Game Design Secrets

Summary

Here are the key points we covered this chapter:

• Wrap the gameplay of one game genre in the trappings of another genre—if done well, you can attract fans of both genres.
• Create a recognizable brand that unifies your games, which helps build a fan base.
• Distribute on multiple websites and personally solicit sites that might host your game.
• Consider licensing your first games, since it’s very difficult to make much revenue from advertising in the beginning.
• Put as much thought into your web page design and advertising deployment as you do into your game’s design—and track changes, to see which of them earn you more money and users.
• Deeply integrate monetization options into a game’s design. Make them easy for players to notice, and convey clearly how paying for them will make the game more fun.
• Keep in mind the three varieties of monetization that are common in web games: monetizing convenience, collections, and exclusivity.
• Price your virtual goods high, adjust rates as needed, and don’t cap spending—some of your most devoted fans may want to pay more than your capped price.