Home Gaming Apple removes “free to play” label from games

Apple removes “free to play” label from games

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App stores are landmine territory for less savvy online surfers and slightly lazy parents. It’s very easy to download apps and games that have the word “free” plastered next to them, even if they require a lot out of your pocket to actually work as intended. This is especially true for free-to-play games, which have hidden behind the “free “sticker on mobile since the very beginning. That’s thankfully not the case anymore.

The act of labelling not-so-free games as actually being free has been baffling consumers everywhere. Android already changed their stance on the matter a few months ago, but it has taken Apple a little while longer. After pressure for nearly the whole of the EU, the Federal Trade Commission and even South Park, Apple has altered the labelling of free-to-play games – meaning the App Store just lots a ton of free apps.

Instead of free, games and apps that require additional funding now have a ‘Get’ button next to them instead.

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That’s still incredibly confusing since the apps are still listed under the store’s free section, but at least there’s a discernible difference between these and actual free games now. I’m pretty sure Apple wishes that people would get on-board with their little plus program, which is still the easiest way to see if a game wants to bleed you dry from a glance.

Still, this should help all the nagging parents who have lost thousands because they were to lazy to make sure their kids weren’t blowing it all away unknowingly. Is it really that difficult to make sure that doesn’t happen?

Last Updated: November 20, 2014

53 Comments

  1. If you are gullible enough to buy Apple, surely you mind being taken for a ride with the apps too? 😛

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Wang

      November 20, 2014 at 13:45

      Bwahahahahahaha!

      Reply

      • Corrie

        November 20, 2014 at 13:49

        It is a lesson that so many must learn…..stop buying overpriced crap and thinking it’s cool rather buy a android device

        Reply

        • Sir Rants A Lot is a DADDY

          November 20, 2014 at 14:31

          You know, I have no issue with people who buy Apple and admit it’s overpriced but say they prefer it and so are willing to spend more.

          What I cannot stand are these people who claim the hardware is better and specially created for the device and that’s why it’s more expensive and worth it because it’s superior and better to everything else in the same hardware category.

          Those dolts irritate me. The hardware is most definitely not better. The software is just perhaps a little better fine tuned. But it doesn’t validate the price.

          Just admit you prefer Apple and that you are willing to spend the cash EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW the hardware is no different to what’s in other devices. Then I will respect your choice of going for Appple

          Reply

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 14:42

            So true, at the end of the day it’s their money and I can understand that and like you said understand that their hardware is similar or the same , but yeah sadly so many are blinded by these facts and believe they have gold in their hands, which I think deep down they know but are too scared or embarrassed to realized what they have… or it could boil down to just plain stupidity and ignorance

          • Sir Rants A Lot is a DADDY

            November 20, 2014 at 15:10

            I think most of it is ignorance. Because the OS is capable of a few fancy things people tend to think it proves the hardware is superior.

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 15:24

            That also, one of the things with android is it is like PC’s so many different configurations , where apple only really has one spec sheet

          • SlagywaG

            November 20, 2014 at 16:02

            I like how it’s all about the hardware… We all know the iOS software is far superior *Runs*

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 17:42

            Lol keep running and don’t stop

            *Mumble* We all know the iOS software is far superior , ha! *mumble*

          • Sir Rants A Lot is a DADDY

            November 20, 2014 at 17:23

            Yeah, most certainly. Apple has a very “clean” environment compared to other OS’s. Still doesn’t validate the price though and only helps reinforce people in to thinking it’s better when it’s really not. Just different

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 17:40

            Brand sells sadly , I mean look at alienware 20k for a pc that you could build for 10ish or so, 30k laptops where you could throw a titan with a sweet i7, same like clothes people will spend grand plus for a jacket or shirt, I’m happy with a good pair of vans and a plain T regardless if it comes from woolie or edgars or mr price.

            I also understand Brand most of the time equates to quality, but sometimes the 2nd best is just as good as the best, except take aways, then your looking for trouble…. and food poising

            Still funny watching people in the iStore in pavillion

    • RustedFaith

      November 20, 2014 at 14:10

      rofl brilliant

      Reply

  2. Ottokie

    November 20, 2014 at 13:35

    OMG! There is a new Candy Crush Saga!!!!!111!!11!!

    Reply

  3. Captain JJ the fair

    November 20, 2014 at 13:35

    Imagine removing the “i” in front of the names of all their products. How ever will they be able to think of other names if they can’t just lob a letter in front of whatever the product is? ;P

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      November 20, 2014 at 13:36

      iDon’tKnow

      Reply

      • Captain JJ the fair

        November 20, 2014 at 13:37

        diot!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          November 20, 2014 at 13:54

          Turn that ! upside downi

          Reply

          • ToshZA

            November 20, 2014 at 13:59

            !lolediii

    • Lydon McG

      November 20, 2014 at 14:03

      I know right! Imagine Apple Watch instead of iWatch xD Wait…

      Reply

  4. Reid

    November 20, 2014 at 13:36

    I don’t have my credit card details saved anywhere on my Google account, but I also have the password feature enabled so when I do want to make a purchase it 1st ask me for my password. My very long annoying to type on a phone google password. That’s the 1st deterrent. If I still want to purchase it and enter my password I then get asked for my credit card details. Which I never memorise so I have to get my credit card out of my wallet and enter the details. 2nd Deterrent. It’s too much of a hassle so I just end up not buying it.

    Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    November 20, 2014 at 13:42

    “Get” button, yay we did, we are getting through to them.

    *claps hands

    Reply

    • Corrie

      November 20, 2014 at 13:54

      Please pay $99 for a bucket of claps

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        November 20, 2014 at 13:55

        • Corrie

          November 20, 2014 at 14:00

          Damn sooner or later he’s gonna be exhausted and you’ll have to wait till he recharges or spend some more cash to use him instantly :p

          Reply

          • Mark Treloar

            November 20, 2014 at 14:13

            or get Duracell’s so he will last “6” times longer.

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 14:24

            HA!!!! you have to pay to get the premium battery’s , right now all you get is those cheapy ones that last a couple days

          • Brady miaau

            November 20, 2014 at 16:20

            Yeah, no. tried that. Does not work.

  6. ToshZA

    November 20, 2014 at 13:43

    Lol. That literally changes nothing. They’re still listed as free. So what changed? The name of the button – from “Free” to “Get”. Get sounds more suggestive, sounds like it WANTS you to click. Free was still optional.

    *Clicks all the “Get” buttons*
    WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      November 20, 2014 at 13:45

      I don’t even want to guess how many hours and people spent on this one decision

      Reply

      • ToshZA

        November 20, 2014 at 13:46

        Well at least we know why Apple products are so over priced.

        Reply

        • Corrie

          November 20, 2014 at 13:53

          is it because sourcing 2012 parts are expensive and no one makes them anymore?

          Reply

          • Spathi

            November 20, 2014 at 13:54

            *BOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 14:02

            more like EXPLOSIONS!!!!!!!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 20, 2014 at 13:57

            I thought it was because they suddenly have to pay adults for the work.

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 14:09

            Lol that’s funny, pay adults, they just put the big kids in the front of the shop and the rest are in the back

          • ToshZA

            November 20, 2014 at 13:58

            Do you, by any chance, work for Apple?

          • Spathi

            November 20, 2014 at 14:08

            Why? Because he “gets” it? Lol – Get it, he “gets” it!

            *Bows head in shame* I’ll see myself out.

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 14:17

            You have dishonored the LG clan and have brought much shame with your puns you must perform Seppuku with your keyboard

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 14:10

            Gladly nope, could never ever understand a crappy mac also wouldn’t be able to live with my phone still saying 2012 or bending

          • ToshZA

            November 20, 2014 at 14:14

            Yeah – gg on the bending phone. They should hype that as a feature. Work on bending glass. YES. APPLES NEXT BIG IDEA.

            Lol. No.

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 14:16

            Now with Q4 2012 tech>_< 10 more p's that make games shine even moar

          • ToshZA

            November 20, 2014 at 14:17

            In their defense – the retina screen is the one thing they got right in the last few years. Pity about everything else though.

          • Corrie

            November 20, 2014 at 14:22

            Eh Amoled screens and that prove to work quite well

  7. caponeil

    November 20, 2014 at 13:45

    So, what would be the best “free”, “freetoplay” and paid games out there of mobile? I ma tired of downloading crap games.:-)

    Reply

    • alister louw

      November 20, 2014 at 20:33

      summoners war: sky island, samurais vs zombies, world of warriors, Dungeon hunter 4 and Zombiewood

      Reply

  8. Corrie

    November 20, 2014 at 13:51

    Seriously screw DLC being bain of the generation, free to play is the real problem with gaming as well as people on YouTube that think they play a role in gaming yet all they think about is Like comment and subscribe or moan about things they don’t know

    Reply

  9. Hammersteyn

    November 20, 2014 at 13:53

    gets 4 u

    Reply

  10. OV..v00.2 20gig patch required

    November 20, 2014 at 14:08

    I own the word SUGAR. Candy TM is so old school.

    Reply

  11. Sir GIF Sexy

    November 20, 2014 at 14:10

    South Park changed the World… of Warcraft and freemium games forever…

    Reply

  12. Sir Rants A Lot is a DADDY

    November 20, 2014 at 14:21

    So glad this trend of stopping to label things as free is getting going.

    It’s about time companies that make money this way are no longer able to lie their way on to your device

    Reply

  13. Sir Rants A Lot is a DADDY

    November 20, 2014 at 14:25

    This whole thing of having kids purchase extra content etc for games is nonsense. Every purchase on iOS and Android requires a password. Why are you giving your kids the password to your account?

    Reply

  14. Kathrina

    November 20, 2014 at 15:17

    Shady world of in app purchases? How about you don’t give your idíotic children access to your credit cards? Don’t the app stores offer you the option to require a password for every purchase? See http://goo.gl/tWYlke

    Reply

  15. vicky john

    November 21, 2014 at 14:00

    East or west Android is best… I love apple, i mean the fruit..

    Reply

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