How to Build a Website like BigFish and How Much Does It Cost?

Building a website like BigFish could be a wise move if you want to make your mark in the gaming industry and generate interest from online gamers across the globe. Let us kick off this blog with a little question: what is BigFish?

BigFish is a Seattle-based gaming website that has successfully attracted a large pool of casual game consumers, thereby offering a diverse range of games. Whether you are looking to establish a site for downloading games, multiplayer gaming, or both, the approach BigFish has taken will undoubtedly a great one to take inspiration from.

To create a platform like BigFish, you need a website that is user-friendly and includes numerous options and features to attract repeat visitors. This includes an easy-to-navigate interface, an instant-load home screen, and a cleverly designed select-and-play gaming library. So, a better understanding of these aspects could help you create a captive client base for your products or services.

Top Websites like BigFish for Ideation

It is common practice to take inspiration from others in the industry when developing a clone website or an online platform. The same goes for developing a website like BigFish. A comprehensive understanding of the website and the areas of competency and weakness might put you at a great spot in the industry.

Here are some of the top competitors of BigFish based on keyword traffic, audience targeting, and market overlap. These websites can be of great use if you want to replicate the idea of gaming websites like BigFish.

GameHouse

GameHouse offers a wide variety of casual games, much like BigFish. These games attract a significant number of users looking for fun, accessible games.

With 677.8K total visits, users spend an average of 1:48 minutes per visit, viewing about 2.36 pages per session.

GameTop

GameTop focuses on offering free, full-version game downloads without ads, attracting a large global audience.

Their site receives 1.9M visits, with users viewing 4.43 pages per visit on average and spending about 2:36 minutes per session.

iWin

iWin offers free online games for download and play for PCs and mobile devices.

It has 422. 2K total visits, the average number of pages viewed per visit was 42, and the average amount of time spent per visit was 4:28.

Pogo

Pogo and other companies offer numerous free online games, including card and puzzle games.

Pogo is also unique, having a humongous 13. 2M visits, 94% of visits and a visit duration of an average of 13:32 did not show a high bounce rate.

Shockwave

Shockwave.com is a hub for over 1,800 free online games, from puzzles to racing games.

With 669.6K visits and a lower bounce rate of 34.26%, their visitors are highly engaged, spending nearly 4:45 minutes on the site.

GameFools

GameFools is considered to specialise in safe and proven casual games that can be downloaded to the PC.

They attracted thousands of visits and the users had seen an average of 68 pages per session and an average session time of 1:48 minutes.

PlayFirst

While not as prolific as before, PlayFirst was another player in casual gaming and had titles such as Diner Dash.

They no longer get much visits, but their contributions can still be observed in conversation to do with casual video games.

PopCap

One of the most famous brands in the sphere of casual games is PopCap, which is part of the Electronic Arts company.

Even with fewer unique visitors, they have a bounce rate of 71%, 29 seconds per visit.

Games.com

Games.com provides the latest in gaming news alongside a selection of casual games.

They receive 34.9K visits, though engagement is lower with a high bounce rate and short visit duration.

Key Features that Make BigFish Stand Out

BigFish and websites like BigFish stand out in the online gaming market due to their user-friendly design, diverse game library, and robust community features. Here are some of the key elements that make it stand out:

Extensive Game Library

BigFish offers a vast selection of games, from puzzles and hidden object games to adventure and strategic games. The diversity in genres caters to a wide range of players, making it a go-to platform for casual gaming.

User-Friendly Interface

The site is created to be user-friendly, featuring simple navigation and a neat design. Gamers can easily find and initiate games, improving the overall user experience.

Game Trials and Membership Options

BigFish provides free trials for most of its games, allowing users to try before they buy. They also offer a membership program that gives users access to exclusive discounts and benefits.

Strong Community Engagement

It also consists of forums, reviews, and social interaction options where gamers can have discussions and swap reports. This sense of community keeps users and their participation rates high, and this is something that very few websites or online communities can boast of.

High-Quality Content & Regular Updates

The game selection of BigFish is constantly enriched with new titles, so the content of the resource is always interesting. They also make sure that all their games are top-notch in quality so as to ensure incredible user experience.

Multi-Platform Compatibility

Users access the website on different devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones to enjoy their preferred games on the go.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a BigFish-Style Website

A website like BigFish might have hooked you into thinking about what it takes to build a gaming hub that offers multiple games to gamers. The idea is simple, yet it may drive massive revenue in terms of subscriptions, in-game purchases, and streaming. So, how do you get started? Let’s see the steps to build a website like BigFish.

Define Your Niche & Audience

Determine the specific gaming niche you want to target and understand your audience’s preferences. This will guide your content and design decisions.

Design a User-Friendly Interface

Create a website layout that is intuitive and easy to navigate. Prioritise a clean design with clear categories and search functionality, enabling users to find games quickly.

Set Up a Membership & Payment System

Implement a membership model that offers benefits like discounts and exclusive content. Integrate a reliable and secure payment gateway to handle transactions smoothly.

Develop Community Features

Build forums, review sections, and social sharing options to foster a sense of community among your users. Encourage interaction and user-generated content.

Regularly Update Content

Keep your game library fresh with regular updates. Offer new titles, special promotions, and seasonal events to keep users engaged.

Test & Launch

Before going live, thoroughly test your website for functionality, usability, and performance. Once satisfied, launch the site and begin marketing to attract users.

Breaking Down the Cost: What to Expect

Building a gaming platform like BigFish is a big investment. Let us break down the main costs you’ll likely face:

Design Costs

Creating a website like BigFish that looks good and is easy to use can be tricky. You will need to hire professional and creative designers and developers to make your site visually appealing and user-friendly at the same time. So, expect to spend a good chunk of money on design elements:

• User Interface (UI) &User Experience (UX) Design: This is about making your site easy to navigate and pleasant to look at. It will cost around $10,000 – $50,000.
• Graphic Design: Creating eye-catching graphics and logos to give your site personality. Expect to pay around $5,000 – $25,000.

Development Costs

This is where the tech wizards come in. You will need to build an engaging platform, connect it to payment systems, and make sure it works smoothly. Expect to pay for:

• Website Development: Building the website. $30,000 – $150,000
• Platform Development: Creating a space for game developers to showcase their games. $50,000 – $250,000
• Payment Gateway Integration: Setting up a secure way for people to pay. $5,000 – $20,000

API Costs

APIs are like digital messengers that help different parts of your website talk to each other. You will need APIs for things like:

• Game Integration: Bringing games onto your platform.
• Payment Processing: Handling payments smoothly.
• Analytics: Tracking how your site is performing.

Game Development Costs

If you are creating your own games, get ready to open your wallet. This includes:

• In-House Development: Hiring a team to create games from scratch. $100,000+ per game (average)
• Game Licensing: Buying the rights to use other games.

Game Integration Costs

Once you have games, you will need to make sure they work well on your platform. This means:

• Testing: Checking if everything works as it should. $5,000 – $20,000 per game
• Optimisation: Making sure games run smoothly on different devices. $5,000 – $15,000 per game

Maintenance Costs

Your website is like a car – it needs regular care to keep running smoothly. You will need to budget for:

• Updates: Keeping your site fresh and secure.
• Customer Support: Helping people with problems.
• Server Costs: Keeping your website online. $500 – $5,000 per month (depending on storage needs)
• Marketing and Advertising: Getting people to visit your site.

Factors that Influence the Overall Cost of BigFish-Like Websites

1. The more the customisation the more the cost. Custom designs, features, and game development can significantly increase costs.
2. A larger game library, higher traffic, or more extensive features may require more expensive hosting solutions and scalable tools.
3. Premium tools and plugins usually offer better features but come at a cost. Choosing between free and premium options can impact your budget.
4. The extent of your marketing efforts, including SEO tools and paid advertising, will determine how much you spend on attracting and retaining
5. If your site handles several transactions, payment gateway fees will add up. High-volume sites may benefit from negotiating lower fees or choosing gateways with better terms.

Building a BigFish-style website involves various costs depending on your choices in tools, technologies, and scale. By understanding these variables, you can effectively strategise and allocate funds for your project.

Budgeting Tips for Building a Website Like BigFish

Creating a website similar to BigFish requires careful financial planning. Here are some budgeting tips to help you manage costs effectively:

1. Start by focusing on core functionalities, like game listings, user registration, and e-commerce capabilities. Adding extra features later can help you spread out expenses.
2. Pick the tools that offer a balance between cost and functionality. For instance, WordPress with WooCommerce are more budget-friendly compared to custom-built platforms.
3. There are many high-quality free or open-source tools available. CMS platforms like WordPress or game development software like Unity offer free versions that are sufficient for most projects.
4. Choose hosting and tools that can grow with your site. Start with a basic plan and upgrade as traffic and demands increase, avoiding unnecessary upfront costs.

How We Approach Projects like BigFish at FuturByte

At FuturByte, we view projects like BigFish not just as websites but as strategic investments. We understand the process of developing a gaming platform that is efficient and capable of meeting market demand. We work within the concept of the client’s vision, where we align technologies and, subsequently, design principles.

In our opinion, it is important to design a solution that is cost-effecient and of high quality. We ensure that the product we develop is user-friendly and scalable, using the right development tools.

We consider the client’s goals and employ cutting-edge methods to build a website similar to BigFish that will need minimal changes down the line.

Conclusion: Is a BigFish-Like website right for you?

The decision of whether or not to create a website like BigFish depends on the purpose, budget, and available expertise. If you have a passion for gaming and a desire to develop a platform that allows users to play the games they want, then this type of website could be useful. However, it is also important to understand that a platorm like this requires adequate finances.

If you have a clear vision, it is possible to construct a website that stands out in the highly competitive gaming market, provided it is approached comprehensively and with a proper understanding of what successful budgeting entails. If you are up for the challenge, then a BigFish-like website could be the right project for you.

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