Why isn't Deep Blue App's Icon Creator on the Mac App Store?

PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
edited November -1 in Working with GS (Mac)
http://www.deepblueapps.com/Deep_Blue_Ideas_Ltd./DBAIconCreator.html

It seems like an application like that might do well on the Mac App Store. I looked for alternatives in the Mac App Store, but I didn't see anything that spectacular. And since Apple has an affiliate program, there would be more incentive for me to promote it too.

And if not the Mac App Store... why isn't GameSalad throwing money at these guys? An icon creator like this would likely increase the quality of GameSalad games and make icon creation easier for developers.

Comments

  • SlickZeroSlickZero Houston, TexasMember, Sous Chef Posts: 2,870
    Yeah, it's an awesome little program. If nobody has it yet. Why?
  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    They prob like having 100% revenue and ability to update when they want.
  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    Also would be pretty tough to give everyone who bought the platinum package a free version.
  • calvin9403calvin9403 Member Posts: 3,186
    sorry the icon creator is good, but not other programs like GS attribute(will be useless for people who is not using GS)
  • 11clock11clock Member Posts: 450
    I haven't bought it yet, though I'm surprised on how ridiculously cheap the program is compared to everything else around here. I will buy it later.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    tenrdrmer said:
    They prob like having 100% revenue and ability to update when they want.

    I don't know how much the software is exactly in United States Dollars, but I think it's like $5. An app like this could go for $8 on the Mac App Store. Even after the 30% bite, that's still more money per sale. I think the visibility on the Mac App Store is better too... especially if it gets featured.

    Also, they're using PayPal right now. That means they're not likely getting 100% of the sale anyway. Isn't it like 30¢ per sale plus a small percentage? On a $5 item, that's a significant percentage... not as big as Apple's 30%, but it still is a cut.
    tenrdrmer said:
    Also would be pretty tough to give everyone who bought the platinum package a free version.

    Not really... as those orders could still be supported independently. If there are updates, they could get the same update as the version online.
  • LordTarantorLordTarantor Member, PRO Posts: 890
    I would have paid $10 easily for it. It is awesome.
  • calvin9403calvin9403 Member Posts: 3,186
    I think more people will know DBA and GS if they publish it in the MAS
  • arcticsunrisearcticsunrise Member Posts: 159
    i bought this - exchange rate made it £3 - total bargain and easiest way to quickly make an app icon.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    Actually, there seems to be a pretty nice app on the Mac App Store.

    http://sweyla.com/icon-maker/screencast/

    It's not exactly the same as Icon Creator, but it's similar.
  • UtopianGamesUtopianGames Member Posts: 5,692
    We have spoke about a mac store version along with a road map of other tools and templates.

    We wanted to reach as many users as possible hence the very low £3 price point.

    Darren.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    UtopianGames said:
    We wanted to reach as many users as possible hence the very low £3 price point.

    If the goal is to reach as many people as possible, the Mac App Store seems like your friend. If that app gets featured, it can be great exposure. Also, I think the British Pounds and Roman Cart might be creating xenophobia — that's a fear of alien things... not the arcade game from the 1980's.

    That's probably another item that I could be added to this page...

    Does Apple Earn Their 30%
    http://photics.com/does-apple-earn-their-30-percent

    Trust is another reason why Apple earns their 30%. Lots of people know Apple. Most don't really know "Photics" or "Deep Blue Apps". I think that's another one of the reasons why my Apple Developer registration will be renewed.

    I haven't bought either of the icon creators yet. But right now, I'm more likely to pick up Icon Maker first. That's because it's on the Mac App Store.
  • BlackbirdStudiosBlackbirdStudios Member Posts: 493
    Photics said:
    ...If that app gets featured, it can be great exposure...

    Apple doesn't normally feature utilities like icon creators. Even though Darren's icon maker is great, it probably wouldn't be featured because most people don't need an icon creator.
    Photics said:

    I haven't bought either of the icon creators yet. But right now, I'm more likely to pick up Icon Maker first. That's because it's on the Mac App Store.

    I don't know why. Deep Blue is selling things that would not necessarily appeal to your average Joe on the Mac App Store. Their current strategy is probably their best option right now.
  • BlackbirdStudiosBlackbirdStudios Member Posts: 493
    Photics said:
    Actually, there seems to be a pretty nice app on the Mac App Store.

    http://sweyla.com/icon-maker/screencast/

    It's not exactly the same as Icon Creator, but it's similar.

    Looks pretty cool, I'll have to check that out sometime.
  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    Photics said:
    I haven't bought either of the icon creators yet. But right now, I'm more likely to pick up Icon Maker first. That's because it's on the Mac App Store.

    I can understand that for some things but thats a ridiculous thing to say for this specific thing. You know Darren and Wayne, Your a fool if you think you cannot trust them to give you solid Software.

    I can personally tell you from my experience in helping them test the merger update. They are committed to making sure that software is solid. I had an issue they could not recreate and Wayne took the time to sit down over skype and watch every single step until we figured it out.

    My biggest fear with purchasing their tools was GS would change how the creator works and it would break the tools. Well that happened, But… these guys kept up support and fixed the tool so it would work again.

    I will agree with you though the British pounds conversion can give some sticker shock to us US users though.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    tenrdrmer said:
    I can understand that for some things but thats a ridiculous thing to say for this specific thing. You know Darren and Wayne, Your a fool if you think you cannot trust them to give you solid Software.

    The trustworthiness of Darren and Wayne isn't really an issue for me. I've seen their work and professionalism — it's impressive. It's the e-commerce system that I don't like. (I like the Mac App Store more.) I think that's hindering their business. I know it's a problem for Photics.com, because I still haven't found a system that I like for my site. In addition to the hassle of New York State sales tax, there is an element of trust.

    Here in the GameSalad community, Darren and Wayne are popular. Yet... the number at the bottom of the page says that only 3,997 members are active. Even if everyone of those people bought the app... that's only $20,000. The Icon Creator can appeal to a much larger audience. People outside this community might not be aware of the software. And then if they do become aware of the software, they might not be able to trust the website. That's two points where a customer sale can be losts.

    Let's be real here. I don't have Photics gift cards sitting on racks in Best Buy, Stop and Shop or CVS. That's a huge system that Apple has built up. It's why many of us are here. It's because we know Apple's App Store is a place where money can be made.

    As for GameSalad, I think they're missing opportunity here. With 6.1 million dollars, why couldn't GameSalad buy this software from Darren and Wayne... and then incorporate it into GameSalad? Pay them regular salaries... and get all their cool projects.

    Yeah, if I ran GameSalad, that would be the second thing I'd do after the holiday weekend is over. The first would be getting the Extra Credit videos hosted here... to help build up the "Street Cred" of GameSalad.
  • DizkoDizko Member Posts: 498
    Photics said:Yeah, if I ran GameSalad, that would be the second thing I'd do after the holiday weekend is over. The first would be getting the Extra Credit videos hosted here... to help build up the "Street Cred" of GameSalad.

    Well you'd be late to the party. They raised something on the order of 100k on RocketHub to start their own site and to fund the video series.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    Dizko said:
    Well you'd be late to the party. They raised something on the order of 100k on RocketHub to start their own site and to fund the video series.

    Wow, that's why people have to move fast! They were only asking for $15,000.

    http://rockethub.com/projects/2165-extra-credits

    That's why I'm concerned about the future of GameSalad. Maybe they move too slowly.

    There still is an opportunity for GameSalad to get noticed. They could contact the team and ask to sponsor an episode or GameSalad could create their own educational series. If not that, GameSalad should still be doing something more with building up the reputation of the software and the community. With millions of dollars, they should be able to make cool things like this happen.
  • DizkoDizko Member Posts: 498
    Photics said:

    That's why I'm concerned about the future of GameSalad. Maybe they move too slowly.
    I won't disagree with that, I've been more or less saying that for weeks now. It's concerning to me that a team of developers can't get this stuff done in a reasonable amount of time. I hate saying stuff like that because it makes me sound like an ungrateful snob.

    I initially thought GS might be an Agile team, but now I reckon they must use Waterfall, otherwise we'd be seeing more releases with 1 or 2 features at a time in it.
Sign In or Register to comment.

© Vanilla Keystone Theme 2025