Fundamentals of Game Monetization

The Fundamentals of Game Monetization course is designed to equip aspiring game designers, solo developers, teams new to free to play games, and UGC creators with a solid foundation in monetization strategies. Whether you’re working on free-to-play mobile games or user-generated content (UGC) platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, this course will guide you through the essentials of understanding what profitable games do to monetize without sacrificing player experience.

Through a blend of theoretical lessons and hands-on challenges, you’ll explore the evolution of game monetization models, from premium to freemium, subscriptions, ads, and beyond. You’ll apply what you learn through knowledge checks designed to mimic real-world scenarios and assess how successful game designers approach revenue generation across various genres of games.

In the capstone project, you’ll deconstruct the monetization strategies of a successful free-to-play mobile game and a UGC game, guided by a veteran Game Designer with 20+ years of experience. The final exam places you in a simulated work environment where you’ll make key monetization decisions for a free-to-play game, allowing you to see the immediate impact of your choices on player behavior and revenue. Through multiple iterations, you’ll optimize your approach to meet performance targets, and solidify your understanding of fundamental game monetization.

For a detailed overview of the course, please watch the Course Overview Lecture, which is free for anyone to view.