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Mastering Retention Podcast

Game Economy Design and Limited Currency

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50hHJ5pCxgA⁠

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🎙️ Mastering Retention Podcast Episode: Interview with Francesco Fontana from Savage Games

Host: Tom Hammond, Co-founder of UserWise

Guest: Francesco Fontana, Senior Game Designer at Savage Games

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Introduction

In this episode of the Mastering Retention Podcast, host Tom Hammond sits down with Francesco Fontana from Savage Games. They delve into topics like testing retention, game economy design, and transitioning from puzzle games to shooters.

Francesco's Journey into Gaming

👨‍⚕️ From Medicine to Games: Initially aspired to be a doctor but shifted to game design thanks to his brother's encouragement.

🎮 Early Career:

Collaborated with indie studio We Are Müesli, focusing on narrative games and escape rooms.

Worked as a video game journalist, networking with developers.

🌐 Professional Experience:

Joined Wargaming Helsinki, but the studio closed after a year.

Moved to Rovio, contributing to Phoenix Rangers, a puzzle RPG.

Led a prototype team before joining Savage Games as a Senior Game Designer, specializing in metagame systems and economies.

Game Economy Design During Prototyping

🎯 Playability at All Stages: Emphasizes the importance of making the game playable throughout development, even in early prototypes.

⚖️ Balancing Act: Focuses on core mechanics like time-to-kill and weapon damage without overcomplicating initial balance.

🧪 Simulation Tools: Utilizes draft balancing and simulation tools to predict player experiences.

💡 Tip: Always play the build to understand the player experience and adjust accordingly.

Testing Retention

⏰ Timing is Key: The complexity of the game dictates when retention can be effectively tested.

Hyper-Casual Games: Retention can be tested early due to simplicity.

Complex Games (e.g., RPGs, Shooters): Require more systems and content before reliable retention testing.

🔍 Identifying Issues: Determine if low retention is due to missing features or problems with existing ones.

🎯 Prioritizing Features:

Small teams should focus on impactful features.

Introducing new features can unexpectedly improve early retention by showcasing game depth.

The Role of User Research

🔬 Start Early: Engage in user research as soon as possible to understand your audience.

💡 Hypothesis Testing: Combine qualitative insights with quantitative data for reliable results.

🤝 Collaboration: Designers benefit from technical skills and working closely with BI teams.

📈 Analytics Tools: While custom tools can be advantageous, understanding statistics and data analysis is crucial.

Transitioning Between Genres

🔄 Transferable Concepts: Economy design principles apply across different game genres.

💥 Real-Time vs. Turn-Based: Balancing shifts from per-turn calculations to metrics like DPS (damage per second) and time-to-kill.

🔧 Handling Complexity: Recognize and adapt to nuances like reload times affecting DPS in shooters.

Long-Term Economy Planning

📅 Future-Proofing: Plan economies to engage players over years, not just months.

🧩 Isolated Economies: Use modular systems with isolated currencies to add new content without disrupting balance.

♻️ Content Cycling: Introduce event-specific currencies that can be retired or converted, keeping the game fresh.

Live Ops and Event Design

🚀 Early Access to Events: Allow players at all stages to participate in events, tailoring rewards to their progression.

🎯 Targeted Rewards: Design events that offer meaningful incentives for both new and veteran players.

⚖️ Balancing Resources: Create a need for resources by carefully managing in-game sinks and faucets.

Understanding Player Motivation

🏰 The "Tower of Want": A framework for creating long-term goals that keep players engaged.

🔍 Audience Analysis: Use tools like 12traits to deeply understand player personas and motivations.

🎯 Goal Setting: Design both short-term and long-term objectives to maintain player interest.

Advice for Aspiring Shooter Game Designers

🎮 Diverse Gaming: Play a wide range of shooters across all platforms to gather insights.

🌟 Cross-Genre Inspiration: Look beyond your genre for innovative ideas and mechanics.

📚 Research and Study: Analyze successful games, their mechanics, and update histories.

🔎 Finding Your Niche: Identify unexplored opportunities rather than directly competing with industry giants.

Tips for Increasing Player Retention

🎯 Optimize Tutorials:

📚 Educate Wisely: Provide just enough information to hook players based on their preference for exploration or guidance.

👥 Know Your Audience: Tailor the onboarding experience to player needs.

🔍 Identify Drop-Off Reasons: Determine if players leave due to confusion or lack of interest.

🔄 Continuous Research: Engage in user research before and after testing to save time and improve effectiveness.

Conclusion

Francesco Fontana shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience in game design and economy balancing. His emphasis on adaptability, thorough research, and understanding player motivations provides a roadmap for creating engaging and long-lasting games.

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📞 Connect with Francesco Fontana:

LinkedIn:

Francesco's Profile⁠

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