Monetization, one of the most sensitive aspects for a game, is crucial. To maximize a game's earnings, you need to ensure the right structure.
You've created a beautiful game in every aspect. It looks visually stunning, the mechanics are incredibly smooth and the overall feel is excellent. To sustain the company, it's now crucial to monetize the game with the right strategy.
The key factor here is the careful design of the game's economy. This is because a well-structured economy allows the user to assign a personal value to the in-game content from their own perspective. If this value is unbalanced and unpredictable, it can make users feel "unsafe" about investing in the game. In fact, this not only discourages them from spending money but also reduces their motivation to revisit the game, leading to potential retention issues.
Therefore, the game's mathematics must be meticulously crafted. One of the advantages of this is that you can easily assign value to new features you introduce in the future. Depending on the value of these new features, users' motivation to invest can increase.
Royal Match successfully accomplishes this. In the game, sometimes "Lives" become crucial for the user, while at other times, avoiding defeat is of utmost importance. Users, who understand the value of what they might lose when defeated, go to great lengths to avoid such losses.
There is no advertising monetization method within Royal Match. It is primarily monetized through the in-app purchases method. I have categorized them under headings below.
In-App Purchases
In Royal Match, there are various bundle options available for purchase in the SHOP. You can choose to acquire the game's own currency or opt for one of the advantageous bundles.
Limited Offers
Limited Offers are occasionally presented in the main menu and shop section of the game. They have specific time limits. These create an anxiety about missing an opportunity in the user and encourage them to make payments for these offers. Typically, these offers are advantageous bundles.
Subscription
The subscription monetization method is actually quite common and is used in some apps and applications (such as Netflix, Spotify, etc.). However, we can also see its integration in mobile games, including Royal Match.
In this method, certain advantages are provided to the user during the subscription period. For example, in the "Royal Pass," the user's maximum lives increase from 5 to 8. As the user progresses through levels, they receive extra rewards, and they can give gifts to their teammates, which is valuable in the social ecosystem of Royal Match. The user's profile picture frame is also enhanced.
All of these benefits end when the 1-month subscription period expires.
Chain Deals
Chain Dealer is a system that piques the user's curiosity and contains a surprise element. Payment can be made from the first or middle link of the chain. The gifts received after making a payment in the chain create a feeling of getting something for free. Therefore, when the user doesn't take advantage of this opportunity, they may feel like they've missed out on a chance.
These are a few examples of direct payments made by the user, but monetization is not limited to just these aspects, as I mentioned at the beginning. The quality of the game, the smoothness of mechanics, and visual polish are indeed crucial for monetization.
In Royal Match, it's evident that all of these aspects have been executed satisfactorily. However, there are also other user motivations at play. Royal Match includes social events and tournaments, which have an undeniable impact.
Summarizing user motivations in a few points:
Purchasing Lives to Continue Playing: Buying lives to continue playing is a common motivation. In Royal Match, the level design plays a crucial role. The game's difficulty repeats at certain intervals, and when a user has made significant progression, they want to continue playing when their lives run out. Their investment encourages them to claim more rewards, such as opening new areas or receiving power-ups, at specific milestone points.
Participating in Social Events and Tournaments: Social events and tournaments in Royal Match are significant motivators. These events create a sense of competition and community among players, encouraging them to stay engaged and potentially spend more.
Avoiding Losing Earned Privileges : There are several situations where users may not want to lose them. For instance, Butler's Gift can provide significant advantages at the beginning of levels. When a user wins three levels in a row, they reach the most advantageous level and wouldn't want to lose that. They may even want to carry this advantage to more challenging levels, as they will likely need it the most there.
These motivations, combined with effective game design and monetization strategies, contribute to the overall success of Royal Match's monetization model.