14 DAY TRIAL // The fury in Apple’s iOS user base has reached a tipping point. People are so fed up with the in-app purchase model that they’re willing to pay a bigger price for the full feature set to finally enjoy the experience they were promised.
The latest such example comes from a customer named Flunkie on Apple’s iTunes App Store.
He wrote a brief “review” (that’s how comments are called on the App Store) of Super Stickman Golf 2, a sequel to the highly acclaimed golfing game by Noodlecake Studios Inc.
Already a paid app, Stickman Golf 2 contains in-app purchases for some things that should have already been included in the original price, says Flunkie.
“Another $3 to be able to play more multiplayer games? Another $2 to see your last shot? Way to go. Tired of this IAP [expletive]. I'd rather pay a flat fee than have to be nickeled and dimed everywhere,” he wrote.
This is just one example of a widespread impression among iOS gamers worldwide. The same IAP system is used by SEGA in its Sonic Dash running game.
Not only does the game shamelessly rip off the Temple Run series from Imangi Studios, but some instances of the game are so hard you’re practically forced to buy your way into the next level.
Apple might soon need to tweak the in-app purchasing regulations so that users don’t end up paying extra for features they’d expect to get by default.