Here at Department of Play, we’re often approached by teams aspiring to improve a game’s revenue. More often than not, these games contain several monetisation features with the potential to earn a profit. However, in many cases, players are spending irregularly or not at all. This is often due to a lack of pressing reasons…
Launch Date: October 2018Developer: Sky MavisPublisher: Sky MavisStatus: WorldwidePlatforms: Android (side loading), iOS (closed TestFlight Beta), Windows, Mac OS.Genre: TCG / team battler.Similar to: Hearthstone, Pokémon, CryptoKitties. What is it? Axie Infinity is a NFT-based collectible battler developed by Vietnamese studio Sky Mavis, who are an alumni of Ubisoft’s Enterprise Labs. The developer is also…
Launch Date: 5th October 2020Developer: Electronic ArtsPublisher: Electronic ArtsStatus: WorldwidePlatforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, Microsoft WindowsGenre: SportSimilar to: eFootball (formerly Pro Evolution Soccer) What is it? For the unfamiliar, Ultimate Team is a stealth free-to-play CCG (Collectible Card Game) nested within the FIFA franchise’s…
Here is a question game developers often find themselves concerned with: how do I evaluate the viability of a game idea that I’m about to start working on? Having invested many months and a ton of other resources in development, you’d quite like to end up with a game that is not just fun to…
The idea that developers and publishers of contemporary games can take meaningful, monetising lessons from the heritage of arcade gaming might sound counterintuitive. Arcade gaming today is often thought of as a dwindling niche where a handful of players remain devotedly committed to punishingly difficult games that ostracise larger audiences.That model appears to have very…
The process of deconstruction can be fundamental in defining the success and quality of your next game project. As such, understanding the process of ‘deconstruction’ could be considered a key skill within game design, yet it is so often misunderstood or given passing attention. Viewing a game through a deconstructive lens lets you build a…
Launch Date: 6th April 2021Status: Soft Launch (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland).Genre: Strategy.Similar to: Spooky Pop, Legend of Solgard, and Puzzle and Dragons. What is it? Clash Quest is a tactical puzzle RPG with clear influences from King’s Legend of Solgard and Supercell’s own discontinued Spooky Pop. Clash Quest is one of three recently…
If you want to make a game that succeeds creatively and commercially, prototyping will almost certainly be a key step in the design and development process. Prototyping serves as a point at which early ideas and concepts can be crystallised, pivoting the process of game design into the production pipeline phase. And while many design…
In this specially contributed piece, AppMagic CEO and Founder Max Samorukov considers what AppLovin’s purchase of Adjust means as Apple’s looming IDFA changes are set to complicate the world of mobile ad targeting and tracking. What’s Going On? In summer 2020, Apple announced its new ATT (App Tracking Transparency) policy that seriously restricts mobile apps’…
As a general concept, matchmaking is fundamentally simple. It serves as a means to group players in online games, based on the experiences they are looking for, and the ability or skill level they bring. The motivation for matchmaking, of course, is about giving players a rewarding experience. Games are more enjoyable – and thus…