How Underworld developer a-steroids got around Apple's restrictions on selling virtual goods
Using multiple priced versions of the game
Underworld, the real-location drug dealing game from developer a-steroids, proved to be one of the more controversial iPhone games when originally announced as DrugLords.
Eventually, it got released on the App Store as Underworld: SweetDeal: a game in which you buy and sell doughnuts and gummy bears.
However, even in this form it's pushing against App Store restrictions.
The developer had planned to implement in-app micro-transactions using its own in-game currency UW, where 100 UW points cost $5. However, this has hit another Apple barrier.
As Andrey Podoprigora, a-steroids's head of studio explains, "A quote from the guideline - you cannot sell 'in-game credits exchangeable for virtual goods".
It's a situation that has forced a-steroids to change its approach.
"In new versions of Underworld, we are moving from UW points to paid feature packs," Podoprigora says.
"The difference between points and packs is that you were getting bonus items in exchange for UW points, and now you are going to buy bonus items itself. For example, small protection pack gives you four hours of full police protection. The bought items are stored in your inventory and activated manually when you need them."
So now on the App Store, there are three paid for versions of Underworld: the normal 99c version, a $1.99 version which gives you the re-equipment upgrade, and the $4.99 version that gives you 100 UW points.
You can read the full interview with Podoprigora - A-steroids on Underworld for Android, in-game currency, and getting around Apple's restrictions - over on PocketGamer.biz.
