'Dead Trigger' now free on Android due to Piracy

[techbeck]

2

Dead Trigger, a zombie FPS for smartphones from the makers of Shadowgun, is now free to download on Android thanks to rampant piracy on the platform. In a statement on Facebook, developer Madfinger Games says that even at $0.99, the piracy rate on Android devices was "unbelievably high."

Madfinger is careful to point out that Dead Trigger will not be a freemium app, and "all players are able to play without in-app purchases." Dead Trigger is available now from the Google Play store for free, or on iOS for $0.99.

http://www.theverge....oid-piracy-rate

[Praetor]

who, in the world, piracies a $0.99 game?

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

hopefully with the new DRM available with the latest SDK for android piracy will be less of an issue going fwd. However, sadly Madfinger is not setting a good example making the game free. Now people are going to expect this sort of thing to happen, also if they left it at least they would make some money from the game from legitimate users.

On another note. This game is actually rather fun to play and has the best / most responsive FPS controls i have seen for touch yet.

[simplezz]

who, in the world, piracies a $0.99 game?

Someone who doesn't have a creditcard?

What I'd like to know is how do they get their statistics unless it phones home for some reason.

On the other hand, it does mean that the app/game is successful, which the developer should be pleased about. Just find an alternative way to monetise it.

[Veiva]

who, in the world, piracies a $0.99 game?

It's too expensive*, that's why!

To be brutally honest, people will pirate regardless of the price of a game or software. The common excuse of "[software] is too expensive!" doesn't hold water. This game proves that price doesn't matter. People will take what they can for free rather than have to pay for it.

[still1]

who, in the world, piracies a $0.99 game?

You would be surprised. Also, pirating an app is easier in Android than IOS, it's just a settings away.

I have not pirated any apps. I try to buy it when there is a fire sale.

hopefully the app encryption in JB solve the problems in future.

[n_K]

By having the androind version for free and the iOS version for $0.99, they're going to make iOS users pirate it because they'll think it's unfair.

[Detection]

Why would you make something free just because it is being pirated ?

Makes no sense to me

[Pajter]

Google is also to blame for a lot of the piracy in the Play Store. They need to upgrade their payment options. Not everybody uses creditcards.

I know I would buy a lot more apps if they just supported PayPal or ClickandBuy.

[dead.cell]

By having the androind version for free and the iOS version for $0.99, they're going to make iOS users pirate it because they'll think it's unfair.

Don't see how likely that is. I read the article, and looked it up on iOS. It's literally just a click of a button and the entry of my iTunes password away from owning it, why bother pirating it at all? To save a buck? Time is money, and wasting it to save 99? is just silly, especially if it means leaving the developer with nothing to continue making games with...

[Razorwing]

This doesn't even work on my LG Optimus 2x. Boo.

[SirEvan]

who, in the world, piracies a $0.99 game?

Who in the world thinks "piracies" is a word???Oh...wait.

OP, could your quote possibly use a smaller font?

[Detection]

Who in the world thinks "piracies" is a word? Oh...wait.

OP, could your quote possibly use a smaller font?

The dictionary ?

[techbeck]

Looks like i messed up the OP. Didnt even notice. DOH!!

[TheLegendOfMart]

Um, even if it was being pirated surely people were still buying it at 99c, why would you make it free?

[Praetor]

Um, even if it was being pirated surely people were still buying it at 99c, why would you make it free?

i think they were trying to make a point, making this case an example for all the devs on Androind platform, by sugesting that there's no profit in developing for the Android.

[myxomatosis]

That's sad... If you can't buy a $.99 game, you shouldn't buy a smartphone, you're too poor.

I won't start a platform war between Android and iOS (I have a 4S but I owned Android devices too), but that's not a mystery why there's more quality apps on the App Store than on the Market Place: iOS devices owners buy more apps, and revenues are higher when you develop for the iOS platform.

[Lyric]

People will take what they can for free rather than have to pay for it.

I like this man. :D

That's sad... If you can't buy a $.99 game, you shouldn't buy a smartphone, you're too poor.

I won't start a platform war between Android and iOS (I have a 4S but I owned Android devices too), but that's not a mystery why there's more quality apps on the App Store than on the Market Place: iOS devices owners buy more apps, and revenues are higher when you develop for the iOS platform.

pirating on ios is just as easy as android....its a simple jailbreak away.

[Twiddle]

Why would you make something free just because it is being pirated ?

Makes no sense to me

The pirate version would not have ads. I assume the free version is ad-supported. They have to get their money from somewhere.

[JaredFrost]

You can't fire me! I quit!

[Detection]

The pirate version would not have ads. I assume the free version is ad-supported. They have to get their money from somewhere.

Good point

[migo]

The free version isn't ad supported. They still have in-app purchases.

[Glassed Silver]

The free version isn't ad supported. They still have in-app purchases.

Maybe they'll wait a little more so this news isn't overshadowed by that presumable fact.

This sounds a lot like a PR stunt to me.

Either to make a point and or to get popular, release a new paid app and with more attention comes more revenue.

A sh*tty paying share of more customers still means more revenue.

Absolutely agree about the need for more payment options.

They definitely went a step backwards here, as I try to keep the amount of companies who know my online use CC to a minimum. :/

Glassed Silver:ios

[Vice]

By having the androind version for free and the iOS version for $0.99, they're going to make iOS users pirate it because they'll think it's unfair.

And how would an iOS owner find out? I don't think 99% of people who would see this game on the Apple App Store would even know it's available on Android let alone that it's free on Android.

[Noir Angel]

As much as I love Android, one thing I have to admit is that piracy is a bit too easy at this moment in time. Hopefully Google's updated DRM SDK will make it harder for people to pirate apps. The vast majority of apps on the market are under $5 so there's no real excuse to pirate them.