Studio VP of production Sean Thompson has detailed the firm's experiences with both ad-supported and IAP-equipped apps on Gamasutra, with the latter generating greater revenue per user on Android than on Apple's platform.
Big win
"In the case of IAP-supported apps, Android wins the ARPDAU (average revenue per daily active user) race by 24 percent," says Thompson, making reference to the performance of Big Win Slots on both iOS and Android.
"This difference can be attributed to two distinct influences - IAP revenue per DAU dipped on iOS in January, and Tapjoy's Marketplace provided significant incremental revenue on Android above and beyond IAP."
Thompson doesn't reveal just how many users each version of the game has amassed on either platform, but claims Google is more accommodating than Apple when it comes to allowing developers to employ different approaches to generating revenue.
In the case of Big Win Slots, Thompson claims Tapjoy's incentivisation network generates 14 percent of average revenue per user, describing the ability to entice users into downloading other apps in exchange for virtual currency as a "win-win-win" for all concerned.
Pure peril
"In my opinion, this points to a key difference between iOS and Android moving forward," adds Thompson.
"As we all know, Apple banned Tapjoy's incentivised app installs from iOS last year - and thank goodness they did, because now the top lists in the App Store are completely pure.
"Thus far, Google seems to be relatively hands-off. One thing we know for sure is that Apple values its secrecy far more than its relationship with its developer community."
Thompson doesn't advocate developers shifting their entire focus from iOS to Android Mobile Deluxe's own results showing Apple's platform remains dominant when it comes to standard ad-supported releases but he notes Android's "victory" when it comes to IAPs is "notable".
"The additional monetisation methods that Android currently allows are the difference maker," he concludes.
"Because Google is more accommodating than Apple, I expect Android to see the lion's share of Tapjoy and other monetisation market leaders' continued innovation; Android only stands to improve over time in this regard.
"I cannot say this to my fellow mobile developers strongly enough: ignore Android at your own peril! Planning an iOS only release strategy is short-sighted and disastrous in the long run. Android is too big of an opportunity to leave undeveloped."
[source: Gamasutra]
