two & a half gamers

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠

Youtube: https://youtu.be/pjIeovlSVKI

Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q

Agenda

00:00 Epic intro

01:15 Introduction to Elder Scrolls Castles

03:13 Performance Metrics and Initial Reception

05:50 Comparative Analysis with Similar Games

07:46 Gameplay Mechanics and Features

11:04 Innovations in Game Design

16:29 Monetization Strategies and Revenue Insights

31:02 Creative Marketing Approaches

35:07 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook

---------------------------------------

Matej Lancaric

User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

⁠https://lancaric.me

Felix Braberg

Ad monetization consultant

⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

Jakub Remiar

Game design consultant

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar

---------------------------------------

Takeaways

Elder Scrolls Castles launched with significant initial downloads but saw a sharp decline shortly after.

The game is compared to Hustle Castle and Fallout Shelter in terms of gameplay mechanics and monetization.

Innovations in gameplay include aging mechanics and a reigns system that affects player decisions.

The hosts express concerns about the game's lack of content and potential for long-term engagement.

Marketing strategies for the game are critiqued, highlighting a need for more diverse creatives.

The performance metrics indicate a need for improved user acquisition strategies.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of player happiness and engagement in mobile games.

The hosts predict a fate similar to Warcraft Rumble for Elder Scrolls Castles if content does not improve.

Monetization strategies are discussed, with insights into revenue generation and player spending.

The episode concludes with a call for better production vision in mobile game development.

---------------------------------------

Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!

Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

---------------------------------------

If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric.

Latest article - https://lancaric.substack.com/p/creative-trends-in-mobile-games-august?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Felix Latest Article -

https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠

Youtube: https://youtu.be/gsLQ6GCNksg

Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q

Agenda

00:00 Epic Intro

02:59 Creative Trends Overview for August 2024

05:53 Innovative Game Concepts and Trends

08:59 Celebrity Endorsements and Their Impact

12:04 The Evolution of Game Creatives

15:01 AI and Its Role in Game Development

18:04 User-Generated Content and Its Influence

20:59 Trends in App Marketing and User Acquisition

23:58 Analysis of Current Game Ads

26:57 The Future of Game Creatives

30:00 Final Thoughts

---------------------------------------

Matej Lancaric

User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

⁠https://lancaric.me

Felix Braberg

Ad monetization consultant

⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

Jakub Remiar

Game design consultant

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar

---------------------------------------

Takeaways

The gaming industry is seeing a shift towards innovative game concepts that engage players.

Celebrity endorsements can significantly impact game marketing and user acquisition.

AI is becoming increasingly important in game development and marketing strategies.

User-generated content is influencing game trends and player engagement.

Current game ads are evolving to include more dynamic and engaging content.

The trend of using celebrities in ads is growing, but the cost-effectiveness is still a concern.

Game creatives are becoming more sophisticated, utilizing various media formats.

Understanding player psychology in marketing strategies is crucial.

Trends in app marketing are shifting towards more personalized and targeted approaches.

The future of game creatives will likely involve more integration of AI and user-generated content.

---------------------------------------

Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!

Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

---------------------------------------

If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric

Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/match-3d-ua-playbook-real-data-inside?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Felix Latest Article -

https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshesCreative trends in mobile games - August 2024

# Deadlock is finally revealed! The video includes a quick walkthrough of the gameplay. Go to YouTube for the full gameplay experience.

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠

Youtube: https://youtu.be/uKC2Igwm8VU

Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q

Agenda

00:00 Epic intro

02:57 Game Mechanics and Genre Fusion

05:58 Understanding MOBA Elements

08:58 Counter-Strike Influences and Gameplay Dynamics

11:51 Skill Ceiling and Learning Curve

15:04 In-Game Strategies and Itemization

17:58 Character Selection and Team Composition

21:08 Live Gameplay Experience

23:55 Game Progression and Match Dynamics

27:00 Community Engagement and Game Popularity

29:58 Final Thoughts and Game Future

30:02 Deadlock Gameplay

---------------------------------------

Matej Lancaric

User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

⁠https://lancaric.me

Felix Braberg

Ad monetization consultant

⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

Jakub Remiar

Game design consultant

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar

---------------------------------------

Takeaways

The game is a mix of MOBA and shooter genres.

It has a high skill ceiling, making it challenging to master.

Understanding character matchups is crucial for success.

Shopping for items is a key mechanic in gameplay.

The game features a unique character selection process.

Live gameplay showcases the dynamics of team strategies.

Community engagement is vital for game popularity.

The game currently lacks progression systems.

Players can shop directly at their lanes during matches.

---------------------------------------

Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!

Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

---------------------------------------

If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric

Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/match-3d-ua-playbook-real-data-inside?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Felix Latest Article -

https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠

Special Guest: Vincent Lemon Choi

Youtube: https://youtu.be/Jgv4h-OPeOM

Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2ftcc85es-CesThaafn9k0BIFSVAV8FQ

Agenda

00:00 Epic intro

01:30 The World of Chinese Mini-Games

06:00 Combining Genres and Game Types

09:38 The Power of Genre Combination and Iteration

11:48 Gacha and Revenue Potential

14:47 Exploring Different Game Genres

19:15 Challenges of Bringing Chinese Mini-Games to the West

23:37 Understanding Trends and Market Dynamics

27:13 The Future of Chinese Mini-Games in the West

29:34 The Impact of Genre Combination and Iteration

32:05 The Success of Chinese Mini-Games

35:03 The Role of Creatives and Unique Gameplay

---------------------------------------

Matej Lancaric

User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

⁠https://lancaric.me

Felix Braberg

Ad monetization consultant

⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

Jakub Remiar

Game design consultant

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar

Vincent Lemon Choi

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lemon-minigame

---------------------------------------

Takeaways

Chinese mini-games have short development cycles and high revenue potential

Combining different genres and iterating on successful concepts is key to success

Bringing Chinese mini-games to the Western market poses challenges

Faster adoption and understanding of trends is crucial in the rapidly evolving mini-games market

---------------------------------------

Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!

Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

---------------------------------------

If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric

Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/match-3d-ua-playbook-real-data-inside?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Felix Latest Article -

https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

Impulse is a brain training app with significant revenue and download growth. The app offers a combination of hypercasual games and cognitive training programs to improve IQ, memory, and cognitive abilities. It uses clever monetization strategies, including subscription plans and discounts, to encourage users to upgrade to premium. The app's ad monetization is heavily segmented, with different ad experiences based on the user's usage and payment status. The app also includes prompts that resemble the official Google Play UI to encourage users to make in-app purchases. The conversation explores a popular brain training app's monetization strategies and user acquisition tactics. The app uses interstitial ads and in-app purchases to generate revenue, targeting older female users on Facebook.

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠

Youtube: https://youtu.be/ssViN7_K9CY

Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q

Agenda

00:00 Epic intro

02:23 Overview of Lucky Defense's Success

06:01 Comparison to Other Tower Defense Games

09:27 Gameplay and Mechanics of Lucky Defense

17:11 The Importance of Luck and Unit Upgrades

18:00 Artifacts and the Gacha System

20:08 Challenges and Complexity of the Game

21:54 Breaking the Rules: Mythic's Unique Gacha Mechanics

23:24 The Frustrations of Randomness in Mythic

29:23 Exploring the Dungeon: Cooperative Gameplay in Mythic

35:43 Balancing Issues and Unit Reliance in Mythic

38:08 Improving Mythic: Adding Variety and Strategy

41:19 Introduction to the ad placements and monetization strategy of Random Dice: PvP Defense

43:23 Challenges with ad placements in the game

46:46 Issues with after-level ad boost placement

49:45 The lack of suitable creatives for the Western audience

01:00:20 Predictions for the game's future and the possibility of a Western release

---------------------------------------

Matej Lancaric

User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

⁠https://lancaric.me

Felix Braberg

Ad monetization consultant

⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

Jakub Remiar

Game design consultant

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar

---------------------------------------

Takeaways

Lucky Defense is a popular game in South Korea with unique mechanics and a strong emphasis on luck.

Players should focus on specific units, such as the Bandit and Shock Troop, and upgrade them strategically.

Artifacts play a crucial role in gameplay, with the Safe Box and Money Gun being the most important.

The game's gacha system is challenging and requires players to collect shared shards to upgrade mythic units.

The game's complexity and lack of accessibility may limit its appeal to Western audiences. Mythic breaks the main gacha rules by allowing direct purchase of units through hard currency.

The game's gacha system is highly random and can be frustrating for players.

The difficulty levels and cooperative gameplay in the Dungeon mode add complexity to the game.

The game's balancing issues and reliance on specific units for success are major drawbacks.

Improvements could be made by designing units and monsters with different strategies and adding more variety to the gameplay. The ad placements in Random Dice: PvP Defense are not well explained and lack notification buttons, which hinders their effectiveness.

The game lacks diverse and engaging creatives for advertising.

Improvements such as adding notification buttons and better-explaining ad units could increase ad revenue.

The hosts predict that the game's success may decline over time and suggest the possibility of a Western release.

---------------------------------------

Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!

Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

---------------------------------------

If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric

Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/match-3d-ua-playbook-real-data-inside?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers live AMA session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

Agenda:

00:00 Epic intro and Secret Guest Introduction

03:01 Transitioning from Gaming to Non-Gaming Apps

06:05 Improving Day One Retention in Games

12:07 Revenue Potential of Find-the-Difference Games

17:32 User Acquisition Strategies for Indie Developers

23:26 Recommended Resources for Game Mechanic Design and UI/UX

34:44 Starting a Blog and Sharing Knowledge

35:25 The Impact of Market Timing on Product Metrics

36:01 Landscape vs. Portrait Mode in Games

41:47 Optimizing Mobile Apps that are Actually Websites

43:43 Recommended Publishers for Casual Hybrid Games

56:41 Forecasting Campaign Targets