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It would be interesting if the app store displayed the median total expenditure for any application that includes IAP. How would buying behavior be affected whe

by redler 12y ago

It would be interesting if the app store displayed the median total expenditure for any application that includes IAP. How would buying behavior be affected when suddenly that "free" game includes a note like "$59 median total spent"? [Edit: clarity]

avalaunch 12y ago
I think the median for "free" apps with IAPs would almost always be 0. My guess is that the vast majority of people don't pay anything with a small minority making up the bulk of the app's profits. What you really need is a value that represents that amount you need to pay to actually enjoy the app which would be a lot harder to quantify.
- redler 12y ago
  That's a good point. So, perhaps two numbers: percentage who pay, then median for those who do.
- aikah 12y ago
  That's absolutely what our stats say.A tiny portion of players will spend a crazy amount of money in IAP,while the great majority will never pay anything.The "free" app is kinda subsidized. Doesnt excuse dirty IAP tricks,you can choose the IAP model and still let most users have a great experience even without paying.
  - MBCook 12y ago
    If you showed the average, but only the average people who have paid something, do you think that would give reasonable numbers?
    - Jach 12y ago
      Why not just show a graph of the whole distribution, sorted by amount spent? It's 2014; single-number summaries can sometimes be useful, but it's not required to use them now we have computers and can work with the full data set.
MattHeard 12y ago
Or instead of a single number representing the average, show a distribution of the mean total spent by each centile of users. You'll likely see a long flat line at 0 for the first 95% and then a steep curve up for the last 5%. If an app has high-quality in-app purchases, you will likely see that the curve slopes up slower.
- johnvschmitt 12y ago
  That's the most valid perspective IMO, but it's going to be useless to the audience, when they can't even understand what a "median" is, much less a centile.

by redler 12y ago

avalaunch 12y ago

I think the median for "free" apps with IAPs would almost always be 0. My guess is that the vast majority of people don't pay anything with a small minority making up the bulk of the app's profits. What you really need is a value that represents that amount you need to pay to actually enjoy the app which would be a lot harder to quantify.

redler 12y ago
That's a good point. So, perhaps two numbers: percentage who pay, then median for those who do.
aikah 12y ago
That's absolutely what our stats say.A tiny portion of players will spend a crazy amount of money in IAP,while the great majority will never pay anything.The "free" app is kinda subsidized. Doesnt excuse dirty IAP tricks,you can choose the IAP model and still let most users have a great experience even without paying.
- MBCook 12y ago
  If you showed the average, but only the average people who have paid something, do you think that would give reasonable numbers?
  - Jach 12y ago
    Why not just show a graph of the whole distribution, sorted by amount spent? It's 2014; single-number summaries can sometimes be useful, but it's not required to use them now we have computers and can work with the full data set.

MattHeard 12y ago

Or instead of a single number representing the average, show a distribution of the mean total spent by each centile of users. You'll likely see a long flat line at 0 for the first 95% and then a steep curve up for the last 5%. If an app has high-quality in-app purchases, you will likely see that the curve slopes up slower.

johnvschmitt 12y ago
That's the most valid perspective IMO, but it's going to be useless to the audience, when they can't even understand what a "median" is, much less a centile.