The reviews on iTunes for this application are all fake and are obviously from the developer. The reviewers have only reviewed application from the same developer (Voxelagents)

It may be a good game, but I don’t like being duped.

Well spotted, Andrew. Thanks for the heads up. I hate scammers on the App Store.

Almost every app disounts on launch - no bargain here.

When an app is “Discounted” when it launches, can it really be considered discounted? The initial price is just that, the initial price. The price isn’t “discounted” as it is still 100% of the initial price.

Hi, Simon here from The Voxel Agents. First off I want to say that we’re glad that people are raising their concerns rather than just avoiding us.

On price

We chose 3.99 with 50% Off because:

• Similar games are similarly priced. Flight control is $2.99 (with a discount like ours, see their website), but Train Conductor IS MUCH MUCH bigger. 8 levels, 2 distinct play modes, extra variation like demon trains, broken tracks, gold rush trains. We poured a lot of effort in the graphics too. The game is 3D, and it has an xp system, multiplier system and unique fast forward mechanic which all take time to get right. Simply its MUCH bigger than FC… and its only $1 more! Remember FC took 2 weeks to make, on their xmas holiday. We laboured over Train Conductor for 5+ months!

• Our beta testers (anonymous TA forum regulars!) all suggested that it was worth $4 or $5, so we chose the lower end and gave 50% off so those who really want it but can’t afford full price can get it on launch (at least you dont have to wait for it to come down).

• All feedback prior to release, and most feedback post release, has indicated that ppl are happy with this discounted price for such an in depth game.

The special will be available until 01-01-2010 so you have plenty of time, and we will consider extending it if the sales are sustained. I’m sure that you can appreciate that after 5 months of 3 full-timers and 5 part timers working on it, Train Conductor is at least worth the price of a muffin… If you’re not satisfied after you spend $2 and give the game a chance, email me direct and we’ll work something out simon@thevoxelagents.com

Indies like us need all the support they can get, especially if you want more creative stuff on the market.

On reviews in Australia

We held a facebook launch party, and we invited hundreds of our friends, who also invited friends. We feel that it was a big success and will be throwing a much bigger party in RL for the next launch! We asked them kindly that if they had the time, could they please leave a review? You see a lot of our friends don’t normally leave reviews (most aren’t gamers) but they did because they are obviously excited to support our project. In a way its backfired because people think we wrote them, but we certainly did not! I honestly believe that the people that left reviews enjoyed the game… and those views have been reflected here in this thread (http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?p=737966) and elsewhere in other countires where we don’t have friends. Everyone who has posted impressions has been positive so far. fingers crossed.

I really want everyone to enjoy it, and for most people it doesn’t seem to be an issue at all. As I said - if you still feel this doesn’t answer your concerns, feel free to email me and we can chat.

PS: here’s some more info about the game

trailer

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HztGEsZYL5Y

screenshots

app store link

http://itunes.apple.com/app/train-conductor/id344442490?mt=8

official site

http://www.thevoxelagents.com/trainconductor/