Violoncello and in-app purchases

Every time I start a new project, I always make it a priority to try something new with it. With binoc, I decided to learn Kotlin. LifeBoard was the first paid app I ever released. So, when I started working on Violoncello, I decided that I wanted to try something new with it as well. As a result, after some careful consideration, I am excited (and also a bit nervous) to say that Violoncello will feature an in-app purchase, a first for one of my apps. Wait! Don't go! Allow me to explain...

It's all about the execution...

When it comes to in-app purchases, whether or not they're extremely obnoxious really depends on the execution. For example, having a bunch of ads and nerfing a lot of features unless you upgrade to a premium version is a really crummy thing to do in my opinion. For this reason, with Violoncello, the improvements you get by upgrading are going to be very minor. You'll get a few fun customization options, but that will be it. There won't be any ads, and the overall user experience will be perfectly enjoyable if you don't get the premium version. I know in-app purchases can be a pain, especially when they are constantly being shoved in your face, so I have tried my best to make this one as unobtrusive as possible.

Hooray! But why upgrade to premium, then?

If the benefits of going premium are going to be pretty minor, then why upgrade? There are a few reasons. For one, you do get some neat new features for a low price. ($0.99 plus tax) However, by upgrading, you are helping me, an independent developer, out. I really don't want to cripple the experience for those who aren't interested in paying for premium, and while this standpoint may lead to lower profits, I stand by my decision.

In short...

In summary, Violoncello will have a single in-app purchase, an upgrade to the premium version. This premium version will add a few neat customization options, but it won't be super necessary to upgrade to it. By handling in-app purchases this way, I can still profit from the app, but people can also enjoy it without having to upgrade.

Anyway, thank you so much for reading this post! I hope you are excited for Violoncello and are okay with the way I plan to handle in-app purchases. I'm looking forward to seeing how Violoncello turns out, and I hope you are too!

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John Spahr

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