Monetization strategies and how they are implemented with UETOPIA

One of the goals with the design of UETOPIA is to be flexible enough to support any combination of monetization strategies, including utilizing a third party payment solution.  This makes for quite a few options and combinations.

Why do we care about monetization?

Multiplayer games require servers, and these servers have a cost associated with their operation.  At a minimum, multiplayer games need to generate enough revenue to cover this server cost. Ideally, the game would provide a revenue stream to cover initial development, and any ongoing updates as well.

How to choose the strategy that best fits your game.

Here is a great post by Chris Cobb, that covers most of the monetization strategies available to developers, and goes into some detail describing the psychology, and challenges that face each of them:

https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ChrisCobb/20171116/309740/Video_Game_Monetization_Strategies.php

Want to dig deeper into the psychology?  Check out Jamie Madigan's book:

https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Gamers-Psychology-Impact-People/dp/1442239999

Available monetization strategies:

Sticker price - sell a game in its entirety for a single purchase price

Subscriptions - players pay a monthly fee to play on the game servers

Free-to-play - players can play some of the game for free, and are able to purchase premium content that somehow enhances the experience

Arcade - players pay a small fee for each gameplay session

Advertising - players view ads

Donation - players voluntarily donate

So how do these strategies fit in with UETOPIA?  Let's cover them one by one. Again, UETOPIA is designed to be flexible, that's why there are so many options.  Feel free to mix and match them in your game.

Sticker price.

Through UETOPIA:  Users would pay your sticker price (in CRED).  UETOPIA would deduct a 5% fee, and your game would get the 95% deposited into your game wallet.

Through a third party:  Users would pay your sticker price.  The third party would deduct whatever fee they charge, and your game would get a deposit into your bank account.  You would deposit CRED into your game wallet as needed. UETOPIA deducts a 5% fee on your game wallet deposits, and 95% is deposited into your game wallet . You would be responsible for verifying valid users.

Subscriptions.

Through UETOPIA:  Users would subscribe to your game through UETOPIA.  A monthly, weekly, or yearly transaction would be automatically created.  UETOPIA would deduct a 5% fee, and your game would get the 95% deposited into your game wallet.

Through a third party:  The third party would automatically create transactions, deduct whatever fees they charge, and deposit them into your bank account.  You would deposit CRED into your game wallet as needed. UETOPIA deducts a 5% fee on your game wallet deposits, and 95% is deposited into your game wallet. You would be responsible for verifying valid users.

Free-to-play.

Through UETOPIA:  Users can purchase additional content using CRED in-game.  UETOPIA would deduct a 5% fee, and your game would get the 95% deposited into your game wallet.

Through a third party:  You can set up your own microtransactions system if you prefer.  The third party would deduct any fees they charge, then deposit the transactions into your bank account.  You would deposit CRED into your game wallet as needed. UETOPIA deducts a 5% fee on your game wallet deposits, and 95% is deposited into your game wallet . You are responsible for all of the technical details including security and customer service.  

Arcade.

Users are charged an amount in CRED at the beginning of each match, or upon joining a new server.  UETOPIA would deduct a 5% fee, and your game would get the 95% deposited into your game wallet.

Advertising.

Users view ads.  The advertiser deposits funds into your bank account.  You would deposit CRED into your game wallet as needed.  UETOPIA would deduct a 5% fee, and your game would get the 95% deposited into your game wallet.

Donation.

Players donate CRED to the game's wallet.  UETOPIA would deduct a 5% fee, and your game would get the 95% deposited into your game wallet.