Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 1 | page.title=Game Developer Best Practices |
| 2 | page.image=/distribute/images/gp-games-practices.png |
| 3 | page.metaDescription=Essential tips for launching successful games in Google Play. |
| 4 | |
| 5 | @jd:body |
| 6 | |
| 7 | <div id="qv-wrapper"><div id="qv"> |
| 8 | <h2>Best Practices</h2> |
| 9 | <ol> |
| 10 | <li><a href="#users">Get Users</a></li> |
| 11 | <li><a href="#engage">Engage and Retain</a></li> |
| 12 | <li><a href="#beyond">Beyond the Basics</a></li> |
| 13 | <li><a href="#related-resources">Related Resources</a></li> |
| 14 | </ol> |
| 15 | </div></div> |
| 16 | |
| 17 | <p> |
| 18 | The following best practices have enabled developers worldwide to build |
| 19 | great, successful games for Google Play. |
| 20 | </p> |
| 21 | |
| 22 | <div class="headerLine"> |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 23 | <h2 id="users"> |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 24 | Get Users |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 25 | </h2> |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 26 | |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 27 | |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 28 | </div> |
| 29 | |
| 30 | <h3> |
| 31 | 1. Optimize for great ratings |
| 32 | </h3> |
| 33 | |
| 34 | <ul> |
| 35 | <li> |
| 36 | <p> |
| 37 | <a href= |
| 38 | "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#alpha-beta">Beta |
| 39 | test</a> to ensure your games are ready and poised for great ratings. |
| 40 | </p> |
| 41 | </li> |
| 42 | |
| 43 | <li> |
| 44 | <p> |
| 45 | Optimize graphics, frame rates, and responsiveness with the <a href= |
| 46 | "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/09/using-hardware-scaler-for-performance.html"> |
| 47 | Hardware Scaler</a> and <a href= |
| 48 | "{@docRoot}training/graphics/opengl/index.html">OpenGL ES</a>. |
| 49 | </p> |
| 50 | </li> |
| 51 | |
| 52 | <li> |
| 53 | <p> |
| 54 | Be sure your APK is small, then provide game content through over-the-air |
| 55 | downloads. |
| 56 | </p> |
| 57 | </li> |
| 58 | </ul> |
| 59 | |
| 60 | <h3> |
| 61 | 2. Build buzz |
| 62 | </h3> |
| 63 | |
| 64 | <ul> |
| 65 | <li> |
| 66 | <p> |
| 67 | Build a community with social media, <a href= |
| 68 | "{@docRoot}distribute/users/build-community.html">communities</a> to get |
| 69 | and keep users talking. |
| 70 | </p> |
| 71 | </li> |
| 72 | |
| 73 | <li> |
| 74 | <p> |
| 75 | Promote your games with official <a href= |
| 76 | "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/badges.html">Google Play badges</a> |
| 77 | and <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/linking.html">links to |
| 78 | your products</a> on Google Play. |
| 79 | </p> |
| 80 | </li> |
| 81 | |
| 82 | <li> |
| 83 | <p> |
| 84 | If you ship on multiple platforms, doing so at the same time can maximize |
| 85 | your marketing impact. |
| 86 | </p> |
| 87 | </li> |
| 88 | </ul> |
| 89 | |
| 90 | <h3> |
| 91 | 3. Get Visibility |
| 92 | </h3> |
| 93 | |
| 94 | <ul> |
| 95 | <li> |
| 96 | <p> |
| 97 | First impressions count: <a href= |
| 98 | "{@docRoot}distribute/users/your-listing.html">highlight</a> the game's |
| 99 | best features in screenshots, videos, and description. |
| 100 | </p> |
| 101 | </li> |
| 102 | |
| 103 | <li> |
| 104 | <p> |
| 105 | Integrate Google Play Game Services, so your game is displayed in the |
| 106 | <a href= |
| 107 | "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.play.games"> |
| 108 | Google Play Games App</a>. |
| 109 | </p> |
| 110 | </li> |
| 111 | </ul> |
| 112 | |
| 113 | <div class="headerLine"> |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 114 | <h2 id="engage"> |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 115 | Engage and Retain |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 116 | </h2> |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 117 | |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 118 | |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 119 | </div> |
| 120 | |
| 121 | <h3> |
| 122 | 1. Keep users coming back |
| 123 | </h3> |
| 124 | |
| 125 | <ul> |
| 126 | <li> |
| 127 | <p> |
| 128 | <a href= |
| 129 | "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/achievements"> |
| 130 | Achievements</a>, <a href= |
| 131 | "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/leaderboards"> |
| 132 | leaderboards</a>, <a href= |
| 133 | "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/realtimeMultiplayer"> |
| 134 | multiplayer</a>, and <a href= |
| 135 | "https://developers.google.com/games/services/common/concepts/cloudsave">cloud |
| 136 | save</a> help engage users and bring them back. |
| 137 | </p> |
| 138 | </li> |
| 139 | |
| 140 | <li> |
| 141 | <p> |
| 142 | Hold tournaments and offer promotions, then announce them through |
| 143 | <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/notifications.html">notifications</a>. |
| 144 | </p> |
| 145 | </li> |
| 146 | |
| 147 | <li> |
| 148 | <p> |
| 149 | Sign in users early, then automatically. Before their first sign-in, save |
| 150 | progress locally. |
| 151 | </p> |
| 152 | </li> |
| 153 | </ul> |
| 154 | |
| 155 | <h3> |
| 156 | 2. Give users a reason to invest their money |
| 157 | </h3> |
| 158 | |
| 159 | <ul> |
| 160 | <li> |
| 161 | <p> |
| 162 | A majority of the top grossing games use in-app purchases. Use them to |
| 163 | unlock content and allow players to enhance their game play. |
| 164 | </p> |
| 165 | </li> |
| 166 | |
| 167 | <li> |
| 168 | <p> |
| 169 | <a href="{@docRoot}google/play/billing/index.html">Google Play In-app |
| 170 | Billing</a> makes purchasing easy with several forms of payment. |
| 171 | </p> |
| 172 | </li> |
| 173 | |
| 174 | <li> |
| 175 | <p> |
| 176 | Provide content updates regularly to give users limited edition items to |
| 177 | win or purchase. |
| 178 | </p> |
| 179 | </li> |
| 180 | </ul> |
| 181 | |
| 182 | <h3> |
| 183 | 3. Earn players’ love |
| 184 | </h3> |
| 185 | |
| 186 | <ul> |
| 187 | <li> |
| 188 | <p> |
| 189 | <a href= |
| 190 | "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/10/improved-app-insight-by-linking-google.html"> |
| 191 | Measure</a> your campaigns to see what’s driving quality users to install |
| 192 | your games. |
| 193 | </p> |
| 194 | </li> |
| 195 | |
| 196 | <li> |
| 197 | <p> |
| 198 | <a href= |
| 199 | "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html#measuring-analyzing-responding"> |
| 200 | Analyze in-game use</a> to steer content updates and prolong the life of your |
| 201 | games. |
| 202 | </p> |
| 203 | </li> |
| 204 | |
| 205 | <li> |
| 206 | <p> |
| 207 | <a href= |
| 208 | "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/05/all-google-play-developers-can-now.html"> |
| 209 | Respond to reviews</a> and get valuable feedback from the community |
| 210 | you’ve built. |
| 211 | </p> |
| 212 | </li> |
| 213 | </ul> |
| 214 | |
| 215 | <div class="headerLine"> |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 216 | <h2 id="beyond"> |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 217 | Beyond the Basics |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 218 | </h2> |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 219 | |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 220 | |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 221 | </div> |
| 222 | |
| 223 | <ul> |
| 224 | <li> |
| 225 | <p> |
| 226 | After you've launched in your market of strength, <a href= |
| 227 | "{@docRoot}distribute/users/expand-to-new-markets.html">expand into other |
| 228 | markets</a> strategically and <a href= |
| 229 | "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/localization-checklist.html">localize</a> |
| 230 | your apps as you go. |
| 231 | </p> |
| 232 | </li> |
| 233 | |
| 234 | <li> |
| 235 | <p> |
| 236 | Provide content <a href= |
| 237 | "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/app-updates.html">updates on a regular |
| 238 | basis</a> to keep users engaged. |
| 239 | </p> |
| 240 | </li> |
| 241 | |
| 242 | <li> |
| 243 | <p> |
| 244 | Building educational games? See the <a href= |
| 245 | "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/gpfe-guidelines.html">Education |
| 246 | Guidelines</a>. |
| 247 | </p> |
| 248 | </li> |
| 249 | </ul> |
| 250 | |
| 251 | <div class="headerLine"> |
Scott Main | 2f33f97 | 2014-05-19 19:13:45 -0700 | [diff] [blame] | 252 | <h2 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h2> |
Dirk Dougherty | 3506ac8 | 2014-02-21 11:15:52 -0800 | [diff] [blame] | 253 | </div> |
| 254 | |
| 255 | <div class="resource-widget resource-flow-layout col-13" |
| 256 | data-query="collection:distribute/toolsreference/bestpractices/games" |
| 257 | data-sortOrder="-timestamp" |
| 258 | data-cardSizes="9x3,9x3" |
| 259 | data-maxResults="6"></div> |