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New information from Alanbase about the world of iGaming! This time, it is about the impact of esports on gambling and the mechanics of video games that help attract and retain players.
Shortly about Alanbase:
Alanbase is an affiliate program software company with more than 100 clients, including BetBoom, GloryPartners, and 4rabet. The tool adapts to any niche and vertical. You can launch an affiliate program for the brand and create your multi-vertical CPA network. In addition, the platform is helpful for media buying teams, allowing them to track targeted actions and evaluate the effectiveness of various traffic sources with flexible management.
In this podcast, John Romero, programmer and designer of popular video games (Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, and Quake), one of the founders of id Software, shared his opinion.
Briefly about what is inside:
- Game mechanics — what the user clings to.
- Life hacks for casinos from gamers.
- What casinos miss and why users go to competitors.
Game Mechanics: It is catchy
Perhaps every casino owner wants the user to play only in his casino and not even look at the competitors. The desire is understandable, but we all know that if you develop a unique feature, you will soon find it among competitors.
However, many video games have been profitable for creators for decades despite the industry’s growth. Why? Let’s take a brief look at what catches the user’s eye, despite the growth of the industry. Why? Let’s take a brief look at what catches the user in video games and casinos.
Design and user experience.
Of course, it is not a secret that good design is essential. Let’s add a short remark: no matter what conceptual, modern, and thoughtful game design you create, it doesn’t make sense if the user can’t intuitively figure it out from the first second.
Here are a couple of examples from video games with a complex and simple interface for the player in; in the first example, a novice player will have to try to understand what’s what, but in the second, the game process is intuitive:
That is why one of the most popular games is slots. Simple mechanics that do not need to be learned, the player understands the game process from the first second and is included in it, although there are a couple of points in the game design here too:
- In slots, all the elements of the game are dynamic, and the player’s eyes are looking for something on the screen that can be “hooked”. Of course, these should be elements that perform the CTA function: deposit, spin, and registration buttons.
- The abundance of animation in slots is considered outdated mechanics. If a person spends a good half of 10 minutes of playing time watching animations, they can get tired quickly.
- The focus should be on the basic elements of the game. For example, an overly bright background can irritate the eye, and after 10-20 minutes of playing, the eyes will hurt.
We recommend going through CJM: to play slots on your platform for a long time on your own. Track your feelings and understand what the eye is clinging to and what is annoying.
Sound-design
We were particularly interested in some of the features in the podcast, such as the effect on different senses of the players, such as hearing.
If you’ve ever played video games, you understand how sound design can affect perception by creating a background “snap”. For example, if you hear music from the game “Super Mario” right now, you will experience nostalgic emotions. The exact mechanics work great in gambling. The user hears the music, hums it, thinks about you, and wants to come back and play.
The same principle works in advertising, if the user has heard a memorable motif 5-10 times or more, he will hum and repeat it. For example, the motif from the 1xbet advertisement is heard by almost everyone.
The main cycle of the game
But back to the game itself, what happens between a deposit and a win/loss? Of course, the game session itself, and it shouldn’t be boring. A player enters an online casino not only to win money but also to enjoy the process. Therefore, it is worth asking yourself periodically:
“How will the user’s first and hundredth game differ? Why would he want to play over and over again? How can I improve the game so that the user is motivated to keep playing and return to the casino”
One option is to gradually increase the difficulty and show the player’s progress in order to keep the interest, otherwise he will simply go to the competitors.
Examples of successful game mechanics can be seen in slot games: MegaWays and Popwinds, which have become not only mechanics but also brands. Watch the video below to see the mechanics:
The game is intuitive and enticing, with each spin the level and involvement increases, because if you stop playing, then progress will be lost.
Ranking.
Many online games use ranking as a retention mechanism. Each player can see their unique rating in different categories here and now. This mechanic is used in games such as Fortnite, PUBG, Dota 2, League of Legends, and many others. Game progress is maintained, and the player himself is motivated to rise in the ranking or at least maintain his position.
Creating a game universe.
Immersion in the whole universe always captures the user much more: let’s remember the DC Comics universe or Harry Potter, multimillion-dollar companies are being built around them. A good example in slots is the Red Tiger company. They strive to create a unique game universe where characters and games interact with each other.
A little bit about trends: Ellis Davis notes an upward trend – multiplayer slots with RPG elements, where players can influence other characters and act in the game world. An example in the video:
Conclusion
Do I need to apply mechanics from video games to casinos? Definitely—yes. Small changes in the gameplay can significantly increase the amount of deposits and encourage the player to return.
Of course, if you have a casino or are just planning to open one, you will need high-quality software to create an affiliate program.
Alanbase can become such software for you due to its best features, such as cohort analysis and customized statistics. To view Alanbase from the inside, leave a request for a demo call with the manager, and then take away free access to the service for 14 days with full functionality.
