Piracy is a problem that affects just about every platform that exists today. Unfortunately, that includes our beloved mobile platforms like Android and iOS. And perhaps more unfortunate is the fact that piracy affects hard-working developers who are simply trying to make a living by making great apps and games for people to purchase.
The latest affected developer is Madfinger Games, the studio responsible for the recent hit Dead Trigger. On both Android and iOS, the title was being sold for a mere $0.99. But even with the incredibly low price, Madfinger Games found that there was an “unbelievably high” rate of piracy for the Android version – which led to the app becoming free.
The following statement is taken directly from a post on the developer’s official Dead Trigger Facebook page:
“Regarding price drop. HERE is our statement. The main reason: piracy rate on Android devices, that was unbelievably high. At first we intend to make this game available for as many people as possible – that’s why it was for as little as buck. – It was much less than 8$ for SHADOWGUN but on the other hand we didn’t dare to provide it for free, since we hadn’t got XP with free-to-play format so far. – However, even for one buck, the piracy rate is soooo giant, that we finally decided to provide DEAD TRIGGER for free. Anyway – DEAD TRIGGER is not FREEMIUM, it always was and still remains FREE-TO-PLAY, that means, all players are able to play it without IAP! We stand up for this statement, because all members of our team are playing (and enjoying) DEAD TRIGGER without IAP.”
It’s unfortunate that piracy is such a big problem – especially when the pirated content costs so little. Luckily, the developer will still be able to make money from in-app purchases on both platforms, as well as the iOS version, which still costs $0.99.
Hopefully there is some way that piracy can be cut down in the future. I personally pay for every app that I use regularly; do you?
[Facebook via The Guardian]
I would actually be interested in knowing how much of the piracy was done by people who might not have a credit card/could not convince their parents to pony up $0.99 for something called Dead Trigger.
I would of waited to download it if i knew it was going to be free lol. Neverthe less,its a great game,i play it all the time. Heck i even find myself jumping once in a while cause a zombie attacks me when i turn a corner lol.
There seems to be a general consensus amongst the interwebs that 1) this game was going to be free anyway and allthat piracy talk was to get press from blogs, 2) iOS piracy rates are 15%/ Android 12%. 3) Nearly 100% of the Android piracy is from China.
The people who were pirating it mostly could not purchase it.