Do and Don’ts in GameDev For New Studios
Here are the key Do's and Don'ts in GameDev for a new studio.
Anton Slashcev
Key Metrics Every Mobile Game Developer Should Know
Key Metrics Every Mobile Game Developer Should Know Here are 8 essential KPIs you need to track:1️⃣ DAU (Daily Active Users)- Unique users who engage with your app daily.- How to impact: Regular content updates and improving retention are key.2️⃣ Retention- Percentage of users who continue playing over time.- How to impact: Improve FTUE, progression systems, and introduce meta elements to keep players coming back.3️⃣ Playtime- Average time users spend in the game daily.- How to impact: Deepen the game loop, introduce engaging mechanics, and add social elements.4️⃣ ARPU (Average Revenue Per User)- Average revenue generated per user over a specific period (daily/monthly).- How to impact: Boost conversion rates, add new in-app purchases, and optimize ad placements.5️⃣ Conversion- Percentage of users who make a purchase.- How to impact: Offer targeted offers, adjust prices for different segments, and enhance the perceived […]
Technical knowledge isn’t just for Game Devs.
Technical knowledge isn’t just for game developers. Managers need it too. I was shocked by some comments on my recent post— some managers don’t realize that game designers don’t need to code to work within an engine. 🤯 That’s why I’m ready to die on this hill: understanding the technical details of game development is critical, even for producers and managers.Why? Because without this knowledge, you’re at risk of making costly mistakes, like:• Hiring only game designers who can code• Expecting 3D models to be animation-ready without rigging and skinning• Assuming a game will run smoothly on all devices because it works on one• Ignoring technical debt until the codebase falls apart• Adding "just one small feature" that could take a year to develop• Delaying QA until the last minute because "finding bugs isn’t a big deal"Some might argue that […]
Want to break into game development in 2024?
Want to break into game development in 2024? Here’s how to start from scratch:𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟬: Don’t spend a dollar on paid game design courses. → Focus on free, high-quality resources.𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟭: 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬→ Use these resources to build your foundation:𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀: 🎥 Game Maker’s Toolkit (https://lnkd.in/eV8jiCC3) 🎥 Brackeys (https://lnkd.in/emePzUpy) 🎥 Thomas Brush (https://lnkd.in/e7NFK9vH)𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘀: 📝 Deconstructor of Fun (https://lnkd.in/eMdVqAPZ) 📝 Gamasutra (https://lnkd.in/e2cFCDBe) 📝 Game Design Skills (https://lnkd.in/ewXVpJ6H)𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀: 📚 Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (https://lnkd.in/etk_WeP5) 📚 The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell (https://lnkd.in/eFt9MRdf) 📚 Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier (https://lnkd.in/ebvmm7Ty)𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟮: 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘→ Apply your knowledge in game jams every month:🕹️ Ludum Dare (https://ldjam.com) 🕹️ itch.io Game Jams (https://itch.io/jams) 🕹️ Game Jam Central (https://lnkd.in/et3fqfrk) 🕹️ One Game a Month (https://onegameamonth.com/) 🕹️ Global Game Jam (https://globalgamejam.org/) 🕹️ GMTK Game Jam (https://lnkd.in/ecSD6V_K)𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟯: 𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞→ Connect with industry pros:𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄: Sergei VasiukGökhan Üzmez Jakub Remiar 𝗙𝗼𝗿 […]
Roadmap to Improve Game LTV
A roadmap to improve a game's LTV isn't as complicated as it sounds. Here's a straightforward process to follow:1. Nail short-term retention first. ↳ Focus on optimizing the onboarding experience to hook players2. Drive high engagement. ↳ Make a compelling and fun gameplay loop 3. Then, focus on long-term retention. ↳ Add new content and features↳ Create strong progression and goals to keep players invested over time4. Convert players into paying users. ↳ Create resource shortage and offer tailored starter packs 5. Increase payment frequency. ↳ Add time-limited deals or season passes to encourage consistent spending6. Raise the average transaction value. ↳ Offer high-value bundles and adjust prices based on player segmentation7. Explore additional revenue streams. ↳ Experiment with ads and subscription tiers through A/B testing → The challenge lies in the execution. • Each step offers multiple approaches. • […]
Live-Ops Features Starter Pack
Live-Ops Features Starter Pack Here is a list of references from top games for each feature:𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀• Piggy Bank• Double & Tripple Offers • Rolling Offer• Starter Pack Offer𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀• Happy Hours• Daily Quests• Race Tournament• Solo Tournament• Win Streak • Milestone Tasks• Time pressing challenge𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀• Daily Bonus• Push Notifications• Album Collection𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀• Partners • Clans • Friends• Team Tournament 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 \ 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲• Board Minigame• Treasure Hunt Minigame• Plinko• Slot Machine / Wheel Minigame• Puzzle𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀
List of 10 Free / Open Source Game Development Tools:
1. Godot Engine (Game Engine) https://godotengine.org/2. Blender (3D Art) https://www.blender.org/3. GIMP (2D Art) https://www.gimp.org/4. Taiga (Planning) https://www.taiga.io/5. Twine (Narrative) https://twinery.org/6. Drone (CI/CD) https://drone.io/7. Penpot (Whiteboard) https://penpot.app/- Excalidraw (Whiteboard) https://excalidraw.com/8. Ardour (Sound) https://ardour.org/9. AppFlowy (Documents) https://www.appflowy.io/10. Colyseus (Networking) https://www.colyseus.io/
Engaging FTUE: Make or Break Your Game
Creating an engaging FTUE can make or break your game.Here’s a cheatsheet to get it right:1. Onboarding 🚀• Start with a strong hook to captivate players.• Clear objectives guide the player smoothly.• Introduce features gradually.• Keep tutorials short and effective.2. User Flow 🌐• Ensure easy access to gameplay.• Make controls accessible.• Provide progress indicators.• Use an intuitive UI.3. Core Gameplay 🎯• Focus on game feel.• Implement a fun mechanic.• Allow for immediate action.• Keep rules easy to understand.4. Visuals 👀• Use smooth animations.• Prioritize art style consistency.• Ensure readability.• Add some juiciness to the experience.5. Progression 📈• Set clear goal setting.• Offer early rewards.• Implement retention hooks.• Enable fast initial progression.6. Monetization 💰•Clarify your value proposition.• Time your introduction wisely.• Consider ads integration carefully.• Ensure monetization doesn’t disrupt user experience.
Match Factory Grew From $1M to $17M in 9 Months
Here is what you need to know: 🕹 Game Details:• Genre: Match-3D• Monthly Downloads: 2.2M (+400%)• Market Share: 49%• Launch Date: Nov 01, 2023• Audience: 90% Female, 10% Male🤑 Key Success Factors:• Strong LiveOps: Constant tournaments and activities keep players engaged—similar to Royal Match.• Balanced Difficulty: Easy at the start, but challenges escalate, keeping players hooked.• Top-Notch Quality: Stunning object physics, effects, and a user-friendly interface.💢 Main Competitors:• Triple Match 3D• Happy Match Cafe• Tile Match 3D
Most Popular Engagement Mechanics in Mobile Games 2024
Based on an analysis of 4,000 updates, here are the most popular mechanics influencing player engagement: 1. ⏳ Time-limited Bonuses (51%) • Description: The player receives a certain advantage during the event.• Examples: Happy Hours (Short-term), Album/Collection Rewards (Long-term).2. 💎 Treasure Hunt Minigame (16%)• Description: A minigame where players dig tiles in search of treasures. Players earn resources in core gameplay to play treasure hunts.3. 📑 Tasks Rewards (12%)• Description: The player completes tasks and receives rewards.• Examples: Daily Quests, Stage Tasks, Win Streaks.4. 🎲 Board Minigame (10%)• Description: A minigame where players roll the dice and move along the board to win rewards.• The player earns dice in core gameplay or other mechanics.5. 🤝 Co-op Events (5%)• Description: The player cooperates with a friend to complete event tasks.• Examples: Partners, Team Tournament, Group Rewards, Clans.6. 🎮 Other Mechanics (6%)• […]
Player Journey Funnel Breakdown
Each stage of the funnel drives revenue. Here’s how it works:🔍 Aware User↳ These are players who know about your game but haven’t played it yet.• Tools: Ads, social media, influencer marketing.• Key Metrics: Impressions, click-through rate (CTR), ad recall.🎮 Player↳ These players have downloaded and started playing.• Tools: ASO, user-friendly onboarding.• Key Metrics: Install rate, tutorial completion rate.🔥 Active Player↳ Players regularly engaging with your game.• Tools: In-game events, daily rewards, progression.• Key Metrics: Daily Active Users (DAU), playtime, retention rate.💸 Paying Player↳ These players have made at least one in-game purchase.• Tools: IAP options, special offers, exclusive content.• Key Metrics: Conversion rate, ARPU, purchase frequency.🐋 Whale↳ Players who spend significantly more than the average.• Tools: VIP programs, personalized offers, premium content.• Key Metrics: Lifetime Value (LTV), ARPPU, high-value transaction rate.🌟 Advocate↳ These players promote your game enthusiastically.• Tools: […]
FOMO: Secret Sauce For Driving IAP
It’s everywhere:• Offers and discounts• Limited-time events• Time-pressing mechanics• Short-term boosts like Happy Hours• Player tournamentsFOMO taps into a basic human instinct, making it incredibly effective.But here’s the catch:→ A ticking clock alone won’t help if you sell sh*t.FOMO works best when paired with something players already want.Something that has value.→ Then FOMO is the final nudge that pushes players past indecision.So, before you add that timer, ensure your offering is worth it.