Building a Billion-Dollar Mobile Game

Episode Summary:

In this episode, we break down the step-by-step process of designing a mobile game with the potential to generate millions. From in-app purchases to creating competitive game structures, discover the key strategies to building a highly engaging and profitable game that keeps players coming back for more.

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Game Design and Monetization Strategy

• In-App Purchases:
• Offer various in-app purchase packages to give players an advantage.
• Create urgency by having limited-time offers that expire and won’t return until a specific time (e.g., 8 hours later).
• Examples of packages:
• $99.99 Super Deal (best value, offering significantly more benefits than regular packages).
• Other price points: $49.99, $9.99, $2.99, etc.
• Game Structure:
• Players can purchase stars or gold to gain competitive advantages.
• Offer multiple packages with varying amounts of currency, and highlight how premium packages offer better value.
• Encourage players to log in frequently by showing them purchase offers every time they log in.
• Social and Competitive Features:
• Create different chat systems to enhance engagement:
• Global Chat: All players can communicate.
• Local Chat: A limited group of players (e.g., 100 people) can communicate, encouraging teamwork.
• Create ranks within teams, with each player having roles like R5 (top rank) or R4, with different permissions.

Gameplay Progression and Incentives

• Rank System:
• Players progress through different ranks by building their base or completing tasks.
• Make it easy to reach early ranks, but progressively harder to level up, increasing the wait time for upgrades (e.g., Rank 3 build time: 22 minutes; Rank 5 build time: 55 minutes).
• Encourage players to either wait or pay for faster progression.
• After a certain rank (e.g., Rank 5), players are locked into their server, fostering loyalty to their current game world.
• Free-to-Play Incentives:
• Introduce a 30-second math challenge where players can earn in-game currency (e.g., gold) for free.
• Limit free play rewards to maintain the balance between paid and free users (e.g., four chances to earn free currency every 24 hours).
• Incentive to Spend:
• Make the best packages highly visible and more valuable than standard options.
• Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time premium deals.
• Allow players to protect their base with shields, offering them the choice to build without fighting or engage in battles.

Marketing and Growth Strategies

• Push Notifications and Ads:
• Use splash screens and push notifications to consistently remind players of available deals and incentives.
• Promote exclusive offers and upcoming features to keep players engaged.
• Community and Engagement:
• Add social media elements like live events, push notifications, and blogging within the app to drive engagement.
• Encourage alliances and team-building within the game for increased player retention.

Revenue Growth

• Recurring Purchases:
• Encourage repeat purchases by offering players better deals as they progr