Square Enix iOS Games: Are They Worth the Price?
Summary
Square Enix, one of the biggest players in the gaming industry, has recently released two major iOS games – Final Fantasy Dimensions and Demon’s Score. While both are of high quality and use in-app purchases for extra content, they have received criticism for their pricing strategies. In this Q&A, we will take a closer look at the two games, their in-app purchases, and whether they are worth the price.
Table of Contents
- What are Final Fantasy Dimensions and Demon’s Score?
- What are the in-app purchases for these games?
- Are these games worth the price?
- What are the alternatives to in-app purchases for mobile games?
- What are the implications of such pricing strategies for the gaming industry?
Introduction
Square Enix is synonymous with high-quality games, especially in the RPG genre. So, when the company released two iOS games – Final Fantasy Dimensions and Demon’s Score – excitement was at an all-time high. However, both games were heavily criticized for their pricing strategies, with users calling them a rip-off.
Q&A
What are Final Fantasy Dimensions and Demon’s Score?
Final Fantasy Dimensions is an iOS game modeled after the 16-bit classics that defined the early era of the series. The game’s prologue is available for free, but you have to pay $3 for the game’s first chapter, and $10 each for the next three chapters. In addition, if you want the chiptune soundtrack, you have to pay an additional $1.
Demon’s Score is a music game where the player fights demons by tapping on the screen to the rhythm of the music. The game costs $7 to download, but after clearing the second stage, you are asked if you want to pay $3 to make a pact with a demon. Without making pacts, you cannot play different pieces of music, which means you’ll have to listen to the same two songs repeatedly.
What are the in-app purchases for these games?
Both Final Fantasy Dimensions and Demon’s Score make extensive use of in-app purchases for extra content. Final Fantasy uses in-app purchases for most of the game’s content, including gameplay, graphics and the chiptune soundtrack. For Demon’s Score, you have to pay $3 for each of the game’s eight levels, or you’ll have to play only the same two songs.
Are these games worth the price?
It all depends on one’s point of view. Some players find the gameplay, graphics and sound to be very good, while others complain that the games are a rip-off due to the heavy in-app purchases. For Final Fantasy Dimensions, players can try the free prologue and determine if they want to pay for the additional content. As for Demon’s Score, some users feel that it’s not worth the $7 paid upfront since the game hits them up for more money early on in the game. However, those who enjoy music-based games and the idea of fighting demons might enjoy the game enough to justify the expense.
What are the alternatives to in-app purchases for mobile games?
While in-app purchases are a popular way for game developers to earn revenue, there are other ways to monetize mobile games without frustrating players. One option is to have a full game available for a set price. The entire game would be available to players upfront, instead of charging them for each level or piece of content.
Another option is to offer a subscription or season pass that provides access to exclusive content or DLC. This can incentivize players to stick with a game for an extended period, as they’ll have access to new content as it is released.
What are the implications of such pricing strategies for the gaming industry?
While in-app purchases have proven to be successful for many mobile games, they also have the potential to alienate players. If users feel that they are being nickel-and-dimed for content that should have been included in the initial price or for large sums of money after only playing for a few minutes, they might be less likely to spend money on future games from the same company. This could lead to a decrease in developers’ earnings and ultimately lead to less innovation in the industry.
Conclusion
Final Fantasy Dimensions and Demon’s Score are both high-quality games with impressive graphics, sound, and gameplay. However, their pricing strategies have received a lot of criticism from players, with many feeling that they are a rip-off. While in-app purchases can be a viable business model, game developers need to ensure that they do not alienate users with their pricing strategies. Ultimately, if players are unhappy with a game’s pricing strategy, it is unlikely that they will spend money on future games from the same company, which could lead to significant losses for developers.
