| In the past few years online gaming has really taken | | | | is why they are in such demand. You can leverage |
| off. Flash games are more popular with gamers than | | | | that traffic by hosting games on your own site, and |
| ever before, and there is an ever increasing demand | | | | displaying banner adverts or Adsense and earning a |
| for talented and innovative game developers. If | | | | commission from the clicks. |
| you're a Flash developer, there are many ways to | | | | 5. Game design contests |
| generate an income from creating flash games. | | | | A number of big gaming portals run regular game |
| 1. Developing games for clients | | | | design competitions, some with cash prizes. This can |
| This has been my primary income for the past 7 | | | | be quite hit or miss, but if your game is good you |
| years. You'll need to have a proven track record, | | | | can earn money this way, and again it's a great way |
| which means building up a portfolio of games, but | | | | to get exposure. |
| once you start building a reputation you can earn a | | | | 6. In game currency (micropayments) |
| good income by designing and developing games for | | | | Micropayments are now available from several |
| clients. In recent years I've created games for such | | | | companies, and allow you to accept real money for |
| diverse clients as gaming portals, cell phone brands, | | | | in-game purchases such as upgrades, new levels, or |
| charities, television companies and even a major | | | | items. This is a relatively new way to monetise Flash |
| league baseball team! | | | | games but already solutions from Mochimedia and |
| 2. Sponsorship | | | | HeyZap are becoming popular with developers. |
| A sponsorship deal usually involves putting a | | | | 7. Commercial release |
| companies logo and branding into your game, and | | | | Finally we come to what is probably the oldest way |
| giving them the rights to use the game exclusively | | | | of making money from video games - selling them to |
| (though sometimes non-exclusively) on their website. | | | | gamers! If your game is good enough, and popular |
| The amount you'll earn from such a deal can vary | | | | enough you can release and sell a commercial version. |
| dramatically depending on the game, and the sponsor, | | | | Depending on the type of game this could be a |
| and it usually involves one of the big gaming portals. | | | | downloadable version to play on PC, or perhaps an |
| 3. In game advertising | | | | iPhone version to be sold through the Apple |
| There are several companies which offer in game | | | | app-store. Whatever format you use the idea is the |
| advertising but the biggest player in the market is | | | | same, to use the Flash version as a marketing tool to |
| Mochimedia with their Mochiads system. Not only do | | | | sell the commercial release. |
| you get a commission for adverts displayed in your | | | | As you can see there are a number of ways to |
| games, but you also get access to their network of | | | | make money from developing Flash games. Some |
| publishers giving your game more exposure. This can | | | | can be used for very simple games, while others will |
| be one of the best ways for new developers to get | | | | only work with more in depth games, so if you're |
| their work seen. | | | | just learning Flash game development you can start |
| 4. Banner ads or AdSense | | | | with some of these techniques, and build up your |
| Flash games are a huge draw for traffic online, which | | | | experience and portfolio. |