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I think apps are in a lull right now because most were abandoned and left users feeling jittery about pouring their lives into them. Also few apps spent the eff

I think apps are in a lull right now because most were abandoned and left users feeling jittery about pouring their lives into them. Also few apps spent the effort to take advantage of working offline. If I'm in the subway, I'm basically unable to use anything except games. Although the last couple of games I couldn't play because they were trying to connect to an Ad server that would fail and so the game wouldn't progress.

Jtsummers 11y ago
Not just to ad servers. Some games that have no need for online-only modes are starting to function that way as well. I suspect it was thoughtlessness on the part of the developers ("When would someone ever be without the internet?" "When they're on a cross-country flight!"). This reminds me, I should find a comment box on their site and suggest they fix this, it was incredibly frustrating being barred from a game I bought to play in single player mode just because I was 30k feet in the air.
- rifung 11y ago
  I assume it requires the internet so that people can't pirate it or make sure you're on the latest update? I can understand the frustration you're facing but also sympathize for people who are trying to make a living from selling apps.
  - Jtsummers 11y ago
    It's antagonistic behavior towards users and unnecessary for most apps to be always-online. This is the difference between "I'd recommend this to friends" and "screw these guys". The primary reason I buy board and card game apps is to play offline when traveling, usually with other people, versus carting around 100lbs of games. If a simple hot seat version of your game requires an internet connection, you're doing it wrong.
    - rifung 11y ago
      I agree that it's annoying because I like to play games on the bus where I also don't have internet. I'm just saying that in a way, this was caused by people pirating too much software. I wish I had a solution which didn't require the apps to go online but I don't.
      - Jtsummers 11y ago
        To forget about piracy. I mean no offense to these developers, but if your app can't sell then it can't sell. People will steal software regardless of what you do. Measures like this almost certainly don't encourage more sales, instead they result in negative reviews and fewer sales. Related question: This was on iOS. How bad is software piracy for this platform?
        rifung 11y ago
        From what I understand iOS doesn't have much of a problem with piracy since you have to jailbreak to pirate apps (I think). If it's iOS then I'm not really sure why they had to use the internet to be honest.. I just know that Android has a pretty big issue with piracy and some developers choose to release their apps for free on Android for that reason. I don't disagree with what you are saying and again, I don't know if requiring internet access to combat piracy is the right thing to do but I feel like it's a bit sad to place the blame solely on the creators of the app and not on people who pirate their apps
- Grishnakh 11y ago
  >("When would someone ever be without the internet?" "When they're on a cross-country flight!" Actually, that's incorrect. All cross-country flights by now should have WiFi available. Now, draw your own conclusions about app developers who think you should pony up $$$ to get WiFi on a plane just so their app can connect to game servers (in single player mode). Personally, I hope some "blue ice" falls on them.
deleted 11y ago
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xigency 11y ago
That's the interesting thing about PWA. They can be web applications that don't require internet access.

Jtsummers 11y ago

Not just to ad servers. Some games that have no need for online-only modes are starting to function that way as well. I suspect it was thoughtlessness on the part of the developers ("When would someone ever be without the internet?" "When they're on a cross-country flight!"). This reminds me, I should find a comment box on their site and suggest they fix this, it was incredibly frustrating being barred from a game I bought to play in single player mode just because I was 30k feet in the air.

rifung 11y ago
I assume it requires the internet so that people can't pirate it or make sure you're on the latest update? I can understand the frustration you're facing but also sympathize for people who are trying to make a living from selling apps.
- Jtsummers 11y ago
  It's antagonistic behavior towards users and unnecessary for most apps to be always-online. This is the difference between "I'd recommend this to friends" and "screw these guys". The primary reason I buy board and card game apps is to play offline when traveling, usually with other people, versus carting around 100lbs of games. If a simple hot seat version of your game requires an internet connection, you're doing it wrong.
  - rifung 11y ago
    I agree that it's annoying because I like to play games on the bus where I also don't have internet. I'm just saying that in a way, this was caused by people pirating too much software. I wish I had a solution which didn't require the apps to go online but I don't.
    - Jtsummers 11y ago
      To forget about piracy. I mean no offense to these developers, but if your app can't sell then it can't sell. People will steal software regardless of what you do. Measures like this almost certainly don't encourage more sales, instead they result in negative reviews and fewer sales. Related question: This was on iOS. How bad is software piracy for this platform?
      - rifung 11y ago
        From what I understand iOS doesn't have much of a problem with piracy since you have to jailbreak to pirate apps (I think). If it's iOS then I'm not really sure why they had to use the internet to be honest.. I just know that Android has a pretty big issue with piracy and some developers choose to release their apps for free on Android for that reason. I don't disagree with what you are saying and again, I don't know if requiring internet access to combat piracy is the right thing to do but I feel like it's a bit sad to place the blame solely on the creators of the app and not on people who pirate their apps
Grishnakh 11y ago
>("When would someone ever be without the internet?" "When they're on a cross-country flight!" Actually, that's incorrect. All cross-country flights by now should have WiFi available. Now, draw your own conclusions about app developers who think you should pony up $$$ to get WiFi on a plane just so their app can connect to game servers (in single player mode). Personally, I hope some "blue ice" falls on them.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

xigency 11y ago

That's the interesting thing about PWA. They can be web applications that don't require internet access.