How does a Live Ops system work?

How does a Live Ops system work? Here’s a breakdown, based on the Playliner research:1. Offers 💰 • Starter packs, season passes, and rolling deals. • Monetize player defeats and the desire to speed up progress.2. New content 🎉 • Themed, seasonal, and late-game updates. • Keeps gameplay fresh and incentivizes players to explore further.3. Mini-games 🎮 • Fun additions like treasure hunts or Plinko. • Add variety and unlock new monetization opportunities.4. Win streaks 🔥 • Create FOMO and loss aversion. • Motivate players to extend sessions and chase bonuses.5. Task-based events ✅ • Daily quests, challenges, and milestone rewards. • Provide short- and long-term goals to keep players grinding.6. Tournaments 🏆 • Solo, team, and weekly competitions. • Heighten excitement, especially when competing with friends.7. Time-limited bonuses ⏳ • Extra lives, reduced costs, or double rewards. • Drive […]

Anton Slashcev November 22

Journal

Major Trend: Celebrity Effect in Creatives

🎥 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. Major UA trend that shines👇 💥 Arnold Schwarzenegger in Mobile StrikeHis involvement wasn’t just about lending his face—it tied directly into the game’s theme of power and strategy. These were the times when Arnold was everywhere. You opened your fridge, BAM! Arnold. Toilet? Arnold. TV? Arnold. Good old MZ days… 🎰 Jennifer Lopez in Coin MasterCoin Master (MoonActive Ltd) brought J.Lo on board, and her star power and the game’s mechanics created a campaign that resonated with a diverse audience. She also shared a few of these ads on her social media, getting 5+ million views. You have probably seen a Kardashian playing Coin Master. Those ads started rolling back in 2019. It was June 2020 when they introduced new celebrities into the mix. It was J.Lo that accelerated the number of downloads […]

Matej Lancaric November 22

Journal

Next Billion-Dollar Merge Games: Innovation Meets Depth

The Next Billion-Dollar Merge Games: Innovation Meets Depth 🚀🧩 Merge games have proven their staying power with Travel Town and Gossip Harbor blending grid management with narrative-driven building layers. In terms of the future, the next hits could emerge by leveraging key vectors in #gamesdesign and #systemsdesign that are theme-independent, appealing to female, male, and mixed audiences:🏗️📊 Simulation and Tycoon MechanicsImagine SimCity, Railroad Tycoon, or RollerCoaster Tycoon fused with #mergegames #gameplay. Adding tycoon-like depth could revolutionize Merge, offering strategic, long-term #engagement.--> Travel Town’s city-building layer could expand into dynamic economies, where merging fuels resource generation and upgrades.--> Ability to draw in players seeking meaningful, management-driven progression, boosting #retention and #LTV; and/or teaching this to existing players. 👪🕹️ Life Sims #Games like BitLife, Business Empire: RichMan, and Pick Me Up - Idle inspire the potential synergy between life sims and merge, […]

Antti Kananen November 22

Journal

Google and Korean Game Giants in Hot Water Over Alleged Collusion

Allegations of Google and Korean Game Companies’ Collusion Spark Controversy Domestic game companies have come under scrutiny following allegations that they unfairly received benefits, such as profit-sharing and marketing campaign support, in exchange for releasing their game apps exclusively on Google Play Store. The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) accused Netmarble, NCSoft, Com2uS, and Pearl Abyss of collaborating with Google to monopolize the app market. These companies have denied the allegations, stating that they have neither received rebates nor engaged in illegal activities. At a press conference on October 21, the CCEJ, alongside the Korea Game User Association and the Korea Game Consumer Association, claimed that Google Korea, Google Asia Pacific, and the four game companies unfairly acquired approximately 685 billion won in profits through rebate programs, manipulated app exposure in advertisements, and supported Lifetime Value (LTV) creation programs. […]

Myoungwon Kim November 22

Journal

Global Black Friday Sale in Magic Jigsaw Puzzles by ZiMAD

In anticipation of Black Friday, ZiMAD announced the launch of a global sale in Magic Jigsaw Puzzles. Data: AppMagic Magic Jigsaw Puzzles is more than just a game; it's an enchanting world where everyone can find something they love: Autumn in the Countryside, Dream Cities, Amazing Flowers, Magical Midwest, and other themed packs for relaxation and enjoyment. Special Offers: - Annual Subscription with 50% off: From November 22 to November 28. - Monthly Subscription with 50% off: From November 29 to December 6. Jigsaw Puzzle Leaderboard Data: AppMagic The competition is tough there. What's the idea behind that? “Black Friday is a great opportunity to access premium content at a reduced price. We aim to make Magic Jigsaw Puzzles even more accessible and engaging, and we hope these discounts will allow our users not only to save money but also […]

Gamigion November 21

Journal

Burny Games: Making a few $M a month from Ads

Making a few million $$$ a month from ads revenue! 🤑 Anatolii Henis going from Social Casino to Mobile Puzzle Games. The live review of Burny Games! 👇 We discuss the transition from social casino games to ad-supported mobile games, the development and mechanics of their games PlayDoku and Colorwood Sort, and the importance of player retention and monetization strategies. The conversation also touches on their games' current performance and future plans for in-app purchases and hybridization. It delves into the mechanics and features of mobile games, focusing on user engagement, monetization strategies, and comparative analysis of different game titles. Discussing the unique mechanics of their games (and how Jakub fails), the importance of ad strategies, and insights into user acquisition and retention, providing a comprehensive overview of the current mobile gaming landscape. Felix was really excited to cover Playdoku […]

Matej Lancaric November 21

Journal

Pokémon TCG has earned $100 million in IAP

💲Pokémon TCG has earned $100 million in IAP revenue just three weeks after launching globally. I took a closer look at how their in-game shop is designed, and here are quick observations: 1️⃣ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯.The shop appears right after the tutorial, before your first battle. It might seem a bit pushy, but in this case, it works because players naturally want to collect more cards (the strength of the Pokémon IP plays an important role here)—and the shop lets you buy currencies to open packs faster.2️⃣ 𝘍𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭.One of the first products promoted by developers is a 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. We recently discussed with Michal Korek in our webinar#5 how subscriptions are one of the most underestimated monetization features with the potential to boost revenue. Pokémon devs offer their subscription with a 2-week […]

Julia Iljuk November 21

Journal

How is mobile gaming performing?

How is mobile gaming performing? What does the latest data reveal? Recent months have brought mixed news for the mobile gaming industry, with both challenges and positive trends emerging. A look at the latest data (based on Sensor Tower) shows that: ▶️ 2024 is proving much stronger for mobile gaming than 2023. ▶️ October 2024 marked the first month in a while to see significant year-over-year download growth, surpassing even revenue growth (13% vs. 9% YoY). ▶️ iPads exhibit similar trends in October. ▶️ Android growth appears stagnant in recent months, despite some minor positive movements.

Mariusz Gąsiewski November 21

Journal

Hexa Sort Segment: Growth, Challenges, and Lessons

Hexa Sort Segment: Growth, Challenges, and Lessons from the Top 🚀 The HexaSort segment, led by Hexa Sort by Lion Studios, remains as a promising casual puzzle genre. While other segments like Nuts & Bolts show clear signs of churn, AppMagic data suggests this one has room.Hexa Sort: The Leader:Hexa Sort stands as the king of the hill, leading in IAP revenue and likely Ads revenue. Its success lies in its balanced, well-planned UX, tying engagement directly to monetization:🎮🧪 Dopamine-driven gameplay encourages positive reviews, rewarded video views, and currency use, blending monetization with user satisfaction.💰 ⚙️ This game design drives strong monetization while maintaining engagement in controlled manner, setting it apart in the genre against copycats.The Copycat Dilemma:Unlike the declining Nuts & Bolts segment, where excessive copycats have churned retention and revenue across the whole segment, affecting also the best […]

Antti Kananen November 21

Journal

Pokemon’s Winning Formula: $4M/Day

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has swiftly proven to be a hit since its launch on October 30th. Developed by DeNA, the title is already making waves, generating $120M+ in Revenue since its launch. Here's an analysis of what the title offers, from its nostalgic appeal to its mobile-friendly gameplay. Moreover, the monetization strategy and how upcoming events could shape the game's future. The Pokémon Company is again making bold moves in the mobile market. By releasing the “Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket” on October 30th, it seems we are witnessing a similar seismic impact on the revenue side as we saw with the Pokémon Go release in 2016. The game has been making more than $4 million a day for more than two weeks in a row. If this holds, it will make $120 million during its launch month, […]

Gamigion November 21

Journal

Mobile Game Retention Cheatsheet

Mobile Game Retention Cheatsheet Here is a breakdown:---- 𝗜. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭-𝟯) ----Make a powerful first impression. 1. Onboarding • Introduce key features clearly. • Use tutorials with minimal cognitive load. • Set clear objectives and encourage immediate actions. • Strategically place first paywalls. 2. First Impressions • Prioritize readability and intuitive UI/UX. • Focus on graphics, art style, and juiciness (animations and feedback). • Ensure smooth game performance. • Hook players with a compelling story. 3. Core Gameplay Loop • Make gameplay fun and engaging with easy-to-understand rules. • Offer early rewards to build momentum. • Optimize session lengths to avoid fatigue. ---- 𝗜𝗜. 𝗠𝗶𝗱-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟯-𝟯𝟬) ---- Add depth to maintain engagement. 1. Game Depth • Provide variety in strategies and introduce new mechanics. • Include side quests and secondary activities. 2. Live-Ops • Plan frequent […]

Anton Slashcev November 21

Journal

Bringing Friends = Bigger Rewards!

🎲 Bringing Friends = Bigger Rewards! Just unlocked an event in "Dice Dreams" that caught my eye. It ties rewards to your social network: the more friends you connect, the better your rewards. Simple idea, but it feels fresh and meaningful in execution. What stands out for me: 1️⃣ It adds a social layer. You’re not just playing solo—you’re encouraged to involve your friends, making the experience feel more collaborative and connected. 2️⃣ Win-win for players and the game. Players enjoy bigger rewards, while the game drives higher engagement and organic growth. 3️⃣ The Facebook connection. Beyond the rewards, it’s a clever way for the game to collect user data for future targeting. Whether it’s ads, re-engagement campaigns, or more personalized offers, this is data gold for game developers. It’s an interesting mix of player benefit and business strategy. What […]

Michael Kopelovich November 21

Journal

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