Mastering Retention

This episode is a deep dive into the user experience (UX) strategies that make Royal Match not just a game, but a phenomenon in the mobile gaming world.

In this episode Tom Hammond and Neil Edwards dive into the intricacies of mobile game retention and monetization, using the popular game 'Royal Match' as a case study. They explore the psychological aspects of game design, focusing on how 'Royal Match' enhances player engagement and spending through clever level design, emotional connections, and strategic use of in-game events and challenges. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding player behavior and leveraging game mechanics to create a compelling and addictive gaming experience.

In this episode of the Mastering Retention podcast, host Tom Hammond welcomes Thiago Leite, a seasoned professional from InnoGames, known for their work on Forge of Empires. Thiago shares his journey from mechanical engineering to game design, offering unique insights into the world of LiveOps. The discussion delves into the nuances of player segmentation, the intricacies of designing engaging live operations, and the art of balancing player experiences in games like Forge of Empires and Elvenar. Thiago's expertise shines as he explains how to cater to diverse player profiles, from different age groups to varied gaming preferences, ensuring a captivating and personalized gaming experience. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes of game development, particularly in the realm of LiveOps and player engagement.

Tom Hammond from UserWise hosts a discussion with Anton Gorodesky and Dmitriy Byshonkov, from MyGames. They chat about the challenges and nuances of starting a game studio, raising funds, and navigating the gaming industry.

• Tom emphasizes the challenges aspiring entrepreneurs face in starting their own game studio, such as raising money and choosing the right game genre or platform.
• Anton and Dmitriy share their experiences in the gaming industry. Anton, the head of industry relations at MyGames, talks about his roles and the co-founding of Invest Game. Dmitriy, on the other hand, shares his journey from being a journalist to a game designer and then to business development at MyGames.
• The discussion touches upon the current state of the gaming market, noting a decline in investments compared to the boom in 2020 and 2021. They attribute this to market correction and the challenges of making hit games.
• Tom brings up the topic of choosing the right platform for game development, considering the various options available like mobile, PC, console, and user-generated content platforms. The importance of understanding the nuances of each platform and the team's expertise is emphasized.
• When discussing the ideal co-founding team for a game studio, the need for a tech person, a marketing person, a product person, and an administrative person is highlighted.

The world of game design is a complex landscape, filled with challenges and opportunities. One of the key aspects that often gets overlooked is the importance of user experience and monetization strategies. In this episode, Tom and Neil dive into these crucial elements and offer actionable insights to elevate your game development process.

Yael Yakomi, a mobile gaming expert, dives into the significance of personalization in mobile games. She emphasizes the enhanced gaming experience that personalization can offer and discusses the challenges and innovative solutions in implementing it. Yael also provides insights into future trends, including AI-driven personalization, and highlights how platforms like UserWise are revolutionizing the industry by empowering game creators to personalize content without developer support. 

Joakim Hoglund, Head of Studio at Fun Rock, shares insights on designing games for a target audience and the importance of understanding user needs. This episode doesn't disappoint. Tom and Joakim talk about:

• Designing games for a target audience and understanding player needs
• Challenges of creating games for a region you aren't familiar with
• Fun Rock's solution of hiring a team that understands the culture and audience
• Benefits and drawbacks of creating separate servers for different regions
• Role of player-driven decisions in game design
• Emphasis on the importance of localization and being immersed in the culture of the target audience when designing games

The Mastering Retention Podcast recently featured an episode discussing how Live Ops work in the context of Web 3 games. The guest speaker was Patrick Gorrell, the Chief Technology Officer of Splinterlands, which is a trading card game hosted on the blockchain. 

Tom Hammond interviews Meric Atesalp, Senior Product Manager at Pixelberry. They discuss game evaluation, ways to evaluate new games, and how to determine if a game will perform well. Meric also talks about his role as a product manager, the skills and competencies that are necessary to become a good game product manager, and what he learned from his experience in the gaming industry. They also discuss mechanics that he has found in other games that could solve problems in his own game, and how mini-games can help bring down user acquisition costs and provide daily engagement to the user. 

In the latest episode of the Mastering Retention Podcast, Neb Mitrikeski, a veteran game designer and product manager, talks about his journey into game design, from making super casual games to working on complex game economies. He also discusses the Ketchup mechanic problem in RPG and hero collector games and how games can address it. Plus, he shares insights on bucketing systems and bucketing user progression over time.