Apple removes the word 'free'

jigglybean

Apple follows Google's lead, now uses "Get" for download button on freemium titles

Apple has changed the way freemium games are labelled on its mobile and desktop App Store.

Until now, when a user was faced with a freemium title like, say, Candy Crush Saga, the button to download it was marked with "Free." Now, that label has changed to "Get." The App Store's front page has also dispensed with any category or collection of games based on the Freemium model. Apple has offered no official explanation for the move.

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jamie_c

Good, in my opinion.

Socks

@jamie_c said:
Good, in my opinion.

Agreed, the 'free' label was rapidity becoming a bit of a misnomer, with anything beyond the basics of gameplay requiring some additional iAP with many freemium titles, some are so bad they're practically slot machines ! I've read numerous reviews on the App Store were people were asking can they not just buy the damn game instead of this 'free' version model were you need to constantly buy stuff to progress.

So, yeah, good in my opinion too, 'get' is much more fitting than 'free'.

Thunder_Child

jamie_c

It seems like they took they label free off of actually free games/apps though. That seems like a shame, I'd prefer to see something like Paid (buy), IAP's (get), and Free (free).

jigglybean

Google just uses 'Install' - which is must better than 'GET'. I would like to thank the big publishers for slowly destroying mobile gaming, piece by piece, the same as they did with mainstream.

EA's with Dungeon Keeper, Capcom with Smurf Village and many others have managed to really turn the mobile market in to a nasty direction.

Some of the biggest grossing games are free with IAPs, so clearly there IS a demand for it and changing something from 'free' to 'get' is just a pointless exercise

Tiny_Ideas

I spend $500 on some games every six months. Such as real racing 3 and clash of clans. Or just $10 here and there on games like candy crush saga or Boom beach. There really is a handful of people who dislike the model and reckon its ruining game industry. It really isn't. Maybe its how the app environment was meant to be. These games have countless hours of game play and have a great social factors to consider. If no body liked them they would be creating them.
However the paid sections are horrible. I have seen the games all before with different skins. Supported Monument Valley and its update levels in a heart beat because its done something unique. However the paid games still contain virtual currency. So I rather got free first and play it to see if its worth my time.

To me its about getting the most fun out of the short amount of time I have free on the subway. If money gets me that and majority of players can't. Then that's a win

Socks

@jigglybean said:
Some of the biggest grossing games are free with IAPs, so clearly there IS a demand for it and changing something from 'free' to 'get' is just a pointless exercise

Changing the word used on the button makes no comment on how popular or unpopular free games (with IAP) are, by changing 'free' to 'get' doesn't mean there is no demand for free games, only that Apple has a reason for changing the language used to describe them, I expect it's a legal move, probably something to do with little kids unwittingly spending hundreds of dollars of their parent's money, parents then sue Apple for reimbursement, with the 'free' monicker hamstringing Apple's defense.

pHghost

Maybe it is a reaction to the recent South Park episode.

jigglybean

@pHghost said:
Maybe it is a reaction to the recent South Park episode.

I think its down to the changes in EU Law. It must be really difficult in todays world for parents to use the parental lock on their phone.