Are online games still profitable?

How many users here are involved in the development of online games? Do you still make a lot of money? How long did it take your online game to start making profit?

When I say this - its because virtual worlds, online games, facebook games are all making people money - and it seems like its a very profitable business to be in, however; I believe it was better before - but what do you think? Are online games still profitable?

 

What do people sell for online game? I still remember old online game, Ragnarok, it sold vouchers or something to play

 

Game developer and game promoter is different.

The later is more profitable if they know how to get more user to play their game.

 

It's the same. If you work in online games - its a question for you.

 

Everyone wants to get into the game industry. The barrier to develop and market games is not as high as it was a few years ago. This caused an over-saturation of the market. Don't think that it is profitable only because there are so many games. Nevertheless - for the big players it seems to be very lucrative. But for most of the smaller ones it is a hard business to survive.

 

It was only more profitable before because of the lack of competition.
It's still profitable if your game is catchy enough, and your players passionate.

 

Yes, but it's much more difficult to be discovered by the players. The worst case for a developer is to program a great game that gets never discovered by the community.

 

I think that you could make lots with this. I know games that have made thousands and millions.

 

I don't think it is still profitable

 

Well, surely the virtual world niche is pretty profitable. I can show you a few games in my niche that are making over $1k/month off user donations - selling virtual items.

 

WHat kind of games are you talking here? Like those little arcade flash games or crapbook games or something like runescape (just smaller scale)?

 

Ya, well, who's fault would that be? It's all about marketing these days, there's so many different ways to promote. Its why we made a community for developers as well in our niche.

Well, true, and if you have different ways to make money from it.

 

hi ..
in think this is a most profitable job to earn money . because lack of competition . another factor is that nature of your game.

 

byond scripts are good - can make money once u get the marketing going. fb games as well make huge money, have a friend into this and he makes a good easy $500 per month from one app on fb, takes 6 months or so to make an app or just hrie someone else for cheap

 

there are so many online game nowdays, if your love to play game I think it still can make good profit for you

 

...And how do you expect to make money like that? And who's your friend?

 

It's even easier to make money with online games. I'm going to point at Facebook at this because of how easy they make it to not just have apps that become viral, but how easy they make it to publish on a player's wall. Say your game has an achievement system with points that are used to get in-game items. Simple, right? "Publish this game to your Facebook wall." once per week.. Easy, free way to get some publicity and spread your player base.

As for actually making money, free-to-play games are still king in my opinion. Take a look at games like the upcoming Blacklight Tango Down 2 or Combat Arms. If that's not enough proof for you, Evony Online still turns a nice profit from all the ads I've seen published by them in the past two years.

 

The same can be done on Twitter as well.

Well, I'll list an example. Aywas makes money from selling items in a cash shop - it doesn't have any advertisements., How many online games are doing the same?

 

yes of course, they shell voucher and some third parties they sell souvenir about that game

 

I think these cash items are very hit and miss, they need to give a player a sense of accomplishment or a very important boost to their in game strength while interacting with other players yeah?