Warning about using Chartboost with Corona

Solar2D Monetization (in-app purchases, ads, etc.)
#1

CHARTBOOST WARNING

I was alerted by another post that Chartboost was registering impressions, but wasn’t registering any installs or generating revenue for Corona based apps since the middle of November. I double checked my data in their dashboard and confirmed this issue with my own apps.

I approached Chartboost and this is the official reply I got:

Hello Ingemar,

Thank you for alerting us of your issue. I apologize for any inconvenience. This is a server side issue and impacts all apps using the Corona framework. We’re aware of this bug, but may not be able to fix it immediately since the Corona SDK is no longer in active development. We do understand that it’s a major issue for Corona developers and we are looking into solutions. Unfortunately we I do not have any time estimate on when a fix will be available. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Reading between the lines of this response I’d say it’s safe to say that Chartboost have effectivly dropped all support for Corona.

I am removing Chartboost from my Corona based apps with immediate effect and I’d advise others to do so as well. I do not want to waste impressions on Chartboost that can be directed elsewhere.

#2

Ugh, bad news.  Thank you so much for alerting us.

BTW, the issue appears to be with iOS version only.  It stopped generating revenue since Nov. 21st (as reported on the other thread.)  However, I’m still seeing revenue from Android (Google Play) version.

Naomi

#3

Bump as this needs to be seen!

#4

@naomi.

It doesn’t affect native Xcode projects either. I’m still seeing revenue from those. It’s only Corona based apps that are affected for me.

#5

It is a huge problem. I see installs though I only miss interstitials altogether while the more apps wall works fine. But revenues went to a trickle. His is a major issue. Also vungle seems to miss lots of impressions when I compare dashboards. I got chartboost to run my campaigns on native iOS and they work, so it is a corona issue we concluded. @ingemar, is it possible to come up with our own objective C plugin? Maybe that will fix issues? Maybe I am being naive…

#6

As an Enterprise user I *should* be able to create a Corona plugin that interfaces Chartboost’s native iOS / Android SDK. However even if I would do that, only Enterprise users would be able to use it until a Corona plugin marketplace is in place.

#7

There more apps wall never worked properly for me - the close button would go to the app store for the app table entry that appeared under the close button.

I mentioned in a previous thread that Chartboost going open source was ominous and the revenue (for me anyways) was shocking. They also never replied to my emails about their poor eCPM. Goodbye Chartfall. :stuck_out_tongue:

RevMob currently $1.80 eCPM.

#8

@mas1. It is not only an issue of ecpm but averall profitability. I can have low eCPM but being able via a flexible sdk to squeeze ads everywhere and generate volumes. Video ads cannot do that for example. So we really need many reliable SDKs and even revmob I understand is LUA. @ingemar, I have a project that needs some proper ad network integration. Will send you a private message later today, probably when you are sleeping already, and see what we can do.

#9

Thanks Ingemar. Yes that is a BAD news! I was in vacation and I can see now that the full screen ads have no installs since 11/20/2013. More games seems to still work fine for me. Actually the bulk of my revenues was from “more games” anyway. I guess I will turn off the fullscreens ads and leave more games on. This will send the requests to Revmob. The main ad network I am using is PlayHaven (first in line for ads) and so far I am very pleased (eCPM ~ $10)

Thanks again for letting us know so we do not waste our customers time with ads that do not bring any revenues!

Mo

#10

@mo, thanks for confirming that it is the more apps that works. I have submitted an app yesterday and, for lack of time, replaced chartboost interstitials with more apps walls. Not ideal but I met my deadline. Will give it a try with play heaven vs Vungle. But the point remains, we all have different experiences because we have different games and different clients. You really need a variety of networks to reliably work, so I do not see any other way than native plugins, the more the merrier.

#11

NP. Yes you are right, different apps make comparing networks much harder. I had Vungle but given the very small impressions I get from my single app, it was not a good fit. I think video ads maybe better when specifically requested by the user (ie: you can give them x coins for watching) In any event, yes I will suggest you try Playhaven. Good luck!

Mo

#12

I have  a feeling that Chartboost made some ad-server side changes that caused the iOS version of Corona SDK built app with Chartboost interstitials to become incompatible.  My app was generating revenue via Chartboost after I deployed it, and then suddenly it stopped working.  I made no changes to my app before/after this sudden stop…  Ugh.  If Chartboost isn’t supporting the code they released, it means we’d have to anticipate more things breaking down the road.

Naomi

#13

@naomi 99 per cent chance you are right, that is what their support desk told me the issue was likely to be as well. They had promised that they were going to alert engineering team on Monday. A different answer from what ingemar got. But it could be because the engineering team was off for thanksgiving and the poor and heroic guy on thanksgiving duty was not aware of this issue. The reply that ingemar got is rather more chilling (and sadly it sounds like the correct explanation). What’s the timing on this plugins market? Anyone with a clue?

#14

The plugin marketplace was suppose to be last December/January, but never happened.  it doesn’t seem like it is a priority and really one of the major things holding Corona back.

#15

I just wanted to come report my findings.  Over the weekend I tried my app (with Chartboost) and got 3 registered clicks.  These are showing up in my Chartboost dashboard.  So am I looking at this wrong or is it actually recording clicks now?  

#16

I just double-checked my data and I still have 0 clicks/day since 21st November although I have thousands of impressions delivered every day.

#17

This is really strange then.  I only have two days in my dashboard (only been using Chartboost since last week).  I’ve got the 28th and 30th on my report.  With the 18 impressions and 3 clicks coming in on the 30th of November.  

#18

More apps walls will work. Interstitials won’t. Which one are you using?

#19

I’m only using interstitials. 

#20

Just had a friend test this.  I now have 1 Clicks Delivered for today.  He also installed the app but that isn’t showing up.