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By - Justin Smith - 7 Comments »

Facebook app analytics shop Developer Analytics released a report today detailing what it’s calling the “Top 20 Facebook Apps by Monetization Potential.” While the calculations are estimates based on data points from developers, panels, and surveys, they do illustrate that social games possess many of the measurable characteristics required to monetize apps well on social networks.

What was the methodology? Developer Analytics says, “Monetization potential is calculated based on five trend equations derived from hundreds of real CPM, and CPA/Virtual Goods revenue data points collected directly from developers and partners. The five equations relate revenue to total daily unique users, return users, churn rate, application age, and daily page multiplier (impressions/unique user/day).” However, DA caveats, “We currently have not implemented our system for tracking average time by hour spent on an app per user per day, so highly engaging flash games… have heavily underestimated monetization potentials.”

Games included in the top 20 are Mob Wars (which DA says could make $20k/day), PackRat (which only has 20k DAU), Friends For Sale, (Lil) Green Patch, Pet Pupz, and Parking Wars.

DA is very excited about Mob Wars, and with good reason – the game has a ton of highly engaged users that last a long time. One thing we do know is that, like many of the great social games of our time, Mob Wars is monetizing through a virtual currency system with incentivized CPA offers via Offerpal Media and Super Rewards.

Whether the coefficients in DA’s algorithms are right remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – you can make great returns with well tuned social games on Facebook.

To dig deeper into the social gaming market, check out our new report: Inside Virtual Goods: The Future of Social Gaming 2010.

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7 Responses to “Facebook Games Make Money, According to Developer Analytics”

  1. Inside Facebook » Meet the Godfather Behind Mob Wars’ (Real) Money: Super Rewards Says:

    [...] Facebook game Mob Wars has recently been rumored to be the most profitable app on Facebook. While that will never be known for sure, one thing is clear: Mob Wars is making a lot of cash. [...]

  2. Henry Carpenter Says:

    fun

  3. The New Killer Platform for MMOGs is… FaceBook? « Online Alchemy Says:

    [...] successful is this?  Mob Wars reportedly is the top Facebook game, making more than $20,000 per day (external estimates of $7-15M annual [...]

  4. Obnoxious but Profitable: Facebook applications - Internet Entrepreneurship Says:

    [...] Facebook allows programmers to use Facebook’s platform for free, which does two things.  First encourages programmers to come up an endless stream of programs.  Second, this low barrier to entry allows almost all of the advertising revenue for these applications to be profit.  (Some applications make between $2,148-$22,499 a day). [...]

  5. ARPUs in social networks and social games: An acronym that needs scrutiny « Live Gamer Says:

    [...] Developer Analytics estimated in August 2008 that more than 20 Facebook Apps had monetization potential of $2,000 per day. Following the terms in its contract with application developers, Facebook virtually sees none of [...]

  6. john Says:

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