[MThanded]

Regarding price drop. HERE is our statement. The main reason: piracy rate on Android devices, that was unbelievably high. At first we intend to make this game available for as many people as possible - that's why it was for as little as buck. - It was much less than 8$ for SHADOWGUN but on the other hand we didn't dare to provide it for free, since we hadn't got XP with free-to-play format so far. - However, even for one buck, the piracy rate is soooo giant, that we finally decided to provide DEAD TRIGGER for free. Anyway - DEAD TRIGGER is not FREEMIUM, it always was and still remains FREE-TO-PLAY, that means, all players are able to play it without IAP! We stand up for this statement, because all members of our team are playing (and enjoying) DEAD TRIGGER without IAP.

https://www.facebook.com/DEADTRIGGER...28353737287174

[Snarfington]

Sigh. Used android for 9 months now, never pirated an app. It really saddens me to see this, particularly since a large amount of people I know using Android phones simply wouldn't be tech-savvy enough to actually pirate an app. I really don't know where they're coming from.

[2San]

Shouldn't this be on gaming side? Buying things on android is really annoying though. In the Netherlands they still don't have an option to use iDeal, which is by far the number one method of online transactions in the Netherlands.

[MThanded]

Shouldn't this be on gaming side?

Not sure. We have had the android piracy talk over here quite a bit.

[2San]

Not sure. We have had the android piracy talk over here quite a bit.

Piracy about a game and a game becoming free, seems like gaming side material to me.

[MThanded]

Piracy about a game and a game becoming free, seems like gaming side material to me.

True, it has been moved.

[Vic]

Now that Google wiill provide app encryption, will it solve anything at all?

[Aselith]

I don't understand that decision. "A lot of people are pirating it so let's make it completely free and then we don't even have the possibility to make money!"

Or does it have in-game ads? If so, it should have always been F2P.

[Takao]

Anyone feel this is a side effect of race to the bottom? When you value your product at such a low price I wonder if people begin to ask themselves "What's a dollar to these guys?" to justify their piracy? I know someone will probably reply to me talking about the iOS market, but the difference of course is that it appears Android users are more prone to piracy than other smartphone OS users.

[massoluk]

Shouldn't this be on gaming side? Buying things on android is really annoying though. In the Netherlands they still don't have an option to use iDeal, which is by far the number one method of online transactions in the Netherlands.

But like 5 people live in the Netherlands.

[Phawx]

to be fair, Dead Trigger was a game designed to be free to play from the get-go. It was the #1 listed complaint from all the people who bought it.

Having said that, it still is upsetting. Piracy rates on Android are even higher than on PC. Hopefully the JB app encryption helps.

[soultron]

It sickens me that people can't even spare a fucking dollar.

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

Anyone feel this is a side effect of race to the bottom? When you value your product at such a low price I wonder if people begin to ask themselves "What's a dollar to these guys?" to justify their piracy? I know someone will probably reply to me talking about the iOS market, but the difference of course is that it appears Android users are more prone to piracy than other smartphone OS users.

That and the fact that you can sideload content with a flip of a software switch.

[Chiaroscuro]

I am one of the few who bought it....

[Kyoufu]

Now that Google wiill provide app encryption, will it solve anything at all?

I hope so. This should be a priority for them.

[numble]

Does pirating the app initially affect In-App Purchases at all? Maybe that's why they did it.

[Provider]

Everyone I know with an android device is running pirate apps on it. People talk and look at me like I'm a looser because I pay for apps/games.

[2San]

But like 5 people live in the Netherlands.

I like to think the world revolves around us 5 people. :<

[MercuryLS]

That's the chart on the game's Google Play page. Want to guess when exactly the line started to shoot up?

This is a big reason why Android is treated like a second class citizen by devs even though it a majority marketshare. It's a shame.

[Provider]

It sickens me that people can't even spare a fucking dollar.

I know. People pay over $500 for a phone but can't pay $1 buck for a game.

[OriginalThinking]

I hope so. This should be a priority for them.

From Jellybean forwards apps are encrypted with a device specific key at the time of download from the Play Store. Course anyone on a rooted pre-jellybean device can simply rip the apk and share it. It's a real shame that people do this. I pay for all my apps.

[Futureman]

From Jellybean forwards apps are encrypted with a device specific key at the time of download from the Play Store. Course anyone on a rooted pre-jellybean device can simply rip the apk and share it. It's a real shame that people do this. I pay for all my apps.

in about 2 years pretty much no one will be on a pre-JB phone. Android growing pains. I think things will get better.

I don't play games on my phone though so I don't really care.

[ponpo]

You don't even need to jailbreak your device to play these games for free but pretty crazy how high piracy rates are, especially since you can 'try out' android apps and get a refund a lot easier than on iOS.

[Hoo-doo]

I feel OUYA is gimped from the start for this reason alone. Why even bother putting time and effort in your games when the majority will pirate it anyway? I hope Jelly Bean will put some severe brakes on this issue, with their talk of application encryption and all that.

But then again, in almost every android-related thread, emulators are named as a big and compelling feature, even though the reality is that pretty much everyone is going to pirate the actual games.
When I ask where they get the games from it gets all hush-hush or they bring forward shoddy moral justifications, but apparently nobody realizes that this freeloading behavior is holding the platform back in the long run.

[Diablohead]

Now that Google wiill provide app encryption, will it solve anything at all?

Everything gets cracked it's just a matter of time and effort. If google update their keys every month or two it might work.

[ShinUltramanJ]

If someone has a way to get the content for free, chances are they will do so.

This is why I feel dedicated handhelds don't have so much to fear when it comes to smart phones. I think the vast majority of users are too cheap to buy these $1 games, and games are pirated more than they are sold.

I mean, sure handhelds are not immune to piracy, but it's not nearly as rampant.

[TxdoHawk]

All this recent talk of Android piracy makes me want to go buy something else off the Play Store. Maybe I'll finally go grab DoggCatcher.

[Easy_D]

From Jellybean forwards apps are encrypted with a device specific key at the time of download from the Play Store. Course anyone on a rooted pre-jellybean device can simply rip the apk and share it. It's a real shame that people do this. I pay for all my apps.

Device specific? Like The Wii and the DSi then? It'd be better if it was locked to your account and nothing else :\

Edit: Oh, I realised that the ability to download itself is tied to your account, but that the specific app you download at the time is locked to that specific device. Yeah that ought to help with piracy

[MThanded]

If someone has a way to get the content for free, chances are they will do so. This is why I feel dedicated handhelds don't have so much to fear when it comes to smart phones. I think the vast majority of users are too cheap to buy these $1 games, and games are pirated more than they are sold. I mean, sure handhelds are not immune to piracy, but it's not nearly as rampant.

Devs on iOs sell a helluva lot of apps and people could get them for free. The bar is lower on android due to the ease of pirating though.

[GrandHarrier]

I don't pirate. But I also don't buy anything on my Android UNLESS its $0.99. I don't care how good of an app or game it is. $0.99 or I won't even consider it. Unless its a Kairosoft game. Have I been trained to do this? I don't know.

I agree that the piracy situation is shitty. I really hope it gets resolved. I have no intention of ever going with an Apple phone, so it'd be nice to see a more vibrant marketplace on Android; I realize its a catch 22 though.

[Mario007]

One thing that prevents me personally from downloading paid apps on Play Store is the fact that you have to put your credit card on your google account. If only there was some sort of an option to pay with your phone credit or paypal i'd be much happier.

[gcubed]

i posted the same in the android thread...

piracy is a problem yes and i'm finally glad Google is doing something about it (late and will take a long time to propagate unless they can speed up OS adoption), but this screams of free press for a freemium game (that they claim isnt) with in app purchases.

[Diablohead]

One thing that prevents me personally from downloading paid apps on Play Store is the fact that you have to put your credit card on your google account. If only there was some sort of an option to pay with your phone credit or paypal i'd be much happier.

I agree, much as I like the android store I would prefer to pay with a prepaid card or account I can top up with. I have my card on my iOS stuff but I have too as a developer.

[Smashing Drive]

I cant remember the last time I paid money for an app.

Not because of piracy but because just about everything eventually becomes free.

[MrBambinoDent]

This is really stupid. This game is totally worth more than a buck. Hope those people will grow up some day cuss it's really nauseating.

[Lyphen]

Now that Google wiill provide app encryption, will it solve anything at all?

Maybe in 3-4 years when the vast majority of devices run 4.1+.

[Agent Icebeezy]

Maybe in 3-4 years when the vast majority of devices run 4.1+.

I wonder if due to this fact that Google will be more forceful with manufacturers updating their os to 4.1. I've bought a million apps, I have no problem doing so.

[Roto13]

I know. People pay over $500 for a phone but can't pay $1 buck for a game.

This is what really blows my mind. People who complain that any app that costs more than a dollar is too expensive. Meanwhile, their yearly iPhone revision is perfectly affordable.

[surly]

Perhaps Google have been too open with Android. Fragmentation is largely down to phone manufactures and carriers customising the OS and then at some point saying "fuck it, we're not bothering with updates any more - on to the next phone". If all Android phones had to run stock Android, it wouldn't be anywhere near the issue it is now.

I think they need to up the 15 minute refund window too, as a lot of these games have a smallish initial download, but the first time you run them you're prompted to download a large amount of data and depending on connection speed, that can take longer than 15 minutes, or it can give you very little time to try a game out.

I know ultimately a lot of it comes down to pirates thinking "free is better than £x" no matter what x is, but I think Google could make some changes that would help - obviously, app encryption is one of them, but how long is it going to take for the majority to be on an Android version high enough to support it? Years? It's the most popular phone OS, yet iOS is far better if you want mobile games and it's almost certainly because of piracy rates on Android.

[ElTopo]

This is what really blows my mind. People who complain that any app that costs more than a dollar is too expensive. Meanwhile, their yearly iPhone revision is perfectly affordable.

Most people refuse to see the value in games and applications.

[Mario007]

I wonder if due to this fact that Google will be more forceful with manufacturers updating their os to 4.1. I've bought a million apps, I have no problem doing so.

It seems that 4.1 update should be an easy enough for the manufacturers. Pretty much any device that runs ICS and is at least mid-range should be getting 4.1 update pretty soon, going by the announcements by Google, Samsung, HTC and Asus...of course unless you're Sony and your engineers somehow manage to magically put the latest update on ALL of your yearly line-up, including the low-end models.

[zedge]

i posted the same in the android thread... piracy is a problem yes and i'm finally glad Google is doing something about it (late and will take a long time to propagate unless they can speed up OS adoption), but this screams of free press for a freemium game (that they claim isnt) with in app purchases.

What you said. Screams of free press. I bought the game, but considering it has in app purchases it should have been free from the start. Maybe android users are smarter than their wooly coated iOS cousins.

Most people refuse to see the value in games and applications.

This is very true. They feel as it is not a physical commodity it has no value. Its the same when it comes to music and movies.

[Rollo Larson]

They make piracy easy by allowing apps that facilitate it. It's assimilated into the android experience. I imagine a lot of people don't even know they're pirating when the app simple says something like ZOMG!FREEGAMEHUB. There are even torrent trackers for android

[drizzle]

Now that Google wiill provide app encryption, will it solve anything at all?

Yeah, because that really works on iOS.

i posted the same in the android thread... piracy is a problem yes and i'm finally glad Google is doing something about it (late and will take a long time to propagate unless they can speed up OS adoption), but this screams of free press for a freemium game (that they claim isnt) with in app purchases.

I never played the game, but my friend says it's a money milking machine. I'm going to lean more on that fact.

"Hey, we're so cool that, after this rampant piracy, we'll just make our game free you guys. That way, you can buy the in-app stuff if you so desire!"

[surly]

of course unless you're Sony and your engineers somehow manage to magically put the latest update on ALL of your yearly line-up, including the low-end models.

That's not true at all. One of Sony's latest phones, the Xperia Ion, ships with Gingerbread with a custom Sony interface called Timescape on top of it, even though the phone has a dual core Snapdragon CPU and 1GB of RAM and could easily run ICS or JB.

[Rollo Larson]

Yeah, because that really works on iOS.

There are also no torrent trackers or ZOMG!FREEMP3DOWNLOADZZZZZ apps on iOS

[Bgamer90]

People pay over $500 for a phone but can't pay $1 buck for a game.

/thread

[soultron]

I know. People pay over $500 for a phone but can't pay $1 buck for a game.

This is only a half-truth. Some people buy their phone outright, but I'd assume the vast majority are getting their cellphones subsidized by contract offers. $0 on a 3-year shackling!

[Shambles]

i posted the same in the android thread... piracy is a problem yes and i'm finally glad Google is doing something about it (late and will take a long time to propagate unless they can speed up OS adoption), but this screams of free press for a freemium game (that they claim isnt) with in app purchases.

ding ding ding ding. We have a winner. Another dev jumping on the piracy martyr train looking for some free press to pump up their game. Pathetic, i'll make sure I won't purchase this content.

[Bgamer90]

This is only a half-truth. Some people buy their phone outright, but I'd assume the vast majority are getting their cellphones subsidized by contract offers. $0 on a 3-year shackling!

True but still, if you can pay for the service of the phone, you can spend $1.

(And if not, you shouldn't own a smartphone).