Description

What's special about video games? The USA video games industry revenue reached $36 billion. In the coming years, with the increasing popularity of Virtual Reality and video games, the revenue will increase more. Microtransactions and in-games purchases are a huge source of revenue for smartphone games. Astronautin can partner with Gaming studios/ publishers which make space-based video games like Star Wars, EVE Valkyrie, Adrift etc. Special items can be unlocked by users who purchase those items and a percentage of the revenue from these purchases will go to Astronautin. The great thing about this idea is that in this way, the funding becomes crowdsourced with millions of gamers contributing small amounts of money. Collecting small amount of funding from a large number of people is much easier than collecting large amount of funding from a few people. Besides, gamers already do spend money on games, so they aren't being forced to pay. Now, some practical questions. Q.1. Why would a game studio agree to such a partnership? What's in it for them? Answer: Game studios/ publishers have a lot to benefit from this unique partnership. Today, there is cut-throat competition in the gaming industry,with a number of gaming titles being released every year. When, a new game launches, this will help them become popular. Think of it, by playing a space-based video game, gamers could help launch an astronaut to ISS. They wouldn't just be playing a video game for leisure. They would be a part of something big, something real. This will increase the value proposition of this game. Besides, as part of the partnership , the astronaut can play this video game aboard ISS on a smartphone/laptop. No extra payload is required. Also, nowadays live streaming games is quite popular on Youtube and Twitch. the astronaut can stream their playing sessions. Also, there can be special in-app purchases which will enable users on Earth to play with the astronaut in multiplayer mode. Bidding process can also be used for this. Q.2. Why would Game studios/ publishers share % of revenue with Astronautin? Answer: Right now, most publishers already provide in-game purchases and microtransactions to unlock features and items within games. This partnership won't affect that at all. So, basically a new tier of in-app purchases will be introduced. Only a % of revenue from this tier will go to Astronautin. To make sure, that users can differentiate between these two tiers, the Astronatin tier can be marked with some sort of logo/visual marker . Q.3 Why would this attract more gamers? Answer: Space and rocket launches have always garnered interest of people of all age categories, especially kids. When they see a game which will actually help them launch someone to Space, that will definitely attract their attention. Even those gamers, who usually don't spend money on in-game purchases will be willing to do so, because they are doing it for a good cause. Besides, this will help inspire more people about space, the next frontier of humanity. Q.4 So, why would gaming studios introduce a new tier of "in-app purchases"? Again, how do they benefit financially? Answer: All gaming studios need to generate good revenue growth. Now, a very small % of their user base generates most of the revenue earned via in-game purchases. Most of the users don't pay for extra items and play the free version. But, when the users playing a space game see that their purchases will help actually help launch someone to ISS in real life, that will attract their attention. Thus, a % of user base which previously didn't spend money on in-game purchases will do so, thereby increasing the gaming studio's paying user base. Space-based games are only going to increase in popularity with Virtual Reality. This idea has multiple ways of producing revenue for gaming studios: purchasing special items, bidding for playing along with an astronaut. Just like nowadays a lot of charitable organizations auction dinner with famous personalities like Leonardo Dicaprio for a huge sum, similarly people can bid to play along with an astronaut ( it would like a dream come true for many people including kids). Plus, this won't waste the astronaut's time as they can definitely play games for relaxation. Also, this idea only requires Astronautin to convince gaming studios( which should be easy, as explained above), and after that funding will start coming. No scientific breakthrough required or any other problem; just a partnership( which actually benefits all parties involved, as explained above) . Also, Astronautin can hold a bidding process among various gaming studios to get a good deal on the % of revenue that they'd get. Contracts with multiple gaming studios can also be done. If this idea is implemented by 2019, then by 2020 a good amount of funding can be collected ( realistic scenario). NOTE:I have attached some pictures below. I have edited 2 of them to roughly illustrate my idea. EDIT: Gamescom is video game trade fair held annually in Germany. This year Gamescom is being held from 21 to 25 August,2018 . Regardless of the fact whether this idea gets selected or not, definitely go there to measure the interest in this idea. Take feedback from fans,studios all in 1 place. Who knows, you might strike a deal similar to what I have thought of. Fans, gaming studios, trade fair all in 1 place. Gamescom broke all records in 2017! Around 335,000 gaming fans from all over the globe attended - a record number of visitors! 919 companies from 54 countries presented their latest games, current software and innovative accessories - that is also an unbeatable result to-date! The figures are impressive confirmation: gamescom is the global number one business and communication platform for the exhibitors - and the place-to-be for all gaming fans when it comes down to experiencing the coming highlights live and meeting up with the entire gaming scene at one location.

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