In App type (Consumable or Non-Consumable)

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

I have an app ready to be published as an in-app, however I am bit confused on what type of product it should be (non-consumable or consumable).
Here is the brief concept of my app: Its is a rhymes app having eight rhymes in total but only two will be available initially. To get the rest six rhymes user must use in-app purchase.

Going through various documentation online this is what I found:
For non-consumable in-apps, user can purchase the app once and can download it any number of times on same or more devices that uses same iTunes login. In this case, for example a school purchases an app, there could be many devices for students with same iTunes login. Hence school can purchase it once and can distribute to students.
For consumable, user must pay for every download.

This is my first in-app, so please suggest me what shall I do. [import]uid: 71670 topic_id: 16219 reply_id: 316219[/import]

#2

Correct me if I’m wrong - I haven’t shipped an iOS app before. But based on what I think that says, it should work like this:

non-consumable : the in-app purchase is available immediately, and also available upon redownload to whomever owns this content.

consumable : available until deleted or “consumed”, ie: an energy pack in Mafia Wars or something similar. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. No redownloads.

The school example seems a bit wonky as iTunes only allows a certain number of registered devices per ID.

Unless your content has an obvious consumable aspect, I would suggest non-consumable - a user is purchasing to “unlock” the full game, basically, and he/she would probably be upset if they had to pay again after restoring their iPhone someday. [import]uid: 41884 topic_id: 16219 reply_id: 60412[/import]

#3

Thanks for the reply Richard.

iTunes allows unlimited device syncing for one iTunes id. Here devices refers to iPad, iPod, iPhone, iPad Touch, etc. Though only 5 computers have authorization to use one iTunes account.

Please refer to the link.

This means if my in app is downloaded from any iTunes id then it can be used in many device using same id, as i mentioned in my previous post by giving example of a school.

Please suggest. [import]uid: 71670 topic_id: 16219 reply_id: 60582[/import]

#4

From my understanding. To determine the type of in app it just depend on the nature of that item.
Take a RPG game for example.

A potion to increase your stat or X amount of gold. This type of item should be “Consumable”, so the user can buy it again and again.

A special weapon or unique armor or extra slot in the inventory. Then this type of item should be “Non-consumable”, coz the user just need to buy 1 of them.

Hope this can help you to determine your in app type.
[import]uid: 59398 topic_id: 16219 reply_id: 60585[/import]

#5

Hi Brain,

So if my app is a rhymes app having eight rhymes in total but only two available initially and to get the rest six rhymes in-app purchase to be used then according to you it must be “Non-Consumable”. Am I right? [import]uid: 71670 topic_id: 16219 reply_id: 60589[/import]

#6

Excuse me being presumptious…but yeah, that’s exactly what he is saying, unless your “rhymes” are somehow destroyed in the app. Like if they were unique to each user or randomly generated or something.

Most iPhone apps that have unlockable content (ie: “remove ads”, “pro edition”, “new levels”, “new characters”) are all “Non-Consumable”. [import]uid: 41884 topic_id: 16219 reply_id: 60617[/import]