The document discusses making games for gamers using HTML5. It summarizes the state of the HTML5 games market and the approach taken by NonStop Games. NonStop Games focuses on creating complex, layered strategy games for gamers with social features like player vs player combat, alliances, and chat. Their approach includes a monetization mechanic using resource management instead of energy systems, and supporting both short and long gameplay accessible across platforms. They emphasize the importance of rapidly prototyping games daily and ensuring developers are passionate about the games they are creating.
21. Why is depth good for html5?
“Focusing on fidelity misses the point
of what a lot of strategy gamers are
looking for.”
Kevin Chou, CEO Kabam
27th August 2012 VentureBeat
25. Resource / Unit Management needs
plenty of re-balancing
Games not updated Games-always up-to-date
problems to native advantage to hybrid games
resource games
43. Work with the
games YOU are
Passionate about!
(Be that then granny, casual, mid core, core
games, board games, card games)
44. Games for Gamers
Making Core Games in HTML5
1. Complex Strategy in Layers
2. Monetization Mechanic
3. PvP, Alliances, Chat
4. Short & Long gameplay
5. Prototyping
6. Passion Required
Great to be here at GDC China, want to thank the arrangers for a great conference so far.
Been doing games for 9 years, started at Nokia Games with something really unsuccessful a Nokia N-gageDo you remember side-talking? Taco talking? Learnt about social. Connectivity with chat, leaderboardsTower Bloxx fist with game with friends highscorelist on Facebook 2007Time when scrabalous, Fight Club and Jetman were the biggest games on facebookMoved on to woogagroing from 40 people to 170: diamond dash, magic land, monster worldCo-founded Nonstop Games in singapore. Startup with really high ambitions
Let’s kick it off with a coupel of news regarding html5-first of wooga. Where I worked before and kicked off html5 development- Released as open source- They said html5 is not yet ready for mass-market games
Then the real blow was this news. The headline a bit misleading cause Zuck says too that they have more users on browser Facebook than iOS and android combined.
However, all this bad news should html5 game companies be worried?
Drawbacks of html5: sounds and animation, responsivenessWhen you look at the list of games it actually seems like the casual games are not possible to do in html5Unless you use a wrapper like Ludeimost exciting times:Few of these companies existed >3 years ago2) New IP3) vatiety – not only casual. Casino, core, casual, realismIT IS OUR TIME!!!
So all this imposes the question: what if…..
When we founded nonstop games we also believed CASUAL was the way to go-> market moves incredibly FAST!
First dollar isleThen in 6 weeks we did paint stars where we improved on Draw Something in terms of community: likes comments, a digital platform for art1.5M pictures done,
This summer we decided to follow our passion.More deep gameplayA fantasy themed strategic war game
Civilization – one of my all time favorite gamesVery little animationThe GAME IS THE GAME, NOT the animationBeatiful game design, maybe not the best UIYou would play over and over again with differnet tactics: biggest city, play tgorugh with war or space rocketSomeone has played civ for 10 years: waiting for an article about someone playing farmville for 10 years!
Another realm of games with high complexity and HIGH GAME with NO animation is board gamesDesigner of Hay Day makes HIS OWN BOARD GAMES. Theoretical physics.Amount of game design, balancing in these games is huge.
My favorite Browser gameVery big in asiaGerman companyCRAZY level of gameKingdoms of camelot is a nice adaptation of travian on iOS
4th example of layered complexity!DeNA’s card game.Complex card battlesCompugachaSocial layerWho saw yesterday Justin VanderBergh excellent talk on the big 5 psycholoigcal drivers in games?Good talk yesterday by Justin on HOW YOU MUST PLAY GAMES YOU DON’T LIKETO understand what people LIKE in this game?DrSerkan Toto
Looking at Facebook games the most usual way is ENERGYKixeye differentWhen looking at top grossing iOS it is DIFFERENT!Two examples War Commander and Clash of Clans, hay day
Games for gamers have more resources, more stuff you can run out ofMonster world added a 2nd resource woogoo -> 2x revenuNOT JUST FOR MONETIZATIONMORE GAME, MORE STRATEGY
So why is this good for HTML5?!!!Hybrid games -> html5 in a wrapper
CASUAL Social games on facebook this is the way to go. A/B tested AND IT WORKS!BUT!!!!!!!It is not really social.Accepting an apple by clikick a button?!!!IS IT GOOD OR BAD?HAVING A BAR WITH HAPPY HOUR -> FLYERS ON THE STREETAS A BAR OWNER YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO COME BECAUSE THE PRODUCT IS GOOD -> NOT BECAUSE OF INTRTUSIVE FLYER BOYS AND GIRLS
Funny thing about CHATFARMTOWN had chat FARMVILLE DID NOT!ANALYSIS ON GAME -> DON’T INCLUDE CHAT, KEEPS USER AWAY FROM GAMEDON’T HAVE DATA, BUT GUESS IS THAT MOST MONETIZING PLAYERS ARE IN AN ALLIANCE
Camelot did >10 variations of the battle system to find a good oneWe at nonstop have done 4-5 so far in our new gameIntegral part AlliancesAGAIN allainces TRULY socialKicked out by a kid in Kingdoms of Camelot!!!!
5/5PvPNO SURPRISE ON AMOUNT OF PVP GAMESUSER GENERATED CONETNT
Underestimated PARTCONNECTING PEOPLEAlso great source for game design solutionsIn MILLIONAIRE CITY WE DID AN ERROR Investment feature – solution came from the forumsGo and READ competing games forumsOn iOS EXTREMLY important!!! Negative star reviews.
THIS IS EXTERMELY IMPORTANTRank: officer, chanclerorScheming, helping SOCIALPLAYING WITH STRANGERS
Check-in check-out gameplayTrip HawkinsDURATION IS NOT SHORT NECESSARILY BUT ACTION IS
Trading resources – Hay DayBidding eBAY -snipers
When making out new game DAILY PLAY SESSIONSIF people don’t play YOU HAVE A PROBLEMIS FUN!HAVE OUTSIDERS TEST YOUR PROTYPE
Screenshot of GAME 4 prototypeNO GRAPHICS EXTERMELY IMPORTANT – NO INVESTMENT – EASY TO ABANDON SMTH WHICH DOES NOT WORK!
This comparison not totally FAIRCAN FIND motivation from other things.Hay Day done by NOT TypiCal Farming players