I’m happy to inform you that Apple just approved version 2.1.2 of Mini Collector. It contains the bug fixes for Game Center that Zincous helped me test. That meant I could immediately send version 2.1.3 to Apple. Copy/paste from the update text:
Showing which figures you already have in the bumb codes view. So that you know what bump codes you are looking for as suggested by reviewer “Toy junkie“. Mega thanks for that idea! Keep’em coming, folks!
See? I read your reviews. This particular review read like so:
Good but could be better – esp w the cost [Version 2.1.1] Would be nice if there was a way to mark or check off by the bump code screen which ones so you could better track which code you were seeking.
Toy junkie, 30th Mar 2011
The numbers in brackets tell how many figures you have of that one
I am just a human being
Now of course I could never implement all your suggestion. Making the app scan the series 3 & 4 bump code is just out of my league as a coder (possibly out of anyones league since it’s hard even for a human to see those codes and make correct guesses). Making it a game instead? Sorry, but you misunderstood what the app is about. I must even skip some of the really good suggestions. The app is meant to be kept really simple. I can see on some of the reviews that some people have trouble figuring it out even as it is. Some suggestions are good, but would take me too long to implement. And lots of people think I should make the app totally free. Nice suggestion, but I code for food, that’s just how it is.
I really am a human being
I get a lot of energy from reading good reviews. It makes me sit down late nights and try work with the app. To know I have happy customers is something that gives me good sleep too. Bad reviews can sometimes drain my energy. Not if they contain well thought through arguments why the app isn’t up to the expectations of the reviewer. But when people call me a “con” or an “idiot”?That just hurts really bad. Yes, I know it’s useless to tell those reviewers that. People who feel free to call other people “idiots” just because they’re not face-to-face probably do not care a lot about other people’s feelings, but there it is; If you want me to listen, don’t call me an idiot. =)
Langweilig [Version 2.0.1] Des is scheise
Grinsebonbong, 7th Mar 2011
I understand enough German to lose some of my precious energy from this one.
Bad reviews are also hard to cope with since …
I can’t reply
It’s hard to tell, but sometimes it seems like people expect me to reply to their reviews. I can’t do that. Apple should probably fix it, but as it stands app developers have no way of replying to reviews. I can’t even file a review myself, except on the Swedish App Store which only 0.3% of you people see with any ease.
Help fight crap reviews
This is in general and not specific for Mini Collector. I think crap reviewers are in a vast minority out there. It’s just that they are much more loud and file reviews much more often than the general reviewer. If you google some on app store reviews you’ll find that many app developers are frustrated by this. This is a call to arms! Weigh in and help suck away some of that air from crap reviewers. The tools given to us by Apple are:
- File our own reviews. Help give a balanced view of the app in question by weighing in.
- Mark reviews as helpful/not helpful. Not sure how Apple uses this beyond offering the sort order of “most helpful first. But they can use it to filter away such reviews completely should many people consider them unhelpful and even filter away reviews from reviewers who follow the unhelpful pattern on a regular basis.
- Report reviews as abusive. This should of course be saved for reviews that really are that; abusive.
That’s what I can think of right now, please feel free to suggest other avenues.
