Casual games industry 2009 forecast in 3 points

As many respectable authorities speaks tones about 2008 successful casual games year. I would like to take a moment of your developing process, and share my forecast with you. What will it be like in 2009, as far as the casual games industry cares?

1. Financial issues and political opportunities: As long as the dinner stays at home due to law salaries and empty restaurants, people will continue to play in house games. Online web games as consul game machines are more welcomed then ever, in every kids and living rooms, around the glob. If Barak Obama fails with his 'the other chick' method on the Iranian issue, America might need some new war titles, as Gaza & Israel pushed abot 5 good titles online in the last few weeks.

2. Technology: Flash is huge now more then ever, and Apple as well as Nokia and Microsoft are whiling to fight. The operating systems are going to enhance the Flash into their agenda and MS still fights with the "I've got a better or as good as yours" method, with Silverlight V 3. Once Adobe understood the power of Flash in the gaming industry, it has become irrelevant to fight. Most of the online casual scene is made of Flash and Flash light games.

3. Marketing: Independent Flash game developers can choose: A. I"ll make my own game, win prizes, get some sponsors and earn in-game advertising cents for years and you'll find me all over the social networks, gaming portals and yearly meetings. B. I"ll work for my boss, 24/7 and make games per title or as a part of a talented team, distribution? His problem!. C. I"ll create special ad-games for big companies combining my talent with my marketing abilities.

There's something about NewGrounds….

Newgrounds।com or in its humanly name Tom Fulp (a young, talented site/games developer and naïve some might say) is a veteran gaming portal, still aiming for thaws lonely-lets-play-all-day teenagers. Nevertheless, Tom's wife gave birth almost live on their blog, the site handles hundreds of new summation daily, the unique points system still kick's ass, and the new gold membership method, along with the independent merchandise store, there's something about NewGrounds, that keeps it ticking.

Let's take a look at NewGrounds.com statistics

1. Tom (`30) launched NewGrounds.com on 1995.
2. More than 1.5 registered users.
3. Since Nov, 2007 about 500K of Flash files were submitted, about 30% are online.
4। July, 2007 – Tom relaunched the site with its content rating methods.

NewGrounds, in a social way

NewGrounds is one of the oldest 'let's make it a little more than just a game portal and let people create content regardless to the game' sites around। Every user gets a cool personal page with blogging capabilities and games/images/Flash files uploader। Flash game developers are enabled to integrate NewGrounds's API kit, and make money while serving NewGrounds Ads.

NG, Pros:
- Great games.
- One of the best places to be after you're a serial game developer.
- Tom keeps it updated - graphically and mentally.
- The game developing community is there.
NG, Cons:
- For a Flash game developer, it'll be very hard to start among sharks.
- Not that friendly for first time user, especially not for casual gamers.
- The personal pages are somehow boring if you see more then 10.
- It seems like only professional are welcomed.

Are there any NG alternatives?
1. For socializing and gaming: Kongregate, Nonba.
2. For gaming and socializing: Miniclip, ArmorGames and Hallpass.

Three web sites no Flash game developer can avoid these days

As a Flash game developer, you have 3 reasons to check out new/leading web sites: 1. You take a break (and this is what porn sites are for). 2. You have to see others work & trends. 3. You have to make money from your casual games and you're looking for monetizing methods. Well, drop the porn sites, and I'll show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

1. ArmorGames - a। The first thing you should know is that they have no porn content. Sorry. b. Armorgames is an amazing place for casual games. They have it all - they sponsor games, they hire game developers - they need new games in order to pass the next month, and as a content creator you are wanted!

You also have MiniClip, Meez, Cafe, NewGrounds etc - Don't worry most of them are unique and special in it's own way। Flash game developers should take advantage over the differences between these great sites. Mochiads is a little different - they're all about giving you great business modal.

2. Facebook - a। They know gaming (especially social gaming) is the thing that makes it going, so they invest in game developing and the usabilty of their applications. b. They have more audience that you need.

Myspace as Facebook, Bebo (with the dual support of facebook applications as well as OpenSocial methods by Google) all give a great stage for gaming between the virtual worlds they create around you। Use them to market.

Good old Kongregate (which disallow having in game advertising rather then they're own), give flash game developers the opportunity to upload games, having them monetized by in game and around game ads, socialize and getting the suitable stage as been a real content creators. Kong treats game developers as YouTube(/Google) treats film makers.

Game developers, stop using Flash for game developing!!!

As a game developer, casual games that is, you can choose to develop your game (assuming the graphics, audio and the idea itself are 'no problem' missions for you) in Java, Shockwave, Flash or SilverLight. Let's look closely on the Yes's and No's regarding casual games development platforms and developing languages.

Silverlight – Silverlight, a new technology by Microsoft is in its (very) early stages and therefore should be treated differently. I think you should read and test it, it might become a hit. For these days, leave MS products as far as you can from your mind.

Java –"Every computers runs Java", true although there are more Flash players installed on PC's around the world then Java support.

Shockwave – forget it! It's a dying technology with no real future.

Flash:
a. Once upon a time, there were many site developing companies who developed full Flash sites. However these days, no reasonable client would ask for full Flash site and Adobe invests in the Flash abilities as casual game developing platform.
b. Most of the worlds PC's runs Flash player.
c. Most of the game portals accept Flash games with no problems.


So…do you really think you should stop using Flash for game developing???

"...and the worst casual games are..." (Flash developers guide for bad games)

There are lots of guides about making great games. Me, myself and my blog are trying for months now to explain our position regarding how to develop top chart casual games (with Flash technology), but this time, it's all about how to make the worth casual game you can.

- Add loud irrelevant looping sound effects.
- Create new navigation psychology, let users explore before starting the game itself.
- Drop all 'skip' buttons.
- Change the main character look every stage and/or minute.
- Design the enemies to look like friends.
- Add ads for the 'full version' along the game play.
- Drop 'pause' option; 'restart';and make the credits scroll after every game play.
- Proportions? Forget about it...
- Don't add any text for the instructions, game play or closing. Let them guess....

Well, I'll stop here before someone starts developing these kind of game. Remember - think of the things you'd like to find in new games, and let it be the basics of your new game.

The truth about online gaming industry

There are many gaming industry resource and studies but there's nothing like one person accumulated knowledge to revile the truth about the online gaming industry

Myth: Making money from developing Flash games is hard!
Truth: It's not। Making money from Flash games developing is all about your marketing skills – do your homework, check out sponsorships, in-game advertisement, 'pay per intro' methods and 'pay per intro ads click' methods. Don't forget to submit your game into as many game development contests as you can integrate into your game, they'll make your game exposed and might win some amazing amounts for you.

Myth: Getting my game sponsored is easy!
Truth: It's not. The price of sponsorships went from $200-$1500 for the average Flash game, to $1000-$3000 still it is harder to get the sponsor to spend these amount on your game. There are many 'let's make sponsors and game developers come together sites' (like my own blog –

Flash games money making), but your game must be a potential hit to hit the Jackpot।

Myth: Great games are only made by developing teams!
Truth: They're not। Developing teams can make amazing games, but that doesn't mean you can't…If you'll write down everything, you'll make a better game: 1. The name. 2. The feel. 3. The Sounds. 4. The Main character. 5. The intro. 6. The ending. 7. The scoring. As you can see, developing teams succeed for their good developing management, that's it.

Myth: There are only 3 ways to make money from Flash games – Ads, Sponsorships and getting prepaid.
Truth: There are more – Game developing contests; Google Adsense along the side of your personal games portal; In-game advertising; Revenue sharing programs with social gaming networks and more.

How to monetize your Flash Games?

After being a Flash developer, Flash-sites developer that is, I've been working my aXX in the gaming industry. I love playing online, offline and in my back yard, so a figured - why not working in/with/among games and gamers?

Then cam Mochiads, ArmorGames, ArcadeTown etc, and gave sponsorships for game developers. Online Flash games developers that is.
The sponsors gave between $500 and numbers I don't want to write down cause you'll be thinking in your greedy mind: "Maaaann I'm going to develop a breaking Flash game" (It's about $60,000!!!). So, forget about the big money, most of the flash game developers make cents (which comes in total of $300-$600 per month) with pay per click systems (like Mochiads service).
"So that's it? I have to develop 5-10 flash games with more then 100 daily views to make $300-$600 per month?
And/or
Develop a hit Flash game and get around $5,000?"

No. If you're really a Flash game developer who want to make money form his work you'll have to combine three things:

- The pay per click systems
+
- The sponsorships requests sent to 2-3 'bug names' in the business
+
- Marketing
=
You can work from home, make a lot of money by developing Flash games. Online Flash games can make you money if you'll mix between the options and make you own marketing.

The first and the easiest way to start marketing your self and your games, is by entering Flash games development contests.
You can find them anywhere (Search Google for flash games development contests). Flash games contest will give you the right amount of exposure you need to begin with. Then to continue the magic, you'll have to follow my guide which is here, available for free in my new blog, depends only in the amount of time I'll have between playing and game developing.

Cheers!