jayfuerstenberg wrote: post #10
foobar2k wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely agree, huge barrier to entry.

The bigger financial barrier to entry is buying a Mac and iPhone (for those who don't own these). After that, $99 is not a big sacrifice and you quickly recuperate your money even if you sell your app for 99¢. I am both an iOS and Mac developer ($99 x 2 per year) and I'm in the black and then some with a couple of apps sold between 99¢ and $2.99.

Complete agree, also the idea of self hosting content in order to save a few $ is really not something we can ever expect - nor should we ask for it IMO.

One of the best features of the app store is that from the consumers perspective its smooth, reliable and just works. Having lots of "cheap" app developers trying to save $100 / yr by hosting their app bin's themselves could results in an unreliable market place that ultimately drives people away from it.

Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#24

Post by uribs »

jayfuerstenberg wrote: post #20
uribs wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Monopoly of iOS app distribution due to iOS/App Store lock-in, robbing developers of $100 and 30% of all profits. Also monopoly of iOS devices, monopoly of OSes for iPhone/iPad and control of a large proportion of smartphone market share with their closed locked-in platform.

There is no monopoly. Apple created this ecosystem and if we don't like it we can develop for any of the Android flavors and even Windows Phone. The costs of the iOS and Mac developer programs are to keep Apple from losing money while they do all the heavy lifting for us developers. Thanks to Apple I don't have to process credit card transactions, set up an app download system, handle refunds nor calculate the taxes…

Android has none of those monopolies by comparison (although Google Play still appropriates 30%, but at least it's not mandatory to use it)

Developer programs are supposed to be a loss offset by the higher amount of sales of your devices due to having more apps thanks to the developer programs.

Paypal, Stripe, 2checkout etc. process transactions for 2-5.5% fees, not 30% (of course 2-5.5% is also extortionate, but that's mostly due to the VISA/MasterCard duopoly, also very evil, and the horrible idea of credit card chargebacks).

Bandwidth is 0.10$/GB, so it would be another 1% at most for most apps, and doubling and rounding would make 15% the very maximum acceptable cut, with 5-10% a more reasonable one.

But of course most developers are themselves complicit in exploiting the userbase with obscenely pay-to-win games, trivial apps that are $1-2, in-app purchases and more, so they are basically content to share their loot with Apple in exchange for Apple's approval of their dubious practices and protection against their users' attempts to not pay.

Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#25

Post by cocoflunchy »

foobar2k wrote: post #4
thurn wrote: post #3

I think it's a shame that you need to pay Apple $100/year to put a free game on their app store. It seems like some sort of special exception for open source apps would be reasonable.

I completely agree, huge barrier to entry.

Actually I think that's exactly the point... it somewhat limits the amount of crappy apps that could get to the approval stage.

Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#26

Post by jayfuerstenberg »

uribs wrote: post #21
jayfuerstenberg wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please ignore the above commenter. The more constructive way to comment... ------------- Nice game! Do you plan on only releasing for iOS? I use and would love to try your game. I'm not a fan of Apple and can't see myself buying an iPhone anytime soon so I fear I'll be left out of the fun. In any case thanks for sharing! -------------

But your way is no fun at all. Also, girls are lovely, sweet and cuddly, with rainbows, unicorns, pink ponies and lots of other delicious stuff like that. And they are rare as developers, so it's awesome there's some.

Nice hole you're digging yourself into there.

The tide is coming in though.

Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#27

Post by jayfuerstenberg »

uribs wrote: post #24
jayfuerstenberg wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no monopoly. Apple created this ecosystem and if we don't like it we can develop for any of the Android flavors and even Windows Phone. The costs of the iOS and Mac developer programs are to keep Apple from losing money while they do all the heavy lifting for us developers. Thanks to Apple I don't have to process credit card transactions, set up an app download system, handle refunds nor calculate the taxes…

Android has none of those monopolies by comparison (although Google Play still appropriates 30%, but at least it's not mandatory to use it) Developer programs are supposed to be a loss offset by the higher amount of sales of your devices due to having more apps thanks to the developer programs. Paypal, Stripe, 2checkout etc. process transactions for 2-5.5% fees, not 30% (of course 2-5.5% is also extortionate, but tha…

I'm sorry but who are you to dictate to Apple how it should be running its business? Apple doesn't do loss leaders like some other companies.

While other companies are offering free services (not really free - you and your data are the product) Apple sells products/services at a profit.

If you consider that evil then all I can suggest is that you don't give Apple any of your money. "Vote with your wallet" as they say.

------

Those payment services you listed only provide the payment end of things.

They don't make a giant store that helps users find you in the first place.

In case you didn't know, 63% of sales are derived from discovery within app stores ( http://www.businessinsider.com/search-is-the-biggest-driver-... ).

People who otherwise wouldn't have learned about my apps if I went solo and used paypal DO discover them because of Apple.

In other words we make more money in the end because of the ecosystem Apple has created for us developers.

Have you ever actually developed and marketed your own apps? This should be obvious to you if you have.

Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#28

Post by pdenya »

niggler wrote: post #14

++ for sharing the source. Most people on HN would be able to checkout and build the app, so why not just use iAd and offer an in-app purchase to remove ads (1$) for the version in store? That way you could collect some revenue and subsidize the cost of the developer license.

If you want to put in some additional effort, a 99c in app purchase is a great option. If not, this game looks polished enough that you could charge for it. Try it at 99c or $1.99, you can always revert it back to free.

Re: Show HN: My First iOS Game - Lumio

#29

Post by niggler »

pdenya wrote: post #28
niggler wrote: post #14

++ for sharing the source. Most people on HN would be able to checkout and build the app, so why not just use iAd and offer an in-app purchase to remove ads (1$) for the version in store? That way you could collect some revenue and subsidize the cost of the developer license.

If you want to put in some additional effort, a 99c in app purchase is a great option. If not, this game looks polished enough that you could charge for it. Try it at 99c or $1.99, you can always revert it back to free.

For those who want it for free, they can compile from source :)
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