Gaming has proven to have huge appeal on the iPhone. Because of that, there are a thousands of games in the App Store — which is great for consumers, but it can also be overwhelming. And it can be frustrating for developers who can see their work easily lost in the sea of apps. The iPhone social platform OpenFeint is trying to alleviate some of those problems. And it has rallied some big indie iPhone game developers to the cause.
The developers behind Trism, Boulder Dash and Pocket God among others have aligned themselves with the OpenFeint platform. Pocket God has recently spent a long time at the top paid app in the App Store, and it still holds the number two spot. Trism, has been one of the most popular games for the iPhone and it has made its developer, Steve Demeter a lot of money — something which Apple itself has played up a few times. Demeter had actually been working on his own platform, called Onyx, but dropped development of that to get on board with OpenFeint.
But why are these app integrating OpenFeint? Well, the developers see it as a way not only to add a social layer to their apps — users get profile pages, Facebook-like walls for others to write on, the ability to chat in games and more — but, the platform now includes a new feature dubbed “One Touch iPromote,” which gives users a simple way to find and buy other OpenFeint-supported games their friends are playing. OpenFeint users can invite other users into “lobbies,” where everyone can see what everyone else is playing. A user can then decide to play the same game or click on the link to buy it.
Basically, these developers are creating their own sub-ecosystem outside of the App Store to get the word out about their games. And that’s an enticing proposition for a lot of indie app developers who don’t have the marketing resources of some of the bigger game studios that are now moving in on the iPhone platform. And when it includes games that already rose from nothing to become hits, like Trism and Pocket God, the idea is even more enticing.
And this is a smart play by OpenFeint founders Jason Citron and Danielle Cassley (who named the platform after their early hit game for the iPhone Aurora Feint) because it gives developers a reason to use their platform rather than simply go with Facebook Connect (which you can also use with OpenFeint). Facebook unveiled Facebook Connect for the iPhone at SXSW a few weeks ago, as an easy way for developers to leverage the huge social network to add a social layer to apps.
So what’s in it for OpenFeint? “One Touch iPromote will be based on revenue sharing. When a user clicks on a game in a Feint Lobby and then goes on to buy that game the developer and OpenFeint will get a percentage of that sale,” an OpenFeint spokesperson tells me.
There are now 21 iPhone games using the OpenFeint platform. Version 1.5 of OpenFeint was unveiled today with this new One Touch iPromote feature.
This is something that I have been talking about a lot for the last several months – a new marketplace for iPhone apps. While this will not get rid of the AppStore entirely, it will give consumers another way of searching for and finding quality apps without having to go through the tons of garbage that is listed on the AppStore.
The only question is whether or not Apple will allow this. Apple is notorious for not allowing developers to “meddle” in their store and this can develop into a much bigger entity than the AppStore since it will be more concentrated.
This is going to be very interesting since it will show how Apple feels about other entities dealing with the marketing and promotion of apps.
Deadpool.
I think you’re wrong and here’s why:
1. If OpenFeit has a website which lists the current apps which connect directly to the itunes store-which the Featured apps on their page already do-users are now able to get a list of quality apps which ALSO connect to their other social networks. This is important because a lot of people like games/apps, but they also want to interact with other folks in their network too. This allows the user to make better choices for the applications which serve their desire to stay connected to people in their network while using the app. This feature would also work great for business apps as well games.
2. The app store is growing faster than any one developer can keep up with. If Openfeit produces a platform for developers to communicate via a user group/forum, the developers can communicate how and why their Openfeint app didn’t get approve. This allows a list of “best practices”. As Openfeit matures it will make it easier for developers to increase their changes of having their apps approved. You can imagine if 10 apps get approved from Openfeint because they have followed “Openfeint’s Recommendations for Approval” the 11th is most likely to get approved. Developers can appreciate a consistent and effective prediction of app approval. I can’t be sure but I also can imagine this would greatly reduce the time it takes to get an app approved as a lot of the code base would be similar to other already-approved Openfeint apps.
3. As the Openfeint platform becomes more efficient with the features it offers it allows developers to develop higher quality apps, faster. The code-based (framework) is the key piece to any modern programming language, including Objective-c.
4. Good business sense tells you to server a niche in a crowded market. The niche here is social-layered iphone apps. Social networks are here to stay for a while so it was a smart choice. While the other “review” sites may try to copy by putting a ’social’ category on their site, they won’t get the level of activity from developers, but instead from consumers looking for apps. The communication from the developers about the platform on the Openfeint site will be what allows the platform to grow. This is the same way Ubuntu and Firefox grow. It’s efficient. It’ll work.
Onyx failed because Apple gave word that they wouldn’t approve it.
For whatever reason, OpenFeint hasn’t been shut down, and I doubt that it will. There are plenty of big-name devs on board (Pocket God is one of the top ten bestsellers of all time), so Apple has little incentive to damage their success. (More success for an app = more money for Apple, remember!)
Anyway, won’t you still be buying the app from the app store, technically? So Apple still gets 30%, and the dev splits the remaining 70% with OpenFeint.
There are also pure app search plays outside the App Store like http://appexplorer.com/
Add all the reviews sites and there are many entry points into finding apps.
This seems like a really good idea. In fact it is. However, at some point, OpenFeint will need to do the same thing the Apple is doing … approve apps.
After all, they simply can’t allow any and all game apps in. If they do, they will become irrelevant as the gamers will be awash in a sea of “useless” apps.
Once OpenFeint starts deciding which apps to allow, all the howling will start. “I was rejected for OpenFeint because….”
According to OpenFeint’s website, the source is released under the terms of the LGPL.
Last time I checked, the LGPL wasn’t allowing static linking (and Apple forbids dynamic linking). I wonder what is the purpose of releasing some component nobody can use legally……?
We are working on a new App giveaway website called http://www.AppGiveaway.com that will help developers promote their Apps.
For now visit the link below if you want to grab a free iPhone App Promo code for the game “Syndicates”
http://whichweb...e_giveaway.html
Syndicates is a massively multiplayer online game where YOU aim to be the most feared and richest gangster in your city.
It’ll be interesting to see how Apple treats this and the other similar services that are likely to emerge.
Hey Guys,
Jason here from Aurora Feint. Thought I’d chime in real quick…
@Julien We are releasing under the LGPL, but our distribution is entirely source code. Unless I’m mistaken that should be okay. Our intent is to allow people to customize the client UI if they want as well as contribute back to our main distribution. You know, all that good stuff.
@Justin We have some surprises in store. Stay tuned.
Anyway, thanks for the support everyone!
OpenFeint is pretty cool, I have used it on pocket god but it a generic system where game leaderboards and chat looks the same for every game – good for openfeint but kind of boring. I have played on a similar system called Geocade (http://www.geocade.com). They have location based leaderboards that are customized to the game.
The other day I played Kitty Kannon while at Yankee Stadium and the game figured out I was there and then I was able to compete against other players at the game – it was really cool…
So wait, you were diddling on your iPhone, while attending a baseball game at the most expensive ballpark in the world while watching the most expensive sports team in history?
I didn’t think the Yankees were sucking THAT much this season. You silly Yankees “fans”.
@Jason: the problem is that, for statically linked code, LGPL is just plain GPL. So the FSF could theorically sue any game developer who uses your framework but doesn’t make his game’s source code available under the LGPL.
iPhoneOS doesn’t allow the kind of compromise you tried to get when choosing LGPL (I guess you want that people who modify your lib send you their modifications, but the LGPL isn’t just about that). You should either pick a less restrictive licence (their are plenty: PNG, MIT, BSD, Artistic, …), or write your own.
@julien I think you may be right. We’re double checking the license and will update it if it turns out we misinterpreted it! Thanks for the heads up
In the same area, there is also http://develope...w-leaderboards/ from Aptocore
@warming Thanks for mentioning us.
Here is a quick video preview of our streaming (geotagged) leaderboards feature:
http://www.yout...h?v=jvt_Bj_yW7E
We are just starting our closed beta – all iPhone game devs should sign up now to reserve a seat!
http://develope...gon-online.com/
Cheers,
Daniel
Wow, the Agon product looks a lot more promising than OpenFeint.
So elegant, hats off to you guys.
Thanks for sharing this information.
Michael
How can we turn off OpenFeint so that our details and scores do not get published.
I for one do not want to have my games connecting to the internet every time I play them. It seems to use up the data allowance I have for the internet as well.
If any of you know how to stop this happening, please let me and everyone know (I can’t be the only one who wants a choice).
Thanks
I would also like to know how to turn off openfeint!, i brought stickwars and when it first opened up it asked me if i wanted to use open feint with a massive “yes” on the front of the screen and the words “no, i do not” in tiny writing down the bottom.. of course i touched a little to high up in the screen and now im getting charged for something i didnt want to use in the first place!!!!! I think this was very tricky on the part of openfeint and now i never want to use them again!!!!
any help would be greatly appreciated