I’ll bet there are many, many developers out there right now trying to figure out just what the perfect recipe is for App Store mega success. Well, there’s probably no ready-made formula that will guarantee you bucketloads of iPhone user cash, but studying the work of those who’ve already done well might reveal some basic truths about what customers are looking for. Go ahead and do so by checking out Apple’s recently released list of the top apps of all time (iTunes link).

Basic Truth #1: iPhone users like shooting things, or at least pretending to. That’s probably not very accurate, but there are two shooting-related apps among the top 20 paid apps, iShoot and iHunt. Shooting also occurs in Fieldrunners, but not in such a hands-on manner. I think the list of free apps might be more illuminating in some ways, since no doubt the 99 cent price point of many of the paid apps might have had more to do with their success than the content or function of the app itself. At least I sincerely hope that’s why iFart Mobile got a spot. 

Among the top 40 (20 paid and 20 free), I have a few personal favorites, and quite a few have me scratching my head. The best, in my opinion, are:

Bejeweled 2 — Honestly, I’m a little surprised I’m including this one too, but recent events have made me realize just how perfect the marriage of the iPhone’s touch interface and this inane, time-killing game truly is. 427,962, level 24 on Classic mode, that’s how perfect.

Shazam — Not only is it actually really handy for when you’re listening to the radio or watching a movie or TV show and can’t quite place a great song, but this is also the ultimate ambassador app. Not everyone is familiar with the iPhone’s vast app library, but almost everyone knows about “the one that guesses what song’s playing,” and almost everyone wants to see it in action.

Pocket God — It was either this or Koi Pond, but Pocket God to me represents what Koi Pond paved the way for, and also what it should aspire to become. The regular updates, or “installments,” make sure this is one app that actually retains a space on my springboard even when other, more useful apps come and go.

Remote — The father of all apps, Apple’s own Remote for use with iTunes on your laptop or desktop computer. I use this constantly, since I have my iTunes on my Mac mini and a multi-room speaker system set up using Airport Expresses. Would like it to work with Quicktime, too, but it’s still more than wonderful for a free app.

Movies — I use this all the time to buy movie tickets en route to the theater. I love it, and love not having to print anything out. Built-in trailers and Rotten Tomatoes round it out very nicely.

By and large, it looks like the goodies are generally rising to the top, though there are the few exceptions I’ve already mentioned. I think that the new capabilities open to developers in iPhone 3.0 will shake up the landscape quite a bit, so look for a much different list the same time next year.

The lists appear as part of the iTunes Store 2008 year-in-review mini-site, which also features the most popular movies, songs, TV shows, and podcasts. Of course, the items on each list differ according to which region you’re in. The list discussed here is that found in the U.S. version.

Topping the paid list is Koi Pond, which is no surprise, considering that it looked for a while as though it were going to claim a permanent place atop the popular paid apps chart. Also making the cut are launch racers and other games like Moto Chaser, Crash Bandicoot, Cro-Mag Rally, Enigmo and Super Monkey Ball. In fact, Recorder is the sole utility app on the list, suggesting that when it comes to the iPhone and iPod touch, amusement is the primary driving force behind purchases.

By contrast, the list of top free apps contains only two real games, and one game-like time waster (Lightsaber Unleashed). The ever popular Pandora tops the chart, and a number of useful, though very different apps also appear, like Facebook, Remote, and Shazam.

The difference between the two lists is telling. It suggests that people are much more likely to spend money on games than on apps with functional value, but that consumers are glad to grab more useful apps when they’re offered for free. Another possibility is that consumers attach more perceived value to paid games, since, thanks to the console market, a clear precedent of paying for quality development in that area is well established.

The list is well worth a look. Factors like time available in the App Store seem to have had an effect, but latecomers like Line Rider iRide prove that isn’t the only thing at play. Also, the success of some apps like MobileChat raise questions about hype vs. ratings as driving downloads. Check it out and see how your download history matches up.

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