sswift: You've made some great apps ... but the market is limited to blitz programmers and then only those that need the apps.
I was a professional developer and then manager for 8 years but I now work as a consultant, and in my spare time I am making a shareware game. I have done a lot of research into shareware and tested loads of games. What is good is that one man can make a shareware game unlike a 3D epic that takes 20 people and loads of money. It doesn't even have to be that good if you can market it correctly! You can sell a shareware game on your own (if you avoid publishers who take a big cut) and you don't have any distribution costs associated with selling it in shops. I emailed some sucessful companies inc. the developer of Platypus (the shoot 'em up, he was really nice) and found out that a good shareware game may sell 10,000 - 20,000 copies in a year. At $20 each, I'll let you do the maths ... If my game sells for only $10 and I only sell 5,000 copies, well I'll still be happy, then I'll make a level pack and more games!
The important thing seems to be to stay focused and not give in with poor sales. i.e. don't work on loads of projects at once (I used to do this as it's fun!), focus on a clear goal and work to achieving it. That is what I am trying to do now, so wish me luck ;-)
As a matter of interest (for research purposes), I would like to hear your sales figures for your apps. Obviously you may not want to post them online but you can email them to me if you feel like it, I really am interested.
regards
I was a professional developer and then manager for 8 years but I now work as a consultant, and in my spare time I am making a shareware game. I have done a lot of research into shareware and tested loads of games. What is good is that one man can make a shareware game unlike a 3D epic that takes 20 people and loads of money. It doesn't even have to be that good if you can market it correctly! You can sell a shareware game on your own (if you avoid publishers who take a big cut) and you don't have any distribution costs associated with selling it in shops. I emailed some sucessful companies inc. the developer of Platypus (the shoot 'em up, he was really nice) and found out that a good shareware game may sell 10,000 - 20,000 copies in a year. At $20 each, I'll let you do the maths ... If my game sells for only $10 and I only sell 5,000 copies, well I'll still be happy, then I'll make a level pack and more games!
The important thing seems to be to stay focused and not give in with poor sales. i.e. don't work on loads of projects at once (I used to do this as it's fun!), focus on a clear goal and work to achieving it. That is what I am trying to do now, so wish me luck ;-)
As a matter of interest (for research purposes), I would like to hear your sales figures for your apps. Obviously you may not want to post them online but you can email them to me if you feel like it, I really am interested.
regards