Engaging players with an in-game economy
In-game economies are critical for commercial success and warrant our attention when designing our games. Different monetization mechanisms, when designing our game mechanics, play a significant role in our ability to generate revenue within the game, which is distinct from commercialization efforts such as marketing and distribution.
Economy mechanisms can cover a wide range of strategies and differ, sometimes drastically, between game platforms and genres. These strategies can include microtransactions, ads, virtual currencies, subscription models, or premium game purchases. By understanding a few basic nuances between these mechanisms, game producers and developers can gain an understanding of effective commercial strategies for their games.
Commercialization versus monetization
The distinction between commercialization and monetization lies in their respective focuses. Commercialization is primarily concerned with bringing a game...
