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.

Continue Reading...

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.

Technorati Profile

Continue Reading...

Set Up Your Own Online Games Home Business

One of the best bets for starting an online home business is an on line gaming site. These sites are typically very easy to set up and ensure almost immediate success, thanks to the popularity of online gaming. Here's a quick guide to help you start your own online gaming home business.

1. Research popular online games - Most online games are available in flash format. Try to find a good mix of popular games that you can add to your own site. If you want to start fresh, you can hire a developer to design games that will be unique to your own business.

2. Set up a site - It is a good idea to use a content management system for your new online home business. A CMS will make it very easy to build an attractive site that will be appealing to gamers. As a bonus, many popular CMS systems are free and feature games that are already built in and ready to go.

3. Start promoting your site - Once you have your site ready to go, you can begin promoting your online home business gaming site. One of the best places to start is a gaming community that is centered around the type of games that you offer. Free games are always popular and they are a great way to attract new players.

4. Keep the games coming - Don't fall into the trap of having old, stagnant games. Stay on top of the market by finding new games and designing unique games to fit your online home business. The more games you offer, the better your chances are of success.

5. Stay on top of trends - Gaming trends can change at the drop of a hat. Stay on top of the market by getting involved in the gaming community.

6. Offer a premium area - This is how you can really start making money for your online home business. Offer special games that are only available to subscribers, or offer them the ability to challenge one another to games for a fee. This is a great way to offset your bandwidth costs and make extra money.

An online gaming site is a great place to start for an online home business. The set-up costs are minimal and it is a niche that has been consistently popular for many years. With proper management, you could be the next great gaming portal.

Look caerfully at the optiosn available. You should look for a system that will enabel you to start with a free or quite low cost option - get your game site first, so you can judge the quality and attractiveness of the games. You then need an option that allows you to upgrade your position so you can start to promote yoru own games, and even host high ticket tournaments.

of course, the really best opportunities will also have the opportunity for you to set up a full multilevel marletin opportunity, so you can easily duplicate wha you have apready been doing.

You never know, following that route, you could either play games for money, or even make money on the game...

Continue Reading...

Online Gaming is as Addictive as Heroin

Gaming is big business but it has its downside. People have died from gaming and the world is recognizing that game addiction is serious and spreading fast. Mental health professionals opine that gaming can destroy lives, keep students from focusing on learning, workers from working, and women from their duties. There are instances where gamers have not left home for years.

Games like EverQuest, Dark Age of Camelot, and others are popularly referred to as heroinware. And symptoms of addiction according to Computer Addiction Services at McLean Hospital are: obsession with the game; inability to stop; neglect of family and work; lying to hide activity; problems with studies and work; health problems, muscular as well as vision related; neglect of personal hygiene; as well as sleep disturbances.

The games provide social interaction to lonely people, gamers gain acknowledgement as well as power denied elsewhere due to their gaming expertise, and the game weaves a spell on the mind-one gets so absorbed by the virtual realities that it is hard to get away.

The addiction is so real that it requires intensive therapy. Treatment programs include: behavioral therapy, anti-depressants, as well as prescription drugs.

Not all agree that gaming is addictive. MIT's Games-to-Teach project manager opines that games sharpen critical thinking, improve social skills, and increase empathy. Many others do agree that games inspire imagination, creativity, and team work.

However, the problem is real and countries world over are taking measures. China has set up a clinic in Beijing for net-frazzled addicts to be treated with sports, acupuncture, and medication. The inmates according to the clinic's director have: depression, nervousness, fear, interaction problems, panic, agitation, shaking and numb hands, as well as sleep disorders. Gaming is a serious problem in Korea --- 1-2% of South Korea's online gamers are addicts. The government is taking steps and requesting game developers to create advisory patches to alert gamers to the impeding dangers.

A hard core gamer is one who is completely absorbed by his online fantasy, he isolates himself from family and friends, lets everyday activities fall by the wayside, spends over 16-20 hours a day playing the game and games at work, at home, and while on the road. Gaming becomes his whole life, a thirst that is never quenched.

Treatment is long and hard and like other addictions the first stage is the most difficult, getting the gamer to acknowledge that he or she has a problem. Addicts find it extremely painful to "kill" the characters of the game and to erase /destroy the software. Most are unable to "keep away" and return to the game addictively. Studies indicate that hard core players are often neurotic, shy, have emotional as well as behavioral issues, and problems in the home environment.

To overcome the addiction, the player must consider and analyze the issues underlying the game-it is the question of power, social standing, respect, and emotions.

Gaming is set to become a global epidemic and needs immediate attention as well as solutions.

Continue Reading...