Did i just found a quick way to make money?

[vitinho444]

DISCLAIMER: I know im not the first or last person to think on this.
Hey guys, today i was using my android, checking up google play store etc.. and i figured out something... Is it just me, or making android / iphone games is the future of getting rich?
Don't go just yet, think about it (if you haven't done it already), android games, are somewhat casual games so i made this tree:

Casual games > easy to make games > sell them at 0.99€/$ each > big profit :O

Of course is easy to say than do, but in my case, i use Unity3D Engine, and with a single click i can export to android and iOS.. so, the making part is not that hard... And making casual games is not that hard or time-taking.. If i had a small team i think i could deploy fun, casual and easy games like once a week for 0.99€

If you do the math, imagine u release 3 games, at 0.99€ (1$ = 0.77€), and imagine in a good luck, you get like 1000 downloads, 1000 * 0.99 * 3 = 2970€... Thats some huge profit for some simple games that in the worst case scenario took somewhat like 1 month to build (all 3 of them).

What you think about this? Just saying im not saying it works But if you use it GIVE ME CREDIT
Just kidding.

[hallsofvallhalla]

Selling a app on any app store is like trying to pick a single ant of of a anthill the size of rhode island. It sounds very simple but even the cahnce of selling 1,000 copies of your app is only $750 - taxes around $600. That is less than a weeks paycheck. If you sold 10 copies a day it would take 100 days to get $1000. Then you have $1000 people asking for features, bug fixes, ect...

It is not as easy as build and they will buy. Trust me. There is tons of marketing. You are a single minnow in a ocean of fish.

[vitinho444]

Well, every theory has its flaws, but in the android store i think things are a bit different.. i think there are more androids first, and second in the android most of the apps (if they are good) receive some good downloads..

I didn't say it was a gold mine, at least wasn't my intention.

[Callan S.]

I'd sit down and estimate the number of man hours needed for development, then cross that against the estimated income.

It's a matter of deciding how much you are worth for each hour of your life spent on it.

Then also the fact one is gamlbing X number of hours on the assumption one is going to sell Y number of units/be payed Z per hour spent.

If you're not employed, it might seem nifty and you might develop a cult following from putting out a series of games.

I'd like to look into unity3d for phone games - awhile ago I made the 2D game Cast Stone, as an experiment.

[Jackolantern]

Mobile game development is definitely not a money tree. You said it seems most games get good downloads. This isn't true. Most games don't get downloads (the vast majority of apps are in the 0 - 100 downloads area). The thing is, you never see them, which is why they don't have a ton of downloads. Mobile app stores have been called "the largest stores with the smallest windows". Both Android and iOS are designed to make popular games bubble to the front of search results, and lesser games stay out of the way. This means the big money absolutely requires getting on a "Top Screen" of some kind. And that is not easy. The strategy of most commercial app studios is to bomb marketing on one game to try to make it popular, and then people will find your other games by the stores' "Other apps by developer" section. But that takes a lot of money.

There are strategies to try to get downloads and improve popularity without spending a ton of money. Giving in-game benefits for people liking the game on social networks is an effective method, since it helps to spread visibility for no cost.

[vitinho444]

I'd sit down and estimate the number of man hours needed for development, then cross that against the estimated income.

It's a matter of deciding how much you are worth for each hour of your life spent on it.

Then also the fact one is gamlbing X number of hours on the assumption one is going to sell Y number of units/be payed Z per hour spent.

If you're not employed, it might seem nifty and you might develop a cult following from putting out a series of games.

I'd like to look into unity3d for phone games - awhile ago I made the 2D game Cast Stone, as an experiment.

I know, but at least in unity3d i think i could (in my spare time from work) make a game in a month or so (for android).. What would i do with a team.

Mobile game development is definitely not a money tree. You said it seems most games get good downloads. This isn't true. Most games don't get downloads (the vast majority of apps are in the 0 - 100 downloads area). The thing is, you never see them, which is why they don't have a ton of downloads. Mobile app stores have been called "the largest stores with the smallest windows". Both Android and iOS are designed to make popular games bubble to the front of search results, and lesser games stay out of the way. This means the big money absolutely requires getting on a "Top Screen" of some kind. And that is not easy. The strategy of most commercial app studios is to bomb marketing on one game to try to make it popular, and then people will find your other games by the stores' "Other apps by developer" section. But that takes a lot of money.

There are strategies to try to get downloads and improve popularity without spending a ton of money. Giving in-game benefits for people liking the game on social networks is an effective method, since it helps to spread visibility for no cost.

Yeah, thats true, but of course some marketing would be a option. Also, there's the case of Ads, even with 100 downloads, with ads on each, there is always income.

[hallsofvallhalla]

100 downloads = 1,000 ad hits = $1

Not trying to be negative, just real. It is far harder than build it and they will come when it comes to app development. It is a frustration to me because it is because of this mentality that we are in this situation. Everyone is doing it creating more and more and more games that are filling up the app stores causing the really good games that people spent 1-2 years on waaaaayyyy down the list and impossible to find. I HATE downloading a game with a good description and icon only to find it a clone of another game or quickly thrown together. I must stand firm on my stance of don't build a game that you would not play and don't build a game just for money. But of course that is up to you.

[vitinho444]

100 downloads = 1,000 ad hits = $1

Not trying to be negative, just real. It is far harder than build it and they will come when it comes to app development. It is a frustration to me because it is because of this mentality that we are in this situation. Everyone is doing it creating more and more and more games that are filling up the app stores causing the really good games that people spent 1-2 years on waaaaayyyy down the list and impossible to find. I HATE downloading a game with a good description and icon only to find it a clone of another game or quickly thrown together. I must stand firm on my stance of don't build a game that you would not play and don't build a game just for money. But of course that is up to you.

Yeah i feel that too, but i wasn't saying i would copy other games, but make my own but simple way, casual..

[Chris]

You found a way, but it's not quick. You want quick money get into drug dealing, or take it up the rear for money or something.

[Jackolantern]

You found a way, but it's not quick. You want quick money get into drug dealing, or take it up the rear for money or something.

Or rob. Don't forget robbing.

But seriously, ads don't bring in enough money. You can find articles online talking about games that got 10,000 downloads that would bring in $4 or $5 a month in ad money. Also, up-front purchases (aka purchasing from the app store) is also poor because people just won't buy it unless you are a proven name which is kind of a catch-22. The true money is all in microtransactions, which is why any new mobile development platform always has people screaming that they need in-app purchases on day 1. People download the game/app for free, so there is no commitment to try it. You get to describe it as the full game, which it is, basically. Then once the player gets sucked in, you start offering optional upgrades, power-ups, costumes, etc. Some very dedicated players end up spending $20+ dollars a month without even noticing.

That is how the real money is made in the app stores