Game business and digital economy (5cr)

Objective

You are aware of different business and revenue models in the game industry such as freemium and premium.
You know the basic principles of how the chosen business model affects game design decisions.
You understand the basic principles of digital economy.
You are aware of the different channels to market and advertise your games.
You understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and how to assess the revenue logic.

Content

How does the business model of a game affect game design?
What are the differences between monetisation models such as premium, freemium and paymium?
How are affiliate marketing, microtransactions, subscriptions and merchandising used in games as a source of revenue?
How to write a business plan for your game?
What to take into account when setting up a startup and how to estimate its profitability?

Evaluation

– understand different game business models and their pros and cons.
– look for information from books and other information sources.
– take target group needs into account in the business plan.
– analyse and justify a choice of a business model.

Course material

Material on Learn

Study forms and methods

The course mostly online. Contact lessons are on campus when the group has contact days.

If you have a comparable previous academic achievement (i.e., a higher education-level course completion), have studied for a year in, for example, a folk high school, and have work samples to present, or if you have skills equivalent to or exceeding the course level, for example, through work experience and have a portfolio to show, you may seek to have the course accredited. However, you must first discuss this with the course instructor.

RDI and work-related cooperation

The course might include an assingment given by a game company

Timing of exams and assignments

The course is completed by assignments that are assessed according to specified criteria. There is no exam in this course.

Student workload

1 ECTS credits equals 27 hours of work by the student.
In a 5-credit course, the student's total maximum workload is approximately 135 hours including lessons, group work and independent study.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

The course completion requires that all assignments are assessed with a passing grade.

Qualifications

Basic knowledge of game production required.