Eochu Blast

Monetizing apps is not an easy task, as nowadays, options to monetize desktop applications are plentiful.

The following five ways show you how you can get invested money back and earn much more with your finished app. 

SDK

Using an SDK for monetization is indeed a really attractive option. Having selected it, you will get a chance to monetize users’ data easily. Don’t be scared, as personal data is not analyzed here. The following things are taken into account:

• Type of device.
• Location. 
• Age and more.

Another argument in favor of choosing SDK is that this method to monetize desktop application can be easily combined with other options. 

Ad-supported app

Most people are familiar with this form of monetization. Advertising banners are shown in your app on parts of the display, or the content is only activated after viewing the advertising video. The integration of advertising allows you to generate money in a simple way, which can add up to higher income as the number of users increases. If you use this form of monetization, you can generally offer your app for free and earn money without your users paying for it since you are paid for ads displayed by the advertisers.

There are several ways to include advertising in your app, so it is essential to choose the one that suits your needs and goals better.

Paid app

For this monetization option, in order to earn money, the user is asked before or during the installation to enter or confirm their payment details. Payment is made to the respective provider of the app store and is forwarded to you as the owner of the app, with the retention of a “commission.”

Most apps are priced between €0.99 and € 4.99, but some apps cost more money. However, since it is more common to pay small amounts of money for an app, you should be aware that you will only generate enough revenue with many downloads and purchases. Therefore, a well-thought-out marketing concept is essential if you hope to generate income from downloads of your app.

However, before your app is listed in the app stores, it must be subjected to a review process, which is strict and costly, depending on the provider.

In most cases, paid apps are native apps. In general, monetized apps are almost always developed natively; this is also due to the fact that these apps are the most extensive and have the most functions. 

Freemium app

This word is made up of Free and Premium and stands for the combination of free (basic) and paid (premium) apps.

Users can download the free app on their smartphone but are encouraged to buy the premium app by:

• Limited functions of the free app.
• Restricted content (e.g., some content must be activated), a so-called “paywall.”
• Advertising is present in the free app but not in the premium app.

You should note that, on average, only approximately 0.5 – 2% of the users decide to buy the premium version.

In-app purchases

In-app purchases describe the possibility of making purchases directly from the app to activate additional content or functions or remove restrictions.

In-app purchases can help accelerate your progress or unlock new levels. Various applications now rely on this model, and with good reason. It tends to be easier to convince a user of an app to spend money on the application, which has become dearly loved, than to show him the price for downloading from the very beginning.

Another significant advantage is the modularity made possible by in-app purchases. Instead of offering the app in its full form and at a correspondingly higher price point, users are left to choose whether the basic variant is sufficient for them or whether they want to book additional functions and content. Not every user needs every feature, so a little flexibility can’t hurt.

Subscription model

Another model that is becoming more and more important is the subscription model. In this case, app users are offered a subscription, which means that they do not even pay a large amount, but rather small amounts of money at regular intervals (monthly, quarterly, or annually) for using the app.

Games have become a favorite hobby for most computer users. For “simple” games, it is enough to have a regular office computer of average power. But most “advanced” versions with high-quality graphics, powerful sound effects, and the ability to immerse themselves in virtual reality require powerful systems with special characteristics “sharpened” for the game.

Considering the performance of new laptop models, which is equal to the parameters of many desktop systems, we can conclude that it is more profitable to buy a new gaming laptop. Moreover, it has additional advantages – it does not take up space in the house, is easily transported from place to place, and can become a helpful companion on long trips.

The gaming laptop’s main parameters and available functionality depend on the games you want to enjoy. If these are turn-based strategies, RPG versions, or quests operating in “old” modes, then standard options with average performance values ​​will do. But if you play top games and test the latest versions of games with virtual reality elements, you need a modern laptop model with “gaming” characteristics.

What to look for when buying a gaming laptop

In order for a gaming laptop to fully meet the expectations of a gamer, when choosing a specific model, it is necessary to take into account some features. Let’s take a look at each in detail.

• The cost of the laptop. A good gaming laptop doesn’t come cheap. However, the high price does not guarantee its suitability for resource-intensive games, since the high price may be higher due to the use of better materials for the manufacture of the case, the installation of the most capacious battery or exquisite finish, as well as advanced functionality that does not affect performance during the game. Therefore, when choosing, you should not rely solely on the price parameters of the model.
• Graphics card parameters. First of all, we should unambiguously delete laptops with integrated graphics from the list of models. To play “without brakes” and lags on the part of the system, you need to pay attention to models with discrete video card “game” lines GeForce GTX from NVIDIA or Radeon AMD. In this case, video memory should be more than 2, or even better – from 4 to 8 GB. DDR5 memory should be preferred. Good results are shown by the GeForce GTX 1050 and Radeon RX 460 video cards.
• Processor performance. Since the performance of the entire system depends on the characteristics of the processor, you should not try to save money on the performance of the processor chip: it must have at least two cores with four computational threads. Taking into account the current trends, it is best to choose four- or eight-core models. The best solutions for gaming laptops are considered to be the new generation i5 – i7 from Intel or A8-A10 from AMD.
• Display options. This is probably the only parameter by which laptops are a little bit worse than desktop gaming systems. However, you can always connect large monitors to your laptop. Typically, gamers prefer laptops with screen sizes of 15-18 inches since the entertainment of game plots depends on this. At the same time, it is not worth choosing models with a resolution of less than 1920×1080 since new games may not work in more straightforward modes. The type of matrix can be either TN – with a short response time, good viewing angles, and natural color rendering, and IPS – with maximum viewing angles. Usually, experienced gamers prefer matte screens, which have lower light reflectance.
• The speed of RAM and hard disk. RAM, like the processor, determines the performance of the entire system and multitasking parameters, so in gaming laptops, its volume should be at least 8 GB, but it would be better if you purchase a model with 16 or 32 GB of DDR4 memory. It is advisable to choose a model with a slot for installing additional memory modules. 
• HDD. Most modern laptops have 500GB of storage, but modern games take up quite a bit of disk space, so it is best to have 1TB or 2TB of disk space. To speed up the operation, models with a solid-state drive and HDD are currently offered. Such models are very useful for gaming laptops.

Conclusion

Now you know the basic metrics for choosing a gaming laptop, but the final choice should be made based on a trade-off between adequate performance and maximum budget and the player’s preference for lighting and other design elements.

Video games from African countries were unheard of in the past, but the market is rapidly growing. For example, in 2016, the value of the Kenyan video game market was $ 50m and by the end of 2021, it is expected to double.

 African Video game developers are coming up with new African themed games each day. The great minds are developing games that depict the African culture both in the villages and the cities. For example, the Okada Riders from Nigeria’s ChopUp studio brought out the Lagos streets’ heroic traffic gridlock.

1.     Tales of Hasan

 Do you love watching people fight for their loved ones? Tales of Hasan has got you. The game brings out the story of a hero who is determined to save his people from danger. He has the quest to see his people come out of misfortunes. As a result, he risks his life.

 Poka Studios produced the video game mainly for android apps. Besides, you can download it in less than a minute. Its size is about 6.8MB. You can fly, jump and roll as you find your way out of obstacles, fights, and trolls with Soronko and Kweya, the evil witch.

2.     Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan

 It is one of the most successful and biggest African video games. What about its story? It is an enticing one. The video games explore the world of adventure that Aurion, Prince Enzon, and his wife Ernie went through. They are determined to reclaim the throne that Aurion’s brother-in-law took.

 Guess what? Aurion is available in English and French. Besides, you can download it on your Android and iOS devices. Also, it is available at several online casinos. Lastly, if you have a desktop, you can browse it and play via your Windows browser.

3.     Africa Trail

 If you love bicycle riding, Africa Trail brings you the journey to Cape Agulhas, South Africa, in a few days using a bicycle. In the game, the player must choose three out of six teammates for the journey. However, the teammates have different travel experiences, skills, and bicycle riding experiences. 

The video game portrays the various African cultures and travel routes. The MECC game covers the History, culture, geography, and diversity of Africa. Lastly, it teaches you the importance of careful decision making and how to manage the available resources at hand.

4.     Semblance

Nyamakop, a South African game development studio, released Semblance in July 2014. On the other hand, Good Shepherd Entertainment published it. You can play the video game on your Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and OS X.

To play the 2D platform game, you use a blob-like creature to monitor the hardness world that has gotten the ordinary soft world. As you play, you twist parts of a platform made of playdough. Also, you deform to avoid dangerous places and get to higher positions. You can get the game interface in English, French, Korean, and Japanese.

5.     Throne of Gods

Do you love the African culture? Throne of Gods is a video game from Nigeria that appreciates Africa’s rich culture. It thrillingly portrays African mythology. Besides, it allows you to use several African gods and goddesses to fight.

Ali, a creative artist and a game developer, and Iruo, a programmer and asset developer, came up with the video game. Finally, Throne of Gods appeared at the West African Gaming Expo in Lagos back in 2016.

6.     Nairobi X

Andrew Kaggia, the founder of Black Division Games, came up with the Nairobi X video game. It shows Nairobi’s prominent landmarks because it reflects Nairobi CBD in the year 2030. Besides, the game’s PC version includes music from Juliani, a Kenyan rapper.

 It has a character known as Otero. He is the only survivor from a team that fights extra-terrestrial beings that have snatched the Nairobi CBD. It would be best to shoot down as many as possible to secure the city against the alien invaders. Even though the game is simple, it gives you the pride of seeing an African town featuring a video game.

7.     Child of Light

Child of Light is a role-playing video game from Ubisoft Montreal. It was released in July 2014 on PlayStation Vita and Nintendo back in October 2018. Its visuals, gameplay, story, and soundtrack cannot go unrecognized by players.

 The game’s story is set in a fictional land called Lemuria. It talks of Aurora, a child who wakes up after dying from a strange illness. Aurora has to bring back the stars, the moon, and the sun restrained by the Queen of Night to return home.

8.     Africa’s Legend

Africa’s Legend video game had received more than 50,000 downloads by 2013. Most of its players are from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and some UK and US regions. Leti Arts developed the game.

The video game embraces the African culture by featuring an unnamed Pharaoh and Wuzu, a Kenyan Maasai warrior. Also, it includes the unknown Ninja, the daughter of fictional President Mubacha from Nigeria. You can enjoy playing Africa’s Legend game as you mesmerize the different cultures from Africa.

9.     Gidi Run

Are you a race game lover? You will fall in love with the Gidi Run video game from Gamsole. It features Musa, Bamidele, Ebuka, and Shanko, who are transport workers. Musa is a cop who threatens public transport workers, but Shanko is a no-go zone bus conductor who doesn’t fear Musa.

You can access Gidi Run on PC and Windows Phone. Its visuals and soundtrack never disappoint. This makes the video game compete with other race games such as Temple Run, crossy road, and Asphalt Street Storm Racing.

10.  BroForce

Free Live Company developed the BroForce video game based in Cape Town. During its development, the video game sold more than 250,000 copies. Free Live released the video game in 2015 for OS X, Linux, and Microsoft Windows. The PlayStation 4 Version came in 2016, while the Nintendo Switch one was released in 2018.

 The game involves a bro who fights back terrorists and saves his bro teammates and war prisoners from captivity. When playing, you earn more as you rescue many war prisoners.

African video games are enjoyable to play. You not only enjoy playing, but you also learn and appreciate the culture and diversity of people. Therefore, you can download them on your phone, laptop, tablet, and play during your free time. You will boost the African game developers and help them penetrate the world’s gaming market.

Daniel Ahmad, a senior analyst at Niko Partners, spoke about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s success in the UK. He gained access to the British sales charts and based on them concluded that Valhalla took second place among the games in the series for starting sales in the UK.

Daniel Ahmad noted that the calculation took into account the circulation of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla for the first week of sales in both British retail and “digital”. The first place in the starting sales among the twelve parts of the franchise in the UK, according to the analyst, still holds Assassin’s Creed III, which was released in 2012.