You've poured enough cash into
Apple's App Store - isn't it time to ^ siphon some off for yourself? Here are
three ways to reverse the monetary tide...
1. Crowdsource a song on your iPhone
Sezion studio
Website: www.sezion.com
Sezion
studio
Aided by the presence of more musicians
than the annual Guns N’Roses reunion barbecue, Sezion’s iPhone app turns
songwriting into a crowd sourced online collaboration. Record your
vocals/guitar/ sax/kazoo (delete as appropriate) into your phone, edit it,
upload it and then choose from parts submitted by others to compose a
multi-layered rock opera to be shared directly via Facebook or Twitter. You’ll
be the subject of a major-label bidding war before the final chord has finished
ringing. Perhaps.
Use it with iRig Pre
Website: www.promusicals.com
iRig
Pre
Sezion supports adaptors such as iRig’s new
PRE, which allows you to use any microphone with an XLR connection - handy if
you don’t want your recordings to sound like a symphony of bees trapped in a
watering can.
2. Sell your photos
Foap
Website: www.foap.com
Foap
Uploading your smartphone snaps to
Instagram might make you feel like a photographic artiste but it won’t give you
the bank balance of one. If you reckon your pics are worth paying for, Foap’s
iPhone app provides a marketplace from which to sell them. Just tag your photo,
upload it and wait for the cash to start rolling in. You’re not allowed to add
filters to hide your lack of talent and Foap takes 50% of any money you make,
but even that’s got to be worth more than a few ‘loves’ on Instagram.
Use it with 8X Telephoto Lens
Website: www.ebay.com
8X
Telephoto Lens
The iPhone’s digital zoom only degrades the
quality of your pics so invest in a proper optical zoom lens instead. The lens
magnifies up to 8x and even comes with a mini tripod to keep your shot
rock-solid and in focus.
3. Make your own app
After graduation from Carnegie Mellon
University, Ankush Gupta returned to India to set up business in technology. In
January 2011 Ankush launched Mobox Labs, which released its iOS game Super
Arrows. The game has been free as well as paid over the past eight months,
making good money for Mobox Labs.
Keep it simple stupid: K.I.S.S
Ankush believes in the KISS strategy.
Projectile motion based games get adopted fairly early and are easier for users
to play. There is enough value in cashing in on established game mechanics.
Innovative game play/level design goes a long way.
Know your strengths and weaknesses
It is very important for the
developer/publisher to know his strengths. Game development has many pieces to
it, which have to fit nicely to make a complete puzzle. Game design, level
design, art, copy, sound coding, testing and publishing must all be done right.
It is also important to know one’s weaknesses and work hard on them.
Be adaptive
During the course of game development, the
game might change its course. It’s important for the producer to adapt with the
changing environment (issues like a key employee quitting/market conditions
changing/etc). The industry is very dynamic, with new trends coming in every
month. It is important to adapt your game to the emerging trends.
Eventually, the one who can identify and
implement emerging trends quickest is the winner.
Persistence and visualization
Being persistent is key - it’s very
important for you to persist with your idea.
A single launch might not make you all the
money and success you wish for. Updates are important. And improvements are
even more important.
Monetization
Apps and games can be monetized in multiple
ways. Study your market well enough before deciding on your monetization
strategy. Be open to change in the strategy during the course of the game.
