Nguyen claims that Flappy Bird was created in a matter of days utilizing the straightforward Cocos2D programming language. The music effects were obtained from the public domain, while the game’s images were produced using the free program GIMP. Flappy Bird’s development therefore came at a relatively low cost; Nguyen claims to have spent about $10,000 on it.
Nguyen had multiple offers to sell Flappy Bird as a result of its popularity, with one firm reportedly giving him $1 million for the game’s rights. In February 2014, Nguyen finally made the decision to remove Flappy Bird from the app stores, citing the game’s addictiveness as the rationale.
The cost of the gaming gear for Flappy Bird varied based on the device. On iOS and Android devices, the game was free to play, though players could buy in-app goods like extra lives and power-ups. Depending on the model and storage size, the price to purchase an iOS or Android device can range from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000.
The price of a Gameboy is minimal in comparison to the cost of producing Flappy Bird. Retail cost for the first Gameboy, which was introduced in 1989, was $89.99. This is equivalent, after inflation, to about $185 in 2021. Today’s prices for Gameboys, however, vary depending on their condition and whether they are collector or uncommon models.
In conclusion, Nguyen spent about $10,000 developing Flappy Bird, making the cost of production quite affordable. Nguyen, however, had multiple offers to sell the game as a result of the game’s popularity; one business reportedly paid him $1 million for the game’s rights. With Flappy Bird being accessible for free on both iOS and Android devices, the cost of playing the game varied depending on the device. In contrast, the price of a Gameboy today fluctuates based on the model’s rarity and condition. The game that has earned the most money so far is Minecraft, which has brought in over $2.5 billion since its 2011 launch.