Casual games get millions of hits and offer a great way to showcase a product.
Casual games are a great free way for people to spend a fun hour online. The casual games market is becoming increasingly popular, due to the increased availability of broadband internet. A small flash game can be loaded in seconds and provide an instant boredom fix at lunch time or for the casual game hobbyist.
The majority of casual games are made to play online and with 98% of the net having the flash player plugin, flash games seem to be the main choice, by both clients and players. This ease of availability coupled with giving the user something for free, results in many flash games achieving millions of hits.
'3D Rally Racing' has achieved 130 million hits in just over 2 years. Where as 'X Stunt Bike' game achieved 1 million in it's first week of distribution. These hits demonstrate the power of a well made flash game and a good distribution process.
These large amount of hits are an advertisers dream and can help generate large interest in any company who sponsors such a game. The flash games can be branded or sponsored to promote a product or a web site, these games are also known as advergames. With lots of hits the sponsor often gets a great return on their investment. An advergame can be made to fit around a site or product, then links are added in-game. These links will be clicked by around 2% - 4% of players (this depends on how well the product fits the target market).
The target demographic of flash casual games is often males between the ages of 13 and 30. However, games can be made to fit younger age groups and designed for the female market. Flash games can also be made as training tools (also known as serious games), this can provide a fun and rewarding learning environment.
The main market area is in making sponsored games that promote a product or site. Once the product/link is added to the game, the game is sent around the net and is actively encouraged as a game the user can share with friends. A score system can be added to the game that will encourage the user to 'challenge a friend'. These extra features of the game entice repeat plays and thus more leads for the sponsor. There are also many other ways to promote sharing of the game and repeat plays, such as offering prizes, bonuses, collectibles, facebook integration, etc.
If you would like to sponsor the development of a flash game, then please visit:
http://www.letsdesign.co.uk
