The Mobile App Meritocracy
TechRepublic recently posted an insightful interview with Jake Gostylo, author of The Great Land Grab (or TGLG) game for Android phones, in which they discussed the future of mobile applications. The theme of the interview dealt with the meritocracy of the mobile app world. In other words, regardless of how much money you have, if you produce a quality mobile app that users want, you will be successful.
Gostylo also talks extensively about common problems encountered in the development process (something mobile app testers would be wise to take notice of) but his most interesting response came here:
What is the future of mobile app development? Will it remain accessible with a low cost of entry for the small developer or shop, or will the big publishing houses come in and drive the little guys out?
I don’t think big publishing houses will be able to drive out the little guys. The market is in a strange state where you have millions of ready user platforms and a culture where people expect free or cheap apps.
Big publishers are probably banging their heads trying to figure out a stable way to get people to pay the money required to justify a high budget title. At the same time, the hardware and, especially the screen real estate, don’t really lend themselves to need big budgets for apps.
I think that if you are backed by money to make a slick, sexy app, then it will be received well. I also think that if you are one guy, and you have a crazy idea, then this is a good place to try it out and I think that you can do well in the mobile world.
