From The Blog: Introducing DoubleClick Ad Exchange

Getting Started Announcements
#61

I understand you guys need to increase Corona revenue, and since:

A) Admob is the most reliable way for developers to put ads in their app. It may not be the best ad platform all the time, but in average it’s good enough, it’s backed by Google instead of the tons of ad platform startups that close after a year, and never had problem with payments… basically it’s the de facto ad platform

B ) you can’t get share revenue from AdMob 

C) a large part of devs use AdMob by default

So, what you did was:

  1. You changed your license to not allow Corona Cards and Enterprise user to use third-party ad platform native libraries (so, no way to use Admob even there)

  2. You stopped developing the AdMob plugin to push people into Corona Ads (that still has many issues) where you can adjust your revenue share as much as you want.

So well… that’s it. I’ve had a great time developing on Corona SDK, it’s already 6 years I’m using this platform and I’m really grateful for the SDK you created. But it’s clear where this is heading… Wish you all the best for the future of this platform 

#62

Yes this is beyond a joke. This is also people’s livelihoods you are now toying with. There are certain factors which I’m not going divulge that is really going to impact my business. I’ve been using corona for years also, but this is the worst decision I have seen yet. And slamming it with a 1 month period? There is something seriously not right here.

#63

PXL artificer mentioned an update to the license for enterprise users. Does this mean nobody can make their own AdMob plugin to sell on the Corona marketplace?

#64

@PXL artificer, @chris_raz,

I’m sorry to hear your negative sentiments on this and that you feel it will drastically and unequivocally affect your entire business/livelihood. I don’t presume to know how you operate your business, so I won’t attempt to guess how using another official Google-backed ad service (AdX) using the same SDK/providers will yield eCPMs that make your business model unsustainable.

You’ve both been using Corona for years and we sincerely appreciate your loyalty. At the end of the day, Corona SDK remains an absolutely free product which allows you to build your apps at zero cost. Needless to say, the product and the advancements that you appreciate every day (and have for years) doesn’t just come out of thin air. Sustaining a quality product requires resources. Every other SDK/platform from Unity to Epic also needs to earn revenue to continue to exist, via whatever means they choose. This is the honest truth, one which I hope you can at least understand, if not appreciate.

Best regards,

Brent

#65

So, I’m not entirely sure and I would also like some clarification.

Some days ago logging on Coronalabs website I saw this popup message saying the software terms have changed.

This is the page btw

Point 1. Use of Services; Restrictions
Customer shall not:

(vi) use or develop any third-party SDK or plugin used in the purpose of monetization, including but not limited to: advertising, advertising mediation, advertising serving, in-app purchase management, or any such plugin that generates revenue not expressly permitted by Corona Labs;
#66

@pxl artificer hmm, that wording does make it sound like you can’t integrate or create any ad plugins unless it’s approved by Corona. Hopefully Corona staff can weigh in on this.

#67

I’m sorry Brent. I can’t appreciate what you wrote, or the sneaky way you guys are trying to remove admob. Add a great feature like adX through coronaads, Yes please, I’d love to give it a go! At the expense of admob, that would be shooting yourself in the foot. While I can appreciate corona needs to make money (I bought the splash control as soon as it came out without argument) forcing us off the industry standard ad network. You mention unity and other SDKs, yes you all need to make money, but they have not stopped us from using an industry standard ad network. Like I said I have certain factors which I won’t talk about here, we can chat in private if you like. I’d also like to know if what the guys mentioned above about a if someone external could create the plugin?

#68

Keep in mind that AdX is a 100% Google-backed product, using the same SDK for iOS and Android as AdMob.

#69

Yes but it’s running through Corona Ads, not a independent plugin, right?

If I “use” AdX (btw, is it directly selectable by us or automatically selected by Corona Ads?) at the end of the month, where’s the revenue payment coming from? Google or Corona Ads?

#70

Correct. AdX is running through Corona Ads.

Payments will be coming from Corona Ads too.

#71

Well aware of adX backed by google, have been wanting to try it. And would have even through coronaads. Does not change the fact, by you guys removing admob I just refuse to use corona going forward. Already paid for splash control, and now your telling me I can’t use my preferred ad network at all… Why not charge for the admob plugin? That way you can make money going both directions yet would still certainly push traffic to coronaads.

#72

The new enterprise limitation has been known for while now. Here is a fairly old thread that talked about those limitations:

https://forums.coronalabs.com/topic/65175-important-re-enterprise-plugins/

#73

We will investigate putting out a new AdMob plugin on a paid basis.

#74

If that’s the solution I’d happily support it

#75

I too am shocked at what I just read. +1 for standalone versions (no Corona Ads) of AdMob and all of the ad network plugins for that matter. I have no problem with you trying to push the Corona Ads network but please give us developers alternatives and not back us into a corner with only a months notice.
 

If we can please get clarification on the  Point 1. Use of Services; Restrictions for Enterprise PXL Artificer mentioned above from a Corona official also.

#76

About that point, I think there’s no need of further clarifications. I didn’t know before, but if you check the link of the discussion agramonte posted above (https://forums.coronalabs.com/topic/65175-important-re-enterprise-plugins/) they already stated pretty clearly that you can’t create/use any third-party monetization plugins on Corona Enterprise or Cards.

Also, no third-party monetization plugins for Corona are allowed (without Corona approval).

#77

If you plan to use (or create) a third-party monetization plugin as an Enterprise user, you’ll need to contact us for approval.

#78

Just read that thread thanks PXL, what is the criteria that you will use to decide if we can implement our own mediation/ad provider plugin using native code? 

#79

Hello,

Our team has been heavily invested over the past year creating an app that uses Corona.  I am saddened by this news, because our team needs to use admob as our primary source of revenue.  It is a requirement from our higher ups and now that may be gone, we have to start looking into converting what we have so far into possibly another platform.  AdX is nice, but our current corona apps we have out and the majority of our native android/ios/web apps is admob. That isn’t switching, but the corona based ones probably will if this moves forward.  I support the admob paid plugin, I really hope this all works out.

#80

Add me to the list of people willing to pay for an admob plugin. With that being said please, please, please don’t make it apart of corona ads. 

I understand the draw for “simple” users to use corona ads but I’m far from a simple user. I use a lot of the built in tools that these ad networks provide and by being forced to use corona cards I’m unable to use them. No only that I do a lot of rev sharing in my apps with my business partners so we’re able to have multiple ad codes in the same app and randomly show one of our ads. With corona ads you’re stuck using 1 account per app and that’s just not how our business model works. 

All the changes you guys are making is great for the little guy but just constantly screws over the big guys. Going free has cost me over 50k in lost revenue due to rev sharing. Removing admob will end up costing me money. Moving to corona ads will end up costing me more money. I can only justify so much lost revenue. I’d honestly rather just pay you guys 50k or 100k and just go back to the way corona used to be. 

To make matters worse you guys have now locked down corona cards and enterprise. You’re the end all be all and what you say goes. I’m forced to run my company based on the beliefs and views of another company. I haven’t liked the path corona was taking for a while now…but I always knew at the end of the day I could fall back on enterprise and then do what I wanted. With that safety net not being there I’m really walking a tightrope without a net.

There is no one size fits all solution and if you guys continue down the path you’re going to lose all the big players you guys have.