How To Cheaply Produce And Market Online Games

I've talked to many artists and programmers who have said they would like to produce free online games. Many of these individuals are talented, but lack the college degree, connections, or capital necessary to design their own games. In this article I will explain a growing trend, and how you can produce quality online games for a low cost.

The console game industry has continued to increase the price for their products in recent years. Brand new games for the Xbox 360 now cost $60 each. The cost involved with developing games for the Xbox or Playstation is too much for most people. Only well established companies with lots of resources are able to produce games for these consoles. This puts the independent developer in a position where it is difficult to compete.

However, the rise of the internet has made producing free online games much easier. It is now possible for a independent developer to hire both programmers and designers to create an online game. How can this be done? When you hear of outsourcing in the news, you often think of fortune 500 companies. In reality, even small business people can outsource by using the internet. It is possible to find programmers in India, China, or Eastern Europe who can write code for very affordable prices. The same is true for designers.

With a budget of only a few thousand dollars, it is possible for you to produce free online games. You could hire programmers and designers via forums, and once you have designed the game you can cheaply advertise it via the internet. You could use text link or banner advertising. You could upload samples of your game onto P2P networks. Many of these advertising methods are low cost or free of charge. You could also use Adwords to market your product.

The internet makes it possible for small groups to produce quality games and compete with large companies. Before the rise of the internet this was impossible, and most people had to go work for large corporations if they wanted to produce video games.

It is also possible to build a website where you allow people to play the game free of charge. This could allow you to build a gaming community where you can earn income from advertising. There are no limits to the types of free online games you can produce on the internet. The only thing that limits you is your imagination.

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Internet Gaming Tips for Newbies

Internet games use the cyber world technology for playing. Games are extremely popular and constantly evolving.

There are:
• Games played using e-mail.
• Games played on a browser window by using a web address.
• Games played using Internet Relay Chat, Telenet, MUD client, or a Web based forum.
• Games that are graphic need stand-alone software that permits players to play with or against one another using an Internet connection.
The first game, MUD, was developed in 1978, and the market has burgeoned since then.

To play, one needs:
• A reliable Internet connection.
• A personal computer or game console.
• Selected software required by specific games.
One can play simple board games like scrabble, or bingo, or games like poker, mahjong, and pool. Another popular category is simulation games-these imitate real-life situations and cover aspects like combat, city planning, strategies, as well as flight simulation.

For serious gaming the computer performance must be optimized. This can be done by:
• Running the disk defragmenter and organizing the computer files. This should ideally be done once a month at least.
• Correct folder and file errors by using scandisk---use once a week and the computer will give trouble free performance.
• Clean your hard drives-get rid of Internet files, temporary files, as well as files in the trash/recycle bin. Clear the cache and uninstall programs that are not in everyday use.
• Update the operating system software. Download any new security patches. Keep video drivers updated.
• Clear space on the hard drive---store files on a back up system.
• Clear any spyware you have inherited from websites.
• Minimize number of programs running-when playing a graphic intensive game if there are too many programs running simultaneously the graphics will become choppy and game will be slow.
• Delete add on game files-wall papers and other paraphernalia will just clutter the computer.
• Run an anti-virus program regularly but disable it when you are loading/playing games. Antivirus programs slow down games.
• Always shut down the computer properly.
The Internet allows gamers to compete with people across oceans, on the other side of the world and anywhere in the universe. Some use PCs while others use consoles. What you use is a personal choice and depends on issues like costs and so on.

Before you buy a game you must:
• Consider "system requirements" - some games can run on systems that are not exact others need specific hardware.
• Find out if the game is single player or multi-player. Many games need the Internet-and, the broadband connection is more efficient than the dial-up connection. Many like Xbox Live only work on a broadband connection.
• Find out if the game can be played using a mouse/keyboard or whether it will need a full-featured joy stick.
Be wise and try a demo before making an actual purchase. Playing a demo benefits the player as well as game developer. Many online games offer free trial periods - beta testing is a great opportunity to find out if the game suits your taste as well as pockets.

Do your research thoroughly-usually there are several games competing for players within a genre. Read game reviews before taking the final step.

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