With all the apparent diversity of online games on Game Karma, they are all representatives of a small number of types that differ from each other at the structural level. The difference between games of the same type is purely in the details. It is here that active work is carried out not only by developers and designers but first of all by marketers. After all, having played enough of your favorite game, a person is most likely to play another, but the same one.
Let’s discover how this world is organized and how the developers succeed to make it attractive for a long time.
Basics of games and their creation
Online games are built on three levels:
- Visual level – the graphic design of the game, and what the user sees on the screen.
- Gameplay is directly the key, the game’s responses to user actions.
- The structure of the game is everything that is built around the gameplay, namely: story, energy, internal economy, competitive, social, clan mechanics, etc.
If the majority of users stop playing a week after joining the application (they are tired of the game, or the content has ended), then it is difficult to talk about monetization. By changing the game at some of the levels, developers get new games.agar.ip
The King company, for example, uses one game structure, changing the visuals and gameplay (Candy Crush Saga, Pet Rescue Saga, Farm Hero Saga, etc.). Kabam releases many clones of Kingdom of Camelot, changing only the visual part (The Hobbit, Dragons of Atlantis, etc.). Angry Birds use the setting everyone loves while changing the gameplay and structure of the game (Angry Birds Go, Angry Birds Epic).
User engagement cycle model
First, the user decides to download. This decision is influenced by visual appeal, reviews, brand, developer name, and recommendations from friends.
Next, the user begins to interact with the game. In the first hours and days, visualization and gameplay become the most important factor for the user, they are responsible for shaping the user’s interest in the initial period.
It is impossible to keep players for several months with one gameplay (doing the same thing after a while gets boring). Therefore, during the period of initial involvement, the game should gradually bring the player to the level of structure. It sets a goal for him so that the player constantly returns to it for the sake of progress in the game, that is, not to pass the next race, but to open a new track, etc.
Then there are competitive, social, and clan mechanics that can raise the level of player motivation to an even higher level, for example, a leading position among the top players or respect and recognition for contribution to a common cause.
Below is an approximate classification of the types of structures of financially successful games:
- strategies;
- action with progress;
- farms;
- runners.
Of course, there are other game structures. In most cases, they are obtained by crossing the above-mentioned ones or partially borrowing mechanics.
