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.