two & a half gamers

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #106. 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 Brawl Stars' Revenue Growth and UA Strategies

15:45 Different Types of Creatives Used in Brawl Stars' Marketing

35:37 Reviewing Game Performance: Block Jam 3D

42:19 Iterating on Successful Game Concepts

52:33 Speculating on the Future of the Last War

Takeaways

Brawl Stars experienced significant growth and revenue increase after its global launch.

Supercell employed effective user acquisition strategies and creative content to drive the game's success.

Community engagement and storytelling played a crucial role in the game's marketing.

We absolutely admire Supercell's marketing efforts and the effectiveness of their UA and creative strategies. Supercell is expanding its advertising strategy to different channels outside of YouTube

Google has prohibited the practice of refreshing placements and rolled out bidding for all partners

The performance of games like Block Gem 3D, Clash Mini, Tower War, and Pocket Champs is reviewed

We discuss the potential for other companies to iterate on successful game concepts Brawl Stars, Top Heroes, Twisted Tango, and Last War are all performing well in terms of revenue, downloads, and active users.

Lilith Games has its own off-platform payments platform called PlutoMall.

The hosts speculate on the future of Last War and its potential peak revenue.

Listeners are encouraged to join the upcoming AMA and engage with us!

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #105. 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.

00:00 The History of Merge Games

53:48 Balancing the Economy and Resource Management

01:02:46 Implementing a Collectible Album System

01:15:11 Optimizing Ad Placements and End Cards

01:30:46 The Use of Big Boards and UGC

01:39:09 The Impact of Story-Driven Narratives

Takeaways

Travel Town and Merge Dragons are successful examples of merge games.

Merge games offer revenue potential and innovative gameplay.

We are excited about the future of merge games. Merge games can be categorized into camp merge and grid merge, each with its own frustrations and player motivations.

Travel Town and Microfun's portfolio are the top performers in the merge game market.

Merge games require strategic thinking and organization, making them engaging for players.

The revenue potential of merge games is significant, with some games generating millions of dollars. Balancing the economy and resource management is crucial in grid merge games.

Limited board space can lead to frustration and difficult decisions for players.

Relief orders can help alleviate frustration by clearing items from the board.

Energy management and generator cooldowns play a significant role in gameplay.

Thoughtful design and balancing are essential for creating an enjoyable player experience. Balancing the economy and avoiding over-reliance on storage space monetization is crucial for successful monetization in games.

Implementing a collectible album system can enhance player engagement and provide opportunities for social interactions.

Ad placements when completing levels can be a valuable opportunity for increasing ad revenue.

Optimizing ad placements and end cards can improve user experience and retention. Merge Mansion and Gossip Harbor use a variety of creative strategies, including big boards, UGC, and story-driven narratives.

The presence of sexist content in some of the creatives is noted.

Travel Town receives high praise for its dedication and iteration, while Gossip Harbor is commended for its strong live ops pipeline.

Further development is needed in the event pipeline and progression balancing for both games.

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This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #104. 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.

00:00 Introduction and Recap of MAU Conference

02:13 Discussion on AFK Journey and Soft Launch

03:06 Overview of AFK Journey's Success and Revenue

05:49 Comparison with Other Games and Market Traction

07:55 Lilith Games' Portfolio and Revenue

09:03 Impact of Competing Games on Lilith's Revenue

10:10 Discussion on Lilith's Design and Product Quality

11:49 Exploration of Ad Placements and UA Videos

13:20 Overview of AFK Journey's Web Store and Real-World Rewards

15:33 Discussion on WhatsApp Groups and Web Store Trust

16:29 Comparison with Other Web Stores

18:23 Seamless and Streamlined Gameplay

22:20 Simplified Hero Collection and Equipment System

27:10 Difficulty Spikes and Honeymoon Period

28:10 Offers and In-Game Shop

29:49 Recruiting Heroes and Gacha System

34:02 Game Modes and Exploration

35:26 High Production Value and Engaging Storylines

37:50 Well-Developed Social Features

41:53 Improving in the Main Story Mode

43:25 Long Playtime and Endless Possibilities

46:01 Saving the Rating for the End

49:21 Engaging with TikTok and Social Media

52:14 Captivating Storytelling and High Production Value

58:28 Avoiding Cringy Ads and Focusing on Quality

01:01:29 High Innovation and Production Quality

AFK Journey is a continuation of AFK Arena and has seen significant success in terms of revenue and downloads.

The game features in-game mail, a web store, and real-world rewards, which contribute to its overall engagement and monetization.

Chinese companies like Lilith Games invest significant resources and manpower into their games, resulting in high-quality products.

The gameplay is seamless and streamlined, with auto-battle and idle rewards.

The hero collection and equipment system are simplified and easy to manage.

Social features, such as guilds and friend interactions, are well-developed.

The game offers a unique gameplay experience and a wide variety of heroes to collect and upgrade.

The UA strategy for AFK Journey focuses on high-quality creatives that showcase the game's narrative and gameplay, while avoiding fake or cringey ads.

Overall, AFK Journey is a standout game in the RPG genre and has the potential to attract a large player base.

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #103. 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 #102. 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.

Special guest: Ken Landen

Agenda

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:10 Legend of Mushroom's Success in South Korea

05:27 Game Design Similarities

08:08 Different Core Gameplay

10:18 Discussion with Ken Landen

13:29 Monetization and Social Features

21:21 Farm and Theft Mechanics

22:49 Social Features and Guild Mechanics

23:18 Timer Helper Mechanic

24:14 Unlocking Auto-Lamping

25:00 Session Links and Lamp Upgrades

26:13 Asynchronous Delta Event in Clan Wars

27:21 Different Types of Events

28:48 Durian Fruit and Cultural References

29:45 Ad Monetization and Urgency to Watch Ads

30:37 Implementing Banner Ads

33:17 Debate on Implementing Banner Ads

36:29 Discussion on QA and UA

37:43 Final Thoughts on Ads and Game Design

39:55 Twitter Ads in the US

42:11 Revenue in Japan and the US

44:01 Advertising Channels

45:33 Creatives and Localization

48:00 Creative Strategy

51:32 Localization in Asia

52:37 Improvements and Rating

Legend of Mushroom has achieved significant success in South Korea, surpassing expectations and earning high revenue.

The game shares similarities with Legend of Slime in terms of game design and core mechanics, but also introduces some unique features.

Monetization and social features play a crucial role in the success of mobile games, and Legend of Mushroom has both strengths and areas for improvement in these aspects.

The farm and theft mechanics in Legend of Mushroom add an interesting and interactive element to the gameplay experience. Legend of Mushroom has unique social features and guild mechanics that enhance the gameplay experience.

The timer helper mechanic, taken from other games like Forex, allows players to receive assistance from their guild members on various timers.

The game could improve by unlocking the auto-lamping feature earlier in the gameplay progression.

The implementation of banner ads could provide additional ad revenue without significantly impacting IAP revenue.

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #101. 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

01:04 Introducing the Topic: 4X Games

03:06 Last War: Revenue and Downloads

04:12 The Conspiracy Behind First Fun

05:13 The Gameplay Mechanics of Last War

06:02 The Challenging Boss Battles

07:10 The Onboarding Process

08:19 Exploring the 4X Gameplay

09:44 Saving Monica from the Bomb

10:53 The Advanced Gameplay Mechanics

14:26 The Raider and Track Mechanics

18:05 Importance of Onboarding and Gacha Mechanics

20:06 Expanding the Addressable Market

21:05 Incorporating Hypercasual Elements

22:32 Connecting and Integrating Games

23:13 Low Ad Revenue in 4X Games

24:13 Building a Community

25:12 Why Last War is More Successful than Top Heroes

26:08 Factors Contributing to Last War's Success

27:38 Expertise in the 4X Genre

28:00 Connections Between Chinese Companies

28:56 The Dominance of Asian Companies in the 4X Genre

29:54 Scaling and Revenue Comparison

30:18 Improved Onboarding and Gameplay in Last War

32:08 Success of Last War's Marketing Campaign

33:37 TV Commercial and Offline Branding

37:06 Creative Marketing Strategies

39:27 Different Visual Styles and Gameplay

40:07 Creative Trends and Hooks

41:07 Heavy Iteration in Creative World

42:12 Different Versions and Upgrades

43:09 Making Fun of Yourself in Creatives

44:08 Hyper-Casual Concepts from Different Angles

45:33 Ball of Zombies and Epic Battles

46:19 Similarities with Age of Origins

47:38 Similar Creatives from Different Companies

48:42 Integration of Onboarding Game into Main Game

50:15 Hidden Portfolios and Future Trends

53:36 Introduction of a New Game

56:50 Proliferation of Onboarding Game Trend

59:06 Integration of Onboarding Game in Top Heroes Category

59:44 Game from China with Onboarding Mechanics

01:00:12 Teaser for Next Week's Game

The integration of onboarding games into the main game is becoming a popular trend in the mobile gaming industry.

Creatives in the mobile gaming industry heavily iterate on successful concepts and mechanics.

Another crossover episode is here! Talking UA with Doubl3Tap gaming:

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #100. 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 #99. 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.

00:00 Epic intro

04:45 Introduction to Top Heroes

05:10 The Unique Gameplay of Top Heroes

06:11 Transition to the World Map

08:06 Exploring the Town and Building Mechanics

09:08 Introduction to World Quests

10:07 Gameplay Mechanics and Objectives

12:40 Introduction to Hospital and Soldier Mechanics

20:02 Introduction to the Game and Revenue Analysis

21:05 Base Building Mechanics and Gameplay

22:23 Guilds and Social Mechanics

27:08 Grinding Bosses and Gear Upgrades

30:12 Engagement with Guilds and Events

34:22 Monetization and White Whales

36:24 Integration of AFK Arena and Rise of Kingdoms Mechanics

41:35 Poor Retention and Onboarding Experience

42:15 Initial Impressions of the Game

43:22 Smooth Onboarding and Gameplay

44:15 Teaser for the Next Episode

45:00 Discussion on the Importance of Ads

45:40 Upcoming Episode and Clues

46:26 Analysis of Ad Channels

48:26 Review of Creatives

53:33 Playable Ad and Revenue Growth

57:31 Experimenting with New Creatives

58:35 Revenue and Country Breakdown

The game features building mechanics, world quests, and hospital and soldier mechanics.

The conversation also touches on the topic of ad revenue and channel growth.

Rewarded ads are implemented in the game to provide players with additional resources and speed up gameplay. 4X games combine elements of AFK Arena and Rise of Kingdoms to create a unique gameplay experience.

Guilds and social mechanics play a crucial role in the game, with strong social engagement driving the guild's progress.

The connection between heroes and Forex gameplay is a key aspect, with heroes carrying soldiers and their level determining their strength on the 4X map.

Grinding bosses and upgrading gear are important activities in the game, providing resources and bonuses.

Monetization in 4X games primarily comes from the 4X mechanics, with players investing in upgrading resources, soldiers, and peace shields.

The game targets a niche audience, and the total addressable market for 4X games may not be as large as other genres.

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers special OG 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.

Special guest: Eric Futoran from https://embrace.io/

Agenda

00:00 Epic Introduction and Special Guest

03:22 Starting with Max and Scopely

08:26 Scopely's Breakout Success

14:27 Scopely's Winning Formulas

20:37 Launching a Game at Scale

24:04 Different Types of Traffic for Game Launch

28:37 The Importance of Featuring and Channels for Launch

30:32 Strategies for Growth and Algorithm Manipulation

31:30 The Importance of Starting Strong

33:40 Timing and Seasonality in App Launches

34:14 The Impact of Changing App Icons

36:14 Success Stories of Simple App Ideas

37:08 Negotiating IP Deals

38:24 The Process of Signing IP and Deal Structures

40:49 The Challenges of IP Approvals

42:55 Calculating Fees and Revenue Sharing in IP Deals

45:52 The Limitations of Predictive LTV in Soft Launch

49:20 Analyzing ANR Issues and Ad Networks

55:47 The Importance of Collecting Data for Troubleshooting

59:34 Balancing User Experience and Revenue Generation

Changing app icons can help reactivate dormant users and trigger increased engagement.

IP deals require careful negotiation and consideration of upfront fees, revenue sharing, and content approvals.

Predictive LTV is challenging to calculate accurately in soft launch.

Collecting data and using analytics tools can help identify and troubleshoot ANR issues and ad network problems.

Balancing user experience and revenue generation is a constant challenge in the gaming industry.