Donating Rewards

[ZadoAsh]

I never know what to offer my members to encourage them to donate...

Current version of my game is like this:

$4 for:
- 30 Donator Days
- Ability to change name colour
- Toggle adverts on an off
- Max of 3,000 Turns
- 60 Credits
- +100 reserve turns a day instead of +50!!

$2 goes to advertising/server costs.... the other $2 goes towards the jackpot.



The new version of my game (to be released 25th July)

There is 5 different packs, each pack offers you so many credits (at different prices)

And then you trade your credits for awesome extras (i.e 10% faster hiring speeds, 25% more income)
Which last for 7 days each time you buy the pack (so it adds up... 2 packs is 14 days)

I feel the second way of things is better for everyone even those who don't donate since there is a way to credits, just donating is the best way and you get a hell lot more

Also with the new version of the game, instead of a set amount going into the jackpot only 25% of all donations goes towards the jackpot

What do you guys offer for donating if anything at all!

[Zeggy]

If you offer advantages that affect how well the player does, then the game might not be fair. And since you offer a jackpot, it seems that the winner is probably the one that spent the most.

I prefer giving advantages to donators like some of what you offer - different name colours (to make them stand out among regular players. could also give them a 'badge' or icon next to their names), no more adverts, maybe an option to customize their player profile a bit more, or their game layout (colour choices?).

You could also give them in-game advantages which are nice/useful to have, but not necessary. For example, if you have battles in your game, you can offer to automatically send donators an email if they are being attacked, or give a more accurate battle report, etc. If players have message inboxes, you can increase the number of messages they can have, or the length of messages.

[Rimmy]

So you think that it would be a bad idea to give someone something like 5% bonus cash for donating?

[ZadoAsh]

yeah, I've seen that happen in my game becoming unfair from those who can afford to donate often.

But, with the new version of the game there will be other methods of gaining these 'Credits' which are then traded for the extras I offer.

Vote on TWG, TRPG and AWG gives you one credit per vote.
Referrals - 1 credit for the referral and 1 credit when the user reaches 1 million networth(what they are ranked by)
Credit Offers - the user signs up to an affiliate offer (via CJ.com) and I credit them so many credits when it comes through and I get the money.

Which SHOULD balance out the game.

Jackpot is offered to the person who wins the round. So with the new stuff I'm bringing in as of 25th July. It should even out the game play. Plus I will have a very handy Starters Guide, Walkthough and Staff Tips. To help players learn the game easier - as the new gameplay is entirely different to its current gameplay

[Chris]

Random thoughts:

Your game is mafia/crime/pim, this genre is very unatractive for adults (especially women, who are very good donators). Also you can't relay on families playing together (no parents buying stuff for children). The average age of a player is 24 according to surveys on MMOG sites, crime games probably have this age average much lower. Which means less money... I have no clue why there are so many mafia games out there, maybe I'm missing out something? I never noticed so manyn teenages donating on my game.

Financial reward for winning the round. I never could understand this, does it really make people donate more? I mean, only one person will win anyway, so like top 10 people total will compete over this and the rest won't care, right? If your game have 1,000 players, it would be meaningless as a source of income (while being a big expense if you make it a percentage of income). But I have seen so many games that use this... Anyway, my players asked me like twice for this in recent three years, so I think it is not appealing too much, at least to my game playerbase.

Unlimited purchases of goods. With such a system the person who donate more wins. As simple as that. So, if it was me, I would just play such a game without donating. On the other hand if there were limits of purchases (like I can spend no more than $10 per month) I could consider donating, this way I knew that my cash have a good chance of bringing me victory, without worrying of some rich kid to grab it from me because of one mega purchase. Of course players might think other way, I do not know, maybe I'm losing a lot of money by having limits on donations.

[ZadoAsh]

If you looked at the current version of the game you'll notice the donating does currently suck. With the newer version I believe its more full proof. Because they buy credits, and credits can also be gained by the following methods:
- Referrals 1 credit for the referral and 1 credit when they reach so much Networth
- Credit Offers - where someone can sign up to a survey and get rewarded for doing so (I have a system for this)
- and the Credit Market where users buy credits of other users

Also, with the new game, what you get for your credits is better. It's limited more... you get a boost of so much, all you can do is increase how long it lasts... Which either way it's reset when the next round comes in. So it would be pointless buying tons and tons of days worth.

Also, I would agree with you on the mafia/crime games being unatractive for adults But, to be entirely honest I don't think any game is worth doing for a living, yes there is a good chance you can make big bucks. But the REAL money is in websites people can use all the time XD But that's besides the point. Basically to me my games are just projects, I'm 16 and recently left school so it's nothing huge to me. In fact, it's a waste of money in a way

The jackpot, I guess is a waste of money + it hasn't done anything really. Didn't make a difference.

[raestlyn]

...Also, I would agree with you on the mafia/crime games being unatractive for adults But, to be entirely honest I don't think any game is worth doing for a living, yes there is a good chance you can make big bucks. But the REAL money is in websites people can use all the time XD...

Well, a friend of mine made a game when he was 16. Now, 4 years later he just bought an appartment, paid his whole uni payments and bought a new car with the money he did get from the game in last 6 months.
Averange player age in it is about 20, 70%/30% male/female players.

Another friend has modified clone of the same game, he makes roughly 2k profit every month with it.

Both games are quite simple rpgs.

[Chris]

Both games are quite simple rpgs.

How the donation system is made there? Are there limits of goods purchases or everyone can buy to their hearts content?
Do you know how many total and active players they have?
How long are these online?

[Kimmybwoy]

Basic Idea, The Jackpot money should get saved to update server e.g

[Helderic]

What are popular genres for adults and women?

[Zeggy]

Virtual pet sites seem to have a very wide range of audience.

[jannesiera]

I think that in games where you own a horse and stuff there are some woman.

[Helderic]

Are there many female BBG developers?

[Chris]

What are popular genres for adults and women?

Do not get confused by appearances, women are humans as we are They like games too, there is no need to make "different genres" for them.

- women tend to prefer social conflict over physical conflict, they might like the game without killing more (but I wouldn't sweat over it too much, just not include too much gore)
- according to statistics social interaction is more important to women, make sure you have plenty guilds/clans, etc features.
- some women play with their kids, make the site children safe (in general women have much lower tolerance to swearing and such)

[Helderic]

What are popular genres for adults and women?

Do not get confused by appearances, women are humans as we are They like games too, there is no need to make "different genres" for them.

- women tend to prefer social conflict over physical conflict, they might like the game without killing more (but I wouldn't sweat over it too much, just not include too much gore)
- according to statistics social interaction is more important to women, make sure you have plenty guilds/clans, etc features.
- some women play with their kids, make the site children safe (in general women have much lower tolerance to swearing and such)

Lol, sorry if I make it sound like women are aliens or that they need different genres. I mean't no disrespect or to cause any offence. I was just wondering what they generally preferred and thanks for the info.