Facebook monetarisation restrictions

[Chris]

Question to those who have Facebook integration, how the monetarisation is exactly done there and how strictly they supervise it? It seems as you can only use their FBcredits and can not use google adsense.

http://developers.facebook.com/adproviders/ (list of allowed ad networks)
http://games.slashdot.org/story/11/01/25/0547222/Facebook-To-Make-Facebook-Credits-Mandatory-For-Games?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29 (FBcredits are becoming exclusive payment option starting on 1st July)

How it is done, if you simply add the FBconnect button and open the website on a separate page do they still keep all these restrictions? EDIT: I just read the link I posted, it seems the games inside canvas are only affected (the FBcredits part) at least for now

[ST-Mike]

Admins have ignored my deletion request - if you're not going to delete my account then don't have the option there please.

[Chris]

No, you have to use FBcredits exclusively, you have to disable paypal and others (for now it seems it would apply only to canvas applications). That's the whole change. Right now you could use them alongsite other options, from 1st July not anymore. If you have a game displayed inside FB only FBcredits allowed.

That's the whole issue...

[Harkins]

Facebook Credits are mandatory but are not exclusive. If you have a game with virtual good sales you have to offer FB credits, but you are welcome to use other systems as well.

[Zeggy]

I'm pretty sure facebook credits will be mandatory AND exclusive.

http://www.insidefacebook.com/2011/01/24/facebook-sets-july-1-2011-deadline-to-make-credits-sole-canvas-game-payment-option/

That's why it's such a big problem for game developers because facebook will start taking 30% from all sales.


Chris: If you only use facebook connect, then your game isn't hosted on the facebook platform and you can use whatever payment options you want.

[ST-Mike]

Admins have ignored my deletion request - if you're not going to delete my account then don't have the option there please.

[CygnusX]

I see this move only making competition in this niche market of ours even tougher than it currently is.  If facebook has their way, they'll become the monopoly of browser games, driving their 500 million (soon to be a billion) users toward the games they think you need to be playing.  And why look on the web for this anymore when facebook is now the ultimate self proclaimed top-site list?  And if this situation forces us into moving to FB, we'll be head to head against Zynga, their team of graphic artist, and the many other pro bbg developers that are sure to come.... especially with HTML5 canvas elements.  

[Zeggy]

Basically, you are allowed to let users buy gold, credits, tokens, etc., any 'currency' you want, but they must buy it with facebook credits. They just mean that you don't need to call your premium currency 'credits' or 'facebook credits'.

Facebook credits are mandatory in the sense of a payment method, but not as a currency. It's your choice if you want to go with 'use facebook credits to upgrade your castle' or 'exchange/buy <premium currency> using facebook credits!'.

[ST-Mike]

Admins have ignored my deletion request - if you're not going to delete my account then don't have the option there please.

[Chris]

I say move into FB whilst you can, that's what we're doing.

The dilemma is not to move or not. Of course we all have to move sooner or later, no chance to survive otherwise.

The question is if to move as standalone application with FBconnect or as fully integrated canvas based app inside FB?
The latter will require to use FBcredits (30% cut) and removal of adverts. Plus all the problems with the crappy FB API (like recently the canvas resize window stopped working and they don't intend to fix it at all ) and smaller page available and overall slowness.

[CygnusX]

What are the chances of doing both?  Having first a facebook ap that ties in, abiding by facebook standards.  Then having an auxiliary site that allows for the same PvP interaction (against the same players from the same database), yet has discounted rates/paypal and advertising?

[ST-Mike]

Admins have ignored my deletion request - if you're not going to delete my account then don't have the option there please.

[ST-Mike]

Admins have ignored my deletion request - if you're not going to delete my account then don't have the option there please.

[Chris]

I'm assuming this is all ok but I'm not sure if FB would be happy that anybody can load up "criminalforce.net", login with their FB account and access the game in a 10x better interface and have payments not go through FB.

This count as non canvas app and only as using FBconnect, therefore restrictions do not apply (at least that's how I understand this).

I highly doubt that the FBcredits give you SMS payment for 30%. If they did everyone would just use FBcredits for this purpose alone and all other mobile payment processors would go bankrupt I understand the 30% is for the standard credit card processing only and for other payment methods they charge more?

If/when Facebook allow this API to be used for non-canvas apps,

I thought it is perfectly possible right now? It's only about the place where it opens but everything else works the same? Well, except FBML but they are discouraging the use of it anyway and they were also saying you can not use it for new apps since it is disabled.

As for canvas vs standalone, http://echobazaar.failbettergames.com/ is only standalone and they have 20,000 monthly users according to FB. This is also a fairy young game, so not bad at all... Also, I was watching the habits of FB gamers (not many through) and it seems that they don't mind leaving the FB page to a new one. I also never heard "I would not play a FB game if it opens in a new window".

[Zeggy]

I highly doubt that the FBcredits give you SMS payment for 30%.

Payment method is completely hidden to you because the user buys credits from facebook, not you. You get paid per credit spent on your game, not how many credits the user has bought. When a user spends credits on your game, those credits get transferred to your app, and then you can redeem your app's credits for payout.

I thought it is perfectly possible right now?

Nope, only canvas iframe apps can use the credits api.

I'm sure eventually facebook will open up the api to outside sources though.