Pricing Questions

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

I am a little concerned about the pricing.

When I first joined Corona a couple years ago - the max price was like $200-300 a year.  Now it is almost $2400 a year.  Have you really added that much value?

I live in China and the average salary is about $500 USD a month - I was wanting to start a small company with about 5 other programmers - so total of 6 of us.

But I see your Small Business Price would cost me $79 * 12 * 6 = $5688 - almost 1 employee’s salary for a year.  Considering the project may be huge and take a year to make that is a lot of money.  They will want the Native API’s/libraries.

Let’s “assume” we write one game and then nothing more.  Am I correct that for as long as that game is published we have to keep paying the $5688 a year or the game won’t work anymore?  Or does a published game have nothing to do the prices?

I understand that Corona is good, there is no question there, I am just “concerned” about your pricing especially for those in 2nd or 3rd world countries.  Maybe $5688 is nothing for someone who lives in a 1st world country, but it is a huge amount for the rest of us.  Could you consider a serious discount for those people?

Am I correct that if I want to practice writing programs (without building to an iphone, just your “fake” iphone) then I can write native API’s free?  But once I want to try it out on a real iphone then I have to pay the fee, right?

Thank you for your understanding.

#2

When I first joined Corona a couple years ago - the max price was like $200-300 a year.  Now it is almost $2400 a year.  Have you really added that much value?

–They also have a free version for you to test out - Corona Starter

Let’s “assume” we write one game and then nothing more.  Am I correct that for as long as that game is published we have to keep paying the $5688 a year or the game won’t work anymore?  Or does a published game have nothing to do the prices?

–A published game has nothing to do with the prices, you can cancel  Corona right after your App goes live and reap the rewards indefinitely.

I am just “concerned” about your pricing especially for those in 2nd or 3rd world countries.  Maybe $5688 is nothing for someone who lives in a 1st world country, but it is a huge amount for the rest of us.  Could you consider a serious discount for those people?

–I seriously doubt they will consider it, I would bet money that they won’t.

Hope that helps,  you should consider just using xCode and objective C.  That might be cheaper with Native API’s and such.

#3

when the price was $200-$300 there was no option for native api so to answer your question. if you want native API then yes value was added

#4

I don’t think it is really necessary for most small company that all the developers have the pro version when money is tight. The pro features work in the free version simulator AFAIK, but they would just not be able to build with them. 

Maybe its in the Corona terms of use that you must have license for each developer if they are working on the same project or something? in that case disregard my comment.

#5

Tianjinuniversal - thanks for the message and questions. Here is our “official” policy on licenses: each developer requires 1 license, which can then be used on up to 2 computers.

Now, you are assuming you need Corona Enterprise. A lot of our developers get by just fine with Starter, Basic or Pro. So your cost for Corona doesn’t have to be that high.

Also, once you published, you can leave your game published and you don’t need to pay a Corona subscription. Of course, if you want to update it you would indeed need a valid subscription.

Hope that answers your questions. Happy to answer any more, or feel free to email me (david AT coronalabs)

David

#6

When I first joined Corona a couple years ago - the max price was like $200-300 a year.  Now it is almost $2400 a year.  Have you really added that much value?

–They also have a free version for you to test out - Corona Starter

Let’s “assume” we write one game and then nothing more.  Am I correct that for as long as that game is published we have to keep paying the $5688 a year or the game won’t work anymore?  Or does a published game have nothing to do the prices?

–A published game has nothing to do with the prices, you can cancel  Corona right after your App goes live and reap the rewards indefinitely.

I am just “concerned” about your pricing especially for those in 2nd or 3rd world countries.  Maybe $5688 is nothing for someone who lives in a 1st world country, but it is a huge amount for the rest of us.  Could you consider a serious discount for those people?

–I seriously doubt they will consider it, I would bet money that they won’t.

Hope that helps,  you should consider just using xCode and objective C.  That might be cheaper with Native API’s and such.

#7

when the price was $200-$300 there was no option for native api so to answer your question. if you want native API then yes value was added

#8

I don’t think it is really necessary for most small company that all the developers have the pro version when money is tight. The pro features work in the free version simulator AFAIK, but they would just not be able to build with them. 

Maybe its in the Corona terms of use that you must have license for each developer if they are working on the same project or something? in that case disregard my comment.

#9

Tianjinuniversal - thanks for the message and questions. Here is our “official” policy on licenses: each developer requires 1 license, which can then be used on up to 2 computers.

Now, you are assuming you need Corona Enterprise. A lot of our developers get by just fine with Starter, Basic or Pro. So your cost for Corona doesn’t have to be that high.

Also, once you published, you can leave your game published and you don’t need to pay a Corona subscription. Of course, if you want to update it you would indeed need a valid subscription.

Hope that answers your questions. Happy to answer any more, or feel free to email me (david AT coronalabs)

David