Kongregate - Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Games: Comparative Stats for Asian & Western Games (Digital Taipei 2013 Presentation)
Presentation from Digital Taipei 2013 on Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Games with a Comparative Analysis of Asian & Western F2P Games
Anthony Pecorella's talk at GDC Europe covering the math and design of idle games. This talk goes into details about formulas and progression systems as well as tools available for balancing these systems. Bonus sections include a quick look at stupidly-large numbers and a summary of some recent notable additions to the idle game genre.
You can try the spreadsheet models out at http://kon.gg/idle-math-spreadsheets.
Idle Clicker Games Presentation (Casual Connect USA 2017)David Piao Chiu
Idle Clicker Games: Why are they so popular and how can I get in on the action?
Idle clicker games are a young genre that has seen explosive growth in the last few years thanks to the popularity of games such as Clicker Heroes and AdVenture Capitalist. This session will explore the evolution of the idle genre from simple indie projects to games with major licensed IPs and celebrities (Chuck Norris, WWE, Crazy Taxi, He-Man, etc.). We will also share best practices for improving retention and monetization (both IAP and ads).
Building Games for the Long Term: Pragmatic F2P Guild Design (GDC Europe 2013)Kongregate
Every Kongregate talk they're always saying "guilds, guilds, guilds". Sure, but does that even work for my type of game? And what should a guild design for my game look like?
In this design-focused talk, guilds will be deconstructed into their kernel and then built back up feature-by-feature with an eye on implications for retention, monetization, and engagement. Examples from the industry will be used to look at best practices and missed opportunities while it explores traditional and experimental guild elements. It will also walk through the exercise designing a guild system for a popular casual game, challenging the audience to step outside the boundaries of traditional genres when thinking about guilds in games.
Idle Games: The Mechanics and Monetization of Self-Playing GamesKongregate
Idle (or incremental) games is one of the newest genres of video games. At first glance this may be perplexing to "core" gamers, but there are a lot of interesting systems at play that keep the games fun and entertaining, and can even make them into a viable free-to-play business.
Anthony Pecorella's talk at GDC Europe covering the math and design of idle games. This talk goes into details about formulas and progression systems as well as tools available for balancing these systems. Bonus sections include a quick look at stupidly-large numbers and a summary of some recent notable additions to the idle game genre.
You can try the spreadsheet models out at http://kon.gg/idle-math-spreadsheets.
Idle Clicker Games Presentation (Casual Connect USA 2017)David Piao Chiu
Idle Clicker Games: Why are they so popular and how can I get in on the action?
Idle clicker games are a young genre that has seen explosive growth in the last few years thanks to the popularity of games such as Clicker Heroes and AdVenture Capitalist. This session will explore the evolution of the idle genre from simple indie projects to games with major licensed IPs and celebrities (Chuck Norris, WWE, Crazy Taxi, He-Man, etc.). We will also share best practices for improving retention and monetization (both IAP and ads).
Building Games for the Long Term: Pragmatic F2P Guild Design (GDC Europe 2013)Kongregate
Every Kongregate talk they're always saying "guilds, guilds, guilds". Sure, but does that even work for my type of game? And what should a guild design for my game look like?
In this design-focused talk, guilds will be deconstructed into their kernel and then built back up feature-by-feature with an eye on implications for retention, monetization, and engagement. Examples from the industry will be used to look at best practices and missed opportunities while it explores traditional and experimental guild elements. It will also walk through the exercise designing a guild system for a popular casual game, challenging the audience to step outside the boundaries of traditional genres when thinking about guilds in games.
Idle Games: The Mechanics and Monetization of Self-Playing GamesKongregate
Idle (or incremental) games is one of the newest genres of video games. At first glance this may be perplexing to "core" gamers, but there are a lot of interesting systems at play that keep the games fun and entertaining, and can even make them into a viable free-to-play business.
With free-to-play games, you need to plan your live operations strategy as carefully as you plan your game. Learn how to use in-game events and promotions to drive retention and monetization of your game.
Game Design - Retention
The Deck covers some of the basic aspects and mechanisms of social game design. This is the 1st out of 4 decks, covering the aspects needed for amplifying RETENTION among players and users
The series includes 4 chapters: Engagement, Virality, Retention, Growth
Killer Design Patterns for F2P Mobile/Tablet GamesHenric Suuronen
Presentation on Design Patterns for Mobile and Tablet games presented in July 2013 at ChinaJoy in Shanghai by Henric Suuronen, President & Co-Founder at Nonstop Games
The benefits of operating a free-to-play "game-as-a-service" are well known: elastic pricing, a direct relationship with your players, longer lifespan, and an opportunity to fine-tune after launch. But to fully realize these benefits, you need to plan your live operations strategy as carefully as you plan your game. This talk will show how you can build an effective LiveOps strategy using PlayFab.
Game Design - Engagement
The Deck covers some of the basic aspects and mechanisms of social game design. This is the 1st out of 4 decks, covering the aspects needed for amplifying ENGAGEMENT among players and users
The series includes 4 chapters: Engagement, Virality, Retention, Monetization
Why Live Ops Matters for Casual Games: 3 Stategic Mindset for POsTimShepherd83
Live Ops is integral to F2P product management, but it can be difficult to understand what is the best strategy for a specific game at any given time. I present 3 'lenses' to evaluate your landscape and help in the Live Ops decision-making processes. With examples from Wooga and others, plus a few pro-tips and best practices dotted throughout.
Originally presented at Pocket Gamer Connects London, Jan 2019.
Brief presentation notes in orange speech bubbles ^^
Breaking the Rules of Idle Game Design in Trailer Park Boys: Greasy MoneyDave Rohrl
Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money is a highly successful mobile idle game that leverages a niche brand. Learn how and why we broke the rules and doubled the genre's typical revenue.
Life After Launch: How to Grow Mobile Games with In-Game EventsSimon Hade
Presentation from a talk by Space Ape COO Simon Hade at GDC Europe in June 2016. To see the video of the talk and related presentations see http://links.spaceapegames.com/liveops
이 슬라이드는 2010년 넥슨 개발자 컨퍼런스에서 발표한
"마비노기 영웅전"의 내러티브적 시도에 대한 자료입니다.
동영상이 많이 포함된 슬라이드 특성 때문에
발표 당시에는 웹에 슬라이드를 공유하지 않았었고,
5년이 지난 후에야 뒤늦게 공유하게 되었습니다.
2010년 자료이고, 당시 발표자 두 명은 모두 영웅전 프로젝트를 떠나
현재는 다른 프로젝트를 진행하고 있기 때문에
슬라이드의 내용은 현재의 "마비노기 영웅전"과는
개발 기조와 의도, 방식 등에 차이가 있을 수 있습니다.
R2 Games F2P Monetization Presentation and Clicker Heroes Case Study: Best Pr...David Piao Chiu
A F2P Monetization Presentation and Clicker Heroes Case Study given by David P. Chiu at Game Connection Europe 2015. This presentation includes best practices, stats and learnings for F2P mobile and browser games targeted at a midcore gamer audience.
With free-to-play games, you need to plan your live operations strategy as carefully as you plan your game. Learn how to use in-game events and promotions to drive retention and monetization of your game.
Game Design - Retention
The Deck covers some of the basic aspects and mechanisms of social game design. This is the 1st out of 4 decks, covering the aspects needed for amplifying RETENTION among players and users
The series includes 4 chapters: Engagement, Virality, Retention, Growth
Killer Design Patterns for F2P Mobile/Tablet GamesHenric Suuronen
Presentation on Design Patterns for Mobile and Tablet games presented in July 2013 at ChinaJoy in Shanghai by Henric Suuronen, President & Co-Founder at Nonstop Games
The benefits of operating a free-to-play "game-as-a-service" are well known: elastic pricing, a direct relationship with your players, longer lifespan, and an opportunity to fine-tune after launch. But to fully realize these benefits, you need to plan your live operations strategy as carefully as you plan your game. This talk will show how you can build an effective LiveOps strategy using PlayFab.
Game Design - Engagement
The Deck covers some of the basic aspects and mechanisms of social game design. This is the 1st out of 4 decks, covering the aspects needed for amplifying ENGAGEMENT among players and users
The series includes 4 chapters: Engagement, Virality, Retention, Monetization
Why Live Ops Matters for Casual Games: 3 Stategic Mindset for POsTimShepherd83
Live Ops is integral to F2P product management, but it can be difficult to understand what is the best strategy for a specific game at any given time. I present 3 'lenses' to evaluate your landscape and help in the Live Ops decision-making processes. With examples from Wooga and others, plus a few pro-tips and best practices dotted throughout.
Originally presented at Pocket Gamer Connects London, Jan 2019.
Brief presentation notes in orange speech bubbles ^^
Breaking the Rules of Idle Game Design in Trailer Park Boys: Greasy MoneyDave Rohrl
Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money is a highly successful mobile idle game that leverages a niche brand. Learn how and why we broke the rules and doubled the genre's typical revenue.
Life After Launch: How to Grow Mobile Games with In-Game EventsSimon Hade
Presentation from a talk by Space Ape COO Simon Hade at GDC Europe in June 2016. To see the video of the talk and related presentations see http://links.spaceapegames.com/liveops
이 슬라이드는 2010년 넥슨 개발자 컨퍼런스에서 발표한
"마비노기 영웅전"의 내러티브적 시도에 대한 자료입니다.
동영상이 많이 포함된 슬라이드 특성 때문에
발표 당시에는 웹에 슬라이드를 공유하지 않았었고,
5년이 지난 후에야 뒤늦게 공유하게 되었습니다.
2010년 자료이고, 당시 발표자 두 명은 모두 영웅전 프로젝트를 떠나
현재는 다른 프로젝트를 진행하고 있기 때문에
슬라이드의 내용은 현재의 "마비노기 영웅전"과는
개발 기조와 의도, 방식 등에 차이가 있을 수 있습니다.
R2 Games F2P Monetization Presentation and Clicker Heroes Case Study: Best Pr...David Piao Chiu
A F2P Monetization Presentation and Clicker Heroes Case Study given by David P. Chiu at Game Connection Europe 2015. This presentation includes best practices, stats and learnings for F2P mobile and browser games targeted at a midcore gamer audience.
GDC 2014 Core Games, Real Numbers: Going Cross-Platformemily_greer
Kongregate has been sharing great data on web games for years - now they're launching mobile games and are ready to start sharing iOS and Android numbers as well. Learn how monetization differs by platform, country, and device, what type of CPIs to expect for different kinds of games, and what's most important in making your free-to-play mobile game a success.
Core Games, Real Numbers: Asian & Western Gamesemily_greer
Kongregate is a distributor of more than 200 virtual-goods games developed by developers small and large, Eastern and Western, casual and hardcore. As such, it has a unique perspective on what types of mechanics and characteristics of games have the most success monetizing. This talk will focus on similarities and differences in performance between Asian & Western games, look at site-wide trends and dig into specific game metrics and mechanics to understand what makes games succeed & fail with Western audiences. This talk was given at GDC China 2012
R2 Games USA - Maximizing F2P Game Monetization Presentation (Respawn 2016)
Similar to Kongregate - Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Games: Comparative Stats for Asian & Western Games (Digital Taipei 2013 Presentation)
Kongregate - Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Gam...David Piao Chiu
Kongregate - Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Games: Comparative Stats for 2D & 3D Games and Asian & Western Games (MIGS 2013 Presentation)
DavidPChiu Kongregate - Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-...David Piao Chiu
Presentation from the Brazil Independent Games (BIG) Festival 2014 on Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Games with a Comparative Analysis of Asian & Western F2P Games
Presentation on F2P game monetization for browser and mobile games for midcore and hardcore players with stats, best practices and common mistakes to avoid
A high-speed run through some of the most important and interesting patterns and advice that we've discovered about our games on Kongregate. This talk was given by Anthony Pecorella at Casual Connect Kyiv.
How to Succeed in the F2P Market: Stats, Best Practices and Common Mistakes |...Jessica Tams
Delivered at Casual Connect Asia 2016
Free-to-play games dominate the PC browser and mobile markets. But with ever-increasing UA costs and fierce competition from existing and new games, how can you compete in this crowded space? It is necessary to have a solid understanding of F2P to know what drives strong long term retention and monetization. This session will share real-world stats, best practices and common mistakes to avoid in order to maximize your chances of success.
How to Succeed in the West: Stats, Best Practices and Common Mistakes for F2P...David Piao Chiu
As a platform for free-to-play browser games for core gamers, Kongregate has a unique perspective and a wealth of data on what types of mechanics and characteristics of F2P games are most effective at maximizing player retention, monetization and satisfaction. David will begin by looking at the retention and monetization metrics of free-to-play games by Asian & Western developers. He will then share the best practices and game mechanics that Asian developers can learn from their Western counterparts, highlight common mistakes that Asian developers make in bringing their games to a Western audience, and cover specific DO’s and DON’Ts regarding game themes, gameplay mechanics, community management/customer support and pricing with specific examples. Asian developers will walk away with a better understanding of the Western market, how to avoid costly mistakes and how to maximize success in Western markets.
This presentation was given at the first London Game Developer Meet-up (http://www.meetup.com/London-Game-Developers/) at the Innovation Warehouse on 27/01/12
For more information, visit: www.adriancrook.com
There are many reasons to opt for the Free-To-Play monetization model. At the forefront is that Free-to-Play games are generating more money than premium sales at nearly a 10-1 margin.
It is not just the big AAA productions that can succeed. With an average of 15,000,000 Steam Players online at any given time and 90 million console gamers in the US alone, strictly considering a mobile publishing avenue severely limits your audience reach. In addition, plenty of these platforms are doing their best to embrace the F2P evolution in gaming.
A+C has 10 years and over 130 clients worth of freemium experience. From increased monetization to retention and virality, we have delivered for clients such as LEGO, Pokemon, Electronic Arts, Zynga and many more.
This is a presentation we gave at Gameplay Space in Montreal recently, to a room full of indie developers.
Contact us at www.adriancrook.com today.
TWTRCON SF 10 Workshop: Game-Based Marketing DynamicsEdelman
How to Apply Game-Based Marketing Dynamics to Twitter | Instructor: James Clark, Co-Founder, Room 214 | @jamesoclark | @Room_214 | Delivered Nov 18, 2010 at TWTRCON SF
Why Game-Based Marketing? We are passing over the threshold into a realm of programs built on game-based marketing dynamics. This is important as many organizations are seeking ways to build a following, distribute relevant content and most importantly be entertaining in social media. Understanding the basis of game-based marketing dynamics (leader boards, unlocking levels) leveraged through Twitter is one of only a few strategic approaches that works to simultaneously achieve all goals.
What You’ll Learn: We’ll cover the basics of game-based marketing dynamics because (1) you should be aware of them and (2) often times its the smallest spark that ignites the biggest fires. From there we’ll provide the steps to set up and run game-based marketing campaigns in Twitter, in addition to exposing limitations so you won’t be sweating the details in the heat of the battle.
Similar to Kongregate - Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Games: Comparative Stats for Asian & Western Games (Digital Taipei 2013 Presentation) (20)
From the Editor's Desk: 115th Father's day Celebration - When we see Father's day in Hindu context, Nanda Baba is the most vivid figure which comes to the mind. Nanda Baba who was the foster father of Lord Krishna is known to provide love, care and affection to Lord Krishna and Balarama along with his wife Yashoda; Letter’s to the Editor: Mother's Day - Mother is a precious life for their children. Mother is life breath for her children. Mother's lap is the world happiness whose debt can never be paid.
Tom Selleck Net Worth: A Comprehensive Analysisgreendigital
Over several decades, Tom Selleck, a name synonymous with charisma. From his iconic role as Thomas Magnum in the television series "Magnum, P.I." to his enduring presence in "Blue Bloods," Selleck has captivated audiences with his versatility and charm. As a result, "Tom Selleck net worth" has become a topic of great interest among fans. and financial enthusiasts alike. This article delves deep into Tom Selleck's wealth, exploring his career, assets, endorsements. and business ventures that contribute to his impressive economic standing.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
The Foundation of Tom Selleck's Wealth
Born on January 29, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, Tom Selleck grew up in Sherman Oaks, California. His journey towards building a large net worth began with humble origins. , Selleck pursued a business administration degree at the University of Southern California (USC) on a basketball scholarship. But, his interest shifted towards acting. leading him to study at the Hills Playhouse under Milton Katselas.
Minor roles in television and films marked Selleck's early career. He appeared in commercials and took on small parts in T.V. series such as "The Dating Game" and "Lancer." These initial steps, although modest. laid the groundwork for his future success and the growth of Tom Selleck net worth. Breakthrough with "Magnum, P.I."
The Role that Defined Tom Selleck's Career
Tom Selleck's breakthrough came with the role of Thomas Magnum in the CBS television series "Magnum, P.I." (1980-1988). This role made him a household name and boosted his net worth. The series' popularity resulted in Selleck earning large salaries. leading to financial stability and increased recognition in Hollywood.
"Magnum P.I." garnered high ratings and critical acclaim during its run. Selleck's portrayal of the charming and resourceful private investigator resonated with audiences. making him one of the most beloved television actors of the 1980s. The success of "Magnum P.I." played a pivotal role in shaping Tom Selleck net worth, establishing him as a major star.
Film Career and Diversification
Expanding Tom Selleck's Financial Portfolio
While "Magnum, P.I." was a cornerstone of Selleck's career, he did not limit himself to television. He ventured into films, further enhancing Tom Selleck net worth. His filmography includes notable movies such as "Three Men and a Baby" (1987). which became the highest-grossing film of the year, and its sequel, "Three Men and a Little Lady" (1990). These box office successes contributed to his wealth.
Selleck's versatility allowed him to transition between genres. from comedies like "Mr. Baseball" (1992) to westerns such as "Quigley Down Under" (1990). This diversification showcased his acting range. and provided many income streams, reinforcing Tom Selleck net worth.
Television Resurgence with "Blue Bloods"
Sustaining Wealth through Consistent Success
In 2010, Tom Selleck began starring as Frank Reagan i
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Are the X-Men Marvel or DC An In-Depth Exploration.pdfXtreame HDTV
The world of comic books is vast and filled with iconic characters, gripping storylines, and legendary rivalries. Among the most famous groups of superheroes are the X-Men. Created in the early 1960s, the X-Men have become a cultural phenomenon, featuring in comics, animated series, and blockbuster movies. A common question among newcomers to the comic book world is: Are the X-Men Marvel or DC? This article delves into the history, creators, and significant moments of the X-Men to provide a comprehensive answer.
Scandal! Teasers June 2024 on etv Forum.co.zaIsaac More
Monday, 3 June 2024
Episode 47
A friend is compelled to expose a manipulative scheme to prevent another from making a grave mistake. In a frantic bid to save Jojo, Phakamile agrees to a meeting that unbeknownst to her, will seal her fate.
Tuesday, 4 June 2024
Episode 48
A mother, with her son's best interests at heart, finds him unready to heed her advice. Motshabi finds herself in an unmanageable situation, sinking fast like in quicksand.
Wednesday, 5 June 2024
Episode 49
A woman fabricates a diabolical lie to cover up an indiscretion. Overwhelmed by guilt, she makes a spontaneous confession that could be devastating to another heart.
Thursday, 6 June 2024
Episode 50
Linda unwittingly discloses damning information. Nhlamulo and Vuvu try to guide their friend towards the right decision.
Friday, 7 June 2024
Episode 51
Jojo's life continues to spiral out of control. Dintle weaves a web of lies to conceal that she is not as successful as everyone believes.
Monday, 10 June 2024
Episode 52
A heated confrontation between lovers leads to a devastating admission of guilt. Dintle's desperation takes a new turn, leaving her with dwindling options.
Tuesday, 11 June 2024
Episode 53
Unable to resort to violence, Taps issues a verbal threat, leaving Mdala unsettled. A sister must explain her life choices to regain her brother's trust.
Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Episode 54
Winnie makes a very troubling discovery. Taps follows through on his threat, leaving a woman reeling. Layla, oblivious to the truth, offers an incentive.
Thursday, 13 June 2024
Episode 55
A nosy relative arrives just in time to thwart a man's fatal decision. Dintle manipulates Khanyi to tug at Mo's heartstrings and get what she wants.
Friday, 14 June 2024
Episode 56
Tlhogi is shocked by Mdala's reaction following the revelation of their indiscretion. Jojo is in disbelief when the punishment for his crime is revealed.
Monday, 17 June 2024
Episode 57
A woman reprimands another to stay in her lane, leading to a damning revelation. A man decides to leave his broken life behind.
Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Episode 58
Nhlamulo learns that due to his actions, his worst fears have come true. Caiphus' extravagant promises to suppliers get him into trouble with Ndu.
Wednesday, 19 June 2024
Episode 59
A woman manages to kill two birds with one stone. Business doom looms over Chillax. A sobering incident makes a woman realize how far she's fallen.
Thursday, 20 June 2024
Episode 60
Taps' offer to help Nhlamulo comes with hidden motives. Caiphus' new ideas for Chillax have MaHilda excited. A blast from the past recognizes Dintle, not for her newfound fame.
Friday, 21 June 2024
Episode 61
Taps is hungry for revenge and finds a rope to hang Mdala with. Chillax's new job opportunity elicits mixed reactions from the public. Roommates' initial meeting starts off on the wrong foot.
Monday, 24 June 2024
Episode 62
Taps seizes new information and recruits someone on the inside. Mary's new job
Meet Crazyjamjam - A TikTok Sensation | Blog EternalBlog Eternal
Crazyjamjam, the TikTok star everyone's talking about! Uncover her secrets to success, viral trends, and more in this exclusive feature on Blog Eternal.
Source: https://blogeternal.com/celebrity/crazyjamjam-leaks/
As a film director, I have always been awestruck by the magic of animation. Animation, a medium once considered solely for the amusement of children, has undergone a significant transformation over the years. Its evolution from a rudimentary form of entertainment to a sophisticated form of storytelling has stirred my creativity and expanded my vision, offering limitless possibilities in the realm of cinematic storytelling.
Maximizing Your Streaming Experience with XCIPTV- Tips for 2024.pdfXtreame HDTV
In today’s digital age, streaming services have become an integral part of our entertainment lives. Among the myriad of options available, XCIPTV stands out as a premier choice for those seeking seamless, high-quality streaming. This comprehensive guide will delve into the features, benefits, and user experience of XCIPTV, illustrating why it is a top contender in the IPTV industry.
In the vast landscape of cinema, stories have been told, retold, and reimagined in countless ways. At the heart of this narrative evolution lies the concept of a "remake". A successful remake allows us to revisit cherished tales through a fresh lens, often reflecting a different era's perspective or harnessing the power of advanced technology. Yet, the question remains, what makes a remake successful? Today, we will delve deeper into this subject, identifying the key ingredients that contribute to the success of a remake.
Panchayat Season 3 - Official Trailer.pdfSuleman Rana
The dearest series "Panchayat" is set to make a victorious return with its third season, and the fervor is discernible. The authority trailer, delivered on May 28, guarantees one more enamoring venture through the country heartland of India.
Jitendra Kumar keeps on sparkling as Abhishek Tripathi, the city-reared engineer who ends up functioning as the secretary of the Panchayat office in the curious town of Phulera. His nuanced depiction of a young fellow exploring the difficulties of country life while endeavoring to adjust to his new environmental factors has earned far and wide recognition.
Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav return as Manju Devi and Brij Bhushan Dubey, separately. Their dynamic science and immaculate acting rejuvenate the hardships of town administration. Gupta's depiction of the town Pradhan with an ever-evolving outlook, matched with Yadav's carefully prepared exhibition, adds profundity and credibility to the story.
New Difficulties and Experiences
The trailer indicates new difficulties anticipating the characters, as Abhishek keeps on wrestling with his part in the town and his yearnings for a superior future. The series has reliably offset humor with social editorial, and Season 3 looks ready to dig much more profound into the intricacies of rustic organization and self-awareness.
Watchers can hope to see a greater amount of the enchanting and particular residents who have become fan top picks. Their connections and the one of a kind cut of-life situations give a reviving and interesting portrayal of provincial India, featuring the two its appeal and its difficulties.
A Mix of Humor and Heart
One of the signs of "Panchayat" is its capacity to mix humor with sincere narrating. The trailer features minutes that guarantee to convey giggles, as well as scenes that pull at the heartstrings. This equilibrium has been a critical calculate the show's prosperity, resounding with crowds across different socioeconomics.
Creation Greatness
The creation quality remaining parts first rate, with the beautiful setting of Phulera town filling in as a scenery that upgrades the narrating. The meticulousness in portraying provincial life, joined with sharp composition and solid exhibitions, guarantees that "Panchayat" keeps on hanging out in the packed web series scene.
Expectation and Delivery
As the delivery date draws near, expectation for "Panchayat" Season 3 is at a record-breaking high. The authority trailer has previously created critical buzz, with fans enthusiastically anticipating the continuation of Abhishek Tripathi's excursion and the new undertakings that lie ahead in Phulera.
All in all, the authority trailer for "Panchayat" Season 3 recommends that watchers are in for another drawing in and engaging ride. Yet again with its charming characters, convincing story, and ideal mix of humor and show, the new season is set to enamor crowds. Write in your schedules and prepare to get back to the endearing universe of "Panchayat."
From Slave to Scourge: The Existential Choice of Django Unchained. The Philos...Rodney Thomas Jr
#SSAPhilosophy #DjangoUnchained #DjangoFreeman #ExistentialPhilosophy #Freedom #Identity #Justice #Courage #Rebellion #Transformation
Welcome to SSA Philosophy, your ultimate destination for diving deep into the profound philosophies of iconic characters from video games, movies, and TV shows. In this episode, we explore the powerful journey and existential philosophy of Django Freeman from Quentin Tarantino’s masterful film, "Django Unchained," in our video titled, "From Slave to Scourge: The Existential Choice of Django Unchained. The Philosophy of Django Freeman!"
From Slave to Scourge: The Existential Choice of Django Unchained – The Philosophy of Django Freeman!
Join me as we delve into the existential philosophy of Django Freeman, uncovering the profound lessons and timeless wisdom his character offers. Through his story, we find inspiration in the power of choice, the quest for justice, and the courage to defy oppression. Django Freeman’s philosophy is a testament to the human spirit’s unyielding drive for freedom and justice.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to SSA Philosophy for more in-depth explorations of the philosophies behind your favorite characters. Hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest videos. Let’s discover the principles that shape these icons and the profound lessons they offer.
Django Freeman’s story is one of the most compelling narratives of transformation and empowerment in cinema. A former slave turned relentless bounty hunter, Django’s journey is not just a physical liberation but an existential quest for identity, justice, and retribution. This video delves into the core philosophical elements that define Django’s character and the profound choices he makes throughout his journey.
Link to video: https://youtu.be/GszqrXk38qk
Skeem Saam in June 2024 available on ForumIsaac More
Monday, June 3, 2024 - Episode 241: Sergeant Rathebe nabs a top scammer in Turfloop. Meikie is furious at her uncle's reaction to the truth about Ntswaki.
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 - Episode 242: Babeile uncovers the truth behind Rathebe’s latest actions. Leeto's announcement shocks his employees, and Ntswaki’s ordeal haunts her family.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 - Episode 243: Rathebe blocks Babeile from investigating further. Melita warns Eunice to stay clear of Mr. Kgomo.
Thursday, June 6, 2024 - Episode 244: Tbose surrenders to the police while an intruder meddles in his affairs. Rathebe's secret mission faces a setback.
Friday, June 7, 2024 - Episode 245: Rathebe’s antics reach Kganyago. Tbose dodges a bullet, but a nightmare looms. Mr. Kgomo accuses Melita of witchcraft.
Monday, June 10, 2024 - Episode 246: Ntswaki struggles on her first day back at school. Babeile is stunned by Rathebe’s romance with Bullet Mabuza.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Episode 247: An unexpected turn halts Rathebe’s investigation. The press discovers Mr. Kgomo’s affair with a young employee.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - Episode 248: Rathebe chases a criminal, resorting to gunfire. Turf High is rife with tension and transfer threats.
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - Episode 249: Rathebe traps Kganyago. John warns Toby to stop harassing Ntswaki.
Friday, June 14, 2024 - Episode 250: Babeile is cleared to investigate Rathebe. Melita gains Mr. Kgomo’s trust, and Jacobeth devises a financial solution.
Monday, June 17, 2024 - Episode 251: Rathebe feels the pressure as Babeile closes in. Mr. Kgomo and Eunice clash. Jacobeth risks her safety in pursuit of Kganyago.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 - Episode 252: Bullet Mabuza retaliates against Jacobeth. Pitsi inadvertently reveals his parents’ plans. Nkosi is shocked by Khwezi’s decision on LJ’s future.
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - Episode 253: Jacobeth is ensnared in deceit. Evelyn is stressed over Toby’s case, and Letetswe reveals shocking academic results.
Thursday, June 20, 2024 - Episode 254: Elizabeth learns Jacobeth is in Mpumalanga. Kganyago's past is exposed, and Lehasa discovers his son is in KZN.
Friday, June 21, 2024 - Episode 255: Elizabeth confirms Jacobeth’s dubious activities in Mpumalanga. Rathebe lies about her relationship with Bullet, and Jacobeth faces theft accusations.
Monday, June 24, 2024 - Episode 256: Rathebe spies on Kganyago. Lehasa plans to retrieve his son from KZN, fearing what awaits.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - Episode 257: MaNtuli fears for Kwaito’s safety in Mpumalanga. Mr. Kgomo and Melita reconcile.
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 - Episode 258: Kganyago makes a bold escape. Elizabeth receives a shocking message from Kwaito. Mrs. Khoza defends her husband against scam accusations.
Thursday, June 27, 2024 - Episode 259: Babeile's skillful arrest changes the game. Tbose and Kwaito face a hostage crisis.
Friday, June 28, 2024 - Episode 260: Two women face the reality of being scammed. Turf is rocked by breaking
Kongregate - Maximizing Player Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Games: Comparative Stats for Asian & Western Games (Digital Taipei 2013 Presentation)
1. Maximizing Player Retention and
Monetization in Free-to-Play Games:
Comparative Stats for Asian & Western Games
David P Chiu
Director of Developer Relations & Business
Development (Kongregate)
Principal, Business Development
(GameStop Digital Ventures)
2. What is Kongregate?
• Open platform for browser-based games
– Flash, Unity, HTML5, Java, etc.
– 93%+ of users already have Unity installed
• 18M monthly uniques visitors worldwide
• Core gamers – 85% male, average age of 22
• MMOs, RPGs, CCGs/TCGs, TD, shooters, etc.
• Platform level virtual currency “Kreds” for F2P games
• Acquired by GameStop July 2010
5. Stats both reflect & shape mind-set
So what statistics does F2P focus on?
Daily Active Users, DAU
$/DAU
1- & 7-Day Retention
To a lesser extent MAU & 30-Day
30-Day Retention is a good stat, but 30 days is
not “long-term” retention, it’s the start.
6. A little background
• All stats are lifetime, min 6 weeks on platform
• ARPU: average revenue per user
• ARPPU: average revenue per paying user
• Player: a Kongregate registered user who loaded
the game page at least once
• Plays = Sessions: our preferred method to measure
retention
12. ARPU & ARPPU
• ARPPUs for single-player games cluster around $5-$10
• Multiplayer games range $20-$350
• Average ARPPU for a multiplayer game from Asia: $181
• Average for Western multiplayer game: $51
• Only 9 Western games have an ARPPU above $100
• ARPPU is the main factor in high ARPU for Asian
games, important factor for all games
16. Asian vs Western Style
• Asian games: High ARPPU, tight player funnel
– Monetization caters well to big spenders
• Western games: Lower ARPPU, wide player
funnel
– Monetization focuses more on initial retention and
broad conversion to paid at lower prices
– Pay 2 Win is not as accepted by Western devs
• Mixed games: can combine the best of both
– High conversion, wide funnel, still create big spenders
20. Daily Play Bonuses
• Daily play bonuses are good to get users coming back regular
• But improve on the typical 5-7 day daily bonuses
• Reward playing game regularly
in longer term
• Doesn’t reset after 5-7 days
• Doesn’t “punish” players for
missing a day
21. Daily Play Bonuses
• Add an element of chance
- make it exciting!
• Repeat logins opens up
bigger potential rewards
22. Don’t punish people for taking a break
• Psychologically, punishments or the possibility of punishment deters
unwanted behavior
• Base/castle raided, loot stolen, crops withered, troops dead, account
de-activated, etc. deter players from being away too long
• But it can be a two-edged sword
• Players sometimes need to take a break (exams, vacation, illness)
• Punishment may drive re-activated users away again
“I just got back from vacation/work
conference/being sick but my base is
completely destroyed, my resources are
gone, troops are dead. No point in getting back
in the game since I lost everything already.”
23. Don’t punish people for taking a break
• It can sting but it shouldn’t handicap
you permanently
• Limit amount of resources that can
be looted or # times you can be
attacked while gone
• Enable shield or protection time if
you lose a significant amount
• Mix positive reinforcement with
punishment
• Quick one-button rebuild
• Resources still available for harvest
• Gain XP or gold while away
24. Keep players busy!
More things to do = more players staying
• Solo and team PvE
• Solo and team PvP
• Asynch raids
• Guild battles
• World boss raids
• Farming
• Town Building
• Weapon/Gear
Synthesizing & Upgrading
• Astral Collecting and
Combining
• Etc.
It is important to pace the introduction of new features/gameplay modes to not
overwhelm players with a long and intimidating tutorial.
25. Without progress you have nothing
• The foundations of a F2P game are a strong RPG elements and a
sense of progress over time
• Building up account, leveling up, adding/improves skills and stats, etc
• Surprisingly it’s more important than multiplayer
Type % 50+ Plays % Buyers ARPPU ARPU
Multiplayer RPG 2.6% 0.75% $69 $0.51
Multiplayer Non-RPG 1.0% 0.45% $9 $0.05
Single-player RPG 1.8% 1.29% $12 $0.10
Single-Player Non-RPG 0.2% 0.53% $4 $0.02
Deep RPG mechanics and multiplayer matter:
• 25x ARPU for Multiplayer RPG vs Single Player non-RPG!
26. Asynchronous > Synchronous
Type % 50 Plays % Buyers ARPPU ARPU
Synchronous 1.4% 0.54% $43 $0.25
Asynchronous 3.6% 0.80% $88 $0.66
Both 2.9% 1.07% $51 $0.55
Single-Player 0.8% 0.85% $7 $0.05
• Multiplayer keeps players engaged and busy in the long run
• But not all types of multiplayer are created equal
• Top games have both synchronous and asynchronous multiplayer
(more is better)
• Asynchronous is better than synchronous because it allows players to
play at their own pace and convenience
27. Best Practices for Optimizing Monetization:
A happy customer is a paying customer
28. Shopping should be easy and frictionless
• Location, location, location – make the store easy to find!
• Make it easy to find the right item
– Meaningful categories and item descriptions
– No massive scroll bars
• Mix soft currency and hard currency items
• BUT – don’t try to sell too hard, too fast. First few sessions should
focus on fun & giving players reasons to come back to play and get
hooked.
29. Buy Screen
• Bonuses % or/and items provide incentives for buying larger hard currency packages
• Clearly call out bonuses of larger packages!
• Make all packages visible in one page
• Hide $100+ packages until after first purchase
30. Making the shopping experience interesting
• First time buyer/ Starter packages
• Seed players with some paid/hard currency and guide “intro purchase”
• Deals/events to get people into the habit of spending regularly
• Offer items that enhance the gameplay experience (not just speedups)
• Intro the right items at the right time
– Lvl 1 players should not be shown the lvl 100+ holy sword that’s on sale for $100)
• Keep them coming back – keep store fresh by adding new items, unlocking items as
players level up and featuring seasonal and time-limited items
31. Make sure players can spend
as much as they want
• The longer someone plays your game the more likely they are to buy and
the less price sensitive they become
• Give committed players the ability to spend at $1,000+ if they want
• Have lots of items that are appealing and useful to a committed player
and price them higher (if possible) than items meant for early/mid-game
play. [Higher means $30-100, not $1000]
• If you make a fun game, someone may want to spend an infinite amount.
• Don’t create a situation where spending is capped by availability or utility.
• Again, remember to make it easy for players to buy!
33. Make it easy for community to build
Chat, forums, player-to-player
messages are all great
Real relationships build when
people interact. The more ways
they can do it, the better.
34. Guilds are awesome
• 100% of our top games have guilds
• Guild members spend 10-20x more than non-guild members
• Strong correlation as guilds improve retention and monetization
with late stage players
Some reasons they make a difference
• Social incentives to return I want to see my friends
• Social pressures to return I don’t want to disappoint them
• Improves the psychology of purchases I’m doing it for the
team, not me
• Upends the dynamics of pay-to-win can set up a symbiotic
relationship between buyers and non-buyers where both add
value to the same group
35. Community Management and
Customer Service
If a player invests many hours into
a game they begin to feel some
ownership. It may be YOUR
game, but it’s THEIR experience
1. Be visible – forums, chat, email
2. Listen to their concerns and acknowledge their emotions
3. Be transparent, honest, and accurate
4. Give advance notice of changes and downtimes
5. Don’t feed the trolls
36. Opportunity Complains
Customer service is a chance to surprise and delight
• Handle things quickly
• Be generous with compensation
• But don’t do something unless you’re willing to do it
for everybody
37. Surprise and delight
• IGG rewards its players with some resources after each of its
weekly 30-minute maintenance
39. Case Study
Fantasy Online: A Coming of Age Tale
• By Pixelated Games
(Jeromy Stroh)
• Launched May 2010
• 4.20 rating
• 10M+ gameplays
40. Fantasy Online: A Humble Start
• Game was popular, highly rated and good retention
• But couldn’t monetize well (only sold aesthetic equips)
• Jun 2010 – First month Monthly ARPPU: $5.50
• Sept 2010 – New zones, modest growth to $8.50
• Nov 2010 – No updates, Monthly ARPPU down $8.11
41. Fantasy Online: Release the Guilds!
• Dec 2010 – Guilds launched
Monthly ARPPU jumped to $12.93
• June 2011 – Crafting, mining, XP potions, new zones
added, kept Monthly ARPPU in that higher
range, growing to $18.66
42. Fantasy Online: Whale Hunting
• Jul 2011 – “Gem Packs”, expensive “uber” items ($30+) were added
to court big spenders
Monthly ARPPU soared to $32.80
• New content, new equipment slots, Halloween event, grew to $36.23
in Nov 2011
• Jan 2012: Guild Warfare, peak of $41.86
• Mar 2012: New high level content, $54.37
New high level features, content and items catering to committed
players + big spenders allowed players to spend more if they wanted to
45. Fantasy Online: Takeaways
• Monthly ARPPU grew from $5.45 to $54.37
• Monthly ARPU grew from $0.04 to $0.70
• Social features like guilds drive long term retention &
monetization
• Incentivizing purchases leads to bigger spends
• Make sure you appeal to your big spenders
• Keep content fresh to keep players interested
• If a core game is fun, you can probably make it
monetize. The converse isn’t necessarily true.
46. The Value of Developer Activity
Keep feeding your players
• Regular updates, new features, and events yield greater
engagement and reduced fatigue.
• Sales and specials can offer significant jumps in revenue.
47. The Value of Developer Activity
Hot New Games
Badges added
Custom User Items
New zone, XL, etc.
Equips, Guild bonuses
Halloween, sale
Christmas event
Guild wars
FantasyOnlineRevenue
48. The Value of Developer Activity
Front Page
Badges
Item promotion
New Version
Revenue
Fantasy Online
Asian MMO
49. The Value of Developer Activity
Front page
Badges added
Expansion
Labor day event
Expansion
Christmas update
Expansion
Easter event
Expansion
Expansion
New Server
Revenue
Fantasy Online
Dream World
Asian MMO
50. THANK YOU
For a copy of the presentation or questions, email
davidchiu@gamestop.com
For more talks & data visit developers.kongregate.com
For web games contact us at apps@kongregate.com
If you’re interested in mobile publishing it’s mobile@kongregate.com
Follow us on Twitter: @EmilyG & @KongregateDevs
Editor's Notes
Self-introAs a platform for F2P games, Kongregate has a unique perspective on what types of mechanics and characteristics of F2P games are most effective at maximizing player retention, monetization and satisfaction. This talk will look at F2P trends and specific game metrics with a comparative analysis of free-to-play games by Asian & Western developers. We will examine the similarities and differences between games as it relates to retention/ monetization, share best practices and statistics to understand how to maximize your success with Western audiences.This presentation builds on the series of talks by Kongregate co-founder and COO Emily Greer (who couldn’t be here but I must thank for doing the bulk of the hard work in this presentation!) The format will be familiar to those that have attended those talks in the past but are updated with new stats and content.
Hardcore gamersDriven by achievements (1M+ badges/wk)93%+ of users already have Unity installed
Hardcore gamersDriven by achievements (1M+ badges/wk)93%+ of users already have Unity installed
The statistics that most F2P developers look at DAU, $/DAU, D1, D7 and D30 retention. 30-day retention is usually used to measure to “long term” retention in the F2P industry. While it is a good stat, 30 days is not “long term”, it is just a start.
So let’s take a look at some of that data. Before I dive in I want to give a few definitions so that it’s clear what I’m talking about.Very important how you define a user as they can change ARPU dramatically We believe the # of play sessions does a better job of capturing the intensity of gameplay. For instance, with 30-day retention, a player that plays the game twice in 30 days and another player that plays the game 100 times in 30 days are not differentiated.
ARPU and ARPPUs for F2P games on Kongregate. X-axis is ARPPU, Y-axis is ARPU, size of bubble represents gross revenuesARPPUs for single-player games cluster around $5-$10Multiplayer games range $20-$350
Big spenders mattersX-axis is % of buyers who have spent $300+Strong correlation between ARPU and (R2 factor = 0.5)For the top multiplayer games 67% of revenue comes from those spending $300+. For the rest of the multiplayer games it’s 48%, still quite high.
We all tend to obsess over games/companies showing exponential growth but more often that not that’s followed by a crash. Linear may be less sexy and headline-catching, but the tortoise generally does win out. Top games still making as much or more as at launch as they hit 2- and 3-year anniversaries on Kong.
Average ARPPU for a multiplayer game from Asia: $181Average for Western multiplayer game: $51Only 9 Western games have an ARPPU above $100ARPPU is the main factor in high ARPU for Asian games, important factor for all games
Asian games tend to have lower % buyersWestern game tend to have higher conversion rates
Asian games also tend to have lower initial retention as you can see hereWestern games tend to have higher initial retention
And consequently also less players making it deep into the game since Asian games lose more players in the early game
Let’s put the data in chart formYou can see a strong correlation between long term retention and monetization- a player can only spend if they are still in the game!The more they plan, the more they are likely to buy, buy multiple times, spend more per transaction and overall.Revenue is dramatically weighted towards those who play a game very, very deeply – more than 80% of revenue comes from the 2% of players with more than 100 lifetime sessionsAsian multiplayer games lose more players in the early part of the funnel, but more than make up for it by getting extremely deep investments from their most dedicated players.
Now that you have seen the data, you are wondering what the top games are doing in order to retain and monetize better than others. In this next part, we’ll look at best practices and give examples from games to help maximize player retention, monetization AND satisfaction. We work very closely with developers to help them optimize their metrics and success on Kongregate.
Let’s start by looking at some ways to optimize retention
First of all, let’s look at daily bonuses. Daily bonuses are a good tool to get users to play a game regularlyBut there are ways to improve on the typical 5-7 day daily bonus you see out thereExample from an Asian MMO called Wartune, a big hit in China by Seventh Road that has been brought to the west by R2 Games.
Here is another daily bonus example from a game called Card Monsters from a Western developerThe daily play bonus here has ben turned into a roulette mini-game
Since we want people to keep playing, lots of game take the tack of punishing people (crops withering, troops dying, account deactivated) when they’re gone for too long. This is bad – we all have times (exams, vacations, work crunches, illnesses) when we need to take a break from a game. And the problem with punishing people is that the consequences are experienced not when they’re gone, but when they come back – the exact behavior you want to reward. If they feel like they’ve lost too much they’re likely to quit – why start again if you’ll just lose it?
Since we want people to keep playing, lots of game take the tack of punishing people (crops withering, troops dying, account deactivated) when they’re gone for too long. This is bad – we all have times (exams, vacations, work crunches, illnesses) when we need to take a break from a game. And the problem with punishing people is that the consequences are experienced not when they’re gone, but when they come back – the exact behavior you want to reward. If they feel like they’ve lost too much they’re likely to quit – why start again if you’ll just lose it?Clash of Clans on mobile handles this well as well. Your base may have been looted but that shows just briefly before your base restores itself and you can fill up your resource bars. You may even have gained trophies…Wartune and Dawn of the Dragons actually reward you with gold and XP after an absenceAsians MMO automatically have your character “meditate” while you are gone
This is Wartune, a big hit in China by Seventh Road that has been brought to the west by R2 games. It has so many currencies, bars, buttons, etc that it’s almost hard to see the screen of an advanced player, though they do a good job of introducing them gradually. There’s synchronous solo & team PvP, solo & team PvE, asynchronous plundering, guild battles, farming, town building, weapon synthesizing & upgrading, astral collecting & combining, and I’ve definitely forgotten something. It is important to pace the introduction of new features/gameplay modes to not overwhelm players with a long and intimidating tutorial.
RPG is defined a bit loosely here, and really means that you’re building up your account over time, leveling up, adding skills, etc.
The very top games have both synchronous and asynchronous multiplayer because more things to do is better, but asynchronous generally the focus. Aysnchronous allows players to play and interact at their pace and convenience which leads to deeper engagement.
Now let’s look at best practices and examples to optimize monetization
Shopping should be easy AND frictionlessExample in which user could not find the shop because it was a hot air balloon floating above your town. You had to move your screen up there (and there is no reason to do that if you didn’t know there was a store up there). Make it easy for users to find the storeMake it easy for them to shop and find what they are looking for (meaningful categories and descriptions, no massive scroll bars)Mix soft and hard currency items But don’t try to sell too hard, too fast. First few sessions should focus on fun and giving players reasons to come back and play and get hooked
Provide bonuses % or/and items provide incentives for buying larger hard currency packagesClearly call out bonuses of larger packages! Decrease friction, do the math for the player and make shopping easier.Make all packages visible in one pageHide $100+ packages until after first purchase. Prevents sticker shock and users getting turned off by seeing $250, $500+ packages early on
Make sure players can spend $1k+ if they want to
Okay, so what do I need to do to build my awesome linear business? The first one seems sort of stupid but is actually both hard & complicated once you add that 6 month caveat. There’s lots of fun games that you enjoy for an hour or two, or even a week or two, but quickly run out of steam. Here are some ways to fight that.
We’ve got chat next to every game, and forums just below, and we think it’s a big contributor to games reporting significantly higher ARPUs (generally 2-3x ARPU over FB and other platforms, sometimes 5-10x) on Kongregate than on Facebook.
Revenue is generally 20x higher for guild members than non-guild members, though generally true of late-stage players it’s a bit hard to tease out causation. However the addition of guilds, especially competitive guilds, is often an inflection point for revenue for games. Upbends dynamics of pay-to-win – symbiotic relationship between time-rich and money-rich users
1) And ideally, fun – let the players see you’re human2) You don’t have to agree. Players sometimes want things that are batshit crazy. But if they know you heard them, it immediately feels like a dialog and a partnership.3) Explaining your “why” goes a very long way4) Advance notice gives players time to adjust OR get excited5) Engage the rational in calm discussion, but never let yourself get combative and disengage once 1-4 have been satisfied. This can be hard.
This includes fixing bugs & exploits as well as answering emailsIn the face of a real problem/issue, how much does some virtual currency or items cost you? Token amounts are often enough to acknowledge the issue, and keeping the player = pricelessBecause news will spread and players will (correctly) think you’re unfair. So have rules for what you will and won’t do and why, so you can be consistent.
Example of an Asian developer turning a weakness into an opportunity to have fun with their community. Players appreciate the humor and the developer acknowledging the issue, explaining the situation and letting players know that they will work on it
Fantasy Online, by one-man-shop Pixelated Games / Jeromy Stroh, is a retro-styled MMO, sort of an 8-bit World of Warcraft with a quirky sense of humor. It has a high rating and has been played quite a lot.
At launch, the game was rather acclaimed by players, but they only sold aesthetic items. It was quite popular but didn’t monetize well, with few people buying, and those that did spending on average only about $5.50 in the first month. We’re going to focus on monthly ARPPU for this case since it shows the story more clearly than ARPU. The reason is that during larger promotions, which are usually timed with big releases and events, a wide audience of new players is brought to the game. New players are less likely to purchase right away, so this leads to a small, very short term dip in percent buyers. The dip confounds the ARPU – promotion can end up hiding the gain in ARPPU. The ARPU definitely does grow over time, but this case study is more about how to monetize your paying players than how to get first time buyers. Over the next few months, new “zones” (areas for the players to explore, usually with new enemies and loot) were added, which combined with players getting farther into the game helped grow the ARPPU to a better but still modest $8.50. After that, very few updates were made and the ARPPU stagnated in the low $8 range.
The launch of guilds gave users a new way to interact with one another and more incentive to buy items to show off or make them more valuable allies. The ARPPU increased rather significantly in that one month to about $13. This was not a short term spike, but instead served as a new tier of monetization, with additional new features growing it even more to $18.66 by June 2011.
At this point, we started encouraging the developer to investigate higher price points to enable his whales to spend more in the game. He released the first of a series of “uber” items priced at a premium level ($30+) that came with status and stat bonuses. He also added “Gem packs” that were essentially unique bonus items that you could only get by buying the bigger packs of premium currency. The results were tremendous, nearly doubling monthly ARPPU to $32.80. More incremental releases and events built on this jump, increasing to $36 by November. Then in January 2012 guilds were given a competitive mechanic, which helped drive sales and competition in the game, hitting a new peak of nearly $42.
Here we have the monthly ARPPU since launch on Kongregate.
Here we have the monthly ARPPU since launch on Kongregate.
While nothing here is too surprising, they are all supported strongly by the data. The incentivized purchases for larger buys of currency and whale appeal especially are very powerful for improving ARPPU.
While this may seem obvious, keeping your players engaged and happy is crucial to your bottom line. Where it gets less obvious is frequency. Adding 6 major features once every year is completely different than one major new feature every 2 months in the eyes of a player. You can also use things like events and special deals to stagger dev-heavy content and features while still keeping an active community.
Here is another view of Fantasy Online, this time graphing weekly revenue. The spikes occur due to increased interest from players and promotions run by Kongregate, but then the low end after each spike gets higher. Players react well to a game that feels like it is alive and growing, and are more willing to invest in it when they feel that their investment will retain value in the long run, or perhaps even gain in value as the game develops.
By contrast, here is an Asian MMO that started off doing extremely well – far better than Fantasy Online (so far!). They were featured early and built a big audience, but then not much happened with the game. The only major update was launched over a year after the game released on Kongregate, and while it built up a relative spike of interest briefly, the momentum was lost and the game, while still profitable, hasn’t been able to regain its earlier glory days. Meanwhile, Fantasy Online has grown and now outperforms this other game by a fair margin.
Taken to an extreme, here is Dream World, which is a mostly text-based MMORPG that developed a bit of a (large) cult following on Kongregate. Initially the game did well, though was not outstanding and definitely was below the aforementioned Asian MMO. A single expansion was launched after a few months, and then not much until 9 months after release. At that point, content updates become much more frequent, with new features, promotions, and events appearing on a monthly basis. Large spikes followed by higher valleys grew revenue tremendously. The only real downturn was late 2011 when the Playmage team focused their efforts on their new game (Time World) and didn’t update Dream World significantly. As predicted, sales trailed off a bit, until after Time World launched. Just recently Dream World launched a New Server with a special event and the revenue appears to be heading back upward.