Monetization is the very word that keeps developers in constant suspense. To better understand this issue, we suggest considering the opinions of experienced representatives of the gaming industry.
Kate Flack, Mythic Entertainment”It seems that everyone around is looking for a ready–made solution – a single path to a bright place of Profit,” laughs Flack.
But having a standard solution to such a problem as monetization is fantastic.
You need to choose the path that suits you. Your paid apps pay off well – great! The fact that a huge number of articles about f2p are being published now does not mean at all that you need to follow this example. The mobile games market is very large, there is enough space for all games, regardless of the chosen profit model.
Keith Katz, Execution LabsMost games stay in the top for months for one simple reason – people just take what they give.
“Once you’ve climbed up, that’s where you stay. It is obvious that Apple and Google do not intend to change their process of discovering new titles in the near future, which negatively affects the industry as a whole. Imagine having to listen to the same Weekly Top 40 Songs every week for a year. Is it good for you and musical performers?” – reflects Katz.
Catz suggests considering games that occupy more modest places in the top 500 free apps. There you will find many good games that failed to bring profit to their creators. Their example will help you avoid the same monetization mistakes when releasing your game.
Ethan Levy, Famous AspectAccording to Levy, any mobile game offers the user a relatively simple, repetitive set of actions that helps him relax during short breaks during the day.
So, if you want to increase your chances of getting to the top of the box office tops, then you want to help your players have fun and relax. At the same time, it is necessary to take care of the constant updating of content, adding new levels, events, items, etc.
This is where the monetization process begins. “Maintaining long–term relationships with players is the key to holding top positions,” Levy believes.
He also adds that monetization should involve all team members, because each of them constantly makes choices that affect the payback of the game.
Martin Koppel, FortumoAs for the technical integration of payments, everything is more or less clear when it comes to Western markets where bank cards are widely used.
However, if you want to conquer the markets of countries such as India or China, forget about making a profit from platforms like GooglePlay. There are practically no bank cards here, which means that other payment methods should be considered.
Koppnel emphasizes the need to get acquainted with local app stores, currency, “each developer should study key indicators such as retention, payment deadlines, geographical distribution, ARPU, ARPPU, average time to the first payment, the effects of discounts, promotions and special offers, starting from the first day.”
As an example, Coppnel considers a situation where, on average, a user invests in a game after 15 days. Accordingly, he offers to give a discount to those who have not bought anything during this period in order to involve them in the process of in-game purchases.
It is important to remember that when developing a monetization strategy, there are no trifles. Familiarization with the methods that other companies have chosen, regardless of whether their applications are successful or not, will help to accumulate such valuable experience. And experience, in turn, will tell you which way will lead to the success of your game.
A source:gamasutra.com