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EventBitZ's illustrative starting points are about $5,000 for a simple branded single-event game, $15,000 for an original game, $17,000 with a branded joystick, and $25,000 or more for a cabinet experience. These are our scope guides, not industry averages or fixed quotes.
First, choose what needs to be original
A simple branded game starts with a defined format and changes the visual identity, copy and start/end screens. It can fit a focused campaign where the core action already supports the message. An original game starts earlier: we work out what the player should do and why that action belongs to your product.
In Process Runner, bottlenecks reduce momentum and milestones restore it. That relationship between the product problem and the rules is part of the creative work. New mechanics, multiple levels, distinctive characters, complex scoring and several audience paths each add decisions, production and testing. Choose the smallest version that makes your central message clear.
See how Process Runner turns a workflow into a game ↗Compare the starting scopes
A price comparison is only meaningful when the deliverables match. Ask whether a proposal includes original art, the intended devices, revisions, lead capture, a leaderboard, hosting and event support. At EventBitZ, lead capture and leaderboard features are included where applicable to the agreed original-game scope; they are not a promise that every concept has every integration.
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| Experience | Illustrative start | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple branded game · one event | ≈ $5,000 | Branding of a simple format; browser delivery for one event. |
| Original custom game | ≈ $15,000 | Original game scope, development and refinement; twelve months of hosting. |
| Original game + branded joystick | ≈ $17,000 | Original game scope with custom wrapped arcade controls. |
| Original game + cabinet | ≈ $25,000+ | Physical cabinet experience; screen, shipping and setup shape the quote. |
Budget for the complete activation
Separate the game from the things needed to run it. Your venue, exhibit builder or AV partner may supply the laptop, display, internet connection, power and installation. A cabinet adds physical production and freight considerations. Onsite support, rush delivery, special integrations, extra screens and complex booth construction are quoted separately when needed.
Our original custom-game scope includes twelve months of hosting. Continued hosting and maintenance is currently $2,000 per year. Confirm the terms for a single-event branded game, repeat events, changes and support in your quote. We currently use a 50% deposit to begin, with the remaining 50% due upon game delivery.
A practical worksheet has four lines: game production; hardware and venue services; launch support; and future use. Put an owner beside each line so the same display or service is not budgeted twice.
Allow time for decisions as well as development
Allow 2–5 business days for the concept direction after we have the brief. The concept describes the game flow, message and objectives; it is not the finished game. Development typically takes another 2–4 weeks after concept feedback, depending on complexity. Allow approximately two additional weeks for feedback and refinement, with hardware and event logistics confirmed separately.
Bring your event date and internal approval dates to the first conversation. A product launch with several reviewers needs an agreed feedback owner. Combining comments into one response makes the next version easier to evaluate and reduces conflicting instructions.
Define success before adding features
Freeman's exhibit planning guide recommends starting with event goals and checking each activity against them. For a game, translate that into one concrete action: a relevant product conversation, a booked demonstration or an agreed follow-up. A leaderboard may be useful, but a high score alone does not show buying intent.
Source: Freeman: Your Ultimate Guide for Exhibiting ↗
For example, an observability campaign could connect a round of Save the Stack to a conversation about the visitor's monitoring challenges. Decide who asks the question and where the answer is recorded. Track game participation separately from qualified conversations and accepted follow-ups so the team can judge the activation against its actual objective.
Send a brief that makes the quote useful
You do not need to arrive with a game design. Send the customer problem and the intended next step. We can then propose a concept direction in 2–5 business days and confirm pricing against the agreed scope.
- The product or campaign and one message the visitor should remember.
- Who will play, where the game will run and the event date.
- An example you like and what you like about it.
- Your likely budget range and existing screen or hardware setup.
- Lead capture, branding, approvals and future-event requirements.