如何接受视频游戏付款

为了成功发布视频游戏并实现盈利，开发者需要一个强大的支付系统。该系统应提供进行交易的手段，并保护交易免受未经授权的访问。本指南介绍了一个创建支付系统的流程，该系统是根据以下方面的具体考虑量身定制的 视频游戏业务。一个可靠且高效的支付系统可以通过一个多步骤流程建立。这个流程可能会影响收入产生和用户体验。

Before you even begin to consider payment solutions, it’s fundamental to understand your game and its target audience.After all, the payment experience you design should seamlessly integrate with your game’s overall feel and cater to your players’ preferences. Start by asking yourself these key questions:

• Target market analysis: who are my players? 
  • Geographic location: Where are your players primarily located? (e.g., North America, Europe, Asia) This will heavily influence the currencies and payment methods you need to support.
  • Player demographics: What are the age ranges and typical tech-savviness of your players? Younger audiences might prefer mobile wallets, while others might rely on credit cards.
  • Gaming habits: Are your players used to free-to-play with in-app purchases, one-time purchases, or subscription models?

Understanding your players’ demographics and habits will help you determine which currencies and payment options are essential. For instance, if your game targets younger audiences, offering mobile wallet options like Apple Pay or Google Pay might be crucial.

• 游戏盈利模式： 我的游戏如何赚钱？是一次性购买、免费游戏加应用内购买，还是订阅模式？盈利模式会显著影响您对支付解决方案的需求。
  • 一次性购买： 您的游戏是具有单一购买价格的独立产品吗？
  • 应用内购买 (IAP)： Do you offer virtual goods, currency, or extra content within the game? If you plan to offer in-app purchases, ensure the solution seamlessly integrates with your game’s virtual economy and supports the management of virtual currencies.
  • Subscription model: Do players pay a recurring fee for access to content or online services?

• Transaction volume and scale: what scale am I operating at?
  • Estimated transactions: How many transactions do you anticipate per day, week, or month? This can influence processing fees and the level of scalability you will require.
  • Growth projections: How quickly do you expect your player base to grow? These factors will influence your choice, as some solutions are better equipped to handle high transaction volumes and rapid scaling than others. 

• Budgetary considerations: 我的预算是多少？在考虑支付处理的潜在经济影响时，要务实。这不仅包括交易费用，还包括潜在的设置成本、月费或年费，以及您可能需要的任何额外工具的成本，如欺诈管理、税务合规和分析。 
  • 交易费用： 您愿意为每笔交易支付的百分比或固定费用是多少？
  • 设置成本： 支付解决方案是否有任何初始设置或集成成本？
  • 月费/年费： Are there recurring costs for using the platform?

• Technical capabilities: do I have the technical resources? Integrating a payment solution requires technical expertise. 
  • Development resources: Do you have in-house developers who can handle API integrations? Consider the potential cost of hiring a developer to assist with the integration or explore no-code solutions to manage costs.
  • Existing infrastructure: What platforms or game engines are you using? Ensure compatibility with the payment solution.

By carefully considering these questions, you’ll gain a clearer picture of your specific needs, laying the groundwork for choosing the right payment solution.

Now that you have a solid understanding of your requirements, it’s time to explore the payment solution landscape. Two main categories dominate this space: Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and Merchants of Record (MoRs). Each offers distinct advantages and disadvantages.

支付服务提供商 (PSP)

支付服务提供商（PSP），如Stripe，是常见的选择，尤其适用于规模较小或需求较简单的企业。虽然这些服务通常提供直接的设置和成熟的品牌认知度，但请考虑它们对玩家信任的潜在影响。PSP在全球和货币支持能力方面可能面临限制；因此，评估为您的特定业务需求量身定制的替代解决方案可能是有益的。客户需要管理税务合规、欺诈预防和退款。这可能意味着额外的成本和复杂性，因为您可能需要投资单独的工具和专业知识来处理这些关键方面。细分如下： 

示例： Stripe, PayPal。

Pros: 一些服务提供简单的集成选项和值得信赖的品牌，这些可能非常适合需求更基础的小型企业。

Cons: 虽然此选项提供某些好处，但其全球覆盖范围可能存在限制。此外，它可能需要更多的人工来管理税务和合规性，这可能会导致更高的退款责任。

名义商户 (MoR)

In contrast, alternative 名义商户 (MoR) such as PayPro Global provide a wider range of solutions. They act as the legal seller of your games, taking on the burden of tax compliance, fraud management, and chargebacks. While MoRs typically offer a wider range of payment gateways and multi-currency support, it’s important to carefully consider whether this aligns with your specific needs and target markets. If global expansion and diverse payment options are priorities, MoRs might be worth exploring.

示例： PayPro Global;

Pros: Tax compliance, fraud management, chargebacks, payment gateway and currency options, and global expansion.

Cons: May have higher transaction fees than some PSPs (but may be cheaper than PSPs with additional features like fraud prevention, sales tax compliance, etc)

Ultimately, the choice between a PSP and an MoR depends on your specific needs and priorities. If you have the resources and expertise to manage the complexities of international payments and compliance, a PSP might be a viable option. However, if you’re looking for a hassle-free solution that allows you to focus on game development and global expansion, an MoR could be a more strategic choice.

Once you have a general understanding of PSPs and MoRs, it’s time to delve deeper into the specific features offered by each solution. This is where your initial assessment of your needs becomes invaluable. Here’s a breakdown of the key features to consider: 

• 支持的付款方式： Does the solution support all the ways your players want to pay? This includes not only major credit and debit cards but also digital wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, as well as local payment methods that are popular in your target markets. This might include:
  • Credit/Debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
  • Digital wallets: PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay
  • 本地支付方式： 微信支付、支付宝（中国）、iDEAL（荷兰）、SEPA直接借记（欧洲），

• 全球覆盖和货币支持。 如果您的游戏有全球化愿景，请确保解决方案支持：
  • 多币种处理： Can you accept payments in various currencies and automatically convert them?
  • Localized checkout: Does the checkout experience adapt to the player’s language and location?

• 欺诈预防 and Security are essential to protect your business. Look for solutions that offer advanced fraud detection mechanisms, such as:
  • Fraud detection tools: Does the solution use AI or machine learning to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions?
  • 3D Secure Authentication: Does it support 3D Secure (Verified by Visa, Mastercard SecureCode) for added security?
  • PCI DSS compliance: 该解决方案是否符合支付卡行业数据安全标准 (PCI DSS)？

• 税务合规与申报. 理解国际税法可能是一个要求很高的过程，需要仔细关注细节。实施一个解决方案来自动化税收计算并履行汇款义务，保证符合不同司法管辖区的法规。
  • 自动化税务汇款： 该解决方案是否根据玩家的位置自动计算、收取和汇出销售税、增值税和其他税费？
  • Tax reporting: Can you easily generate reports for tax purposes?

• In-App Purchase (IAP) capabilities; If your game relies on in-app purchases, the solution should provide smooth and secure transactions within the game.
  • Seamless integration: Can the solution be easily integrated with your game’s IAP system?
  • Virtual currency support: Does it support the management of virtual currencies and goods?
  • API payments on demand: Can you withdraw funds from the existing client without having him go through the checkout (for additional purchases)? 

• 订阅管理，对于采用订阅模式的游戏，请关注以下功能：
  • 定期计费： 该解决方案是否可以处理定期订阅并管理失败的付款？
  • 订阅计划： Does it allow you to offer different subscription tiers and manage upgrades/downgrades?

• 集成和API. Evaluate the ease of integration with your existing technology.
  • API Documentation: Is the API documentation clear and comprehensive?
  • SDKs and Libraries: Does the solution offer SDKs or libraries for your game engine or platform?

• Customer Support and Service: Reliable customer support is essential, especially when dealing with payment processing. Consider
  • Support Channels: How can you contact support (email, phone, chat)? How responsive are they? 
  • 支持可用性: What are the support hours and response times? Billing support could potentially benefit from providing 24/7 live customer assistance through multiple channels. 

通过仔细评估这些功能，您可以缩小选择范围，并选择符合您特定要求的解决方案。花时间了解各种选择及其功能可以帮助您做出明智的决定。重要的是要考虑到，当您考虑必要的额外费用时，最初看起来更便宜的选择可能会在后期产生额外的成本。

一旦您选择了支付解决方案，就该将其与您的游戏集成。请遵循提供商的文档和最佳实践，以确保顺利的集成过程。这通常涉及使用他们的 API 和 SDK 将您的游戏连接到支付网关：

• API Integration: Use the provided APIs to connect your game to the payment gateway.
• SDK Implementation: If available, utilize SDKs for easier integration with your game engine.
• Testing in Sandbox: Most providers offer a sandbox environment to test transactions without real money.
• End-to-End Testing: Test various payment methods, currencies, and scenarios to ensure a seamless user experience.

Thorough testing is crucial to guarantee a seamless payment experience for your players. Most providers offer a sandbox environment where you can test transactions without using real money. Explore this opportunity to test various payment methods, currencies, and scenarios to evaluate their potential impact on overall functionality.

完成测试阶段后，您可以启用支付集成，并让玩家可以玩您的游戏。 持续监控性能 您的支付系统，跟踪关键指标，如转化率、交易成功率和常见错误。

密切关注玩家反馈 on the payment process. Are they encountering any difficulties? Are there any points of friction in the checkout flow? Analyze feedback to understand areas where enhancements to the user experience can be implemented.

Following these steps may provide insights into selecting an appropriate payment solution for your video game business. The characteristics of a payment experience could potentially have an impact on revenue, player satisfaction, and the longevity of success.