Press Interview - 18 - November - 08
Facebook App Verification Fee,
Draws Criticism by the Developer Community
Full Interview
-- How long have you or your company been developing Facebook apps?
I have been developing Applications for Facebook for approximately 6 months, consider me one of the new guys in making games in this environment, it's a nice middle ground between my past in PC games and Mobile Phone Games.
-- How many Facebook apps have you or your company created?
Could you name them (or at least your main ones)?
Just the one so far:
Battlelords -
Battlelords - About Page
Battlelords - App
We have plans for more, and to make use of "FB connect" and expanding to "Open-Social" to allow Battlelords of the 23rd Century, To make a big impact and bring back the old RPG style some sorely miss.
-- What is your level of satisfaction with the Facebook Application Platform in general?
I do think it has a lot of potential, it has shown that since it came in, and there have been some positive to come from it, since it is a free platform to work on.
Which is something I’m worried we are about to lose, which will not be a good thing for Developers or for Facebook.
The problem becomes only more apparent once you start working on the Platform.
I say that because the Wiki which is essentially the documentation is a mess of old information which no longer works, due to being outdated by changes.
Facebook is constantly doing code changes often unnecessary which break features, but at the same time often leaves features unfixed for days, weeks and even months (Info Profile boxes).
In short, there needs to be better Developer communication by the Facebook developer team, and more support and documentation in how their Platform works, since right now that is severely lacking.
-- What is your opinion about the new Facebook application verification program, announced last night?
I was really angry last night, read it about 3am, still not happy the next morning. I do understand them wanting to cover costs, and trying to weed out the bad content / spamming Apps, breaking policy ones;
This won't achieve that, it will just prove who paid Facebook off, and there is no mention they will check again during the year,
If they can't verify Apps who have since changed their Apps now, why should we believe it will be different, if paid?
Fact is, Facebook make money on ads show, to the right of Canvas Pages on all Apps, this makes up a huge portion of their traffic,
So I can assume makes up a good portion of their ad revenue too. In an indirect way we are already paying our way, if they make perks to share that ad revenue,
or remove their ads from verified Apps, then it might be a small way to compensating us.
Some of the worse Apps on Facebook are actually those in the top 50 most active, they are their because of their spamming,
These Apps won't have any trouble paying this fee, because they make a lot on money via their ads, and they make Facebook a lot of money too.
I'm wondering about the promise Facebook has made in public/online on many occasions that they'll never charge for Facebook, which I can only assume that includes existing features.
This is an existing feature, don't forget that, Apps are checked upon submission of them, and they want us to provide Screenshots of progression too? Now they are charging for that?
So we are doing part of the work of verifying the App, and having to pay also, that just doesn't seem right at all.
-- If you don't like all or parts of it, how could Facebook modify It, If at all?
They should make the Perks known before announcement, and they better be well worth paying the money they are asking for.
Covering costs is not a valid reason for charging $375, when they already have Ads viewable on our App pages, which we don't get any of.
-- How big (or small) is the problem of annoying, spammy, deceptive applications on Facebook?
To me, it doesn't affect me very much, but in the general scheme of things, it is a problem, since it still does represent badly on a good percentage of the Facebook user base,
and indirectly affects the opinion of Applications in general.
There are trust issues with anyone adding a new App, since Bad apps have gone on too long without being dealt with.
I'm not talking about small Apps; the worse rule breakers are some of the top 10 Applications in Monthly active users, due to their Spamming and deception.
-- Have you or your company built apps for other platforms, like OpenSocial or for specific Web sites like MySpace? How do those platforms compare to Facebook's?
I have not yet, but I have read much on how to do it, since it as I said something will be in our best interest to attempt.
Facebook was the original, it is the natural cornerstone to compare to, and also rely on.
I believe the others out there are about the same, but with better Documentation, but in terms of social gaming potential,
Facebook still retains that edge that will keep it here for a while, at least in terms of serving to the general user.
Unfortunately Facebook has been progressively making the development community more and more frustrated over the past year, which will only drive new developers away, to friendlier networks.
-- Please add any other comments about the Facebook platform in general and this verification program in particular that you feel would be relevant to mention.
I have my concerns on the damage this will have to the Developer Community, the impact of mistrust by users if you aren't verified, and how far Facebook will push both the general user, and Developers into trusting in this.
Forgive my bad spelling/grammar, I'm a Dyslexic programmer, it's my curse.
-- If I use your answers in my article, let me know the most accurate way of identifying you (full name, occupation, employer, city/country of base, etc ...)
Christopher Bourton
Games Developer / Programmer / Entrepreneur
Infinite Pixel Studios - www.infinitepixelstudios.com
Self-Employeed - Partners with AVPI - www.avpi.com
Based in London, UK
First of many more to come...
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