Some game developers unhappy with Apple, Nintendo
“They have over-encouraged supply,” Hawkins said on a panel at the conference. Using statistics that Apple has made public, Hawkins calculated that each app earns, on average, about $4,000.
“Four thousand per application: Do you see a problem with that?” he asked the audience. “That doesn’t even pay for a really good foosball table.”
Apple said Wednesday it has doled $2 billion out to app developers, which could put the average payout closer to $5,700. Either way, Hawkins said he believes the math makes it difficult for creators of apps to turn a profit.
“If we can’t figure out how to make it a healthy ecosystem, it’s not going to be a great business for developers to be able to remain employed in,” he said.
Gaming giant Nintendo, maker of the popular Wii system, focused much of its message at the conference on