I busted my **** to have my game ready in time for launch, but now that I see the app store, it seems I shouldn't have bothered. If your app isn't featured, the only way people can find it is by searching by name, using that onscreen keyboard. You can't even browse or search by genre or price, and of course Siri doesn't work with the app store or the keyboard. I've seen a review that complained about the same thing (The Verge I think). This definitely needs fixing.
+ 1 from me.
Its horrible. How customers could find my app? Only via name or similar. Hoped that a store looked like iOS/iPad with categories.
Apple has baited devs like this before when a new device came around, so it shouldn't come as any surprise that Apple serves Apple in the store once again. Devs are ranked down on the app store foodchain.
The sooner you get used to that equation, the sooner you can relax behind the relationship as it exists.
Woo-hoo! You CAN search by category...
within your already purchased apps. 🙂
I don't really use Siri on my iPhone but it's so time consuming to enter things into the search box using the Apple TV remote that it's actually really useful to be able to talk into my remote and ask Siri to search for me. Unfortunately, right now Siri appears to be a really dumb blonde. She can't find anything!! What a waste. I'm sure Apple will dye her hair a darker colour over time but right now she's pretty useless.
+1
I’m very depressed about this. I pushed really hard to get my app ready in good shape for the launch (as all the others i imagine). As a small guy with no big hit under his belt yet, basically i was hoping with something nice ready for launch it could get noticed while the store is not over crowded yet.
Well, now noone sees my app =(
Then don't accept it. Keep it in mind next time Apple dangles something shiny.
Apple told the first iPad devs that if they got in quick, they would be part of an exclusive first push...'Exclusive Grand Opening', I think was the phrase they teased - instead, they opened it to anyone and those devs that worked so hard to get in early and stand out, felt the same way. There are other examples.
As long as devs keep buying that type of nonsense, it will just keep happening. Make a note.
Can everyone take a moment and post in the https://bugreport.apple.com to request the apps in the AppleTV App Store to be separated in their respective categories so it easier for indies developers' apps to found and discover - right now, it's a pain to search so only featured apps will get all downloads. I already did but would make a bigger impact if they had more people ask - Thanks!!!
Bug reports won't make any difference in the way those particular deci$ionS are made.
Maybe next time, if devs hang back, Apple will learn their lesson and stop playing games like this and be honest about the process...maybe.
Just look at this: http://www.apple.com/tv/games-and-more/
Both Top Charts and Categories are present. There is too few apps on the store, so Categories don't make sense right now…
+1 from me too.
Also keywords don't seem to have taken effect yet.
I've been working on this next-level 3d pool/snooker game "Cueist" for the last 6 months, but searching for "pool" only brings up the other 2 pool games (let's be kind and say that they're umm... vintage looking).
I'm basically an optimist, so I hope that the cream will eventually rise to the top and be easier to find.
Right now though, it's not looking good.
What makes it even harder is that there's no way to give players direct links to your games as there's no direct web interface for the App Store on Apple TV. Best you can do is ask them to search for them by name or push them to the iOS version if you've done UP.
Top Charts and Categories aren't present on my device. There is literally no way to browse apps that aren't featured, categories would let you browse them, so yes it makes a lot of sense. Right now there is no incentive to develop for the device at all, because users have no way to discover non-featured apps. I can't recommend anyone develop for Apple TV until this is fixed, unless they have contacts at Apple who can guarantee becoming featured or have a sizable-enough marketing budget to convince users to use the ****** keyboard to search for their app by name.
Can someone please try to search for "7 Minute TV Workout" and tell me if it's available? I'd highly appreciate that!
Yes it is.