If a customer has purchased a game via PC, why are they forced to purchase it again via Android? I understand the formats are not identical, but surely Choice of Games has a record of the purchase and could “unlock” the same game for all formats?
Are the games supposed to be considered so good that paying double the price is still a bargain and customers should not feel exploited, but should rather be pleased at what a great value they have received for their money (twice)?
Separate platforms require different billing services…
They are not forced.
Granted, it is something that should be in the description for clarity:
If you purchase a game on android, ios or steam (i think), the admins can unlock it here if you provide the receipt. But not the other way round.
If you provide CoG with a receipt, they can unlock the game here on their site for you. When that is done you should be able to access the game on all platforms via the browser feature of choice you use.
For further details, email the support here.
Does the company not also keep records of transactions?
If you buy a game via PC, your money goes partly to Steam and CoG. On Android, it goes to Google and CoG.
CoG would freely give you all copies on all platform, but Google won’t allow unlocking a game for free because you own them on a competitor platform.
Unless what you meant by PC is CoG site, the thing is a 'lil bit different.
But I believe the same principle still applies.
cmiiw.
If anyone else had the same issue but have their game unlocked on all platform, feel free to correct me.
You…you realize that Android and CoG are different companies, right? Why would Android give you a free copy of an app because you bought that app from CoG’s site…? Your post drips with condescension and entitlement and it just makes no sense.
I don’t see how it’s any different than when you buy other games on PC, and then don’t automaticly own them on Xbox/PlayStation as well.
It’s actually really nice of COG to give you the online version for free if you have a receipt, not all companies would do that…
So I can purchase a CD, copy the files in a MP3 format, and play them in my car on my MP3 player. How is that different from suggesting that the same text game that I can access via my phone or my computer be unlocked for both formats?
Which online version? My phone is connected to the Internet when I access their site, is it not?
When the version available on phones is released through another company, it gets more complicated.
The version available on their own site, which requires you to be online, and is the only version they have complete control over.
And seriously, you come off really aggressive and, as @Samuel_H_Young said, condescending in your phrasing/tone. 
If you actually want to discuss this, I’d suggest dialing it down, as it just make people get defensive, and is a very non-constructive and ineffective way of communicating.
If you just want to be angry, I’m not really interested in talking any more.
A hosted author (who has a vested interest in maximizing profit for his work) tells me I’m being entitled and condescending because I don’t see the value in buying the same ‘novel’ twice, and I’m the one with the problem?
I don’t see entitlement or condescension. I simply asked why I am expected to pay twice to use the same product on the phone and PC, and why Choice of Games is seemingly unable to ‘unlock’ the product based on their own receipts (which I assume they store for tax purposes).
Hi Anne,
We don’t store the receipts because we don’t get receipts. It’s called “Data Privacy.” We don’t know who buys our games on Google, Apple, Steam, or Amazon. The only data about the customers the platforms share with us is countries / zip codes.
The only way for us to get you a copy of the game on Google if you buy it on Apple is for us to go and buy you a copy ourselves. But think about that for a moment: if you spent $6 on a game on Apple, we get $4. Then I pay $1 in royalties to the author. If I then turn around and buy you a copy of the game on Google, I’ve just spent $6 when I made $3. I suppose you could say, well, sure, but then you have another sale! Yes, but then Google takes $2, I get $4, and pay $1 in royalties, leaving me with $3. That means Google got $2, Apple got $2, the author got $2, you got a game on two platforms, and the company received $0. How long do you think we can stay in business if we don’t make any money?
Does that answer your question?