20 Metrics All Game Devs Should Hold Close

20 metrics all game devs should hold close. (there are more, but I’ll keep it simple)First, remember 3 core pillars:1. New Players ↳ How you acquire your audience.2. Active Players ↳ How you retain your audience.3. Paying Players ↳ How you monetize your audience.Second, there’s no one-size-fits-all set ofmetrics, but here's the truth:20% of your game’s metrics drive80% of your game’s performance.Here are the 20 most important metrics:📊 Acquisition Metrics• New Daily or Monthly Active Users• CPA (Cost Per Install/Login/Battle)• Fraud Share: Invalid ad metrics• New Players Retention Rate• New Players Churn Rate• K-Factor: Viral growth📊 Retention Metrics• Daily/Monthly Active Users• 1, 7, 30 Day Retention• Session Length• Session Count• Churn Rate• Lifetime📊 Monetization metrics• LTV: Revenue over player Lifetime• ARPPU: Revenue Per Paying User• Daily/Monthly Paying Users• Average Transaction Value• ARPU: Revenue per User• Number of Transactions• Payer Retention• […]

Sergei Vasiuk July 11

Journal

You can make Millions at a price point of $0

You can make Millions at a price point of $0. Want to run a freemium model in your game?TRACK THESE 12 AREAS:• Revenue• Structure• Frequency• Conversion• Payer Ratio• Subscription• Paying Users• First Payment• Currency Flow• Advertisement• Payer Retention• Currency BalanceIt helps you address questions like:• How much are my users willing to spend?• What % of users see value in spending?• How can I increase payer retention?Complex variations may include metrics by item type, payment methods or stores.I hope this helps!Please repost! ♻️ Appreciate it.Anything you'd add or take away?Thank you for reposting. ❤️

Sergei Vasiuk July 10

Journal

What connects Game and States Economies?

What connects Game and States Economies? Game economies frame monetization as governance does for business:• Player Trading• Purchase Limits• Dynamic Pricing• Reward Distribution• Virtual Assets Balance• Virtual Resource Funding• Virtual Currency Inflation ControlA Game Design defines ↳ the ecosystem where a game can exist.LiveOps operates↳ this system in the most optimal way. E.G.: LiveOps tracks trades and modifies currency value to stop inflation.Wish to play & learn economy at school 🔥Imagine students learning economics through managing virtual game economies. This approach could revolutionize education, making learning • practical, • engaging, • and fun.

Sergei Vasiuk July 10

Journal

How to explain the 80/20 rule so even a kid can understand?

Hey gamers, how would you explain the 80/20 rule so even a kid can understand? What is 80/20 Rule or Pareto Principle? 80% of effects come from just 20% of causes.Let's break it down using a game - Mario 🍄8️⃣0️⃣% of obstacles can be overcome by perfecting jumping skills.8️⃣0️⃣% of enemies are overcome by mastering 20% of tough levels.8️⃣0️⃣% of time savings come from 20% of speedrun techniques.What's your 80/20 rule in your favorite game?

Sergei Vasiuk July 9

Journal

Things no one tells you about being a leader:

Things no one tells you about being a leader: The weight of building your team.It hit me like a boss fight unprepared:• I’m responsible for this person’s journey.• They need this job to level up in life.• It helps sustain their life.That’s a heavy load to carry.And it changed my perception forever.When I recruited my first 5 devs, our performance tanked."The team isn’t hitting the high scores like it used to," I thought.But then I noticed some power-ups. I:• Had more bandwidth to strategize.• Completed tasks that were way overdue.• Was no longer grinding on day-to-day taskAnd I realized no game dev manager should view hiring or firing as a casual choice.Team members aren’t just NPCs to throw into the fight.And “your playstyle” isn’t the only one.You can’t play solo every raid.You need to trust your team to play their […]

Sergei Vasiuk July 9

Journal

How To Boost Player Engagement?

Do you love me? (my wife’s favorite question after marriage)Do you think YES is the right reply?❌ NO!!!A simple YES is not enough.You should explain your YES answer.You should show your EMOTIONS.• Joy• Trust• Passion• Intimacy• Affection• Gratitude• Happiness• Excitement• Compassion• Commitment• …………………….Oh, and one more thing…FOREVER!!!But what was before the marriage?ENGAGEMENT.Engagement is a result of experiencing good emotions over a period of time.𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 = 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗫 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲.Here’s why engaged players matter:1. LoyaltyEngaged players feel like they’re part of the team, contributing to game progress.2. Exploration: Engaged players explore and buy various products, boosting your portfolio’s value.3. Advocacy: Engaged players spread the word to attract new players, growing your community.4. Co-Creation: Engaged players leverage your product to create their own product or content.“Too much text, Sergei!” I hear you say.“DO YOU LOVE HER?” ❤️I’ll keep it between us because LinkedIn […]

Sergei Vasiuk June 28

Journal

10 Signs Of a Decent Game:

10 signs of a decent game: • Gameplay• Story• Sound• Replay• Setting• Controls• Graphics• Challenge• Originality• PromotionA decent game is a mix of these elements.It's about creating an enjoyable experience.It's where design meets player satisfaction.It's not about being perfect, but aboutconstantly improving.That's the true mark of a great game.And it's a standard we can all aim for.

Sergei Vasiuk June 20

Journal

ENTERTAIN YOUR PLAYERS WITH EVENTS!

What to keep your live service game fresh? ENTERTAIN YOUR PLAYERS WITH EVENTS!An event is a time-limited experience that boosts engagement and monetization.Here are 4 components of an event: ☝️1. Theme.Drawn from in-game elements, cultural events, media trends, or business collaborations.2. Progression.Refer to the mechanics through which players gain value from the event.3. PromotionUtilizes communication channels, influencers, or partners to extend the reach. 4. Monetization.Involves special content either with the event theme, its progression, or both.Anything else, Sergei? ✋Define the purpose of the event.Engage top players with social features.Build anticipation with timed mechanics.Hope this helps!Please repost! ♻️ Appreciate it.I really want to help many thrive in gaming for a fulfilling, positive, and real life.And with that → positive, real results.

Sergei Vasiuk June 17

Journal

Game Development Tools Landscape

I wish I had the tools available today when I joined gaming 12 years ago. Still, 3 sins can ruin your game production. (I must admit, I’ve committed all 3 sins)1. "Why buy this tool? A weekend and energy drinks, and I'll make a new one. It'll even make coffee!"Avoid this because:• 61% producers aim for 1–2-week releases.• that's a lot of energy drinks.• not enough weekends.2. “Our custom tool? It's so unique, only three people in the world understand it.Two of them just quit.”Avoid this because:• 53% longer to onboard with in-house tools• less focus in creating the game experience• the remaining one writes in hieroglyphs.3. "This third-party AI pathfinding? My pet could write better algorithms. Hold my keyboard."Avoid this because:• 66% of development timelines fall short.• solving solved issues wastes resources.• wheel reinvention proves its necessity."Okay, your idea, […]

Sergei Vasiuk June 10

Journal

Many screw up live service games

Many screw up live service games by focusing on the wrong things. (I've seen it firsthand)1. Core Game. ↳ It's crucial, but it's not everything.2. Retention Game. ↳ Most games fail here. Do not miss it. 3. Advocate Game. ↳ Your goldmine, but only if basics are right.Stop obsessing about a perfect Core Game. 🔴 It’s a trap. If your players don’t return, polish fails.🟢 What you need to do1. Core Game. Is what your players do over and over again.What you want to hear:↳ "Got it, I know how your game works."2. Retention Game. Is what brings players back repeatedly.What you want to hear:↳ "I'm hooked; I want to keep progressing!"3. Advocate Game. Is where your top fans live.What you want to hear:↳ “I'm hosting a live stream for your game!”Anything else, Sergei? ✋Don’t wait for perfection.Engage top players […]

Sergei Vasiuk June 3

Journal

Want to keep your live service game healthy?

Want to keep your live service game healthy? FOCUS ON THESE METRICS!I've spent 12 years in the gaming industry. From collecting players' data to ensure game performance results.Here's the truth: ☝ 20% of your game’s metrics drive80% of your game’s performance.Here's a metrics breakdown for you.📊 GrowthThink Monthly Active Users. Blending newbies, core, returners, churners.📊 RetentionThe crystal ball for future success. Watch players at 1, 7, and 30 days.📊 EngagementMeasured in active days.Smiling curve: where power users shine.📊 MonetizationUnderstanding the 'why' behind the spend.The meat of revenue, from ARPU to MPU.📊 Lifetime Value - The North StarIt's not just about the time spent in-game,but the value players bring during their play.Analytics aren't just numbers. They're the story of your game's world, told through data.

Sergei Vasiuk May 9

Journal

Great games know this key to players’ needs!

Great games know this key to players’ needs! Ever noticed the magic of a successful game? ↳ It's driven by passionate, engaged players.(The wheel's been invented, use it)Psychologist Abraham Maslow designed apyramid to classify human needs in 1943.🟢 We all have 5 types of needs: • Basic needs (food, water, shelter).• Safety needs (health, employment).• Belonging needs (friendship, intimacy).• Esteem needs (dignity, respect, purpose).• Self-actualization needs (creation, beauty).Players are humans↳ who seek their needs in your game.By applying this hierarchy to gamers' needs,you build a community around your game. 🟢 Here's the Players' Hierarchy of Needs.Every level aligns with a player's needs.• Basic needs → Fun• Safety needs → Trust• Belonging → Community• Esteem needs → Recognition• Self-actualization needs → Contribution🟢 The hierarchy guides your questions:• What do players need?• Which needs does my game meet?• How do I convey […]

Sergei Vasiuk May 6

Sergei Vasiuk

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