Build a profitable Social game

Kompas.com - the development of the gaming industry is now not only for entertainment for its users. The development of social media also influenced the development of "social game", where the applications of game began to enter the social media. This fact, it could be fertile ground for profit for the developer.

Before talking about business models, we recommend that developers analyze the behavior of the presence of players. "There is an assortment of players." There are Core Gamers, status Gamer, Gamer players and actual social. Before entering a game company, you need to know before you go on the market of players who, among these four types of players, "said Marlin Sugama, co-founder of the major Studios, one of the speakers in a seminar on the theme of" Sparx Up The Rise of Social Gaming "to IDS, carrying, Jakarta, Thursday (23/6/2011)."

According to Marlin, Core gamer is a game that spent all the time just to play games. Might even be three days and three nights in front of a computer screen or a gaming device. While the status of the Gamer is a game like just to gather gadget - the gadget it provides game application. Status players never even completed a game that started because you are looking for just social status that he was a lover of the game and have all the gadgets and equipment for older products for the most recent products.

Actual gamer is a game that only play the games at the fringes of a vortex via mobile, laptop, or tablet. While the social gamer is a game that plays the game with social media applications to expand the network of friendship.

"People play games on Facebook is not necessarily in the social category of players." It is not intended to extend friendship and play only applications on an ongoing basis, it can go in the category core players, "added Marlin."

After knowing that the types of players and his behavior, developers can start building game game with focus of a type of player. Social gamer is one of the great market at the present time due to the increase of number of users of social media are significant enough to be the target of the business game.

According to Dean Takahashi describes Marlin, to build social media games, a developer needs a budget of less than 100 000-300 000 $ in time developing for 4 to 12 weeks and the team of at least 10 people. After the game is built and published, it is important that it should always do is make a weekly feature updates and respond to the comments of the feedback from users.

"Weekly update features needs to be done, if not systematic, the players will be bored." However, this weekly update cost is great, so you also have to think of the money of the reciprocity of the players. Be proud of the games you play hundreds of thousands or even millions of users, but if there is no money, no good do you business, "said Marlin."

To win this game business income, the developer must define business models are executed.

To win this game business income, the developer must define business models are executed. For the video game business models are started by the developer to the editor, to the end user. While for the mobile games business models are started by the developer at Portage company, then a new editor, to the end user.

The company has been brought on the games of inclined provider of service application on mobile devices. "The game is, it should be inclined to be support for multiple handsets. The standard port is 250 times. Only a game should be focused on more than 250 times. Then, for developers who want to do business in the mobile application, must provide a supplementary budget for this port, "said Marlin."

After learning the business model, developers can specify the method of payment. Methods of payment for the games also so long as it is between other through subscription, download or F2P (free play). Marlin suggested using F2P to develop the social game. F2P also has a wide range of options, namely the item mall, donations, sponsorship and exclusive Ingame/advergaming.

Payment item Mall system is a free game that is played at the beginning, but for some specific elements, players will have to pay a sum of money. If you choose to continue to play for free, players have only limited access to some specific elements only. While donations are payment system provides an opportunity for players to donate a sum of money without specific objectives. Players can transfer function of its capacity.

Sponsorship exclusive payment system is while you are building a set of messages from marketing communications of the company to deliver the product to use. Some companies such as manufacturers of cigarettes and drinks of the ion never make to educate consumers on the product and the company more close to the consumer. The cost of the entire production will be ditangung the company, and you will be able to take advantage.

The last is that the payment system with game/advergaming is you enter your announcement of sponsor on the right or left of the game side, or even after the party is over. These ads may also be a link to your own business or links to other games that you develop. This system is commonly known as cross promotion. This system was never carried out by Zynga, which makes players know all Zynga Games developed without the need for excessive promotions.