two & a half gamers session #111 – Screw Jam success story: How to reach $250k/day revenue? Innovative & satisfying hybrid casual game

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This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #111. 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

Join our slack channel here: SLACK CHANNEL

Summary

In this episode of Two and a Half Gamers, the hosts discuss the game Screw Jam developed by Quokk Games. They explore the background of the studio and its previous games, highlighting the success of Screw Jam with its daily revenues of 130K. The hosts delve into the gameplay mechanics, including the combination of two games, Tile Match and Zen Match, and the unique features such as the physics-based puzzles and the streak mechanic. They also discuss the progression system, battle pass, and boosters in the game. Overall, Screw Jam is praised for its innovative gameplay and satisfying experience. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the gameplay mechanics and features of the game Screw Jam. They mention the different levels and mechanics, such as ice blocks, shutter open mechanic, bomb mechanic, and chain mechanic. They also talk about the ad placements in the game, including banners, interstitials, and rewarded ads. The hosts speculate on the potential success and scalability of the game, as well as the overall strategy of Rollic Games. The conversation covers various topics related to mobile game advertising, including playable ads, hybrid casual games, and the use of intellectual property. The hosts discuss specific games and their ad creatives, analyzing their effectiveness and potential improvements. They also mention different publishers and their success in the mobile gaming industry. The episode concludes with a discussion about upcoming episodes and a call to engage with the podcast through likes, shares, and comments.

Takeaways
  • Screw Jam, developed by Quokk Games, is a successful mobile game with daily revenues of 130K.
  • The game combines the mechanics of Tile Match and Zen Match, creating a unique gameplay experience.
  • Screw Jam features physics-based puzzles and a streak mechanic that adds depth and challenge to the gameplay.
  • The game has a well-designed progression system, including a battle pass and various boosters.
  • Overall, Screw Jam is praised for its innovative gameplay and satisfying experience. Screw Jam introduces various gameplay mechanics and features, such as ice blocks, shutter open mechanic, bomb mechanic, and chain mechanic.
  • The game utilizes different ad placements, including banners, interstitials, and rewarded ads.
  • The hosts speculate on the potential success and scalability of Screw Jam, as well as the overall strategy of Rollic Games.
  • Rollic Games aims to have multiple successful games in their portfolio, following the hybrid casual genre.
  • The hosts highlight the impressive growth and revenue of Screw Jam within a short period of time. Playable ads are a popular trend in mobile game advertising, with many games using them as a format to engage users.
  • Hybrid casual games, which combine elements of casual and mid-core games, are gaining traction in the industry.
  • The use of intellectual property in mobile games is becoming more common, with some games incorporating well-known characters or themes.
  • Publishers like Voodoo, SeGames, and Rolik are leading the way in the hybrid casual game genre.
  • Engaging with the podcast through likes, shares, and comments can help support its growth and provide valuable feedback.
Keywords

Screw Jam, Quokk Games, mobile games, revenue, gameplay mechanics, physics-based puzzles, streak mechanic, progression system, battle pass, boosters, gameplay mechanics, features, levels, ice blocks, shutter open mechanic, bomb mechanic, chain mechanic, ad placements, banners, interstitials, rewarded ads, success, scalability, Rollic Games, mobile game advertising, playable ads, hybrid casual games, intellectual property, ad creatives, publishers, success, upcoming episodes, engagement

Agenda:

00:00 Epic intro
01:20 Introduction and Background of Qukk Games
03:23 The Success of Screw Jam
11:08 The Streak Mechanic and End Monetization
14:05 Unique Gameplay: Physics-Based Puzzles
16:32 Deterministic Levels and Mastering the Game
18:36 Exploring Gameplay Mechanics and Features
22:12 Analyzing Ad Placements
27:30 The Impact of Rewarded Ads
30:57 Speculating on Success and Scalability
35:30 Rollic Games’ Strategy
36:39 Introduction to Mobile Game Advertising
37:08 Playable Ads and Reward Mechanisms
40:06 Exploring Hybrid Casual Games
43:21 The Use of Intellectual Property in Mobile Games
46:25 Leading Publishers in the Hybrid Casual Game Space

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