Gaming has been growing at freakish rates for a long time now and much of that is down to the ever-growing popularity of mobile and online gaming. According to Newzoo, the global gaming industry generated approximately $188 billion in revenue last year, representing a 2.6% increase in year-on-year income.
However, while all of this is great for the overall industry, for individual developers it doesn’t have to be the case; as the industry grows, so does competition. As a result, gaming platforms need more than just a good game to succeed—they need strategies that attract players and keep them engaged long-term. Here are some modern-day factors that help game developers do this.
Leveraging Psychological Triggers
Games come with all kinds of cool features that make them intriguing and attractive to players. Between their awesome graphics, colors, characters, themes, and a number of other aesthetic features, it’s easy to believe that video games are inherently enticing.
However, most successful online platforms often tap into key psychological principles that make users want to start playing. These play on some very basic neurological aspects of the way human beings are hardwired. One of the easiest ways to recognize this is through the allure of gambling games.
With more players today looking to discover the best new casinos online, the iGaming industry is booming. Online casinos that are most in-demand today take psychological triggers to new heights. According to gaming expert Kane Pepi, these platforms now provide a range of modern features.
These include favorites like instant play and immediate payouts, a wide array of themed games, better graphics that utilize level-up strategies, and generous player rewards and bonuses that all help make modern gambling games more fun online.
The same principles are true for traditional video games too. These psychological triggers often affect behavior in subtle ways and usually subsist around a range of similar attributes. Here’s a look at some of them in more detail to better understand how they work.
Progress and Rewards
One common tactic developers use in online games is known as the “progress loop.” This practice ensures players that who start playing remain engaged and motivated to keep playing by building continuous and meaningful progress into games. Why does this work?
Which gamer can’t attest to the thrill of leveling up, unlocking a new stage, completing a side quest, earning a new character or weapon, or making it through a challenging stage of a game? It’s these varied ways of continuously progressing in games that keep players wanting to play more and reach new heights.
It might seem like this is unfair or almost exploitative. However, at its root, what it really does is tap into our natural inclinations as humans. That same drive that makes us constantly seek progress in our lives and aspire to a growth mentality is what also makes us want to progress in the games we love playing.
Social Proof and Competition
The fact that most online games contain a social aspect that means we can form teams and play against each other also plays into our primal psychological urge to compete. This is because people are naturally competitive. It’s also the reason why online games have features like leaderboards and tournaments as these aspects appeal to the sides of us that want to win and be the best.
Building a Sense of Community
That same social aspect of online gaming also plays another important role as it helps players build a sense of shared identity and community. There’s a reason why gaming helps connect billions of people from around the world, why strangers from completely different backgrounds can end up being best friends, and why so many online forums and social media pages exist solely to connect like-minded gamers.
Online gaming isn’t just about the game itself; it’s about the connections players form with each other. Platforms that excel in fostering gaming communities and shared identities through them often see higher retention rates.
The Importance of Regular Updates and Fresh Content
No matter how engaging a game is, it can become stale if there isn’t new content or challenges. This is why developers constantly update or create sequels to their games to keep players intrigued and engaged, leveraging feelings like FOMO to ensure their loyal players never lose interest.
Updates can take many forms. An example is seasonal content which means rolling out fresh storylines or new characters at regular intervals that players can look forward to. Updates can also include important stuff like security patches and be used to iron out bugs.
Strategic Use of Monetization
While monetization is key for the sustainability of a platform, it must be done thoughtfully. Too aggressive an approach can drive players away. However, well-planned and well-executed monetization strategies can enhance user experience.
These can include everything from in-game purchases to subscription models that provide players with fully unlocked versions of the game for a monthly fee. With a usually endless range of digital assets and cool accessories that can be purchased, players also never run out of ways to personalize their favorite characters and places.
As complex as all this can get, all of these aspects simply help keep online games fresh and engaging so players can keep playing them and developers can keep making them.
