| page.title=Game Developer Best Practices |
| page.image=/distribute/images/gp-games-practices.png |
| page.metaDescription=Essential tips for launching successful games in Google Play. |
| |
| @jd:body |
| |
| <div id="qv-wrapper"><div id="qv"> |
| <h2>Best Practices</h2> |
| <ol> |
| <li><a href="#users">Get Users</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#engage">Engage and Retain</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#beyond">Beyond the Basics</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#related-resources">Related Resources</a></li> |
| </ol> |
| </div></div> |
| |
| <p> |
| The following best practices have enabled developers worldwide to build |
| great, successful games for Google Play. |
| </p> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="users"> |
| Get Users |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 1. Optimize for great ratings |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#alpha-beta">Beta |
| test</a> to ensure your games are ready and poised for great ratings. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Optimize graphics, frame rates, and responsiveness with the <a href= |
| "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/09/using-hardware-scaler-for-performance.html"> |
| Hardware Scaler</a> and <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}training/graphics/opengl/index.html">OpenGL ES</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Be sure your APK is small, then provide game content through over-the-air |
| downloads. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 2. Build buzz |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Build a community with social media, <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/users/build-community.html">communities</a> to get |
| and keep users talking. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Promote your games with official <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/badges.html">Google Play badges</a> |
| and <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/linking.html">links to |
| your products</a> on Google Play. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| If you ship on multiple platforms, doing so at the same time can maximize |
| your marketing impact. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 3. Get Visibility |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| First impressions count: <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/users/your-listing.html">highlight</a> the game's |
| best features in screenshots, videos, and description. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Integrate Google Play Game Services, so your game is displayed in the |
| <a href= |
| "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.play.games"> |
| Google Play Games App</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="engage"> |
| Engage and Retain |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 1. Keep users coming back |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href= |
| "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/achievements"> |
| Achievements</a>, <a href= |
| "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/leaderboards"> |
| leaderboards</a>, <a href= |
| "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/realtimeMultiplayer"> |
| multiplayer</a>, and <a href= |
| "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/cloudsave">cloud |
| save</a> help engage users and bring them back. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Hold tournaments and offer promotions, then announce them through |
| <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/notifications.html">notifications</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Sign in users early, then automatically. Before their first sign-in, save |
| progress locally. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 2. Give users a reason to invest their money |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| A majority of the top grossing games use in-app purchases. Use them to |
| unlock content and allow players to enhance their game play. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href="{@docRoot}google/play/billing/index.html">Google Play In-app |
| Billing</a> makes purchasing easy with several forms of payment. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Provide content updates regularly to give users limited edition items to |
| win or purchase. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 3. Earn players’ love |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href= |
| "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/10/improved-app-insight-by-linking-google.html"> |
| Measure</a> your campaigns to see what’s driving quality users to install |
| your games. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html#measuring-analyzing-responding"> |
| Analyze in-game use</a> to steer content updates and prolong the life of your |
| games. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href= |
| "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/05/all-google-play-developers-can-now.html"> |
| Respond to reviews</a> and get valuable feedback from the community |
| you’ve built. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="beyond"> |
| Beyond the Basics |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| After you've launched in your market of strength, <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/users/expand-to-new-markets.html">expand into other |
| markets</a> strategically and <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/localization-checklist.html">localize</a> |
| your apps as you go. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Provide content <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/app-updates.html">updates on a regular |
| basis</a> to keep users engaged. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Building educational games? See the <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/gpfe-guidelines.html">Education |
| Guidelines</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h2> |
| </div> |
| |
| <div class="resource-widget resource-flow-layout col-13" |
| data-query="collection:distribute/toolsreference/bestpractices/games" |
| data-sortOrder="-timestamp" |
| data-cardSizes="9x3,9x3" |
| data-maxResults="6"></div> |