• Cnet , Tuesday, December 9, 2008 11 AM

The market for third-party applications has exploded over the past year, as everyone from Facebook to Apple, Google and MySpace have allowed developers to create applications for their various platforms. However, while the success of application conglomerates like Rock You and Slide is well-documented, Cnet delves into the world of independent third party software writers. How possible is it to sustain oneself by creating applications that run on devices like Apple's iPhone?

The report profiles Dennis Hescox, a 54-year-old software programmer who created the game "Maze Wars Revisited" in an attempt to make a living without needing a full time job. With the iPhone, Hescox saw a unique opportunity. "It was really exciting to see this much power in a phone," he said. "Looking at the development tools was just a dream. So I spent the first six months of this year educating myself on the current technologies."

Soon, Hescox brought "Maze Wars Revisited" to market -- just in time for the recession. He launched the game at the price of $2.99, thinking that his was better than other games offered for $0.99 or $1.99. However, thanks to the sheer number of competitors at the Apple App Store, Hescox was forced to bring the price down to $0.99. Even at that low price, his app has struggled to reach critical mass. As one App Store reviewer noted, "This game is not fun at all." Well, that could be a problem. Another problem, Cnet says, is it's very hard to get noticed in the app ecosystem, especially if Apple doesn't make yours a featured app.

Read the whole story at Cnet »