I suppose if there is a huge flood of returns on games, there won't be as many developers making games for Android. Even now, I am learning other platforms, iPhone and Blackberry - just in case.
I hope it will all work out in the end and that people will, for the most part, keep apps they like, even if they grow bored of them in a few hours or finish a game within 24 hours. On Feb 6, 7:37 pm, tomgibara <[email protected]> wrote: > I don't have any experience to draw on, to judge beforehand whether > this policy is necessary or desirable, but as an individual who plans > to sell an Android app at some time in the near future, I am > interested in its implications. > > I anticipate that novelty apps and perhaps casual games will suffer > from people enjoying them and then returning them within 24hrs. I > think there is a problem of psychology here for games. > > It's my experience that people often persist at a game for a period of > time (whether they are enjoying it or not) based on the value they > place on it. No one buys a £50 game, plays it for 2 minutes and > decides they've had enough, but this often happens with online flash > games, even very good ones. With the return policy proposed for the > Android market, it actually creates a disincentive to keep playing: > give up playing within 24 hrs and you get your money back. > > I suspect the impact of this policy will depend on how straightforward > it is for people to return the app. I also think Shane's point is an > extremely important one - the policy might not be great for > developers, but it might be better than the alternatives. > > On Feb 4, 3:40 pm, madcoder <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I wrote about this here: > > >http://www.anddev.org/google_market_policy_spells_doom_for_games-t435... > > > But it kinda strayed off course, with people suggesting advertising as > > a good way to make money. It may well work, but I think many > > developers might want to get paid for their apps instead of relying on > > ad revenue. > > > I read this in the Android Market Business and Program Policies: > > > 2. Android Market Business Policies > > > Returns: You have 24 hours from the time of purchase (not download) to > > return any applications purchased from Android Market for a full > > refund of any applicable fees. The option to return an application > > within this timeframe will be made available to you through the > > Android Market user interface. You may not return any Products other > > than applications. > > > Upgrades: Android Market does not provide upgrade functionality for > > any Products. If a Product offers free or paid upgrades, those > > upgrades must be obtained directly from the Developer responsible for > > the Product. > > > Reinstalls: You are allowed an unlimited number of reinstalls of each > > application obtained via the Market. > > > So basically, anyone can download an app, then return it within 24 > > hours for a refund. > > > I could see a 2-4 hour turn-around, but not 24 hours. A user should > > know if an app is bad in the first 15 to 30 minutes of using it. I > > know it only takes me about 30 seconds. :) > > > As mentioned in the other thread, this could have serious > > repercussions for games. Imagine a game, like an RPG, that has about > > 4-8 hours of game play for $2.99 (example). A user could play it, > > beat it, then return it. > > > This isn't just games, but other fun apps as well. What about someone > > buying it, showing it off to people, then returning it. Then they > > turn around at a later date and do it all over again when they want to > > show someone else! It's like renting for free! > > > I'm considering an alternative solution. However, I don't know if it > > will violate Google policy. > > > I am thinking of limiting functionality until after 24 hours has > > passed since the time of purchase, checking the time via a web > > server. This way, a user has to wait to be able to complete the game > > or use all the features of the app. > > > I think of it this way. If I go to the movies and spend $7-10, I get > > around 2 hours of entertainment. If someone plays a game for 2-4 > > hours, for only a couple buck, shouldn't the same fee apply? > > > Any thoughts? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
