Bit of market research

[go6 game]

WHILST THIS THREAD IS A 'STICKY' IT IS STILL OPEN FOR RESPONSES. SO PLEASE READ AND REPLY - IT WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW MOMENTS. THANK YOU - go6 game


Hi

As an android apps developer I would be very interested to get some feedback on the following points:

1. Do you find it easy to discover new apps on the Android Market?

2. Do you rely on recommendations or do you search categories to find new games?

3. What is the most annoying problem with a new game e.g. force close, poor graphics?

4. Do you read the instructions on how to play or just Wing it?

5. When would you pay for a game? (Other than mobile versions of best selling PC/PSP etc games).

6. Do you play games where multiplayer involves passing the handset round?

7. Do you prefer single player or multiplayer games?

8. Where do you download most of your games i.e. Android market, Amazon, GetJar?

9. Do you like games where you can upload your scores to Facebook or other websites?

10. Do you recommend games you like to friends?


Thanks for your patience - I'm sure a lot of developers would love to know this stuff and maybe improve user experiences!

[PossumPete]

1. I find it easier to find new games right here.
4. Wing it for the most part.
5. If I like it AND the ads are a nuisance.
6. Never.
7 Single player.
8 Android Market.
9. No.
10. Absolutely!

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

1. Fairly easy. IMO it was easier with the old Market and it's "just in" list.
2. Because of my job, I tend to have to make the recommendations versus rely on them.
3. Being available for devices it does not work with in the Market. Developers -- please use device filtering
4. Jump in and go.
5. I'll pay for any application I use more than once, games included.
6. No. I hate sharing my phone
7. Single player. I usually only play games when i have a bit of downtime, which usually gets interrupted.
8. Android Market
9. I don't, but I understand the attraction and think it's a nice feature.
10. Yes.

Great idea, running a survey about this. Let's get it on the Android Central blog and try to get you some more answers.

[go6 game]

It's difficult to do the devices. I test mine on my HTC Wildfire and then rely on Android Market to do the rest. On Amazon they do seem to be a bit more particular, but realistically I have made $15 in 4 months, and money is not my motivation, but equally I can't test my games on every device available.

Possibly Android Market will have to get a little more particular and maybe bring themselves into line with Amazon and Apple who do vet the apps they offer.

[go6 game]

Yeah. Sorry. Little distracted by my wife.

"Great idea, running a survey about this. Let's get it on the Android Central blog and try to get you some more answers."

Where do you think this should be posted and feel free to pass it on.

[Lothinator]

1. Do you find it easy to discover new apps on the Android Market?
Pretty much, though I do hit up AppBrain to get a better view of the new stuff.

2. Do you rely on recommendations or do you search categories to find new games?
A little of both. I read a number of app review sites, threads on XDA, and watch what's trending on the Market.

3. What is the most annoying problem with a new game e.g. force close, poor graphics?
Lengthy downloads that take you past the review window only to find the game is buggy or not as advertised. Surpassed only by lengthy update checks every time you run the game, which is a problem I have with Princess Punt.

4. Do you read the instructions on how to play or just Wing it?
Wing it, definitely. If a game isn't "discoverable" without reading the instructions, then it needs a better UI. Pop-up hints/tips are okay to explain the tough stuff.

5. When would you pay for a game? (Other than mobile versions of best selling PC/PSP etc games).
I would pay a reasonable price for a game that I *KNOW* works on my device. Lengthy content downloads have made me very very wary, though, of paying for a game untried. I do NOT, however, appreciate in-game content purchases.

6. Do you play games where multiplayer involves passing the handset round?
No.

7. Do you prefer single player or multiplayer games?
Single.

8. Where do you download most of your games i.e. Android market, Amazon, GetJar?
Android Market 100%.

9. Do you like games where you can upload your scores to Facebook or other websites?
No, when they have those features I make an effort NOT to use them.

10. Do you recommend games you like to friends?
Only if the game is outstanding. Maybe 1 or 2 per year max.

[spleebie]

1. Yes
2. Both, but recommendations more
3. Waiting for the game to download an extra X MB of data (instead of including it all in the Market download)
4. Instructions
5. When I think I'll play it more than once or twice
6. Never.
7. Mostly play single player, but wish there were more multiplayer online games.
8. Android Market
9. I like when it's an option, I don't like being forced into it just to play
10. Definitely!

Edit: typo

[jhotmann]

1. Do you find it easy to discover new apps on the Android Market?

No, I find most new apps through Android blogs. There are just too many in the market to know what's good and what's not.

2. Do you rely on recommendations or do you search categories to find new games?

I search categories every once in a while but it's never a productive exercise.

3. What is the most annoying problem with a new game e.g. force close, poor graphics?

Device incompatibility

4. Do you read the instructions on how to play or just Wing it?

Usually just wing it

5. When would you pay for a game? (Other than mobile versions of best selling PC/PSP etc games).

I pay for lots of games, especially if they are recommended by an outside source.

6. Do you play games where multiplayer involves passing the handset round?

No

7. Do you prefer single player or multiplayer games?

Single player (on a mobile phone at least)

8. Where do you download most of your games i.e. Android market, Amazon, GetJar?

Android Market only

9. Do you like games where you can upload your scores to Facebook or other websites?

No.

10. Do you recommend games you like to friends?

Yes.

[Treknologist]

OK, let's see if I can provide you some feedback...
1. I hate to say it but, no. The market really needs a "new" or "recently added" section to make this easier. I do, however, discover new games/apps thanks to sites like this one! So, one way to let folks know about your apps, is to let sites like Android Central know about it or by posting here!
2. It's a mix here. If a game is recommended by an Android forum member or by an article on the page, I will definitely check it out. I also browse the market for games in the categories I like (or just type searches).
3. Since I am mostly playing games on my Prime now, resolution would be the thing. Some of the games do not scale very well. I suppose now that phones have resolutions that match current tablets (ie, 720p), this may start to change. I don't see force closures very much with any of the games I have. For certain games, the control scheme is an issue, particularly with on-screen controls. The tablets deals with this much better than the phones, however.
4. This depends on the game. Some games are ports of known games, so I just "wing" it. Others, I will read so I know what the heck I'm supposed to be doing! I've found that if a game offers the instructions on a tutorial or as pop ups, that's when I find them most useful.
5. If I just like it and I find the price to be "right," I just buy it. I much prefer to pay for a game than have ads on the screen. Of course, that doesn't mean I'll pay any price for a game on my phone or tablet. I do like, however, to be able to test a game without having to pay. So, generally games that have a free version for trial are the ones I pay for the most if I like the gameplay.
6. Don't really play these type of games.
7. Single player.
8. Most from the Android Market. Some from Amazon.
9. Not really. I play games for the fun of it, not for competition. Besides, I quit Facebook since I started using Google+!
10. Absolutely!

I hope this is helpful and not too long-winded! LOL

[koolbon]

As an android apps developer I would be very interested to get some feedback on the following points:

1. Do you find it easy to discover new apps on the Android Market?

Easy enough.

2. Do you rely on recommendations or do you search categories to find new games?

Usually recommendations.

3. What is the most annoying problem with a new game e.g. force close, poor graphics?

I haven't run into it enough.

4. Do you read the instructions on how to play or just Wing it?

I usually know what the game is about when I get it.

5. When would you pay for a game? (Other than mobile versions of best selling PC/PSP etc games).

If I like the game and it is reasonably priced.

6. Do you play games where multiplayer involves passing the handset round?

I have that type of game, but never played that way.

7. Do you prefer single player or multiplayer games?

Mutilplayer games that I don't have to pass my phone around with.

8. Where do you download most of your games i.e. Android market, Amazon, GetJar?

Android market

9. Do you like games where you can upload your scores to Facebook or other websites?

I don't care about that

10. Do you recommend games you like to friends?

Yes, I do.