FREE or PAID game

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

Hi guys,

I would appreciate a friendly advice  :slight_smile:

I have arcade game with:

  • 8 game mods

  • 60 players

People who have seen it think it is a very good game.

Nowadays nobody knows how will game end up when released, fail or succeed… it is a jeopardy.

I am considering two options:

**1) **Release a PAID game for 0.99$

2) Release a FREE game with IAP or Ads watching to get players

A lot of developers said that nowadays users are not willing to pay almost anything (option 1  is a bummer in this case).

On the other hand there is probably a better chance for some game to be noticed in the PAID game section, comparing to FREE game section…

Is it possible to release both PAID and FREE game at the same time (or Apple really dislikes this)?

Your opinion is greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

Ivan

#2

People have many opinions about this but I say if you don’t have the followers or the finances to advertise a free game, don’t go into that road.

You can release both versions by the way. Apple doesn’t think more or less about that. You can take a look at Big Fİsh, G5 games for that.

#3

Thanks bgmadclown!

I assume I must choose two different names.
Like BIRDYGAME (FREE version) and BIRDYGAME ULTIMATE (PAID version).

#4

I guess that will do the trick :slight_smile: Don’t forget to share your game on the Facebook group :slight_smile: -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/310088005728833/

#5

I have a game published with free and paid versions and kind of regret it. Its easier to handle and promote a single app.Every update I have to deal with 4 uploads (2 for android and 2 for ios). With iap you can put diferent items with diferent prices to target all kind of payers. Everyone is doing iap lately

#6

But it depends on the kind of game you have, though

#7

Thanks Imgualandi.

It is all a jeopardy, you cannot know what is going to happen.

You do not have anything to win in PAID version?
Coins are not necessary in PAID version because you get all game feautures when you buy it?

#8

You could also do just one free version, with an IAP to unlock the paid version features.

#9

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Game is relatively good, fun and original.

I think I will try my luck with both PAID and FREE versions.

Question is: what to earn in PAID version (no coins… or?)… ?

What will you do with coins in PAID version?  :slight_smile:

#10

Dominocity is free, charges £2 to remove ads and shows interactive ads between every level. A bit heavy handed if you ask me, but if the game is good it will get people to pay. There are ways to get media coverage without paying and that centres around having a social media presence and targeting reviewers. I can’t claim to have had success with that, mind you.

#11

Thanks horacebury  :slight_smile:

Huh… tough call…

#12

Nowadays, it’s hard to convince a user to purchase in-app items from you just to remove ads. You should definitely introduce something more valuable than that like if you had a hard currency system with diamonds, you should definitely give out diamonds or unlock some exclusive skins for them etc. I think that would be the best way to go with IAP if you are thinking about going down that road but again, if you don’t have funds to advertise your free game in the first place be prepared to get lost in the void.

#13

Thanks guys.

I will go with both  FREE and 0.99 $ PAID game version.

What to offer in PAID game version?

Obviously there is no meaning in having coins/diamonds in PAID game version, or is there?

#14

I don’t know about your game but people will be furious about IAP items in a paid game if your game is not popular enough. Other than that, if you could give us a little more insight about the game we may come up with better offers.

#15

Hi bgmadclown,

As I said it is an  arcade game with:

  • 7 game mods

  • 60 players

 

You get three players in the very beginning, and you can win or purchase additional 19 players sets (i.e. 57 players).

Each player set contains three players.

 

Each game mod is different…

 

I think I will have the game ready in one week or so… I will post a game video here or on your PM.

#16

Sure, I would love to take a look. Don’t forget to keep us updated :slight_smile:

#17

Will do  :slight_smile:

#18

I second the mad clown. I don’t think there’s a point to having a paid and free version, not these days. I went down that route and it didn’t help.

It sounds like there’s a lot of variation in your game; Plenty there to offer for purchase and if there’s levels why not have some of them purchase only? As long as they don’t prevent completing the game, they can be purchased extras - perhaps playing them can make it easier to complete the game, but not prevent it.

Tiny Troopers had an excellent purchase system where you could buy extra lives if you die close to the end of a level or extra weapons etc. In that game, unless you’re really experienced, it’s sometimes easy to get killed regularly without a particular weapon etc. Makes real purchases with iAP much more enticing.

#19

Hi Horace, thanks for your advice.

But there are I would say at least 70% of users that will not pay anything that is not realy required to play the game.

Maybe I should lock some levels and players as you say…

What reward ADS providers would you recommend (I am Basic license user for now)?

#20

One question guys:

Is it allowed to give one time play of the level, and then lock the level after game over and require IAP via coins or directly or by other means?