Monetizing Kids Apps

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

I want to develop fun puzzle games and educational apps for kids. I know that selling on the app stores for a dollar is going to be the end of my game as it gets buried deep under an ever increasing pile - unless i offer it for FREE. And i also know that  IAP and ads are pretty much out of the question.
So i am wondering how i can monetize in return for my hard work and effort. After all, mums and dads are happy to spend big bucks in bookstores and toy shops for their children. So why must app developers starve?
Should i publish FREE lite versions with push notifications to full separate app versions or is there any other way you can recommend. 

Thanks

#2

You can create the app with partial content unlocked (for free), then use IAP behind an appropriately coded child gate to enable the rest of the content/game/story.

PS - Apple frowns on having a lite and paid version and prefers (maybe even requires) that you use IAP instead.

PPS - You made some assumptions in your post.  Neither ads, not IAP (in-app-purchase) is out of the question, but you must consider COPPA rules when using either.

#3

Thanks @roaminggamer. Just watched Barry O’neill at Casual Connect on Youtube talking about KIds Apps & COPPA and it’s all rather depressing.  Seems very easy to violate those rules and get massively fined even if it’s 3rd party companies doing the data collection via monetization plugins. It’s a veritable minefield and not sure now if it’s worth the trouble.
 

#4

Another interesting link from gamebriefers.com

#5

@MisterK,

I completely commiserate and agree it is a minefield.  I think the safest way to approach this are (in order of safety):

  • Paid - No danger here as long as the app/game/book is properly content and age marked in the store.
  • IAP to unlock - Use an age gate and you should be good to go.  (Note: Not a lawyer   :huh:  )
  • Ads - This is the most dangerous and honestly I would avoid it.
    • Primary dangers:
      • Ad plugin supplier may gather data and not following COPPA rules.  - In this case you are responsible under the rules of COPPA.  Talk about ‘sucks’!
      • Inappropriate Ad content. - You should be able to control this, but it is still scary. Also, I’m unclear on the rules regarding kids clicking on ads.
      • More mines in the minefield I am sure…
#6

Thanks for the extra info @roaminggamer.
Paid means i am going to get buried and unless i have a spiffing marketing campaign with some celeb narrator, it’s unlikely i’ll ever get more than a few hundred downloads.
IAP to Unlock i am not sure about that if my apps are aimed at pre schoolers 3+. Unless mum or dad is happy to unlock the paid feature. I’ll have to research that one further. 
Ads. I was thinking maybe an add service aimed at children like ad4kids.com etc. But as you sated, the developer is liable if an ad plugin gathers data thus violating COPPA guidelines. 

Seems like the only possibility is to get some serious brand awareness established via a website / blog / FB page and create merchandise connected with the game: i will be creating strong animal characters and artwork that will translate well to T-shirts, mugs, prints etc - cafepress / zazzle. I am also considering publishing FREE apps and somehow pushing paid sister apps via Gamethrive but once again, not sure if this violtaes COPPA. 
 

#7

Hi @roaminggamer. I was hoping you might be able to verify if i can use the Agecheq Corona SDK with a Corona Basic license. 
This seems to be a good solution to the COPPA compliance issue.
It’s more a collection of Lua files and i’m a bit confused as to whether this SDK is considered a plugin only for Enterprise or something that all licenses are free to use. 
I have decided not to use any ads whatsoever but simply offer a FREE lite app with IAP and hopefully this parental gateway.
Many thanks

#8

You can create the app with partial content unlocked (for free), then use IAP behind an appropriately coded child gate to enable the rest of the content/game/story.

PS - Apple frowns on having a lite and paid version and prefers (maybe even requires) that you use IAP instead.

PPS - You made some assumptions in your post.  Neither ads, not IAP (in-app-purchase) is out of the question, but you must consider COPPA rules when using either.

#9

Thanks @roaminggamer. Just watched Barry O’neill at Casual Connect on Youtube talking about KIds Apps & COPPA and it’s all rather depressing.  Seems very easy to violate those rules and get massively fined even if it’s 3rd party companies doing the data collection via monetization plugins. It’s a veritable minefield and not sure now if it’s worth the trouble.
 

#10

Another interesting link from gamebriefers.com

#11

@MisterK,

I completely commiserate and agree it is a minefield.  I think the safest way to approach this are (in order of safety):

  • Paid - No danger here as long as the app/game/book is properly content and age marked in the store.
  • IAP to unlock - Use an age gate and you should be good to go.  (Note: Not a lawyer   :huh:  )
  • Ads - This is the most dangerous and honestly I would avoid it.
    • Primary dangers:
      • Ad plugin supplier may gather data and not following COPPA rules.  - In this case you are responsible under the rules of COPPA.  Talk about ‘sucks’!
      • Inappropriate Ad content. - You should be able to control this, but it is still scary. Also, I’m unclear on the rules regarding kids clicking on ads.
      • More mines in the minefield I am sure…
#12

Thanks for the extra info @roaminggamer.
Paid means i am going to get buried and unless i have a spiffing marketing campaign with some celeb narrator, it’s unlikely i’ll ever get more than a few hundred downloads.
IAP to Unlock i am not sure about that if my apps are aimed at pre schoolers 3+. Unless mum or dad is happy to unlock the paid feature. I’ll have to research that one further. 
Ads. I was thinking maybe an add service aimed at children like ad4kids.com etc. But as you sated, the developer is liable if an ad plugin gathers data thus violating COPPA guidelines. 

Seems like the only possibility is to get some serious brand awareness established via a website / blog / FB page and create merchandise connected with the game: i will be creating strong animal characters and artwork that will translate well to T-shirts, mugs, prints etc - cafepress / zazzle. I am also considering publishing FREE apps and somehow pushing paid sister apps via Gamethrive but once again, not sure if this violtaes COPPA. 
 

#13

Hi @roaminggamer. I was hoping you might be able to verify if i can use the Agecheq Corona SDK with a Corona Basic license. 
This seems to be a good solution to the COPPA compliance issue.
It’s more a collection of Lua files and i’m a bit confused as to whether this SDK is considered a plugin only for Enterprise or something that all licenses are free to use. 
I have decided not to use any ads whatsoever but simply offer a FREE lite app with IAP and hopefully this parental gateway.
Many thanks