HOW TO START THE GAMING BUSINESS
Games are quite powerful in terms of connecting people, providing entertainment, and boosting confidence for children of all ages, including those young at heart. The gaming business has evolved drastically in the last few years with the advent of technology and the increasing number of smartphones in the world. Online gaming has replaced classic board games and card games. Now children are more interested in playing games on consoles, PCs, mobile phones, and virtual reality devices.
The gaming industry is huge and there is a great demand for all the types of games in the market. In the business context, the gaming industry has a lot of potentials and with the right steps forward one can make a mark in the industry. For all the gaming enthusiasts who want to turn their passion into the profession the very first question that will come to your mind is, how to start a gaming business?
To start a gaming business, you need the right combination of business activity and gaming knowledge. If done right, a gaming business can lead to a profitable and rewarding experience. Start with analyzing the gaming industry and look for ways to maximize profits and market your gaming business.
Start a Gaming Business by following these 6 important steps:
Great business ideas are worth nothing unless executed properly. To help you start a gaming business, we have put together this complete guide so that you can make the most from your gaming business.
Step 1: Write a Business Plan
Create a business plan that highlights the goals and plans for your gaming business. Include information relevant to your plans, such as what type of games you will offer and whether you plan to operate via a retail storefront or online store. Consider the different costs involved in opening a gaming business such as securing initial inventory, leasing a retail space, and obtaining appropriate licenses and permits to operate a gaming business. Define the type organization through which you will operate, such as a sole proprietorship or general partnership. Identify the target market of avid gamers who may purchase video games regularly.
Step 2: Secure Financing
Funds can be obtained through a small business loan or a commercial microloan from your local banks. You can speak to possible investors who may be willing to finance your gaming business. If required, you can also tap into your savings to help get your dream off the ground.
Step 3: Get done with Business Legalities
To start a gaming business, you will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes. You must obtain a sales tax license from your state's department of revenue for tax collection purposes. Apply for an Employer Identification Number with the Internal Revenue Service for federal taxation purposes. Once you decide a name for your business, formally register it with your state's secretary of state office.
Also, you need to obtain certain permits and licenses to start a gaming business. Registering for the appropriate trademarks and copyrights is very important to protect your rights if you intend to develop a unique product, concept, brand, or design.
Step 4: Choose a Software
Once you have completed all the legal and banking formalities, its time to choose the software in which your customers will play games and interact with your gaming business. While choosing the software make sure that the software offers an attractive design along with a set of popular games and reliability.
An ideal software package will offer many features such as CMS, player management system, bonus and promotions, payment system management interface, encryption software, tech support, and many more. Although a software package that includes all of these features will probably be on the expensive side, it will surely pay off in the long run.
Step 5: Look for a Business Partner
There are many factors involved behind developing a game and it takes a lot of creativity and technology knowledge to create games. While you might be very capable of operating a gaming business, it's not a given that you would be great at the game development part also. Thus, you can team up with a game development company who will develop and deliver cutting edge games for you and your customers.
In today's time, most people prefer playing games on their smartphones and thus the mobile game development platform has reached new heights. Android and iOS are the two major platforms that offer games of almost every genre. The emergence of Android game development and iOS game development has been empowering developers to create fun and innovative games. Many specialized companies inlcuding Nerdroot are great Android game developer and iOS game developer.
Step 6: Get a Sound Marketing Strategy
Your marketing and promotional strategies will ultimately hinge on the type of game you are attempting to sell. Use social networking to your advantage and connect with prospective gamers and game buyers through the channels they are most frequently exposed to. Create profiles on social networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, try to approach gamers on YouTube and game streaming sites. Advertise on these sites and services along with a sample of inventory titles. Besides, you can also create a website and register it with search engines to build a web presence.
Growth Potential of your Gaming Business
The gaming industry is growing at quite a rapid pace. Video games are incredibly popular due to recent improvements in graphics, the rise of online gaming and cross platform mobile game development, and the arrival of Virtual Reality (VR) technology. Build a successful game and your business will have the potential to grow quite rapidly. The key is to succeed in the gaming industry with one hit game that builds a fan base and generates momentum toward additional titles for your gaming business.
This article was originally published here - starting a gaming business
