Never discount the word of mouth effect. Especially if the mouth belongs to a movie star.
iPhone developers are constantly fretting about App Store chart rankings: how to get into the Top 100, how not to fall out of it once you're in. How to get back in once you've fallen out.
The usual answer to all of these dilemmas, sadly, is 'cut the price to 99 cents'. But now it seems there's another method available to developers: get glamorous Hollywood stars to plug your app on TV.
Specifically, Megan Fox used her appearance on the US Late Night With Jimmy Fallon show this weekend to rave about Sally's Spa, an iPhone strategy game that had topped the charts in the past, but had eventually fallen out of the Top 100.
This morning it's in 31st spot - even with a $2.99 price point. Job done.
Touch Arcade points out that Demi Moore has professed her love for rival game Flight Control on Twitter in the past, while American Idol winner Jordin Sparks has used the 'tweet your high score' feature in Harbor Master.
Article continues belowAdvertisement
Even so, if asked two years ago about the prospect of Megan Fox plugging a mobile phone game on live TV, most mobile games industry people would have laughed out loud. And then cried.
Next week: Gordon Brown reveals how he embarrassed Silvio Berlusconi with his iFart app at the G20 summit. Possibly.
