In App Purchase (Evil or not)

[Elimentals]

Lets start with an article over at Android Police

The entire article is to long to post here but I will add the wrap-up:

To wrap things up, the point I'm trying to convey in this really long editorial is pretty simple: not all in-app purchase systems are bad.

By pricing Dead Trigger at just a dollar, Madfinger is going to get a ton of people to buy it. And the vast majority of those people (I know I can't convince everyone here) will like it, and many of them will spend money on those in-app purchases. And what's so wrong with that? That money goes into development, making more content, and generally helping an indie developer keep doing what they love: making great games.

And if they can't make a profit doing it, they can never take it to the next level and bring us something truly amazing. So cut developers some slack - they're just trying to get as many people to play their games as possible while still remaining successful, and it's clear that in this day and age, that means doing things a little differently. Some developers are doing it in a sleazy, conniving way - and they need to be called out. But some aren't, and they aren't deserving of such generalized ire. In fact, they should get our praise - I might even buy some of that gold just to say "thanks" for a great game.

I must admit I am normally one of the people that hate in app purchases and normally go out of my way to avoid them, the only problem was that some of the best games normally fell in this category. Well that was until I saw the 1st comment by Aaron Berlin in the comment section:

This is what happens when an entire generation has never had the opportunity to visit a real live arcade. "Gather round children, let grandpa tell you about when it used to cost 25 or 50 cents or [gasp!] even a whole dollar just to play a game for less than two minutes."

This I must admit hit me like a ton of bricks, as the memories of tons of coins wasted came rushing back, at least now with IAP I still get to keep the game and can always come back to play it at a later stage(Not that I ever do) Lets not forget about all the "inventive"(As mentioned over here) ways on the net to get coins without paying real cash, or the subscription system that android added to SDK level 16.

TL;DR In App purchase is here to stay, deal with it.

[sand_man]

My 5 year old daughter managed to blow $71 on a single in app purchase recently. Fortunately I was able to get the transaction reversed and have since enabled certain restrictions on my iPad.

Problem is a lot of these in-app purchase features seem to be affiliated with some arb game designed and targeted for a younger audience. Do they perhaps bank on accidental purchase???

[Elimentals]

My 5 year old daughter managed to blow $71 on a single in app purchase recently. Fortunately I was able to get the transaction reversed and have since enabled certain restrictions on my iPad.

Problem is a lot of these in-app purchase features seem to be affiliated with some arb game designed and targeted for a younger audience. Do they perhaps bank on accidental purchase???

I must admit, I dont have kids so lucky not bitten by that monster. Even worse I guess is that I don't even know where on Android you can turn it off overall vs iOS.

Edit: Ok checked now in Android Play Market app, you can not turn it off but you can add a Pin number for cash purchases. Was wondering how you can prevent your child from draining you CC. Same pin needed for IAP.

[mercurial]

Don't worry, a Russian hacker creates own proxy to get free in app purchases (non jail broken)

[greg0205]

Bought (well, it was free and an Editor's Choice) CSR Racing last week. Pretty cool game but to get anywhere you really do need to buy upgrades... The cheapest upgrade costs $2,99 but some cost $99,00... Eish! TomTom Southern Africa cost $40,00 less and I use it daily.
I get the value of some in-app purchases for apps that add value to your life but R800,00 or more to level up in a game... Really?!!

[Elimentals]

Don't worry, a Russian hacker creates own proxy to get free in app purchases (non jail broken)

Well in Android, loading Game Guardian works on rooted devices.

Takes time to learn how to do it but one you know its easy as well. Problem is that Developers now started to counter this by storing profiles online for both iOS and Android (See Heroes Call)

[mercurial]

Well in Android, loading Game Guardian works on rooted devices.

Takes time to learn how to do it but one you know its easy as well. Problem is that Developers now started to counter this by storing profiles online for both iOS and Android (See Heroes Call)

Thanks for the tip!

[Spizz]

My 5 year old daughter managed to blow $71 on a single in app purchase recently. Fortunately I was able to get the transaction reversed and have since enabled certain restrictions on my iPad.

Problem is a lot of these in-app purchase features seem to be affiliated with some arb game designed and targeted for a younger audience. Do they perhaps bank on accidental purchase???

One of the 'nice' things about being forced to use the US app store, the kids can only blow as much as you have loaded with a voucher.

I assume you're using the Kenya store? Great you got it reversed though

[Bryn26]

I don't like in-app purchases. I'd rather pay a premium for a version of the product that has all its content unlocked.