two & a half gamers session #101 – 4X (R)evolution part2. Last War: The biggest 4X in 2024! Crucial UA integration into core-loop
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This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #101. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 am conference discussion vibe, so let’s not take it too seriously.
The Team:
Jakub Remiar- Game design consultant
Felix Braberg – Ad monetization consultant
Matej Lančarič – User Acquisition & Creatives consultant
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Summary
In this conversation, the hosts discuss the gameplay and mechanics of the forex game Last War. They explore the hidden 4X gameplay in Top Heroes and the conspiracy behind the company First Fund. They also delve into the onboarding process, the challenging boss battles, and the advanced gameplay mechanics. The hosts highlight the importance of saving Monica from the bomb and discuss the various events and LiveOps in the game. They conclude by examining the Raider and Track mechanics in Last War. Last War, a 4X game, has unique gameplay mechanics and incorporates hypercasual elements. The size of the 4X gaming market is smaller compared to other genres. Last War has expanded the addressable market by connecting and integrating games. The low ad revenue in 4X games can be attributed to the focus on in-app purchases. Building a community is crucial for the success of 4X games. Last War’s success can be attributed to its improved onboarding and gameplay compared to Top Heroes. Asian companies dominate the 4X genre, and Last War’s marketing campaign has contributed to its success. The conversation explores the creative trends and gameplay mechanics of popular mobile games in the 4X genre. It highlights the heavy iteration and similarities in creatives across different companies. The integration of onboarding games into the main game is discussed as a growing trend. The conversation also teases a new game that shares mechanics with a previously discussed game. Overall, the conversation provides insights into the creative strategies and trends in the mobile gaming industry.
Takeaways
The 4X genre in mobile gaming utilizes similar creative trends and gameplay mechanics across different companies.
The integration of onboarding games into the main game is becoming a popular trend in the mobile gaming industry.
Creatives in the mobile gaming industry heavily iterate on successful concepts and mechanics.
The Chinese gaming companies are known for their effective monetization strategies and squeezing the most out of players.
Agenda:
00:00 Introduction and Car Troubles
01:04 Introducing the Topic: Forex Games
03:06 Last War: Revenue and Downloads
04:12 The Conspiracy Behind First Fund
05:13 The Gameplay Mechanics of Last War
06:02 The Challenging Boss Battles
07:10 The Onboarding Process
08:19 Exploring the Forex Gameplay
09:44 Saving Monica from the Bomb
10:53 The Advanced Gameplay Mechanics
12:08 The Forex Elements in the Game
13:02 The Events and LiveOps in the Game
14:26 The Raider and Track Mechanics
18:05 Importance of Onboarding and Gacha Mechanics
19:32 Size of the 4X Gaming Market
20:06 Expanding the Addressable Market
21:05 Incorporating Hypercasual Elements
22:32 Connecting and Integrating Games
23:13 Low Ad Revenue in 4X Games
24:13 Building a Community
25:12 Why Last War is More Successful than Top Heroes
26:08 Factors Contributing to Last War’s Success
27:38 Expertise in the 4X Genre
28:00 Connections Between Chinese Companies
28:56 The Dominance of Asian Companies in the 4X Genre
29:54 Scaling and Revenue Comparison
30:18 Improved Onboarding and Gameplay in Last War
32:08 Success of Last War’s Marketing Campaign
33:37 TV Commercial and Offline Branding
37:06 Creative Marketing Strategies
39:27 Different Visual Styles and Gameplay
40:07 Creative Trends and Hooks
41:07 Heavy Iteration in Creative World
42:12 Different Versions and Upgrades
43:09 Making Fun of Yourself in Creatives
44:08 Hyper-Casual Concepts from Different Angles
45:33 Ball of Zombies and Epic Battles
46:19 Similarities with Age of Origins
47:38 Similar Creatives from Different Companies
48:42 Integration of Onboarding Game into Main Game
50:15 Hidden Portfolios and Future Trends
53:36 Introduction of a New Game
56:50 Proliferation of Onboarding Game Trend
59:06 Integration of Onboarding Game in Top Heroes Category
59:44 Game from China with Onboarding Mechanics
01:00:12 Teaser for Next Week’s Game
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Helping you stay 2.5 steps ahead of the games industry. Don't be too serious, except about UA.
Subscribe to my Brutally Honest newsletter!
