Engaging Updates: Teaching an Old Game New Tricks

The act of creating a mobile game can be lengthy, tedious and emotionally draining, but the pride that a developer has in their game is beyond gratifying; until users of the game want more.

Since the inception of video games, players have craved more from a game the second credits start rolling. In today’s wildly diverse and constantly updating mobile app store environments, the bar has been set even higher to provide players with consistent and worthy updates to the game you’ve worked so hard on. While some game developers may like to move beyond a project once it is completed, updates that provide a better experience for the player can increase ongoing engagement and ensure a longer shelf-life to a game.

A crucial component to think about when creating an update for your mobile game is differentiation. If your game has become somewhat successful, clones or other games of the same genre begin to emerge. This could potentially pose a threat to your game and its growth within the mobile app ecosystem. The more content you can provide with differentiating and consistent updates, the greater chance that your game will continue to succeed. There are a few specific tactics that will truly make your mobile game updates shine through the rest.

When it comes time to release an upgrade to your game, a simple implementation of a new and engaging technically-based input or feedback like haptics technology can continue to push your game over the edge and can help you be seen as an innovator within the space.

When creating successful and engaging updates to your mobile game, reactive measures are just as important as a proactive addition. The easiest way to determine what features or additions should be included in your next update is to pay attention to feedback from users playing the game. This may sound obvious, but many game developers don’t listen to their end users when it comes to demanded features and updates. If reviews of your game consistently ask for more characters or character customization, add that feature before taking the time and commitment to creating entire new levels or gameplay mechanisms. You shouldn’t feel the need to make large updates quickly, because if you release these updates before they are finished or perfect, you will ultimately lose more players than you will gain or retain.

As your mobile game continues to attract new players and grow a stronger user base, you will need to release updates to keep your game fresh and retain the users. By adding a new and more engaging technical aspect like haptics or adapting the game to fit users’ requests, your game can continue to grow and thrive.