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Monetizing a Free To Download Game? [PC/Mac]

by Blinking
4 replies
Hey Warriors,
Now, I know this might not be the right section, however I couldn't find an 'appropriate' section, so if a mod feels it would be best suited elsewhere, please feel free to move it

Anyways, I've decided over the last 3-4 months, that my hobby and now one of my favourite activities is programming and developing Video Games for PC, and watching my imagination come to life on the screen. Now, I've decided I want to launch my first commercial indie game, and I'm not sure how to monetize a free download version.

I already plan on releasing it in XBLA (Xbox Live Arcade) and Playstation Netword if I can, and definitely steam, however I don't want to charge for a PC version, as I'm sure there are better ways to monetize, and most people won't pay for a PC version outside of a store or anything like Steam, where as in Xbox live, PSN, Steam, they all have credit cards and in the Case of XBL and PSN, they can have Pre-paid points / credit sitting there that they don't mind spending.

Anyways, I want people to be able to play offline (never mind the fact I don't know how to incorporate online ad streaming or something similar anyhow), so it can't be ads like that. Donations aren't steady / guaranteed and are in most cases rare, as they have to go out of their way, and it doesn't provide any benefits.

Any ideas Posted or PM'd are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Dylan
#download #free #game #monetizing #pc or mac
  • Profile picture of the author JoeyXoto
    hey there mate,

    congratulations on getting a product created, thats a great achievement.

    Monetizing free products can happen in numerous ways.

    You could actually ofer your game for free on your website, then if people want to download it, they have to provide there email address and name to have access to the game; this will help you generate a massive list of prospects.... list building is very important!

    Once you have that list, that is free traffic for you, forever, whenever you want it. So next time you make a game, you can email them and charge them next time. Not only that, you will be able to acquire joint ventures to help you sell it.

    One obvious way to make quicker money, is advertising. You can offer companies advertising space on the app/game, then yuo get paid per click, or per campaign/however you want to arrange it.

    Hope this gives you some ideas.
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    • Profile picture of the author Blinking
      Originally Posted by JoeyXoto View Post

      hey there mate,

      congratulations on getting a product created, thats a great achievement.

      Monetizing free products can happen in numerous ways.

      You could actually ofer your game for free on your website, then if people want to download it, they have to provide there email address and name to have access to the game; this will help you generate a massive list of prospects.... list building is very important!

      Once you have that list, that is free traffic for you, forever, whenever you want it. So next time you make a game, you can email them and charge them next time. Not only that, you will be able to acquire joint ventures to help you sell it.

      One obvious way to make quicker money, is advertising. You can offer companies advertising space on the app/game, then yuo get paid per click, or per campaign/however you want to arrange it.

      Hope this gives you some ideas.
      Hey Joey,
      Thanks for the reply. I've already decided I will list build on my site, as well as have a forum, however that list building is difficult, due to main distribution being through Steam / XBLA and PSN (Hopefully the latter two will let me in ). As for ads, I don't know how I could stream ads into the game, nor do I know how I could sell ad space on it, as unless people connect to the internet or update, they will see the same ad forever, as well as if I base offline ads off the system clock, they could just forward the system clock and have it removed.

      I am thinking about just charging through main distribution and then on my site have a free trial and a normal purchase link, however I'd like to somehow have a free version.
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  • Profile picture of the author ripsnorta2
    Originally Posted by Blinking View Post

    I already plan on releasing it in XBLA (Xbox Live Arcade) and Playstation Netword if I can, and definitely steam, however I don't want to charge for a PC version, as I'm sure there are better ways to monetize, and most people won't pay for a PC version outside of a store or anything like Steam, where as in Xbox live, PSN, Steam, they all have credit cards ...

    Any ideas Posted or PM'd are greatly appreciated!
    The IndieGamer forums (Indiegamer Developer Discussion Boards) are a great place to ask about selling your PC game, payment processors, and business models for indie games.

    edit: Forgot to say, don't count on getting onto Steam, XBLA, or any other sales channel. These channels have approval processes that arent exactly easy. Steam is currently doing a thing called Greenlight for community vetting of submissions; and Steam will also require you to build in some of their libraries to make you game compatible. The XBox is also quite difficult to get on and can cost a bundle to do so, or so I've heard.

    Start with your own website and go from there.

    BTW, the part of your comment I bolded is incorrect. There are tons of indie developers selling their games outside of traditional and even new channels like Steam. Certainly Steam makes it easier to buy and sell and is worth getting on, but there are tons of other channels, with lots of sales happening on developers sites.

    In fact I've always thought that if an IMer turned to developing games they'd have a distinct advantage because most game developers are not marketers and have no idea how to promote their websites. Those that do, do well if they have a decent game to sell.
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    Cheers, John

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  • Profile picture of the author mikefrommaine
    I would use a content locker and have people fill out an email submit cpa offer in return for the download.
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