How do free mobile games make money?

Hi there. I was wondering how free mobile games generate revenue. I know that mostly in game ads and micro transactions are the way to do it. But what are the specifics and the actual process?

 

There are several ad networks available. You create an account with the ad network and incorporate its API into your game. Unity has their own for video ads. Google has their own for a variety of ads, etc, etc.

For in app purchases Unity has a ready made package for integrating them into your project that supports the mobile markets.

 

Hi Pennywise881,
The developers can join an ad network that will provide them with access to available offers and they can start monetizing their game.
For example we at Clickky have AdExchange which is the biggest mobile CPI marketplace. Through API publishers access a live feed of 30,000 offers from premium partners daily.

By the way, you can Integrate with Clickky until June, 30th and win a prize!
The rules are super easy:
Step 1. Integrate with AdExchange via API.
Step 2. Make Top 3 according to the revenue driven to the platform.
Step 3. Get one of 3 prizes.

 

Why haven't the PC and consoles adopted ads in to their games yet?

 

It has been tried, but the marketplace has largely spoken that they won't tolerate it. The most the player base seems comfortable with is in game references to products (such as a product displayed on an in game billboard as the player drives by in a car game), or an occasional ad for another game by the same publisher displayed when first getting to the game's main menu.

The player base is intolerant of banner ads, interstitials, or video ads, so the options are fairly limited without pissing off your own users.