There are a number of disciplines involved in the Flash game creation process that must be mastered. Art assets need to be made. The gameplay has to be developed. ActionScript must be learned, and written. Familiarity with the Flash interface needs to become second-nature. Learning these disciplines takes time, study and practise. Fortunately, there are a wealth of tutorials and books available in print and on the internet detailing these areas of Flash game creation.
However, there is an additional learning curve to consider when making the leap from hobbyist game maker to professional Flash game developer that is not quite so well documented - how to make profit from a Flash game.
Income Strategies for Flash Game Developers
So, what options are there to create a sustainable revenue from Flash games? By far, the best strategy is to utilise the internet as the source of income. The advantages of being an internet-based game developer include:
- Limited overheads: Unlike a traditional brick-and-mortar business, the internet-based game developer can work from home, and does not need to pay additional rates for office space.
- Developed target market: There is a huge existing audience for Flash games on the web, who will actively seek out new games. With this established market, conventional product advertising, and the costs associated with such marketing, are rendered unnecessary.
- Cost-effective platform: By design, Flash games are internet-ready. All that is required for a game to “go live” is hosting for the game files on a server. This does away with the cost and complexities of pressing the game to CD and distributing the resulting product to stores, or finding a publisher to invest in the game.
Assuming a web-based strategy is taken, there are three effective methods of making money with Flash games on the internet.
- Advergaming
- Sponsorship deals
- Restricted domain licenses
Advergaming with In-Game Advertising Networks
In-Game advertising networks work by supplying a Flash game developer with a script to add to an existing game that rotates adverts from advertisers who are on the ad network's client list. The advert most often appears during the game's intro phase, though adverts that appear during gameplay are not uncommon. The game developer receives a small sum – usually a percentage of a cent – every time the game is played, because an advert has been shown. The term "advergaming" arose to define this form of income generation.
While receiving less than a cent for each game-play might sound disheartening, a successful Flash game with good distribution can amass thousands of plays over a matter of weeks, or, in the case of such games as DeskTop Tower Defence, over a matter of days. Those slivers of profit add up, generating a handsome residual income. The beauty of advergaming is that a game will continue to earn for as long as the ad network code remains as part of the game.
The two largest in-game advertising networks are MochiAds and GameJacket. These ad networks not only provide the advergaming code for rotating the adverts in a game, but also assist in such matters as game security, game-play analytics and game file hosting.
Flash Game Sponsorship Deals
Sponsorship for a game involves branding in the form of advertising a specific company, product or website as part of the game intro. While a variety of sponsorship licenses can be negotiated, the majority of deals include exclusivity: that is, the sponsor's logo or advert will appear in the game regardless of where on the internet the game is played.
Sponsorship remains the most lucrative of revenue options for Flash games on the internet. For a more in-depth account of Flash game sponsorship licenses and current pricing expectations, visit the Flash Game Sponsorship website.
Restricted Domain Licenses
A restricted domain license involves licensing the rights of a game to a single website. This grants the license holder exclusivity to a game, as the game will not be playable anywhere but on their website.
This guarantee of unique content means that restricted domain licenses can command reasonable sums. The downside to this type of licensing is that the game developer cannot use the game to earn profits elsewhere. Thus, the developer must consider whether the agreed price of a restricted domain license justifies the time and resources spent on making the game.
Flash Game Development a Rewarding Profession
Using a combination of in-game advertising, sponsorship deals and restricted domain licensing, Flash games can create numerous income streams for the game creator. While making Flash games as a hobby can be exciting and rewarding, with these income-creating strategies, there is no reason that this hobby cannot become an equally exciting and substantially more rewarding profession.
Nicolas McGregor - Nicolas McGregor studied English at Stirling University, and later, Information Technology. Amongst his interests are: independent ...
