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🤔 What is so compelling about match-3 games? Jen Donahoe posed a great question in last week's Deconstructor of Fun TWIG. There seems to be an insatiable appetite for match-3 games, why? I think it comes down to: 💫 Bringing order from chaos: This is the truth at the heart of puzzle games in my opinion. Our lives are a series of problems to be solved. Match-3 games allow us an endless, almost mindless, mastery over this, one problem after another. 💣 Sodalicious cascades: To that end, triggering a cascade feels great. They accelerate the progress a player makes towards their goal and amplify the satisfaction they trigger. Because of the variety of boosters available in match-3 games, cascades are fairly unique to the category. ⚖ Tightly balanced levels: There are so many ways to tweak difficulty: - Number of different coloured puzzle pieces - Number of blockers - Depth of blockers - Number of moves - Level seeds etc... Each with their own second-order effects (e.g. fewer different coloured pieces means more cascades). The special sauce of successful match-3 games is getting a balance that allows consistent progress while avoiding burn out. Providing a low-level but finite challenge before monetisation kicks is the foundation for long-term engagement. 🍬 When Candy Crush first kicked off it was widely derided. It's clear now that match-3 games have a unique combination of elements that allow for a long term, monetised player base, when operated by a skilled team.

If you are interested in crosswords, check out this one that my coworker put together!

🌍 The Impact of Cross-Platform Play on Indie Game Communities 🎮✨ Cross-platform play is revolutionizing how indie games build and sustain their communities. By allowing players to connect across different platforms, developers are fostering inclusivity, growing their player base, and creating vibrant, interconnected communities that thrive beyond boundaries. Discover how cross-platform play is reshaping the indie gaming landscape. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dxhqtJuu #CrossPlatformGaming #IndieGameDev #PlayerEngagement #GameDevelopment #GamingInnovation

Fall Guys: How to invite cross-platform friends to games https://lnkd.in/gmuezwZH Inviting cross-platform friends to play “Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout” is a straightforward process thanks to the game’s support for cross-play. Here’s how you can invite your friends across different platforms: Steps to Invite Cross-Platform Friends in Fall Guys Ensure Cross-Platform Play is Enabled: Make sure you have cross-play enabled in the game’s settings. This is usually enabled by default. Add Friends via Epic Games Account: Since “Fall Guys” uses the Epic Games platform for cross-platform play, you need to add friends through your Epic Games account. Link Your Epic Games Account: If you haven’t already, link your game account (PlayStation,...

Royal Match: Players Have Spent Over $5 Billion Since Launch 🎮 The mobile puzzle game Royal Match continues to impress, maintaining its position as one of the most profitable match-3 games. Since its launch in February 2021, players have spent over $5 billion on the game, according to AppMagic. Revenue Growth: May 2024: Total player spending reached $3 billion. Over the next 8 months: an additional $2 billion. 💡 These figures exclude platform fees and taxes. The developers' net revenue amounted to $3.1 billion. Top Match-3 Games by Net Revenue: 1️⃣ Gardenscapes — $4 billion

I evaluated Top 15 Mobile Mid-core Games of 2024, So you don’t have to! These basic charts, only few clicks away https://lnkd.in/deEzST7F Thanks to AppMagic Shows what’s going on in the Mid-core games. With Roblox leading in both tables, Strategy and Action games are the clear winners. Another interesting fact that *New Games are  Scaling rapidly, yet monetization will come later. A well made midcore game can last 10+ years This is well proven in top grossing charts. What do you think? Cheers! PS: Tier 1 West data, New Games being 2023-2024 Release. , 2024 is year to date (Well, duh!) #gamedevelopment #mobilegames #topcharts

🎮 Relive the Classics with the Retro Game Stick Console! 🎮 💡 Did You Know? Retro gaming isn't just fun; it's also a great way to unwind, improve hand-eye coordination, and bring generations together. Whether you’re revisiting your childhood or introducing your kids to the classics, this console is your ticket to timeless entertainment. 🎉 Why You’ll Love This Retro Game Stick Console: ✔️ Over 10,000 Games Included: From action-packed adventures to nostalgic arcade classics – there’s something for everyone! ✔️ Plug-and-Play Simplicity: No complicated setups needed. Just connect it to your TV and start gaming instantly! ✔️ Compact & Portable: Take your favorite games anywhere – family gatherings, vacations, or a friend’s house. ✔️ Multiplayer Fun: Includes wireless controllers so you can enjoy endless gaming sessions with friends and family. 🕹️ Relive the Golden Era of Gaming with ease, excitement, and a whole lot of nostalgia. 📢 Special Offer Alert! Bring home the fun today: Shop Now 👇🛒 https://lnkd.in/d6x4ZAZH 💬 What’s your all-time favorite retro game? Drop it in the comments! #RetroGaming #FamilyFun #GameOn

Single player games are amazing, and they may be seeing a resurgence thanks to not only amazing developers, but also due to the mass adoption of digital distribution which in turn bypassed the second hand marketplace. For years, the biggest threat to game publishers' profits was players trading in games for store credit, leading others to buy used copies instead of new ones. It got to the point where some publishers would tie in multiplayer components of their game with a one time use code, which was a negative consumer experience. With the mass adoption of digital distribution, the market may be better positioned than ever for single-player games and experiences. Shout out to Richard Browne for always bringing in this key insight.

Doom The Dark Ages is going to launch without multiplayer. I'd argue this is one of the biggest risks I've seen from a major publisher in a while. If it pays off, it could change the calculus on trying to smush a live service into a single player AAA caliber game. Stephen Totilo reported this decision by the developers in his newsletter (small plug to support Totilo, who I frequently disagree with but we do agree that having real journalists cover our industry means something) and I was a bit surprised when I read it. Now, how much of this has to do with the game going straight to Xbox Game Pass? Probably a lot. It enables the team to lean into what looks like an insanely epic single player game. But it still is worth watching. Steam has plenty of room for great single player games - even if it is largely driven by massive live service games at the top of the charts. If this goes well, will we get more focused AAA games? Probably not. Live service is still too tasty to leave be at the game publishing buffet, but it's worth watching.

One of 2024’s most underrated games is free on Epic Games Store right now Epic Games Store’s holiday giveaway continues today with Redacted, a roguelike-spinoff of The Callisto Protocol that takes heavy inspiration from Hades and other similar titles. It has a totally different vibe than its source material, though, and it’s a game that you can get a lot of enjoyment out of — especially for free. Redacted is a roguelike where players must fight their way through Black Iron Prison to the single remaining escape pod, finding loot and skills along the way. It has strong progression systems, as Redacted lets players increase their character level and upgrades between each run, but it adds a bit of a twist: You’re racing more than just hordes of enemies. You have rivals in this game that are just as motivated to reach the escape pod, and they have no reservations about dropping you and taking your gear for themselves. Some of your rivals will try to sabotage your path, while others will challenge you to a duel. You can interfere with them, too, though. One in-game system lets you hack your opponents by inputting a string of commands, shutting off the lights in their room, springing a gas leak, or more. [REDACTED] Accolades Trailer You’ll also stumble across data on your rivals that provide them with a debuff. It might not sound like much, but each of your rivals poses a threat as a powerful sub-boss in your run. If you weaken them before you encounter them, you have a much better chance of making it to the end of the level. Redacted is full of fast-paced action, and its 180bpm background music matches that vibe. You’re going to lose; that’s just part of the game. But each defeat makes you that much stronger and gives you more currency to unlock powerful, permanent upgrades for your next run. You can download Redacted from the Epic Games Store for free, but only for today. Source link Tags and categories: تقنية via WordPress https://ift.tt/9vaDuxe December 30, 2024 at 06:58PM