Aussie iPhone developer creates world’s most popular application

A new iPhone game created by a Melbourne development studio has surged in popularity, and has now reached the top application position in Apple’s App Store in 19 countries.

Developer Robert Murray, head of the Firemint development studio in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond, says he was extremely surprised at how quickly his Flight Control game – which cost $50,000 to produce – achieved success.

“It’s moved up very quickly and I was a little surprised, but we knew it was a good game and was just a little unsure how the market would receive it.”

The game works by giving users a number of aircraft to help guide into runways using the device’s touch-screen.

Murray says that while he hasn’t received official financial reports for the Flight Control app, which sells for $1.19, there has been media speculation that the program may have recorded over 500,000 downloads.

Given revenue is split 70% to the developer and 30% to Apple, that could deliver Murray around $595,000.

Murray is one of a growing number of Australian iPhone application developers that have found success building programs for the iPhone.

Marray claims that “games are the predominant driver on the App Store” and that developers will continue to use the store as long as returns on investment are high.

“Prior to the iPhone most of the games platforms were quite complicated to publish. Apple really made it easy and they made a very significant dent in the market, so you can make some real money.”

Murray, who has been working in the games industry for over a decade, says the iPhone was such an exciting platform that he started developing apps before the store was even launched.

But like other Australian iPhone developers, Murray says the App Store is becoming convoluted and must change its model to survive.

“There is too much content. A large majority of it is not particularly appealing and perhaps not necessarily destined for success, and that’s the downside to having such an easy business model surrounding it.

“Something will have to change. Most people who are doing apps are losing money. They are either losing money, and it’ll have to balance out into something that’s a valuable ecosystem to operate in.”

Murray claims that “the easy times are gone” and that people without experience will no longer be able to make a fortune by developing apps.

“You’ve got to have a compelling game, right experience, right people, right marketing and PR. Theres great opportunities but you’ve got to be pretty sophisticated to do even something simple.”

Meanwhile, Apple has recorded its best-ever second quarter results, riding on the success of the updated 3G iPhone.

The company announced that net profit rose to $US1.21 billion in the quarter ending 28 March, up from $1.05 billion in the corresponding quarter a year ago.

Revenue rose 8.7% to $8.15 billion, while the company forecast revenue for the current quarter to be between just $7.7 billion and $7.9 billion. Company shares dropped 25 cents to $121.51 on the NASDAQ index, but rose to $US124.60 in extended trading.

The group says it sold 3.79 million iPhones, recording 123% unit growth from the corresponding quarter last year – back when only the original version of the iPhone was available.

Apple sold 11.01 million iPods, recording 3% unit growth and sold 2.22 million Macs with a 3% unit decline.

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