Spent lots of time polishing things and stamping out bugs. There are now 5 robots to choose from and 6 scenes to pick, plus a "randomized" scene where crates, boxes and TNT are placed randomly.
I've had a rethink about how to release this game and hopefully cover some development costs. Here are the four options I could take:
1) Insert adverts. This would most likely be full screen adverts put in between plays.
GOOD: The full game would be free to download.
BAD: People (including me) get annoyed waiting for adverts to finish and it can put them off. Plus, you really need an internet connection to play or it will just play the cached adverts it has already downloaded and clicking on them without an internet connection will no doubt make no money.
2) Insert adverts but they can be turned off with an in-app purchase.
GOOD: The full game is free to download. You can turn off adverts if you pay a small fee.
BAD: Requires an internet connection to unlock and check the unlock is still valid (i.e. they haven't purchased it and then requested a refund). An online payment method is also required. This will work on Google Play and Apple's App Store but I don't think AppGameKit supports Amazon's Store for in-app purchases.
3) Cut down features (e.g. only 1 robot and 2 scenes available). In-app purchase unlocks everything else.
GOOD: No adverts at all.
BAD: Requires an internet connection to unlock and check the unlock is still valid (i.e. they haven't purchased it and then requested a refund). An online payment method is also required. This will work on Google Play and Apple's App Store but I don't think AppGameKit supports Amazon's Store for in-app purchases.
4) Free version with cut down features. Separate paid app for full game.
GOOD: Try before you buy with the cut down, free version. Internet connection only needed to purchase the full version.
BAD: Some people might not want to download a separate app for the full game.
At the moment I am steering towards option 4 as I have had better results with this method than the others. I know this is an older way of doing things but it works. What are your thoughts?
Chart data provided with kind permission from
ELSPA