Home

UPDATED: Important Advisory about Amazon’s Appstore Distribution Terms

Submitted by ryanarndt on Thu, 2011/04/14 - 10:01

UPDATE:

Amazon’s clarification fails to address game developer concerns

The IGDA is pleased that Amazon has shown a willingness to clarify its distribution terms, so that all versions on the Amazon site are consistent. However, the majority of our concerns remain unaddressed.


Amazon is still reserving the right to pay developers just 20% of their minimum list price at any time, without notification or advance approval. Additionally, Amazon is still unilaterally preventing developers from ever making an exclusive promotional deal with another marketplace.


In summary, Amazon’s terms still enable it to steeply discount a game developer’s content without permission — a tactic Amazon could easily use to force game developers to absorb the cost for Amazon to compete with other appstores.


We are not impressed with Amazon’s recent gesture, nor is this matter the result of a misunderstanding. We believe that Amazon’s terms, as they currently stand, represent a threat to game developers.


We encourage everyone to join the conversation. Please make your feelings known directly to Amazon and through your network, blogs and websites.

 

 

The IGDA Board has published an open letter to the game development community regarding the distribution terms of the Amazon Appstore.

Two weeks ago, Amazon launched its own Android Appstore. We know that many developers have been eagerly looking forward to that launch in hopes that it would represent a great new revenue opportunity and a fresh take on downloadable game merchandising. The IGDA applauds Amazon’s efforts to build a more dynamic app marketplace. However, the IGDA has significant concerns about Amazon’s current Appstore distribution terms and the negative impact they may have on the game development community, and we urge developers to educate themselves on the pros and cons of submitting content to Amazon.

Check out the rest of the letter at the official IGDA Board Blog.