Monetization Basics & Case Studies
The Flash games industry is rapidly evolving and new monetization methods are emerging every day. Flash game developers have many choices on how they monetize their games, from ad-supported models to directly monetizing the gamers that are playing their games through micro-transactions.
Methods for Making Money
Advertising
There are two ways that developers can directly make money from their games through advertising, ads in game and ads on site. For ads in game, developers directly place advertisements into their Flash games through networks like Mochi Ads, which shows the ads in the game as the user is playing it. Developers receive a share of the ad revenue generated each time a user views or clicks on an ad seen in their game, regardless of where it’s played. For ads on site, developers with their own websites can place display ads through ad networks like Google. Advertising is also the underlying basis for why portal and site owners will purchase licenses and sponsorships (described below).
Developers can also sell sponsorships directly to portal owners that want to be able to place a link to their portal's site in their games. Portal owners try to drive and keep as many players on their site as possible so they can make ad income. These site owners often acquire traffic for their site through sponsorship of developer games so that gamers click back to their site when games are played on other sites.
Licensing
Licenses for flash games are typically site-locked licenses for games which are free of advertising and/or sponsor branding. These types of licenses can also be purchased for custom modifications such as API or high score integration. Licensing can also be a broader term applied to any custom work for the game, such as the right to even have the game on their site or a full re-skin of the game engine to the licensor's branding.
Micro-Transactions
Micro-transactions is a form of direct user monetization where the developer charges the consumer playing the game for unlocking virtual features, goods or services in their game. Developers building their games for micro-transactions typically allow the user to play the game and purchase upgrades, cheats or items that enhance existing gameplay. For more information on micro-transactions, also visit the Mochi Coins Resource Center.
Custom Development
Advertisers commission branded “advergames” from the developer, so their assets and brand are integrated directly into the game. For examples of this, check out the Three Melons as an example.
Further Reading
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.