Jim Squires: Developers talk about their views on Apple's App Store revamp

With the release of iOS 6 last week, users will now find a whole new look when they enter the App Store. The new interface presents a lot of different content, with all sorts of new features and the removal of many old features.

Today we will hear from some well-known iOS developers about this new App Store and what impact they think this change will have on their game distribution.

Chris Ye（ Uken Games）

I think only time will tell what effect this change has on the business of independent developers. Obviously Apple didn’t make the right choice right away, but they have been able to stay focused on figuring out how to create the best apps for users front and center, and I really like how Apple has improved the Genius feature. This design is not only clearer, but it also more effectively highlights individual apps instead of just one icon standing out among other icons. We really look forward to Apple bringing more changes to present more diverse content to the app developer community.

App Store (from gamezebo)

Josh Presseisen ( Crescent Moon Games/Forest Moon Games)

There are some big changes. In the recommendations section, instead of scrolling down to find the latest apps, you now scroll sideways. This approach limits the number of apps you see at a glance. They also divide the list into similar categories, so that when you enter a category, you can see the new apps, noteworthy apps, or the most popular apps in that category (rather than immediately seeing the top apps in that category).

I believe Apple has made the changes so they can have more control over what content is presented and not just rely on the charts. The pros and cons of this change will vary from person to person. For large publishers and apps that are likely to be featured by Apple, the pros outweigh the cons. For games that are not featured by Apple but still rank high on the charts, this is not good news.

As publishers that are greatly influenced by Apple's recommendations, Crescent Moon and Forest Moon have indeed benefited greatly from it. But for small developers, this change is not a good thing because it is difficult for users to find a specific app that is not recommended.

Sampo Tyssy (10 tons)

It's probably too early to tell what the impact of the App Store changes will be. When it comes to the iTunes App Store, small details can mean a lot. Maybe a flashy look will attract more attention? One thing is for sure: the first screenshot will be more important in search results.

Rob Segal (Get Set Games)

App discovery is probably the biggest problem in any video game market, especially for iOS game developers. This change improves the layout of the App Store for the better, so it should be a welcome change overall. Some of the great improvements include:

Users can install apps/games without leaving the App Store (a big no-no for me), which can encourage users to install more games at the same time.

It ties the Facebook "Like" feature into the App Store. When you visit your friends' Facebook pages, you'll be able to see the apps they've recently liked.

You can share your favorite apps on Facebook, Twitter, or directly share them via SMS or email. This should be the easiest way to share your favorite content.

In general, although these changes are not amazing, they are worthy of recognition and welcome.

App Store (from gamezebo)

Matthew Hall (Klicktock)

Doodle Find and Little Things Forever both saw a significant jump in the rankings on Saturday. This is largely due to changes in the presentation/search/icon/screenshots of the App Store. Can't pinpoint exactly why, but I'd really like to see more changes.

Neil Rennison (Tin Man Games)

I've heard many indie developers complain that the App Store doesn't give enough space to "new releases" and that it's hard to get exposure for their apps. I think if you're an indie developer and your app's success depends on the new release period, you're doing it wrong. For developers who don't have a marketing budget, the App Store does have some issues with app exposure, and the new App Store layout will make it even harder, but I think the key is for developers to figure out a better way to improve our business model. Developers should think outside the box. Apple has given us a lot of opportunities to create and sell products, so all small studios should stop complaining and find other ways to get their apps noticed. 75% of game production is marketing!

Charley Price (Hidden Variable Studios)

For developers, the biggest impact of the new App Store is that they need to focus more on certain specific elements in metadata. For example, the new App Store search results not only emphasize the app icon and ranking, but also highlight the first screenshot. Because the cover browsing no longer presents other screenshots, the first screenshot will play a key role in attracting users to click on the app.

The new App Store places a strong emphasis on the importance of having a clear and attractive screenshot to drive game sales. We are now thinking about how to combine the information in our first two screenshots to ensure that the user is given the clearest and most direct impression. Fortunately, the presentation of the app is always consistent between the iPhone and iPad versions. This way you can focus on perfecting your app without having to figure out the differences between the two potential layouts.

The new App Store is very interesting. Showing only one screenshot of the early app gives each app more breathing space to better present its own app experience. On the other hand, not showing the list view after the user completes the search also means that more apps cannot be presented. In short, the spotlight of the new App Store has become brighter, but the scope of illumination has become narrower.

Is this a good change? Only time will tell, and we firmly believe that the gods of wealth favor those who dare to make adjustments. How developers present their applications will ultimately determine whether they can benefit from this new change.

via: gamerboom.com