Can a $9.99 iPhone Game Leap to #1 and Stay There? EA The Sims 3

Screenshot courtesy of EA

iPhone users have been become very comfortable with app prices in the free to $1.99 range. We’ve seen a few games in the $4.99 to $7.99 range get up there too. But, it took the pent-up demand for SlingPlayer Mobile to boost a $29.99 app to #1. But, it didn’t stay there long. And, currently, I don’t even see it in the top 20 of the paid apps in the Entertainment category.

EA’s The Sims series is one of the most successful games series I can think of. And, apparently, the pent-up demand for it has propelled…

The Sims 3

…to the top of the iTunes Paid apps list (this is for all categories, not just games) despite its $9.99 price tag. It is the only app in the Paid Apps Top 10 list that costs more than 99 cents. However, I should note that the relatively recently released Sonic the Hedgehog 1.0.0 is at #11 priced at $5.99.

It has become pretty clear that only well established app names can rise to #1 in the Top Paid Apps list and be price above $7.99 or so. The question is, will any of these apps be able to stay near the top?

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