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App Store rakes in $10 billion in 2013

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Whaleheader

Mobile gaming is huge. I think we sometimes forget just how many people play games on their phones, and fork out big money for the privilege of doing so. Apple has revealed that 2013 was their best ever year for the App Store, raking in a lot of money, usually $1 at a time.

Apple has announced that in 2013, customers spent $10 billion – $1 billion of which was just spent in December. During the announcement, they did a shout out to some of the biggest hits of the year: Heads Up, Impossible Road, Candy Crush Saga, Puzzles and Dragons, Minecraft, QuizUp and Clumsy Ninja. Wow, Minecraft really is everywhere!

It’s really not surprising – Mojang is reporting that the pocket edition of Minecraft sold 5 899 727 copies across Android and iOS in 2013. That’s a lot of blocks. Considering that the Pocket Edition is going for R56.99 on the local store, it’s not surprising that they’re helping Apple bring home the bacon. Or is it pork chops in Minecraft?

Candy Crush addicts understand the appeal. For those who are still wondering what all the fuss is about, stay away! Once you start Candy Crush, you can’t stop. I’ve tried. I suppose all the whales (like Gavin’s wife) are responsible for the massive income on this otherwise free app. That’s right, you can download Candy Crush Saga on your iOS device for free. I’ve avoided this thus far – I only play on Facebook to minimize my temptation.

I haven’t bought much on the app store, to be honest. I’m not an app-aholic, although I did download the free and awesome Star Wars game, Tiny Death Star for free. I already have so many games to play between my consoles, Steam and handheld backlogs – do I really need to add iOS games to the mix? Oh who am I kidding? Of course I need more games.

What apps did you download in 2013?

Last Updated: January 8, 2014

24 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief in Vegas

    January 8, 2014 at 13:33

    I actually unlocked ALL the Tiny Death Star levels today, just waiting for final one to be build. I also unlocked the Christmas special character and level. ALL with NO purchases, just grinding!

    Reply

    • JJ's horrible secret (John)

      January 8, 2014 at 13:55

      Teach me master,

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        January 8, 2014 at 13:58

        Dedication grasshopper, dedication!

        Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        January 8, 2014 at 14:05

        It’s like this:

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in Vegas

          January 8, 2014 at 14:21

          Hehe

          Reply

    • DieJason

      January 8, 2014 at 14:33

      Did download the game, but lost interest after a while, think I have 20+ levels, how many are there to be built?

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        January 8, 2014 at 14:37

        82 Levels, and 120 Bitizens

        Reply

        • DieJason

          January 8, 2014 at 14:39

          Goeie bliksem, well done sir!

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            January 8, 2014 at 14:43

            Haha, every moment of spare time I had I quickly did a bit, the last level purchased was something like 960 000 credits, but at this point, that takes about 2 days to generate

          • DieJason

            January 8, 2014 at 14:53

            960 000 O_o DAMN, lotta grinding to finish this game, maybe I’ll get back to it, but kinda doubting it.

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            January 8, 2014 at 14:56

            Thats just for ONE level

          • DieJason

            January 8, 2014 at 15:02

            I realised that 😉

    • Sageville

      January 8, 2014 at 15:30

      Man, you must spend about 7 out of 8 work hours sitting in the bathroom.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        January 8, 2014 at 15:40

        Nah, had 3 weeks of leave

        Reply

  2. Umar Appreciates Nier

    January 8, 2014 at 13:37

    Isn’t Tiny Death Star like a cookie clicker esque game

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    January 8, 2014 at 13:37

    I bought a couple of humble mobile bundles last year. Haven’t spent that much time playing them though – I usually end up playing Sudoku when I need to kill a few minutes.

    I did buy Swiftkey through the Play Store though, it’s really handy.

    Reply

  4. JJ's horrible secret (John)

    January 8, 2014 at 13:55

    I don’t even know what the Apple App Store looks like.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Vegas

      January 8, 2014 at 13:58

      Prolly a basket? No wait, a crate?

      Reply

      • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

        January 8, 2014 at 14:41

        A tree?

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in Vegas

          January 8, 2014 at 14:43

          WINNER!

          Reply

          • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

            January 8, 2014 at 15:46

            Thankyew thankyew! Here have an apple. I took a bite of it just to check that it tastes ok

  5. RinceThis2014

    January 8, 2014 at 14:28

    And Gavin’s wife was responsible for 0.0000% of that take! Trolol!

    Reply

  6. DieJason

    January 8, 2014 at 14:29

    Got an iPad towards the end of last year, spent about $30 on apps.

    They’ve got some amazing looking games on there, and so many free apps (and paid-for apps being made free for limited times). I quite dig the selection of boardgames they have on iOS (real boardgames are crazy expensive), playing Ticket to Ride currently, have Pandemic and Small World 2 waiting for me. Also, Words with Friends (Scrabble-clone) for sessions with the wife, and QuizUp if you like quizzes.

    Also, finally bought Bastion, Another World, The Room (and sequel), that Deus Ex game… shit…. gotta stop buying apps O_o

    Reply

  7. Sageville

    January 8, 2014 at 15:27

    Yoh, $10 beelion! man that is alot of tiny transactions

    Reply

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