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The Dark Meadow for iOS won't be converted into a F2P game - brand-new free version will be kept separate from existing paid version

Outcry from community causes developer to change its plans

The Dark Meadow for iOS won't be converted into a F2P game - brand-new free version will be kept separate from existing paid version
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iOS
| The Dark Meadow

We heard on Monday that atmospheric adventure game The Dark Meadow was going free on iOS, with its developer Phosphor Games telling us that those players who already paid for the game will be compensated with in-game content.

However, following an uproar from players, the company has gone back on its plans to replace the paid game with a free-to-play version, and now plans to release a brand-new free version instead that will complement the paid edition.

Outcry

Writing in the Touch Arcade forums, a representative from the studio explained that the outcry from the community has caused Phosphor to change tack.

"Our intention was that we'd have one version of the app, so (future) leaderboards, etc., could all be shared by same community," the forum post reads. "We always planned on turning off ads and gifting premium players, so we didn't see any negative to what we were planning."

It continues: "But it sounds like the community really wants them to stay as separate versions. From reading the forums, one large issue is it sounds like a lot of users have completed the current version, deleted it (as it is a large file size), and would like to check out the next one, but there is a good chance they won't have save data, and they'd have the hassle of downloading the current one just to have a save game, then download the newer one, etc. All an annoyance we'd rather not give our fans."

As a result, the company plans to keep the premium version of the game available on the App Store, and to launch a new free edition - with both versions getting all the same content.

Evolution

Phosphor went on to explain the reasoning behind the move to F2P.

"iOS is a constantly evolving market - the market has even rapidly changed since we shipped Dark Meadow," it said. "Free to Play, if used correctly, can be an exciting way to include more gamers. Team Fortress, Jetpack Joyride, League of Legends have proven it can be a positive thing for their communities."

"Without putting it out there for you guys to try out, we won't know how well this pricing model will work out of the gate, but we take the community very seriously, so please let us know what you think!"

Mike Rose
Mike Rose
An expert in the indie games scene, Mike comes to Pocket Gamer as our handheld gaming correspondent. He is the author of 250 Indie Games You Must Play.