Re-Monetizing an Old Game: Porting Flash Games to HTML5

Using HTML5 as this particular game platform allows making the porting without huge investments.

Briefly about HTML5:

Firstly a few words, why I suggest using HTML5 for porting flash games: HTML5 is a widely known technology that has such syntactic features as, and elements, as well as the integration of scalable vector graphics (SVG) content (replacing generic tags), and MathML for mathematical formulas. These features allow to make it easy to include and handle multimedia and graphical content on the web without having to resort to proprietary plugins and APIs.

Below I would like to point out the main benefits and some shortcomings of using HTML5 for porting a flash game.

Pluses:

1. Cross-platform (the ability to launch a game on any platform)
2. The development of HTML5 apps takes relatively little time
3. Saves resources (writing of the universal code for all platforms is less costly in comparison with developing native apps for each platform)
4. Easy bug-fixing

Minuses:

1. Security
2. Possible productions issues
3. Some limitations of the mobile devices
4. Lack of the common standard for the browsers and devices (bug-fix could be quite time-consuming)

What games are suitable for being ported to HTML5?

Not any game is suitable for being ported to HTML5. There are a few limitations that should be taken into account, for instance:

During Flash to HTML5 games conversion for mobile, the attention should be paid to the control to gain the desired game experience. It is possible to develop tab sensor, still it is not often useful because the players fingers hedge the majority of the display what leads to the gameplay/ levels reconstruction or even to rejecting the idea of porting the game. 3D games are not suitable for porting under the mobile web (WebGL technology is not supported by the majority of the mobile browsers). The success of porting process greatly depends on the approach of the html5 game development company.

How to make the porting qualitatively? Three step approach:

Porting the graphics

Art is almost the only thing that we would take from the old game, as the code will be written from a scratch. Porting of the graphics is a complex procedure. Its complexity depends on the initial game format. In the end we should get the raster version of every element of the game starting from the background up to effect animation.

Porting the logics on JavaScript

This is the most significant and time-consuming process. Normally a game is developed with using a framework.

Testing and bug-fixing

Worth mentioning, that to make the testing of the mobile-web app as effective as possible you should use a number of mobile devices, at least the most popular. Otherwise it is possible to refer to the company that provides QA and testing services.

When the testing is finished the question regarding the distribution arises as well as regarding licensing and it's specific.

We are a leading game development company and you can hire html5 game developers from us to port Flash games to HTML5 or even build an HTML5 game from scratch which will be accessible through any device and which is what today’s gamers look for. Let's move on to monetization strategy for your game.

Monetize your game:

- Mobile Ads

Integrating mobile ads is relatively easy and has potential for uncapped revenue. Flappy Bird is a great case study whereby a lone developer was estimated to generate $50,000 per day. All that was required was for the developer to sign up for an ad network like AppFlood, integrate the networks SDK, and wait for users to click on ads.

- Deploy in-app purchases

Generating high volumes of revenue, in-app purchases (IAPs) are a common strategy that is netting game app developers including King.com and Rovio tens of millions of dollars. In most cases, these in-app purchases enable players to buy in-app upgrades to improve their characters, exchange real money for in-app currency, and purchase consumables virtual goods to style your avatar, buy extra moves in Candy Crush, or speed up your game progress.

- Pay to download

By far the easiest way to monetize your app is by listing your mobile game as a pay-to-play app on the app store. The immediate disadvantage you're up against with a paid business model is the obvious it's more difficult to market and scale a pay walled app, and convince users to download the app. Although, whether average developers would generate more revenue from a paid business model compared to a freemium model is arguable.

- Be Creative

Choosing a right business model is the key when it comes to monetize your game. But if you're stuck on deciding on a business model, we suggest you to opt for a freemium app that uses both mobile ads and in-app purchases. After all 90% of apps, are available in the app stores for free.