I have actually tried to keep it from being tied to osu! at all. I will actually take this moment to remove the only link (the title screen colours) which I placed there just for some fun. Going forward I will be continuing to avoid any linking between the two games that can be avoided from my end, as they cannot possibly co-exist. Of course people who are familiar with osu! will make that unavoidable connection, but we I have to deal with that for not coming up with a more unique name (I did try).
There are quite a few rhythm games on the app store that charge $0.99 and have relatively high sales figures. I believe the model I am using will possibly not work in my favour as many people will be more than content with the freely available content, but I want this to be the case. I want osu! to be played by as many people as possible, and making it free allows this to happen.
Also for those which think the current pricing is too expensive, there will most definitely be sales or cheaper bundles in the future, as I learn how people respond to pricing. My entry level pricing is based on what I believe the songs/levels are to be worth, and what is generally accepted in Japan (as my history of iOS rhythm gaming has been on japanese games). If you consider that it'd be the same as spending a credit playing the song once at an arcade, it no longer seems like a high figure. I won't even get started on how warped people's perception of value is on the portable gaming/app market, but there is definitely a lot to be said.
I hope to start a blog on osu!stream going into these kinds of issues to be as transparent as possible, because I think others can learn from this kind of thing too.
Guy-kun wrote:
I believe its possible to keep a passion up to give for free. Look at many open-source developers, who don't get swayed by the thoughts of cashing in on their efforts.
I have not and will not ever be swayed to cash-in on osu!. I'd sooner take it off the internet than do that
. I think dedicating most of four years of my life to this game can say something along those lines itself, though. Just sayin'.