This is a more comprehensive version of an article I have written on August 2003. The shareware industry changes from time to time and this updated article will help prepare aspiring klik developers for the shareware gaming world. Enjoy!

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1. Mentality and dedication: Believe in the fact that you can make money selling a klik product. Make a plan to stick to your project until completion.

2. Research: Analyze your competition. Solitaire and Majong games are saturated, to remotely compete with those games out there, you must have a very polish title. Either go for a game for the masses, like Arcade and Puzzles (you'll need more enticing visuals for this genre), or find a niche of your own.

3. Building a team (optional): You may find yourself better at programming than drawing, and your friend vice versa. It would be a good idea to pair up with that friend. Find other people to work on your project or join another to efficiently utilize one's skill.

4. Website: Get a website. I prefer www.globat.com, they got a $4/month special promotion now. Buy domain name from www.godaddy.com. It's a bargain.

5. Betatest: In the process of making your game, get feedback from people. They'll be able to provide valuable information that you may not see.

6. Strong Demo: Make sure your demo have a registration system so user can unlock the demo to obtain the full version. Softwarepassport is one way to go about it. The demo should let user know what he/she gets for the full version and why he/she should pay for it. Your demo is essentially an advertisement for your full version.

7. Get a credit card system: I prefer Regnow for the affiliates. Plimus offers better deal. You can try out Paypal as well. Your choice. Absolutely crucial.

8. Market: Here are some tips:
a. Put it on your website, no brainer
b. download.com $79
c. 100+ smaller download site, user www.robosoft.com
d. Press Release, $80
e. download.com PPD program, $500. Tough call on this one.
f. get your game reviewed (www.gametunnel.com,... ), free
g. submission to portals (realarcade and bigfishgames, ...)

9. Continually make updates. Don't give up. If this is your first project, expect months before a flux of income starts to come.

*With that I wish you the best of luck!