Frequently asked questions
Requirements
1.
How much does it cost to publish my game at Bigpoint.com?
Nothing! Publishing your game on Bigpoint.com is absolutely free. Even the services we offer which help with the technical integration of your game won't cost you a penny. You are, however, responsible for integrating the game yourself.
2.
What technical requirements does my game have to fulfill in order to be published at Bigpoint.com?
At the moment, our system only supports browser-based games which can communicate through XML RPC.
3.
Do I have to have in-depth knowledge of programming in order to integrate my game onto Bigpoint.com?
Yes, this is absolutely necessary. In order to integrate a game, you have to have a good knowledge of computer programming especially in PHP. You should also know how to use XML RPC. Further information about this can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XML-RPC.
Modalities
1.
If I register in the DevLounge, does this mean that I am obligated to put a game onto Bigpoint.com website?
No, definitely not!. You can read through the DevLounge information at your own pace and test out the functions offered there yourself. You can see what other developers think about your game at Bigpoint.com in the forum.
2.
Can I operate my game on other portals after it has been published on Bigpoint.com?
Yes, that is possible as long as you do not have an exclusivity arrangement with Bigpoint. The standard contract, however, does not include an exclusivity clause.
3.
How can I earn money with my game at Bigpoint.com?
The revenue that your game generates from the users in the Bigpoint community, for example, from the sale of items and subscriptions, will be split between Bigpoint and you according to a set revenue sharing program. You’ll receive a minimum of 25% of all net revenues. In return, Bigpoint will grant you access to more than 60,000,000 registered Bigpoint users. In addition, Bigpoint supports a total of 120 payment systems worldwide which you can use for your game. You will also benefit from online advertisements and TV spots about the Bigpoint portal which are created by the Bigpoint marketing department for an international audience.
4.
What languages can I publish my game in at Bigpoint.com?
The Bigpoint portal is currently available in over 20 different languages, and additional languages are in the works for the future. You can offer your game in every single one of these languages. Remember: If you register your game for a particular language, you must already have translated it and offer the translated version for the users.
5.
Can I use advertising in my game?
None of users who register for your game over the Bigpoint portal may be shown advertising of any type. We only wish to provide our users with content and advertising which has been approved by our Quality Assurance department. This is the only way we can ensure the quality our users have come to expect, and guarantee conformity to our Terms and Conditions as well. If external advertising is used in your game or in one of your forums, we can no longer guarantee this.
Integration
1.
How do I integrate my game onto Bigpoint.com?
So that your game can be accessed by players on the Bigpoint portal, you have to attach it to our interface first. You’ll have to make a couple of small adjustments to your game in order to make this feasible. A detailed document about the adjustments to be made can be found in the members-only area in the DevLounge.
You can use a wide variety of graphics in your game such as screenshots, banners and teasers and upload them onto our server via the DevLounge to make your game visually appealing on our portal. In your Sandbox, you can test in peace and quiet to see if everything in your game works according to plan.
2.
My game has been fully integrated, but it still hasn’t gone online?
Once you’ve completely finished the configuration of your game, it has to be sent to Bigpoint’s Quality Assurance department to be authorized first before it can go online. There is a special area in the DevLounge for this where all the functions and information of your game will undergo thorough examination. You can think of the process as being similar to a traffic light: In this stage, your game is at the “yellow light” where it will be evaluated and given the final touches.
Once the QA department has given the green light, your game will be put online immediately and you’ll be informed right away with an e-mail from us. Your game is now accessible for everybody to play on the portal. However, if the QA finds errors in your game configuration, you’ll receive a detailed error report from us. Once you have fixed all the bugs described in the report, you can resubmit your game for further evaluation.
3.
Can I edit my game in the DevLounge although it is already online?
Yes, you can! And you don’t even have to take your game offline. But you will have to send all the changes you made to the QA department once again for their approval.
4.
Who will be in charge of providing support for my game?
Since you are the one person who knows your game inside and out, you will be responsible for providing support for your game. It’s very important that you create a forum where your users can go and ask questions and communicate with others. You can link the forum directly to the Bigpoint portal: But don’t forget that the quality of your support service will definitely factor into the success and popularity of your game! And, so that you can answer questions from your users with regard to the payment system, you will have access to a special tool in the DevLounge whcih gives you an overview of the payment activities for your users.
5.
Will Bigpoint take over the role of hosting my game?
No, you’ll have to continue operating your game on your own systems. Players will only be redirected to your game from the Bigpoint portal. Ensure that your server has enough capacity for you to respond quickly if the game catches on within the community and user traffic starts to skyrocket.
6.
What are the reasons why the QA can turn down my game?
Games that glorify violence and contain racist or pornographic content/storylines and games that violate copyright laws by using copyrighted material (such as graphics, names, quotes and fonts) will be rejected by our QA department. Even after your game has been published on our portal, the content, setting and storyline of your game will be checked on a regular basis. If your game violates these conditions, you will be notified by e-mail. You will be given sufficient time to take corrective measure.
7.
Where will my game be shown on the Bigpoint.com website?
You can present your game on your own special page within our portal. Users can access your game from this page directly. Don't forget: Impressive graphics and a snappy text will ensure that your game is a raging success on the Bigpoint.com portal.
8.
How can a user find my game on the portal?
Users can find your game on the portal with the search function as well as with the teasers which can be found on the homepage, the overview pages and in the game lists. Where your game appears and in which position is determined by a ranking index which is calculated from different factors. Relevant here are things like the availability of your game and the popularity among the users. The more popular your game, the faster it will make its way up the charts or even get placed as a Top Game.
In addition, your game will be displayed in real time in the game ticker when a user is currently playing it.
Payment
1.
Does my game have to have a payment system?
No, this is not a mandatory requirement. It is possible to integrate free games without a payment system.
2.
Can I use my own payment system?
All users who register for your game over the Bigpoint portal may only use the Bigpoint payment system as a method of payment. If you have already integrated your own payment system, it must be deactivated for this user group. This is the only way we can guarantee our users the security and quality which they have come to expect. You will also benefit from their trust in the Bigpoint system.
3.
How and when will I be paid?
You’ll receive your portion of the revenues on a monthly basis. You’ll receive payment from Bigpoint on the 21st of each month for the revenues made from the previous month. However, this amount must exceed a minimum of USD $50. If it does not exceed this amount, it will be carried over to your account for the following month.
So that we can transfer your money to you, you'll have to provide us with your bank account information. There is a special area in the DevLounge for you to do this.
4.
How can I check the success of my game on Bigpoint.com?
In the DevLounge, we offer several options top check on your game. Thanks to comprehensive statitics, you can view how much income your game is generating at any time, or how many Bigpoint community users are playing your game.
Support
1.
Who can I contact if questions or problems pop up during the integration of my game in the portal?
The DevLounge offers you an extra forum just for this situation. Here you can ask all your questions about the implementation of your game and you will receive prompt help from our Support. In addition, you can exchange ideas with other developers. You'll find the forum under the menu option "Support" in the members-only area of the DevLounge.
