SEM Tycoon

**Game Producer** · 09-20-2006, 03:19 AM

I'm giving a serious thought about monetizing my blog & games - and I come to think about in-game ads + some sort of link/banner ad combination in the download page.

My blog reaches over 10K unique visits (Google Analytics) which does not include RSS readers. Total number is probably around 20K per month or so.

Anyway - I'm going to start developing a video game that can be downloaded via Internet and played for free. My idea is to update the game in small portions: one week at a time - and I would add more and more details and features over time. The game uses physics engine, so in one update I could add a basketball (and player could throw the ball around the room...) and in one update I would add TV (where he could check ads

) or billiard game (where he could push the balls and play billiard).

I would give the game for free and I could expect to see 10K - 100K downloads (and download page views) monthly.

Ad options:
(1) Would you be interested placing your ad both in the game (permanent slot, like your product could be placed in a texture file and displayed in the television: when player checks out the television and clicks it - he would go to your website. Or - perhaps you could have a .wav or .mp3 audio file and when player listens to music, he would occasionally hear your ad in the radio.)

(2) I could also list all the sponsors in the download page (text link or small 88x31 banner) and perhaps some big rotating ad as well (which would randomly pick one ad).

(3) The last place to put ads would be before the game launches and when the game ends: player would see one big ad of your product (random ad).

(4) Ad listing in game: user could see all ads listed in a newspaper or somewhere and he could click the newspaper and would be forwarded to AD page in the internet.

(5) I could add your ad on GameProducer.net blog (it's ranked around 15000 out of 54 million blogs in Technorati, and has a page rank 5 - I have done maybe about 20-30 link exchanging, but most of the people have linked to the site from their own will and I haven't done any SEO stuff to get the pagerank up - it's gone up 'naturally'

).

Notice: your ad would be located in the game forever, and you even could get some slots totally dedicated to you... like for example there could be a poster in a wall that would display your ad - and no other ads would be seen in that spot.

Part of game to check out: (I'm first going to build a tower building game: player must build as tall tower as possible using boxes)

This requires bit technology savvy person to check out a small demo, but in case you are familiar with .zip files, check out this:
http://www.gameproducer.net/public/demo.zip

Screenshot available as well: (check out the attached demo001.jpg)

Bottom line:
Several ad slots, free constantly update game (to reach those 10-100K downloads per month), ad slots at gameproducer.net.

Would you be interested? What would you be interested to invest on this?

**never_** · 09-21-2006, 01:49 AM

I might be interested in placing an ad inside the game.How much are you thinking of charging?

**Game Producer** · 09-21-2006, 02:23 AM

@swaz: Well, as the game is only in the very beginning I would charge less here, and raise the prices after the project evolves (as I plan to update this game month after month... adding something new every month - in some months even every week)

I haven't decided the rates - but I presume there could be slots something like this (in-game):
- poster (in the wall)
- TV ad (texture file + speech)
- Radio ad (speech in wav/mp3 file between some music tunes)
- can sticker (you know like... coca cola

Besides this, there could be ads in the:
- nag screens (both in the beginning and in the end of the game): showing one big ad (randomized - only some slots would be available)

Website (where people download the game):
- permanent link
- rotating big banner (160x600 or 300x250 or something) - only some slots would be available
- up to 10-20 text links as well

Website (gameproducer.net)
- rotating 88x31 (or similar) mini banners in the top of the left side menu bar. max 10 would be seen <= every advertiser could get their slot here)
- blog posts (I have 400 unique visits (and maybe total of 800 if we count RSS feed readers) each month and I would be making a post where each new advertiser would be presented.

Depending where people would want their ad to be placed (or if they want they own object in the game with own textures etc.) I'd be willing to negotiate a deal which makes it a win-win solution for both of us.

I would like to hear what you guys would offer. I'm not going to sell thousand $1 links - I'd rather sell some ads starting from $100+ (...and to $1000 for special deals) - and make them permanent. Other option could be starting from $10 per mo or so. But monthly subscription would mean more hassle, so I really would have like one time payment.

I'm also interested to know if you have some ideas about what you would like to see or hear in the game regarding ad positions etc.... I'm all ears.

Email, PM or reply here about your interest.

**handsome rob** · 09-21-2006, 11:03 AM

I actually read a few years ago that several big companies were starting to pay for advertising and/or product placement in video games. Makes sense to me, it's a HUGE industry.

**xboxundone** · 09-21-2006, 11:54 AM

Yes you guys haven't ever noticed the ads in game for coke, Dell, or magazines or whatever. they are all in many of the game out there today.

**handsome rob** · 09-21-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xboxundone

Yes you guys haven't ever noticed the ads in game for coke, Dell, or magazines or whatever. they are all in many of the game out there today.

I haven't played a video game in probably 3-4 years, but I believe it.

**xboxundone** · 09-21-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handsome rob

I haven't played a video game in probably 3-4 years, but I believe it.

I wish i had more time to play them as since i am married and older i don't have much time to play.. But i guess my time is better spent on the net making money

**Game Producer** · 09-22-2006, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xboxundone

I wish i had more time to play them as since i am married and older i don't have much time to play.. But i guess my time is better spent on the net making money

That's the spirit: as you know I'm looking for people who would be interested in putting some money to in-game ads - I'm not selling the game here..

**never_** · 09-22-2006, 01:51 PM

I think the ads in the beginning and at the end of the game will work well and also maybe the posters.

It's all about the traffic and # of downloads.

You are going to update the game in small portions so maybe if you could track the # of downloads of the first release and then show the stats, ppl might want to have their ads placed in the subsequent updates.

**Game Producer** · 09-25-2006, 02:54 AM

Quote:

You are going to update the game in small portions so maybe if you could track the # of downloads of the first release and then show the stats, ppl might want to have their ads placed in the subsequent updates.

You are absolutely right - I was kind of testing the water to see if somebody would like to join the challenge. I'll put more numbers & stuff available as soon as possible.

P.S. I'm going to put Interstial ad on the download page: so every download somebody makes means that they see big ad of one of the advertisers.