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I know this might be crazy, but what about Apple/Google setting a floor on app prices? What if no app could sell for less than $2.99 or even $4.99? Although, I'

I know this might be crazy, but what about Apple/Google setting a floor on app prices? What if no app could sell for less than $2.99 or even $4.99? Although, I'm sure that would probably result in less money overall for Google and Apple, so it would never happen, but if customer expectations were at a higher price point, maybe the developer options would increase.

kylec 13y ago
I disagree with this because I think that there's a lot of cases where a free or very cheap app makes sense, but maybe they could do something to better surface the IAP pricing. I think metrics like the average amount of money spent by users or the highest IAP amount displayed prominently next to the app in the store would make it so that apps that try to pull stuff like this are much easier to recognize before the user downloads the app and invests time into it.
- JetSpiegel 13y ago
  They could still allow free apps, for FLOSS software and glorified web browsers.
csomar 13y ago
I think Google/Apple are happy with the game developers figuring out the solution to maximize the profit. They take a 30% cut.
- gurkendoktor 13y ago
  It makes sense for Google, but I don't understand Apple's motives at all. The IAP model ruins gameplay for everyone but the whales. But Apple is making most of its profit through hardware, and now I (as a non-whale) have lost one of my main reasons for buying an iPad. It used to be a great casual gaming device. I guess I'm just gonna play Carcassonne on iOS 6 forever :)
mcphage 13y ago
> I'm sure that would probably result in less money overall for Google and Apple, so it would never happen, but if customer expectations were at a higher price point, maybe the developer options would increase. Given Apple & Google take a flat 30% of money coming in, if they get less money, that means developers are also getting less money. So I don't know how that would increase developer options.

kylec 13y ago

I disagree with this because I think that there's a lot of cases where a free or very cheap app makes sense, but maybe they could do something to better surface the IAP pricing. I think metrics like the average amount of money spent by users or the highest IAP amount displayed prominently next to the app in the store would make it so that apps that try to pull stuff like this are much easier to recognize before the user downloads the app and invests time into it.

JetSpiegel 13y ago
They could still allow free apps, for FLOSS software and glorified web browsers.

csomar 13y ago

I think Google/Apple are happy with the game developers figuring out the solution to maximize the profit. They take a 30% cut.

gurkendoktor 13y ago
It makes sense for Google, but I don't understand Apple's motives at all. The IAP model ruins gameplay for everyone but the whales. But Apple is making most of its profit through hardware, and now I (as a non-whale) have lost one of my main reasons for buying an iPad. It used to be a great casual gaming device. I guess I'm just gonna play Carcassonne on iOS 6 forever :)

mcphage 13y ago

> I'm sure that would probably result in less money overall for Google and Apple, so it would never happen, but if customer expectations were at a higher price point, maybe the developer options would increase. Given Apple & Google take a flat 30% of money coming in, if they get less money, that means developers are also getting less money. So I don't know how that would increase developer options.