Game Developer Confronts iPhone Software Cracker
Written by enigmax on January 07, 2009The developer of an iPhone game had a nice surprise when it suddenly saw a surge in users. The game had around ten downloads a day from iTunes, which inexplicably transformed into more than 400 users in a single day. The reason – the game got cracked. Read what happened when the developer confronted the cracker.
Whack ‘em All is a newish game for iPhone and iPod Touch, based on the ‘Whack-a-Mole’ idea. The creators are married couple Constance and James Bossert, who together form Fairlady Media.
James told TorrentFreak “We decided to develop a game for the iPhone while driving one evening and over the next couple of months put Whack ‘em All together in our spare time. Altogether, its taken us about 250 hours to develop the game with about 100 hours worth of graphics work and 150 hours worth of development, bug testing and submitting the app to Apple.”
The game is available for purchase via the iTunes App Store and has steadily been achieving around 10 sales a day. It’s pretty cheap, at just 99 cents.
On January 4th, Fairlady Media got all excited. Suddenly they discovered they had over 400 brand new users in a day, but after checking with iTunes, disappointment set in. Only 12 people had actually purchased the game. It turned out that the surge was down to pirates – someone had cracked the game and offered it for free on the web. While mildly encouraged that there is demand for the game, James told us he decided to confront the person responsible to “try and figure out why there was such a strong market for pirated apps.”
“I’m the developer for Whack ‘em All. I noticed you’re being given credit for cracking Whack ‘em All and making it generally available for free,” he said in his opening email to the cracker. “We (just my wife and I) haven’t even made enough money off of this to pay for the iPhone we had to buy to develop it on. Just yesterday 40 times more people got your version of the app than bought it off the app store!” James told the cracker he was curious about his motives. Surprisingly, the cracker responded:
“As many iPhone and iPod touch owners have discovered, Apple’s iTunes App Store has many flaws which render it useless to the common user,” he replied. “Apple has chosen to allow a multitude of ridiculous, worthless, poorly-represented applications through its ’strict’ screening process, nearly all written by mediocre programmers with a dream of getting rich quick. Many of these programmers game the reviews system, misrepresent their application in the description, and generally try to swindle the honest buyer.”
The cracker, known as most_uniQue, went on to say that people are fed up with wasting money on these type of applications, so they simply stopped buying them. He then went on to offer a solution. “Apple could quite easily solve this problem by implementing a sort of trial period for each application, but they do not. The user is forced to buy blindly without ever getting to try the application first.”
most_uniQue told James that he became motivated to crack iPhone games after he bought a few that didn’t live up to their marketing hype, feeling he could help others ‘try before they buy’. “To solve this problem either talk to Apple to allow trials,” he said, “or you can release your game on Cydia with ads.”
James told TorrentFreak that he was happy with the extra exposure generated by the cracked copy of the game, while hoping this would translate into cash to be invested in the development of future projects.
The outcome of this exchange? “My goal would be to get a response from Apple about this,” he told us, while going on to reveal that a free, ad-supported version of the game (and future games) is in the planning.
Crack ‘em All
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117 Responses
Ah Man!
Excellent story! Hey everyone, please help us out and try our game! If you like it, consider buying it! We're also looking for feedback to make this game and future games better.. Thanks! :)
@ Constance and James Bossert
Add a donate button to your page … i think some users would love to donate a little cause of the nice way you are handling this case.
Also, I would seriously consider developing an ad-supported version of the game, as a customer, and on top of that as an experienced game reviewer I definitely would NOT buy a game without AT LEAST seeing a video revealing the truth behind the presentation ;) I never actually read the presentations, I directly watch in-game trailers or try the game if there's a demo available, then, after I've done that I read the descriptions to see if they fit to what the game actually offers :D
Hope that's of some use to you guys, and WakuWaku, you've said it, a donate button's always catchy :P
Awesome ideas, thanks guys! I've created a donation button on our game and company sites. There is also a video trailer for our game linked from our game and company sites and on youtube. Thanks again guys! We appreciate it! :)
Here is another link to our game site :)
pirates being self-righteous? wow i have never heard of that before!!!!!!
anyway good luck with the game James, you deserve more than this.
Not sure if this is possible (because of Apples terms), but you might also want to sell directly from your website.. try bundling your game with something else, offering discounts if people buy your game + X product that you are an affiliate of etc
Its nice that you approached this in a civil manner rather than the bullish ways the music and other industries have tried to approach this, now you should get some sales from people who pirated your game as well as people who did not… in other words you didnt burn any bridges or make enemies for no reason, although in all honestly it might take a while longer for people to cough up.
Good luck with your business, I would have certainly tried you game if I had an iphone, but I refuse to buy one because of the draconian DRM and apples policies… which is a whole different story so will stop here ;)
Cheers!
http://www.eZee.se
I think that just by taking the time to ask a couple of questions and being willing to listen to the answers you receive you have basically gotten further in 1 day than major anti-piracy orginizations have gotten from spending countless hours and million of dollars on harassment and lawsuits. You now understand one of the underlying problems, have some good idea on ways to repair the problems, and even how you can use the problem to your advantage. Bravo.
Sorry, but it really is weak
once u get enough money to pay for that iphone buy a BB storm and make the game for that, i would buy it :P
Freetards wont even pay a measly 99c, even if it did turn out to be crap what have you lost? A whole buck.
*freetards*, as you call them, wont spend money on something which does not live up to its hype. there are 5,337 applications in the itunes store for 0.99. Overall, all payed applications on the itunes app-store cost $41,213.12. If someone tells you that ann app does this-and-that and you find out, after paying for it, that this is not the case, you will be rather unhappy. You can not ask for a refund, you can not return the item to the store. No one is a charity when it comes to rip-offs, therefor, people crack the applications and try them before they pay for it.
You can be the one who wastes dollars on games that are not worth it. The rest of us will not buy into that foolishness.
Hello,
Firstly let me say i'm very sorry your application was pirated it is not fair at all for small/home businesses that spend hundreds of hours
getting a finished product gets over looked by public who goes directly for the pirated source.
who's to blame for this? the big media game company's. with their stupid insane DRM and Copy Protection bollocks.
Let me give you an insight on why big groups like EA Games and big media company's works get's pirated.
1. Lets take 2 games and 2 applications for an example.
2 games, BIOShock, Spore.
Buy the legal game, you get Securom installed in your PC which actually stops every single process which it thinks can be
used or would be used to copy, burn a cd, emulate, mount burn any image it see's them as a threat so breaks the pc period.
Securom cannot be removed, Securom and protections make the games work like a god's horse.. (slow buggy)
You support the Game industry buy their Game. you then get Online Activations, Serial Key's and their newest bright spark idea….
3 Install limits for the life of the game/application, Then you get Revoke tools that dont work, Install Tokens dont work..
So not only am i made to keep installed every single game (4-20GB games on my PC in fear of un-installing them and losing the
right to re-install my own game i bought, so now my PC is got over 500GB worth of games which is slowing it down but physically forcing
me and other users to keep them all installed as un-installing loses 1 install token,
Virgin, Yahoo, Napster, MSN Music, And a host of other DRM vendors have taken their Activation servers offline so all customers
who's bought all their music games, software can no longer install their PAID for products due to no Activation servers.
So if you want to re-install and play a game in 2 – 3 years time for a bit of old fun.. your totally screwed the company's decided
they dont want to keep the servers online, so no activation no game install, a useless peice of junk you now own.
Applications, DRM Restricted, More Activation crap, Music… locked into 1 single format.. can't rip burn, convert, transfer.
have to Enable/Disable authenticate this and de-authorize this and that to move it between pc's and if you lose your hdd.
or god forbid have to reformat then it's all gone all that money gone to waste can't do anything about it.
Pirated Versions.
1. Guaranteed to work, no securom, no protections, Can convert, transfer a million times, no install limits, no activation.
can use it anywhere you like on any device you like, can move transport, pirated content everywhere without restrictions.
2. i can re-install apps/games in years to come and have full faith they will install, i know they will work no install limits.
no worries if a company has taken a server to auth the game/app offline… total security for me.
My next Reason we do what we do, (reverse Engineer)
Buy a game/application on CD-ROM have to keep the CD in the Drive.. disc gets damaged, spinning scratches.
can't return a scratched game, so when you bought the CD or media you are buying the License to use their Product.
the CD/DVD is only a Transportation Device it's only used to Get that Product to you.
Game gets damaged/scratched, I'm still licensed to play that game but how the hell can i??? Disc is damaged.
without a Disc even though i own the license, and even though the disc is only a Method of Transporting the Game/app
i cannot no longer use my licence to play my purchased content , no one will give you a replacement disc if scratched.
I hope i'm making you understand soon as someone anyone see's something Commercial that is what hits them first!
instead of thinking piracy is bad or wrong step onto the other side of the fence and look what we have to put up with first.
And dont get me started on DVD/Blu-ray … MP4/DivX/XviD Stand alone players are being sold by the millions.
you show me a single legal shop i can go and buy a DivX/XviD movie or Media to play on my Legally bought and licenced Device????
MP3 players, MP4 players being sold by the millions the whole point of mp4 players if for videos/movies but they stop
you putting you own legally bought DVD's on mp4 portable players due to the fact of CSS/ACCS and other DRM bollox.
Why is MP3/MP4 players allowed to be made and sold if there is no legal way of putting content onto them for what they was designed for.
GraphiX/cORE
Wow. You're a really open minded developer. Congrats!
where are the 2 applications
great story
@James
Since its only a 99 cents game, you could easily earn more by offering the game for free, but with some ads.
You earn less on each downloaded copy, but it will be downloaded (a lot) more…
and everyone is happy.
I guess you could once again blame the piracy problem on apple. For over a year due to apple's slowness there was nothing but free apps so people just got used to iPhone stuff being free. I haven't played your game but lots of apps I've seen simply don't exceed random flash games in quality; i really hadn't thought it takes 250 hours to develop such a (i hope you excuse me) simple looking game.
I think you reacted perfectly though by seeking the dialogue and responding to suggestions. After all it's the hate for companies like apple that motivates people to crack those apps (i doubt he gets paid for the time he spends on that) and if wanted to get it i'd surely rather dl the cracked app and donate you 2 bucks instead of buying it for 1 via appstore.
Exactly my thoughts, the problem is that unlike with watches, shoes etc. the pirated stuff actually exceeds the "originals" in quality. I'm not even using my original DVDs anymore because i can just open the file from my hard drive within seconds and don't have to watch stupid commercials, warnings etc and get worth quality in the end (sorry i don't have the blu-ray drive, the compatible cables you just need for copy protections purposes and 20-30€/movie).
I leeched BF2 , i liked it, i bought it. I leeched Quantum Of Solice, i liked it then bought it.
i BOUGHT farcry 2 – what a fukkin wa$te… i SHOULD have leeched it & then binned it.
I leech all the SAW films. Why the fukk would i buy a saw 1 – 3/4/5/x box set when there`ll be another "b0x set".
Do you see the pattern now? If its good it`ll get bought. If it`s $hite it`ll get binned. simple.
The companies are their own worst enemy. Fukk em, evolve or die.
How many games can u try before u buy?
And dont give me the "review" sites, etc…
When I got my iPod Touch this Christmas, I couldnt' believe when I visited the app store, that they don't have trial periods for the aps. Why would I spend $10 on something that I don't know if I'm going to even like?
Looks fun, if I had an iphone I’d give it a whack.
*hurhurhur*
A new business model unfolds before our eyes.
Developers really should “factor in” the piracy and deal with it in a positive manner.
Bravo James!
Perhaps it might be a good idea, if you are capable of such a thing, to perhaps think up of new games based off of the old one. Make more, better games – that is the way to make money from them. People who want to support a game, would want to support it, after all.
Why would you pay for something when you can get all the functionality and/or experience for no cost? Many people say they “support the artist if I like them” and such but I believe this is just something people say to give the impression that they aren’t just completely selfish or for other reasons.
—————————————————————————————————————————-
god, i almost forgot how refreshing and palate cleansing honesty is…
ROFLMAO, that is just the best story! Thanks, especially the video bit "I didn't pay for either copy…", that made me laugh. Perhaps you should just release the application under a free license?
Although how you construe that as "encouraging piracy" is beyond me. How is the video not an "honest review" because the guy used pirated copies? If I say "I downloaded WalkieTalkie and applied a crack and didn't pay for it" on a video you think I am encouraging other users to pirate?
You sir seem to be in a losing situation. :P
ROFLMAO, that is just the best story! Thanks, especially the video bit "I didn't pay for either copy…", that made me laugh. Perhaps you should just release the application under a free license?
Although how you construe that as "encouraging piracy" is beyond me. How is the video not an "honest review" because the guy used pirated copies? If I say "I downloaded WalkieTalkie and applied a crack and didn't pay for it" on a video you think I am encouraging other users to pirate?
You sir seem to be in a losing situation. :P
Edit: Someone enlighten me: I own no Apple devices – I may get an iPhone but I'm quite happy with Nokia N73 and HTC touch Diamond ATM and I will not pay for any iPhone software that is for certain – and the whole iTunes dealie seems like a crock of crap to me although I havent used it (pay for music, videos and apps… LOL right). So what I want to know is this: does iTunes actually allow downloads for apps that have no trial period without a payment? If so that is just… erm, stupid?
ROFLMAO, that is just the best story! Thanks, especially the video bit "I didn't pay for either copy…", that made me laugh. Perhaps you should just release the application under a free license?
Although how you construe that as "encouraging piracy" is beyond me. How is the video not an "honest review" because the guy used pirated copies? If I say "I downloaded WalkieTalkie and applied a crack and didn't pay for it" on a video you think I am encouraging other users to pirate?
You sir seem to be in a losing situation. :P
Edit: Someone enlighten me: I own no Apple devices – I may get an iPhone but I'm quite happy with Nokia N73 and HTC touch Diamond ATM and I will not pay for any iPhone software that is for certain – and the whole iTunes dealie seems like a crock of crap to me although I havent used it (pay for music, videos and apps… LOL right). So what I want to know is this: does iTunes actually allow downloads for apps that have no trial period without a payment? If so that is just… erm, stupid?
BTW, is this the app your talking about?
http://rapidshare.com/files/166270070/WalkieTalki...
Try it out people, what do you think? Thumbs up?
ROFLMAO, that is just the best story! Thanks, especially the video bit "I didn't pay for either copy…", that made me laugh. Perhaps you should just release the application under a free license?
Although how you construe that as "encouraging piracy" is beyond me. How is the video not an "honest review" because the guy used pirated copies? If I say "I downloaded WalkieTalkie and applied a crack and didn't pay for it" on a video you think I am encouraging other users to pirate?
You sir seem to be in a losing situation. :P
Edit: Someone enlighten me: I own no Apple devices – I may get an iPhone but I'm quite happy with Nokia N73 and HTC touch Diamond ATM and I will not pay for any iPhone software that is for certain – and the whole iTunes dealie seems like a crock of crap to me although I havent used it (pay for music, videos and apps… LOL right). So what I want to know is this: does iTunes actually allow downloads for apps that have no trial period without a payment? If so that is just… erm, stupid?
BTW, is this the app your talking about?
http://rapidshare.com/files/166270070/WalkieTalki...
ROFLMAO, that is just the best story! Thanks, especially the video bit "I didn't pay for either copy…", that made me laugh. Perhaps you should just release the application under a free license?
Although how you construe that as "encouraging piracy" is beyond me. How is the video not an "honest review" because the guy used pirated copies? If I say "I downloaded WalkieTalkie and applied a crack and didn't pay for it" on a video you think I am encouraging other users to pirate?
You sir seem to be in a losing situation. :P
Edit: Someone enlighten me: I own no Apple devices – I may get an iPhone but I'm quite happy with Nokia N73 and HTC touch Diamond ATM and I will not pay for any iPhone software that is for certain – and the whole iTunes dealie seems like a crock of crap to me although I havent used it (pay for music, videos and apps… LOL right). So what I want to know is this: does iTunes actually allow downloads for apps that have no trial period without a payment? If so that is just… erm, stupid?
BTW, is this the app your talking about?
http://rapidshare.com/files/166270070/WalkieTalki...
ROFLMAO, that is just the best story! Thanks, especially the video bit "I didn't pay for either copy…", that made me laugh. Perhaps you should just release the application under a free license?
Although how you construe that as "encouraging piracy" is beyond me. How is the video not an "honest review" because the guy used pirated copies? If I say "I downloaded WalkieTalkie and applied a crack and didn't pay for it" on a video you think I am encouraging other users to pirate?
You sir seem to be in a losing situation. :P
Edit: Someone enlighten me: I own no Apple devices – I may get an iPhone but I'm quite happy with Nokia N73 and HTC touch Diamond ATM and I will not pay for any iPhone software that is for certain – and the whole iTunes dealie seems like a crock of crap to me although I havent used it (pay for music, videos and apps… LOL right). So what I want to know is this: does iTunes actually allow downloads for apps that have no trial period without a payment? If so that is just… erm, stupid?
BTW, is this the app your talking about?
http://rapidshare.com/files/166270070/WalkieTalki...
ROFLMAO, that is just the best story! Thanks, especially the video bit "I didn't pay for either copy…", that made me laugh. Perhaps you should just release the application under a free license?
Although how you construe that as "encouraging piracy" is beyond me. How is the video not an "honest review" because the guy used pirated copies? If I say "I downloaded WalkieTalkie and applied a crack and didn't pay for it" on a video you think I am encouraging other users to pirate?
You sir seem to be in a losing situation. :P
Edit: Someone enlighten me: I own no Apple devices – I may get an iPhone but I'm quite happy with Nokia N73 and HTC touch Diamond ATM and I will not pay for any iPhone software that is for certain – and the whole iTunes dealie seems like a crock of crap to me although I havent used it (pay for music, videos and apps… LOL right). So what I want to know is this: does iTunes actually allow downloads for apps that have no trial period without a payment? If so that is just… erm, stupid?
BTW, is this the app your talking about?
http://rapidshare.com/files/166270070/WalkieTalki...
I have no idea if that is the file, if it's copyrighted material or not and people shouldn't download it whatsoever – I haven't – but I just did a Google search for "walkietalkie rapidshare" and voila!
ROFLMAO, that is just the best story! Thanks, especially the video bit "I didn't pay for either copy…", that made me laugh. Perhaps you should just release the application under a free license?
Although how you construe that as "encouraging piracy" is beyond me. How is the video not an "honest review" because the guy used pirated copies? If I say "I downloaded WalkieTalkie and applied a crack and didn't pay for it" on a video you think I am encouraging other users to pirate?
You sir seem to be in a losing situation. :P
Edit: Someone enlighten me: I own no Apple devices – I may get an iPhone but I'm quite happy with Nokia N73 and HTC touch Diamond ATM and I will not pay for any iPhone software that is for certain – and the whole iTunes dealie seems like a crock of crap to me although I havent used it (pay for music, videos and apps… LOL right). So what I want to know is this: does iTunes/crapstore actually allow downloads for apps that have no trial period without a payment? If so that is just… erm, stupid? If not how do devs know how many people are using their applications?
BTW, is this the app your talking about?
http://rapidshare.com/files/166270070/WalkieTalki...
I have no idea if that is the file, if it's copyrighted material or not and people shouldn't download it whatsoever – I haven't – but I just did a Google search for "walkietalkie rapidshare" and voila!
You would? … even if it was the single worst game you had ever played in your entire life?
You do? … what if it was it was the single worst game you had ever played in your entire life?
I wouldn't purchase the game if I want it and can download it – no way. If I really, really liked the game I would consider donating. However, for this kind of game, forget it – this sounds like something you play for 15 minutes a couple of times a week.
"To solve this problem either talk to Apple to allow trials,” he said, “or you can release your game on Cydia with ads.”
What – how the hell is that going to solve the problem? So we are to believe that because a program has a trial version it will have an effect on piracy – why? It doesn't hold for any application that does have trial versions does it? And ads – seeing as most users would rather not be exposed to advertisements I would've thought this will drive people towards piracy rather than anything else.
If you are who you say you are: much respect to you and your group, I've enjoyed the fruits of your labours for a long time indeed and your truly one of the leading release groups and have been for a long, long time :)
"Firstly let me say i'm very sorry your application was pirated it is not fair at all for small/home businesses that spend hundreds of hours
getting a finished product gets over looked by public who goes directly for the pirated source.
who's to blame for this? the big media game company's. with their stupid insane DRM and Copy Protection bollocks.
Let me give you an insight on why big groups like EA Games and big media company's works get's pirated."
How sorry are you? Because CORE has released/cracked software from 1 person operations many, many times… don't get me wrong, I like that this happens but it's pretty hypocritical to say that in this case.
You forgot one important point regarding why people download rather than purchase: cost – this is obvious but I'll say it anyways: why would I purchase anything when I can get essentially exactly the same experience by downloading for the price of internet? I know some people believe one should support developers, artists and producers of content – however, I am not one of those. Call me selfish, giving release groups a bad name etc. but I never support developers if I can help it.
I have no hard evidence to support the following claim but I believe the majority of people have the same habits as me. Why would you pay for something when you can get all the functionality and/or experience for no cost? Many people say they "support the artist if I like them" and such but I believe this is just something people say to give the impression that they aren't just completely selfish or for other reasons.
If they find a way to stop me or I can't get the equivalent experinence or functionality then I purchase and support…
Which basically means all I support at the moment is PS3 developers and a busker named Andy Salvanos whose music I like (check myspace or Facebook if your interested) but can't find online for free. And occasionally live performance but that really is it.
“Apple could quite easily solve this problem by implementing a sort of trial period for each application, but they do not. The user is forced to buy blindly without ever getting to try the application first.”
most_uniQue told James that he became motivated to crack iPhone games after he bought a few that didn’t live up to their marketing hype, feeling he could help others ‘try before they buy’. “To solve this problem either talk to Apple to allow trials,”
What total BS. What's the problem, most_uniQue, the app is not worth 99 cents?? you little creep. But it IS worth spending days or weeks to crack it??
You're a lying, thieving POS.
See, in my eyes this just adds evidence to a hypothesis that most pirates would never have paid for the product they pirate. I've pirated lots but I'm poor. If I couldn't pirate, I wouldn't buy the stuff, I'd just sit here in squalid boredom. When I pirate, no sales are lost. In fact, sometimes when I pirate it's like free advertising. I end up actually buying some of my favorite pirated stuff, stuff I might never have been exposed to had I not pirated it. Anyways, I'm not saying anything new here, but it bears repeated um… repeating. And repeating, and repeating, until the right-winger Neanderthal contrarians in the media industry GET IT!!!1!!
I don't know what evidence your basing the claim that it will be downloaded more on – granted it's possible but I fail to see that the cost of $0.99 is really much of an impediment considering most itunes users already have registered and thus have payment methods (since setting up a payment method may be an impediment).
I could be wrong, who knows?
The two crackers/keygenners I talk to don't seem to do what they do for the good of others. Rather it's for fun – because it can be done in other words and very few people can do what they do – and to have "bragging rights".
I wouldn't purchase the game if I want it and can download it – no way. If I really, really liked the game I would consider donating. However, for this kind of game, forget it – this sounds like something you play for 15 minutes a couple of times a week.
That's just me.
Since nobody else has said it yet:
You are a selfish prick.
Seriously dude, these people do this for a living. They don't get anything out of you going off and downloading their shit off free sites. What the fuck is wrong with you? How about I come to your place of work, and instead of them giving you your pay every week, I just take it? I mean, I could work for it too, but why should I when I get the exact same experience by taking your money instead?
Wow, my hat is off to that cracker! Well done!
privacy.de.tc
If you only access scene material and look up releases on pre channels for nukes then everything will work that you download. Provided you read the nfo file etc.
Of course, the amount of non-working or partially working or low quality material released by non-scene people (without the strict rules and quality control enforced with consequences in other words) is pretty mind-boggling. Of course, if you don't know what "scene" is and how it "the scene" works then you have no guarantee of quality and you'll be stuck with looking for crappy aXXo encodes and downloading non-working cracks for GTAIV accompanied by boasts of "we did it, we're so great" etc. despite the crack not even working. However, once you realise that there are ways to guarantee quality it's easy – do a little research, start at wikipedia for example, it's not that hard.
Just another reason to avoid public trackers seeing as they are full of non-scene crap in other words.
why not? it's a buck. Ever wasted a buck before? If that's all the developer is asking for your support, i'd throw a buck at him just for embracing and molding with the times instead of getting bent out of shape and trying to fight a never-ending battle against it.
"The outcome of this exchange? 'My goal would be to get a response from Apple about this,' he told us…"
ha, I wish him luck. I've been trying for MONTHS to get Apple to address numerous issues with regard to iPod Touch/iPhone applications and they don't give a damn. Period. I suggest that these application developers consider supporting Android as it becomes increasingly more widespread.
To everybody who say cracking $0.99 game is wrong:
You’re balking at these people for saying they can’t afford a $1 app — and partly, you’re correct. $1 is certainly affordable. That is, if there’s only one app to try. In all actuality, there are six digits worth of apps on the app store, and if everyone tried out every app they were interested in, those costs would add up to quite literally hundreds of dollars.
—
"Since its only a 99 cents game, you could easily earn more by offering the game for free, but with some ads. ":
This is exactly what i said to him in my first email response.
—
"But it IS worth spending days or weeks to crack it??"
Actually, i use automated script so cracking this app took me about 20 seconds.
–
For more information and understanding please visit http://hackulo.us/
Thank you.
Me and a friend of mine have our iPhones jailbroken, my brother doesn't. We downloaded a game called Galcon, cracked and for free of course. My brother loved the game and bought it off the AppStore cause he had played it a few times on my device, and knew that it was worth the cash. (The game is awesome by the way! http://www.galcon.com)
There is some validity to this logic and would guess this would apply to a minority of people. Sadly, however, I believe most of the *freetards* never had any intention of purchasing the app in question in the first place. It simply becomes an excuse, as it has done across the entire gaming world, not just on the iPhone.
Nub,
STFU. Obviously, this developer deserves a little love. He's getting attention for having an open-minded attitude, and nobody here is concerned about whether he can develop a good .99$ game.
only stupid fucking little immature kids like you want bragging rights… grow the hell up and pay the damn DOLLOR!!!
"freetards" take pride in what they pirate. Proud of the amount they pirate and the value they got for free.
I hope this not encourage stealing more money from the developers.
People should not steal just because they don't think they can trust the people who writes reviews…
It's morally wrong, and you know it.
You're an idiot. If everyone had your attitude, there would be no more music, games, etc. The only applications that would be developed would be one-offs for companies that actually require them, and trust me, I used to develop these, the quality and presentation on those programs suck. They do what they're supposed to, but you don't even attempt to dazzle when you write those applications. Not every developer is willing to go totally open source and give all of their time away (I know I won't). I'll give away a bit of my time if I believe in the project, but that's only because I can have a job that actually pays me. If everyone did like you did, I'd say fuck it and find another career path.
So, if you actually want to see your selfish endeavor continue, pay for at least a small percentage of the music you listen to and the games you play. I'm not going to say that I've never pirated anything, but I at least make the attempt to pay for a lot of the things I like. Why? So I can continue liking them…
It is stealing, plain and simple.
Your parents would be proud.
I had the *exact* same thing happen. I have an app (WalkieTalkie) that calls home to locate a user's IP address when calling their username.. sure enough, almost 400 users in a 8 hour period.. I get home and check the sales.. about 30. Pirates. Over 2 days it got close to 800 new users, very little was actual new sales. The best is this youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geWwNOUuiIY)..i watched it through, thinking "cool, this guy likes my app".. and at the end he says "I didn't pay for either copy…" Big let down, I thought he was doing an honest review, instead he's encouraging pirating it. It's 2$!
Sure, everyone likes to blame Apple. Apple has always hated copy-protection. From the beginning that was the major difference between them and Microsoft. Gates was always afraid he wasn't getting paid enough; Jobs & Woz thought information should be free.
Heck, the Mac OS was free until System 7! And Apple doesn't use copy-protection on their apps either.
That being said, there should be some way to try an app before you buy it, even if it is only a dollar.
Apple does use copy protection on Logic Pro, their professional grade music recording software. I've seen it no where else on Apple software though.
Good, go buy a bunch of crappy games and install them then, you dope.
If you can't write a great game then STFU, who cares if you were polite to some loser hacker. Good luck with your whack-a-mole game only a monkey would buy.
Damn, here i was thinking 'Oh man.. this is about to get hilarious like that singer moron chick indiana gregg' but you are embracing whats happening.. if I had a iphone i would buy it right now. I know a few people to tell about this.
You made the right decision, the world needs more of your type.
I agree with everything except Pirated Versions have never ever been guaranteed to work. Quite the opposite in fact.
Well download this shit for your ithing and donate to the dude.
Well, they are not guaranteed to work, but they can (many, if not most of the time) work better.
I think these two folks handled this in the best possible way and just think if lets just say the record labels took this approach how much more could be done to move records sales vs sending out lawsuits instead.
Stay Stoked
AOL
I hate it when people try and make it seem like they are losing 390 users’ worth of revenue because 10 people register the game and 390 don’t.
Those 390 who didn’t either couldn’t afford or would rather spend their money somewhere else.
People will *always* pay for software if they feel there’s value in it for them, that’s why millions pay a subscription to play World of Warcraft instead of using private servers.
If people would rather crack your product, it means they see no value on it.
I think James is handling this quite well.
I download pirated software mainly for the fact there is a lot of crapware out there that just isn’t worth the time. But for the few things I find out there that I really like i will purchase the software and/or donate to the developer.
Even if it is free/open source software, if its great I’mma make sure it stays great by donating.
If I had an iphone I’d buy the game just for the fact I like the way this guys dealing with this.
Instead of firing up a team of lawyers and going on a witch hunt or starting never ending flame wars he listens and actually takes note and tries to better accomodate his customers.
If only every other software company on the planet would do this.
[QUOTE]I hate it when people try and make it seem like they are losing 390 users’ worth of revenue because 10 people register the game and 390 don’t.
Those 390 who didn’t either couldn’t afford or would rather spend their money somewhere else.
People will *always* pay for software if they feel there’s value in it for them, that’s why millions pay a subscription to play World of Warcraft instead of using private servers.
If people would rather crack your product, it means they see no value on it.[QUOTE]
You’re a fucking retard. People pay for WoW because the free servers do not offer the same gameplay experience as the regular servers… if someone created a perfectly tuned free wow server that would let you host 5,000 players on a laptop, wow would lose half its customers.
The idea that not having money means you should be able to steal things, even when that theft doesn’t prevent another person from having something, is childish. Get a real job and make some money so you can buy this guys ONE DOLLAR iphone app if you want to use it. I know many pirates and the whole “I try games via torrent and then buy them if I like them” is complete bullshit. I have many friends who steal software, and you know what? They only “buy them if they like them” AND if they can’t play the cracked version online, or they want a game too much to wait a week for the crack.
Freeware supported by adds, and a donate button, aren’t the best idea. They’re just the only idea because tightwad fucktards like you refuse to pay less than the cost of a 16oz bottle of coke for a piece of software someone spent 250 hours developing.
I was thinking of developing some android games but after reading this it’s really put me off doing any phone development.
Yes, 400 extra users doesn’t mean 400 customers however that’s 400 people that have no right using his software. You can try and legitimise it all you want but at the end of the day, you don’t have permission to use that until you buy it.
If you don’t buy it you don’t get it. It’s how the world works, not everything is for free and you should respect person’s right to charge for their software without copying it by force.
If you want to try before buying why not ask the guy to post a demo or put a video on youtube? The release group gives a very weak excuse on this one and that’s all it simply is, a justification for getting a free lunch.
Actually, it is good. Even if it may seem to be a lot more harm done than good done from file-sharing, the fact is that there is not.
Herpes is not music, nor software, nor anything like that, that people would willingly share (and that is good for people).
100hrs? erm how can a whack a mole game take 100hrs to code, is the iphone that bad as a developement platform?
'plot' ~'30mins'
'whack/tap code' 5minutes
'mole code' 5minutes
total time ~1hr or am i missing something?
Sorry to hear about your predicament. Just wanted to reply with what might be redundant, but will increase the truth statistics by adding another hand in the air.
First, my nephew has purchased several things off the Itunes store. He showed me a few games over Christmas. Of the five things he purchased, he likes only one. It's a racing game. He downloaded two of those, and one sucked. I don't remember the other three. Wait, one was iFart, that's two he liked. The things he didn't like cost some $$$, so he threw money away. So I'll underscore the need for trialware.
Second, I think PC games suffer from the same problem. 20 years ago, SW houses would release demos of their game in advance of the market release, to generate interest. People would DL them, get the feel or 'the hook', and that increased the chance of sales. Now the game demos come months later or not at all. And you wonder why piracy happens? PC games also suffer from over-production, inflating the cost to produce the game by having so many rendered scenes, professional actors/talents involved. Everything is there but the fun– but the games look great. That's a different discussion.
Third, is is possible to add a registration code to your SW? That would dispense with the adware hassle, and you could use the device serial as part of the unlock to 'key' the installation to the unit. I'll bet that's against Apple policy though.
Personally, I haven't bought anything from the iTunes store for my iTouch. No SW, no music, and I refuse to give Apple any (more) of my money. Part of this is because I won't buy anything that isn't DRM free, and won't buy anything I can't back up. Instead, I Search for 'free', and that's all I'll DL. I won't go the road of piracy. Yes, Apple is 'dropping DRM'. Whatever. That's a start. Now open up the iPods so people can use them without iTunes, or on Linux, instead if still being restrained by iTunes…
And all the people who say "it's only a buck". Well, a buck is a buck. Give me a dollar then, if it's not consequence to you. Hell, give me two or three if it doesn't matter. I'll gladly take them, and promise nothing in return except a thank you.
This game sucks… nothing original. Go back to flipping burgers at Mc D's.
Bragging rights are actually a good motivating force for humanity. What exactly is wrong with wanting bragging rights?
In actuality the honesty of most people is that sharing is because sharing is good, and that it supports many artists. Simply put, people do want to support creators. Otherwise, they wouldn't, Q.E.D. You lose, try again.
"I, in no way, am approaching hypocrisy."
Well, you are actually approaching hypocrisy IMO because your saying that you make a choise to pirate content whilst castigating me for doing the same thing – if you hadn't pirated then you may have purchased. But never mind.
I note your suggestion but choose to completely ignore it.
I'm actually interested to know how developers know the number of users if people are not downloading from their website or Apple.
Depends on how much they knew about coding, graphics and whatever other knowledge you must have I guess.
Even for advanced coders with much game experience I suspect your time figure are way, way off.
I suspect it's more to do with the distribution method and what ot means for end users of it actually: it's so easy to look around websites for new content as well as what you like already, add a download and have more or less immediate access to content – heck, it's even fun. And it costs very little to have essentially unlimited content.
I think for many people that method of aquiring content means any thoughts of damages to artists and producers are easily pushed out-of-mind and ignored. The majority of people are prone to behaving in a completely selfish manner when it comes to people they do not know personally. I certainly am.
>> Not every developer is willing to go totally open source and give all of their time away (I know I won't).
Well… i do. Have you ever heard of sourceforge ?
>> If everyone had your attitude, there would be no more music, games, etc.
Did you mean no music and games from you ? What a great loss…
>> If everyone did like you did, I'd say fuck it and find another career path.
I'm glad to hear that. If you can't do it DRM free better don't do it at all.
I also pay for things i like. I don't pay for software because the software i like is opensource programs only. In fact i execute closed source programs only on an offline test computer.
I don't like any copy protection schemes and/or shareware/spyware/adware/crapware/etc. Which is the best way to show my lack of support and disrespect for those who practice this ?
>> I'll give away a bit of my time if I believe in the project, but that's only because I can have a job that actually pays me.
I also give away a bit ot my time to support DRM free projects. But please, give me some links to some of your programs. I'll reply with links to bugfixes that remove common coding mistakes like stupid copy protection schemes.
>> “I’m the developer for Whack ‘em All. I noticed you’re being given credit for cracking Whack ‘em All and making it generally available for free,” he said in his opening email to the cracker. “We (just my wife and I) haven’t even made enough money off of this to pay for the iPhone we had to buy to develop it on.
How did he buy it if he didn't pay for it ?
>> James told TorrentFreak that he was happy with the extra exposure generated by the cracked copy of the game, while hoping this would translate into cash to be invested in the development of future projects.
Doesn't he already own the "development device" ?
People!!! It's a business thing! Who cares if some people buy something in my store or in another store?? I can count only with the people who buy from me! I'm not losing money, because some guy bought something in other store. What I mean is You cannot count the people who pirate or do not pay. You are not losing the money that was never intended to be yours. Piracy is only 10 to 15%. People who cannoy access Itunes Store, No Credit Cards, other countries and so on…
By the way, I'm tired of people complaining about music prices, piracy and so much BS! It's Life! Just because I make a song, it does not mean that I HAVE to be Rich and Famous. What? I do not see Mozart, Led Zeppelin, Beatles worries about the price of theyr songs. Or if you Have to buy the entire album. What the hell… Ok, you made a game, you are in the game. hehehe. You will be pirated, you will be copied, you will be paid, and maybe you will get rich and famous like all other the business in the world.That's the way it is. Autocad is the most pirated software around the world. Still they managed to stay on business.Let's move on.
I'm glad that both parties settled it maturely and responsibly. Nice to set an example for anyone else who wants to whine about piracy. Although it would be nice to have another Indiana Gregg to laugh at.
James – Thank you, but we should point you in the direction of the people who make Linux possible, etc, open source and such. They spend months to years working on a single program/OS and give it away for free on the internet, and all they ask in return is donation.
Do not think we are all takers like NubCakes – I myself am another one of those pirates who believes if something is truly good, or truly original, I will purchase it. For example the classic movies such as Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween, I love them, which is why I purchased them!
Thanks for reading.
-CMG
ok, so the app runs on a phone.
with a phone #
if 400 users are reported, but those users are not recorded as buying from itunes store, they should automaticly have their phone bill charged $2 – 1.50 for the dev, and a .50c service fee for being asswipes.
NubCakes: "Well, that may be a little hard as I am a lawyer and offer services – but let's say I produced, sold or managed goods – I would call the police and have you arrested for larceny related crimes. Basically because I can do that."
ah, so the real problem is you don't understand what you're talking about. small surprise given your choice of career. you see, software programmers provide a service as well, their code writing, just like your clerking law students do all of your real work for you. enjoying the fruits of their laboured service, in this case, playing a game is the equivalent of you doing pro bono work, and we both know that's never going to happen.
i do find it surprising that you can't wrap your head around the fact that just because you're not stealing a physical item doesn't mean it's not theft.
that's pretty basic intellectual property and copyright law. the kind of thing i'd expect a student aspiring to be a lawyer would know.
i'm not about to attempt to alter your misguided beliefs, but, i will stop for a moment, now seems good, to point and laugh at how small-minded you are.
i sincerely hope you continue to enjoy your shallow, selfish, ignorant existence.
I think hackers are probably the biggest cowards in our society. Why are they all anonymous. Not because it's illegal. It's because they are big chickens who hide in their basements and steal the work of others. They've probably never created something useful in their entire life. I wish they would all come out of their basements so we could all punch them in the face. Just once.
"why not? it's a buck. Ever wasted a buck before?"
Well, that's my point – people are saying they would donate because of the attitude not the content. Wouldn't it be better to donate to a developer whose games you actually liked?
Right, except the person developng a better game that now gets less support…
"Since nobody else has said it yet:
You are a selfish prick."
Indeed, that's exactly what I'm saying. Although how much money devs are losing in sales is debateable. I'll admit that I would buy *some* content if I had to (IE couldn't get it for free) but I couldn't say how much. And I'm not depriving anybody of sales to other people like removing an item as opposed to copying it.
"Seriously dude, these people do this for a living."
Excuse me? In this particular case I doubt it – but I see what your saying. Luckily, for the moment, it is still entirely viable to produce games, movies and music as enough people purchase to make it worthwhile.
They don't get anything out of you going off and downloading their shit off free sites. What the fuck is wrong with you?
Nothing… unless you class me prefering not to pay for things when I can copy it instead as something wrong.
How about I come to your place of work, and instead of them giving you your pay every week, I just take it? I mean, I could work for it too, but why should I when I get the exact same experience by taking your money instead?
Well, that may be a little hard as I am a lawyer and offer services – but let's say I produced, sold or managed goods – I would call the police and have you arrested for larceny related crimes. Basically because I can do that.
"You're an idiot."
No actually I'm fairly intelligent – but that's a matter of a subjective nature, so onto your next point…
If everyone had your attitude, there would be no more music, games, etc.
Not quite true – there would always be something, even if it's crap and in tiny amounts and who knows? – but I do see what your saying. However, it is still fairly profitable for many people to produce games, music and movies have just recorded their most profitable year ever in 2008 so there are still many people prepared to pay for content.
"So, if you actually want to see your selfish endeavor continue, pay for at least a small percentage of the music you listen to and the games you play."
No. Not unless I have to – don't worry, I like PS3 games, I pay for them, but only because I have to. I also purchase some books and magazines, if I can't find them online.
"I'm not going to say that I've never pirated anything,"
Right… now your approaching hypocrisy then.
"but I at least make the attempt to pay for a lot of the things I like. Why? So I can continue liking them…"
Good on you! I hope you get a nice, warm feeling inside for doing that! I have to give you thanks for subsidising developers and producers of content so that I may
enjoy them for free then. As long as there's good people like you we shall all continue to enjoy :)
I'm certainly not a cracker or keygenner you numbskull, noticed I said I *know* them. I have no idea of their age but I suspect that they are quite young people. Learn to speak without shouting random words you twat.
I'd agree with you with the following caveat: our world is full of moral wrongs and doesn't stop people committing them. Most people own clothes and shoes that are made by people working in atrocius conditions for over 12 hours per day getting paid tiny amounts of money. Because it is out of sight it is out of mind.
In numerous studies carried out people have shown a willinglness to steal if they can get away with it and avoid seeing the actual consequences, it's human nature it seems.
I'm in complete agreement with GrX. The minute I see that a system will have DRM controls on it, I walk away. Trying to extend control over my system is a no-no. It is MY system. I reserve the right to crack, delete, nuke, burn, whatever the hell I want to do with data that enters my computer. If you try to control my capabilities on my machine, you just earned my enmity, and there is no trust in our relationship. I don't buy machines I don't expect to have complete control over.
If I can't try before I buy, I don't buy. I haven't bought music in years, except for internet releases.
EULAs are a joke. Who the hell agrees to an arrangement after they've bought software and can no longer take the damn thing back to the store for a refund?
There's almost what you could call a hive mind developing – we're going after the RIAA. In a few years, that organization will be neutered or non-existent. I wouldn't be surprised if the lawyers there found themselves as unpopular as the ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and had difficulty finding jobs. It would be wise of them to delete that from their resumes and make up something else.
Bottom line, for the people who think that software retailers are justified in DRM, realize that there is a mountain of ill will developing.
u know what? we've just met the new breed of developer!
Here's a guy who put some time and effort into making a little game, getting screwed over by some greedy asshole.
now i pirate, but it's mostly because i'm addicted to it and to feed my ADD (which sorta developed due to piracy) but i only pirate what i could never afford or would never consider buying.
and when i do go and buy things i can afford and really wanna keep, i really enjoy the whole purchasing process.
but seriously it's a Buck! Fuck! Just spend a Buck!
It's whackamole, not that damn stupid piano or any of those other complete novelty pieces of junk play once only iphone apps.
and more to the point.. there is a utube video showing exactly what the game is like..maybe thats the solution.. put up videos on utube of the basic gameplay, so u have an idea of what to expect..
the fact is. it's only a small game. it's worth the buck he's asking for.. and anybody who pirates something that cheap (that isn't some lame piano piece of shit) really HAS NO EXCUSE! thats blatant piracy. Pay for that shit!
I don't have an iphone, but if i did i'd buy that! Damn moles!
So you're one of the very few exceptions who doesn't add any copy protection in his commercial applications. Congratulations!
Sorry for assuming otherwise.
maybe he got the iphone on a plan dickwad. meaning he still doesn't own it yet.
"Well, you already have the "development device" to create the next big application. So why haven't you done it yet?"
But i have. And, like many others, i didn't need any money to "invest in future projects".
He doesn't need money to write a program. Knowledge is what he needs.
Just because you say something doesn't make it right. Support your statements with facts, and I'll start to listen. At this point, the logical presumption runs counter to your argument, and I'd like to know why that's wrong.
If you can't produce anything, then your point is invalidated. What can be asserted without fact can be dismissed without fact.
I feel for you James, these thieves only care about getting stuff for free and will rationalize it any way they can.. then they laugh at me for confronting them. I don't understand why you aren't upset about the cracking though, if I were you I would throw another tantrum. As a millionaire (When I want to be) I have to keep paying for my expensive assets, and these pirates don't give a damn.
Just wait until the web sheriff comes around and arrests all you pirates!
heywood you blow me?
c wut i did thur
i see what you did there
I honestly doubt that even most people on sourceforge are doing that full-time. If you can give me some sort of statistic or even anecdotal evidence to support otherwise, I'll concede the point. From what I've seen, and I'll admit that this is purely from my own experience, most people that submit to open source projects do it more as hobbyists than as a career. There are some exceptions (mostly big name people like Torvalds), of course, but there are almost always exceptions when people are involved.
I don't actively support DRM. I understand why a lot of developers choose to use it, but I also feel that it puts more of a strain on normal users than on pirates. DRM is a broken system, as shown in examples such as this. If someone wants the content bad enough, and the drive is high enough not to pay for it, then the DRM will be broken.
I don't know why I'm arguing DRM though. When did I mention support for DRM?
"Right… now your approaching hypocrisy then."
I, in no way, am approaching hypocrisy. If I suggest that you at least purchase a small percentage of the software, music, or movies you enjoy, and I pay for at least a small percentage of said goods, then I've held to my dictum.
"So what I want to know is this: does iTunes/crapstore actually allow downloads for apps that have no trial period without a payment?"
There are plenty of free apps in the appstore, if that's what you're asking.
Sharing can potentially be good for artists, but it isn't always. It's hard to put a real amount on any money lost or gained from sharing, but there seems to be a lot more harm than good done from file sharing for big name software, music, and movies. Something like the indie/rock playlist, which is technically piracy (unless the guy that puts it together spends all of his time contacting bands and labels, which I doubt), still probably brings a lot of attention to bands that wouldn't otherwise be heard.
However, your whole point rests upon one presumption: "sharing is good"; however, I think as we all learned with herpes, that's not always the case.
Q.E.F.
"Doesn't he already own the "development device" ?"
You own a computer, right? Well, you already have the "development device" to create the next big application. So why haven't you done it yet? Developing for the iPhone, like any platform, takes more resources than just the platform.
Software piracy is inevitable. It also requires technical skill (or at least a clever mind). For that reason, I respect this pirate more than I respect the developer of this lame application. Definitely trying to get rich quick, like the cracker mentioned, off of a stupid idea.
Good story dont have and iphone but is always good to see developers takin an interest..
Okay, this will just be a short comment that is probably also not valued much either. But if the original author of this program is still around he might want to check this: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070503/012939….
It not necessarily gives you an idea on how to make money with this software, but it might help you get there. Or at least give you an understanding of where people might be willing to spend money on, I think I find it quite an interesting read.
Thanks Elonoir! Great article! We're trying to figure out if there are any other scarce components for our game besides the banner ads. We thought about including the ability to post your high score on the website with your alias if you've got the premium version of the game. Any other ideas? Thanks! :)
I hate buying apps that seems really good but when you actually use it/play it, its absolutely shithouse. I support the cracker for his good deeds :)
a little sympathy goes to the developer…
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