The ASO Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is only a few days away, and it’s going to be a good one. The #1 defense against the #1 offense – the NFL couldn’t have written a better script. MobileDevHQ is a Seattle based company, and I’ve lived in Seattle my entire life, so I think it’s pretty obvious who we’re rooting for.

But our business is in apps, not football. So we decided to host the coveted ASO Super Bowl. The commercial revenue might not be as lucrative, but it’s going to be just as good of a game. We are pitting the #1 paid app, Slayin, against the #1 free app, Flappy Bird (note: This post was written Friday 1/31, when Slayin was still the #1 paid app). We’ll judge the apps on some of the most important app store optimization factors including ratings and reviews, MobileDevHQ Popularity Score, screenshots, description, keywords, and Top Charts ranking.

Let’s see how this plays out!

First Quarter – Ratings and Reviews

Number of Reviews in the Past 30 Days

Slayin kicks the ball off to Flappy, who has a solid 40 yard return. They are on the 50 yard line, and get off 2 quick running plays for 15 yards. After two incomplete passes, it’s 4th and 10 at Slayin’s 35 yard line. The QB drops back and flies one into the endzone and it’s caught by his receiver! TOUCHDOWN FLAPPY!

Flappy has over 25,000 reviews in the past 30 days compared to 3,429 for Slayin. This was an easy decision, and results in 7 points on the board for Flappy Birds.

Current Rating

Flappy kicks off to Slayin, who calls for a fair catch at their 15 yard line. They’ll have a long way to the end zone if they want to score a TD on this drive. It’s 1st and 10, the center hikes the ball to the QB who hands it off to Slayin’s star running back. He breaks through the line! There’s only 1 man between him and the endzone! He fakes left, and takes off to the right! He’s off to the races with the whole Flappy Bird team chasing him! He’s at the 20, the 15, will they catch him? NO! TOUCHDOWN SLAYIN!

With a 4.5 star rating, Slayin barely beats out Flappy Birds who has a rating of 4.0 stars. It was a close one, but Slayin gets the 7 points here.

Percent 5 Star Reviews

Slayin kicks off to Flappy, who has a 10 yard return and ends up at their own 25 yard line. They execute a running play for 12 yards and a first down. The QB drops back, their receiver runs a slant. He throws the ball, but a Slayin linebacker comes out of nowhere and intercepts it! He’s off! With no one around him he easily struts into the end zone! TOUCHDOWN SLAYIN!

Slayin comes away with this one pretty handily. 72% of their reviews are 5 stars, compared Flappy Birds who has just 41% 5 star reviews. No contest here.

End of the first quarter: Slayin – 14 Flappy Birds – 7

Second Quarter – Popularity Score

Biggest Increase In Last 30 Days

The first half the of second quarter’s been slow, with 4 and outs from both teams. However, Flappy managed to recover a fumble at the 50 yard line. They ran 2 running plays and a passing play for a total of 30 yards, but then came to 4th down and had to settle for a field goal. 3 points for Flappy!

30 days ago, their MobileDevHQ Popularity score was 4.5, and today it is a 10! That’s a huge increase of 5.5 points compared to Slayin’s increase of only 1 point from 9 to 10.

Highest Popularity Score Over Time

Flappy kicks off the ball, and the Slayin player receives it. He’s running right, boy is this guy fast! He takes off, tip-toeing the sideline! He’s got great blocking, the Flappy defenders can’t get to him! It looks like he’s going to get cut off at the Flappy 20 yard line, but no! He cut’s left and is in the open field! He’s going all the way! TOUCHDOWN SLAYIN!

Although they both currently have a Popularity Score of 10, the fact that Flappy had a low score 30 days ago ended up hurting them (although we did want to reward them for having such a dramatic increase). Slayin’s total score over the past 30 days was 19, compared to Flappy’s score of 14.5

End of the second quarter: Slayin – 21 Flappy – 10

And for our halftime show, we have PSY performing!

Third Quarter – Screenshots

This third quarter has had a lot of action! But two turnovers and a blocked field goal has left it scoreless. But what’s this? Another turnover! A Flappy defender comes out of nowhere and blindsides the QB! He fumbles, and it’s picked up on the 15 by the same Flappy defender! He doesn’t have far to go! He’s at the 10, the 5, TOUCHDOWN FLAPPY! What a great heads up play!

Although both these apps could use a lot of work on their screenshots, we like Flappy’s better. It’s a simple game, and they have simple screenshots. You get a sense of what the point of the game is, how you play, and what features are provided. Slayin’s screenshots are a little more complicated, because it is a more complex game. You don’t really get a sense of what you can do or how to play the game, so we awarded the 7 points to Flappy.

End of the third quarter: Slayin – 21 Flappy: 17

Fourth Quarter – Description, Keywords, and Top Charts

Description

This quarter started off quick! Slayin had another return for a touch down, this one off a kickoff instead of a punt! Looks like Flappy needs to work on their special teams, because it’s been killing them this game!

Bottom line, Flappy’s description is terrible. It is literally just a list of instructions on how to play the game. Slayin’s has a great first line hook, and a description of what the game play is like. They also have a comprehensive list of all the features. You really get a sense of what it’s like to play the game, and they do a good job of selling it. That’s what the description is for!

It’s 28-17, with Slayin in the lead!

Keywords

Flappy has a great 50 yard kick-off return, which they fielded in their own end it’s first and 10 at the 50 yard line. BOOM! Monster hit by Slayin on the QB, he holds onto the ball, but it’s a 5 yard loss. 2nd and 10 at the Flappy 45. The QB is in shot gun. The center hikes the ball. Receivers take off down the field. The QB has lots of time, and sails one long towards the end zone! It’s a toss up and the receiver and corner go up for it! Incomplete! But wait! There’s a flag! And it’s pass interference! Flappy will get the ball at the spot of the foul, which is on the Slayin 3 yard line! They go with a quick running play and jam it in for a TOUCHDOWN!

This one was a no brainer. Flappy ranks first for numerous keywords, whereas we couldn’t find a single one that Slayin ranked first for.

Two minute warning: Slayin – 28 Flappy – 24

LAST PLAY OF THE GAME

Longest Time Ranked #1

It’s coming down to the last play. Flappy has the ball at the Slayin 10 yard line. It’s fourth down, there are 2 seconds left on the clock, and they just used their last timeout. Down by 4, a field goal doesn’t do them any good – they need a touch down. The center hikes the ball. The QB hands off to the running back, who runs right! He’s got a line of Slayin defenders in front of him, he’ll never get there. There’s an open receiver streaking across the back of the end zone! The running back throws the ball! There’s no time left on the clock! It’s up! AND IT’S A TOUCHDOWN! FLAPPY IS THE ASO BOWL CHAMP! WHAT A GAME!

This one was a close as it looked. Both of these apps have been in the top spot for a few days. However, Slayin started their run on January 26th, and Flappy has been ranked #1 since January 18th. Flappy has been there just over a week longer, and for that, they win The ASO Super Bowl.

It was a close game and both teams fought hard. In the end, it came down to the Top Charts, which is a very important aspect of app store optimization. Flappy has occupied the top spot just a little longer, which is why they won out in the end.