Learn what Advergames are, how to use them, and how to create your own! Welcome to the world of Advergaming! Interactive games are one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment and theyíre on track to exceed movie ticket sales. Using them as an advertising tool, however, is a relatively new idea that is catching on fast. Advergames are created not only to entertain, but to sell a product, brand, or company. More and more companies are using these free, brand-centric games to supplement, and even replace, traditional branding methods. If you are a Web designer, graphic designer, or game developer, youíll want to learn more about Advergames. They're showing up everywhere, on the Web, cell phones, CD-ROMs, even embedded in email. The Advergaming Developer's Guide teaches designers and game developers the ins-and-outs of this innovative new form of advertising. It shows you how to create a variety of Advergames from the ground up, even if you have no prior game development experience. The book begins with a detailed overview of Advergaming, branding, gameplay, and the two main creation tools, Macromedia Flash MX 2004 and Director MX. From there youíll learn how to conceptualize, develop, launch, and track the success of your Advergame. In the last part of the book, you'll create your own games, including a linking, matching, puzzle, memory, pinball, makeover, arcade, and whack-the-mole type game. And finally, youíll learn about the business realities of Advergames through case studies with leading companies, including Blackdot, YaYa Media, Inc., and AGENCY.COM. This is the one resource you'll need to get started with Advergames, whether youíre a Flash/Director developer already involved in advertising and game creation, a game developer looking to expand your development channels, or a Web designer looking for an innovative new tool.