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Mastering Retention Podcast

Ep.72: Future Proofing Game Economies

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mFUIapimMs⁠

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🎙️ Mastering Retention Podcast: Navigating Game Economy Design and Player Retention with Rudy Saldivar

Host: Tom Hammond, Co-founder of UserWise

Guest: Rudy Saldivar, Product Manager at Robin Games

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Introduction

👋 About Rudy Saldivar:

Began his career in investment banking in the oil and gas industry.

Transitioned to private equity, focusing on operational work.

Moved into the gaming industry, leveraging his finance background.

Currently a Product Manager at Robin Games, working on a design-focused mobile game.

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Journey into the Gaming Industry

💼 Early Career in Finance:

Worked with petroleum engineers and geologists to value oil and gas assets.

Found the industry lacked personal passion and connection with end users.

Desired to work in an industry with a tangible, consumer-facing product.

🔄 Transition to Gaming:

Utilized skills in data analysis, due diligence, and operational insights.

Networked within the industry, connecting with professionals like Chris Paulson at Activision Blizzard.

Joined Blizzard Entertainment in a strategy role, embedded within the Hearthstone team.

Faced challenges as an industry outsider but shared a passion for gaming with colleagues.

🚀 Move to Scopely and Robin Games:

At Scopely, gained hands-on experience in game design and production.

Designed multi-week events and worked on monetization features like gacha systems.

Joined Robin Games to focus on creating games for a more diverse audience, particularly women.

Working on a unique design game with innovative mechanics (details under wraps).

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Insights on Game Economy Design

💰 Importance of Game Economy:

Engagement is closely tied to the game's economy balance.

A well-designed economy enhances player retention and satisfaction.

Economy design should be forward-looking and flexible to adapt over time.

📈 Future-Proofing the Economy:

Consider player experience at various stages: day 30, day 90, six months, up to three years.

Build systems with adaptability to accommodate new features and changes.

Maintain continuity to respect players' time and monetary investments.

🔄 Balancing for Long-Term Engagement:

Avoid drastic changes that devalue players' progress or investments.

Introduce new features carefully, ensuring they complement existing gameplay.

Recognize that new complex features may appeal more to new players than long-time users.

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Handling Diverse Player Behaviors

👥 Catering to Different Player Segments:

Use statistical models to understand extremes in player engagement.

Design features and economies that accommodate both casual and hardcore players.

Implement systems like achievements and missions to create natural progression barriers.

🔍 Monitoring and Adjusting the Economy:

Utilize analytics to track player journeys and identify pain points.

Introduce linear content tracks to better measure and guide player progression.

Be prepared to adjust the economy based on player behavior and feedback.

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Feature Prioritization and Testing

🚧 Testing New Features:

Weigh the benefits of releasing features as limited-time events to gauge player interest.

Recognize that developing an event often requires significant resources similar to a full feature.

Use competitive research to inform feature development and anticipate market impact.

🔬 Analyzing Competitors:

Study peer games to understand successful features and player reception.

Leverage tools like Sensor Tower for data on installs and monetization trends.

Engage with game communities to gather qualitative insights.

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Approaches to Player Retention

🎯 Immersive Understanding:

Deeply engage with the game as a player to understand user experience.

Participate in community discussions to gather authentic feedback.

Align game development with player desires and expectations.

🛠️ Continuous Improvement:

Iterate on game features and economy based on data-driven insights.

Balance new content introduction with respect for established gameplay.

Prioritize features that enhance retention by delivering value to players.

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Conclusion

🌟 Final Thoughts:

Emphasized the critical role of economy design in player engagement and retention.

Highlighted the importance of understanding and respecting the player experience.

Encouraged leveraging analytics and community feedback in game development.

📞 Connecting with Rudy Saldivar:

LinkedIn: Rudy is open to connections and inquiries via LinkedIn.

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