With regards to monetization, Zynga apaprently became profitable only two months after their launch in 2007. They go on to quote the surprising prediction of $100 million in profits for Zynga this year. Zynga are the front-runners in social games, including such popular titles as Texas Hold’Em and Mafia Wars.

Overall, this seems to be a good area to be getting into right now. The article’s comment that most games are released with a small percentage of their functionality rings true, as the staticnothing Facebook game soon-to-be-released will have a similar incremental roll-out.

Independently created videogame, Spelunky

Today’s inspiration in individual empowerment through technology comes from the video game world.  I was surprised when I started looking into how much this industry is changing.  Not too long ago, to create a video game, you would need to be a part of a large development team, working under permission of console manufacturers.  In the case of PC games, designers wanting to make a game with wide appeal, and sophisticated gameplay, would need significant capital and man-power behind them.

That’s not the case today.  Check out a game called Spelunky.  This PC game was developed, as far as I can tell, by only one person named Derek Yu.  This 2d side-scrolling platform jumping game has an amazing scope and its depth and sophistication is not something I would expect to come from a single person in such a short time.  His work was enabled by a tool called Game Maker which offers quite a few tools for free, or a pro version for only $25.  Tools like this (and there are many more out there) enable people with good ideas and dedication to create interesting and innovative games, true to their vision, without the roadblocks corporations or licensing  would cause.