Apple plays whack-a-dev after WWDC sellout

Apple has kicked off a game of worldwide whack-a-dev after tickets for its WorldWide Developer Conference started popping up on eBay and other classified sites.

Tickets for the June Macfest went on sale yesterday and sold out almost immediately, as devs clamoured to find out exactly what Apple will allow them to create and sell through the App store.

Within hours, tickets were being touted for sale, with Tuaw spotting one of the $1599 tickets being offered for $3500.

That sale was swiftly shut down, though others have apparently been spotted - presumably Apple will slam down on those soon enough.

Network World spotted this sale on Craiglist, with the the vendor helpfully explaining, "Apple gives the buyer a code that you have to process with your apple id to activate the ticket . I have 1 spare code. Can meet in person for the cash and help activate the ticket on spot." Which is completely reassuring.

Of course, a $1500 plus markup - and the nagging concern that you'll never actually get in - would seem like small beer for the chance to sit in a convention centre with a bunch of other devs and "redefine what you think is possible" "bring your ideas to life" and "make new connections". Plus they actually get the chance to mingle with Apple engineers.

Apple will turn over $8m on ticket sales alone for the event. Presumably that pales into insignificance on the rake-off Apple will make on any Apps those developers tout through its App store.

Devs looking for somewhere glamorous to go might be interested to know that Microsoft still has space at its Worldwide Partner Conference and TechEd conferences, while SAP is still taking bookings for its Sapphire Conference next month. Sadly, all those offer is the chance to learn about developing and selling complex enterprise software products, rather than opportunities to "mingle with Apple engineers". ®