Top-selling Android game grosses just $23k in October

Mobile games optimized for the Android operating system enjoyed a 53 percent month-over-month gross revenue increase in October 2009 according to data issued by strategic market research and consulting firm Fade LLC, which credits the growth to the release of the Android 1.6 "Donut" update and its Android Market revisions enabling more efficient consumer navigation and expanded product descriptions. However, Fade indicates that October's best-selling premium Android game, Lupis Labs Software's Robo Defense, sold 7,600 units at $2.99 each--that translates to gross monthly revenues of just $22,724. Developers retain 70 percent of Android Market revenues, which means Lupis Labs took home about $15,907 in Robo Defense sales last month. In terms of unit sales, HeroCraft Ltd.'s Farm Frenzy generated 4,070 downloads at a price of $4.77, for gross revenues of $19,414.

While Android game downloads yielded an estimated $850,000 in revenue in the first seven months following Android Market's introduction of premium applications, Fade forecasts that sales are poised for strong Q4 growth thanks in part to a series of new and forthcoming Android smartphones, including the Motorola Droid. Fade anticipates Android game revenues will jump about 50 percent month-over-month to $270,000 in November as consumers upgrade their handsets during the holiday season, and believes total Android game sales for 2009 will reach $1.75 million by year's end.

For more on Android game sales:
- check out the Fade LLC data

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