Do Our Ads Bother You?

[Cory Trese]

I got this e-mail today:

"I have bought both your paid games, and love them but it would be nice if you had an option to remove YOUR ads yo YOUR games you have embedded. I am rooted and use an ad blocker, so I never actually ads in games, but still pay for games in support of developers. Unfortunately its really irritating having to look at ads in ST, to get CK, even when I already own the full game. In general, any ads in paid games, even just for the same dev are slimy. The "more games" button was the limit of not being intrusive, but now us paid users have to look at much larger ads of the rest of your games. Please consider an option for paid users to remove the giant ads for your games in the homescreen of ST Elite. I know you have other games and I have bought them already; there is no reason I should have to look at ads for them permanently embedded in the start screen for apps I have paid for already."


I am curious if anyone else feels this way. Should we worry about the links between the games making everyone angry?

[HarryKILLSworth]

Not all, Cory. Make your money. ,

[Fenikso]

He actually has a point. If he bought all your games, he probably should not be looking at the ads for them anywhere. I liked "More games" button better too.

But because I see that screen for a fraction of second (until I hit continue button) I do not care .

[Cory Trese]

Fear not, Fenikso -- I am definitely going to add an option that hides them from the main menu.

It will be called "Hide Trese Brother Announcements" because honestly, I liked having those regions there so I can change them to announce new games and projects.

However, I see his point as well. I think the issue at hand is that a lot of people have been abused by other Android applications, developers and are force-fed promotional applications from carriers, Google and device manufacturer. They get jaded and hostile.

I try to remind myself that the backlash, the threats, the anger is often not really being directed at TB. The main difference is that we read and respond to our e-mail.

[slayernz]

So I work in the software industry with both paid and free products. I definitely go hard in getting upsell/cross-sell plugs in my free products, but I am a lot more cautious with my paid ones.

The cross-sell ads you had in earlier versions of your product were nice and subtle (with the "More Games" button. It didn't interfere with the main screen UI, and meant you didn't have to do any scrolling. In more recent versions, the advertising is more confronting. Now I'm a loyal Trese brothers fan, so don't mind at all, but objectively, they seem a bit loud. It's important to be able to continue to get customers to invest more in your products, but having the ability to hide the messages easily (and by default) is just as important.

Changing the function of the "More Games" button, so when you press it, it opens up the other-product adverts below is a possible approach. The other game banners are clickable anyway, so they will take the person to the appropriate marketplace for more information about their selection.

[blackgauntlet]

Aye! Maybe the first time we log into the game, we will see the ads and followed by a screen that asks if we want to be getting further updates in this way?

[rabidbite]

I didn't even know Star Traders RPG had ads. Where the heck are they?

[Cory Trese]

They are on the front menu -- or were.

Now in Elite versions all advertisements and self-promotions of our projects have been removed.

I'd rather have less orders than have players think we are being greedy or forcing them to look at ads.