With Apple’s upcoming iOS4 (formerly iPhoneOS), the operating system that powers the iPhone and iPad, developers can show advertisements in their apps using Apple’s iAd framework.
Like many people, I hate intrusive ads. I recognize that ads are an important and indispensable part of our capitalist system, and God knows I love capitalism, but when I sit down to play a game or use an app, the last thing I want is an ad in my face. Nevertheless, I think Apple is on the right track with iAd.
Here’s why. The unfortunate truth about the App Store, now that it has “matured,” so to speak, is that it is extremely hard for most small developers to make money. You might have a great idea, but it’s hard to get noticed and compete against the 225,000 other apps in the App Store. Economics 101 tells us that a such a huge supply will drive down prices. That has been demonstrated in spades, with most apps either free or 99¢. Many consumers will balk at paying even a paltry 99¢, given the enormous selection of free apps.
Sure, the AAA apps produced by the big companies, with their teams of programmers and designers, and with their substantial marketing budgets can charge a bit more and they can semi-reliably count on a large volume of sales. They, however, are the exception.
So, if you aren’t a large developer, and assuming you haven’t discovered an untapped niche (good luck), you almost have to give your app away. Yes, you could go the route of then charging the user money to unlock new levels or what have you, but some apps don’t lend themselves to that paid icadd-on concept.
The only other solution seems to be in-app advertising. Here’s where Apple’s approach is brilliant: if the user taps on an ad, they don’t actually leave the app. They view the ad, no doubt cleverly and engagingly designed, right then and there. No switching to Safari. When the ad is done, or if the user cancels it, the ad disappears, and they are right back in the app, right where they left off.
The only problem is that ads take up screen space, oh-so-precious screen space. For Zoo Clues and Treasure Chess, I need every last pixel for the game’s presentation and user interface. I can’t imagine fitting an advertising banner into the game-play space. There is simply too much information to convey to user as it is.
There is only one spot it might work: the home view. Zoo Clues has one, with buttons for Play, Help, About, and so on. An ad would work there. It would fit, and wouldn’t be annoying (hopefully). Treasure Chess doesn’t have a home window; the user jumps right into the game window. So, if I want to show an advertisement, I’d have to create a home view. Programmatically, it’s not a problem.
But what about the user? Will they mind seeing an ad? Would they rather pay 99¢ for no ad? Do I need to have two versions of my apps, one free with an ad, and paid version with no ad? Hmmm, time to do a little thinking, but my gut is telling me I need to strongly consider using Apple’s iAd.
Not a much to report on the development front except that I’m working on a generic engine that I might use as the core for a number of games. How about a little Friday humor instead? This is an oldie, but it’s still funny.
You Might Be A Redneck Jedi If…
• You ever heard the phrase, “May the force be with y’all.”
• Your Jedi robe is a camouflage color.
• You have ever used your light saber to open a bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill.
• At least one wing of your X-Wings is primer colored.
• You have bantha horns on the front of your land speeder.
• You can easily describe the taste of an Ewok.
• You have ever had an X-wing up on blocks in your yard.
• The worst part of spending time on Dagobah is the dadgum skeeters.
• Wookies are offended by your B.O.
• You have ever used the force to get yourself another beer so you didn’t have to wait for a commercial.
• You have ever used the force in conjunction with bowling.
• Your father has ever said to you, “Shoot, son come on over to the darkside…it’ll be a hoot.”
• You have ever had your R-2 unit use its self-defense electro-shock thingy to get the barbecue grill to light.
• You have a confederate flag painted on the hood of your landspeeder.
• You think Han Solo would look better in a flannel cause he looks like a little sissy in that vest.
• You ever fantasized about Princess Leia wearing Daisy Duke shorts.
• You have the doors of your X-wing welded shut and you have to get in through the window.
• Although you had to kill him, you kinda thought that Jabba the Hutt had a pretty good handle on how to treat his women.
• You ever fell in love with your sister.
• You have ever accidentally referred to Darth Vader’s evil empire as “them damn Yankees.”
• You have a cousin who bears a strong resemblance to Chewbacca.
• You suggested that they outfit the Millennium Falcon with red wood deck.
• You were the only person drinking Jack Daniels on the rocks during the cantina scene.
• In your opinion, that Darth Vader fella “just ain’t right.”
Now that Zoo Clues is done, and now that I’ve had a little break to clear my mind, it’s time to decide what my next project should be. Here are some possibilities:
• Update to Quantum, which is EZ’s most popular product. While the latest version is good, and I haven’t received any bug reports, I have a couple of ideas for new features. Someday, I’d like to do a full-blown Quantum 2.
• Quantum for iPad? I’m not sure how it would perform on iPad hardware, the controls would have to be reworked, and, of course, I’d need to get an iPad (oooh, I like that part!). Something to think about.
• Update to Treasure Chess for the desktop and/or iPhone. I don’t have any great ideas for improvements. If you do, let me know.
• Zoo Clues for iPad and/or the desktop. This is really tempting since the code is still fresh in my head. A simple port would be pretty easy, but the larger format would open up all sorts of possibilities for new features or even a slightly different puzzle concept. In other words, it end up being a different game, perhaps “Zoo Clues 2″ or “Zoo Clues, HD Mega Blaster Edition.” OK, maybe not.
• A new app. Can I admit that, as much as I admire the iPhone and covet the iPad, I would really like to get back to Mac OS X desktop development? One of EZ’s biggest hits (“hits” being a relative term) is Jim’s San Juan, a freeware app based on Andreas Seyfarth’s card game. I am proud of that app but, in retrospect, the code is a bit of a mess. It was also developed with RealBasic, which I no longer use. I’d dig developing a new card game (either licensed, public domain, or original) in XCode, perhaps for both the desktop and iPad.
If you have any ideas or feedback regarding my next project, please leave a comment or contact me. Thanks!
Finally, it’s in Apple’s hands now. Zoo Clues for iPhone and iPod Touch has been submitted for approval for sale in the iTunes App Store! I have completed the web page for it too. Check it out here.
You know that nagging feeling you get when you are all packed for a vacation and you lock the door to leave, but you still feel that, despite whatever list you might have made, you might have forgotten something? Well, I have that feeling with Zoo Clues too, but then again I have that feeling with every app I’ve made! Hopefully, it will get approved on the first try, and you will finally be able to play it for yourselves.
Should I Add iAd?
With Apple’s upcoming iOS4 (formerly iPhoneOS), the operating system that powers the iPhone and iPad, developers can show advertisements in their apps using Apple’s iAd framework.
Like many people, I hate intrusive ads. I recognize that ads are an important and indispensable part of our capitalist system, and God knows I love capitalism, but when I sit down to play a game or use an app, the last thing I want is an ad in my face. Nevertheless, I think Apple is on the right track with iAd.
Here’s why. The unfortunate truth about the App Store, now that it has “matured,” so to speak, is that it is extremely hard for most small developers to make money. You might have a great idea, but it’s hard to get noticed and compete against the 225,000 other apps in the App Store. Economics 101 tells us that a such a huge supply will drive down prices. That has been demonstrated in spades, with most apps either free or 99¢. Many consumers will balk at paying even a paltry 99¢, given the enormous selection of free apps.
Sure, the AAA apps produced by the big companies, with their teams of programmers and designers, and with their substantial marketing budgets can charge a bit more and they can semi-reliably count on a large volume of sales. They, however, are the exception.
So, if you aren’t a large developer, and assuming you haven’t discovered an untapped niche (good luck), you almost have to give your app away. Yes, you could go the route of then charging the user money to unlock new levels or what have you, but some apps don’t lend themselves to that paid icadd-on concept.
The only other solution seems to be in-app advertising. Here’s where Apple’s approach is brilliant: if the user taps on an ad, they don’t actually leave the app. They view the ad, no doubt cleverly and engagingly designed, right then and there. No switching to Safari. When the ad is done, or if the user cancels it, the ad disappears, and they are right back in the app, right where they left off.
The only problem is that ads take up screen space, oh-so-precious screen space. For Zoo Clues and Treasure Chess, I need every last pixel for the game’s presentation and user interface. I can’t imagine fitting an advertising banner into the game-play space. There is simply too much information to convey to user as it is.
There is only one spot it might work: the home view. Zoo Clues has one, with buttons for Play, Help, About, and so on. An ad would work there. It would fit, and wouldn’t be annoying (hopefully). Treasure Chess doesn’t have a home window; the user jumps right into the game window. So, if I want to show an advertisement, I’d have to create a home view. Programmatically, it’s not a problem.
But what about the user? Will they mind seeing an ad? Would they rather pay 99¢ for no ad? Do I need to have two versions of my apps, one free with an ad, and paid version with no ad? Hmmm, time to do a little thinking, but my gut is telling me I need to strongly consider using Apple’s iAd.
Friday Humor
Not a much to report on the development front except that I’m working on a generic engine that I might use as the core for a number of games. How about a little Friday humor instead? This is an oldie, but it’s still funny.
• You ever heard the phrase, “May the force be with y’all.”
• Your Jedi robe is a camouflage color.
• You have ever used your light saber to open a bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill.
• At least one wing of your X-Wings is primer colored.
• You have bantha horns on the front of your land speeder.
• You can easily describe the taste of an Ewok.
• You have ever had an X-wing up on blocks in your yard.
• The worst part of spending time on Dagobah is the dadgum skeeters.
• Wookies are offended by your B.O.
• You have ever used the force to get yourself another beer so you didn’t have to wait for a commercial.
• You have ever used the force in conjunction with bowling.
• Your father has ever said to you, “Shoot, son come on over to the darkside…it’ll be a hoot.”
• You have ever had your R-2 unit use its self-defense electro-shock thingy to get the barbecue grill to light.
• You have a confederate flag painted on the hood of your landspeeder.
• You think Han Solo would look better in a flannel cause he looks like a little sissy in that vest.
• You ever fantasized about Princess Leia wearing Daisy Duke shorts.
• You have the doors of your X-wing welded shut and you have to get in through the window.
• Although you had to kill him, you kinda thought that Jabba the Hutt had a pretty good handle on how to treat his women.
• You ever fell in love with your sister.
• You have ever accidentally referred to Darth Vader’s evil empire as “them damn Yankees.”
• You have a cousin who bears a strong resemblance to Chewbacca.
• You suggested that they outfit the Millennium Falcon with red wood deck.
• You were the only person drinking Jack Daniels on the rocks during the cantina scene.
• In your opinion, that Darth Vader fella “just ain’t right.”
What Should I Work On Next?
• Update to Quantum, which is EZ’s most popular product. While the latest version is good, and I haven’t received any bug reports, I have a couple of ideas for new features. Someday, I’d like to do a full-blown Quantum 2.
• Quantum for iPad? I’m not sure how it would perform on iPad hardware, the controls would have to be reworked, and, of course, I’d need to get an iPad (oooh, I like that part!). Something to think about.
• Update to Treasure Chess for the desktop and/or iPhone. I don’t have any great ideas for improvements. If you do, let me know.
• Zoo Clues for iPad and/or the desktop. This is really tempting since the code is still fresh in my head. A simple port would be pretty easy, but the larger format would open up all sorts of possibilities for new features or even a slightly different puzzle concept. In other words, it end up being a different game, perhaps “Zoo Clues 2″ or “Zoo Clues, HD Mega Blaster Edition.” OK, maybe not.
• A new app. Can I admit that, as much as I admire the iPhone and covet the iPad, I would really like to get back to Mac OS X desktop development? One of EZ’s biggest hits (“hits” being a relative term) is Jim’s San Juan, a freeware app based on Andreas Seyfarth’s card game. I am proud of that app but, in retrospect, the code is a bit of a mess. It was also developed with RealBasic, which I no longer use. I’d dig developing a new card game (either licensed, public domain, or original) in XCode, perhaps for both the desktop and iPad.
If you have any ideas or feedback regarding my next project, please leave a comment or contact me. Thanks!
Zoo Clues Now Available in the App Store!
Get it while it still has that new-app smell. Only 99¢ for on-the-go puzzling pleasure. If you enjoy it, please let me know!
Zoo Clues Submitted for Approval
You know that nagging feeling you get when you are all packed for a vacation and you lock the door to leave, but you still feel that, despite whatever list you might have made, you might have forgotten something? Well, I have that feeling with Zoo Clues too, but then again I have that feeling with every app I’ve made! Hopefully, it will get approved on the first try, and you will finally be able to play it for yourselves.
Electron Zen is an independent development of Mac and iPhone software. Visit the home page.