At 7/9/09 08:43 PM, Luis wrote:
It just depends on the game... that stupid bejeweled is a crap game but its so casual that really super casual computer users, like soccer moms and tweens (no not the flash term, the under 13 crowd) find it easy to get into and so they are able to offer more enhanced versions for a really low price or whatever and license it out to all sorts of portals. It works because theyve already hooked their audience with a good offering just on the free test version.
That game has alot of factors going for it. The fact that it was the one to enhance the original idea, the fact that it's name is extremely well known, the fact that the PopCap branding is on it. Apparently Bejeweled makes up 50% of PopCap's overall revenue, a game is sold every minute.I think you have it backwards on how it works, but it's because Bejeweled is on so MANY portals that it can have trial versions and afterwards make a decent revenue off of selling the full version.
Also side note, all PopCap games take 2-4 years of production simply because, although they are casual games, are so enhanced in every way to hook in gamers, with big scores, flashy but not too flashy lights and the like, that people love their games.
I dont think bomtoons' idea is terrible, it may not have you rolling in money but theres an audience that does respect and follow the independent movement. I still pay for cd's and shit (even tho the actual artist probably makes a negligible amount in comparison to the other parties that take it off the top).
This I agree with. Lots of people support independent game developers, look at the Kongregate Tip system. It's not making tons of money, but the fact that it is making people money shows that there are people who support indie games.
I dunno theres just no set formula for becoming an overnight millionare on a game. I'm sure theres exceptions. But yeaaaa... maybe im just not enough of a cutthroat business man like some people in the business that are well off.
It's all about taking risks. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes you'll put hours of work into a game and it'll do better than a game with months of work.
The only way I can think of to become an overnight millionaire is through social sites (facebook) and creating games that implement their features and stretch across to multiple people virally. It's a lagging industry, but the people creating apps currently for them are making FORTUNES. (look at some of the brain training / highscore games on there).
Guess those are my 2 cents.
