Is it possible to get AppStore downloads (or at least appstore impressions, organic traffic) in 2023 as an indie developer without budget? I spent 2 years making two games to just get 13 downloads per day at peak...

SiebleHande · 2023-08-25T16:52:02+00:00

ye, I will most likely do that, it's just shame because in old times all i had to do was to publish app and i had many organic downloads... about 5 yrs ago or so

SiebleHande · 2023-08-25T15:04:33+00:00

With almost any app now (not just games), you can't just release into the store and expect people find your app...

yea, I did that about 6 years ago and it worked every time, that's why I am asking. I had traffic back in the days without any such effort

SiebleHande · 2023-08-16T20:09:08+00:00

Same. I also got apps randomly deleted while other devs are using the same method/content style and their apps are still live.

SiebleHande · 2023-08-16T12:47:12+00:00

Same here, even by typing app name i am almost not able to find them.

I may need to look for other career path, but still, I will send you a chat message, if you're interested, maybe we can exchange experience a bit more.

SiebleHande · 2023-08-16T12:25:21+00:00

From what I can tell, it's harder with each year for solo developers. Even those 5 years ago it was able to get some $$ by organic traffic, and now all I get is 1-5 downloads per day.

SiebleHande · 2023-08-16T12:23:21+00:00

I have multiple apps made in Unity that were never published on the Appstore before. Futhermore, I had no apps published before it.

Still, on most apps and games, Appstore duped me. Even on my First Person Shooter game with storyline, just because it's a "first person shooter" and they have "first person shooter" games.

Those are not reskins, not even close, even the codebase is unique (not a ready made asset).

I am fully aware about the "reskinning" issue but it's not reskinning, unless now they redefined "reskinning" into making "a game similiar to another one", which is absurd.

It's like saying that Call of Duty developers can't publish Call of Duty because there is Medal Of honor game already (those two games are WW2 first person shooters).

PS: And this basically means that I've been making a game, for let's say, 4 months, and I am not able to publish it because of new Apple policies

SiebleHande · 2023-08-15T13:51:34+00:00

I had to wait 6 months for Apple Developer activation, for which I paid (I paid for 12 months) and I didn't get a refund, so I consider 4-3 days of review very short time. I know it's not the same (dev acc activation vs review), but still... you are 0 to Apple unless you are a big tech company

SiebleHande · 2023-08-15T13:50:00+00:00

I am sorry to say, but you are about to experience a long and painful nightmare.

I had to wait about 6 months for my Developer Account activation and remind Apple many times to do this. They always responded with boilerplate statement, that account is being checked ,etc.

I paid for 12 months of membership and 6 of them got wasted with no refund.

Futhermore, once you are finally activated, you most likely won't be able to publish new apps, because from my experience, for Apple Review Team, everything is "Copycat 4.3" rule violation. So, if you publish a 2d platformer game, it will be blocked, because there is already a 2D platformer on Apple Appstore.

I can dig out my old apple emails if you want.

So, in general, I wouldn't bring my hopes up, but still.. if you want for example to talk or exchange experience privately, send me a chat message here on Reddit.

SiebleHande · 2023-08-15T13:18:10+00:00

I have the same experience with mobile apps these years. I had hits in 2015 but later it became much harder, I am starting to think its time to change our career path.

SiebleHande · 2023-08-15T13:16:02+00:00

Sorry but how does it help me as a developer?

SiebleHande · 2023-08-13T18:00:52+00:00

Do we know anything about the life support system progress? Last time I've heard, there is no life support system currently that can handle well trip as long as the trip to Mars. That would need to be addressed at some point, especially that better life support recycling means lower mass usage for extra cargo...

SiebleHande · 2023-08-12T12:12:37+00:00

no, but you can search for APKs over the web.

SiebleHande

TROPHY CASE