Doodle Patterns 4+

$…$…$

I love the app itself. The variety is wonderful, the tutorials make trying something new easy. What I’m not so fond of is paying for an app and only getting access to 20% of the content without paying more. Seems like a somewhat deceptive way of doing things… that being said, I’m am enjoying the heck out of the original pack and I even let myself buy another pack because I was having so much fun. I just wish that the developers were more obvious about the way they charge.

Not what I thought

Turns out you’re paying for a collection of designs with the steps shown so you can recreate them in paper…but you can’t draw in the app…and the app displays 5 packs of designs all mixed together and your $2.99 only unlocks 1 of the packs so you have to figure out which ones are available to you. Some suggestions to the developers: make it clear what you’re selling by explaining that the tutorials only show how the design was created but do not allow practice or drawing in the app and only display the designs that the purchase price covers, with the extra packs elsewhere so it doesn’t feel so disappointing to open the app for the first time and see all the things that aren’t included. I understand wanting to be paid fairly for your work—it’s more about the way it’s presented that made me feel like I didn’t get much for $2.99. I think I’ll enjoy learning and using the designs, but my initial impression, since there’s no free trial or other way to see what I’d be getting, was confusion and disappointment and that’s just not a pleasant way to start out.

Developer Response ,

Thanks for the feedback. We tried to make it clear in the description that extra packs are available to purchase and that 100 patterns are included with the base price. The "filter" option can show or hide the packs that you do/do not own. I understand that coming to the app as a new user today it looks like you're being blocked from accessing a lot of content that already exists. These packs were added gradually as the artist created more patterns, over a number of years following the app's launch. I will think about how we can make this clearer to new customers. I hope you still enjoy doodling with these patterns!

Good app, pattern names would be helpful.

I like the app, especially having patterns right on all my device. As I tangle a pattern and want a reminder/refresher, I check Doodles. This is where listing the pattern names would be helpful. As is, scrolling through is the only way to find a pattern, hoping to find the picture I recognize as the one I'm looking for. The pattern content is somewhat limited, but there's plenty there to make the app well worth my pennies. Overall, good app!