Yeah, it's one of those hidden things though. It's not like there's a score card in iTunes Connects... three speed boosts left!
It's great for the game though and the GameSalad community. Friday is a big launch day and the game starts with the letter "A". It should be a good launch... but that's if it's not already published and sitting in limbo. If the game gets the early release but not the proper listing, I consider that a loss.
The expedite request is listed as something you can do within the itunes connect support area. if someone wants to get just one game out quicker then why not. I've sent 2 emails so far requesting it and not had a reply or requests approved yet. It hasn't affected sales at all. There is a slight chance that other factors caused no sales for your app, not other people 'pushing in line'.
POLYGAMe said: Why is Friday good? I had thought about releasing Max Vector LITE on a Friday but then I'd figured everyone else would do the same...
I guess the thinking being that people are off work and have time for things like games. However, I also work with downloadable videos (don't ask) and have found that sales are always poorer at weekends, which is surprising.
So far my games have followed an, up at weekends down by wednesday kinda pattern so far, so it might be right.
StusApps said: I've sent 2 emails so far requesting it and not had a reply or requests approved yet. It hasn't affected sales at all. There is a slight chance that other factors caused no sales for your app, not other people 'pushing in line'.
The main reason my app got buried was because the launch was messed up. I don't really blame line skippers for that.
Skipping the line bothers me because it's favoritism. Why is Angry Birds always at the top of the list? Is that really the best game available on the iPhone? It feels like there's this hidden force on the App Store. Why was your request for expedited reviewing not heeded? What makes one app more special than another?
That's one thing I like better on the Android Market. I felt that my apps had more of a competitive chance. On the App Store, it feels like I'm wasting my time. With the book finished, I can start a new project, but I'm having trouble getting motivated. It just seems like my app will be buried for some bizarre reason.
Also, as far as which apps are in the top 25, who knows what the magic formula is, I think it's all timing and getting lucky or getting featured. From what I hear, companies like Lima Sky, the creator of Doodle Jump, spend thousands on marketing their apps.
As for having a review expedited, I don't see that as favoritism. Why don't you email them if you want your game expedited next time you have one? Everyone has equal opportunity to ask for an expedited review.
And someone's game getting accepted ahead of yours doesn't mess with your release date, that is through itunes connect. You have to set the release date beforehand, or if it's accepted, make the changes swiftly, otherwise it will default to whatever release date you set originally.
Also, they are completely different teams who choose the apps to go in New and Noteworthy and who review the apps. I highly doubt Apple say "oh look, this guy wants his game to be reviewed quickly, I know, let's go out of our way for him and on top of that, feature the game in new and Noteworthy".
Photics said: I knew to watch my game while it was in review. If Apple approved it on Wednesday, I was going to quickly change the launch date to Thursday. I'm imaging that developers were cutting the line while my game was in review. If other developers weren't cutting the line, my game would have been reviewed earlier. I would have caught the app approval, not at 11:30 at night, and updated my app's launch date. Instead, my app got buried.
Here's another story. I was at the post office and I forgot something or I had to fill something out. I don't remember the details. The lady said to come right back when I was ready. So while I was fixing the problem, new people showed up on the line. I walked past them and straight to the lady... like I was supposed to. But wow, seems like I upset the people on the line.
Other developers wait. It's annoying to have to wait about a week for review, but I don't think it's fair to jump ahead.
The date for Kraken release has been Thursday, August 12th for some time now, certainly before first sumbission.
I submitted it in what I considered enough time to get it through the review process *on time* with possibly a release for Friday 13th August if there was a delay.
I could put the game on the app store RIGHT NOW - it's ready for sale - but I chose the date a couple of weeks ago and I'm sticking to it.
What happened was, I found a bug. Not something serious at all, and most people wouldn't notice it. But I knew it was in there. So I pulled the binary, fixed the bug, and resubmitted asking them to expedite the release as I knew the game would go to the back of the queue.
I could have left the bug in there, not asked for an expedite request, and the game would have come out on time as planned, and fixed the bug in an update.
I made the (correct, in my book) decision to fix the bug, and ask this one time if they could expedite the release to the original date.
I don't see that as unethical. In fact, I like to think it shows some integrity in that I did not want to put a bugged game on the app store.
I'm sorry about your game being buried. I quite like the look of Arcade Action. It looks very nice.
I couldn't tell that, however, from your introductory post about it. There were no screenshots. There was no video. There wasn't even much of an introduction to the game.
Have you made a TA post about it? Have you marketed it AT ALL???
Maybe take a look at yourself before blaming others and the system, eh?
It will likely bring attention to your app though and it could lead to your app being featured. You're making noise. That seemed to work for Max Vector. I remember not liking the fact that his game cut the line too.
Now this is just annoying.
You are attributing the success or otherwise of a game to whether it was expedited on release.
Plenty of people here have got into N&N without having their apps expedited.
The only 'noise' I'm making is here and on other websites. It's called 'pushing my game', because I think it's good and worthy of being pushed (for the same reasons I mentioned in your interview of me in your book).
If it ends up on N&N it's because it deserves it, not because you think it's jumped the line.
I find it insulting to be honest. Please stop blaming outside influences for your issues.
If your game gets featured too it suggests a pattern... that you have to make noise so that Apple has to look at your game. It suggests that skipping the line is good... to fight for favoritism. That's not an insult to you, as clearly your game is well done.
The simple fact is that getting featured is one of the best forms of marketing your app. You basically wrote to apple and requested an expedited review. If your app gets featured, it basically sets a tone for developers to stay competitive. It suggests that if you wait your turn in line you might be sending a message to Apple... "Ignore me."
...or maybe it's about building noise on all fronts. You have this community interest in the game. You have Apple giving a special look at your game. You also have a mention on a website already. You're building hype.
Photics said: If your game gets featured too it suggests a pattern... that you have to make noise so that Apple has to look at your game.
Wow, you really are ridiculously insulting. Are you suggesting that every game here that has been featured was solely because it was expedited?
By the way, my first app. Prankstar was also featured in New and Noteworthy and What's Hot and I DIDN'T get it expedited. Stop being such a jealous *&%$.
WHY WOULD APPLE FAVOUR PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE TO DO EXTRA WORK FOR????
Try making better games and maybe you'll have better luck. And while you're at it, get some new contact lenses to cover up the green.
Yeah. I skipped the line to release on the already planned release date. Bad sheepy!
Your TA thread basically said: My game is out now.
Again, no screenshots. No video.
Who else will care about your game if you can't put a little effort in yourself?
Try the 'upcoming iphone and ipod' section of the site and build some buzz. Be active in there. The Kraken thread there has been seen over 2000 times on TA, and there's a small but excited number of people in there. It was posted on the 29th July - the game is out on Thursday.
If your app gets featured, it basically sets a tone for developers to stay competitive. It suggests that if you wait your turn in line you might be sending a message to Apple... "Ignore me."
No. Just no. In your mind this may be the case. But in the real world, plenty of people that 'waited in line' got featured in N&N, and Stusapps 'Hotel Rush' did fine even though his requests for expediting were ignored.
Here's an idea. On your next game, ask for it to be expedited. Ask to 'skip the line'. Then if *that* isnt successful, come up with another excuse.
POLYGAMe said: By the way, my first app. Prankstar was also featured in New and Noteworthy and What's Hot and I DIDN'T get it expedited. Stop being such a jealous
It's not jealousy. These are GameSalad games. If your games do well, that's good for everyone here. GameSalad has a bit of a bad reputation. By bringing quality apps to the market, it makes the community look better.
Just in general, I'm impressed about how sophisticated things are getting around here.
Yet, I find it troubling that both of you skipped the line. It's like beating a game with a cheat code. Oh sure, you can do it, but it makes the victory less impressive. POLYGAMe, I saw how you were spamming the forums, making noise for your game. It seemed a bit selfish to me. When someone called you out on it, you even insulted me... even though I wasn't on the forums. It's like you're willing to step on people to make sure your games get noticed.
For QuantumSheep, it's the post office scenario. If he was at the window before, but went back to fix something, is it really necessary for him to ruin his launch window? I don't think so.
It's just friendly advice for you two. If you're going to call for expedited reviewed, I think you should keep that secret.
A few people have mentioned before that apple uses the approval date as the New Release date. So when people have set a game to release a few days after approval, then it does not appear in the new games. Here is a previous thread on the matter:
I may be mistaken, and/or this might not be the case any more, but just thought I would give you the heads up. The game looks great by the way, wish I had a 3gs/ip4 to play it on...
Can't wait for this game, really. I didn't even know Arcade Action was out there, though, so maybe QS has a point. About the skipping line thing..everyone can do that, can't they? So I do not see it as cheating nor I see why I should keep it to myself. But..that's me. Anyway, price should be 0.99$ right?
Photics said: It's not jealousy. These are GameSalad games. If your games do well, that's good for everyone here. GameSalad has a bit of a bad reputation. By bringing quality apps to the market, it makes the community look better.
Just in general, I'm impressed about how sophisticated things are getting around here.
Yet, I find it troubling that both of you skipped the line. It's like beating a game with a cheat code. Oh sure, you can do it, but it makes the victory less impressive. POLYGAMe, I saw how you were spamming the forums, making noise for your game. It seemed a bit selfish to me. When someone called you out on it, you even insulted me... even though I wasn't on the forums. It's like you're willing to step on people to make sure your games get noticed.
For QuantumSheep, it's the post office scenario. If he was at the window before, but went back to fix something, is it really necessary for him to ruin his launch window? I don't think so.
It's just friendly advice for you two. If you're going to call for expedited reviewed, I think you should keep that secret.
I didn't insult you at all. I suggested that another forum member (when he was trying to police the forums) get together with you and sit around to discuss rules, as that's what you do.
Thanks for the advice. Now here's some for you. Stop being such a dick.
I've had 2 games featured under N&N and I can tell you that both of those were submitted through the traditional review process, which is just wait in line.
For you to say that those GS users who "Skipped the line" are "Cheating" or doing something that is otherwise unethical is just not logical.
The opportunity lies for everyone to expedite their review if they like. It's not like QS and others "know" someone in Apple. They simply wrote a request to have it expedited, and it was accepted.
You are granted the same opportunity to request one of your games to be expedited, by all means, do it! You are not excluded from asking!
It's almost like someone getting upset because they didn't use a coupon for .50 cents off a loaf of bread, but others made the extra effort to cut the coupon and use it, so they reaped the benefit.
It just doesn't make sense, it comes off as whining, and I don't think anyone here would agree with that type of logic.
Hachiko said: Can't wait for this game, really. I didn't even know Arcade Action was out there, though, so maybe QS has a point. About the skipping line thing..everyone can do that, can't they? So I do not see it as cheating
It's a debate. I have my option about it. That doesn't mean it's the absolute right answer. I posted in here as a warning. The main reason my app did badly was because it got buried at launch. That's why I posted here. If the approval date is today, having the release date for Friday might be bad.
Anyway, price should be 0.99$ right?
That might be another reason my app did badly. Maybe some gamers simply refuse to pay more than 99¢ for a game. In their mind they could have two games instead of one tier 2 game.
Your game "Arcade Action" looked spectacular. If it was buried in the lot of apps, why don't you re-release it, and ask for an expedited review? You missed out on the opportunity to have your app under the new release section, so why not do that?
I don't think pricing was necessarily the fault of your app getting buried, if you aren't in the new release section, you can forget about anyone looking at it.
But the fact that your app was buried is completely unrelated to the fact that others have expedited their reviews. It's simply the itunes connect system and setting your release date promptly after your app is accepted.
butterbean said: Your game "Arcade Action" looked spectacular. If it was buried in the lot of apps, why don't you re-release it, and ask for an expedited review? You missed out on the opportunity to have your app under the new release section, so why not do that?
I am planning to release a "lite" version. I'm waiting to see if Gendai Games does anything about the cost of the "Pro" version. Arcade Action was designed with iAds in mind. I made a decision to focus on the book and not the game. I could have done some more marketing. I expected the game would do badly, BUT NOT THAT BADLY.
That was the main reason why I posted... QuantumSheep obviously worked hard on this game. I'm sending out a warning... watch the release date and the approved date. My game got screwed up. It was bad for me, but here... this would be worse.
When I first saw the video for QuantumSheep's game, I felt good. It was great to see the quality. It looks like fun. When I saw the video at the beginning of this thread...
The Video stated: today... is the day... we... fight... back!
...that also made me happy. I think I saw it on the morning of the day I launched my book.
The secondary point about expedited reviews, you don't have to agree with me. Yet, I think it does bring special attention to your app. Maybe that's not the situation, but it seems like you're sending a message to Apple... this game is important to me! If it's important to you, then other people might feel the same.
Yes, I'm one of those gamers that doesn't like much to pay more than 0.79 € (0.99$) for an app, not when games like Dark Nebula 2 are at 0.79 But if the game is really "tier 2", I'm happy to pay a little more.
Neither of my two apps were released on my release day. Both of them got buried several days later. There was some sort of weird traffic jam both times. Apple didn't put out any releases at all for two days straight, then on the third day, wham! Instantly buried under three days of apps.
It happened both times! Bad luck I guess.
I didn't even realize you could expedite things!
However, I think it is a little short-sighted to try to put so much stock in the release day. Your game needs to gain traction. Word of mouth needs to spread. People need to love your game and show other people.
Banking on everything happening during a 24-hour release day is a little tough!
firemaplegames said: Banking on everything happening during a 24-hour release day is a little tough!
Well, it starts the chain of events. If your app has a strong launch, it can appear in "New and Noteworthy"... which could lead to more sales and more people looking at your game... which can lead to even more people looking at your game... leading to more sales and more ratings.
If your game gets buried at launch, how do you climb out of the hole? A video on Youtube? That probably isn't going to fix it. Posting here about your game isn't really going to fix it. Trying to get reviews from the review sites is often futile. Paying for advertising could lead to a loss, as you only make 70¢ with a tier 1 app.
I think it's really important to get the launch right.
It seems about attracting random sales with a pretty icon and pretty screenshots, having a good letter of the alphabet, getting good reviews, making the most out of the 50 promo codes. That happens at launch. You can make improvements later, but it seems less effective.
We all have the option to request an expedited review for whatever reason; in this case QS's was excellent and would have fitted perfectly with Apple's policy on expedition. I am sure that much of the effectiveness of these requests is down to the content and composition of the required email and therefore relies heavily on the developer's command of the English language.
Apple botched both of my releases. On the day that my game went live, Apple didn't put out any apps at all. Same thing with the next day. Then on the third day, several hundred games got released. Everybody that released their games the previous two days got buried.
This happened both times. It wouldn't have mattered if I expedited them or not.
My apps got featured by Apple 4 weeks after they were released.
You have no control over that stuff.
Games like Doodle Jump have been at the top for years. People love that game! They show it to all of their friends. It couldn't have possibly mattered if it was released on a Tuesday at 7:00 AM or not.
That's true, and I can tell you I've had 2 apps expedited, and neither of those were ever published to N&N.
Also, 2 of my apps that were published under N&N went under the same wait period as all the others. In fact, my very first app ever released called "Endless Apples" was buried and never saw a new release section because at that time, I didn't know to set the release date to the day after, yet was published under N&N.
I'm not sure this persecution complex of yours is going to help you much long term doing this.
If you keep pushing your bizarre and wrong opinion then someone is going to give you a bit of a bout of honesty, so here it is.
I just bought Arcade Action because I would think it not fair to comment if I didn't own it. First problem is that with a name like 'Arcade Action' you can't actually search it on itunes, too many results. As such apple tries to organise more popular games for the user, so when I search your game the first result is angry birds. I couldn't even find yours with 10 minutes of searching. I can search out bumps, max vector, tigerfish, etc.. in seconds because they have a unique name, yours I can not. So I got the link from the GS thread. Once up in itunes to me it doesn't look like a $1.99 title. The screenshots make it look basic rather than retro.
I purchased and played. It comes up and I had no idea I was actually looking at the game menu, I thought it was one of the games. After a couple of minutes of random tapping I finally worked out what to do. The games themselves are kinda ok but better versions of most of them are available for either free or 99c already. I am sure technically your game is good and that it is wonderfully optimized underneath, but it is just not very appealing.
In my opinion, having played the game, it didn't sell because it just doesn't appeal to most buyers. As I posted in another thread, your market on the app store is mostly 10-14 year olds. I can't imagine them wanting or playing this. Even those looking for some real retro style arcade can search the term 'retro arcade' and find more appealing alternatives. As I also stated in the other thread, if you made the game because you wanted to always make this sort of game and money is unimportant then that's cool, but you keep banging on about 'no sales'. You want sales, then be in touch with the market and make something for them.
I understand this post will probably put me up with polygame and his beige comments in your mind. But I think saying other peoples games were successful because of 'this and that' is not fair. They made games people actually wanted to buy, therefore people bought them.
Comments
It's great for the game though and the GameSalad community. Friday is a big launch day and the game starts with the letter "A". It should be a good launch... but that's if it's not already published and sitting in limbo. If the game gets the early release but not the proper listing, I consider that a loss.
What's the rush?!
It is great, and Friday is a perfect launch day!
The expedite request is listed as something you can do within the itunes connect support area. if someone wants to get just one game out quicker then why not. I've sent 2 emails so far requesting it and not had a reply or requests approved yet. It hasn't affected sales at all. There is a slight chance that other factors caused no sales for your app, not other people 'pushing in line'.
So far my games have followed an, up at weekends down by wednesday kinda pattern so far, so it might be right.
Skipping the line bothers me because it's favoritism. Why is Angry Birds always at the top of the list? Is that really the best game available on the iPhone? It feels like there's this hidden force on the App Store. Why was your request for expedited reviewing not heeded? What makes one app more special than another?
That's one thing I like better on the Android Market. I felt that my apps had more of a competitive chance. On the App Store, it feels like I'm wasting my time. With the book finished, I can start a new project, but I'm having trouble getting motivated. It just seems like my app will be buried for some bizarre reason.
Mondays are slow, but if you release a game on Friday or Saturday, it still has a chance to get some momentum going over the weekend.
As for having a review expedited, I don't see that as favoritism. Why don't you email them if you want your game expedited next time you have one? Everyone has equal opportunity to ask for an expedited review.
And someone's game getting accepted ahead of yours doesn't mess with your release date, that is through itunes connect. You have to set the release date beforehand, or if it's accepted, make the changes swiftly, otherwise it will default to whatever release date you set originally.
You logic is seriously flawed, my friend.
I submitted it in what I considered enough time to get it through the review process *on time* with possibly a release for Friday 13th August if there was a delay.
I could put the game on the app store RIGHT NOW - it's ready for sale - but I chose the date a couple of weeks ago and I'm sticking to it.
What happened was, I found a bug. Not something serious at all, and most people wouldn't notice it. But I knew it was in there. So I pulled the binary, fixed the bug, and resubmitted asking them to expedite the release as I knew the game would go to the back of the queue.
I could have left the bug in there, not asked for an expedite request, and the game would have come out on time as planned, and fixed the bug in an update.
I made the (correct, in my book) decision to fix the bug, and ask this one time if they could expedite the release to the original date.
I don't see that as unethical. In fact, I like to think it shows some integrity in that I did not want to put a bugged game on the app store.
I'm sorry about your game being buried. I quite like the look of Arcade Action. It looks very nice.
I couldn't tell that, however, from your introductory post about it. There were no screenshots. There was no video. There wasn't even much of an introduction to the game.
Have you made a TA post about it? Have you marketed it AT ALL???
Maybe take a look at yourself before blaming others and the system, eh? Now this is just annoying.
You are attributing the success or otherwise of a game to whether it was expedited on release.
Plenty of people here have got into N&N without having their apps expedited.
The only 'noise' I'm making is here and on other websites. It's called 'pushing my game', because I think it's good and worthy of being pushed (for the same reasons I mentioned in your interview of me in your book).
If it ends up on N&N it's because it deserves it, not because you think it's jumped the line.
I find it insulting to be honest. Please stop blaming outside influences for your issues.
QS
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
Arcade Action was posted on Touch Arcade. There was a video available and there were screenshots. I just didn't post them here.
http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?threadid=62587
If your game gets featured too it suggests a pattern... that you have to make noise so that Apple has to look at your game. It suggests that skipping the line is good... to fight for favoritism. That's not an insult to you, as clearly your game is well done.
The simple fact is that getting featured is one of the best forms of marketing your app. You basically wrote to apple and requested an expedited review. If your app gets featured, it basically sets a tone for developers to stay competitive. It suggests that if you wait your turn in line you might be sending a message to Apple... "Ignore me."
...or maybe it's about building noise on all fronts. You have this community interest in the game. You have Apple giving a special look at your game. You also have a mention on a website already. You're building hype.
By the way, my first app. Prankstar was also featured in New and Noteworthy and What's Hot and I DIDN'T get it expedited. Stop being such a jealous *&%$.
WHY WOULD APPLE FAVOUR PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE TO DO EXTRA WORK FOR????
Try making better games and maybe you'll have better luck. And while you're at it, get some new contact lenses to cover up the green.
Your TA thread basically said: My game is out now.
Again, no screenshots. No video.
Who else will care about your game if you can't put a little effort in yourself?
Try the 'upcoming iphone and ipod' section of the site and build some buzz. Be active in there. The Kraken thread there has been seen over 2000 times on TA, and there's a small but excited number of people in there. It was posted on the 29th July - the game is out on Thursday. No. Just no. In your mind this may be the case. But in the real world, plenty of people that 'waited in line' got featured in N&N, and Stusapps 'Hotel Rush' did fine even though his requests for expediting were ignored.
Here's an idea. On your next game, ask for it to be expedited. Ask to 'skip the line'. Then if *that* isnt successful, come up with another excuse.
I'm done with this.
QS
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
Just in general, I'm impressed about how sophisticated things are getting around here.
Yet, I find it troubling that both of you skipped the line. It's like beating a game with a cheat code. Oh sure, you can do it, but it makes the victory less impressive. POLYGAMe, I saw how you were spamming the forums, making noise for your game. It seemed a bit selfish to me. When someone called you out on it, you even insulted me... even though I wasn't on the forums. It's like you're willing to step on people to make sure your games get noticed.
For QuantumSheep, it's the post office scenario. If he was at the window before, but went back to fix something, is it really necessary for him to ruin his launch window? I don't think so.
It's just friendly advice for you two. If you're going to call for expedited reviewed, I think you should keep that secret.
http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=9199#post-64924
I may be mistaken, and/or this might not be the case any more, but just thought I would give you the heads up. The game looks great by the way, wish I had a 3gs/ip4 to play it on...
I didn't even know Arcade Action was out there, though, so maybe QS has a point.
About the skipping line thing..everyone can do that, can't they? So I do not see it as cheating nor I see why I should keep it to myself. But..that's me.
Anyway, price should be 0.99$ right?
Thanks for the advice. Now here's some for you. Stop being such a dick.
I've had 2 games featured under N&N and I can tell you that both of those were submitted through the traditional review process, which is just wait in line.
For you to say that those GS users who "Skipped the line" are "Cheating" or doing something that is otherwise unethical is just not logical.
The opportunity lies for everyone to expedite their review if they like. It's not like QS and others "know" someone in Apple. They simply wrote a request to have it expedited, and it was accepted.
You are granted the same opportunity to request one of your games to be expedited, by all means, do it! You are not excluded from asking!
It's almost like someone getting upset because they didn't use a coupon for .50 cents off a loaf of bread, but others made the extra effort to cut the coupon and use it, so they reaped the benefit.
It just doesn't make sense, it comes off as whining, and I don't think anyone here would agree with that type of logic.
I don't think pricing was necessarily the fault of your app getting buried, if you aren't in the new release section, you can forget about anyone looking at it.
But the fact that your app was buried is completely unrelated to the fact that others have expedited their reviews. It's simply the itunes connect system and setting your release date promptly after your app is accepted.
I'll change it up to $1.99 at some point, but on release, $.99 it is!
Cheers!
QS
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
That was the main reason why I posted... QuantumSheep obviously worked hard on this game. I'm sending out a warning... watch the release date and the approved date. My game got screwed up. It was bad for me, but here... this would be worse.
When I first saw the video for QuantumSheep's game, I felt good. It was great to see the quality. It looks like fun. When I saw the video at the beginning of this thread... ...that also made me happy. I think I saw it on the morning of the day I launched my book.
The secondary point about expedited reviews, you don't have to agree with me. Yet, I think it does bring special attention to your app. Maybe that's not the situation, but it seems like you're sending a message to Apple... this game is important to me! If it's important to you, then other people might feel the same.
But if the game is really "tier 2", I'm happy to pay a little more.
It happened both times!
Bad luck I guess.
I didn't even realize you could expedite things!
However, I think it is a little short-sighted to try to put so much stock in the release day. Your game needs to gain traction. Word of mouth needs to spread. People need to love your game and show other people.
Banking on everything happening during a 24-hour release day is a little tough!
If your game gets buried at launch, how do you climb out of the hole? A video on Youtube? That probably isn't going to fix it. Posting here about your game isn't really going to fix it. Trying to get reviews from the review sites is often futile. Paying for advertising could lead to a loss, as you only make 70¢ with a tier 1 app.
I think it's really important to get the launch right.
It seems about attracting random sales with a pretty icon and pretty screenshots, having a good letter of the alphabet, getting good reviews, making the most out of the 50 promo codes. That happens at launch. You can make improvements later, but it seems less effective.
This happened both times. It wouldn't have mattered if I expedited them or not.
My apps got featured by Apple 4 weeks after they were released.
You have no control over that stuff.
Games like Doodle Jump have been at the top for years. People love that game! They show it to all of their friends. It couldn't have possibly mattered if it was released on a Tuesday at 7:00 AM or not.
Also, 2 of my apps that were published under N&N went under the same wait period as all the others. In fact, my very first app ever released called "Endless Apples" was buried and never saw a new release section because at that time, I didn't know to set the release date to the day after, yet was published under N&N.
I'm not sure this persecution complex of yours is going to help you much long term doing this.
If you keep pushing your bizarre and wrong opinion then someone is going to give you a bit of a bout of honesty, so here it is.
I just bought Arcade Action because I would think it not fair to comment if I didn't own it. First problem is that with a name like 'Arcade Action' you can't actually search it on itunes, too many results. As such apple tries to organise more popular games for the user, so when I search your game the first result is angry birds. I couldn't even find yours with 10 minutes of searching. I can search out bumps, max vector, tigerfish, etc.. in seconds because they have a unique name, yours I can not. So I got the link from the GS thread. Once up in itunes to me it doesn't look like a $1.99 title. The screenshots make it look basic rather than retro.
I purchased and played. It comes up and I had no idea I was actually looking at the game menu, I thought it was one of the games. After a couple of minutes of random tapping I finally worked out what to do. The games themselves are kinda ok but better versions of most of them are available for either free or 99c already. I am sure technically your game is good and that it is wonderfully optimized underneath, but it is just not very appealing.
In my opinion, having played the game, it didn't sell because it just doesn't appeal to most buyers. As I posted in another thread, your market on the app store is mostly 10-14 year olds. I can't imagine them wanting or playing this. Even those looking for some real retro style arcade can search the term 'retro arcade' and find more appealing alternatives. As I also stated in the other thread, if you made the game because you wanted to always make this sort of game and money is unimportant then that's cool, but you keep banging on about 'no sales'. You want sales, then be in touch with the market and make something for them.
I understand this post will probably put me up with polygame and his beige comments in your mind. But I think saying other peoples games were successful because of 'this and that' is not fair. They made games people actually wanted to buy, therefore people bought them.
I've done a quick search on my iphone app store, nothing yet.
I've got some pennies with your name etched onto them...
LET ME PLAY IT!!! AAAAAAARGGGGHHHH!!!!! (Too much?....)
(I realize you said Thursday, but I'm sure I saw an appstore link somewhere)...