In App Purchases (Google and Apple)

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

I am planning on uploading my game to Apple and Google.    My game will have In-App purchases.  I have code in the game that saves the information  but I’m not sure how this would work once it is connected to Google and Apple.

My first assumption is that the save to table code in my game saves the data to the players device.

What do I need to do so that I have access to the data for analytics and tracking purposes?

Will the data be available for me under my Google and Apple Account?

If the player purchases save 10 moves and assume the data is stored on my Apple account and say there is a glitch somehow on their device and

                a) the player said they did not receive the 10 moves or

                b) the player received the moves they purchased but then tell me they didn’t

What do I need to do to resolve such an issue?

I’m basically trying to understand how this part of the process would work.

Thanks - I appreciate any help in understanding.

Lori

#2

Yes, you will need to save whatever information you need to grant the app user what they bought.  If it’s an unlock, you will have to save the fact that the app is unlocked.  If it’s buying free moves, you will have to save how many free moves they have and adjust that number as they use them or buy more.

IAP has a lot to it.  There are different types (those that you buy once like unlocks and those that you buy over and over, like more gems or moves in your case).  Before you start on IAP you really should read our IAP tutorials and guides to try and understand all of this.  Many of your questions will be answered there.

https://coronalabs.com/blog/2013/09/03/tutorial-understanding-in-app-purchases/

http://docs.coronalabs.com/daily/guide/monetization/IAP/index.html

Rob

Rob

#3

Awesome.  Thanks for the info.

#4

Clarification question.  I do have code in the game that saves the in-app purchases information but what I am unclear on is since the game data is stored on the user device, how do I the developer know how many they have left and/or how many they purchased.  I’m thinking if the user reports a error…if the info is on their device how do I have the info I need to trouble shoot.

I am going to read the two links that Rob provided.

Thanks

Lori

#5

I put some code in my build utility.lua and my main.lua from the Tutorial Understanding in-app purchases.  I am not done with the entire tutorial yet.  However, I did click on my game in the simulator and it told me I would not be able to publish this app to the store because it uses a restricted library (store).  Please upgrade to unlock it.   So I downloaded the latest version of CORONA SDK and I keep getting the same message.

Does this mean you can’t do In-App purchases with the free version of Corona SDK?

#6

Go to your preferences menu and “Deauthorize and Quit”.   When you log back in you should be able to get past that.  Use to you had to be a Basic or Pro subscriber to use the store.* APIs, but now that everyone is free, this is a symptom of having not done the logout/login to clear your old status.

Rob

#7

Thanks

#8

I deauthorized my MAC computer.  I tried to reauthorize and I received a pop up telling me:  

“You need to login to use the Simulator for the first time.  Please sign in using your Corona account information or press “Register” and to to the website to register.”

So I clicked OK and tried to sign in. and when I pressed the login in button I received another message:  

"You are already using this software on two other computers.  Please reauthorize one of your other computers before logging in on this computer.  On the other computer, go to Preferences…/Deauthorize and quit.

The only other computer I have is my windows computer and have  this computer (MAC).   I just deauthorized my MAC and I am now trying to get it reauthorized.  What do I need to do?

#9

I am going to repost this issue as a deauthorize issue.

#10

I deauthed your accounts.   When you run Corona SDK it should require you to login when you start it up.

Rob

#11

Yes, you will need to save whatever information you need to grant the app user what they bought.  If it’s an unlock, you will have to save the fact that the app is unlocked.  If it’s buying free moves, you will have to save how many free moves they have and adjust that number as they use them or buy more.

IAP has a lot to it.  There are different types (those that you buy once like unlocks and those that you buy over and over, like more gems or moves in your case).  Before you start on IAP you really should read our IAP tutorials and guides to try and understand all of this.  Many of your questions will be answered there.

https://coronalabs.com/blog/2013/09/03/tutorial-understanding-in-app-purchases/

http://docs.coronalabs.com/daily/guide/monetization/IAP/index.html

Rob

Rob

#12

Awesome.  Thanks for the info.

#13

Clarification question.  I do have code in the game that saves the in-app purchases information but what I am unclear on is since the game data is stored on the user device, how do I the developer know how many they have left and/or how many they purchased.  I’m thinking if the user reports a error…if the info is on their device how do I have the info I need to trouble shoot.

I am going to read the two links that Rob provided.

Thanks

Lori

#14

I put some code in my build utility.lua and my main.lua from the Tutorial Understanding in-app purchases.  I am not done with the entire tutorial yet.  However, I did click on my game in the simulator and it told me I would not be able to publish this app to the store because it uses a restricted library (store).  Please upgrade to unlock it.   So I downloaded the latest version of CORONA SDK and I keep getting the same message.

Does this mean you can’t do In-App purchases with the free version of Corona SDK?

#15

Go to your preferences menu and “Deauthorize and Quit”.   When you log back in you should be able to get past that.  Use to you had to be a Basic or Pro subscriber to use the store.* APIs, but now that everyone is free, this is a symptom of having not done the logout/login to clear your old status.

Rob

#16

Thanks

#17

I deauthorized my MAC computer.  I tried to reauthorize and I received a pop up telling me:  

“You need to login to use the Simulator for the first time.  Please sign in using your Corona account information or press “Register” and to to the website to register.”

So I clicked OK and tried to sign in. and when I pressed the login in button I received another message:  

"You are already using this software on two other computers.  Please reauthorize one of your other computers before logging in on this computer.  On the other computer, go to Preferences…/Deauthorize and quit.

The only other computer I have is my windows computer and have  this computer (MAC).   I just deauthorized my MAC and I am now trying to get it reauthorized.  What do I need to do?

#18

I am going to repost this issue as a deauthorize issue.

#19

I deauthed your accounts.   When you run Corona SDK it should require you to login when you start it up.

Rob