SERIOUS QUESTION: "How should I market my game?

Hello,

I develop games for android, and I haven't had any real luck in getting money out of the 2 games i have published. The way i see it, i have 4 options to market a game.

1. Game by itself for free; NO ADS, NO IAP'S, and it is free on the Google Play Store

2. Include ads and make the game free. Get money off ads which people rarely click on.

3.  Include ads and offer an ad free version for  $.99  which means the game has to be addicting and good.

4.  Make game paid with no ads. Maybe a couple people will buy it if its O.K. but to make any real profit it has to be good.

I mean, i like all of my games. i don't spend the little time i have making crappy games, reskins, or games that i wouldnt play. I am getting better and better after each app i make, and now i am working on one that is pretty fun, and i dont know how to market it. i want  to make the most money, but i want people to play it.

Any suggestions? From experience?

Any Ideas?

Help Needed

My own experience hasn't been with android, so I can't really comment much on any of your options. Though for me personally ,the easier way to make money or a chunk of money, was going the flash route and selling games to websites through fgl etc.

Doesn't really answer what your asking, but I would have a guess that unless you had something very popular/successful, youll have mixed amounts of success from making money with android/mobile games. How much that is could vary, but someone who has gone that route is probably best answering.

My own experience hasn't been with android, so I can't really comment much on any of your options. Though for me personally ,the easier way to make money or a chunk of money, was going the flash route and selling games to websites through fgl etc.

Doesn't really answer what your asking, but I would have a guess that unless you had something very popular/successful, youll have mixed amounts of success from making money with android/mobile games. How much that is could vary, but someone who has gone that route is probably best answering.

Alright, Thanks for the input. Once i make a game that people like, i will probably start selling it on flash.

You could also have your game reviewed on a popular app review website. You can get a lot exposure for your game that way. 

You could also have your game reviewed on a popular app review website. You can get a lot exposure for your game that way. 

Do you have to pay them to do that?

Do you have to pay them to do that?

Some review sites have a fee you pay for a game review, others just require a free copy of your game and you're put on a waiting list. I've never actually done it myself, but have looked into it.

Some review sites have a fee you pay for a game review, others just require a free copy of your game and you're put on a waiting list. I've never actually done it myself, but have looked into it.

Hi Vereor Nox, can you give me the list please? Sounds great to be reviewed by popular app review sites. Thanks

It's quite difficult to get reviewed on the popular sites. And do bother paying to get reviewed.
We had our quiz game "iKon -quiz" reviewed on some of the popular sites like Appadvice.  How you achieve this is with a good game concept and most importantly the art/design has to be great otherwise you won't drive any downloads. I would recommend that you do a soft-launch with a free version with ads. The truth is many people won't paid for something they haven't tried/ or heard of.
If you are/become an experienced user integrate an analysis tool like google analytics this is your best market tool.  You can see how your audience use your app, what sort of downloads, loyal user or not and more demographic/geographical information. Use this to improve and better your application/game

I would suggest, atleast for a one time input of money, starting a kickstarter campaign. Check what other games that are graphically similar (since you can only show an image) on KS have set their goal as and successfully and set your own around that. Backers can provide their details for sending a game to them.

You could even decide on adding a few things to the games you've already made and start a KS campaign for that. That'd make it alot easier (adding a few things is easier than starting a new game)

In the end it's more about starting a cult following rather than having an amazo game (an amazo game helps to gain a cult following, but a not so amazo game can get a following if the author is lucky, has the right contacts, is charismatic, or a mixture of those). Your following becomes your audience for your next game or expansion.

Good luck!

Thanks Call an, parents don't believe I need money from kick starter or whatever. Haha

Thanks Call an, parents don't believe I need money from kick starter or whatever. Haha

If they believe you should get a job, then you need money from kickstarter (both, preferably)