App Store Rating
by Brian Chaon · in iTorque 2D · 06/16/2009 (11:06 am) · 10 replies
I wanted to verify something I heard from one of our guys.
I have been watching ratings and while our game is getting good ratings our Lite version is not.
I also noticed that very few Free games have good ratings. Granted some games don't have a good rating for a reason and maybe our game really just stinks and the people that bought our game are just trying to justify the money they paid...
But Dave said that when you delete a game off of your device, where it asks you to rate the game, if you don't actually rate the game it defaults the game as a 1 star rating as apposed to not submitting a rating. Is this correct?
I have been watching ratings and while our game is getting good ratings our Lite version is not.
I also noticed that very few Free games have good ratings. Granted some games don't have a good rating for a reason and maybe our game really just stinks and the people that bought our game are just trying to justify the money they paid...
But Dave said that when you delete a game off of your device, where it asks you to rate the game, if you don't actually rate the game it defaults the game as a 1 star rating as apposed to not submitting a rating. Is this correct?
About the author
#2
06/16/2009 (12:22 pm)
Do Lite versions even help out? I wasn't even considering it, and now that I hear this, I don't think I even want to try. Perhaps a good YouTube video demonstration should be sufficient. Can't people spend $0.99(!) to $4.99 for a game anymore? 
#3
06/16/2009 (12:45 pm)
I think there's a "no thanks" and a "rate" option... the default I thought was "no rating."
#4
I personally have bought one or two apps because I wanted the full game after trying the lite version. But i have tried quite a few lite versions.
06/16/2009 (12:46 pm)
We did see a little bump in sales. But nothing significant at this time. However our game really has yet to take off. But the idea behind making a lite version is to get people to try your game that normally wouldn't. In turn some of those people become potential sales. I personally have bought one or two apps because I wanted the full game after trying the lite version. But i have tried quite a few lite versions.
#5
06/16/2009 (12:48 pm)
Yeah. I checked that out, there is a no thanks button. Which I assumed meant no rating was given. Though I have also seen one star ratings with a review that says the opposite. 
#6
06/16/2009 (1:27 pm)
The rate-on-delete interface is badly designed. People rate things 1 star often, which isn't surprising if they're deleting it because they didn't like it. It should be removed. 
#7
06/16/2009 (6:43 pm)
I would say that a Lite version is worth it. Not making it is like not making a demo for your regular game. Conversion rates might be low (less than 1%) but at the end of the day I think its worth it since it does help create buzz about your game. Most importantly of all, what exactly does it cost you to do it? Aside from a few hours of time the answer is "nothing" its relatively easy to push a Lite version out there. 
#8
But I agree with Ronny: The rate on delete needs to be removed or at least be under the developers control, at very least for free apps. It can't be that users are asked to rate an app at the point of lowest interest ie when they delete it.
06/16/2009 (8:45 pm)
Another strong reason for the Lite version is spreading the word about the apps existance, kind of "brand building".But I agree with Ronny: The rate on delete needs to be removed or at least be under the developers control, at very least for free apps. It can't be that users are asked to rate an app at the point of lowest interest ie when they delete it.
#9
I think I would have to agree: the rate after delete should probably go. If I feel that a rating should be given, i will go into iTunes to give it.
06/17/2009 (8:10 am)
Ive played a few games that i deleted after the first try because i didn't care for it. But I chose no thanks because I didn't really feel like i played it enough to rate it. For me a one star rating means that the game was a complete waste of time and space. I think I would have to agree: the rate after delete should probably go. If I feel that a rating should be given, i will go into iTunes to give it.
#10
06/17/2009 (12:05 pm)
That's how I think about apps I have no use for in general - "I'm not the audience, so I shouldn't rate this". I make really damn sure I need it before I pay for one without a free trial :)
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