Drew Masters

Recently the popular Facebook game Triple Town was ported to various smartphone app marketplaces (it’s terrific, check it out) and some people seem to have a problem with the way the game is presenting itself. The app is listed as “Free” in the app stores, but after you’ve used the set amount (1500) of turns, the app informs you that you can buy more turns with earned in game coins or buy infinite turns with ca$h or you can wait out the turn regeneration (which regenerates at about a turn a minute). Initially infinite turns was priced at $7, which is pretty damn high for an app of this scope (a match 3 puzzle game, with interesting hooks) but now it’s been lowered to $4 (which is far more reasonable, IMO). People don’t seem to like the model of a game that presents itself as free, but then wants you to make a purchase. Of course this wouldn’t be a problem at all if the game wasn’t addictive and charming, but of course it is. I liked the game enough to purchase the infinite turns (at $4, I’m not crazy) and it was worth it to me to pay the freemium toll. But I come from another generation, one that’s spent their life paying in double digits for handheld games (I remember spending $20 on Tetris for my Gameboy… I think you can get Tetris for free on calculators now) so I’m not terribly afraid of dropping a few dollars on a game that I like. Hell they even let me try it for free, which is bold as hell, considering most smartphone games suck (of course there are many good games too, but goddamn there’s a ton of shit) and as an old school PC gamer that kind of shareware style is something I can get behind. I wish the developers explained that there was a pay wall put up at 1500 turns, and they still might do that in the future, but in the mean time I urge you to try the app and if you love it then buy it. If you merely like it, buy Dungeon Raid for $1 (in fact, just buy Dungeon Raid either way).