Maze+ Launch Numbers UPDATE
Well this launch is shaping up to be a big one!
First off, we crossed $1,000 in profit yesterday.
This is great because it wasn’t a super expensive game for us. We spent around 8 days total making it and used many resources we already had (like Kolo from Kolo’s Journey). Sales are still going good, yesterday was the biggest day yet, doing RIGHT under $300.
The reason it did better was two fold:
1. I got reviewed by App Advice which is a large publication
2. I just started a Free App A Day campaign
You can see the downloads went WAY up yesterday because I switched from Paid to Free:
My goal is for Free App A Day to help me push to the top 20 and I think it’s going to work. I’m moving quickly and last time I checked (this morning at 9:00AM) I’ve already broken the Top 100!
THE UNEXPECTED
This has been an overall positive launch, but one thing happened that I NEVER expected.
My big games, like Jump Pack, get HIGH RATINGS because I strive to make them GRADE A. I had absolutely no reason to think that Maze+ wouldn’t get the same. Typically if you have a very nice looking game with minimal bugs and NO ADS then it gets a good rating.
But Maze+ has an average of 2.5 stars (fair) instead of 4 stars like Jump Pack!
So I was obviously wondering how this could happen. What I did wrong… and the answer really shocked me.
The main reason I’m seeing people are rating the game bad is because I didn’t include a single player game.
What’s kinda funny, is there IS a single player game… I just named it “Practice” instead of “Single Player”. I did this because I know the game is MUCH more fun when playing multiplayer and I wanted to psychologically urge players to play the multiplayer mode.
But it totally backfired on me. Especially because there is a bug that won’t let you invite a friend (you have to automatch a random player).
We have already submitted a fix for the bug and are changing “practice” back to “single player”. While we’re at it I’m going to add in a few new features into single player to make it more robust.
The big lesson is this:
1. Don’t try to think for your users. Don’t tell them what they can and can’t do.
2. LISTEN to them and fix the problems ASAP. Work overtime if it takes making them happy.
So today we’re creating a new version that takes care of this issue and I’m getting friends to give me a good rating as well.
The GREAT news is this:
I had a similar issue happen with Jump Pack. I changed the economy of the game to make it harder and people KILLED the game on reviews. When I changed it back with a public apology I created HARDCORE FANS. People changed their reviews and wrote new ones. It boosted the ratings up from 2 stars to 4…
So remember… if you listen they will love you for it.
Trey
About the Author
treysmith Trey Smith is the founder of Kayabit, a game company with over 10,000,000 downloads on mobile devices, Secret Headquarters, Inc, a marketing company that teaches entrepreneurs how to build their businesses and L-System records, a house music label from San Diego, CA.
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Hey, Trey I love, love , love your site. I would not have gotten as far as I have without it. Here’s the thing being disabled I still have no extra $$$. Therefore, I’m applying for a grant. I’m in the process of doing my financials, which means I have calculate how sales for apps work. Can you send me the formula for this. I’ve googled till my fingers have bled, to no avail.
Great stuff, Trey. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Trey
I listened in on your ModMyIphone webinar and it inspired me to make an app. Your information was invaluable, however it’s never that easy
I can’t believe that after selecting my candidates on oDesk (after many hours research) my chosen iOS hasn’t bothered to answer my request for an interview and the graphics candidate has declined the interview.
I can only think that all the good guys out there are busy building your apps – LOL.
Anyways, I won’t give up just yet as I think my idea is a good one. Might have to give a lesser rated guy a chance.
Thanks again for all your useful information and good luck with Maze+
Hi Trey,
I believe I’ll be at your webinar tonight but I just wanted to ask; Why are you not using your “auto-generated” rss feed? There would be no need to send an email (with all the delivery problems) to notify your list of your updates, it’s all done for you IF you would simply tell your traffic to “Subscribe to Your RSS Feed” instead of using “Old school” email and realize the power of 100% deliverable RSS Marketing, email doesn’t even come close.
Just thought I’d give you a suggestion..
Take care and see you at the webinar.
Al
RSS Squashes eMail
That’s sick dude! Great post
Hi Trey, I’m learning a lot from your blog, but I’m currently stuck with
something.
When I am launching my app, it seems like I might need TWO
websites. I am saying TWO websites since I intend to do the
following with my App.
I want to create an app that will ALSO connect up with a website
that a user can also use or login to. So in other words, if a user
registers an account with the App using their Password and Login email,
Name etc. that user can also seamlessly go to my website where that same information has AUTOMATICALLY been stored…so in other words, the two databases TALK with each other.
I know that apple requires us to have a website that link to our app.
So I would assume that in this case I need ONE GENERAL website that
links to the APP simply for support issues… but Another Website that Links up with my App so that Users can also use my website to access their data there if they so choose. … you see, this App can also be used on a websites….but that is ALL I can tell you about the APP for now
as it is in STEALTH mode
I would really appreciate a very Clear explanation to this question
as I am sure others might have a similar question as well.
Thanks in advance Trey….
Yo Trey,
Did you consider having some kind of feedback mechanism in app? Even a basic email button so users can report bugs.
This can be really useful in giving the customer a voice, it allows two way communication, and also helps prevent getting poor ratings because you can address issues before it comes to that.
Nice one Trey..but wait I didn’t get – How do you make money if the game (maze+) free now?
With a free app, you can still make lots with in-App purchases.
Yeah but not the same amount when the app is NOT free…That’s my question – How you manage to make the same amount when the app is Free – shenanigans?
That’s right, not the same amount – sometimes way more. Ever wonder why a number of the top grossing apps in the App Store are the ones that are free to download?
Wow this is so cool to see your progress, Trey.
Thanks for sharing – it’s given me a much better idea of how this whole App thing works, in terms of marketing. I didn’t know how FAAD worked.
All the best with your future sales
Hey Dude
Congrats on the stats!
I notice on AppReviews they mention about wishing there were more players available for multiplayer – I’d imagine the FreeAppADay deal should take care of that!
Laters
Nick
You’ve really helped me udnrtesand the issues. Thanks.
I ran into this by accident while sending out coupons to reviewing sites. Not sure if you or anybody on the blog knows about this resource:
http://www.awarenessnetworks.com – it’s a software hub to control and monitor all of our social media networking. “Also to see the Hub in action, please join our webinar on Thursday at 11am PT:
http://info.awarenessnetworks.com/9-8-11-Demo-Webinar.html”
I’m listening in because just getting started with Twitter and wanting to add Facebook look like big projects to manage.
How long did it take your programmer and designer to complete this game for you?
Hey Ruben, it was about a week, according to the previous blog post on Maze+.
Those are some awesome stats Trey! And excellent point about listing to your customers and not telling them what they can/can’t do!
So what’s the deal with FAAD, do they charge developers for being listed on their site and n their app? Or have you gone for a “featured” promotion or something like that?
Trey,
Thank you for being so transparent with your numbers. It is refreshing to watching your proven process to growing a successful iphone app in the gaming niche.
Question: If you were to create an app in another niche, (eg the productivity niche) would you still use the same process to market it as you are doing with this game?
I look forward to your response!
Totally man! I would do the exact same thing I”m doing now. Maybe not FAAP day… we’ll see how that goes! I’m doing that as a test.
Grat numbers there Trey, big up’s!
How many unique visitors does FAAD have per day?
Interesting fact though, I had broken top 300 just by going free… before I even started my promo with FAAD.
Thanks! No clue, but they have a VERY large marketing channel. They have an app, big twitter account and stuff like that. I would think over 100,000 hits (completely random guess)