#ingamepurchases

[chetuondemanddevelopers]

How Modern Game Analytics Software can Retain Player | Chetu

Game analytics software collects data through good BI to understand player behavior and performance, which amplifies and retains player enga

Boost In-Game Purchases with Player Segmentation

Use analytics to categorize players and target spenders with tailored offers

[cephypod-reviews-blog]

Ndemic Creations. (2012, May 26). Plague Inc [iOS App]. Ndemic Creations. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plague-inc/id525818839

Plague Inc. (Code given by FSU) Genre: Real Time Strategy Simulation Target Demographic: 12+ Monetization: Paid, In-Game Purchases

Plague Inc is a RTS simulation game, in which you create a disease, a plague per se, and choose a location around the world to infect. From there, you have a variety of options to choose to spread the plague, such as upgrading the virus to be airborne, making the symptoms worse to further spread the infection, and to upgrade the virus to break down defenses that countries put up to resist the virus. The main goal of the game is to eradicate humankind with your brand new disease. Replayability is high with this game, as with every new playthrough, you can start in a different country and progress the evolution of the disease in multiple different ways.

The game has a mechanic of speeding up time, which is very convenient to people who have less time playing the game compared to others who have the time to play this game. This allows for a wider audience, those who value short games and portability, and those who value longer games and can afford focus on these types of games. The music is very fitting for “impending doom” aesthetic the game is portraying, which is a good way for players to feel immersed in the game.

What I can take away from this game is the versatility presented with the time mechanic, the complexity of the different upgrades the players can choose and how that affects player interest and decision making.

[cephypod-reviews-blog]

Ubisoft Casablanca. (2013, November 7). Rayman Fiesta Run [iOS App]. Ubisoft. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rayman-fiesta-run/id657811530

Rayman Fiesta Run (Code Given by FSU) Genre: 2D Platformer Target Demographic: 4+ Monetization: Paid, In-Game Purchases

Rayman Fiesta Run is a colorful 2D platformer running game. You play as Rayman at first, traversing through different levels, but as you continue on, other characters become unlocked to purchase. The goal is to free 4 creatures called Teensies by collecting Lums during the run. There are 100 Lums per level but 81 are required to free the 4 Lums. If you collect 100 Lums, you unlock the “invaded” version of the level which is a dangerous version where you are followed by fire and have to avoid spikes while completing the level. The game gives motivation, through multiple goals, to keep playing each level again for higher difficulty.

The character automatically runs forward so all the player has to do is press when to jump. Later on they have the ability to punch as well which adds more capability. There may be other moves that become available later on. The monetization strategy was interesting. You get awarded the ability to purchase characters or power-ups as you progress through the game. Doing this may contribute to players feeling motivated to purchase since it is a reward to even be able to. Being able to see how different goals can motivate players to replay a game and how using rewards as a way to promote purchasing is beneficial to my future progress and considerations.

[cephypod-reviews-blog]

Persson, M. (2011, November 17). Minecraft: Pocket Edition [iOS App]. Mojang. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/minecraft/id479516143

Minecraft: Pocket Edition (Code Given by FSU) Genre: Sandbox/Survival Target Demographic: 9+ Monetization: Paid, In-Game Purchases

I have played Minecraft on PC, but since about the first 3 since it’s release. Enjoying the PC version of Minecraft, I was hopeful for the pocket edition. Unfortunately I did not enjoy this as much as the PC version due to the UI. Depending on screen size of a device, there is not as much visibility as I would like. The buttons for movement combined with on-hand inventory take up quite a bit of the screen. Third person front and back view are available to make up for this, but there are problems with these. Back view gets rid of visibility when interacting with objects and front view reverses the controls. Mods are also not as accessible on mobile as they are on console. Mods on mobile are in-game purchases which is not attractive considering mods on PC are plentiful and freely accessible. It is nice for creators to get paid for their creations, but the consumer would likely go for PC and have a wider, free array of mods.

The game itself is excellent. Children, teens, and adults can equally enjoy this, depending on level of dedication to the hobby of playing video games, and no matter how long you take break from this game, you can come back to new experiences. There is creative mode purely for sandbox, survival mode, and multiplayer. There are different modifications available to customize the world before even entering, allowing for creativity of the players to create custom game modes outside of the survival and sandbox modes. This game, as read in my studies, covers Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, when played in multiplayer survival mode, which could attribute to the high level of success. However, a game can be successful and have infinite replayability but still not deliver when paired with a physical and virtual interface not suited for this type of gameplay.

Having experienced an excellent game, that does not execute well on mobile, gives light to something I need to keep in mind for my own projects. It is a reminder to be cautious of the benefits and limits of different physical interfaces.