Build it and they will come, well not really...

richcoy

Hello,

My first GS game, Alien Blaster, had the 99 cent version approved 5 days ago and had 22 sales the first day, mostly I think because it sat at the top of the "New Releases" for most of the day because it started with the letter "A". Since that day I've had a total of 3 sales in 4 days.

I've got a website, a youtube video of the gameplay and everyone I've shown the game to likes it.

The free version went live very late last night but I can tell by the iAd stats that the number of downloads is in the 30-40 range, I've made 20 cents so far today.

So my question is what is the next step to getting this more "out there"?

I've seen pmMac mentioned but only if you use the $19 service and since I've had such poor luck so far I'm reluctant, especially for a service I'm not familiar with.

I've seen the long list of sites that review apps, but my game is a simple little themed shooter, not some amazing knock-your-socks off mega app. Is it worth submitting a basic, though quality, game to these sites?

I know the App Store is brutal but when a quality free app won't even buy a soda on launch day I think I must be missing something. Is my experience normal for a noobie game developer?

Thanks for any input you can offer. And no, I was not expecting riches to roll in or Apple to make my game "New and Noteworthy".

Rich

SlickZero

That's pretty standard. Most games last about a week or two making money, and then fade away into the sunset. Not all, but most.

SingleSparq

In 2 years, with 3 games (no promotion) $60 in sales. Still buying lottery tickets.

Seriously, when you think about how many games and apps are on the store, big sales are a crap shoot at best. I'm more confident in my next game and will try MacPR out to see but even if you check off all the things you think it takes, it still may not succeed. Just the way it is. But keep trying cause you can only get better and you might get lucky.

Mammoth

uptimistik said:
Yeah man, iAds are a bust, because companies are just not buying into it. Just chalk it up to experience and keep building better games.

Yep, It's too bad. I really wish iAds worked well. Personally I feel it is the best way to make money with games (if it worked).

I hope one day admob will be supported in GS>

ShineyGames

I Feel your pain
When I did my first game same thing happened.
your on such a high "its my first game!:)" then the high gets better with 22 sales first day ooh
the realty sets in with a week of sales.
thats the story of my first 2 apps and the story of many others
but Ive just picked my self up and get back on the horse.
let us know if you do the pmMAC and if it helps

richcoy

I'd be ecstatic about $2 a day from iAds. At least that way over a few months I'd feel like my hours of development were not wasted. I did not see any other ad networks mentioned in the road map. Think that's coming? With Android in the road map someone must have remembered that iAds is Mac only.