Game developer cuts back on Android in favor of iPhone

Apple's iPhone platform has attracted a wide range of developers, including many gaming companies over the last year. While competition in attracting developers is increasing among mobile operating system companies, it seems the performance of the App Store will keep Apple at the top of list.

French mobile gaming company Gameloft said at an investor conference on Friday that it is cutting back its investment in Android in favor of the iPhone, according to a Reuters report. Gameloft's finance director Alexandre de Rochefort said "many others" were doing the same thing, although he didn't mention the other companies by name.

Rochefort said the main reason for choosing the iPhone over Android was "due to weaknesses of Android's application store."

"It is not as neatly done as on the iPhone. Google has not been very good to entice customers to actually buy products. On Android nobody is making significant revenue," said Rochefort.

Gameloft has more than 75 games available in the App Store and Rochefort said they sell 400 times more games for the iPhone than they do for Android.

Games are a big focus for Apple, especially with the release of its newest iPod Touch in September. It was there that Apple began comparing itself to the gaming elite like Nintendo and Sony.

Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said during the event that the buying experience was "too expensive" and "not a lot of fun." Schiller also pointed out that, at the time, there were more than 21,000 gaming titles on the iPhone, compared to 3,600 on Nintendo, and 600 on Sony.

Earlier this month, Apple said it had more than 100,000 apps available with over two billion downloads.

[gerrrg]

The Android Market is difficult to navigate and find apps. I do wish they'd fix it and make for sortable fields (like date, price, rating, developer).<br /><br />Gameloft will end up coming back to Android when tablets and other appliances with larger screens allow for a better gaming / app experience, and therefore worth paying money for.

[Appnoose]

It really is going to be near impossible for anyone to match the App Store's success any time soon. Apple may only have about 17% of the smart Phone market but mention the word App and every automatically thinks of the Apple App store. Probably even the folks at Google.<br />[CNET editor's note: Prohibited spam deleted.]

[lesbihonest17]

what can i say. i love my 32 gb iphone 3GS. i have over 200 apps in my itunes library and maybe a little over 100 that are actually on my phone. the app store is revolutionary. many developers are even afraid of androids growth due to the complications of having to develop multiple versions of applications to fit different hardware and screen sizes. if you dont believe me then why dont you check CNN for yourself.

[sbostedor]

Are the sales differences due to the app store differences or due to the fact that the Droid (the only Android based phone worth comparing to the iPhone) just came out and the market share is minute compared to the iPhone?<br /><br />It sounds like GameLoft is just being indecisive and fickle.

[sondun2001]

The app store is identical for all Android devices, and every carrier now has or is about to get an Android device. So the market share is growing rapidly. Android 1.6 improved the Market greatly by adding screen shots and more filtering, and i'm sure Android 2.0 improved even further.

[cvaldes1831]

The developer is saying is blaming weakness on the Android's application store, not the market share.<br /><br />Gameloft is not being indecisive. Quite the opposite: they are being very decisive. A difference of four hundred times is not insignificant. They are simply putting their resources where they will get the most return. Of course, they could always come back later when they feel that their particular concerns about the Android Marketplace are resolved.

[docster87]

I'm amazed at how a large part of the gamers LOVE windows due to the fact Windows can game and Macs really don't. Yet the real amazing part is that while the iPhone can game and other smartphone's don't - that same Window Game crowd hates iPhone. I admire their loyalty, just wish they could be consistent. Well, I guess they are consistent to the degree they hate Apple... But if gaming is their life, then why can't they at least consider the iPhone or an iTouch?

[oldmanangry]

Excuse me? Windows game crowd people hate iphones? The vast majority of PC gaming nerds I know have iPhones.

[Mergatroid Mania]

I'm a gamer, and I use my Windows PC for games. I even have a Winmo phone, however I don't do any gaming on it.<br /><br />I'll leave mobile gaming to the kids. Waste of money in my opinion. If I spend any money on games, they will be for my PC or my PS3.

[bctexas]

If gaming is someones life, then they need to get a better life.

[codynews]

huh? I have windows, and I've always been windows fan. Yet at the same time I'm an iphone super fan.<br /><br />The two have nothing to do with each other.

[kojacked]

If gaming is their life then they have no life.

[DarkHawke]

@bctexas &#38; kojacked: And you have entirely worthwhile hobbies? Pray tell. And those hobbies give you complete license to knock those of others? Must be some pretty ******* hobbies.

[Akiba]

"then why can't they at least consider the iPhone or an iTouch?"<br /><br />They are being consistent. Gamers have always been picky about controllers and the iPhone has horrible controls for many types of games. I think your argument is backwards. If a gamer considers the iPhone or iPod Touch it should be for a all the other features not it's gaming ability. A lot of gamers like the iPhone, but for a hardcore gamer it's not the greatest gaming experience in comparison to devices like the PSP and DS.

[freightbrokers]

what's with the gaming its just like any hobbies like playing basketball or any other games. but obviously its not a physical games.<br /><br />&lt;a href="http://freightbrokernetwork.com/"&gt;Freight Broker&lt;/a&gt;

[Joe-Sixpack]

Is it true that you can only have 680 MB of apps at the same time?<br />'cause that would truly be a deal breaker to me.

[shuyin84]

for which ohone, and not on the iPhone, on the iphone your allowed 9 pages of 16 apps each, but more can be stored off the screen, but to access those u need to use spotlight search

[cvaldes1831]

@shuyin84:<br /><br />Nah, I think Joe-Sixpack is referring to a possible Droid phone app storage limitation.<br /><br />My iPod touch currently has 2.9GB of apps on it. There doesn't appear to be any arbitrary limitation for app storage.

[noprobs]

On Android you are limited to 256MB of apps on the internal memory so developers have to implement inelegant hacks that store the rest of larger apps on a storage card. Bad luck when you fill up that 256MB - no more apps for you.<br /><br />No limit on the iPhone. 1.88GB of apps on my 32GB iPhone so far.<br /><br />-Mart

[cvaldes1831]

Interesting. Joe Consumer really doesn't want to know why he can't store additional apps on his Android phone.<br /><br />Make it simple for the consumer. That's what Apple did. That's why the iPhone rules. You buy stuff at the big box retail shop that you are comfortable with (iTunes Store). No worries.<br /><br />Undoubtedly that is one of Gameloft's bullet points. Make it easy and convenient for the average consumer.

[cbscowards]

More FUD around Android from noprobs and cvaldes<br /><br />Android app code must be installed in main memory. On the Motorola Droid, that is limited to 256MB, but this is up to the manufacturer. Apps can access data on the SD card. The Droid comes with a 16GB card, and is upgradable to 32GB by replacing the card with a larger one.<br /><br />When an app is installed, it's code goes in memory and its data goes onto the card. The user doesn't see the difference; it is all just part of the install.<br /><br />As for the "inelegant hack", the practice of separating text and images into separate resource files has been best practice for a decade now on a number of platforms. Unless you are just a hack programmer who doesn't know how to create a well-structured and maintainable application.<br /><br />So when you see that you are using 2GB for iPhone apps, at least some of that size includes data/graphics. With games, graphics can represent more than half of the size of the program.

[Mergatroid Mania]

What an idiot. <br /><br />"Rochefort said the main reason for choosing the iPhone over Android was "due to weaknesses of Android's application store." <br /><br />In case he didn't notice, Android just arrived. Give them some time to have a few updates, and rearrange their app store a few times to get it right. Leave it to a Frenchman.....duh...<br /><br />I hope they finally get it right, sell like crazy and lock your freeking French gaming company out of the circuit. It would serve you right...goof....

[bctexas]

Awe, someone is jealous of the iPhone.

[kojacked]

No, someone actual knows what they are talking about (and that isn't you bctexas).

[kelmon]

Ultimately, any business has x amount of money that is being chased to y numbers of individual projects. Just as with any business, Gameloft is directing their available funds to the projects that they expect will generate the highest rate of return. They aren't saying that they are stopping their investment in Android but merely that they are directing more of their funds to the iPhone platform where they know they can make more money. This isn't some sort of partisan decision but one based purely on financial figures. Let's be honest here, Android has been out for over a year now and the problem with the platform has been one mostly of hardware - only now are decent devices coming out yet the iPhone continues to sell well.<br /><br />So, I'm sorry, but you are the idiot if you cannot comprehend what is a very serious, yet simple, business decision. If the Android market takes off then I am sure Gameloft will increase the number of Android projects that it is running in the future. Right now your comment just sounds like partisan sour grapes...

[myles taylor]

Android has been out for just over a year now. Apple App store has been out for...let's see...just over a year. The App store it by no means mature and Google has had plenty of time to improve on it.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Hey, on an off side note.<br /><br />Anyone else HATE that expanding banner ad at the top of the CNET home page? I can't stand the way it moves the articles around on the screen while I'm trying to pick one to read.<br /><br />Hey CNET!!!!!!!<br /><br />If you keep it up you're going to force me to install an ad blocker on my computer just for use when I visit your site.<br /><br />How does it feel to be promoted to "Most Annoying"?

[cvaldes1831]

I run a DNS cache-poisoning script on my router (running Tomato firmware), thus providing first-line protection for all devices on my network.<br /><br />You should consider looking into something like this.<br /><br />http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=57556<br /><br />I use typical security add-ons like NoScript and AdBlock Plus when I use the Firefox desktop Web browser.

[seven7dust]

part of the reason may be becasue of how easy it is to get cracked apps for a Android device , just search for Android apk on google and you can probably find the app you looking for , this is problem with open source everyone wants stuff for free ! <br />and besides most Andoid users I know don't generally download games from the market casue they have Snes, genesis and mame Emulators, which are 100x better than the games being made now !

[jlopezcnet]

I feel validated. I keep saying, it's about the apps. iTunes store has been out only 1 more year than the android and it's got 100k apps. Android only has like 7500. What makes it worse is there is the Tmobile store, the Verizon store, and all these third party stores. This makes it harder to brand the store.<br /><br />Android is following the same path of the Windows Mobile world. Too many factions... no unified brand.

[cbscowards]

I think another factor could be affecting Gameloft. I was looking for a Sudoku game in the Android market, and there are many to choose from. Many are free; Gameloft's is among the most expensive. Reading through the user ratings, many users complain that the Gameloft UI is slow and unresponsive. <br /><br />When you buy an app from the iTunes store, you are stuck with it. But from Android Market, you have 24 hours to return it if you don't like it. I wonder how many Gameloft returns have happened if their games are not up to snuff?

[joetesta70]

Not surprising.<br /><br />It's well known that Android users don't play games. They play with themselves.

[cbscowards]

I guess you are an iPhone user. See if you can find an app that helps to build maturity. You need it badly.

[shycelticwitch]

@Joetesta70... LOL +1

[kojacked]

cbscowards +1 joetesta70 &#38; notshycelticb are some of the snobiest posters here.

[eonicman]

At this point in time with the Droid being the only Android 2.0 device, it would make sense for developers to consider it the lowest common denominator for Andy 2.0 and start developing games specifically with Droid's feature set. This way, they are starting off Andy 2 with a discrete platform similar to what has happened with iPhone. Going forward from their should be easier. When Andy netbooks come about, hopefully they will have similar resolution and be running Andy 2.0 or better. Droid games should be on par with iPhone 3G S games. Time will tell.

[Synthmeister]

Problem is, Verizon went and came out with another Android phone after the Droid called "Eris" and it it runs Android 1.5. Now, tell me how that benefits either Verizon or the Android ecosystem? HTC is having a delay meshing their interface improvements to Android 1.5 with Android 2.0.<br /><br />I'm telling you, Android is gonna be like the wild, wild west with everyone hacking around on the OS, the interface, the apps, the hardware. <br /><br />Remember, when Microsoft "openly" licensed DOS and Windows, that didn't mean everyone could have their way with the OS. You could install it on any hardware, but you couldn't futz around with the interface or internals or MS got very snippy. Google's handling of Android is completely different. Google doesn't seem to be coherently pushing the Android ecosystem forwards.

[Synthmeister]

Oh yea, and the hot, new flagship phone from Sony, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, is coming out with, you guessed it, Android 1.6. Google needs to discourage that kind of fragmentation of the Android platform. It's just a dumb strategy. So now you simultaneous have three, high profile, Android phones offered on the market that all run DIFFERENT versions of the OS. I'm sorry, but that is simply a very bad strategy if Google wants to push the Android platform forwards rapidly.