Navigating the Economy and Gameplay of Merge Games

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. Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Special Guest: Laura Taranto Youtube: https://youtu.be/HHUGcHxXDmk Join our Slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2ftcc85es-CesThaafn9k0BIFSVAV8FQ Agenda

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

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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