> The real issue with freemium is that I've yet to see a single example that's actually a game, as opposed to one armed bandits masquerading as games.
Auditorium[0] is a fantastic freemium game: it's a particle flow-based puzzle game, the first 5 acts (5~7 puzzles each) are part of the free game (also available on the game's website[1]), a further 10 levels are available in 3 packs at 0.99 each.
That's generally not what most people would consider a freemium/free-to-play title though - I'd just call that a demo. Freemium games generally have a time based element or other similar resource that replenishes slowly, and can be circumvented or accelerated by paying money.
I'm not sure that's true, I just think that's the most prevalent/profitable type of freemium game–one based on accelerating constraints.
Give your service away for free, possibly ad supported but maybe not, acquire a lot of customers very efficiently through word of mouth, referral networks, organic search marketing, etc, then offer premium priced value added services or an enhanced version of your service to your customer base.
Auditorium[0] is a fantastic freemium game: it's a particle flow-based puzzle game, the first 5 acts (5~7 puzzles each) are part of the free game (also available on the game's website[1]), a further 10 levels are available in 3 packs at 0.99 each.
[0] http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/auditorium/id333186527?mt=8
[1] http://www.playauditorium.com/