Mobile Gaming and Apps in Central Asia

Central Asia is a region with strong potential for growth, particularly within the mobile sector. This includes mobile gaming, non-gaming apps, and the overall mobile industry. I saw it being a speaker at the most important events in the region (Central Asia Game Show, Digital Bridge 2023, and some initiatives at Astana Hub). Since a lot of data points about mobile technology, gaming, and apps are scattered across various sources, I promised to create some analysis/reports about that region (especially Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan). It starts with more general data and then it gets more and more detailed.- general data about Central Asia and mobile there- detailed data about mobile gaming in the most important markets of Central Asia- detailed information about apps in the most important markets of Central Asia

Mariusz Gąsiewski August 23

Journal

Release & Transfer Tracker: First Half of July 2024

TRACKING RELEASES & TRANSFERS# 1 HALF OF JULY, 2024 Hi people! 🤙Today I bring you another edition of our…💫 Tracking Releases & Transfers 💫In the first half of July, we had some exciting innovative games. 💡I highlight 4️⃣ titles of them.✅ “Animal Adventures” by VoodooWith this new title, the big French publisher 🇫🇷 joins the club of “red button” games."Animal" is the "Coin Master" with rabbit. 🐷 ⇒🐰And a board progression system similar to "Monopoly Go", but in a linear layout.The game's polish, both in the game art and the game design, reveals that Voodoo is taking its release seriously. 💎Developed by OHM Games, "Animal Adventures" was transferred to Voodoo's account on July 3rd. 🗓️✅ “Conquer Countries” by Supersonic from UnityThe Israeli publisher 🇮🇱 is taking another step towards Hybridcasual with a game released at just timing (🟦 ⚔️ 🟥)."Conquer" […]

Carlos Pereira August 23

Journal

The untold truth about why we play games.

The untold truth about why we play games. While there are 20+ major reasons, I believe ‘’the one’’ shines the most.This one reason feeds the industry over and over.The First Video Games were created in the late 1950s.With increasing popularity and mass appeal,They are now part of our daily life.And they are here to stay…Here are some reasons people play games:CreativityStress ReliefEntertainmentSkill DevelopmentSocial Connections This List goes on and on… However, one reason ‘’clicks’’ the most:‘’Motivation and Reward Systems’’And it can be ‘’simply’’ explained:We like to overcome challenges,And getting rewarded for doing so.This leaves us with ‘’satisfying’’and ‘’great accomplishment’’ feeling.These feelings,Creates a long-term ‘’Retention’’.We seek more and more ways of doing so…Therefore, ‘’The Video Game Industry’’leverage these concepts and combine themto craft virtual experiences that are enjoyable.Again and again…So, Why do YOU play?Cheers!PS: These systems are part of sophisticated and […]

Gökhan Üzmez August 22

Journal

Unlocking Insights in Match-3 Games

Curious to learn how top Match-3 games perform in a highly competitive market? Whether you're developing games or just passionate about the industry, understanding the key metrics and trends can make a huge difference.💡 Check out our latest insights into top Match-3 games like Candy Crush Saga, Royal Match, and others.🌍 Download and Revenue distribution across different regions📊 Retention Rates from Day 1 to Day 30⏱️ Average session lengths and daily engagement🎁 Common game features that drive user retention Average Install Distribution in T1 Countries Downloads in USA How About Other Countries? Retention? User Engagement? IAP vs. IAA Daily Login Reward Collectibles in the Game Events Competition Numbers by Sensor TowerVia Gaming Growth

Richard Kos August 22

Journal

Hole.io: Smart Ad Breaks With Rewards

Ever wondered how to effectively integrate ads into short game sessions without frustrating your players? Hole.io nails it with their brilliant halftime ad break strategy in their 2-minute rounds. This approach not only aligns with Google policies but also enhances the player experience. Here’s how they do it:⏲️ 5-second countdown alerts players before the break, making the transition smooth.🎁 Players see what they’ll earn after watching the ad, reducing the friction of ad-watching.🎥 Instead of a standard interstitial ad, players can opt to watch a reward video to gain an additional advantage (like starting the second half bigger for a better chance of winning).🚫 Finally, the option to remove ads altogether is offered, adding another monetization layer.This seamless integration keeps players engaged and turns potential frustrations into rewarding experiences. If you're looking to refine your ad strategy, this is a […]

Michael Kopelovich August 22

Journal

Top Mobile Game Picks of the Week!

Welcome back to another week of exciting mobile game discoveries! This time, we’ve got a thrilling mix of strategy, matching, and puzzle games that have kept me hooked all week. Let’s jump right in! 1) TDS - Tower Destiny Survive by SayGames 👑 King of the Castle (or Tower!)In this super fun tower defense game, you'll find yourself defending your very own tower against relentless waves of zombies. It’s not just about surviving; it’s about strategically building and fortifying your tower to withstand the onslaught. The cute animations combined with the challenging gameplay make this game a standout title. If you love strategy games that test your tactical thinking, this one’s for you!App StoreGoogle Play 2) Triple Treats: Tile Match by Calumma Games 🍰 A Sweet Debut!Calumma Games has hit the ground running with its first release, Triple Treats. This […]

Michael Kopelovich August 22

Journal

ZiMAD’s 15-Year Journey: Magic Jigsaw Puzzles & Beyond

ZiMAD has been a trailblazer in the mobile gaming industry, creating games that captivate millions of players worldwide. What drives this success? In this exclusive interview, Dmitry Bobrov, CEO of ZiMAD, shares their journey from its pioneering days in the puzzle game genre to becoming a global leader. Bobrov offers a glimpse into the company’s innovative development strategies, the challenges of staying ahead in a competitive market, and how ZiMAD continues to push the boundaries of mobile gaming while fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration. Ready? Let's go! Q: ZiMAD has been a key player in mobile gaming for over 15 years. Can you share the story behind its founding? A: From the very beginning, our inspiration came from the vast potential of the mobile gaming industry. We were, and continue to be, driven by the opportunity to work […]

Ömer Yakabagi August 22

Journal

Idle Outpost Scaled to $150K a Day in July

Idle Outpost 🧟‍♀️ by Rockbite Games Armenia published by AppQuantum already scaled to $150K a day in July 🤑. With more than 10 Million downloads and $6 Mil. IAP revenue behind it, (Ads are probably more than 50% on top of this 😅) we couldn't miss this very interesting iteration on 2 of our favorite games. Can you guess which ones? 😎 As seen in the images, Idle Outpost is a clever combination of Lessmore's Eatventure and JoyNet Games's Legend of Mushroom 🍄. Instead of food, you are selling supplies to other Zombie Apocalypse "customers" 💲 and you keep finding survivor gear with your trusty dog on the way through Zombie Wasteland. I keep saying this all the time, but the Zombie theme works with everything and makes your CPI low 🤣 "change my mind".Because you are playing 2 idle […]

Jakub Remiar August 22

Journal

Aligning Gaming Culture with Business Needs

Gaming company cultures and working models (on-site vs. remote vs. hybrid, etc.) very often tie in themselves to preferences, backgrounds, experiences as well as the person types of the founding team and (/or) existing management of gaming companies. It is very common that this is the way in our industry, whilst it would be more beneficial to have a more flexible setup in terms of calling out what is right for your organization / company vs. what is the preference.There are also lots of mental barriers on this side, like whilst a company would need to mature its model in order to e.g., really build a team that is required for winning or making changes on cost structures of a company, etc. (as the case may be, incl. many other cases), persons controlling these decisions would still prefer staying in […]

Antti Kananen August 22

Journal

Squad Busters is back?

A recent major update resulted in a 125% increase in daily revenue. Here is a breakdown of the update: Key Updates & Features1. Bullets and Burgers (Seasonal Event)• Season Pass: Players can earn rewards through milestones using Gems.• Monetization: The Premium Pass is the main monetization strategy.• Gameplay Mechanics: Players can now earn final rewards repeatedly by using Gems, enhancing engagement and session frequency.• Additional Content: New reskins include 'The Desolation of Chickens,' 'Moonlight Matchup,' and 'Beach Party.'2. Get a Spell!• Unlock Abilities: Players must use active abilities in core gameplay to unlock new ones.• Extended Event: Now running for 4 days to keep players engaged longer.• Player Engagement: This update boosts session numbers and player retention, potentially increasing monetization.3. Sneak Peek! Lava World (New Map and Content)• New Map: Introducing "Lava World" with a fresh gameplay loop that requires […]

Anton Slashcev August 22

Journal

Squad Busters: Radical Changes On A Quest For Lasting Success

Jakub Remiar takes us through Supercell’s latest changes to Squad Busters and what to expect next from the game. Supercell released a new update for Squad Busters with key changes impacting its core gameplay design The update saw the game revenue spike however those levels are turning to normal now Supercell released its sixth global hit, Squad Busters, on May 29th and has since gone on to pass $50 million in revenue. Now that the game has been out for a few months, the team's approach to LiveOps will be crucial for its future. Supercell released a new update for the game, which may appear to be the usual content update for some, but rest assured, there's more happening beneath the surface. In this guest article, game design expert Jakub Remiar digs deep into Squad Busters' latest update and its potential impact. […]

Jakub Remiar August 22

Journal

10 Ways Players Spot Bad Games

10 signs players spot a disappointing game. (Add your 🚩 red flag if I missed any)• Graphics over Gameplay• Something-Killer• Future Promises• Buggy Launch• Radio Silence• No Reviews• Pay-to-Win• Asset Flips• Price Drop• No BuzzAnything that makes a player not care ↳ 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣.Games excel when players care about detailsIt shouldn’t be there if players don't care.

Sergei Vasiuk August 21

Journal

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