Paying for Smartphone Games

Talon87 · 10-13-2012, 07:43 PM

I'm curious to know how often you have either purchased a for-pay game or have made in-game purchases in a free-to-play game for your smartphone, assuming you have one. Vote for the final poll option ("I don't have a smartphone; or I do but I don't download any games for it") if it describes your situation; if it does not, pick the best available answer out of all the other choices.

As indicated by the "On average" out in front of most of the answer choices, please take them to mean on average and not literally "I never miss a beat with the time window listed." So like, say you pay for something once a week for 49 weeks of the year but then you sit it out for 3 weeks at the end of the year before repeating the cycle? I would want you to select the answer choice "At least once a week" and not the answer choice "At least once a month."

***deoxys*** · 10-13-2012, 08:02 PM

I guess the fourth option, although I don't really buy anything for my phone anymore. Almost a year ago Google had a very nice sale on some decent quality games for .49 cents and .99 cents so I took the plunge and got a few. If a game goes on sale cheap like that I'll do it, but I would never buy a mobile game for anything more. I just don't see the appeal other than a time waste sitting in a waiting room somewhere or something.

phoopes · 10-13-2012, 08:08 PM

Well, I've had a smartphone for about two and a half years now, and the only game I've ever paid for on either of them was for Doodle Jump on my iPod. Now, looking back on that, it was a waste of money. There's no reason for me to play games on my phone when I have plenty at home anyway. I usually prefer to just wait and strike up conversation with people rather than sit there and play something.

Tyranidos · 10-13-2012, 10:39 PM

No point when I can play GBC and GBA games on my phone for free.

The Morg · 10-13-2012, 10:53 PM

Is this market research for your new business? =3=

As someone who owns a DS, I can't imagine buying games for a phone, smart or otherwise. I already have a dedicated handheld gaming device with... "real" games, I guess. Phone games just strike me as shovelware used as "merchandising" (Download our app, too!) or as a medium to deliver ads. And the fact that a 99 cent game would have paid DLC is just weird!

Talon87 · 10-13-2012, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dosuser

Is this market research for your new business? =3=

1) http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/1...ales-disaster/
2) "Well I'm not surprised by the 1% to 3% bit. ¯3¯ I never" (read: hardly ever) "pay for apps or games on my iPhone."
3) "But Iiiiiiiiiii woooonder ... :o"
4) this poll

And assuming they're not trolling we have gotten a few people voting in the "at least once a month" and "at least once weekly" columns so that just goes to show that UPN may be more spendy than the national average. (Of course, small numbers may be skewing the statistics significantly.

^^; )

But yeah. I was curious to know if people have paid for pay-only software (like Square-Enix's cell phone games) or for in-app purchases (like extra turns or extra currency in games which limit your access to those things).

The Morg · 10-13-2012, 11:24 PM

SO app developers are seeing DLC as a get-rich-quick scheme... and not only are they not getting rich, some are being left homeless? Sounds about right.

View Poll Results: How often do you pay for games on your smartphone? (Either app or in-app purchase.)
On average, at least once a week.	1	6.25%
On average, less than once a week but at least once a month.	1	6.25%
On average, less than once a month but at least once every six months.	2	12.50%
On average, less than once every six months but at least once a year.	4	25.00%
On average, less than once a year.	3	18.75%
I don't have a smartphone; or I do but I don't download any games for it.	5	31.25%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

10-13-2012, 07:43 PM	#1
Talon87 時の彼方へ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lafayette, Indiana Posts: 20,578	Paying for Smartphone Games I'm curious to know how often you have either purchased a for-pay game or have made in-game purchases in a free-to-play game for your smartphone, assuming you have one. Vote for the final poll option ("I don't have a smartphone; or I do but I don't download any games for it") if it describes your situation; if it does not, pick the best available answer out of all the other choices. As indicated by the "On average" out in front of most of the answer choices, please take them to mean on average and not literally "I never miss a beat with the time window listed." So like, say you pay for something once a week for 49 weeks of the year but then you sit it out for 3 weeks at the end of the year before repeating the cycle? I would want you to select the answer choice "At least once a week" and not the answer choice "At least once a month." __________________ Japanese Discussion \| Mahoyo Discussion \| MyAnimeList

10-13-2012, 08:02 PM	#2
*deoxys* Fog Badge Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 6,513	I guess the fourth option, although I don't really buy anything for my phone anymore. Almost a year ago Google had a very nice sale on some decent quality games for .49 cents and .99 cents so I took the plunge and got a few. If a game goes on sale cheap like that I'll do it, but I would never buy a mobile game for anything more. I just don't see the appeal other than a time waste sitting in a waiting room somewhere or something. __________________ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • MAL - Fizzy Bubbles - Twitter

10-13-2012, 08:08 PM	#3
phoopes Double Dragon Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 3,776	Well, I've had a smartphone for about two and a half years now, and the only game I've ever paid for on either of them was for Doodle Jump on my iPod. Now, looking back on that, it was a waste of money. There's no reason for me to play games on my phone when I have plenty at home anyway. I usually prefer to just wait and strike up conversation with people rather than sit there and play something. __________________

10-13-2012, 10:39 PM	#4
Tyranidos beebooboobopbooboobop Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Krusty Krab Posts: 3,800	No point when I can play GBC and GBA games on my phone for free. __________________ PASBL

10-13-2012, 10:53 PM	#5
The Morg Trying to send Christmas cards Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: scribble Posts: 1,460	Is this market research for your new business? =3= As someone who owns a DS, I can't imagine buying games for a phone, smart or otherwise. I already have a dedicated handheld gaming device with... "real" games, I guess. Phone games just strike me as shovelware used as "merchandising" (Download our app, too!) or as a medium to deliver ads. And the fact that a 99 cent game would have paid DLC is just weird! __________________ munch munch \| FB Profile

10-13-2012, 11:24 PM	#7
The Morg Trying to send Christmas cards Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: scribble Posts: 1,460	SO app developers are seeing DLC as a get-rich-quick scheme... and not only are they not getting rich, some are being left homeless? Sounds about right. __________________ munch munch \| FB Profile

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