Secrets for Creating Casual Game Best Sellers

The casual game industry has rocketed throughout the past couple of years, as online downloads of such fun games are bringing in high revenues. As a result, companies are reorienting their business strategy towards this market segment in order to hopefully develop those next best sellers. The casual game industry has rocketed throughout the past couple of years, as online downloads of such fun games are bringing in high revenues. As a result, companies are reorienting their business strategy towards this market segment in order to hopefully develop those next best sellers. This also means that the market is becoming oversaturated with all sorts of fun games. One company that has been making headlines for some time now is Popcap whose titles such as Zuma, Peggle and Bookworm have tagged billions of online downloads. So, what is Popcap’s secret for developing not only fun games, but also best sellers?

Lesson 1 for maximizing online downloads: “Make fun games for people”

This is actually a quote from Popcap’s senior producer, Lee Johnston. The idea is that casual gaming should be developed for everybody, not only gamers. As market studies have revealed, online downloads of casual games are increasingly popular among regular users and not only diehard gamers. Therefore, in order to develop those next best sellers, try and think from the perspective of an ordinary individual. Strangely, Popcap’s business director says that their company has never focused on current gaming trends in order to develop their future games. Popcap’s approach has been to simply try and create fun games for everyone, as those best sellers would come naturally. Hearing this from a company that has created so many best sellers over the past years is quite something.

Lesson 2 for maximizing online downloads: Marketing practices to maximize online downloads

Contrary to other companies’ marketing strategies, Popcap believes that maximizing online downloads that does not necessarily imply an aggressive marketing campaign. If you know you capable of developing fun games, then let the games speak for themselves and reach their potential of best sellers. Interesting enough, Popcap did not market any of their releases during the first 5 years and this did not pull back on their titles becoming best sellers. Therefore, if you are confident you have developed fun games, online downloads should naturally start picking up.

Lesson 3 for maximizing online downloads: Draw inspiration from the classics

Gaming used to be about living in the moment and this is what Popcap is trying to accomplish with their line of fun games. One key ingredient of all their best sellers so far was the emotional experience similar to those early fun games such as Pac Man. This does not involve saving a game or building a character, it’s the simple feeling of excitement when accomplishing a simple task.

Lesson 4 for maximizing online downloads: Don’t compromise on quality

If you don’t feel good about a game then drop it, as it will probably not become a best sellers. Fun games are all about feel so, as a developer, if you don’t see great potential then don’t go for it.
Take these lessons by heart since Popcap is one of the leading developers of casual gaming and they know their business.